I was the Queen of Persia

Page 156

“Yes, that’s a good plan.” Zaghli nodded. “Then we will gather the troops deployed in Bohemia and rush straight into the heart of Almania, forcing the Alman army to come to the rescue and disrupting the Christian coalition’s deployment.”

……

Bohemia and Moravia.

The once prosperous towns and villages have been reduced to ruins. Grim and terrifying pyramids of human heads stand beside the burned villages and abandoned farmland. The muddy country roads are littered with corpses. The scene of the end of the world in Christian beliefs is no more than this.

Turan cavalry ravaged this rich land. Armored cavalry charged, archers sped, and the "Hashar" troops, forcibly conscripted as cannon fodder, led the charge. The gunpowder weapons made by slave craftsmen displayed their power, easily defeating the local feudal lords' forces and forcing them to retreat into their castle fortresses.

However, faced with powerful siege weaponry, the lords' castles probably wouldn't last long.

Arash! Arash!

Amidst towering plumes of smoke and flames, the shouts and battle cries of the Turan cavalry echoed endlessly. As their warhorses galloped, their iron hooves flashed, blood and flesh flew, heads rolled to the ground, and the sounds of battle roars and wails of agony mingled together.

"All Tumans (commanders), heed my order! Zaghli Special Forces have given the order! Immediately gather your forces and assemble towards Prague!"

"All Tumans (commanders), heed my order! Zaghli Special Forces have given the order! Immediately gather your forces and assemble towards Prague!"

Suddenly, Turan's messengers rode up and issued orders to the various tribes and myriarchies scattered in their raiding operations to concentrate their forces. Clearly, the Zagrebians were seeking a decisive battle to crush the Crusader army.

Upon receiving this order, the Turan soldiers erupted in excitement once more.

"Afrasiab's bravery protects us!"

“Allahu Akbar!”

Arash!

The soldiers sang Turan-Turkic war songs and moved towards the Angbash; the Angbash moved towards the Yuzbash; the Yuzbash moved towards the Minbash; the Minbash moved towards the Tumanbash; and the Tumanbash moved towards the Khan, Tegin, Yabghu, Sultan, Subash Tegin, Beg, and Inal.

This is the way the armies of the semi-agricultural and semi-pastoral empires of Inner Asia are assembled. They use the decimal system commonly used by nomadic peoples, combined with some organizational models adopted from settled, centralized empires, achieving a positive integration of the two and making them more efficient.

Chapter 360 The German Emperor's Greed for Merit and Rashness

Under the command of the Tsagli Special Service, Turan's army completed a redeployment on the Bohemian plain, and with its strong organization and superior mobility, it swiftly besieged Prague, a major city in Czechoslovakia.

Meanwhile, another Turanian feint force, through a flanking maneuver, broke through the passes of the Ore and Czechoslovakian mountains, plundering the lands of Franconia and Bavaria. Its vanguard raiders even looted villages near Nuremberg.

This place is already close to the heart of the Holy Roman Empire.

Upon hearing this, Conrad II, who was directing the assembly, felt a surge of intense fighting spirit.

On the one hand, he did not want to see the rich city taken by Turan's army; on the other hand, he longed to seize the credit and deliver a crushing blow to Turan's army.

If we could achieve a great victory like Charlemagne's subjugation of the Avars, or an epic triumph like Otto's at Lechfeld, that would be even better. Perhaps it would strengthen our authority, eliminate the religious influence of the Church, and make those once arrogant lords completely submit.

These thoughts made the German emperor anxious. He decided to take a gamble before the situation became even more uncontrollable and to engage in a decisive battle with Turan's main army, in order to avoid any unforeseen complications.

"Order all the princes to immediately assemble towards Prague!" Conrad II immediately issued the order.

"But Your Majesty, in doing so, our army will be separated from the support of our allies and will be forced to fight alone!" the courtier warned.

"I can't worry about that anymore! These heretics are ravaging my land, I can't just stand by and do nothing! Besides, my 'Roman army' is strong and well-equipped, with many powerful lords gathered around. We're sure to crush these barbarians from the East!"

Conrad II went his own way.

He gathered his army, broke away from the Crusader coalition, and set off eastward alone.

On the muddy country roads, guns and armor stood in rows, flags of various colors were displayed in a colorful array, and the insignia of the Germanic lords were in disarray. Soldiers marched in formation according to their respective lords, and the cheers of the soldiers in Germanic languages ​​rose and fell.

“The evil heretics are coming in droves,”

"An overwhelming army of demons,"

"When such a disaster strikes,"

"The defenders of Jesus have stepped forward!"

"The great Conrad II guides us!"

"Forward! Forward! Fight! Fight!"

"Charlemagne, drive out the Avars! Otto the Great, wipe out the Magyars!"

"We too shall establish a glorious legacy!"

Driven by fervent faith, a thirst for wealth, and a yearning to achieve great deeds, these Germanic men, following the emperor's guidance, resolutely embarked on the eastward expedition, hoping to make a name for themselves like their valiant ancestors.

……

However, this ambitious march had already been discovered by Turan scouts lying in wait. Thanks to their superior mobility, the Turan cavalry could cover a considerable distance.

After raiding near Nuremberg, Turan's forward reconnaissance teams ventured deeper, bypassing military fortresses and targeting rural villages. It seemed that even the dense Black Forest of the Franconia region could not hinder their advance.

This provided the warriors of the steppe khanate with more comprehensive and detailed intelligence.

The horses galloped swiftly, unimpeded, and sped to the outskirts of Prague—where the Zaghli Special Forces had temporarily stationed their Khan's tent.

"The prey has taken the bait." The special agent from Chagli was quite pleased with himself after hearing the scout's report.

“Then let the valiant Turan warriors participate in this hunt to their heart’s content!” Kadir Tutush chimed in.

Therefore, several more feints were dispatched to plunder and spread terror in the Bavarian region, while luring the Holy Roman army into an isolated and vulnerable position.

……

Jahanshahr.

With the grand Nowruz festival approaching, Iran is not only preparing for war but also busily making preparations for the festive season. In the capital, the city is vibrant and bustling, with various traditional Persian New Year ceremonies being carried out in full swing.

On the last Wednesday before the New Year, known as "Chaharshanbe Suri" (Red Wednesday), bonfires are lit everywhere in the streets and alleys. All Iranians, whether high-ranking officials or ordinary people, are happy to jump over the fire to ward off misfortune and welcome the light.

The mosques and temples were equally bustling with activity, with throngs of Khorami men and women, especially young women who had formed sworn sisterhoods, reciting scriptures and epics, forging bonds of friendship and enriching their faith under the witness of Allah Hudda.

royal palace.

While preparing for Nowruz, Shahzani kept a close eye on the news and developments reported back by her Western spies. Recently, news about the "Christian Nations League," "the Pope's speech," and "the Crusades" had been pouring back to the central court.

Clearly, the Christian nations were not willing to surrender, but Shahzani estimated that their overall strength was insufficient to withstand the advance of the Turan cavalry.

"The Alman (German) emperor led his army eastward, intending to fight Turan's army to the death."

Another intelligence report was presented.

“Too hasty,” Shahzani shook her head. “That will only give the Turans more opportunities to defeat us one by one.”

“However, according to merchants returning from the west, in recent decades, the Alman emperors have learned from the experience of nomadic invasions and have built numerous fortresses and castles along the borders and in strategic locations, which should have improved their defenses,” Bahram said.

“But the strength of the Turan army is incomparable to that of the nomadic peoples of the past. Under the power of firearms, even the most impregnable fortress will eventually crumble,” Shahzani said.

“It seems that the nightmare for the Christian world has only just begun!” Bahram exclaimed.

"You could say that. The wheels of history have turned once again. It remains to be seen whether the emperors of Almanac will be able to turn the tide like their predecessors. Right now, it seems that the hope is slim," Shahzani said.

After a brief conversation, the emperor and his ministers once again exchanged historical experiences and lessons.

“Oh, by the way. Where are Nisa Sahini’s group now?” Shahzani asked.

“Thanks to your protection, the blessing of Allah Huda, and the courage of Rustam,” Farzana said, “we have reached the territory of the Principality of Suzdal in Rus’ and are preparing to continue westward.”

“Very good, I believe in their wit and courage.” Shahzani nodded.

Nisa Sahini and her associates are trustworthy, and Shahzani is certain that they can overcome any danger and successfully reach the Christian world. While integrating the empire's information network, they can also bring more knowledge from the Western world back to Iran.

In ancient times, when information dissemination was underdeveloped, these were considered quite important.

Chapter 361 The Journey of the Persian Envoy

Then there's Nisa Sahinnian.

After receiving her orders, she led her troops from Khwarazm Province, following the steppe trade routes to the territory of the Bulgar Khanate. After replenishing their supplies, they then followed the waterway between Bulgar and Rus' to the Rus' states.

At this time, under the command of Istahri, a special general of the Samanid Empire, both Bulgar and Rus's political situations were stable, and they did not suffer large-scale attacks from the Turan Khanate. The number of bandits within their territories also decreased significantly.

More importantly, thanks to Shahzani's management and development, as well as the significant growth in bilateral trade, the area's transportation infrastructure has been greatly improved, and traffic efficiency has been significantly enhanced.

Overall, supplies were relatively secure in the Iran-Turgai Steppe-Bulgar Khanate-Russian States section, and the army's march was relatively easy and efficient.

Ten weeks later, they left the Volyn-Garich-Transcarpathian region and headed west into the land inhabited by various West Slavic tribes. This area had been ravaged by war, with bandits and rebels roaming the land, supplies were scarce, and they had to be constantly on guard against attacks from Turan's army.

Nisa Sahini became more cautious as she traveled through this region.

……

Mid-May, 1027 AD.

Western Slovakia, bordering Moravia.

Beside the ruins of the villages, Nisa Sahinien led her troops through the area with discipline and caution.

It was a foggy day, and the climate in Central Europe was much more humid than that of Iran, which was dry and sunny.

"alert."

Nisa Sahini raised her armored arm and glanced around warily. "We've left the pass and entered open territory. Proceed with caution! Be wary of Turan's skirmishers. If you encounter them, fight and retreat immediately; do not engage them."

"Yes, Sadar (commander)." The group lowered their voices to acknowledge the order.

Holding a Gorgon-style saddle axe, wearing a masked pointed helmet, and with his four-mirror armor gleaming with iron light, his blood-red military uniform was majestic and eye-catching. The armored warhorse beneath him was strong and powerful, and his alluring eyes radiated a seductive light.

This female general from the Samanid Empire displayed a brave and strong yet alluring and seductive charm.

"Valeira, go ahead and scout out a secluded spot to rest. We've been marching for two days and two nights, and we're exhausted," she instructed the hunters in the group.

……

Find a secluded spot to rest temporarily.

Hunter Valera caught several rabbits from the nearby woods, and the Chinese craftsman brought out a special cooking utensil that reduced smoke and dust. The rabbits were skinned, gutted, and cooked in the utensil. Everyone took out their own provisions and ate them with the meat porridge.

The barley naan used by the Samanid army was a very practical individual ration.

Break off a piece, add some hot food, and this short meal is enough to replenish the energy consumed during a long march.

After enjoying a hearty meal of steaming hot meat porridge, he took out a few dried nuts from his bag and ate them.

"belch……"

Nisa Sahinien patted her lower abdomen contentedly: "Bald horse, my urge to pee is surging again, I can't hold it in anymore, you serve me. The rest of you, rest briefly after your meal, and remain vigilant!"

After saying that, he stood up and walked towards the corner of the ruins, taking off his heavy armor as he went.

The bald horse quickly followed, helping the mistress remove the restraints of her armor and belt. Soon after, a sudden downpour and splashing streams ensued. Only after she finished urinating did the horse help her clean herself up and put her armor back on.

“Master,” Bald Horse said, “Although this place is secluded, I keep sensing that Turan cavalry are patrolling around. I’ll go and investigate.”

“Very good.” Nisa Sahinian nodded. “Hydia will accompany you.”

……

Meanwhile, around the nearby mountain ridge pass.

Warhorses neighed, brown banners fluttered, and a small Turan cavalry squad galloped into the misty air.

"Stop!" the leader, Onbash (a centurion), suddenly ordered the troops to halt.

He sniffed the air, then dismounted and walked to the low grass beside him. He drew his hanging scimitar, fiddled with it slightly, and hidden it among the weeds, there was a large puddle of urine.

The alert grassland hunter, sensing something unusual, immediately squinted and scrutinized the area warily.

Just like in a normal hunt, one can judge the time and direction of the prey's escape by observing the animal's feces and urine.

Judging from the shape, this was a woman, and a very strong and healthy one at that, so much so that she had rubbed shallow dents in the ground, clearly indicating a long history of martial arts training and military service. Although there were quite a few female warriors in the Turan army, this was unlikely to have been left by a female soldier from Turan.

“Persians, huh?” Ambash scoffed.

Based on his experience fighting the Samanid Empire, his intuition told him that these were female officers and soldiers in the Samanid army.

"Mount up and give chase!" Angbash waved his hand, ordering his troops to ride off.

……

After a while.

"Master!" At this moment, the Turan boy on horseback rode out of the fog, carrying the assassin Hydia on his back. "We have spotted more than ten Turan cavalrymen pursuing us from behind!"

“Damn it!” Nisa Sahinien frowned. “The Turan cavalry are swift and fast. Even if we move now, we will not be able to shake off their pursuit.”

However, he quickly calmed down and observed the surrounding situation: the hills were scattered, the pine forests were hidden, the earthen slopes were raised, and the fog provided cover, making it an ideal place for ambush.

He said decisively, "Proceed according to the plan and prepare for battle! Remember to fight and retreat, and avoid getting entangled!"

In an instant, the soldiers skillfully deployed and lay in ambush according to the terrain.