I was the Queen of Persia

Page 46

Farzana rose happily and, together with Shahzani, they returned to the palace, chatting and laughing.

That night, the two sisters slept in the same bed and had a long talk.

Soon, the topic shifted to the Seljuk issue, or rather, to the issue of the various nomadic Turkic tribes within Iranian territory.

Shahzani recounted in detail how the Seljuk raid had been thwarted, while Farzana listened attentively.

“I think that relying solely on force to suppress them will hardly make these Turans completely abide by the law. If an opportunity arises in the future, they will still transgress the law. What do you think about this?” Shahzani said.

“Divide their forces,” Falzana said.

Shahzani immediately became interested: "Oh? Tell me more about it."

So Farzana told the Queen her idea.

She believes that the Seljuks (and other naturalized Turks) raided rural areas because of their inherent nomadic tribes' backward production, material scarcity, and economic vulnerability.

At the same time, nomadic tribes often combined soldiers and civilians, living by hunting and herding in peacetime and quickly transforming into soldiers in wartime, giving them a certain advantage in military organization.

The organization of nomadic peoples is naturally not as good as that of regular armies, but it is better than that of villages and towns scattered across the countryside.

Given this situation, they frequently take advantage of the instability of government power to plunder villages and destroy crops and farmland.

"Therefore, I suggest that the Seljuk and other tribes be further divided and dispersed, and that they be resettled in batches to different regions, with designated pastures and strict administration. This would facilitate animal husbandry and trade, as well as management by officials at all levels. At the same time, they should be encouraged to build towns, cultivate crops, and live a settled life."

Farzana concluded.

“Yes, we’re on the same page.” Shahzani gave an approving look.

The following day at court, Shahzani officially issued the relevant edict. Because she had just won a victory in her campaign and was in a position of great power, the Seljuk tribes dared not disobey and all obediently complied with the order.

After the various Seljuk groups arrived at their resettlement locations, they received strong support from the local governments. They could exchange cattle, sheep, warhorses, and dairy products for supplies such as cloth, silk, iron ingots, and salt in the cities where they settled, and their living conditions improved further compared to the past.

This is also what Shahzani wanted.

An overly powerful Seljuk tribe was not in her interest.

A Seljuk tribe that was too weak was not in her interest.

A Seljuk tribe that was powerful enough to provide cattle, sheep, warhorses, and brave soldiers, but too weak to contend with the central government, was most in her interest.

After resolving the Seljuk issue, the handling of other tribes that were assimilated into the Turkic-Turan people could also follow this model.

Shahzani officially appointed Farzana as Grand Vazir, in charge of the government, and promoted the civil officials and staff accompanying the army to strengthen the administrative power of the Diwan institution.

Chapter 101 Strategic Capture of Baishui Hu City

By the months of Mordad, Shahriwal, and Mehr in 1001 AD, the Karakhanid army had been driven to the area east of Tashkent.

Bahramu, based in Tashkent, commanded the army and won several sporadic skirmishes, gradually encroaching on their territory and forcing the Karakhanid army into a passive defensive posture.

Il-i-Naser Khan then hoped to gather his forces at Whitewater City to fight the Samanid army once again.

Baishuihu City, also known as Isfijab, Isbijab, or Sayram, was not only an important town on a tributary of the Syr Darya River, but also a key "buffer zone" connecting settled and nomadic civilizations.

In the past, whenever the rulers of the Samanid dynasty attacked the Turkic tribes that harassed the border, they would always use this town as an outpost before advancing into the Turanstan steppe in the north.

Correspondingly, when the central authority of Iran weakens, various nomadic Turkic tribes will use this as a breakthrough point to enter settled civilized areas such as Tashkent, Fergana, Transoxiana, and Khorasan.

The relatively important strategic value of Baishui Hucheng means that both sides in the war will try their best to seize this area.

……

October 25, 1001 AD, the month of Mehr in the Persian calendar.

Shahzani appointed Farzana as Grand Vazir to improve the central Diwan institution and form a stable and powerful central government. After completing the construction of the political organization, she led her elite troops to Tashkent to continue the war with the Karakhanid Dynasty.

The official residence in Tashkent.

"Shah, after the initial battles, our powerful and victorious army has contained the Karakhanid army from the east, south, and west, squeezing them into a corner of Whitewater City."

"But Ilikh Naser Khan clearly does not want to give up the city. At present, the Karakhanid army has been deployed on the plain outside Whitewater City, attempting to defend the city."

Bahramu pointed to the battlefield map and explained the current situation of the enemy and ourselves.

“Yes, the scepter of victory is in our hands, how can we be complacent? Issue my order: the entire army assembles and marches straight for Whitewater City,” said Shahzani.

But that's it.

“Your Majesty, I have a plan that can throw the Karakhanid army into chaos before the battle even begins, without firing a single shot,” said Zhu Jiande, who was standing in the ranks of his advisors.

“Nonsense. War is not child’s play, and one should not speak carelessly.” His temporary wife, Captain Sahimian, was about to rebuke his abruptness and presumption.

“Sigh.” Shahzani raised her hand to stop her, then looked at Zhu Jiande with a calm expression, “Tell me your tactics and strategies.”

The Persian queen's open-minded approach impressed the Confucian scholars of Qin.

Zhu Jiande then bowed and said earnestly, "The Karakhanid Khanate is filled with numerous vassal states, and the brothers are at odds with each other. Now they have suffered repeated defeats, and the Khan's authority is increasingly unable to suppress the conflicts among the various tribes."

“Yes, you summarized it very well. Go on,” Shahzani approved.

"Your Majesty can have the soldiers disguise themselves as Black Khan soldiers, sow discord among them, and cause them to fall into chaos without a fight," Zhu Jiande said confidently.

After hearing this, Shahzani nodded slightly, agreeing that the suggestion made a lot of sense.

Although the Karakhanid Dynasty adopted a Persianized centralized bureaucratic system, it still retained strong remnants of nomadic tribal society, as evidenced by the "dual Khan system" implemented at the top of its Khanate.

By the early 11th century, after several rounds of division and integration, the Karakhanid ruling group gradually formed two major factions: the "Ali faction" and the "Hasan faction." Although the two factions were brothers, their struggles for interests and their mutual suspicion and scheming were quite fierce.

After Ilikh Naser Khan marched into Bukhara and conquered Transoxiana, he once used his formidable military prowess to suppress many arrogant nobles within the Khanate. However, he has suffered repeated defeats and is finding it increasingly difficult to consolidate his power through his authority, leading to growing divisions within the Karakhanid Khanate.

“Very good.” Shahzani gave Zhu Jiande an approving look.

She surveyed her generals and emphasized, "Generals, this gentleman from Qin has offered us a wise strategy. Therefore, I have decided to adopt a different tactic to defeat the enemy..."

Shahzani pointed to the map on the paper in Samarkand and made arrangements for the various military commanders.

……

The camp of the Karakhanid army outside Baishuihu City.

The dark brown Karakhan Desert winds howl, and the soldiers, on high alert, watch the steadily approaching dust cloud in the distance, their hearts pounding.

Countless scarlet Saman banners appeared prominently on the horizon, followed by a vast and magnificent array of Saman troops.

All the Karakhanid soldiers couldn't help but grip their spears and weapons tightly.

But when the two armies were about a thousand paces apart, the Saman army suddenly stopped advancing, then formed a strict formation and confronted the Karakhan army, but did not launch an attack for a long time.

The blazing sun in the sky moved slowly.

The soldiers of the two armies facing each other on the ground stood solemnly like statues, neither willing to launch an attack prematurely.

“God above, what are these Postatats up to…” Ilikh Nasser Khan stood on the high ground, looking at the battlefield situation, and couldn’t help but wonder.

However, he remained highly vigilant and did not order his troops to attack.

The enemy did not move, nor did we. The Samanid and Karakhanid armies remained locked in a tense standoff, neither daring to break the unusual silence on the battlefield until the sun set.

As night fell, the vigilant Karakhanid soldiers began to feel weary. Seeing that the stalemate could not continue, the junior officers ordered their men to take turns resting on guard duty.

But that's it.

From the direction of the Saman army, faint singing could be heard, initially sparse but gradually becoming clearer and louder.

The Karakhanid soldiers listened intently, and upon hearing what they heard, they all showed expressions of shock and horror.

The song sung by the Saman soldiers was actually a folk song from the Kashgar region (an important eastern town of the Karakhanid Dynasty), with a strong local Turkic dialect accent.

Upon hearing this, Ilik Naser Khan was also greatly surprised: "Have the Kashgar people already defected to the Samanid dynasty? Why are there so many Kashgar soldiers in their army?"

Shahzani's feint caused the Karakhanid soldiers to lose their fighting spirit.

Ilikh Nasser Khan hesitated for a moment in frustration, but the naturally suspicious Khan finally ordered the abandonment of the city and retreat to the steppe.

Under the hasty order, the troops of the Karakhanid Khanate hurriedly assembled and, under the cover of night, hastily fled the area of ​​Baishui City and retreated towards Balasagun.

Standing in her own lines, Shahzani, through Biruni's observation lens, saw the Karakhanid army's chaotic retreat in the distance, and a triumphant smile appeared on her lips.

“Very good, order the attack.” She finally gave the order to attack.

In an instant, the silence of the night was broken by the sound of suona horns and war drums. The Saman soldiers raised their torches and charged toward the Karakhan camp. The burning rockets illuminated the darkness of the night sky.

Caught off guard, the Karakhanid army was thrown into chaos and fled, abandoning their camps and cities in a desperate retreat.

The outer camp was engulfed in flames, and Shahzani rode his warhorse through the gates of Whitewater City.

Chapter 102 The Debate Within the Karakhanid Khanate

Shahzani's tactic largely drew inspiration from the Qin dynasty's "surrounded by enemies on all sides" story, while his direct inspiration came from Mahmoud Ghazni.

According to the original historical timeline.

When the Ghaznavid army and the Karakhanid army were engaged in a battle at Balkh, Mahmud ordered his soldiers to sing "the Turkic song of Khotan".

Upon hearing this, the Karakhanid soldiers assumed that the Khan in the east had defected to Ghazni, and their morale plummeted. In the end, they were routed by Ghazni's army.

In short, using this tactic, Shahzani successfully captured Whitewater City and drove the Karakhanid army back to the steppes of Turanstein.

……

At the foot of the majestic Tian Shan Mountains lies the Talas River basin.

After his defeat at Whitewater Khan, Ilik Naser Khan led his troops to retreat here. Although he lost many soldiers and all his territories in Transoxiana and Fergana, his main force was still intact, and he still had the capital to rebuild his political and military advantage.

The gently flowing Talas River forms a winding silver thread across the yellow-green grasslands, and the Karakhanid army's camps are lined up along the river.

In the center of the camp, in the large felt tent where Naser Khan resided.

The Khan himself sat cross-legged on the high seat, with the Karakhanid generals and nobles lined up on both sides, each with a look of dejection on their face, seemingly still shaken by the hasty retreat from Baishuihu City.

"In the name of the Most High God, O Yaghu, Tegin, Khatun and Subhash."

After a long while, Nasser Khan raised his head and scanned the crowd.

"We had intended to carry on the valor of our ancestor Avrazyab and expand the territory of the Turan warriors of Haqqaniyya, but we never expected to suffer such a devastating defeat. Now, the Khan's kingdom has lost all its lands in Transoxiana, Shash, and Fergana. In your opinion, what should we do next?"

Naser Khan looked at the nobles and asked for their opinions.

The Khan's brother, Mansur, was the first to step forward.

"Khan, Baishuihu City has fallen, and Talas and Balasagun will surely fall as well. Even if we amass a large army, it will be difficult to hold them. In my opinion, we should follow the example of the great former Khan Ogurchak, abandon the western territories, relocate the entire country, and focus on developing Kashgar."

This involves a historical event.

In 893 AD, the Karakhan Khan Ogurchak was defeated by the Saman army. His relatives and a large number of soldiers were captured, and the Khan's capital, Talas, and many important towns in the Seven Rivers region were lost. He was forced to move the capital to Shule (Kashgar), thus establishing Kashgar as the residence of the deputy Khan.

“Furthermore, moving the capital to Kashgar would also facilitate the ‘holy war’ to the east, and the annexation of the cities of the Buddhists in Khotan and Gaochang, in order to promote the work of God,” Mansur continued.

“Well, that’s a good suggestion. However, Kashgar is already under the rule of Ahmad Togan Khan. If I lead my troops there, I’m afraid I’ll have to ‘make good dealings’ with him,” Nasser Khan said meaningfully.

“Great Khan, your military achievements are outstanding, like a lion on the grassland. Why should you be subject to Togan Khan?” said a Karakhanid military nobleman.

“That’s right. Turkic warriors have always earned their titles through military achievements. Togan Khan was only known for his seniority as a direct descendant. He never had any glorious military achievements in expanding the territory.” Another Karakhanid military nobleman agreed.

"Kashgar folk songs are coming from the Saman army. It seems that Togan Khan has secretly colluded with the Samans to attack our army from both sides. If that's the case, we can annihilate them in one fell swoop!" Subash Special Service also stood up to add fuel to the fire.

Other Karakhanid nobles also spoke out, and the vast majority agreed to move the capital to Kashgar, which would also allow them to eliminate the "rebels who were colluding with the Samanid dynasty."

"I think this is inappropriate."

Suddenly, a voice interrupted the generals' discussion.

Aknuar stepped forward and said, “Khan, I believe we should gather our elite troops and expand northwestward, integrating the Kipchak, Oghuz, and Kimak tribes to establish a powerful Turan warrior kingdom.”

As soon as this statement came out, everyone in the audience was shocked.

In the eyes of most Karakhanid nobles, the Kipchak, Oghuz, and other tribes, although belonging to the Turkic-Turan people, were mostly pagans who had not yet converted to the faith of Allah. It was truly inconceivable for them to unite with this group of non-believers.

“Akenuer, the nobles all suggest marching southeast to occupy the Buddhist cities of Khotan and Gaochang; you alone advocate marching northwest to unite with the Kipchak and Kimak, these unbelievers of the Turks. Have you forgotten that your relatives died on the battlefield of Khotan?”

Nasser Khan questioned.

“No.” Aknuer’s expression was firm. “The blood of my loved ones cannot be redeemed by anyone other than the people of Khotan, it’s just that…”

"Just what?"

"But the kingdoms of Khotan and Gaochang are small and sparsely populated, unable to support my large and valiant army; while the vast grasslands of the Kipchak Khanate, teeming with cattle and sheep, are sufficient to supply our army year after year, and are fertile lands left by our Turkic ancestors. As valiant Turkic warriors, with the blood of Avrashiyabu flowing in our veins, are we to abandon our vast grasslands and pastures and retreat to a secluded oasis in a basin?"

Aknu'er countered with a question.

Indeed, the supply capacity of different regions in inland Asia varies.

The Transoxiana region, centered around Bukhara and Samarkand, boasts a long history and civilization, a large population, numerous cities, abundant resources, a mild and dry climate, and is the most prosperous and thriving region overall.