I was the Queen of Persia

Page 41

Bahram, who was standing nearby, noticed something amiss and said, "Khadhuda, look. Although the Karakhanid army is holding the riverbank, they have dispersed their forces across dozens of Farsahs, which has weakened their defenses. We can find a few weak points to use as a breakthrough."

“Where do you think would be the most suitable?” Shahzani asked.

"Hu Zhande City".

Bahramu pointed to a corner of the map: "Khujand is located in a relatively isolated and remote area. Although the Karakhanid army has deployed a large number of troops in the city, it is difficult to form a support with other Karakhanid forces and it is easy to be defeated."

She paused, then continued, "More importantly, Nasser Khan's decision to send Jafar to guard the city was tantamount to choosing the wrong people."

“That’s right. Although Jafar is brave and skilled in battle, he lacks composure. He suffered repeated defeats at our hands in the early stages, losing all authority and face. He was easily blinded by his desire to win, which led him to fall into a carefully laid trap.” Shahzani agreed.

Other Samanid generals also agreed to use Khujand as a breakthrough point.

Just then, Nassakchi, sent by Samarkand, brought another piece of good news.

It turned out that, due to Shahzani's repeated military achievements and Farzana's effective administration, the people and officials of Samarkand held them in even higher esteem.

Therefore, Holis, a Samarkand army leader known by the name "Ibn Alamdor," decided to devote his entire fortune to supporting Shahzani's war of restoration.

Holis was one of the wealthiest Dehgan landowners in the Samarkand region, owning numerous fertile fields, manors, and pastures in the surrounding counties. He was originally a high-ranking officer in the Samanid army, but due to his disapproval of the infighting among various factions within the court and the greedy power grabs of the Ghulam warlords, he felt he had no way to serve his country and ultimately retired.

After Shahzani recovered much lost territory and governed Samarkand well, perhaps inspired by his faith, he decided to give away all his wealth to support the Samanid soldiers fighting on the front lines.

“Very good.” Shahzani said with great satisfaction, “Upright Iranians and devout Muslims are supporting our grand cause of reclaiming lost territory. We will repay these noble people with an even more glorious victory!”

The Samanid generals present were greatly encouraged.

With the plan finalized, Shahzani and his generals immediately discussed the specific military deployment.

According to her plan, Rustam Zaman and Hoslu were deployed on the wide side of the Syr Darya River, facing off against Aknuar on the opposite bank.

Bahraim bypassed the northern flank, waiting for a gap to appear in the Karakhan defenses before launching a fierce attack and forcing a crossing of the Syr Darya River.

She herself led her elite troops in a surprise attack on Hu Zhande City, aiming to capture this important hub on the south bank of the river in one fell swoop.

Chapter 91 Cleverly Seizing Hu Zhande

Shahzani selected 2 troops, including Sogdian siege infantry and Qin artisan battalions. The troops set off from the main camp in the "Southern Hungry Steppe" and headed straight for the territory of Khujand (also known as Khujand), planning to annihilate the 3-strong Jafar Special Forces garrison.

On the vast desert grassland, a large group of people moved in an orderly and rapid manner, kicking up clouds of dust.

As they continued their eastward advance, the majestic, snow-covered mountain ranges began to appear among Shahzani and the soldiers of the Samanid Persian army.

The Tian Shan mountain range, the Turkestan mountain range, and other mountain ranges extending from the Pamir Plateau together create an extremely magnificent landscape.

……

June 7, 1001 AD, was also the month of Khordad in the Persian calendar.

When the Samanid army arrived at the walls of Khujand, Shahzani ordered them to set up camp on the east, west, and south sides. The Qin army, known for its efficiency, began to work under the command of Zhu Jiande, mainly constructing mutually supportive siege camps and building siege weapons such as catapults.

"God above, damn it! These Postatas have advanced so fast!" Jafar T'gin, standing on the city wall, clearly underestimated Shahzani's marching speed and cursed.

The frustration of defeat in the battle of Transoxiana surged into his heart again. Looking at the rows of Samanian camps, he subconsciously gripped the weapon at his waist and gritted his teeth, saying, "Everyone, be on your guard! If they dare to come, kill them without mercy!"

However, contrary to the expectations of the Karakhan defenders, the Saman army did not attack the city immediately. After setting up camp, they merely arrayed themselves as a deterrent and did not launch an attack for the next few days.

"Damn it! What are they up to? Send their fathers to hell!" Jafar Special Agent was completely bewildered by this turn of events, not knowing what kind of tactic the other side was going to use, and he cursed anxiously.

The Karakhanid defenders, who were on high alert and on guard against any attack, were also puzzled. They were on high alert every day, but the Samanid army on the other side remained inactive.

Just when the Karakhan garrison thought there would be no attack and relaxed their guard, the Saman army launched an attack on the 12th, catching the Karakhan garrison off guard.

However, the Samanid army's offensive did not continue. After achieving some minor victories, they ordered a retreat and returned to their respective siege camps.

For the next two days, the Saman army did the same thing, resting for a while before suddenly attacking the city, but the attack was not strong, which annoyed the Karakhan defenders.

Late at night on August 15th.

The Karakhanid soldiers on the city wall were on guard when they suddenly heard fierce shouts of battle coming from the direction of the Saman army. Looking up, they saw flames in the distance and the vanguard of the Saman army was also hastily abandoning their camp and retreating.

"God above! Perhaps our reinforcements have arrived!" The Karakhan guards were overjoyed and quickly reported the news to Jafar Tegin.

Jafar's special agents hurriedly climbed the watchtower and saw that the situation was indeed as described. Firelight flickered and banners waved ahead, indicating that a fierce battle was taking place.

They then dispatched scouts to investigate, and found that the Saman camp was already empty, with only scattered tents and armor remaining, a scene of utter devastation.

"Excellent! The Samanid army has been ambushed and is in retreat! Descendants of Afrasiab, raise your scimitars and bows, and join me in annihilating the Samanids!"

Jafar's special forces were overjoyed, believing this to be a perfect opportunity to annihilate Shahzani and wash away their previous humiliation. They then ordered the city's garrison to assemble and launch a full-scale attack.

As night fell, countless torches were lit in an instant, the arched city gates slowly opened, and the Karakhanid troops, lined up in formation, filed out.

Jafar led the charge, storming into the empty camp of the Samanid army, spear in hand, shouting: "Kill them all, warriors of Turan! Take the Samanid camp in one fell swoop, Allah is great!"

The Karakhanid army advanced rapidly and unstoppable, but found not a single Saman soldier.

Jafar was puzzled. With the instincts of a soldier, he felt a chill and sensed something was wrong. He immediately ordered his troops to halt their advance and establish a defensive perimeter.

But it was too late.

Suddenly, flames shot into the sky from the towering earthen slopes on both sides, and the scarlet Saman battle flags fluttered in the flames. Large numbers of Saman soldiers emerged from the high ground, and various ranged weapons such as bows and arrows and catapults concentrated their fire on the Karakhan army.

"Ah—!" "Ah—!" The Karakhanid soldiers screamed and fell off their horses.

"Damn it! We've been ambushed by a despicable scheme! Retreat! Retreat!" Jafar hurriedly raised his whip and urged his horse to retreat.

The morale of the Karakhanid troops was thrown into chaos, and they retreated en masse.

In fact, all of this was a plan devised in advance by Shahzani and Zhu Jiande.

First, launch a probing attack to disrupt the morale of the defending troops; then stage a fake attack from both sides, deliberately ordering the soldiers to retreat to lure the Karakhanid army out of the city, while actually setting up an ambush in secret; once the Karakhanid army enters the encirclement, concentrate long-range projectiles to kill and defeat them.

Practice has shown that the tactic of luring the enemy into annihilation was executed very successfully.

The attack was too sudden. After suffering a blow, the Karakhan vanguard hastily retreated, pressing down on the central army. The central army, unaware of what was happening, also retreated hastily, pressing down on the rearguard. The rearguard, thinking that the front had been defeated, fled back in even greater fear.

The pushing and shoving quickly turned the once orderly military formation into chaos.

Shahzani leaped off the high slope, wielding a bull-headed warhammer, and commanded his men to launch a pincer attack on the Karakhanid army.

The heavily armed Sogdian heavy infantry, under the command of Ikhshid, charged into the enemy ranks, wielding deadly long-handled hammers and axes, causing the Karakhanid army to bloom with blood.

The various armies advanced in a coordinated attack, decimating the hastily retreating enemy forces.

Jafar Teghan was desperate, but the remaining courage in the bones of a Turkic warrior still spurred him to fight to the death. With the main force out of control, he simply led his personal guards, the Ghulam, in a fighting retreat.

As a military noble of the Karakhanid Dynasty, his martial prowess was undeniable. Wielding his sword, he killed numerous Saman soldiers, while his personal guards, the Ghulam, fought valiantly, repelling several waves of Saman attacks.

"Khadhuda, the Jafar Special Forces are putting up a desperate fight!" A cavalryman rode up and reported the situation to Shahzani.

"Oh? It seems this Turan isn't a coward after all," Shahzani thought, then swung her warhammer: "Khadhuda Guards, follow me!"

The iron-willed figure was invincible and quickly surrounded the isolated Jafar Special Forces.

Armored cavalry charged at each other, the clash of iron weapons mingling with the neighing of warhorses.

But Shahzani ultimately prevailed. Soon, the valiant and spirited Qadhuda female guards surrounded Jafar's special forces and the few remaining Ghulam guards.

Jafar was utterly desperate, but he was unwilling to lose so completely. With no way out, he roared and charged at Shahzani, brandishing his sword.

Shahzani, with a stern expression, brandished her warhammer and rode forward to meet them.

After more than twenty rounds of fierce fighting, Jafar's special forces were ultimately slightly outmatched. Shahzani shattered his chest armor with a single blow and fell from his horse, dying instantly.

The former governor of Transoxiana, Il-i-Naser Khan, and one of his most trusted relatives, thus went to meet Allah.

Shahzani led his troops to continue their advance, eventually annihilating the remnants of the Karakhanid army and planting the Saman banner on the city wall of Khujand.

Chapter 92 The Battle of Tashkent

The change of hands in Khujand and the death of Jafar, two major events, had a significant impact on the Saman-Karakhan War.

Khujand was not only an important town on the Silk Road and a crucial ferry crossing on the south bank of the Syr Darya River, but also a vital strategic city controlling the Fergana region. Holding this city meant controlling the Fergana Basin's connection with the outside world.

Jafar Tegin, though brave but lacking in strategy and cruel and volatile, was nonetheless a key figure in the core circle of the Karakhanid Dynasty. His death had a profound impact on the Karakhanid court and the public.

……

Outside Tashkent, the Khan's tent of Ilik Naser Khan.

"Khan! Khan! God above! Something terrible has happened!"

The messenger, his voice trembling with sobs, stumbled into the tent, kowtowed to Nasser Khan, and then choked out, "Shahzani has captured Khujand, and Jafar Tiggan... has died defending the city!"

"What?!" Ilik Nasser Khan suddenly stood up, only to feel a darkness before his eyes.

"Khan!" The servants and Ghulam guards around him quickly helped him sit down.

"Issue the order..." Nasser Khan raised his head, his eyes flashing with terrifying rage, "All generals, combine your forces and prepare for battle on the Tashkent Plain. We will fight the Samanid army to the death! I want to annihilate these Persians!"

"Yes, Khan!"

Let's now discuss the overall battle situation along the Syr Darya defense line.

Saman's Rustam Zaman and Hoslu led their troops in a frontal attack on the army of the Karakhanids, Aknuer and Subash Tegin.

Faced with the fierce Aknuar, the Saman army's offensives were repeatedly repelled, and they failed to capture many bridges across the river. They had no choice but to continue to confront Aknuar and seek a breakthrough in the battle.

Fortunately, Bahraim found a weakness in the defenses in the north and led his troops to cross the Syr Darya River, inflicting heavy losses on the Mansur tribe on the opposite side. This general named Mansur was also a cousin of Ilik Nasser Khan.

Bahram's breakthrough on the northern route pierced the Karakhanid army's Syr Darya defenses and greatly facilitated the offensive of Rustam Zaman and Khoslu.

As for Shahzani's situation, there's no need to elaborate. The fall of Khujand has widened the gaps in the Syr Darya defenses. Shahzani has taken control of the bridges across the river in the Khujand area and is currently concentrating manpower and resources to make final preparations for transporting troops across the river.

With the change of hands by Khujand, the small number of Karakhanid garrison troops in the cities of Fergana have become trapped.

Under Shahzani's command, Firuz led his army into Fergana, wiped out the remaining enemies, and captured Uzgan, a key city of the Karakhanid Khanate.

The Samanid army crossed the Syr Darya River, joined forces, and advanced toward Tashkent.

……

June 25, 1001 AD, the month of Tyre in the Persian calendar.

Outside Tashkent, on the plains, a vast army of soldiers gathered, with thousands of military flags fluttering in the wind. The majestic and orderly sounds of suona horns and war drums resounded across the battlefield, showcasing the army's formidable strength.

In the central army of Saman, Shahzani rode on an armored warhorse, clad in heavy Persian chainmail and wearing a helmet with a plume and pointed top. The Persian inscriptions on the helmet shone golden in the sunlight. Her beautiful eyes peered through her veil, gazing sternly at the distant Karakhanid army.

Despite her numerous victories, she has not yet engaged in a direct confrontation with Nasser Khan's main army, so while she remains confident, she also maintains a degree of caution.

The Karakhanid army launched the first attack.

From afar, the dark mass of Karakhanid cavalry advanced in formation. In terms of composition, there were Ghulam guards, naturalized Ikta and Dehgan cavalry, and armored warriors from various Turkic tribes.

"First wave, attack!" Shahzani commanded.

The Saman standard bearers waved their flags, carrying out the governor's will.

Commander Hosslu, commander of the first echelon, immediately received the order from the command flag and led her Saman cavalry to advance slowly in formation.

The first echelon, mainly composed of regular cavalry, Dehghan cavalry, and Seljuk cavalry from Transoxiana Province, was tasked with wearing down the vanguard of the Karakhanid army.

The two cavalrymen initially moved slowly, but when they reached the center of the battlefield, they suddenly accelerated and clashed head-on, instantly filling the vast battlefield with dust.

Suddenly, a large contingent of mounted archers charged out from the rear of the Karakhanid army, forming a circular formation and unleashing a hail of arrows. The arrows, like locusts, rained down on the charging Saman cavalry, causing some casualties but failing to halt the Saman warriors' advance.

Hoslu immediately ordered a counterattack, and the Saman cavalry unleashed a volley of arrows in retaliation. The more organized and disciplined firing suppressed the Karakhanid horse archers.

Switching back to melee weapons, they clashed and fought fiercely with the Karakhanid cavalry. In an instant, the two sides' cavalrymen clashed with hammers and axes, sparks flying, and shouts of battle echoed across the plains.

"Second wave, reinforcements!"

Shahzani did not give the Karakhanid army a chance to redeploy its troops. When the cavalry of the two armies were locked in a stalemate, she immediately dispatched the second reserve echelon.

Flag signaling.

Rustam Zaman's second echelon quickly formed ranks and charged into battle. This echelon, mainly composed of heavy cavalry from Transoxiana-Khorasan province and several companies of the Qadhuda Guard, was slightly stronger than the first echelon.

The second echelon formed several well-organized wedge-shaped assault formations. Taking advantage of the slight gaps in the distribution of the various Karakhan formations, they suddenly plunged straight in. Heavy armor, iron horses, round shields, strong hammers, and sharp axes instantly pierced through the Karakhan defenses.

Standing in the center of the Karakhanid army, Ilik Naser Khan looked on in surprise at the rapidly deteriorating battlefield situation.

He originally intended to take advantage of being well-rested and then calmly deploy his troops to launch an attack and defeat the Saman army that had come from afar, so as to avenge the death of Jafar Tiggan.

However, the coordination and cooperation among the various units of the Saman army was so close and smooth that Shahzani gave him no chance to quickly organize a counterattack.

Currently, his troops are already on the defensive. If the conflict continues to drag on, not only will they suffer heavy losses, but they will also face the danger of collapse.

Therefore, he ultimately ordered the abandonment of Tashkent, the regrouping of troops, and a retreat while fighting.

The Karakhanid generals, including Aknuar, Mansur, and Subashtegin, who were fighting on the front lines, were already somewhat exhausted. Upon receiving Naser Khan's order, they quickly gathered together and retreated to the rear.

Although the Karakhanid army was slightly at a disadvantage, Naser Khan's command was still effective. Under his iron-fisted orders, the retreating Karakhanid army did not collapse like it had on the battlefield of Shihanna, and even put up a tenacious counterattack against the Samanid army's offensive.