I was the Queen of Persia

Page 51

The colder climate of the Western Regions caused these Persians some discomfort, but they were able to overcome it.

Thanks to the strict discipline and tight security of the mission and the strong additional protection provided by Sahinian, they did not encounter any bandits or thieves on the road.

On several occasions, they encountered armed groups with ill intentions approaching. Whenever this happened, Sahimian would order the entire team to form a defensive formation, with herself leading the elite female warriors at the forefront. The valiant and heroic spirit of the Samanian female soldiers always intimidated the intruders, causing them to retreat without a fight.

Thus, in the mid-spring of 1002 AD, the merchant delegation arrived in Dunhuang.

……

A crescent-shaped spring quietly adorns the lush oasis, while the city's intricate brackets and gleaming eaves clearly display the typical style of the Ma-Qin region.

"Madam, we have arrived in Dunhuang, Shazhou. This place is the gateway between the East and the West, and it is a bustling and prosperous place with a constant stream of merchants and travelers..." Zhu Jiande introduced the customs and culture of his homeland to Shaxinnian.

“Yes, I swear by Hu Da, it’s a truly rich and prosperous place.” Sahimian nodded in admiration.

Although the Persians had long heard that Machin was a vast country with magnificent scenery and abundant resources, and most Persians also loved Chinese silk and other treasures, few were able to actually travel to China to experience the customs and culture of this great Eastern power.

In the minds of Persians and even Arabs, China was a mysterious and distant land. Muhammad famously said: "Go and seek knowledge, even if it is as far away as China."

The Persian mission also passed through the Mogao Caves during its heyday.

The Guiyi Army regime, which revered Buddhism, expanded the cave complex on a larger scale and painted even more exquisite murals.

The Buddha statue sits cross-legged in the carved stone cave, and the chanting of Buddhist monks can be heard continuously. Donors dressed in silk robes, with devout hearts, put their hands together in prayer and offer food and money to the Buddha.

Seeing this, the monotheists in the group were all puzzled.

Because, in the doctrines of monotheistic religions (or religions with monotheistic characteristics), whether it is Islam, Christianity, Judaism or Zoroastrianism, "God" is intangible and cannot be represented.

There are no statues of Allah in mosques; at most, there are images of the crucifixion of Jesus in Christian churches; and in Zoroastrian shrines, only the sacred fire, symbolizing holiness and light, is offered.

These Buddhists in front of me have actually built idols and are worshipping them. I really don't understand what these "idol worshippers" are thinking.

Of course, since Queen Shahzani had requested respect for different religious beliefs before their departure, everyone only had some doubts in their hearts and did not express their questions.

As the captain of the guard, highly regarded by the Queen, Sahinnian naturally had to set an example. She led the group away from the place of worshippers' prayers to admire the nearby murals.

Instead of getting bogged down in religious customs, it's better to appreciate the art of Buddhist murals.

Zhu Jiande, in high spirits, took the opportunity to introduce the figures and stories depicted in the various murals to his accompanying Persian, Sogdian, Khwarazmian, Ghur, Slavic, Arab, and Armenian companions.

Although he was a Confucian scholar, he had read extensively since childhood and was quite knowledgeable about Buddhism. Moreover, from a macro perspective, while the Song Dynasty promoted Confucianism, it also respected Buddhist and Taoist thought, and the integration of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism was a trend in Song Dynasty Neo-Confucianism.

He can effortlessly draw upon a variety of themes, including Vajra, flying apsaras, mythical beasts, and Buddhist mythology.

This somewhat alleviated the sense of unfamiliarity that monotheists felt with Buddhist culture.

Continuing onward, they arrived at Shazhou Prefecture, the political center of the Guiyi Army regime.

The city walls were tall, and the banners of the Guiyi Army fluttered on the walls. Qin soldiers, clad in long lamellar armor, stood in a solemn array, strictly guarding the main city gate.

The head of the Samanid caravan showed the guards his travel documents and exchanged some words in Persian and Chinese with gestures, and was finally granted permission to pass.

Stepping through the city gate, one is greeted by rows of pavilions with intricately carved eaves and bracket sets. The streets and alleys are lined with stalls and shops, selling groceries, cooked food, tea, fortune telling, and more—the list goes on and on. The streets and alleys crisscross like a chessboard.

The streets were bustling with people, some in sedan chairs, some on horseback, some driving camels, some carrying loads, and some pushing wheelbarrows. The crowd was dense and shoulder to shoulder.

As a vital transportation hub connecting east and west, Shazhou naturally boasts a diverse ethnic composition. The merchants and travelers who came and went included Qin people, Uyghurs, Longjia people from the Western Regions, Bai people, Tanguts (Dangxiang people), Sogdians, Tibetans, and many others, each with distinct appearances and a wide variety of clothing.

Due to the eastward expansion of the Karakhanid Khanate, many monks and nobles from Khotan and Gaochang fled to this place for refuge.

Through various means and channels, Shahini managed to contact Cao Yanlu, the then military governor of the Guiyi Army, and presented him with the Samanid letter drafted by Shahzani to convey a friendly signal.

Cao Yanlu chose to meet with the Samanid envoy.

……

Guiyi Army Headquarters.

In the main hall, civil and military officials stood on both sides, and many monks wearing purple robes stood in attendance.

Sahimian and Zhu Jiande calmly walked through the procession of high-ranking officials and arrived at the palace. They bowed respectfully according to Han etiquette.

The officials looked at Sahimian with slight surprise: a woman who could actually wear armor and wield weapons and gallop across the battlefield, and this Persian-Hui woman with a strong and upright figure, exuding a heroic and dashing aura, made many of the military officers present feel awe.

"Greetings to His Highness Prince Qiao, and concurrently Military Governor of Guiyi Army..."

According to the agreed-upon plan, Zhu Jiande would be in charge of delivering the main points, while Sahinian would add a few words to embellish the key points.

Zhu Jiande explained to Cao Yanlu the entire strategic plan of uniting multiple forces, attacking from both the east and west, and containing the expansion of the Karakhanid Khanate.

After Zhu Jiande finished speaking, the officials in the court began to talk amongst themselves, discussing whether it was necessary to go to war with the Black Khan (Kara Khan).

Sahimian listened attentively without revealing her thoughts. Based on her judgment, the ministers in the hall were clearly divided into two factions: one advocating peace and the other advocating war.

"Your Highness, I do not agree with this suggestion."

A pro-peace official stepped forward and reported, "The Hexi Corridor is now controlled by the Ganzhou Uyghurs, and Guazhou and Shazhou are isolated in foreign lands. With few soldiers and little land, we are too busy to take care of ourselves and may find it difficult to create new enemies."

"That's a bad word."

At this moment, a pro-war official stepped forward and reported: "Your Highness, the Black Khan's army is at its strongest and is frequently advancing eastward. Khotan and Gaochang not only share the same calendar as Guasha, but also stand in the way to block the Black Khan's advance. If the lips are lost, the teeth will surely be cold!"

Several more ministers stepped forward and argued their case, and the hall was filled with the sounds of debate.

But just then, an urgent report came from outside the hall:

"Report! The Ganzhou Uyghurs are attacking!"

Chapter 113 The Initial Establishment of the "Arc of Resistance"

“Ganzhou Uyghurs?” Sahinian pondered in her mind.

Along the way, she listened to Zhu Jiande recount the history of the various northern tribes in the Qin region.

The Ganzhou Uyghurs were a branch of the Uyghur people. During the late Tang Dynasty in China, roughly corresponding to the 200th year of the Yazdeged era, the Uyghur Khaganate was conquered by the Kyrgyz, and its people scattered and fled. Among the larger groups were:

One group migrated to the Seven Rivers region, where they merged with the Karluks, Yangmo, Chisi, and Turgesh peoples to establish the Karakhanid Dynasty; another group migrated to Gaochang in the Western Regions, where they merged with the local Qin people and other indigenous groups to establish the Gaochang Uyghur Kingdom; and yet another group migrated to Ganzhou in the Hexi Corridor, gradually evolving into the Ganzhou Uyghurs.

In addition, there were many other Uyghur tribes.

The Uyghurs who migrated to Ganzhou, whose territory bordered that of the Guiyi Army, had peaceful exchanges with each other for two hundred years, but also experienced many wars and frictions.

At present, the two sides are engaged in a war.

Upon hearing of the Uyghur attack, the military governor of Guiyi immediately ordered the troops to be assembled and go to meet the enemy.

at the same time.

Sahimian realized that this was an excellent opportunity to push forward the plan and gain deeper trust from the Guiyi Army regime, so he volunteered to fight.

Due to the urgency of the war situation, Cao Yanlu had no time to think and tacitly approved the Samanid delegation's request.

Therefore, Sahinian made two arrangements: she led 50 female guards of Shaher to fight alongside them; Zhu Jiande led the rest to assist in the defense of Shazhou City.

……

5000 Guiyi Army soldiers clashed with 6000 Ganzhou Uyghur soldiers at the salt lake in the eastern part of Shazhou Prefecture.

The two armies advanced in formation, each with its own infantry and cavalry, performing their respective duties, banners fluttering in the wind. Accompanied by the beating of war drums and the blaring of horns, the distinctly colored military formations clashed and fought.

The female guards of Shahshinian, under the command of Shahshinian, were deployed in concealed areas on the flank of the battlefield, observing the situation.

The two armies were locked in a fierce battle. Infantry advanced in formation, while cavalry launched flanking attacks. War drums and horns thundered, and the sounds of clashing weapons and shouts of battle could be heard from a great distance.

The Guiyi Army, facing a slight numerical disadvantage, gradually found itself in a passive position. Looking around, they saw the Ganzhou Uyghur Army advancing step by step, forcing the Guiyi Army to retreat. Many Guiyi soldiers had already been divided and annihilated by the Ganzhou Uyghur cavalry.

However, the rapid advance of the Ganzhou Uyghur army also exposed obvious gaps between the various units within the main force.

It was the perfect time for a flanking maneuver.

Sahimian seized the opportunity and decisively ordered, "Attack!"

Upon receiving their orders, the female guards of Shaher immediately formed a charge formation and rushed out from their concealed positions, heading straight for the weak flank of the Ganzhou Uyghur army.

They were fully armored, their uniforms blood-red, their iron hooves pounding the earth like a raging wildfire. In an instant, they charged into the Ganzhou Uyghur army's ranks, fighting left and right. Although they numbered only a few dozen, their superior equipment, strict discipline, and powerful momentum completely made up for their lack of manpower.

The Uyghur soldiers in Ganzhou were focused on the Guiyi Army and had no idea that their flanks would be attacked suddenly. Caught off guard, they were caught off guard and a gap was created.

Sahimian led the charge, his armored horse galloping forward, his spear sweeping through the enemy ranks. The Persian inscriptions engraved on the spear tip shimmered with golden light under the sun, and wherever he went, blood gushed forth, and men and horses fell.

Under repeated attacks, the rifts within the Ganzhou army grew wider, more and more soldiers trampled to death, and the morale of the soldiers plummeted.

The tide of battle turned in an instant.

Seeing that the Ganzhou Uyghurs' formation was in disarray, the Guiyi Army immediately regrouped, rallied its morale, and launched a counterattack. The Ganzhou Uyghurs could not withstand the onslaught and retreated steadily. Ultimately, under the increasingly tenacious counterattack of the Guiyi Army, the Ganzhou Uyghurs realized that victory was hopeless and were forced to regroup and hastily withdraw.

This battle made the officers and soldiers of the Guiyi Army take notice of the fighting prowess of the Saman female soldiers.

Sahimian declined Cao Yanlu's reward, saying, "Although the Uyghurs of Ganzhou have been defeated and fled, they may return at any time. We should use our victory to force them to negotiate peace and thus end the war."

At this moment, a better plan had formed in her mind: to persuade the Guiyi Army and the Ganzhou Uyghurs to cease hostilities and form an alliance in order to accumulate strength and better confront the Karakhanid Dynasty and other hostile forces.

This was the tactic Queen Shahzani taught her: adapt to changing circumstances, win over allies, and divide the enemy.

Cao Yanlu naturally wanted to negotiate peace, because his Guiyi Army regime had been devastated by years of fighting, and the people were impoverished. So he said, "That would be very good, but the Uyghurs of Ganzhou have been fighting with us for a long time and have deep grudges. I'm afraid they will not accept the peace negotiations."

Sahimian said, "I am willing to go to the Khan's tent in Ganzhou with Zhu Jiande to 'persuade' them."

So, Sahinian and Zhu Jiande went to the Uyghur camp in Ganzhou.

……

The defeated Uyghur army of Ganzhou did not retreat far, and Shahini quickly caught up with them. Some Uyghur soldiers were unwilling to accept their defeat and attempted to kill the two women, but under Shahini's powerful intimidation, no one dared to make a move and could only obediently report to the Khan.

"What? The Samanid envoy wants us to negotiate peace with the Guiyi Army?" The Khan of Ganzhou looked surprised. It wasn't until the guard who came to report confirmed it with him that he understood this unbelievable fact.

"Guards, heed my command!" the Khan of Ganzhou roared. "Those who come are our enemies. At my command, hack them to death!"

"We obey the Khan's orders!" Inside the tent, dozens of armored guards, swords in hand, stood ready to fight.

A scholar in Confucian robes and a female military officer in steel armor, one a scholar and the other a warrior, approached the Khan under the watchful eyes of the guards.

“On behalf of the Samanid dynasty and the Guiyi Army of Shazhou, I pay my respects to the Khan, who is as majestic as an eagle.” Zhu Jiande bowed respectfully in fluent Uyghur.

"Oh," the Ganzhou Uyghur Khan said coldly, "What brings you here?"

"I hope the Khan will negotiate peace with the Guiyi Army and jointly resist foreign enemies." Zhu Jiande's tone remained calm.

"Hmph!" the Ganzhou Uyghur Khan roared, "The Guiyi Army has killed many of my people, how can we possibly negotiate peace?! Men, drag them out and behead them!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the Uyghur guards inside the tent drew their swords and swarmed forward.

"Who dares to cause trouble!"

In the blink of an eye, a valiant figure in armor swept past, instantly blocking Zhu Jiande's path, kicking down a guard with a whip kick, and seizing his weapon.

Seeing this, the other guards tried to slash with their swords, but in the blink of an eye, they were all knocked to the ground by Sahinian. Of course, she only used her fists, feet, and the back of her sword as weapons, and did not kill them.

Shahini held a battle sword, as if protecting her companion. Her thick, dark eyebrows were furrowed, and her almond-shaped eyes blazed with fury. This powerful aura completely intimidated the surrounding Uyghur soldiers, preventing them from approaching.

These were the most valiant of the Khan's personal guards, but none of them were a match for the Persian female officer.

The Uyghur nobles present were also greatly shocked.

“Your Majesty, you should know that the benefits of peace negotiations far outweigh those of war.” Zhu Jiande gently nudged Shahini’an, signaling her to put away her weapons.

Having witnessed the Persian female officer's martial prowess, the Uyghur Khan of Ganzhou noticeably restrained himself. He quickly ordered his guards to withdraw and gestured for Zhu Jiande to continue speaking.

Zhu Jiande then explained the advantages of peace talks, pointing out that both the Guiyi Army and the Ganzhou Uyghurs were located in the Hexi Corridor and heavily relied on commerce. War and the disruption of trade routes were detrimental to both sides; however, if they formed an alliance and negotiated peace to resume trade, it would be beneficial to both.

Zhu Jiande further pointed out that the Tangut people (the predecessor of Western Xia) were growing in power and coveting the Hexi Corridor. Neither the Ganzhou Uyghurs nor the Guiyi Army alone could withstand the Tangut army. At this critical juncture, the Ganzhou Uyghurs could only protect themselves by immediately ceasing their war with the Guiyi Army, preparing their weapons, and actively guarding against the Tangut invasion.

The profound and realistic truth finally shook the stance of the Khan of the Uyghurs in Ganzhou.

“Your Excellency’s words make a good point. We agree to make peace,” said the Khan of the Ganzhou Uyghurs.

Ever since.

Under the mediation of Samanid envoys Shahini and Zhu Jiande, the Guiyi Army and the Ganzhou Uyghurs ended their years-long conflict and formed an alliance to jointly confront other potential hostile forces.

Subsequently, the Guiyi Army and the Ganzhou Uyghur Kingdom will support the Khotan Kingdom and the Gaochang Uyghur Kingdom at the front, thereby gradually forming a broader alliance to join forces with the Samanid Dynasty to attack from two sides and contain the eastward expansion of the Karakhanid Dynasty.

This move marks the initial establishment of Shahzani's "Arc of Resistance".

Chapter 114 The Liberation of Khorasan Province (1)

The Samanid merchant mission's diplomatic offensive in the east has achieved initial success.

Meanwhile, after a period of rest and recuperation, the Samanid dynasty had achieved political stability and its military strength was sufficient.

Shahzani planned to launch a large-scale offensive in the west while Mahmud was on his expedition to India, in order to recapture Khorasan, an important province under the rule of the Ghaznavid dynasty.

In mid-June of 1002 AD, during the Persian month of Khordad, large quantities of military equipment and provisions were being prepared, and troops from various regions were being frequently mobilized and assembled.