I was the Queen of Persia

Page 86

“Your Majesty is wise, that is indeed the case,” Polodina said. “I know that my disguise will not last long. Once someone discovers that the woman hidden under the burqa is not their mistress, but a naked female prisoner of war from another race who has escaped, my fate will be quite tragic.”

"So you decided to strike first."

Shahzani said, “You infiltrated the master’s residence and, taking advantage of his momentary lapse in vigilance, swiftly dealt with him. Seeing that their master had been killed, the slaves realized they too would face certain death. Because the Mustafa regime oppressed slaves so severely, and according to their law, the death of a master meant severe punishment for the slaves. Considering the deceased was an officer under Mustafa, they would face tortures such as having their hands cut off, their eyes gouged out, their hearts ripped out, and being burned alive. Fearing these punishments, they simply followed you.”

"Your Majesty is wise; this is how things went."

Polodina bowed her head slightly in reverence and continued, “The steward of all the servants is a swamp Arab from southern Iraq. He is still in contact with his compatriots in his homeland and has suggested that I go there for refuge. He said that the swamps in southern Iraq are complex and easy to defend, and that if I hide there, I can receive help from my compatriots. Even if I still cannot escape death in the end, at least I can live a little longer.”

Then came the much-anticipated plot development.

Polodina donned a black robe, disguised herself as the mistress of the house, and left the city, surrounded by servants. Because of her disguise, the Mustafa soldiers guarding the route dared not question her and let her pass directly.

The group left Madain, choosing a secluded, rarely traveled path. Due to Polodina's threats and fear of the Caliphate's harsh punishments, no one dared to desert. The group deliberately took several detours, eventually reaching the southern Iraqi swamp—a haven for Arabs, Shiites, and runaway slaves.

“When I arrived here, I was lucky enough to take in many slaves and persecuted religious minorities scattered here, train them into armed forces, and gradually build up my strength. I also frequently attacked slave ships passing through the area, constantly increasing my power,” Polodina said.

That concludes the story.

"Well done!" Shahzani praised. "You are not only blessed with good fortune, but also courageous, resourceful, and exceptionally bold. Very good, I admire your bravery and determination."

Laughter and cheerful conversation filled the air all the way.

……

After some time, the fleet arrived at the hidden camp of Polodina's forces.

“Your Majesty, welcome to our sanctuary,” Polodina said, bowing. “Your arrival will add immeasurable glory to this place.”

Shahzani looked around and saw dense reeds, winding roads, and a complex network of waterways. The thatched camps resembled artificial islands scattered across the water. The camp was heavily fortified, with guards every three steps and sentries every five, and hidden spies everywhere.

The camp's supplies are not a problem for the time being. The vast rivers and lakes provide abundant resources, and several friendly Arab tribes in the nearby swamps regularly send supplies to them.

At Polodina's call, the slave rebels resolutely joined the Samanid army, willing to guide Queen Shahzani.

Meanwhile, the local swamp Arabs and Shia Muslims exiled there, having long suffered under the oppressive rule of Mustafa's regime, also responded to the call and joined the Saman army led by Shahzani.

Shahzani had initially thought the swamp area would be difficult to traverse, but she unexpectedly received strong support from the local people and recruited a large number of guides familiar with the routes, which easily solved the problem of the difficult journey.

But at that moment, several chieftains and sheikhs of the swampy Arab tribes came to see her and offered her advice, or rather, a request.

"Her Majesty the Queen."

The sheikhs of the Swamp Arabs said, “You know, we Madan people call these vast rivers and swamps our home. But since Mustafa seized power, in order to coerce us into submission, he has not only repeatedly sent troops to invade, but also tried to build a dam on the upper reaches of the Tigris River to cut off the flow of water and force us to surrender…”

“Okay.” Upon hearing this, Shahzani couldn’t help but think to herself, “Why does this measure sound so familiar? Yes! Isn’t this the same tactic used by former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein? After the Iran-Iraq War, he built dikes to block the river and forced the Shiites hiding in the swamps to surrender.”

“So…” the Sheikhs hesitated for a moment.

"So, do you want me to dismantle those dams after I take over the cities along the river?" Shahzani said.

“Indeed!” the other side responded in unison. “We would gladly die for our great Queen! We pray that your righteous army will defeat Mustafa and help us be freed from this misfortune. May God bless you!”

“Very well. Even if you don’t speak up, I will not let this matter go unresolved,” Shahzani said. “Rest assured! Your homeland remains beautiful and prosperous, and Mustafa’s scheme will not succeed.”

"It's better than this."

At this point, Bahram suggested, "Our scouts have discovered that Wasit, about 5 farsahs (30 kilometers) to the north, is relatively isolated and vulnerable, and there are sluice gates there to block the river. If we occupy that place, we can lay the foundation for continuing our northward advance and also destroy part of the water-blocking project."

Shahzani nodded after hearing this, and then ordered the soldiers to bring the map for analysis.

Wasit was indeed an ideal target for attack: surrounded by a dense network of waterways and wetlands, it was connected to other towns only by a few main roads. In other words, as long as its communication with the outside world was cut off, it would immediately become a vulnerable "isolated island".

“Excellent idea, then let’s use it as our starting point.” Shahzani pointed sharply at the map. “Let Mustafa’s followers see clearly that no insurmountable barrier can stop the Samanid army.”

“Alright, then I’ll go and devise a battle plan and assemble the vanguard.” Bahraim bowed and touched his chest in response, then turned to leave.

“Hey, wait a minute,” Shahzani called out to her.

"Go and find some women's burqas, preferably the kind mandated by the Mustafa regime, the kind where the eyes are covered by a net," Shahzani ordered.

"This..." Bahraim was puzzled by the Queen's request. "What do you need these low-class things for?"

"You'll find out soon enough, go on." Shahzani smiled slightly.

Chapter 200 Giving the Caliph a Bit of Persian Shock

Although Bahramu didn't quite understand her lord's intentions, she knew that the Queen's arrangement must have a reason, so she carried out the order.

These full-coverage women's robes were very common in the areas controlled by the Mustafa regime, and thousands of them were acquired without much effort.

The matter was already completed, but Bahramu was still puzzled and her curiosity led her to ask Shahzani for the reason.

"It's really strange. These things are neither weapons and armor, nor provisions, and they don't even seem to have any purpose. What does Her Majesty want with them?"

As she pondered this, she entered Shahzani's tent.

A shadow appeared, and she looked up in surprise. Standing in front of her was a person wrapped in a black robe, covered from head to toe by a large, dark cloth, with their eyes hidden behind a fine mesh, making it impossible to tell who it was.

"Hey! Who are you in the name of Holmozd?! What are you doing in Her Majesty's tent?! Shaher Guard! An intruder has broken into Her Majesty's tent!" The female general's eyes were sharp with vigilance as she quickly drew the battle axe hanging at her waist as a warning.

"You really don't recognize me?" A familiar voice came from inside the robe.

“You are…” Bahramu frowned slightly.

The man slowly removed his cloak, revealing himself to be Shahzani herself. She happily removed her "disguise."

"Huh?!" Bahraim's eyes widened. "How could you wear such wicked clothes of a hypocrite? By Holmozd! I almost didn't recognize you."

"This is exactly the effect I wanted."

Shahzani tossed the burqa aside and said casually, "If you—my dear sister who's been with me day and night—didn't recognize me when I wore this, then how will the enemy recognize our soldiers when they wear it?"

“Hormozed! Yes, that’s a good strategy!” Bahraim exclaimed in sudden realization.

“So, now you understand my intentions, right?” Shahzani said.

“Understood!” Bahramu replied readily.

Shahzani decided to distribute burqas to his elite warriors, who would then disguise themselves as women under the control of the Mustafa regime and infiltrate the city's fortifications undetected, thus enabling them to attack from within and without, annihilate the enemy, and seize the city.

The plan was immediately put into action.

The surrounding swampy Arab tribes were mobilized, providing the Saman army with a wealth of intelligence on the terrain and geography, and they also took the initiative to row boats to help Shahzani transport troops to the front lines.

Although Iraq is mostly plains, it is also dotted with rivers, lakes, wetlands and swamps, especially in southern Iraq. The large-scale heavy troop tactics used in the Iranian plateau region are difficult to implement here, and the local people have to rely on boats and vehicles.

Near Wasit, there is a secluded swampy Arab camp overgrown with weeds.

The Samanid army participating in the offensive was mainly the Shahri Guard, led by the Queen herself. Following Shahzani's orders, they all changed into camouflage robes and awaited further instructions.

"Splash—", "Splash—", "Splash—"

Several graceful figures leaped out of the calm water. They were several Arab girls from the swamp who had volunteered to scout ahead. Each of them was half-naked, with only a small cloth covering their crotch. Their steps were light and their movements were agile.

"Greetings to you." The Arab girls reported to Shahzani, "The defenses around Wasit are not strong. There are only a few hundred soldiers in the city. There are more than ten light catapults and ballistae on the city walls. There is also a shallow moat outside the city walls. That's all. The city is also far away from the garrisons of other strongholds."

"Alright." Shahzani nodded and ordered her soldiers, "Prepare for action!"

Using their burqas as disguise, the Saman soldiers infiltrated Wasit in batches. The Mustafa soldiers guarding the city assumed they were women from the city and allowed them into the city without any inspection.

The Saman warriors entered Wasit and dispersed, but upon receiving the signal from the campfires of the troops outside the city, they launched a unified attack at the same time. In an instant, the city of Wasit was filled with shouts of battle and flashes of fire. Before Mustafa's soldiers could even understand what was happening, large numbers of them perished under the warhammers and axes of the Saman warriors.

Wasit eventually fell into the hands of Shahzani.

"Good! Iranian warriors!" Shahzani climbed to the top of Wasit city wall, looking at the city that had been captured, his face beaming with joy.

"Your Majesty, the city has fallen. Do you want us to dismantle those flood control dikes?" Mo Yuxuan from the Chinese craftsmen's camp asked from the side.

“Yes.” Shahzani nodded. “To be precise, it is ‘improvement,’ to find ways to transform it into facilities that are conducive to agricultural irrigation, so that the Tigris River plain will be more fertile and prosperous.”

“I understand,” Mo Yuxuan said. “Please rest assured, China has many skilled craftsmen who will surely complete the task to your satisfaction.”

Under Mo Yuxuan's command, the Chinese engineering battalion began to get busy.

The other combat troops, according to Shahzani's plan, continued their advance, using the same tactics of camouflage and encirclement from both inside and outside.

Relying on the same "black robe" strategy, and with the strong cooperation of the local swamp Arabs, Shahzani's army advanced swiftly along the Tigris River, capturing towns such as Yunusya, Muhadalaqar, and Famshi in just over ten days, shocking the entire Mustafa regime.

at the same time.

Upon learning of the Samanid Persian army's successive victories, the imams and mullahs of Kufa in the Euphrates River basin immediately called upon the people to rise up in rebellion. A major uprising erupted in Kufa, with local Shia and Sunni people joining forces to kill officials sent by the Mustafa regime and declare independence from the Caliphate in response to Shahzani's offensive.

In just a few weeks, Mustafa had lost the three major southern cities of Basra, Wasit, and Kufa, effectively losing control of the entire southern Iraq. Meanwhile, the uprising in the north was still raging. As a result, his regime was in grave danger.

……

Baghdad, the Caliph's palace.

"God above! Those damned Persians!" Mustafa roared, tearing the battle report to shreds. "Do the Persians have wings?! How did they manage to cross the swamp?!"

“Great faithful lord, please calm your anger.” The official who came to report trembled. “It was those damned Madan people (swamp Arabs)! They led the Persian soldiers and let them board their ships!”

“These infidels deserve to be exterminated!” Mustafa’s eyes practically blazed with fury. “One day, we will raze their huts to the ground, drain their rivers, cut off their heads, and let their blood stain the Tigris River red!”

at this time.

“Supreme Caliph. Apart from the bad news above, there is now some good news.” The close advisor, Qulai, entered the palace and bowed to Mustafa.

"Oh, what's the good news?" Mustafa's tone softened slightly.

"Shahzani's offensive will probably have to stall for a while," Gulai said.

Chapter 201 Becoming a Mother

"Oh? Why? Is it because they don't have enough food?" Mustafa asked.

“No,” Gulei said.

"Did the Madan people betray them and launch a sneak attack from behind?" Mustafa asked.

“No, not exactly,” Gulei said.

“I still don’t understand, what is the reason?” Mustafa asked again.

“Great leader of the believers,” said Qurayt with utmost respect. “The prophet said that a pregnant lioness will not display her power, and this applies equally to people.”

Mustafa thought for a moment after hearing this, and then suddenly realized: "Oh, I think I understand. You mean that Shahzani is now in the same situation as... uh... the same situation."

"Yes."

Gulai nodded: "According to our informants, the Saman army recently requisitioned the local medical clinics in Wasit City, conscripted many doctors, and strengthened defenses around the city, strictly prohibiting any unauthorized personnel from entering or leaving at will. Considering that Shahzani has been pregnant since the start of the campaign, this guess is probably quite accurate."

that's the truth.

It was late April to early May of 1005 AD, the beginning of the month of Ordibehsht in the Persian calendar. After more than a dozen months of pregnancy, Shahzani was nearing the end of her pregnancy.

On her way to Famshi, she began to show many symptoms and her body could no longer tolerate high-intensity marching and fighting. So she chose to return to Wasit, because the city had a stable climate and a well-equipped medical center, and the conditions were better than many of the surrounding small and medium-sized towns.

Under these circumstances, the Samanid army's offensive was temporarily postponed.

“If that’s the case,” Mustafa stroked his beard thoughtfully for a moment, “it gives us a chance to fight back. Have the troops we sent to the north to suppress the uprising gone far enough?”

"In accordance with your orders, the vanguard regiment that was first dispatched has already reached the vicinity of Samara and is assisting the local garrison in suppressing the uprising; while the rearguard regiments are currently stationed near Baquba, and there is still time for them to return to defend," Gulai said.

“Very well! Then,” Mustafa said, “I order you to recall the garrison in Baquba, and draw several more troops from Baghdad as reinforcements. You are to immediately go to Numania to take charge of the defenses and launch a new ‘holy war’ to completely destroy Shahzani’s army!”

"In addition..." Mustafa called Gulai over and whispered a few words of advice.

"I will obey your command!" Gulai replied, bowing his head.

Numaniyah, situated on the strategic choke point between Wasit and Baghdad, held considerable strategic importance. Together with nearby Diyar-Al-Aqul, it formed a crucial southeastern gateway to Baghdad, which explains Mustafa's emphasis on it. To be fair, if Mustafa's army could hold these two cities, it would indeed have delayed the Samanid army's offensive.

But neither Mustafa nor Gulay were willing to be satisfied with just "defense".

After arriving in office, Qurayt immediately summoned the fanatical mullahs and Sharifs loyal to Mustafa and incited the believers to take up arms and fight against the Samanid Persian army.

Because Numania was an important recruitment base for Mustafa, the local people were quickly stirred up by the fervor and joined the Mustafa regime's forces. In just a few days, the number of troops in Ghoulai had reached 4.

Qurayt rallied his soldiers to launch a "holy war" and a "counter-offensive," successfully recapturing several village strongholds occupied by the Samanid army and forcing the Samanid army to retreat a distance.

At this point, the Samanid forces were ordered to cease their offensive and focus on consolidating their gains. Therefore, they did not care about the loss of a few villages. More importantly, they still firmly held control of the important towns.

……

It was now May 5, 1005 AD, the 15th of the month of Ordibehsht in the Persian calendar, and the day of Shahzani's delivery had officially arrived.

Early that morning, Shahzani was stripped naked from head to toe and wheeled into a clean delivery room, where she was cared for by the excellent doctors under Ibn Sina.

Most of the best obstetricians and gynecologists are men. Although this may go against the doctrine, doctrine can be adapted to practical use. Besides, Shahzani has no taboos regarding men and women.

After preparing and disinfecting the medicines and tools, the doctors knelt on the prayer mats and prayed for "God's help and guidance." Then, according to their assigned tasks, they officially began their work.

Shahzani felt waves of cramping pain in her lower abdomen. Even someone as strong as her was in so much pain that she gritted her teeth and sweat beaded on her forehead, stubbornly enduring the pain only through her strong willpower.