I was the Queen of Persia

Page 13

Numerous artisans and conscripted laborers are busy felling elm trees in the oasis to make climbing ladders and shields to protect against arrows. Elm trees are often precious in arid and semi-arid regions, but there is more than enough to meet the demand.

Shahzani specifically instructed that more arrow shields be prepared and taken away. These devices, made of oasis hardwood and rope grass, could be placed in front of the army below the city to greatly resist the scattered fire of the Jihadi soldiers on the city wall, and could also serve as protective shields to cover the advance of the attacking troops.

Seeing the bustling scene of people working hard, a sudden inspiration flashed in Shahzani's mind.

She then ordered the craftsmen to cover the arrow shields with damp cotton felt, plaster them with sand and mud, and add wheel bases to the bottom of the shields. In this way, this ingenious defensive device not only increased the protection against stray arrows, but also provided more convenient cover while moving, achieving two goals at once.

……

The next morning, everything was ready.

At Shahzani's command, the troops participating in the assault immediately set off towards Amin Mughashidi's camp.

This force numbered over 10000, consisting of 200 palace guards and 10000 Baski militia. Banners fluttered, and spears filled the air.

Before long, the army approached Amin Mughashidi's camp and completed the preliminary preparations for the assault before the enemy could react.

soon.

Before the camp, arrows flew like locusts, and the piercing sound of whistling arrows filled the air.

The Bassky archer militia, in squads of ten, protected by "enhanced shields," fired their bows at the city walls while advancing step by step, providing cover for each other during their attack.

Shahzani stood on a nearby high slope, overlooking the entire battlefield.

"The enemy's defenders on the western wall have suffered heavy casualties and their defensive strength has been weakened. Immediately concentrate superior forces to intensify the attack on this area."

"Mobilize five hundred-man companies of Baski pikemen and swordsmen to further strengthen our melee capabilities and cover the archers' attacks."

……

Her military orders were quickly relayed to the attacking troops at the front via military flags and messengers.

The Jihadi garrison in Amin Mujahidi's camp was leaderless, morale was low, and the various minor leaders were fighting independently, making it difficult to organize an effective resistance.

An hour later, a commando unit of several hundred Basij militiamen from the General Mobilization Forces had successfully captured the western section of the city wall and cleared the area of ​​enemy troops.

"Very good, continue according to plan."

Seeing this, Shahzani continued to give instructions to those around her.

"As you wish, Your Excellency." The flag bearers on either side immediately understood her intention and gave flag signals to the front-line troops.

This order has been received.

Having already scaled the city walls, the Baski commando team quickly formed a tighter battle formation and charged towards the camp's gates. They fought their way through, overwhelming the scattered Jihadi defenders.

Finally, several Baski warriors bravely charged down the city gate, cleared out the enemy soldiers guarding it, and together pushed open the gate to the camp.

"The city gates are open! Warriors of the Samanian court, heed my command, charge!"

At this moment, the palace guards who had been lying in ambush in the rear as reserves, led by Bahram, immediately mounted their warhorses and launched an attack on the wide-open city gate.

Chapter 25 The Plan to Form a Standing Army

The palace guards, in small groups, charged in waves, breaking through the gates of Amin Mughashidi's camp.

This was also a tactic that Shahzani had planned in advance.

The camp only had narrow, potholed dirt roads, which were not convenient for cavalry formations to spread out. Therefore, it was necessary to adopt a small-unit "point-to-area" assault tactic to make it easier to expand the results of the battle.

Bahram also grasped Shahzani's tactical intentions perfectly. After successfully leading the cavalry to break through, she immediately cooperated with the Bassky commando team.

The palace guards acted as the vanguard in breaking through the enemy lines. With their superior mobility, they tore through the already weak defenses of the Jihadi garrison and then further wounded the Jihadi garrison by continuously firing arrows.

With the expanded gains made by the palace guards, the subsequent Baski commando teams cooperated with each other to eliminate the remaining Jihadi guards from house to house.

The troops reported their progress to Shahzani by planting flags at various high points in the camp.

……

at the same time.

Shahzani was also constantly moving forward to his "temporary command post" in order to better command the frontline troops in combat.

Near the city gate, corpses piled up like mountains, and blood flowed like rivers.

The horses' hooves pounded across the red-stained sand, producing a series of dull thuds, and the pungent smell of blood filled the air.

However, she had already witnessed battlefields far more hellish than this, so the scene before her was nothing to her.

"Lord Shahzani!"

Just then, a messenger ran through the chaotic alley, stepping over the corpses lying across the dirt road.

"How is the situation at the front?" Shahzani asked.

"The vanguard is advancing quite smoothly," the messenger replied. "We have already controlled more than 70% of the area, compressing the remaining enemy into a few isolated locations."

“Very good,” Shahzani ordered. “Continue the offensive and completely annihilate these enemy forces.”

soon.

After completing their revised combat readiness deployment, the palace guards and the Baskey commandos at the front were thrown into a new round of battle.

By this time, the Jihadi garrison in the camp had suffered heavy casualties, and the remaining troops, after incurring considerable losses, had lost their fighting capacity and completely lost the will to resist.

"By Almighty God, we surrender!"

Gradually, one by one, the guards threw down their weapons, emerged from the dilapidated mud houses, and knelt down to beg for mercy.

In a matter of moments, they were all subdued by Shahzani's soldiers.

"Tie them up and take them to the rear to await further orders," Shahzani said to the soldiers, glancing at the group of disheveled prisoners.

In the blink of an eye, Shahzani's soldiers tore off the black headscarves of the Jihadi militants, tied their arms behind their backs, pointed spears at them, and ordered them to move to the rear of the troops.

As for the few remaining Jihadi defenders who fought to the bitter end, Shahzani simply gestured for his troops to "continue." And so, under the powerful offensive of Shahzani's forces, these enemies were quickly annihilated.

Amin Mughashidi's camp fell into the hands of Shahzani.

……

Accompanied by her attendants, Shahzani toured the fortified city several times.

But the deeper she looked, the more her brows furrowed.

"This camp is poorly constructed."

"Many building materials are poorly made and cannot provide adequate protection."

"The planning and layout are also very chaotic."

"Moreover, it's neither fish nor fowl, and it's not Persian style architecture at all."

"No wonder I conquered it so easily."

"There's no point in keeping this kind of camp; we might as well tear it all down and build a new one."

Looking at the dilapidated and chaotic alleyway, Shahzani uttered a series of complaints.

Just then, she planned to build a caravanserai nearby that also served a military function. So, she ordered the laborers of the General Mobilization Army to dismantle the camp, remix the salvaged building materials, and finally build the caravanserai in a suitable location nearby.

At the same time, Shahzani also issued orders regarding the disposal of prisoners of war.

She stipulated it.

If the Jihadi believers are lured into joining the group and have a weak faith, they will be imprisoned first, and then made to do heavy physical labor to cleanse their sins, such as mining in mines, clearing land in the desert, etc.

If they are core members and radicals of fanaticism, they should be executed directly, just as Abu Habib and others were executed outside the village of Behesht Oasis.

Sometimes, when dealing with enemies, we must also consider using the tried-and-true strategy of "carrot and stick".

……

at dusk.

Shahzani ordered the troops to set up camp outside the stronghold, rest and replenish their strength, and ensure that they could capture the stronghold of the Jihadi militants—the Bab al-Jihadi fortress—in one fell swoop.

The cold winds of autumn and winter blow through the region of Iran.

This is also a place with a large temperature difference. It may be warm and pleasant during the day, but it will become cold and biting at night. Gusts of wind carrying sand and gravel will often make your cheeks extremely dry.

Shahzani's soldiers, horses, and pack animals gathered in order around the campfire, taking turns to warm themselves and rest. The tents in the marching camp were also arranged in an orderly fashion, and sentries and patrols vigilantly watched the surroundings to guard against enemy attacks.

In the very center of the camp, inside that sixteen-pole tent.

Shahzani sat cross-legged on the blanket, carefully examining the map drawn on Samarkand paper and the battle reports by the light of the copper lamp.

"The courage of the Bassky militia in this battle is commendable; it was their valiant fighting that propelled the victory..."

"The bravery and discipline they displayed made them true warriors, those who served alongside soldiers and whose profession was warfare..."

As Shahzani pondered this, an idea suddenly struck her: "That's right! The militia system is gradually maturing now, so why don't I build a well-trained, full-time standing army on that foundation?"

She understood very well that a disciplined and capable standing army was the foundation for territorial expansion and the conquest of hegemony. Take Persian history, for example. As early as the Achaemenid dynasty, the Persians established an early standing army, the most famous of which was the renowned Immortal Army.

The Samanid dynasty also implemented a mixed system of standing army and feudal armed forces. The Samanid armed forces usually consisted of two parts: one part consisted of troops who received salaries but were not granted land, such as the standing armies in various regions and the Ghulam Guard; the other part consisted of soldiers who received land, food, clothing, and taxes, such as the landowners' armed forces in Dehghan and Iqta.

Practice has proven that this system is quite effective, and if it can be further improved, the effect will undoubtedly be even better.

With this in mind, Shahzani immediately began the initial planning for establishing a standing army.

Chapter 26 Successive Victories

Inside the army commander's tent.

Persian-style copper oil lamps cast twinkling lights, while intricately patterned curtains and a formidable array of weapons stand side by side.

Shahzani and the key decision-making officers sat in order of seniority.

“Sardar (Persian: Sardar, meaning leader), so you want to select a group of strong and skilled warriors from the militia to form a new professional army that receives a fixed salary?” Bahram asked first.

“That’s right.” Shahzani nodded affirmatively. “What do you think?”

“But as far as I know, there are many women among our people, but relatively few able-bodied men. This means that most of those recruited will be female warriors,” Officer Hosslou said.

“Well, what’s wrong with a female warrior?” Officer Afuxin stood up.

“Aren’t we brave and fearless female warriors? Whether it was protecting the concubines in the Saman court in the past, or now relying on ourselves and fighting bravely against the enemy, we are all contributing to the country, aren’t we?” Afuxin reminded everyone with gestures.

“That’s right!” Officer Tahmina added, gesturing as she spoke. “God is our witness, and the spirit of Guld al-Faryd is our witness. Our female warriors are no less brave and resolute than our strong male warriors!”

“Yes! Yes!” the female officers echoed.

Then the whole audience burst into laughter, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious.

This is the approach Shahzani takes when faced with important decisions—pooling collective wisdom. After all, for many armies throughout history, maintaining a certain degree of military democracy usually leads to greater unity among commanders, more courageous fighting among soldiers, and better organization and implementation of tactics and strategies.

"However, Sadar Shahzani (meaning 'Shahzani leader'), there is a problem here that must be carefully considered."

At this moment, the oldest officer, Firuz, stepped forward.

She said, "Soldiers who make a living by fighting are different from militiamen who are half soldiers and half civilians. They are destined to use swords as pillows, armor as clothing, and the battlefield as their home. Asking these women and girls to leave their homes and live in the military camp for a long time would probably face resistance from their fathers, brothers, and husbands."

Shahzani nodded after hearing this; she naturally understood the principle.

The mindset of people in feudal times was difficult to escape the limitations of the era, and even more difficult to overcome inherent gender prejudices. Women in feudal times found it even more difficult to break free from these constraints.

Iranian women, in the course of Iranian history, have exhibited a rather contradictory characteristic.

On the one hand, in a patriarchal society, Iranian women are subjected to secular and religious oppression, and are restricted in their clothing and behavior, and their personal rights are often restricted.

On the other hand, Iranian women are also important participants in military and political affairs. Throughout Iranian dynasties, such as the Sasanian, Samanid, and Safavid dynasties, female warriors and officers frequently emerged, and strong women who participated in politics were not uncommon.

In short, there is discrimination and restrictions, but there are also opportunities and possibilities.

Shahzani understood: "The right to speak is determined by force, power, and merit. As long as you use steel knives and wit to prove your courage and methods, you will not have to worry about silencing the prejudiced."

So Shahzani said, "I also hope to have a large number of strong and capable male soldiers, but the current situation does not allow it. So I can only settle for second best and select strong and capable women and girls. But even women, I can forge them into a victorious army and let them prove to men with swords and blood that the daughters of Iran are also brave warriors of the country."

Her explanation naturally stirred everyone's emotions and boosted their morale, and they all expressed their full support.

Shahzani further elaborated on the plan.

First, in the next siege, select relatively skilled Bassky militia members to form a commando team. This will allow them to assess their combat skills and further hone their fighting prowess.

Secondly, a messenger was sent back to Zanshahr to instruct Farzana, who remained behind, to prepare the necessary weapons, equipment, barracks, training grounds, and supplies, so that the army could be formally formed once the war ended and the troops returned to camp.

……

The next morning.

With all preparations complete, Shahzani immediately ordered the advance to continue.