I was the Queen of Persia

Page 93

Inside the commander's tent, the lights were burning.

"O God! Are you really going to abandon us?"

Mustafa's trusted general, Muhadab, paced back and forth, unable to sleep at night.

"Damn it! Are these Persians devils? How did they advance into Baghdad so quickly?!... Oh! And these Alawite Syrians! Have they received help from the devil Iblis?! They come and go without a trace, we can never catch them!"

Muhadab paced back and forth, cursing under his breath, but suddenly became desperate and pessimistic.

"Alas! It's over! It's all over! We, the remnants of our army, will be annihilated here sooner or later! There's no help! There's no hope!"

Thinking of this, the coach lowered his head helplessly.

at this time.

“You need not despair, God has shown us the way.” A cold voice suddenly came from outside the tent.

Haqqavi, shrouded in darkness, slowly entered the tent and bowed to Muhadeb.

"God has instructed us to leave this land of Jajra and travel along the Syrian desert to Hejaz, where we believers will find our final resting place." A sinister gaze pierced through the mask.

“No! Abandon this rich land and go to that poor, remote place?! Absolutely not!” Muhadab shook his head desperately.

“However, you have no choice.” Hakawi’s voice remained cold. “Jajira will be occupied by the Alawites sooner or later. It’s not too late to move now. Once the Alawites and the Persians attack from both sides, you won’t be able to escape even if you have wings.”

He lifted his mask, revealing a face covered in scars: "Our ancestors were Bedouin herders who came from Hejaz. There live tribes willing to follow the pious doctrines. Once we get there, recruit soldiers, and sooner or later we can make a comeback."

“This…” Muhaddaeb hesitated for a moment, then sighed, “Alright! We’ll migrate there, and hopefully it will be a blessed land that brings us good fortune!”

Upon hearing this, Hakkawi revealed a sinister smile that was difficult to detect, and slowly withdrew from the tent, sheathing the blade hidden under his black robe.

That's right, he originally planned to take the opportunity to assassinate Muhaddaeb and seize power.

But then he realized that he couldn't control the people on his own right now, and he needed Muhaddaeb to lead the army. So he finally gave up the idea of ​​assassination and instead tried to persuade them.

By turning Muhaddaeb into a puppet, it would be tantamount to indirectly controlling the army.

The next day.

In the various camps of Mustafa's remnant army, a flurry of activity ensued. Tents were being packed up, supplies were being loaded onto camels, and anything that couldn't be carried was being destroyed on the spot. Once everything was ready, Mustafa's remnant army formed ranks and hastily set off towards the Syrian desert.

To avoid revealing their whereabouts, the remaining soldiers took off the black robes that symbolized Mustafa's regime and put on the clothes of ordinary farmers and herdsmen. All the black flags in the army were also discarded.

Some fundamentalist Arab tribes, pro-Mustafa regime, also followed suit and fled towards the Hejaz.

……

Hidden in the Jagira Hills, a temporary camp for the Selim army.

"Report! Important news!" A scout in greyish-white Arabian cotton armor swept past the antlers and tents and ran to Idris and Zaydi.

"Mustafa's various armies have abandoned their camps and cities, and are retreating collectively to the southwest!" the scout reported.

"Such a good thing?!" Idris and Zaydi stood up in astonishment, exchanging bewildered glances.

“It seems they have sensed their impending doom and are trying to escape!” Idris said.

“That’s right.” Zayedi nodded. “We should seize this opportunity to turn defense into offense and reclaim our homeland!”

“Yes!” Idris affirmed. “We must reclaim the land that belongs to Princess Selim!”

He then ordered all battalions to concentrate their forces and launch a counterattack against Mustafa's remaining troops.

Hamdan's army advanced with unstoppable momentum, and in a very short time, it recovered dozens of towns and cities, large and small, that had been occupied by Mustafa's army, including Fulat, Raba, and Aziz. Its military strength continued to grow, and it also annihilated and captured 1 to 2 Mustafa soldiers who had not yet arrived or had escaped.

By the end of August 1005, the Hamdan dynasty had expanded its territory to the area north of Samara-Tikrit, encompassing most of Jagira.

At this time, Selim was still in Baghdad celebrating Shahzani's coronation when Idris and Zaydi sent messengers with secret messages to report this good news to the princess.

……

Also in late August to early September of 1005 AD, Muhaddab led his remaining 10,000 troops across the Syrian desert to the Hamad-Sirhan Valley on the outskirts of the Hejaz region. There were a few scattered oases there, and although the living conditions were still quite harsh, they could at least accommodate some of the fleeing troops.

Praise be to God! We have finally crossed the desert alive!

The dusty, ragged remnants of Mustafa's army ran frantically to the oasis pond, scooped up the muddy water and drank it down in large gulps. The bitter oasis pond water seemed like sweet dew at that moment.

But just then, a large number of armed Bedouin tribesmen emerged from the palm grove of the oasis. The Bedouins swarmed in greater numbers, surrounding Mustafa's remaining troops.

Logically, Mustafa's army should still have some fighting strength remaining. However, due to their long journey, hunger, thirst, and exhaustion, they are currently at their weakest point. If a real fight were to break out, they would probably not be a match for the Bedouin armed tribal people.

“Hakawi… what… what’s going on?” Muhadeb looked at the assassin leader dressed in black with a look of horror on his face.

"Heh..." Hakawi sneered, "You should know that Mustafa's power is gone! Now you are on my territory, and you have to do everything I say!"

"This..." Muhadab looked terrified, but his opportunistic nature allowed him to quickly find a breakthrough.

"Yes!" Muhadab nodded, his face now filled with reverence as he looked at Hakawi. "It's all my fault for being so slow! You are now the leader of the devout believers, and I now pledge my allegiance to you!"

"Praise be to God! We are also loyal to you!" The remaining soldiers, seeing that all was lost, also bowed down to Haqqavi.

Seeing this, Haqawi knew his plot had succeeded, and let out a sinister laugh. His dark eyes curved into a cold arc as he looked at Muhaddaeb: "From today onwards, there is no more Mustafa Caliphate, only the Black Blade Regiment of Hejaz!"

Chapter 217 Division of Near Eastern Spheres of Influence

The time was the end of August 1005 AD, which was also the month of Shahrivar in the Persian calendar.

Shahzani solemnly held a ceremony to be crowned King of Kings, warmly received his officials and dignitaries, dealt with some historical issues in Iraq, and also received Iraqi elites and dignitaries.

Nationalism in ancient times was not as pronounced as it is today, and not all countries possess the "Shubi" ideology, imbued with strong national pride, found in the Iranians. To put it simply, who the ruler is is not so important.

For most small farmers who make a living by farming, or urban small merchants and artisans, the logic at the bottom is even more so. As long as the rulers can establish a stable order, respect their customs, and provide them with a guarantee of survival, they will be loyal without hesitation.

"Of course, rulers cannot go too far. The perverse methods of governance used by Mustafa have driven the people to the opposite side, and ultimately, he will inevitably perish."

Shahzani quipped, just as a guard from outside the door came to report that Princess Selim requested an audience.

"Oh? Quickly, invite her in," Shahzani instructed, having roughly guessed the purpose of the other party's visit.

After the coronation ceremony, Serem stayed in Baghdad for several more days.

During this period, she made several contacts with Samanian generals such as Shahini, presenting them with gifts and showering them with praise. Clearly, her ultimate goal was to request an audience with Queen Shahzani.

Sahini conveyed the gift to the Queen and explained Selim's purpose. Shahzani understood immediately and therefore granted permission to receive her on a relatively free day later.

That's exactly what happened today.

as predicted.

Selim, disheveled and barefoot, entered the main hall.

Upon seeing Shahzani, she bowed respectfully and said, "Greetings to the great King of Kings, the center of the universe! You led the army of justice to punish the wicked false Caliph. Now Mustafa's evil regime has been destroyed; this is truly your glorious achievement!"

"No need for pleasantries, Selim. Just state your purpose," Shahzani said with a slight wave of her hand, feigning ignorance.

“Yes.” Selim nodded slightly. “Now that the situation in Iraq and Jajira has been stabilized, and we Syrians have been able to restore our country thanks to your generous help, I would like to briefly discuss… uh… the border issue between the two countries.”

“Yes, it’s time to discuss this. Overall, we control Iraq, and you occupy Jajra. That should be a fairly clear boundary,” Shahzani said, getting straight to the point.

“That is so. However, I implore that the border between the two countries be set at the oasis between Sinn and Tikrit, where an Alawite prophet is buried, which has sacred significance for my subjects.” Selim said, slightly roundaboutly.

“That is a topic. The ownership of Xincheng has historically changed between Jajira and Iraq, but currently Iranian troops are stationed there. I think we don’t need to discuss this topic too much.” Shahzani showed his assertive side.

“Your Majesty, your kingdom is vast and your army is large and your generals numerous; while my kingdom is small and my army is few and my generals few. This small piece of land may be insignificant to you, but it is very important to me,” Selim subtly “reminded” him.

“Even so, that land was reclaimed by Iranian soldiers through bloody battles; it was stained with the blood of Iranian warriors.” Shahzani smiled meaningfully.

“If Your Majesty thinks so, then I feel a little regretful. I am not so confident that my weak country will be able to share your burden in the future.” Selim sighed regretfully, as if her true intentions had been revealed.

“That’s alright. Iranian soldiers are always ready. As long as you request to defend your homeland, they will immediately be ready to fight and help you drive away the enemy,” Shahzani said, feigning “comfort.”

That's how political games work. Even kinship allies who are bound by blood and share the same language and culture can't avoid bickering over interests. Moreover, the alliance between Shahzani and Selim is far from stable. They are neither of the same ethnicity nor the same religious sect, and to some extent, it's a relationship of "mutual exploitation."

After some further bargaining, the two sides agreed on a price.

Shahzani also made measured advances and concessions, ultimately determining that the two sides would divide the Xincheng region:

Most of the fertile oases of Xin City belonged to Shahzani; smaller towns and villages—such as Ibn Messail and Hamidiyah, including the holy tombs of the Alawites—were given to Selim.

Selim was quite satisfied with the compromise and was about to thank him and take his leave.

Shahzani suddenly said sternly, "Enough! How can we let this insignificant piece of land affect the friendship between our two countries? This land belongs entirely to you, and may God bless you with abundance."

Upon hearing this, Selim was overjoyed and quickly and respectfully thanked the Persian Queen for her gift.

In fact, Shahzani originally intended to assign it to Selim.

While the Iranian Samanid Empire was vast and powerful, given the limited transportation infrastructure of ancient times, it was unable to project its influence to the eastern Mediterranean coast. Therefore, the Syrian Hamdan dynasty was still needed as a strategic outpost.

However, even though both involve giving land, the meaning of "giving voluntarily" and "giving passively" are different. "Giving voluntarily" represents a favor, while "giving passively" only proves that the person involved is foolish and rich.

If we hand over the land as soon as the other party asks for it, it will only encourage her to develop a "greedy" habit, which will cause more trouble in the future; on the other hand, if we are too tough and refuse to give up an inch of land, it will damage the relationship between the two countries.

For the Persians, Iraq was a foreign land they had conquered, and giving up a small portion was not a big deal. It was not worth affecting their long-term strategy for such a small gain.

Therefore, Shahzani set up various obstacles along the way, and only after ensuring that she ultimately held the majority of the benefits firmly in her hands did she "voluntarily" bestow the benefits upon Selim.

September 16, 1005 AD, the 25th of Shahrivar in the Persian calendar.

The Iranian Samanid Empire and the Syrian Hamdanid dynasty formally signed an agreement in Nahrawan to divide spheres of influence. Samanid historians recorded this as the "Agreement of Nahrawan," which stipulated:

First, Iran and Syria are friendly countries.

Second, the border between Iran and Syria is defined by the Zagros Mountains – the northern section of the Hulwan Oasis – the northern section of the Tikrit Oasis; neither country shall harbor or protect any bandits, thieves, or other armed forces that cross the border.

Third, Iran maintains a military presence on Syrian territory to protect its regime.

Fourth, Syria provides Iran with local specialties worth 100 million dirhams annually.

Fifth, the two countries opened a bazaar on their border to facilitate trade and commerce.

Sixth, Syria considers the eastern Mediterranean coast regions, including the Sham, the Lebanese mountains, Palestine, and Jordan, as potential spheres of influence. If Hamdan and Fatima go to war, Syria can seize these territories and bring them under its control.

Chapter 218: Multiple Countries Take the Initiative to Show Goodwill?

With Iran and Syria forming an alliance, the situation in Iraq-Jajlah and Sham is essentially set in stone.

Iran, as the dominant force in the order, and Syria, as a forward strategic base, jointly defend against potential enemies from the west—the rising Fatimid dynasty and the Eastern Roman Empire.

"The Eastern Roman Empire is alright; their current focus is on Bulgaria. Fatima is a big problem; they are more hostile towards our sect. After all, heresy is more abhorrent than paganism."

"If we could use a strategy of attacking from afar and befriending those nearby, and make contact with the forces west of Fatima, that would be ideal in theory. Unfortunately, those Berbers are not a significant force and are not worth the effort and resources to win over."

Shahzani thought to herself.

She wasn't afraid of a full-scale war, but she wanted peace now.

After all, on the main battlefield, the Fatimid Egyptian infantry might not be able to defeat the Saman Iranian armored cavalry. In terms of territory and overall national strength, the Saman also had the upper hand over the Fatimids.

The problem is that after years of large-scale wars, the Iranian army has exhausted countless resources, and the Iranian people are quite tired. She does not want to follow Nader Shah's high-intensity military policy: prioritizing the army and war and ignoring the livelihoods of the people. That would only make her hard-earned empire a flash in the pan.

Furthermore, as a mother, she now always thinks about her daughter.

Since Princess Farukzad's birth, he has been constantly on the move with the army, rarely having a peaceful day. Even when he wanted to spend time with the little princess, he was always too busy with military and political affairs to do so.

Although being immersed in military campaigns for a long time would help her daughter develop a body as strong as steel and a tenacious character, Shahzani clearly preferred that her daughter receive a formal court education so that she could become a qualified successor who was proficient in both literature and martial arts.

"In short, the strategic deployment in Iraq is complete, and war will not break out in the short term." With this in mind, Shahzani finally decided to return to Jahanshahr.

Of course, before setting off, she reviewed the defense layout of Iraqi province once again, and only left with peace of mind after ensuring that everyone was fulfilling their duties. Overall, however, with a skilled female general like Shahinian, there was little to worry about.

Thousands upon thousands of crimson banners gleamed in the sun, the Iranian Shah banners, symbols of the authority of the Samanid Empire, fluttering in the wind.

With high morale and the joy of victory, all of Saman's soldiers embarked on their journey back to Jahanshahr along the wide Khorasan Avenue.

……

October 7, 1005 AD, is the Mehergan Festival in the Persian calendar.

Shahzani arrived in Rai and rested there for a while to celebrate the festival before continuing his journey.

In the boudoir of the government office.

Shahzani softly hummed a lullaby, coaxing Princess Farukzad to sleep. Looking at the rosy cheeks of the little girl, the Queen smiled lovingly.

Just then, a personal female slave quietly stepped forward and whispered a few words in the Empress's ear.

Shahzani nodded slightly after hearing this, then handed the little princess over to the female slave nurses to take care of her. She then put on an outer robe and scarf, put on sandals, and went to the council hall.

An official from Diwan's diplomatic mission was waiting there.

"Greetings, Your Majesty—the Great King of Kings." Upon seeing Shahzani arrive, the official bowed and greeted her.

"Please rise," Shahzani waved her hand. "What brings you here?"