I was the Queen of Persia

Page 63

Khalaf ibn Ahmad Safar paused for a moment, then slowly said:

“We are just an insignificant family, as ordinary as the soil of Sistan. How could we possibly withstand the ironclad army of the Samanid dynasty? Your argument is utterly absurd.”

The Safar family head's meaning was also very clear: he only wanted to be a vassal and maintain his remaining influence in Sistan. As for who the central court was, it was not important, and the idea of ​​raising an army to resist was even more absurd.

After all, the Safar family had long been in decline, and its power had weakened year by year. How could it possibly contend with the ever-growing Saman army?

Having said that, he gestured to the servants to see the guest out.

“Your Excellency, wait a moment,” Ali Ahmad hurriedly stopped her.

Before the other party could reply, she used her sharp tongue, adept at weaving lies, to recount the "gross atrocities" committed by the Samanid army.

She lied, saying, "Shahzani is a brutal murderer. Every time he conquers a city, he massacres nobles and religious scholars, confiscates their land, builds towers with their heads, and waters the plants in his gardens with their blood."

She also spread rumors: "The female soldiers of Saman are all lewd witches. Every time they conquer a city, they kidnap handsome boys and teenagers, open their blood-red mouths between their legs, and frantically suck and devour them."

She went on to describe in vivid detail how Shahzani committed numerous horrific atrocities in Bukhara, Nishapur, and Balkh, erecting 'hundreds of skull pillars that reached into the sky,' and that 'at least 5000 respected mullahs fell in pools of blood.'

……

In short, they use all sorts of exaggerated and absurd claims to confuse the public.

As these malicious rumors crumbled, Khalaf ibn Ahmad inevitably experienced a wavering in his thinking.

After seeing Ali Ahmadinejad off, the Safar family head and his retainers discussed whether the woman's claims were true. Should they gamble with the remaining influence of their family against the powerful Samanid dynasty?

Many retainers used the old conflicts between Saman and Safar as a starting point to remind their lord not to be careless; while many more clear-headed and rational retainers reminded their lord not to be easily deceived.

“Almighty God! If we listen to the slanderous words that sow discord and go down the wrong path, then the Safar family will face utter annihilation!” an elderly elder cried out in a resounding voice.

“Alright, may God bless you.” After everyone’s persuasion, Khalaf ibn Ahmad finally made a decision.

Khalaf ibn Ahmad said, "The Prophet once said, 'If someone who is good at spreading rumors tells us the news, we should first find out the truth.'"

So he made two preparations.

On the one hand, he sent people to secretly observe the movements of Saman's army and determine whether they were truly "lions without a holy heart" (a metaphor for tyrannical people).

On the other hand, the family's private army—mainly the warriors known as "Sagaz"—was on high alert, and the family's forces in cities such as Zabul, Zahedan, and Zaranj were also on high alert.

……

Ali Ahmad's plot was on the verge of success, but unexpectedly, at this time, the envoy sent by Shahzani also secretly met with Khalaf ibn Ahmad Safar.

The messenger from Shahzani delivered a friendly message, which somewhat dispelled the suspicions of the Safar family.

The Safar spies they dispatched also reported back, saying:

The Saman army was not a cruel and bloodthirsty demon legion, but rather a disciplined and righteous force. They did not harm the people in any way, and when they bought and sold things in the bazaar, they paid the price on time. There were no cases of robbing people of their property.

Of course, a large number of people were executed, but those people were either war criminals, bandits, tyrants, traitors, or corrupt officials, and they deserved their fate.

The believers in Sistan, whether farmers, herdsmen, artisans, dehgans, priests, or scribes, all praised Queen Shahzani's justice and sternness.

Facts speak louder than words. After several secret contacts, Khalaf ibn Ahmad Safar decided to submit his entire clan to the Samanid dynasty and recognize Shahzani's rule.

But Shahzani instructed him not to rush into surrendering, saying, "The venomous snake that stirs up trouble is still lurking in the shadows. Only by luring it out of its evil den and killing it can we rest easy."

Under her arrangement, the Safar family obeyed orders and pretended to remain on guard. She also secretly dispatched her capable henchmen to transfer and escort the Safar family members in the Ghazni-controlled area to a safe location.

The Nassak intelligence organization, the Ayar party, and local officials and citizens worked together to lure out the rumor-mongers hiding in the shadows.

Ali Ahmad gradually took the bait.

One day, when this malicious rumor-monger reappeared and attempted to bewitch the Safar family, the Nassak law enforcement warriors swiftly mobilized, easily captured him, and then, following the clues, wiped out all his accomplices.

Ultimately, Ahmadinejad was ordered to be beheaded, and his head was displayed outside the city gates of Zabul. Dozens of his associates were also executed.

Khalaf ibn Ahmad Safar personally opened the gates of Zabul and led his family members to kneel in welcome of Queen Shahzani.

"Praise be to Allah Hudda! Honored Emir, honored believers."

"The Safar family, your ancestors also dedicated themselves to the revival of the Iranian nation and made great contributions. Now that you have voluntarily submitted, it is truly commendable. Praise be to the kings and warriors of Iran! Your noble virtues will be remembered by the world!"

Shahzani gestured for everyone to stand up, speaking in a gentle tone.

She allowed the Safar family to continue living in Sistan province and receiving the protection of the High Court, while Safar members serving in government offices and mosques also retained their positions as a sign of tolerance.

In return.

Khalaf ibn Ahmad himself voluntarily donated large tracts of land to the Samanid government, handed over his private army, the "Sagz," to the Samanid army, and distributed numerous additional plots of land to landless or land-poor peasants. Safar members who held key positions in the bureaucracy voluntarily relinquished their power, taking on prestigious but powerless sinecures in return…

Shahzani sought to further strengthen centralized power and curb the influence of local powerful families; the Safar people did not aspire to dominate a region, but only to be a group of law-abiding and wealthy commoners.

Chapter 141 The plan of alienation

With the submission of the Safar family, all the cities of Zabul (or Zabul) were incorporated into the Samanid Empire, which then formed a pincer movement against cities such as Zaranj, which were under the control of Ghazni.

The Samanian scouts at the front lines constantly relayed intelligence about the Ghazni army, which was then compiled by the Samanian military's clerical staff and presented to Shahzani.

The current situation is as follows:

Rajana led 3 Ghaznaean troops and deployed them around the city of Zaranj; Ayaz led 3 Ghaznaean troops and deployed them around the city of Nishak to the east. The two Ghaznaean armies set up camp along their strongholds and fortifications, forming a defensive perimeter.

Shahzani often led a small number of guards to the front lines to observe the enemy situation.

In the distance, the Ghaznavid camp stood shoulder to shoulder, easy to defend and difficult to attack.

“If we launch a direct assault, we can certainly conquer it, but that would mean paying unnecessary losses. There must be better tactics.” Shahzani held the Biruni observation glasses and scanned the defensive deployment of the Ghazni army.

"What tactic would be more time-efficient and labor-saving?" Shahzani pondered, then suddenly had a flash of inspiration, "That's it, the strategy of sowing discord."

Rajana and Ayaz, despite being of different genders, were both favorites of Mahmoud, and their rivalry for his favor was deeply entrenched, especially that of the more ambitious Rajana.

Therefore, Shahzani made the necessary arrangements.

They secretly sent people to the Ghazni-controlled areas to spread rumors. Previously, Ali Ahmad had used her persuasive tongue to cause considerable trouble for the Samanid army, and Shahzani would certainly use the same tactic.

Shahzani was familiar with Mahmoud's handwriting. Although the monarch was of Turkic origin, he was also a master of Persian calligraphy, and some of his works have survived to this day. Moreover, many of his handwritten letters had been captured during previous battles.

She imitated Mahmoud's writing style and wrote a letter to Ayaz.

In the letter, the Sultan praised Ayaz as "noble, brave, and loyal, a model of servants for all," and decided to "grant him the title of 'Wari' and appoint him to govern the newly conquered Sindh and Punjab"...

Then, in a critical tone, she berated Rajana, saying that Rajana "had failed in her duties as a servant and lost a key town in the province of Khoshistan," and that Rajana "might be plotting a rebellion and must be eliminated in due course"...

The letter, containing hundreds of Persian words, was long enough to sow discord between them, and was then stamped with Sultan Mahmud's monogram—to indicate that it "was indeed written by Mahmud."

Shahzani dispatched her most trusted Nasakchi to pretend to deliver the letter to Ayaz, and then cleverly and unexpectedly had Rajana intercept the letter en route.

The Nassakites, skilled in espionage and messenger work, brilliantly completed the task assigned by the Queen. Disguised as Mahmoud's messengers, they carried the letter to Nissak, but then manipulated the journey to have it switched, thus unexpectedly falling into Rajana's hands.

Now let's talk about Rajana.

She was initially gloating over the murder of Ali Ahmadinejad, because this woman who appeared out of nowhere was likely to steal her favor and thus affect her ambition to climb to the top of power.

When news of Ali Ahmad's execution by Shahzani arrived, she was initially overjoyed and indulged in feasting and debauchery in the camp. She also took advantage of the situation to sleep with many young slaves from Ghojalu and Abyssinia, and lived a life of revelry every night.

However, as Shahzani's "psychological warfare" unfolded, rumors such as "His Majesty the Sultan intends to promote Ayaz and suppress Rajana" spread in Zaranj and nearby towns and counties, causing her to become uneasy and suspicious once again.

Just then, a trusted female slave under his command rushed in, claiming that she had intercepted a secret letter from Mahmoud to Ayaz from several "suspicious Ayaz followers."

Rajana opened it and was first surprised, then her face darkened, and finally she gritted her teeth and was furious.

Snapped--!

Rajana threw the letter heavily on the ground and cursed, "Damn it! That Zabristan brute (referring to Mahmoud)! I should have been wary of him all along! I should have been more alert!"

There are objective reasons for this.

Since the defeats in the Battle of Hain and the Battle of Jam, Rajana and Mahmoud's differences have become increasingly apparent. During this period, Rajana's ambitions were subtly revealed and were accurately detected by the naturally suspicious Mahmoud.

In contrast, Ayaz, through his loyalty and obedience, gained more favor from His Majesty the Sultan.

Due to a combination of factors, Rajana was gradually alienated.

Based on the intelligence provided by her inside contact, Shahzani discerned the subtle and inconspicuous conflict between the three parties, which is why she devised a plan to sow discord.

Practice has proven that this tactic is indeed effective.

a few days later.

Using the pretext of facilitating access to food and water, Rajana led her troops south to set up camp, leaving Ayaz's forces directly exposed to the Saman army's advance.

As she moved backward, Zhalanji's defenses became virtually non-existent, and the entire defensive line was exposed with obvious flaws.

Ayaz was naturally very dissatisfied and repeatedly sent messengers to order Rajana to return to defend. However, Rajana ignored them all and remained inactive, intending to let Ayaz charge ahead to offset losses and thus preserve her own strength.

With numerous obstacles hindering them, the conflict between the two became increasingly public, severely impacting the morale of Ghaznavid soldiers.

Shahzani was overjoyed and continued to send spies to spread rumors and sow discord between the two. Within a few days, the streets and alleys of Zhalanj and Nisak ​​were filled with rumors of their falling out.

Ayaz was deeply worried and, out of self-preservation, ordered the frontline defenses to be tightened, but this only widened the gap between the two sides.

"The enemy's defenses have crumbled in their endless infighting; the time is ripe. Order the warriors to prepare their armor and weapons and prepare to attack," Shahzani gave the order to attack.

He immediately dispatched Khorshid to launch a fierce attack on Ayaz, and ordered Nasida to lead Khwarazmian cavalry to cut off Ayaz's connection with Rajana.

The Sistan front, which had been quiet for several weeks, has become fierce again.

Seljuk horse archers spun and fired; heavy cavalry from Transoxiana and Khorasan launched an iron charge; Sogdian, Deramanian, and Kurdish infantry formed ranks and broke through their fortifications; increasingly sophisticated rocket-propelled chariots unleashed a barrage of fiery arrows that blotted out the sun…

Ayaz was left to fend for himself; his vanguard was fiercely suppressed by Khorshid, and his 3 troops stationed in various locations were fragmented into small, mutually dependent units by Nasida's cavalry. Even with his unwavering loyalty and courage to the Sultan, he was destined to be unable to reverse the tide of defeat.

After several days of fierce fighting, his troops suffered heavy losses, many strongholds were captured, and he was finally forced to abandon Nishak and retreat eastward.

Leave request, sharing a joke: "Wait a minute."

There was a lazy, idle man who dreamed that he was talking to Allah.

The idler: "Oh, Allah! What does ten thousand years mean to You?"

Hu Da: "It'll only take a minute."

The idler asked, "O great God! What does ten thousand gold coins mean to You?"

Hu Da: "It's just a copper coin."

The idler: "Merciful and just God! Please grant your most humble and devout believer a mere penny."

Hu Da: "Very good, wait a minute."

Chapter 142 Sargoz Forces Assist in the Battle

At the end of January 1003 AD, the beginning of the month of Bahman in the Persian calendar.

While Nasita and Khorshid joined forces to attack Ayaz's forces, Shahzani personally led a large army to launch a fierce attack on Rajana's forces.

Ayaz fled in defeat, and Rajana was left to fend for herself. After losing many soldiers in recent days, she was forced to withdraw from the Sistan Plain and retreat south toward Makran (Baluchistan). Finally, she held her ground in the Jagai Mountains, attempting to delay the Samanid army's offensive.

The Jaggai Mountains run east-west, stretching for about 25 farsachs (over 150 kilometers), with an elevation ranging from 1830 to 3355 meters. Dozens of passes (Darband) are scattered throughout the mountains, serving as passageways connecting the north and south sides.

(Of course, this place is more widely known for the nuclear test conducted here by the Pakistani army in 1998.)

After Rajana led the remnants of the Ghaznavid tribe to this place, she first used force to subdue several surrounding Baloch tribes, ordering them to provide labor, cattle, sheep and food. Then, she used the cover of the mountains to establish a camp.

The 20-farsach stretch between the Jaggai Mountains and the Helmand River basin is dotted with desert salt marshes, where some Baloch tribes originally grazed. After Rajana's Ghazni army passed through, they implemented a scorched-earth policy, forcing all the tribes to migrate south, thereby cutting off the supply lines to Shahzani's army.

But this didn't stump Shahzani.

Her army's supplies mainly relied on the post roads to be brought in from the rear. She herself strictly prohibited the plundering of the local people's property, and even when she had to issue forced requisitions, she would try her best to provide some compensation.

The people of Sistan welcomed the arrival of the Saman army and spontaneously offered them food and drink. The Safar family was also impressed by the Saman army's strict discipline and voluntarily allocated supplies stored in their various villages to support the frontline troops.

The Safar family also contributed armed forces—the Saghez soldiers.

This force, along with the Ayar Party, played a crucial role in the rise of the Saffar dynasty. They were brave, resilient, and disciplined, and also possessed a deep understanding of the geography and customs of the Sistan-Baluchistan border region.

Shahzani praised the Saghez warriors: "You are fellow countrymen of the warriors Zhar and Rustam, and the blood of ancient Iranian heroes flows in your veins. You will prove yourselves on the battlefield and restore glory to the land guarded by heroes!"

She incorporated the Saghez troops into the Saman army's organizational structure and provided them with armor, weapons, and supplies.

The soldiers of Saghez, having received a generous reward from the Queen, were greatly encouraged and determined to fight for the honor of Sistan Province, demonstrating the courage of Iranian Muslim soldiers.

Using their geographical expertise, they helped Saman's army cross the Jili Salt Marsh and approach the Jiagai Mountains.

Shahzani deployed a large force as a feint to divert the Ghazni army's attention. She herself led a Saghez army and a small number of Shahr guards, flanking them from behind via a secluded path frequented by wild beasts.

The Saghez soldiers, familiar with the terrain, pressed forward with unwavering courage, traversing the rugged mountain paths as if they were on flat ground. The Shaher female guards, fearless and undaunted, obeyed the Queen's orders with unwavering resolve.

And so, they crept along the winding mountain path, stealthily approaching a pass stronghold controlled by the Ghaznavid army, waiting for the opportune moment to launch a surprise attack. Caught off guard, the Ghaznavid soldiers were instantly captured by the Samanid army.