I was the Queen of Persia

Page 125

Bahraim, mounted on his armored steed, stood on a high slope, gazing at the lonely enemy city, a fierce look flashing in his eyes.

Such a formidable military force put immense pressure on the defenders. Faced with the overwhelming might of the Samanid army, the Fatima soldiers guarding the city trembled slightly as they gripped their weapons.

Without giving the defenders a chance to regroup, Bahraim immediately ordered the assembly of war munitions and the formation of troops to attack the city.

The Samanian engineering corps, with Chinese engineering units as its backbone, was highly efficient. In the days leading up to the battle, they had already built a large number of fuel launchers, rocket vehicles, siege ladders, and "suicide drones." At this moment, these weapons were already roaring and unleashing a dense rain of fire upon the defenders of Arish.

Under the cover of heavy weapons, the Saman troops participating in the siege advanced in formation. The first echelon, composed of Deramanians, Kurds, and Bakhtiars, was the most valiant. They quickly set up ladders, took turns providing cover, and braved the rain of arrows from the Fatima soldiers to rush to the top.

Knowing their city was doomed, the Fatima army fought a desperate battle. They surged onto the city walls, hurling logs and stones at the defenders; over a dozen groups of gunners climbed the ballistae on the eastern tower, but all fell to a hail of arrows after their fierce fighting. Finally, the ballistae were struck by Samanian incendiary bombs and engulfed in flames…

"Charge! The light of Holmozd shall live forever!"

A company commander of a hundred men from Tabaristan province, a follower of Zoroastrianism, leaped onto the city wall, wielding his Tabari battle axe and scattering the formation of the Fatima soldiers.

The morale of the Deraman heavy infantry in the rear soared, as if the blood of the Sassanid warriors had been fully activated. They mustered all their courage and fought valiantly to scale the city walls. A fierce battle ensued, and the Deraman warriors, through their formation and bravery, broke through the defenses of the Fatima army.

The Samanid forces continued their advance, giving the Fatima army no chance to regroup...

Fatima had only a small force stationed at Arish, and although there were many ships anchored in the port, they were hardly able to support the battle on the ground.

The Fatima sailors struggled to operate the ship's ballistae, attempting to halt the Saman army's offensive. However, due to the distance and the surrounding walls and houses, their gains were very limited, and they soon suffered a fierce counterattack from the Saman army.

The Samanid army quickly deployed incendiary bombs and rockets behind the ruins and earthen ramparts, using the terrain for cover, and unleashed a dense barrage of fire at the Fatima ships, instantly igniting them into flames.

Arish Port was transformed into a living hell, with scorching heat waves mixed with thick smoke billowing in. Countless "fire men" screamed in agony as they jumped into the water, trying to escape their fate of death.

The remaining ships dared not linger in battle. They hastily raised their Arab-style triangular sails, and the first mates and boatswains frantically whipped the rowing slaves. The ships collided with each other as they scrambled to escape, thus avoiding total annihilation.

The city of Arish was then occupied by the Samanid army.

With the change of control of Arish, the Fatima army lost the initiative to launch attacks by sea, and its forces were also cut off. The troops that raided Gaza also lost contact with the Durmiyat headquarters.

Chapter 294 Bloodbath in Sinai (5)

The sky over the Sinai Peninsula was still filled with war clouds and a chilling atmosphere.

The battlefield where the Saman and Fatima armies clashed.

Red and green banners covered the battlefield, and the vast plains were densely packed with soldiers in full armor, stretching as far as the eye could see.

Arish has been occupied by the Samanid army. What Shahzani needs to do now is to defeat the main force of the Dumiyat army. The minimum goal is to drive them out of Sinai; the maximum goal is to annihilate and disintegrate them.

Regardless of the objective, it will be a bloody battle.

Dumiyat launched the first attack.

This reformist Fatima commander, blinded by his eagerness to win and reverse the tide of the war, lost his original discipline. Seeing that the Samanid army was still mobilizing, he hastily ordered his cavalry (Arab-Berber cavalry) to charge before his main force in the center was fully deployed.

Shahzani was overjoyed.

This blind and hasty attack exposed their weaknesses to the enemy. Faced with this "feast" delivered to their doorstep, Shahzani decisively ordered the Seljuk and Bakhtiar cavalry deployed on both flanks to make a wide-ranging flanking maneuver to intercept the invading enemy.

Warhorses galloped, and arrows rained down.

Historical facts from different eras demonstrate that the Egyptian cavalry was significantly inferior in combat effectiveness to the Iranian and Turkic cavalry of Central Asia. Fatima's cavalry quickly found themselves at a disadvantage and were forced to retreat.

The Samanid army quickly seized control of the battlefield advantage.

Dumiyat's expression was not good.

"Order the Imperial Guard detachments deployed on both flanks to form a defensive formation and cover the retreat of friendly forces..." Dumiyat issued the order wearily.

The Khakimiyya Guard was originally Fatima's elite force, but at this time they had to frequently take on the role of "battlefield fire brigade." Whenever allied forces were defeated and retreated by the Saman army, the Guard had to rush to their aid immediately, which undoubtedly greatly depleted their physical strength and power.

Such excessive overdrafting is undoubtedly very detrimental.

The remaining Arab-Berber light cavalry withdrew, but the royal guard also suffered significant losses, and their previously abundant energy was greatly depleted. Furthermore, this ordeal noticeably lowered the morale of Fatima's entire army.

Shahzani did not let this fleeting opportunity slip by. He immediately ordered the vanguard, the central army, and the two flanks to launch a coordinated attack, skillfully maneuvering and flanking maneuvers to penetrate deeply into the enemy territory.

The Dalai Lama heavy infantry held the line with shields; the Khorasan heavy cavalry charged and penetrated; the Fars heavy cavalry swept and crushed; the Seljuk riders circled and shot arrows... The various branches of the Saman army cooperated closely, and the formations were seamless and without any gaps. Under such a powerful offensive, the ordinary Fatima army would probably have no chance to fight back.

The sounds of clashing iron weapons, neighing warhorses, shouts of battle, and cries of agony filled the air.

During the fierce battle, Fatima's army was slightly at a disadvantage, its lines contracted, and its flanks began to falter.

"Order the light and heavy cavalry groups to intensify their offensive, focusing on dismantling the enemy's flanks." Shahzani quickly identified the enemy's fatal weakness and decisively issued the order.

The steel torrent moved at the command.

The Saman army, like a red crescent moon, encircled the Fatima army. The heavy cavalry of Khorasan and Fars provinces, which were the main force of the assault, were quickly moved to the outer flanks to coordinate with the Seljuk horse archers in a flanking maneuver.

Under repeated assaults from the Khorasan heavy cavalry, the left flank of the Fatima army collapsed first—the Kairouan infantry line deployed on the left flank disintegrated, with soldiers trampling each other and scrambling to escape to the inner lines for safety, leaving the left flank in complete chaos.

Taking advantage of this favorable opportunity, the Khorasan heavy cavalry and Seljuk horse archers continued their large-scale flanking maneuvers, encircling the Fatima army.

Under the trampling of Fars' heavy cavalry, the morale of the Sultan-Sahel tribal army deployed on the right flank completely collapsed, and the entire group of ebony-skinned Sultan warriors turned their spears and joined the Saman army in a counterattack against the Fatima.

This major upheaval further accelerated the collapse of Fatima's army.

The small number of Hakimiyeh Imperial Guard detachments on both flanks continued to put up a stubborn resistance. However, their forces were limited, and the recent deployment to reinforce friendly forces had exhausted them greatly. They were powerless to reverse the tide of the war and could only retreat while suffering increasing casualties.

Seeing the situation, Dumiyat was extremely frustrated.

He originally had cavalry units, which, although not as strong as the Samanid army, could at least provide mobility. However, due to his reckless advance, this mobile force had suffered heavy losses and was no longer able to fight, which also caused him to almost lose the initiative on the battlefield.

In stark contrast to Dumieat's disappointment.

With unwavering fighting spirit and boundless energy, Shahzani tirelessly directed the battle to continue.

A commander's mental fortitude often influences the course of a battle. While Dumiat was resilient, Shahzani was even stronger. Under these circumstances, Dumiat's defeat was inevitable.

The Samanian army advanced in three columns simultaneously. The heavy cavalry on the flanks broke through the battle lines, while the vanguard of the central army, the Deramanian heavy infantry, also achieved significant results—forcing back the Fatima vanguard and successfully capturing the battle flag of the Hakimiyya imperial guards. The Samanian army, through close coordination, pinned the Fatima army to isolated open ground, cutting off their retreat.

The outcome of the battle has already been decided.

Dumiyat's eyes were bloodshot, and his face was ashen. The humiliation of his repeated defeats had built up, turning his frustration into rage. He decided to launch a full-scale attack, desperately trying to break through the encirclement and make a comeback.

Keng——!

The Egyptian sword is drawn.

"Warriors! The time has come to serve His Majesty Hakim! Charge out! Kill the Persians! God and the Prophet will protect you!" Dumiyat decided to take a desperate gamble. He brandished his sword and commanded his troops to break through the encirclement.

With the belief that they would fight to the death, the Fatima army rekindled their fighting spirit. The Hakimiyya Imperial Guard, located at the core of the central army, fought particularly tenaciously. Dumiyat personally charged ahead, wielding his sword and fighting bravely, repelling multiple charges by the Saman heavy cavalry.

"Good! Warriors! That's it, keep your formation, the Persians can't break through the defenses!" Dumiyat was very satisfied with the performance of the Hakimiyya Imperial Guard.

The Khakimiye Imperial Guard did not disgrace the reputation of the Fatima elite. Despite the extremely unfavorable battle situation, they maintained high morale and formed a tightly linked elite infantry line. Their shield formations were strong, their spears were like a forest, and their arrows were like a rain, combining long-range projectiles with close-range anti-cavalry attacks.

Faced with such a disciplined infantry formation, even the mighty heavy cavalry of Khorasan found themselves in a difficult position. The heavy cavalry of Khorasan and Fars provinces launched more than ten charges, with Seljuk horse archers providing cover from all sides, but all were repelled by the fearless Hakimiyya imperial guards. The Egyptian imperial guards' sharp anti-horse lances were enough to pierce the iron armor of Iranian warhorses.

After a long battle, the battlefield was littered with corpses and rivers of blood. The armor of the Iranian army was even more crimson, and the uniforms of the Egyptian army were also stained with blood.

"Shahr Guard, prepare to charge!" Shahzani coldly surveyed the enemy formation and calmly issued the order.

No update today, just sharing a joke.

Passerby: Hey! Dude, what kind of car is that?

Police officer: This is the latest patrol car issued by the higher authorities.

Passerby: But why are there no car doors?

Chapter 295 The Shattering of the Dream of Hegemony

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

The uniform sound of ironclad soldiers echoed across the empty battlefield, majestic and imposing, brimming with a strong fighting spirit.

Dew—! Dew—! Dew—! Dew—!

The thunderous hooves pounded the battlefield, causing the earth to tremble slightly. The scene was magnificent, like ten thousand lions galloping and roaring.

The Shahr Guard, a Saman Iron Army composed entirely of young and strong Iranian female warriors, clad in "Charani" four-mirror armor and riding powerful "Rahsh" warhorses, both men and horses were fully armored. Like a raging fire spreading across the battlefield, they carried an unparalleled and magnificent momentum, gradually and resolutely approaching the Fatima army's formation.

The air on the battlefield seemed to freeze instantly.

"Thump—! Thump—! Thump—!"

The Fatima army was eerily quiet; the soldiers could almost hear each other's rapid heartbeats. The overwhelming military might of the Persians was slowly eroding their faith and courage.

"God bless you..."

Dumiyat closed his eyes slightly, silently recited a phrase, then opened them wide in anger and roared, "The Persians are nothing to fear! Warriors! Keep fighting! We're about to break through their encirclement!"

“Allahu Akbar!”

"Long live His Majesty Hakim!"

The Fatima army immediately erupted in cheers, with soldiers shouting fervent slogans, marching in formation with shields, and launching a counter-charge against the Shahr Guard.

"It's just a desperate struggle." Shahzani curled her lips in disdain and immediately retorted.

Upon receiving the order, Shahr's guards swiftly spurred their horses, maneuvering left and right to encircle and surround the Hakimiye Imperial Guard.

Instead of launching a direct charge, they formed a circular cavalry archery formation on the periphery, first using long-range projectiles to wear down the enemy, then regrouping and waiting for the opportune moment to launch a decisive steel charge.

Dumiyat assumed they were firing ordinary armor-piercing arrows, and thought to himself smugly, "Come on! Our sturdy Imperial Guard shields are not afraid of your arrows!" He quickly ordered the Hakimier Imperial Guards to raise their shields in defense.

But the next moment, he was completely dumbfounded.

The rain of arrows fired by Shahr's guards was like countless fiery dragons rushing in fiercely, seemingly imbued with the wrath of God, and carrying the terrifying force of thunder.

This is a gunpowder arrow weapon recently equipped by the elite troops of the Samanid Empire. It was made by armorers from Iran and China and is quite powerful. However, because it is also very expensive to manufacture, only the elite troops with outstanding military achievements have the honor of being equipped with it.

The scorching fire dragon crashed down on the Fatima army, the blazing armor-piercing arrows penetrating the Egyptians' armor and shields, instantly sending the soldiers in the front lines flying, blood and flesh flying everywhere, and the battle lines in complete chaos.

Before the Fatima army could react, a second volley of fire came fiercely, followed by a third, then a fourth...

The Dumiyat and Hakimiye imperial guards were completely stunned by this brutal and fierce tactic. In a short time, their formation was completely disrupted, and their defensive capabilities were greatly weakened.

"Very good. Switch to melee weapons and charge!" Shahzani immediately ordered.

Shahr Guards obeyed the order and quickly reorganized into an assault formation. They then mobilized their armored cavalry, which, with immense force, surged towards Fatima's army like a steel torrent.

The Fatima army, still reeling from the shock of the rocket barrage, was in disarray and unable to reconcile its formation. It was utterly powerless to withstand such an intense attack, and even elite forces like the Hakimiyya Imperial Guard were no match for it.

Keng——!

With the resounding clang of metal clashing, countless Fatima soldiers were sent flying into the air and thrown dozens of paces away, further disrupting the Fatima lines.

The forward assault column of the Shahr Guard, with its overwhelming momentum and unstoppable force, pierced through the front-line infantry formation of the Fatima army in no time, embedding itself deep inside like a steel wedge.

Steel clashed, soldiers fought fiercely.

The Shahr Guard threw down their lances and spears, drew their maces and axes, and charged into fierce combat with the Hakimiye Imperial Guard infantry. The Hakimiye Imperial Guards were tenacious; despite being at a disadvantage, they still obeyed Dumiyat's orders, fighting back with all their might and facing death without fear.

A fierce and bloody battle ensued, leaving behind a trail of carnage and mountains of corpses.

The moment to decide the final outcome has arrived!

Keng——!

"All guards, charge with me!"

Shahzani decisively led the last reserve force and personally launched the attack.

The warhorses were like steel beasts, invincible, their lances and maces reaping the lives of enemy soldiers, and wherever they went, the enemy troops were routed.

With their sturdy armor, strong warhorses, tight organization, and excellent command, the Shahr Guard continued to advance the battle line, suppressing the enemy into a smaller and more confined area.

Dumiyat was in despair, watching his troops being annihilated by the Persians with overwhelming force. A deep sense of powerlessness spread through his heart, a feeling of helplessness that knew defeat was inevitable but was utterly powerless to change it.

The Fatima army has been completely annihilated and disintegrated.

Dumiyat slightly raised his head, noticing those beautiful yet majestic eyes. He had seen those powerfully intimidating eyes countless times when he was an envoy to the Samanid Empire. And now, she stood high above, declaring the end of his political life with the air of a victor.

Shahzani also noticed the Egyptian she had met a few times. She admired his bravery and tenacity, so she was not in a hurry to kill him. Instead, she wanted to use a strategy of persuasion to turn this famous Egyptian general against the Fatimids, thereby dealing a more severe blow to their morale.

"Drop your swords, Mishir (Egyptian) people! Her Majesty the Great Queen will forgive your lives," Hoslu shouted to Dumiyat, who was standing beside him.

The Egyptian general remained unmoved.

“You are a Coptic Christian, why serve Hakim, this extremely fanatical Muslim monarch? Surrender! We Iranians are also Muslims, but our Queen Shahzani is tolerant of all legitimate religions,” Hoslu continued to guide him.

Dumiyat's psychological defenses collapsed.

He genuinely wanted to fervently maintain his religion, to keep his Coptic compatriots away from deliberate religious persecution, and to submit to a tolerant and enlightened ruler. However, his deeply ingrained beliefs made him ashamed to commit treason.

After much deliberation, the only option he could choose was to commit suicide and die for his cause.