I was the Queen of Persia

Page 119

Of course, given the disparity in strength between the two armies, Lin Dengwan did not choose to confront them head-on. After observing the surrounding terrain, he preemptively deployed his troops in advantageous positions.

……

Outside of Farsakh, the Saman Empire's military camp.

"So, the rebels are abandoning guerrilla tactics and want to fight a decisive battle with our army?"

As Shahzani looked at the sand table depicting the situation of the two armies, her expression conveyed both confidence and a hint of caution.

"It is absolutely true. They have deployed their forces in the hilly meadows to the due north, and have also cut down the surrounding trees to set up a large number of defensive fortifications," a Samanian military advisor reported.

“How many of them are there? What types of soldiers do they consist of?” Shahzani asked.

"Around 2 men, mostly poorly equipped conscripted light infantry, with a certain number of archers, and a small number of light cavalry and camel riders."

"In that case..."

Shahzani's eyes narrowed: "Then let's fight! Order the surrounding troops to converge here! Let this rebel leader taste defeat!"

Chapter 278 The Fall of Diabakker (2)

A sinister war cloud hung over the sky, and a cold autumn wind from the Anatolian plateau swept across the wilderness of Diyarbakir.

The two armies stood facing each other.

The rebel army of Lin Dengwan on the north side numbered about 2. Their clothes were messy and shabby, and their equipment was all over the place. They couldn't even muster a few decent suits of armor. But the soldiers all had expressions of fearlessness on their faces.

The Samanid army on the south side numbered 1.5, with well-equipped and sophisticated weapons. The steel armor reflected the light, and the scarlet banners were like a raging fire. Every soldier was determined to win.

Through the high-powered Biruni observation lens, Shahzani meticulously observed the troop deployment of Linden's army.

Swish-!

Lindenwan was the first to draw his sword, its blade pointing forward. His shout was so loud that Shahzani could hear it even from a great distance:

"You who toil in poverty! We have suffered enough oppression from the powerful, but we will no longer submit! Fight! We will defeat the tyrant and establish a new kingdom where people are well-fed and clothed, free from government and authority! Hear my command, vanguard attack!"

Accompanied by his resounding slogans, the entire army erupted in thunderous shouts and cheers.

Immediately afterwards, the massive light infantry force deployed at the forefront roared and charged toward the Samanid army formation.

Despite their extremely rudimentary weaponry and lack of even a few decent suits of armor, they charged forward with unwavering resolve, determined to die.

"Fars Heavy Cavalry Regiment, repel them!" Shahzani lowered her observation scope and issued the order to the messenger officer.

The war drums thundered, the suonas blared, and flag signals were relayed.

The two Fars heavy cavalry regiments deployed on the front flanks immediately changed into battle formation and charged away.

Fars Province is the birthplace of the Persian people and the cradle of the Iranian state. Its name itself means "knight," and it is also famous for producing high-quality warhorses and powerful cavalry.

In the military system of the Samanid Empire, Fars' heavy cavalry was as powerful and renowned as the heavy cavalry of Khorasan.

The Fars cavalry did not charge directly, but instead took advantage of their dual-purpose cavalry strength, unleashing several volleys of arrows at the oncoming enemy.

The rebels led by Lindenwan were felled like wheat being harvested. But what happened next surprised Shahzani.

The Lindenwan rebels did not immediately collapse. Soldiers wielding shields held the line, suffering heavy casualties, forming a defensive line against the arrows for their comrades. At the same time, Lindenwan's archers, hidden behind their shields, immediately returned fire in a volley.

Despite their lack of training, poor equipment, and crude tactics, which resulted in very limited casualties against the Samanid army, Shahzani was still taken aback.

Having fought on the battlefield for over a decade, this is the first time I've encountered an opponent who is completely at a disadvantage yet still fights so fiercely.

However, her battle-hardened troops were equally brave and resilient. The Fars cavalry slightly circled back, adjusted their formation, and continued their fierce charge towards Lindenwan's vanguard. The powerful composite bows and armor-piercing arrows, standard Iranian weaponry, pierced through the rudimentary protective gear of Lindenwan's soldiers, inflicting heavy casualties.

Lindenman watched from afar as his vanguard suffered heavy losses, his face turning quite grim.

However, at that moment, something even more shocking happened. He saw that his right side was also under attack by a hail of arrows, and the attackers were the Seljuk cavalry regiment of the Saman Empire.

It turns out that during the chaotic battle just now, Shahzani had already dispatched Seljuk cavalry to secretly outflank Lindenvan.

Despite the complex terrain and the barricades erected by the Lindenwan rebels, the Seljuk cavalry, with their superior stealth and mobility, managed to bypass the defenses undetected and penetrate the weak points of the Lindenwan rebel army.

Compared to the equally fearsome Baloch cavalry, these Seljuk warriors from the Turan steppe desert were more deserving of the title "daring and reckless devil cavalry."

Under attack from both sides, Linden's army formation showed obvious signs of wavering.

"Order the soldiers to retreat to the reserved defensive line!" Lindenwan immediately ordered.

Simple black and red flags waved everywhere; these were the battle flags of the Lindenwan army. Upon receiving the flag signal, the Lindenwan soldiers immediately rearranged their ranks and, using the undulating terrain as cover, retreated to the rear.

Lindenwan had indeed been holding back a few tricks up his sleeve. Suddenly, strange objects burst forth from beneath the sand, and in an instant, sharp spikes formed a forest among the towering mountains. The dense chevaux-de-frise line was riddled with trenches and strewn with sharp iron caltrops. Lindenwan's soldiers quickly dispersed and expertly took cover behind fortifications.

However, the Fars heavy cavalry and Seljuk troops, who were on the pursuit mission, were initially unaware of the trap and continued to relentlessly pursue Linden's army.

It wasn't until their own troops were gradually broken up by the rugged terrain and they could see the Linden army's pre-set traps in the distance that they realized something was wrong.

These were all defensive fortifications designed to counter cavalry. If a warhorse charged in recklessly, it would either have its hooves punctured or be riddled with holes.

Shahzani, who was watching the battle from a distance, naturally noticed this as well.

To be honest, seeing her troops about to be in danger made her tense, but recalling the soldiers' usual well-trained and adaptable nature made her feel a little more at ease.

Her hand holding the binoculars was slightly stiff as she held her breath and focused intently on observing the changes on the battlefield.

Fortunately, the Samanid army reacted quickly. Apart from a few unlucky soldiers at the very front who couldn't stop and fell into the trenches, getting riddled with thorns, most of the soldiers managed to regroup in time, avoiding unnecessary casualties.

In the brief moment of their circling formation, they used the momentum to unleash another hail of arrows, fully demonstrating the power of their dual-purpose cavalry. Caught off guard, Lindenwan's rebel army suffered heavy casualties. The initiative remained in the hands of the Samanid army.

"Well done!" Shahzani was very satisfied with her subordinates' performance. "Order the rocket tank formation to advance and concentrate fire!"

It was time to use heavy war machines. Under the cover of cavalry and archers, the Saman Empire's rocket chariots were deployed in batches to the high ground at the front, using their advantage to unleash their fury on the Lindenwan rebels.

A blazing fire dragon engulfed the Linden army. Countless Linden soldiers were consumed by the raging flames, their screams echoing throughout the land.

Ultimately, under this onslaught of intense explosions and fire, Lindenwan's rebel army collapsed, and the soldiers threw down their weapons and fled in all directions.

Lindenvan himself fought his way out and fled north. Further north lay the Anatolian Plateau, the sphere of influence of the Eastern Roman Empire. Without hesitation, he plunged headlong into the towering, rugged mountains.

Shahzani ordered the mountain infantry and cavalry to search the mountains, but several searches yielded nothing. It was clear that Lindenwan had fled and would later instigate another rebellion somewhere.

However, the results of the Diyarbakir campaign were still quite significant: the Lindenwan rebels, who were sweeping through Syria, were completely crushed, and the last remaining resistance force of the rebels was annihilated and disintegrated.

More importantly, this battle greatly strengthened Shahzani's control over Syria.

Chapter 279 Establishment of Provinces in Syria

Gray clouds shrouded the earth.

On the battlefield, corpses lay strewn everywhere. The bodies of Lindenwan's rebel soldiers, their clothes disheveled, covered the plains and hills, while the black and red rebel flags leaned askew.

The massive armed rebellion has been quelled, but the officials of the Hamdan dynasty in Syria feel no joy in victory.

The rebellion swept across more than 90% of Syria's territory and lasted for years, ravaging vast oases and fertile fields and causing considerable damage to agriculture and commerce.

The population also plummeted. The once-famous city of Amid was reduced to a small town with a population of less than 6000 (1.5 before the war), and Mosul's population also dropped to just over 4 (8 before the war). Many villages were reduced to ruins, and there was a severe shortage of able-bodied labor.

Officials in Iran’s Samanid Empire estimated that the annual revenue of the Hamdan dynasty in Syria reached 1200 million dirhams last year, but this year it will not reach a third of that figure.

……

Mosul, Hamdan's court.

“God above! These are truly troubled times…” Princess Selim looked at the empty treasury and shook her head in anguish.

“Your Highness, there is something I’m not sure if I should say…” suggested the Syrian minister beside her.

"Tell me..."

"The only option now is to request further protection from the Persians..."

"Are you suggesting that Syria's territory be ceded to the Samanid Empire, making Syria a province of the Samanid Empire?"

The minister did not say it explicitly, but nodded in tacit agreement.

The atmosphere froze for a moment.

To date, although the Hamdan dynasty of Syria is under the control and influence of the Samanid Empire, it still has its own ministers, army, and bureaucracy, and retains a certain degree of military and political autonomy.

However, surrendering territory means being stripped of the political and military powers that constitute the core of a nation, which is an extremely difficult choice for a ruler.

However, Syria is now struggling to maintain even basic defenses, and if it does not voluntarily surrender territory, it is highly likely to be destroyed by the next round of foreign invasion/internal rebellion.

"All right……"

Princess Selim scratched her teeth and made the most difficult decision of her life, and in a sense, a decision that went against her ancestors.

……

The banners of the Samanid Empire slowly rose over the cities of Syria. The imposing Samanid army marched proudly into the Syrian fortresses and strongholds.

"In the name of Almighty and Merciful God, the ruler of Syria, Selim, dedicates His Majesty Shahzani, the Queen of Kings of the Great Kingdom and the Supreme Empress of the Saman Empire, to the great capital Jahan Shahrih from this day forward. He will live and breathe with the Saman Empire until the end of the world."

Selim presented Shahzani with the credentials of a sworn vassal state.

Shahzani looked at the sincere and heartfelt words in the letter and nodded slightly in satisfaction. On the one hand, she was pleased with the expansion of the Saman Empire's territory; on the other hand, she was satisfied with Selim's attitude; and on the other hand, she deeply felt the responsibility she bore to protect the weak.

As the ruler of a superpower, while striving to safeguard its own national interests, it must also take into account the legitimate interests of friendly but weaker nations.

Shahzani may not have initially intended to annex Syria, but the current situation is vastly different. The Samanid Empire's power continues to grow, allowing it to expand its influence beyond the greater Iranian region, while Syria also desires to join the Samanid Empire. With each side having its own interests, they readily agreed to the merger.

"In the name of the magnanimous and powerful God Hudda, Padisha-Shahzani of the Samanid Empire of Iran accepts the request of Salim, the ruler of the Hamdan dynasty of Syria. From this day forward, Syria will be the territory of the Samanid Empire, and the people of Syria will be the people of the Samanid Empire..."

Shahzani wrote the relevant content on the letter of state and sent it to Selim's court.

……

A small town along the Silk Road in Syria.

The military governance and protection of the Samanid Empire revitalized the trade that had been ravaged by the rebellion. Now, the town has regained its former prosperity, with caravans of merchants coming and going in an endless stream, and the stalls of vendors lining the streets and alleys so numerous that they block out the sky.

At a roadside stall, a Mosul-made Arabic-patterned cloth draped over their heads to shield them from the sun. Under its shade, men sat around a couch, their neat headscarves and elegant robes suggesting a certain level of education and status. They were playing backgammon.

According to existing historical records, this game originated in the Sasanian Dynasty of Iran and spread to the Arab world thanks to Iran's powerful influence. Although the Prophet Muhammad strongly forbade this game, the allure of board games always transcends ethnic and religious barriers. Over time, even the most devout Islamic jurists became captivated by the game. After the Samanid Empire rose to power, this Iranian game, through Iran's strong national strength, continued to be exported to the neighboring Arab regions.

Several chess players, while battling it out on the chessboard, also chatted about the current situation.

"God help us. I've heard that our court is going to voluntarily submit to the Persian Empire in the East?"

“Absolutely true. The documents from Mosul have been issued; they are Princess Selim’s personal decree!”

"God above! We are Arabs! And devout Alawite Shia believers at that. How can we live in the same country as the Khorami Persians?"

"What's there to be afraid of? Although the Persian Empire was Khoramis and power had to be held by the majority of Khoramis, it was still relatively tolerant of heretics and paganisms."

“That’s right! In the kingdom of Queen Shahzani of Persia, people of any faith can find their place, but what about those Fatima? They call themselves devout Shia believers, our fellow believers, yet they always come to oppress us!”

"Alas! We have no choice! To the north are the menacing Romans, and to the south are the equally narrow-minded Fatimids. We are like sheep caught between a pride of lions. What way can we possibly protect ourselves?"

"It has to be this way. I would rather be ruled by the Persian Khorami King of Kings than by the Shia monarchs of Fatima. I hope Queen Shahzani will treat us Shias kindly..."

"Empress Shahzani will surely treat us well! The decree from Jahan Shah has been issued. The Empress allows Alawite mosques to remain open to the public and respects the beliefs of all Alawite believers! Oh! Her Majesty the Great Empress has also granted us autonomy in handling grassroots affairs!"

May Allah protect us!

"Allahu Akbar!"

……

The region of Sham-Jajra, where Syria is located, was officially incorporated into the Samanid Empire.

Shahzani named it "Syria Province," making it the third predominantly Arab province within the Samanid Empire, following Khuzestan and Iraq Provinces.

The annexation and establishment of Syria as a province also signifies that the Iranian Samanid Empire has taken a more solid step on its path to conquering the eastern Mediterranean.

I have something to do, so I'll be taking a one-day break.

as the title

Chapter 280 Target: Golan Heights

After subjugating the Sham Assassins and annexing the Hamdan dynasty, Shahzani's empire had extended to the eastern Mediterranean coast.

The Fatimid dynasty's sphere of influence shrank significantly.

Just then, even more exciting military news arrived for Shahzani.

Sahinnian, stationed on the southern front, launched a series of brilliant counterattacks against the Fatima forces along the route. He not only drove the Fatima army out of places like Knife Sheath, but also sent a surprise force to threaten Damascus, where the Fatima governor was located.

Although Damascus had high and strong walls, Sahinien cleverly implemented deception and surprise attack tactics based on the characteristics of its important commercial city.