I was the Queen of Persia

Page 130

Although it was only the initial clash and neither side suffered significant losses, Aknuar was furious at the vassal forces' audacity in resisting their overlord with force.

He rode his horse and led his troops into the cities and settlements abandoned by the Alan army.

Indeed, the Alans are not entirely nomadic. In fact, after a long period of feudalization and settlement, they are more like a semi-agricultural and semi-pastoral people, with cities, farmland, churches, and even large-scale fortresses.

boom--!

He chopped down the cross on the church with a single stroke.

“The Alans have far too many cities. They’ve corrupted their courage and made them indulge in pleasure and comfort,” Aknuer sneered.

He then ordered a large-scale sweep and looting of the captured city of Alan, taking all its resources and property—whether grain, livestock, gold, silver, or cloth—to be used as provisions for his army.

The captured Alans, regardless of age or gender, were all enslaved. Those who dared to resist were killed on the spot, and their heads were piled up into pyramids of human heads outside the city—just like the "holy war" once waged by the Buddhists of Khotan.

After the Khan issued the order, Turan's fierce army was already impatient, and with their rampage, the conquered city of Alan was instantly plunged into an extremely tragic bloodbath.

On the Kuban River grassland, countless plumes of smoke rose into the sky, and countless mounds of skulls rose from the ground. The captured Alan men and women, strung together by ropes, walked unsteadily toward the city of Afrasiab under the whips of the soldiers guarding Turan.

The Kingdom of Alan is once again in peril.

Chapter 306 Your subjects? Now they're mine.

Just as the Kingdom of Alan was about to suffer annihilation, the Saman army sent by Shahzani to provide support successfully reached the border of the Kingdom of Alan by taking a route through the Caucasus Mountains pass.

“Your Majesty, our Queen welcomes you and your subjects. In our kingdom, any righteous faith will be tolerated.” Sahinien persuaded King Alan to seek refuge in the Saman Empire.

Many brave and warlike Alan military nobles still attempted to continue gathering troops for a decisive battle against the Turan army.

Sahimian then carefully analyzed the pros and cons for them:

"The Turan army is powerful and at the height of its strength. If you fight them head-on now, you will inevitably suffer huge bloodshed and loss of life, causing great suffering to the people. Only by finding a safe haven and recuperating can you hope to make a comeback one day."

After saying this, he advised the Alan military nobles to carefully consider the matter.

King Alan weighed the pros and cons.

The Alans, being Christians, should theoretically have maintained closer ties with the Byzantine Empire. However, when their people faced great hardship, the Eastern Romans remained indifferent, and there were even rumors that they were secretly making peace with the Turans. Ironically, Iran, with a different religion, promptly offered assistance.

Despite being predominantly Muslim, the Samanid Empire possessed a vast territory, immense power, and genuinely practiced a policy of religious tolerance. Furthermore, according to vague tribal legends and historical records, the Samanid Persians did indeed share some blood ties with their own people.

Think again and again.

“Very well. We thank Her Majesty for her generosity, and in return, we will do our utmost to guard your borders!” King Alan finally agreed.

Under the command of lords and chieftains, large numbers of Alan people, with their families and herds of cattle and sheep, abandoned the land they had toiled for generations and followed the roads along the Caucasus Mountains, crossing the treacherous Darband Pass (Lihai Pass) into the Samanid Empire.

Shahzani has already designated pastures and farmlands for them in several Malzban border districts in the northwestern frontier, so that they can live and thrive.

Just as they were preparing to migrate as a whole tribe, the advance pursuers of the Turan people were about to arrive.

“You all go quickly, don’t worry, we’ll handle the Turans!” Sahini said to King Alan.

He commanded his most elite Iranian Holy Fire Brigade cavalry to assemble and advance to meet the enemy.

As they galloped across the steppes along the Terek River, they indeed discovered a troop of Turan cavalry that had already crossed to the south. They wore armor somewhat similar in style to that of the Iranians, and their wolf-head banners fluttered in the wind. Guided by the Angbash (ten-man captains) and Yuzbash (centurions), they charged forward on horseback.

Before the enemy could fully cross the river, Sahinnian decisively ordered an attack.

Iranian cavalrymen formed a flanking formation and unleashed a concentrated barrage of fire, catching the Turan soldiers who were the first to cross the river off guard.

The Turan soldiers, who had been advancing with unstoppable momentum, had never encountered such fierce resistance before. In a panic, they hastily drew their bows to fight back, but their arrows failed to penetrate the Iranian cavalry's fabric armor. Instead, they were subjected to a new round of arrow rain.

Clashing swords, galloping horses, and a rain of arrows.

Sahimian led her troops in a flanking maneuver, charging left and right, their disciplined training putting even the nomadic warriors, who had been trained in horsemanship and archery since childhood, to a standstill. After several fierce battles, the Iranian cavalry broke through the Turan cavalry's formation and drove them back into the river.

Sahini did not linger in battle, immediately regrouping and withdrawing his troops to cover the migration and evacuation of the Alan people.

On the other side of the battlefield.

"What?!" Aknuer was furious upon hearing the news.

"The Alan people dare to openly betray their country and surrender to the enemy! They deserve to be punished in the fires forever! Order the razing of all their cities and fortifications!" Aknuer roared.

Upon learning that the Samanid Empire had sent troops to interfere, the female Khan became even more enraged and vowed to march south and conquer Iran.

……

The events in the Kingdom of Alan have further escalated tensions between Iran and Turan.

Aknuar went to great lengths to manufacture weapons, train warhorses, expand the Khan's standing army, and even create war machines specifically for sieges. As a former general of the Karakhanid Khan who had fought against Shahzani, she was clearly aware of the opponent's strength and thus expanded her military power even further.

However, such a massive expansion of military power clearly required the support of huge amounts of taxation. To achieve his ambitions, Aknuar imposed even higher war taxes on his vassal tribes.

However, the increased taxation has caused hardship for the herders.

Many more tribes that roamed the border between the two countries chose to break away from their submission to the Turan Khanate and instead pledge allegiance to the Samanid Empire, and quietly migrated to Iranian territory.

……

The city of felt, east of the Aral Sea, is the former territory of the Oghuz Yabghu Kingdom.

A middle-class tribe called Timurleq, unable to bear the repeated exploitation by the Turan tax collectors, recently sought to switch allegiance and join the Samanid Empire. Through Iranian spies, they contacted Princess Qadhuda-Falukzad, the current princess of the Transoxiana province of the Samanid Empire.

Under the strict tutelage of Khorasan Military District Commander Khorshid, Farukzad made rapid progress.

At the age of nine, she was already proficient in horsemanship, archery, combat, and official document writing; at the age of twelve, she was promoted to the garrison commander of Zanshahr, the place where her mother had fought; and now at the age of sixteen, she has been promoted to a high-ranking official in charge of a province.

The Governor's Palace of Bukhara, Transoxiana Province, bathhouse.

(Shahzani has moved the provincial capital from Samarkand to Bukhara)

The walls are adorned with intricate and symmetrical Persian arch patterns, showcasing a magnificent beauty that exudes authority and order.

"Splash!"

A beautiful and strong body leaps out of the bath.

Her jet-black hair, like surging waves, exuded a capable beauty; her beautiful eyes, like black pearls, adorned her rose-like face; her jewel-like red lips shone with an alluring luster; her waist was as straight as a cypress; and her figure was curvaceous and strong.

Now sixteen, she is just like her mother in her youth: beautiful and alluring, captivating and seductive, resolute and fierce, and possessing extraordinary strength. In some aspects, she even seems to be surpassing her mother in character.

“Kadehuda, a messenger from the Timurlek tribe said that they have crossed the Syr Darya River and plan to set foot on a remote path in the Kyzylkum Desert in five days.”

The female guard standing nearby handed over a bath towel and then truthfully reported the latest news.

“Very good.” Farukzad bent down seductively and slowly pulled on her briefs from her ankles. “Draw two elite cavalry regiments to assemble. I will personally go to meet them.”

She raised her rose-like face, her captivating eyes revealing a resolute expression.

"They have sworn allegiance and are loyal subjects of our country. On the sacred land of Iran, I will never allow them to be hunted down by our enemies!"

Donning her battle attire, armor, and helmet, and mounting her powerful and sturdy "Rakhsh" armored warhorse, this fledgling princess embarked on her journey of military conquest.

Chapter 307 The Princess's First Glimpse of Talent

The border between the Iranian Samanid Empire and the Turan Khanate stretched for over 300 farsahs (approximately 2000 kilometers).

Due to the defection of the Nassak government and the "divine assistance" of Aknuar's increased taxation, many small tribes suffering greatly migrated into the Samanid Empire with their cattle, sheep and horses.

Shahzani was stationed in the capital city of Jahanshahr, receiving reports from officials of various provinces and counties.

"Your Majesty, Kadhuda and Princess Farukzad of Transoxiana have personally led their elite troops to receive the tribes that have come to surrender." Another messenger arrived to inform Shahzani of this news.

“Alright, let her go! Continue the tracking!” Shahzani gestured.

As a mother, Shahzani felt a little uneasy: on the one hand, she hoped that her daughter would achieve a great victory and return in triumph; on the other hand, she had some inexplicable worries.

But in the end, the strong-willed mother remained steadfast in her belief that victory was inevitable.

"The sharpness of a sword is ultimately determined by its quality and the tempering it undergoes!" Shahzani thought to herself.

……

Kyzylkum Desert.

The armored cavalry under the command of Farukzad were advancing towards their destination along the sandy paths in the desert. The first 1000 camel riders were majestic and imposing, while the last 1000 warhorse riders were well-trained. The crimson Saman banners in the army fluttered in the howling sandstorm.

Under the scorching desert sun and amidst the sandstorm, Farukzad's beautiful eyes carefully surveyed her surroundings. This marked her first time leading troops into battle independently, and the battleground was in the desert.

Her mother and teachers had taught her a great deal about marching and fighting in the desert: supplies must be sufficient, formations must be tight, orders must be obeyed, slow advances and rapid attacks must be combined, contingency plans must be prepared, and veteran soldiers and war beasts familiar with the terrain should be carefully selected to serve as vanguard guides...

I have already memorized this knowledge; all that's left is to put it to practical use.

Keep marching.

Everything here seems flat, an endless expanse of sand stretching as far as the eye can see, dotted only by scattered sea buckthorn, saxaul, and camel thorn, punctuating the boundless yellow sand. Yet, gusts of wind and sand howl, seemingly foreshadowing a sudden battle, much like the sandstorms that frequently sweep through the area.

A scout reports from ahead: "The Timurid tribe has reached the sand dunes at the two Farsahs ahead, but a large number of Turan troops are still closely following behind them!"

Farukzad sensed something was wrong and immediately ordered his troops to spread out and speed up their march. After a short while, they indeed spotted flocks of refugees fleeing in sheep-drawn carts. In the distance, on the horizon, they could see scattered enemy pursuers.

Keng——!

The Iranian princess drew her mace and gave the order to attack.

Upon receiving the order, the Iranian cavalry moved into action. The vanguard of camel riders quickly occupied key transportation routes and formed defensive formations, while the horse riders swiftly maneuvered to the flanks and launched a charge against the Turan pursuers.

Ironclad soldiers and armored horses clashed against each other as two powerful cavalry empires engaged in fierce combat on the battlefield.

The battle reached its climax.

Farukzad decisively spurred her horse and led the reserves into battle. She took the lead, wielding her mace to pierce through the enemy soldiers' armor. The armored beast beneath her seemed unstoppable, and her resolute, beautiful eyes, peering through her pointed helmet, swept coldly over the passing enemy soldiers.

A Turanian army Yuzbash (centurion) bravely accepted the challenge. He spurred his horse forward, roaring loudly, and charged toward Farukzad. The axe in his hand carried immense force, as if to crush any opponent in his path.

However, such demonstrations are ultimately futile in the face of a more powerful adversary.

Farukzad spurred his horse forward with a sudden jerk of his legs, his mace meeting the enemy's battle axe with a resounding clang of metal striking metal, sending the enemy staggering.

Farukzad seized the opportunity, swinging his warhammer to strike the enemy's breastplate. With a single, powerful blow, he shattered the lamellar armor, twisting and deforming the enemy's entire chest cavity under the immense force, killing him instantly from his horse.

Such a powerful aura filled the surrounding Turan soldiers with fear and trepidation.

Although the Turan Khanate was a powerful cavalry force that intimidated all sides, it was at a disadvantage in terms of both morale and military strength at this moment. It was simply unable to resist the Iranian cavalry, who were full of fighting spirit. After a battle, it was too exhausted to continue and had to retreat.

The Iranian princess brilliantly achieved her first real combat victory in her military career, and also secured her first kill on the battlefield.

……

Back to the Kadhuda mansion in the Transoxiana province.

"Your Highness, we are grateful for your generous rescue. May God bless you with prosperity and strength."

The Timurleq tribe's junior khans, beks, and Aksakar (elders) all bowed and prostrated themselves before Farukzad.

"People of Timur, make yourselves at home! Iran and Turan could have been friends for generations, like brothers. Why should we submit to some warmonger who seized power by force?"

Farukzad said with a smile.

"Yes, you are right. We are Turans, but our Great Khan oppresses us in every way. As the proverb says, when a person suffers oppression and injustice in one place, he has the right to seek justice in another place."

The Timurid leaders said.

“That’s right. Akhenaten wants to maintain her authority with this cruel rule, but she is sorely mistaken. My Mother Queen—the Great Queen of Kings, the projection of God on earth—will be tolerant of any honest and knowledgeable person.”

"So, your tribe can settle down here in peace! Under my protection, there will be no more pursuers threatening your safety. Leave the affairs of the Turan Khanate to me!"

"Falukzad said firmly."

"Thank you again for your justice and generosity. By God's grace, we are willing to serve and fight for your country and for your Queen Mother—the great King of Kings!"

The Timurid leaders bowed in submission once more.

After pacifying the Timurlek tribe, Farukzad allocated them grazing lands in Transoxiana province.

A lush, cool oasis pasture, spanning five farsachs, was sufficient to support a large flock of sheep. Its convenient transportation allowed for trade with several surrounding towns and villages, enabling the development of both nomadic and agricultural and commercial economies alongside the flourishing of the pastoral economy.

It is worth mentioning that Timurlek, as a medium-sized Turan tribe, had relations with many tribes in the southern part of the Turan Khanate. Recruiting them had a certain positive impact on winning over other tribes and weakening the Turan frontier defenses.

Chapter 308 Wielding the "Sanctions Stick"

Shahzani was naturally overjoyed by her daughter's victory.

She specially drafted an edict to commend Farukzad and allocated her more weapons and provisions.

At this time, the leaders of various tribes who had previously submitted to the Samanid Empire flocked to the capital to meet the Empress, prostrating themselves under her power and protection.

Shahzani was also quite fair and generous, rewarding them with banners, robes, and gold belts, as well as salt—nomadic peoples lacked salt, so receiving salt as a reward from the monarch was a symbol of their loyalty to authority, a tradition that had existed since the Sasanian era.

……