I was the Queen of Persia

Page 149

Bahmanyar advanced with unstoppable momentum, catching the once-imposing Turan steppe lancers off guard by wave after wave of Iranian cavalry.

With a significant difference in armor and neither speed nor explosive power being fully utilized, the steppe lancers were ultimately unable to engage the Savaran heavy cavalry in hand-to-hand combat. After only a brief exchange, they and their horses perished under the lances, maces, saddle axes, and armor-piercing scimitars of the Persian cavalry.

The Turan horse archers were indeed highly skilled, their average rate of fire steadily suppressing the Saman horse archers. However, they could not overcome the gap in formation and equipment. After a hard-fought resistance, they were surrounded and defeated by the Saman light and heavy cavalry.

The battlefield situation seems to be a foregone conclusion.

Farukzad, Iraj, and Bahmanyar, with their three armies advancing in a coordinated and coordinated manner, encircled and defeated Aknuar's Turan army.

Crimson flames suppressed the brown storm.

The Turans were cunning hunters, and the Iranians were equally shrewd strategists. In this battle of wits and a series of interconnected schemes, the Iranians ultimately prevailed.

……

"God above..."

Looking at the vast sea of ​​Samanian troops, Aknuar muttered to himself.

However, the Khan, being a powerful ruler of the steppes, with the inherent bravery of a military conqueror, quickly organized his forces to resist the Samanid army's counterattack. At the very least, he aimed to fight and retreat while preserving his main force.

The Khan's personal guard, obeying the Khan's orders, assembled and went into battle. As the most elite part of the Turan army, the Khan's guard possessed superior weapons and armor, and their combat skills were also more formidable.

The Turan-style heavy lamellar armor gleamed like snow, the armored steppe warhorses beneath them neighed repeatedly, and the dark brown banners with nine sacred trees fluttered in the wind. Accompanied by the resounding Turan-Turkic war songs, the steppe cavalry galloped forward.

The vanguard of several Savaran heavy cavalry units immediately engaged them in a fierce battle. Maces shattered heavy armor, saddle axes pierced shields, and powerful warhorses charged wildly—it was a brutal and head-on clash between heavy cavalry.

Overall, while the fighting strength of Turan Khan's personal guard was slightly lower than that of Shahr's guard, it was higher than that of ordinary Savaran heavy cavalry. After a brief exchange, these Turan soldiers did indeed have a slight advantage, somewhat halting the Samanid army's offensive.

but.

As the famous war adage goes: "If your fighting strength is evenly matched, then compete on production capacity."

While Turan's Khan's personal guard was powerful, it was an extremely valuable and elite force that could not be mass-produced, and any casualties would require a long time to replenish. Furthermore, the Turan Khanate's population and productivity were inferior to those of the Samanid Empire.

And the opposite.

Ordinary Savaran heavy cavalry, within the military order of the Samanid Empire, were simply mass-producible ordinary heavy cavalry. Although their rate of troop production was not as high as that of the Sipahi mobilization standing army, it was much higher than that of the most elite Shahr Guard.

In this fierce battle of attrition...

Despite initially gaining the upper hand, Turan's army ultimately found itself at a disadvantage in the face of sustained, intense fighting.

The initiative on the battlefield has once again returned to the Samanid army. The three armies of Farukzad, Iraj, and Bahmanyar are coordinating their forces with increasing skill and synergy. If Aknuar continues his desperate struggle, he will likely suffer further losses.

"I swear by the soul of Avrashijab! This underestimated the strength of the Persians. We will surely return next time!"

Aknuar was extremely frustrated by the defeat in the battle, but he was powerless to turn the tide. He had no choice but to order his troops to regroup and retreat to the grasslands.

Farukzad climbed the high platform and looked in the direction where the Turan army had retreated.

The setting sun was like blood, and broken armor and wrecked cavalrymen littered the fields.

"Issue the order! Organize one or two divisions to pursue, but stop once they exceed 15 Farsah (over 90 kilometers). Do not be greedy for merit or advance rashly; those who disobey orders will be severely punished under military law!" Beside him, Bahmanyar, who had been authorized, was issuing orders to his officers.

This is a relatively rational tactic.

Otrar is already on the frontier; going north from there, one doesn't need to travel far before the surrounding area is already vast desert grasslands. Although Turan's army was defeated, it still retains strength, and escaping back to the grasslands would give it a significant advantage. If they recklessly venture deeper without considering the consequences, they could easily fall into a trap, suffering more losses than gains.

After all, the grasslands are the home ground of the Turan people.

As a princess who had served as a teacher in the Khorasan military region since childhood and frequently interacted with various Turan-Turkic tribes, Farukzade had a wealth of experience in this area.

“After this great victory, a battle report should be written and sent to the capital, Jahan Shah, to deliver this good news to the Supreme Shah Shah,” Iraj suggested from the side.

“Yes! I think so too.” Faluczad nodded firmly, looking relieved.

He then split his forces into two groups: Iraj returned to his camp to draft a battle report, which was then sent back to Jahanshahr by messengers through the postal system; while he himself worked with Bahmanyar to handle subsequent military affairs and guard against a counterattack by the Turan army.

……

Jahanshahr.

This day was Friday, the day for jumbo.

Shahzani, dressed in a chadol robe, sat cross-legged on a waltz table, preaching to her large female congregation.

"God has said that courage, strength, and other such qualities are not virtues unique to men. In the name of God Hudda, I bear witness! Men and women have always been equal, and women possess the same virtues as men..."

The Queen's voice was powerful and resonant, and all the female worshippers in the mosque expressed their piety and reverence.

Just then, a Nassak envoy from the palace quietly approached the Queen and whispered a few words in her ear.

Shahzani's face immediately lit up with joy: "See, God's teachings have been revealed: My daughter, the brave general, Princess Dukht-Falukzad of Shah of Iran, has achieved a great victory over the Turans in Otrar!"

Chapter 345 The dust has settled

Long live Shah Shah!

"Iran's Shaher is immortal!"

"Hu Da Akbar!"

Inside the mosque, a thunderous and fervent cheer erupted in an instant. Female worshippers, dressed in colorful chadores, made the "Iman" sign, a gesture of faith in God, in unison, celebrating the victory of their homeland.

Actually, it's not just inside the mosque.

In the streets and alleys of Jahanshahr, and in every province and city of the Samanid Empire, people celebrated their victory with singing and dancing.

Poets sang praises of Shahzani's military prowess; scribes penned tales of victory; musicians composed powerful and majestic triumphant marches; and the priests' reverence for the Queen deepened...

Yes, this is indeed a victory worth commemorating.

This was undoubtedly a devastating blow to the Turan Khanate.

If we trace our relationship back to the Shahnameh and various ancient Iranian legends, Iran and Turan have been sworn enemies for millennia. Rustam and Afrashyab, Bahram Ghur and the Hephthalites, Anushirwan and the Western Turks, the Samanid dynasty and the Oghuz Yabghu-Kipchak-Kimak-Karakhan…

The two sides fought back and forth continuously.

The Karakhanid dynasty, along with a large number of Turkic-speaking tribes, invaded Bukhara, the capital of the old Samanid dynasty, and imprisoned its monarch, Malik, a humiliation that many Iranian patriots could not forget.

However, since Empress Shahzani turned the tide and gloriously restored the country, the Samanid dynasty has been revitalized, and the nation's glory has returned. Iran has achieved more and more victories over Turan.

For the Iranian intellectual elite who washed away their shame, how could this not be a glorious moment worthy of being recorded in history?

Shahzani was very pleased and, at the court assembly in Central Diwan, announced the reward for Farukzad, Iraj, and Bahmanyar.

At that time, the Khorasan Military Region was undergoing a major reshuffle of officials.

The former military district commander, Holshid, was transferred to the Diwan agency in the capital, and there were also significant changes in officials in various provinces and counties within the military district.

The decree then proclaimed the appointment of Farukzad as Commander of the Khorasan Military District (Sipashibaid), Iraji as his adjutant, and Bahmanyar as Malzban of the Khorezm Border District.

Although the older generation is brave and skilled in battle, they will eventually grow old. Now is the time for the new generation to shoulder more responsibilities.

……

The city of Edarla is located in a grassland and desert area extending 10 miles from Farsach.

Battle flags fluttered, and armored cavalrymen moved swiftly through the battlefield.

As Turan's army was defeated and retreated, the people who had been captured and scattered were gradually liberated by the Samanid army. At this moment, the refugees were lined up in long queues, escorted back to their homeland by the Samanid army.

Farukzad then led his elite cavalry on inspection tours.

After winning a major battle, the most important thing to do is to consolidate the gains. Farukzad established extensive vigilance in the outer buffer zone and dispatched a considerable number of reinforcements. The purposes were threefold: to continue rescuing the abducted civilians, to guard against and drive away small groups of Turan cavalry that came to harass them, and to consolidate the border territory.

In fact, after the main force of the Turan army withdrew, it did send out several cavalry units to harass the Samanid army. The aim was to take advantage of the mobility of the nomadic cavalry to fight and retreat, dragging the Samanid army into the depths of the grassland, and then take the opportunity to outflank and surround them to reverse the offensive.

However, these strategies ultimately failed against the disciplined and obedient Samanid army. Farukzad demonstrated exceptional strategic acumen, stabilizing the situation.

The wilderness stretched out in vast expanses, with sandstorms blowing in gusts.

Farukzad sat atop a clad Rakhsh horse, glancing back slightly to gaze at the distant, rolling mountains and grasslands—regions frequently raided by the Turan Khanate's army. She wore a peacock-feathered helmet and heavy four-sided armor, her eyes sharp and wary like steel weapons.

Suddenly, a cavalry unit of ten men galloped in from the north.

It was a scout team that had been dispatched in advance.

The lead scout reined in his horse and shouted, "Reporting to Shahdukht (Princess)! Situation detected ahead!"

Farukzad immediately spurred his horse toward him: "What's going on?"

The scout dismounted, kowtowed, and said, "Heading north from here, in the desert area of ​​Sanfarsakh, we discovered the 'execution ground' left by the Turan army!"

"Execution ground?"

The Turan Khanate, a brutal and murderous military society, was notorious for mass killings and executions of prisoners of war, slaves, and captured civilians. Nevertheless, the princess's curiosity still drove her to go and see for herself.

They rode off on horseback, followed by iron cavalry, raising clouds of dust.

After riding for a while with experienced scouts who knew the terrain well, and rounding several turns, we finally found the so-called "execution ground" behind a series of hidden sand dunes and slopes.

Several mounds of Jingguan stood imposingly, while vultures and crows circled in the air, their cries shrill and mournful, and the air was filled with a nauseating smell of blood and decay.

Besides the pyramids made of skulls, there are many horrifying and cruel scenes—countless heads hanging densely, while their bodies are buried solidly under the sand; countless shackles stand crookedly, like menacing demons.

"vomit--!"

Even seasoned, hardened soldiers found it difficult to remain calm in the face of such a horrific scene. Many Saman soldiers vomited on the spot.

"These Turanians! They are nothing but henchmen and executioners of the Demon King Ahriman! They deserve to go to hell!"

The Samanian soldiers, who had calmed down a bit, cursed in unison.

Farukzad suppressed the churning sensation in her stomach and calmly surveyed the scene. Since taking Iraji as her husband, she had been influenced by the wisdom emanating from him, and had become more composed and steady in handling many matters.

After observing for a moment.

"These corpses must be disposed of!" Farukzad said firmly. "Although this place is remote, it is an important source of well water. If the corpses are allowed to pollute the water, several tribes downstream will surely be struck by plague. If the plague spreads, the densely populated Edarra will suffer disaster!"

In fact, not only the princess herself, but also many experienced Saman officers saw that the reason why the Turan army left the area unattended was twofold: first, to spread terror and intimidation; and second, to use the situation to pollute the underground karez irrigation canals.

After all, it takes time for decay and deterioration to seep into the sand and soil and pollute the wells underground.

Fortunately, it was discovered in time.

"But watch out for any survivors," Farukzad instructed. "We are noble Iranian warriors, and we will not allow these poor survivors to be devoured by vultures and wild beasts in the desert."

Upon receiving the order, the Samanid army immediately began its deployment.

Before long, a soldier reported, "Shahdukht! A Turan woman, still alive, has been found on the cangue over there!" He then brought Farukzad over.

Chapter 346 The Naked Turanian Woman

On the horizon of the desert and dry grassland, the scorching sun carries sandstorms, and flocks of crows and vultures circle endlessly.

A woman was indeed nailed to one of the crossed wooden cangues.

She was covered only by a brown triangular cloth, and her body, covered with whip marks, revealed bulging, strong muscles. Her eyes were slightly closed, and her face revealed an indomitable determination, making her very likely a trained and fierce warrior.

However, her feet were shackled, and her hands were bound behind her back to a pillar. Long iron nails pierced her palms and were deeply embedded in the wooden pillar, leaving filthy bloodstains on her hands and between her toes. Faced with such shackles, even the bravest warrior would be powerless to break free.

“This is an officer of Turan Khan’s personal guard. Put her down and take her back to the camp.”

Farukzad glanced at them only a few times before giving orders to the soldiers around him.

Under her command, five or six Saman soldiers stepped forward. Two strong Saman soldiers removed the sturdy shackles, two Saman female soldiers freed the Turan woman from her restraints, gave her some water, and finally a Saman female officer put her on a saddle and took her away from the place.

As for the other remains, Farukzad ordered large pits to be dug in areas far from water sources, and after disinfection by the army doctors, they were buried together to ensure that no disease would spread.

……

Returning the survivors to the camp, Bahmanyar finally voiced his doubts along the way.

“Shahdukht (Princess), how did you determine that she was Aknuar’s personal guard officer?” Bahmanyar asked.

“It’s very simple,” Farukzad said confidently.

He then stated his reasoning:

"First of all, judging from her appearance, she is most likely a Turan native. Unlike the Turkic tribesmen with 'small eyes, flat noses, and skin as red as a cowhide shield,' this woman has some Iranian features in her eyes and brows. It is speculated that she comes from the Oghuz, Chachi, Karluk, and other Turkic tribes that have been deeply intermarried with Iranians. Therefore, she is very likely a Turan native."

"Secondly, judging from her attire, the cloth covering her waist was clearly of high quality. It was made of Zandan cloth from Bukhara, the fine and durable fabric used for the thongs of Iranian female soldiers. Thanks to trade routes, this fabric was also transported to the Turan steppe by caravans, but it was still a scarce commodity in Turan, and only the chief and his family and personal guards could use it, so it is speculated that she was one of them."

"Finally, judging from her physique, she was clearly well-trained. Like us Iranians, the Turan people also have the custom of women going into battle and serving as warriors. However, she was exceptionally strong and determined, so much so that she persevered despite the cruel torture, hunger, thirst, sandstorms, and vultures pecking at her—something that most people could not endure."

"Therefore, based on the above, I speculate that she came from Aknuar's personal guard."

Farukzad said this with reason and evidence.

“Yes, you’re right.” Bahmanyar nodded with some skepticism. “Then this is a valuable prisoner. Turan Khan’s personal guards are more valuable than ordinary Turkic prisoners of war.”

Suddenly, I realized that my words were slightly ambiguous.