I was the Queen of Persia

Page 144

Strategy has become an art of war, written into the code of military struggle in the Eastern Roman Empire. From the time of Maurice onwards, generals and politicians alike have been involved in strategy, using the least cost to gain the greatest benefit.

This also objectively explains why the Western Roman Empire has long since vanished, while the Eastern Roman Empire survived the waves of barbarian migrations and the storms of the Arab Empire's expansion, and still stands today.

(Note: The bureaucrats and nobles of the Eastern Roman Empire habitually used ancient names, and thus collectively referred to the nomadic forces of the Eurasian steppe as "Turks," "Scythians," etc.)

“But I still don’t understand why you didn’t just reject the Turks’ request for an alliance?” Romanus asked.

“Why refuse? The Persians are our archenemies, aren’t they?” Zoe asked with a smile.

……

The Turan Khanate mission departed for home after staying in Constantinople for several weeks.

This diplomatic mission did yield some "results".

The two countries reached a consensus on ensuring the smooth operation of the Black Sea-Steppe trade route. The Eastern Roman Empire agreed to send more caravans to the Turan Khanate to expand the variety of trade goods; Turan, in turn, promised to restrain the tribes and prohibit them from wantonly plundering merchants along the route.

At the same time, the Turan Khanate agreed to protect the trade route between the Eastern Roman Empire and Kievan Rus'. Kievan Rus' had long since converted to Orthodox Christianity and was also an important source of soldiers for the Byzantine Varangian Guard, and trade between the two countries was quite frequent.

Of course, the most important factor is the military alliance between the two countries.

According to the alliance, the Eastern Roman Empire should deploy a large force in the eastern military region to attack the western provinces of the Samanid Empire in order to coordinate with the Turan Khanate's offensive in the north.

However, as things stand, these terms are likely subject to many changes.

……

The Samanid Empire, Azerbaijan Province, on the shores of Lake Urmia.

Shahiniyan deployed his iron-armed guard here to oversee military and political affairs of the Azerbaijan Military District and the western provinces.

The provinces of Syria and Iraq, which border the Eastern Roman Empire, the province of Mishir, which is highly vulnerable to attacks by the Byzantine navy, and the provinces of Azerbaijan and Shirvan, which border the buffer states, are all key areas for defense.

Thanks to Sahinnian's skillful command and the Samanid Empire's powerful mobilization system, these military deployments had already been completed.

Crimson banners filled the valleys, and a massive army stretched across the plains surrounding Lake Urmia. War cries of "Iran Immortal!", "Long Live Shahzani!", "God is Great!", and "May the Soul of Rustam Protect Us!" echoed across the battlefield.

The Byzantine scouts opposite, seeing such a magnificent military formation, must have been quite astonished.

Meanwhile, the Samanid spies were constantly gathering information about them.

Through a well-developed post station transportation system.

Intelligence about the mobilization and movement of the Eastern Roman army was constantly transmitted to Sahini's marching camp, and then through the postal road system to Jahanshahr's court.

“The Rum people are shrewd and strategic; they won’t rashly launch a military campaign like this,” Shahzani said confidently from the capital.

“Just watch, the war on the western front won’t break out anytime soon,” said Sahini, who was on the front lines.

And that is indeed the case.

Although the Byzantine Empire frequently deployed troops to its eastern military districts, including Iliya, Mesopotamia, Colonia, and Meritini, it made a lot of noise but little action, and did not launch an attack on the Samanid border for a long time.

The scouts and sentries lurking on the frontier did not dare to relax their vigilance, but continued to keep a close watch on the movements of the Eastern Roman Empire.

turn out.

The Eastern Roman Empire's frequent troop movements were merely for military drills and to demonstrate its strength. The deployments were all within a controllable range, with no signs of overstepping its bounds.

Overjoyed, he immediately reported the news to Sahinnian.

"It was expected, nothing surprising." The female general, caught up in the passion and pleasure, seemed to have already anticipated how the battle would unfold.

In reality, the situation was already under her control.

This story begins with that night at the caravan inn in Tehran.

In fact, the three men who were seduced that night were three noble merchants from the Kingdom of Armenia.

The Armenian aristocratic and secular noble groups wielded considerable power not only within Armenia but also in the various military districts of eastern Byzantium, with numerous intertwined interests.

Sahimian used her beauty and power to control the three women. She then used them to explain the advantages and disadvantages, and bribed them handsomely to persuade the Armenian military nobles of the Eastern Byzantine Military District. Through these Armenian nobles, she further increased bribes to persuade their superiors.

The Byzantine generals, already reluctant to go to war with Iran, were further swayed by the Samanid's combination of carrot and stick tactics. Moreover, the Samanid army on the other side was formidable and powerful; a war over trade would inevitably bring disaster.

At this critical moment, Constantinople issued an order forbidding the army from launching a hasty attack. This immediately made the Byzantine army realize that they should not attack, but instead lay down their arms and observe the situation.

then.

One day, war did not break out...

Five days passed, and war did not break out...

Ten days passed, and war did not break out...

Twenty days have passed, and war has still not broken out...

Ultimately, with no fighting on the western front, the Turan Khanate's attempt to use the Byzantine Empire's eastward attack on the Iranian Samanid Empire failed.

It must be said that many alliances based on interests are based on mutual suspicion and are fragile. They are easy to form but not difficult to break.

Chapter 334 Conquering the Homeland

It was early 1026, the month of Bahman and Ishvand in the Persian calendar.

After more than a year of large-scale and fierce fighting, the war between Iran and the Turks has clearly reached a stalemate: in the east, the two armies are facing each other along the Syr Darya River border; in the west, they are locked in a stalemate along the Caucasus Mountains. The Eastern Roman Empire, as an "ally" of the Turks, has not rashly attacked the Iranian Samanid Empire.

The war has temporarily evolved into a "static war".

Shahzani opened the increasingly accurate map. Actually, she didn't need the map; all the plains, mountains, and rivers were already memorized. But as a valuable tool for warfare, the map was still necessary in crucial moments.

"The Turan Khanate's center of power was in the Central Asian steppes, specifically the Kazakhstan region. Its control over the southern Russian steppes was relatively weak. Therefore, if we want to further advance the war, the current key direction of attack should be the Caucasus-southern Russia region."

Shahzani studied the various markings on the map carefully, muttering to herself.

Indeed, from a macro and long-term perspective, the southern Russian steppes are a better primary target.

Firstly, the Turan Khanate's control over this area was relatively weak; secondly, it could pose a lateral threat to the main Turan forces; and thirdly, it could weaken Turan's connection with the Eastern Roman Empire.

Fortunately, there are now auxiliary forces to help the Samanid Empire achieve this strategic goal.

On the eve of the war, didn't the Turan Khanate destroy the Alan Kingdom, a vassal state located in the Caucasus-Southern Russian steppe? After that catastrophe, the Alan people scattered everywhere, and most of them migrated to Iran with the help of the Samanid army.

Currently, the Alan people, numbering approximately 25 to 30, who were scattered throughout the Samanid Empire, are temporarily living and multiplying in the Baku Plain of Shirvan Province; the Mugan Steppe, Urmie Steppe, and Ardabil Plain of Azerbaijan Province; the Caspian Coastal Plain of Gilan Province; the Zagros Valley Pasture of Jabari Province; and the cities of Zanjan, Abhar, and Qazvin in Rai Province.

This group of ancient nomadic and agricultural warriors, distant relatives of the Persians, are now united in their hatred of the enemy, their fighting spirit is high, their cohesion is stronger than ever, and they are determined to reclaim their former pastures and homes.

With this in mind, Shahzani summoned the noble elders of the Alan tribe to seek their opinions.

"Whether you stay or leave is entirely up to you; I will not force you," Shahzani said gently.

"In the name of God! We are grateful for Her Majesty the Queen's generosity and protection. If now is the time for us to reclaim our homeland, we are willing to fight and shed our blood!" said the leaders of the Alan tribe.

“Yes, very good. Rustam’s courage guides you.” Shahzani rekindled their fighting spirit.

That's right.

Although the Alans were mostly Christians, Shahzani treated them with great respect and built bridges of friendship with these nomadic peoples of eastern Iran, using the ancient traditions of the Iranian-Aryan people as a bond.

Furthermore, many Alan herders, self-cultivating farmers, and minor military nobles voluntarily converted to the Khorami sect of Islam, spoke Persian, and remained in the provinces of the Samanid Empire to serve Empress Shahzani wholeheartedly.

These acts of tolerance and righteousness further strengthened the Alan people's belief in recovering their lost territory and guarding the borders for the Samanid Empire.

This is quite a feat.

From a historical perspective, the Persians and the nomadic peoples of eastern Iran, despite their close relationship, have been essentially at odds with each other for over a decade.

During the Achaemenid dynasty, the Saka female Khan Tomiris killed Cyrus the Great of Persia.

During the Parthian dynasty, although the Parthians entered Persia as Iranian nomads, they were quite wary of their northern compatriots.

During the Sasanian dynasty, regimes such as the Hephthalites, composed of people from eastern Iran and remnants of the Huns, were long-time enemies of the Shahs.

……

Today, the Turan people of the northern grasslands have gradually changed from speaking predominantly Eastern Iranian languages ​​to speaking predominantly Turkic languages. Even the Alans have become a minority remnant of the nomadic forces of Eastern Iran.

In fact, according to the tradition of frequent conquest/conquest/annexation/separation/reorganization among the tribes of the Eurasian steppe, Turkic herders and Eastern Iranian herders have long been intertwined.

However, in a sense, Shahzani still managed to write a new chapter in history.

Shahzani nodded in satisfaction.

Having made up his mind, he drafted an order, which was transmitted to Azerbaijan Province through the postal system and handed over to the military and political envoy in the western front, Sahini.

Thanks to its powerful mobilization system, the Azerbaijani Military District of the Samanid Empire quickly gathered supplies and selected elite soldiers who were proficient in Alan and Turkic languages ​​and familiar with the conditions of the steppe. Once preparations were complete, they immediately marched north.

Commanded by Bahman Zahra Shahinian, the fifth daughter of Shahinian, the army consisted of 2 Samanian troops and more than 20 Alan people.

In an instant, the entire Baku Plain in Shirvan Province was filled with herds of cattle and sheep, and arrays of soldiers like clouds. The crimson Persian battle flags of the Samanid Empire and the battle flags of the Alan Kingdom blotted out the sky.

Thanks to the grain and fodder supplies provided by local governments along the way, as well as the large herds of livestock that accompanied the army, the troops did not encounter any major problems with their supplies for the time being.

After marching for several days, they crossed Darband (Lihaiguan) on the eastern side of the Caucasus Mountains and officially entered the dry steppe region of the North Caucasus.

The first to be encountered were the remnants of the Khazar Khanate who grazed their livestock in the Dagestan region. These remnants of the Khazar Khanate were no longer as powerful as they once were, and moreover, the descendants of a powerful state were unwilling to blindly follow the lead of the Turan Khanate.

Under the command of Sahini the Younger, the Samanid army defeated the remnants of the Khazars at Balanjar (one of the old cities of the Khazars Khanate) and seized a large amount of wealth and livestock.

Little Shahini did not pursue the matter to the death, but instead sent envoys to persuade them, using a combination of soft and hard tactics to force the Khazars chieftains to submit, or at least to neutralize them.

The road was feasible, and the people of the Sa tribe quickly allowed passage.

As they passed through the Khazars' pastures, Little Sahinnian strictly enforced military discipline. Any soldier who dared to plunder Khazars' livestock, whether a Samanid or an Alan warrior, was immediately punished according to military law.

Although she was a seductive and wicked succubus like her mother when they were in bed, on the battlefield she was a fierce general with strict discipline and iron-fisted decisiveness.

Passing through the Durzukti Kingdom of the Vanah people, this small kingdom was once an ally of the Alan Kingdom, sharing the same religion and lineage. Naturally, it would not make things difficult for the Alan people in their war to reclaim their homeland. However, out of fear of the Turan Khanate, they remained in a wait-and-see state and dared not provide assistance.

But it doesn't matter, the soldiers of the Saman Empire are full of confidence that they can win the next war.

No update today.

I have something to do today, so I'll be taking a break from updating.

Chapter 335 Bloodstained Kuban River

Bahman Zahra Shahini, commanding the Samanid army and leading a large number of Alan people, continued to advance into the depths of the Kuban-Terek River steppe.

At this time, the Turan chieftain named Qiliqi Chaglitqin occupied the former territory of Alan. He was one of the sons of Khan Aknuer and led two 10,000 households of tents, as well as many surrounding vassal tribes. He also had a considerable number of personal guards under his command, such as Darhan and Naqor.

He was quite surprised and astonished to learn that the Samanid army had defeated the Khazars and crossed the Dagestan steppe, but he quickly regained his composure.

“The Persians are on a long and arduous expedition, and they are no match for our Turan wolves on the steppe. As long as we take advantage of the natural defenses of the rivers, we will surely be able to stop their offensive. God bless us!” said Kilich Chaglitqin.

They immediately mobilized troops and deployed defenses along the Kuban River, waiting in ambush.

To ensure safety, Qiliqi Chagli Teqin rode his horse around the area once more.

"Order the bridge over the river to be dismantled," Kilich Chagli commanded.

"Why demolish it?" Tulan Tumanbashi (head of ten thousand households) under his command asked, somewhat puzzled.

“Without a bridge, the Persians will inevitably spend time swimming across the river, which will give us a greater chance of victory, as we can wait on the shore,” said Kilich Chaglitchin.

He then ordered the demolition of all bridges within sight.

……

A few days later, the Samanid army arrived.

Sahini personally led several generals to inspect the battlefield.

“Sadar, the bridge has been destroyed by the Turans! This is not good news. The river is wide, and the Turan soldiers on the other side are keeping a close watch. It will probably be a fierce battle!” said the Saman general under his command.

“That’s right, the Turan army is trying to use this tactic to stop our advance! But this is no challenge for the resourceful Iranian army, because we have the wisdom and strength of the warrior Rustam.” Little Sahini looked at the enemy formation on the opposite bank of the river, a wicked smile playing on his lips.

Just like her mother's signature charming smile.

As the descendant of a prominent minister who revitalized the Samanid Empire, she not only inherited her mother's wisdom and courage but was also sent to Dabilistan, the court of Jahan Shahhar, from a young age to receive personal education from Queen Shahzani.

In the field of military strategy, Shahzani recounted numerous famous battles to the children of these veterans, including not only historical examples but also many later ones.

Including but not limited to: the Iraq-Turkish War between the Safavid dynasty and the Ottoman Empire, Nadir Shah's conquest wars, campaigns on the Eastern and Western Fronts during World War I, Soviet offensive operations on the Eastern Front, and several offensives during the Iran-Iraq War...

There's no need to worry about students not understanding, because Shahzani uses contemporary vocabulary and sentence structures throughout her teaching, and even refers to the warring parties as figures from Iranian epic mythology such as "Faridon," "Gorshaspu," "Bahram," and "Prophet."

In any case, the power to define epics and myths rests in her hands.

These diverse and engaging courses have greatly benefited students, including little Sahimian.

My thoughts drifted back to the battlefield of the Kuban River grassland.