I was the Queen of Persia

Page 28

As a descendant of the Samanid royal family, and with the added bonus of consecutive victories, his entry ceremony into the city was truly grand.

Due to his poor health, he sat in a magnificent carriage covered with gold thread. Behind the carriage and horses followed a group of well-dressed servants, some holding parasols and others carrying colorful flags; then came two rows of splendidly dressed ghula guards, looking majestic and imposing; and after them were the civil and military officials.

The roadsides were strewn with vibrant flower petals. Landlords and wealthy merchants who supported the Samanid dynasty decorated the roads with expensive and luxurious silks and fabrics. Officials and commoners of Bukhara prostrated themselves on both sides of the road, welcoming this royal descendant to their loyal capital.

After the entry ceremony, the elaborately dressed procession immediately arrived at the old palace of the Samanid king to prepare for the coronation.

Inside the magnificent palace hall, a huge dome covers the space, and the regular and symmetrical Persian arches form a solemn and orderly layout. The intricate and gorgeous floral patterns highlight the emperor's majesty and luxury.

Montahir ascended the throne and, amidst the kowtow of his ministers, announced the restoration of the Samanid regime's rule over Transoxiana, the initial reconstruction of the bureaucracy, and the granting of important positions to those who had distinguished themselves in the war.

He first praised the generals who had fought bravely and made numerous meritorious contributions, saying things like "God bless them," "the glory of Iran," "as brave as Rustam," and "as strong as Suhrab."

However, the intermittent coughing made the speech seem a bit long.

“The valiant and skilled general… cough… Shahzani.” At this moment, Montahir’s gaze turned to him, “In the war to retake Transoxiana… cough cough… you won many brilliant victories and made great contributions… cough, I am very pleased.”

Shahzani responded humbly to the praise. She attributed the victories to "the fighting spirit of all the soldiers," "the support of the people," "the guidance of the monarch's divine light," "the blessing of Allah Hudda," and so on, saying that she had only done her part.

She has learned quite a bit of the polite talk in politics.

Montahir was very satisfied and then began to appoint his meritorious officials to important positions.

Many officials assumed he would bestow the title of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, "Spahi-Salar" (Persian: Spahi-Salar), upon Shahzani. However, to their surprise, this symbol of military power was awarded to Arslan Yaru.

Hassan Ibn Taq has been promoted to vice-manager of Sipahi Salal.

That makes sense when you think about it. During Elias's last rebellion, they led the Ghulam Guard in a valiant defense, covering their lord's escape, which was indeed "meritorious." Although historically they ultimately led their army in rebellion and gained a notorious reputation, at this point in time, they have not yet shown any signs of betrayal.

“As for Shahzani… cough… her merits are too great, making it somewhat difficult to appoint her,” Montahir continued. “For the time being, she will be granted the position of Governor-General of Transoxiana Province… cough cough… governing the counties of Bukhara and Samarkand, and stationed in the city of Samarkand.”

During the Samanid dynasty, provincial governors were often called Kadkhoda, Hakim, Vail, etc., and were the highest-ranking officials in their respective provinces, often wielding significant power over military, political, and tax revenue.

Shahzani understood Montahir's intentions.

“Thank you for your generosity,” she replied. “Praise be to God Hudda. I will do my utmost to serve our glorious nation and court.”

The order to appoint him had been issued, and after a few days of rest in Bukhara, Shahzani led his troops to the governor's seat in Samarkand.

……

Samarkand, the residence of the Governor-General of Samarkand.

Bahraim and Farzana had arrived ahead of time. Farzana had rushed over after receiving her transfer order; she had already put Zanshahr on the right track and, before leaving, handed over military and political affairs to her subordinate bureaucrats.

This trip is not only to accept a new appointment, but also to reunite with my sisters whom I haven't seen for a long time.

"This is so unfair!" Bahraim exclaimed, looking at the transfer order with great frustration. "Our leader has achieved so many military exploits, yet he only became a governor, while that Turk (referring to Arslan Yaru) became the commander-in-chief!"

“You don’t understand. Arslan Yaru currently controls the Imperial Guard and has some influence in the court. Montahir is just trying to appease him temporarily,” Farzana explained patiently.

“But the position of provincial governor is ultimately not as high as that of the commander-in-chief, and the commander-in-chief also has the highest command authority over the army!” Bahram was still somewhat indignant.

Seeing her expression, both Shahzani and Farzana laughed.

"Don't worry, all the credit goes to our leader... Even if Arslan holds a high position, he can't produce any admirable achievements, so he probably won't be able to win people's hearts," Farzana said with a smile.

Listening to the well-reasoned analysis, Shahzani smiled knowingly. She hadn't expected that this young woman had made such significant progress in her knowledge and logic during her time as the administrator of Zanshahr.

With Falzana's assistance in literature and Bahram's help in martial arts, coupled with his own knowledge and the system's bonuses, his future is limitless.

“Alright, today is a day for us sisters to get together, so let’s not talk too much about politics,” Shahzani interrupted. “You two must have a lot to talk about, so go to the dinner table and talk while you eat.”

“Great! I’ve brought some excellent huma juice brewed in Khwarazm…”

"I seized some fine milk wine from the Karakhanids..."

"I have already ordered the chef to slaughter a fat sheep and roast the fresh meat..."

Three beautiful figures left the room, laughing and joking.

Chapter 61 Developments within the Karakhanid Khanate

Kashgar, east of the Pamir Plateau.

This ancient city, once known as "Shule," is located at the westernmost tip of the Western Regions. It was occupied by the Karakhanid Dynasty, which expanded eastward, decades ago, and is now influenced by Persian-Turkic-Islamic culture.

Within the city, several mosques are under construction, with Persian-style arched gates rising from the ground. The city's original blend of Tang Dynasty culture, Buddhism, and indigenous Indo-European influence has gradually faded from the historical stage under the powerful impact of Persianization, Turkicization, and Islamization. Nevertheless, this once-prosperous city in the Western Regions remains bustling with activity.

On the outskirts of the city, Ilik Naser Khan, one of the rulers of the Karakhanid Dynasty, was reviewing battle reports compiled from various regions in his military camp.

In the east, the "holy war" of the Buddhists in Khotan was progressing smoothly. The Karakhanid army and religious troops from Central Asia crossed the Yarkand Khanate and the Khotan River, capturing many cities. In the west, however, the Khanate was suffering a heavy defeat. All the newly conquered cities in Transoxiana were lost, and its old rival, the Samanid dynasty, was restored.

Even more critically, due to the great victories of Shahzani and Muntahir, many Central Asian Persian and Tajik soldiers in the Karakhanid army lost their enthusiasm for the war in Khotan, deserted their posts, returned to their homelands, and joined the Samanid army.

"These stupid cowards can't even hold off a bunch of defeated remnants!" Ilik Nasr Khan was furious about the defeat in the west and angrily threw the report to the ground.

"Khan, please calm down. It's not that they are incompetent, but that those Saman Persians are too cunning..." a lieutenant advised.

"Hmph! If it weren't for my main force's eastward expedition here, how could those Persians have the chance to show off their power?" Il-Khwarizhan said disdainfully.

"Khan is wise! Your army is the sharpest sword of God, invincible!" The other generals quickly echoed.

"That's enough." Ilik Nasr Khan was already used to this kind of flattery, and waved his hand indifferently. "Order all the troops that are fighting against the heretics in the East to return to their units."

The Great Khan was able to distinguish between primary and secondary matters: the Khotanese, though pagans, had a small territory and a limited population, and would sooner or later fall into his hands; in contrast, the Samanid Persians were a more threatening enemy, and at the same time, they had deep roots in Transoxiana and Khorasan, making them more difficult to deal with, and he had to do everything in his power to defeat them.

"We will obey your orders!" everyone answered in unison.

……

At the foot of the majestic Kunlun Mountains.

The Karakhanid army, clad in dark brown armor, was besieging an isolated and helpless Khotan fortress. First, the Ghazi volunteers launched a desperate charge fueled by religious fervor; followed closely by a more organized array of town infantry; Karakhanid horse archers and heavy cavalry, dismounted to fight, continuously rained down arrows to cover the attack; and catapults from the rear hurled a hail of stones.

The Karakhanid general commanding the battle was riding an armored warhorse, wearing a masked helmet and Turkic lamellar armor. Her loud but slightly high-pitched voice suggested that she was a female general.

Despite the fierce resistance of the Khotan garrison, they had only a small number of Khotan native warriors and a few reinforcements from the Gaochang Uyghurs, the Guiyi Army, and the Tibetan tribes. Their meager forces were simply unable to contain the continuous attacks from the Karakhanids.

Under the guidance of the Karakhanine female general, the Karakhanine army fought with increasing ferocity. They scaled the city walls, swept through the desperate Khotan defenders, and finally broke into the city, occupying the entire fortress.

"God is great! He has blessed us with victory! I command you to tear down the Buddha statues and demolish the temples in the city!" the Karakhanian female general shouted. After saying this, she took off her pants, squatted on the broken Buddha statue, and with a few loud splattering sounds, she immediately urinated and defecated, causing many Karakhanian soldiers to urinate and defecate on the Buddha statue.

As stated in the later "Comprehensive Dictionary of Turkic Languages":

"Our momentum is as fierce as a mountain torrent,"

"We have captured their cities."

"The Buddha statues and temples were all destroyed,"

"The Bodhisattva pooped on his head."

Meanwhile, more Karakhanid soldiers cheered and surged into the fortress like a tide, destroying all the Buddhist statues and temples in the city. The monks, along with the surrendered men, women and children from various tribes, were all enslaved.

"Take those women and children away, and select a few handsome young men to send to my tent!" The Karakhanian general wiped away her filth, stood up, and announced happily.

at this time.

"Report! General Aknuer, the Khan has issued an urgent order!" The messenger rushed over and knelt down.

"What? Withdraw from Kashgar?" The female general Aknuer took the document and frowned, her face darkening.

Having just achieved victory, receiving orders to withdraw troops would be incredibly frustrating for anyone.

However, she could not disobey the Great Khan's orders, so she gritted her teeth and made the difficult decision to regroup and retreat. The Karakhanid army immediately reorganized and returned to Kashgar along the route they had come from.

……

Under Ilikh Naser Khan's orders, the main forces of the Karakhanid army that had been dispatched on various campaigns had all returned. However, he was still waiting for an important person.

Just as he was pondering and waiting, a beautiful and valiant figure lifted the curtain of the tent.

“Ah, Aknuar, my dearest sister, the brightest moonlight in Talas, you have finally come.” Ilik Nasser Khan was delighted to see the visitor and immediately invited her to sit down.

“May God bless you, Brother Khan. Is there something urgent that you ordered the withdrawal so hastily?” Aknuar asked.

The Khan then told her everything about the Saman army's victory in the river.

Upon hearing this, Aknuar was both amazed by the glorious victory of the Saman Restoration Army and astonished that there were so many skilled female heroes in the Saman army.

In particular, the Samanian female general named Shahzani gave her a strong desire to fight her.

“Brother Khan, although I hate the Khotanese because they killed my beloved aunt, Elinuer, as you said, the Saman Persians are a far more dangerous enemy!” Aknuer said.

“That’s right, so we must now move our divisions back to defend and completely annihilate the Persian army. As for the defense of Kashgar, let’s leave it to the Great Khan (Ahmad Togan Khan) for the time being,” Ilik Naser Khan said.

The Karakhanid Dynasty operated under a dual-khan system, with its rulers being the Great Khan (Lion Khan) and the Deputy Khan (Camel Khan). Although Ilkhan Naser Khan had achieved numerous military exploits and enjoyed a great reputation, his title was currently only Ilk, and his rank was at most that of Deputy Khan.

However, the value of military achievements was significantly higher than that of a position. Under the call of Ilik Naser Khan, a large number of Karakhanid warriors and warriors from vassal tribes flocked to his banner, quickly bringing his forces to over 10, and making them far more powerful than the small force left behind in the river, which was a mix of old Samanid troops and maintained by forced conscription.

In the summer of 1000 AD, Ilik Naser Khan led the main force of the Karakhanid Khanate on an eastward expedition, crossing the Pamir Plateau and the Karakoram Mountains to return to Central Asia. In the summer, the mountain passes and passes on the plateau were relatively easy to navigate; however, in the dead of winter when heavy snow blocked the mountains, the journey would not be so smooth.

Volume Three: The Road to the Persian Queen

Chapter 62 The Governor's Iron Fist

Now let's talk about Samarkand.

Since assuming the position of Qadhuda, Shahzani and her two sisters have led a daily life of diligent governance during the day and "intimate conversations" at night. Shahzani continued to employ the two as her assistants: Farzana, who was learned and eloquent, was put in charge of civil affairs; Bahramu, who was skilled in martial arts and commanding troops, was put in charge of military affairs.

During the day, Shahzani would travel around with two trusted officials, or they would work together in the study to process documents submitted by the counties under their jurisdiction. In short, the three of them were inseparable most of the time.

At night, their intimacy deepened. In their shared bedroom, passionate sounds often drifted out, enough to make one blush. All three were tough women with military backgrounds; their voices were naturally loud, and they made no attempt to be reserved, prioritizing comfort above all else. Fortunately, the reinforced walls of the bedroom provided good soundproofing; otherwise, the entire floor would have been filled with their erotic noises.

Every morning, when the maids tidied the rooms, they would find that the once dry and tidy mattresses and beds were now covered with messy puddles of water, scattered women's panties, and various signs of "battles." For many young maids who had never experienced love, this scene, which evoked endless fantasies, often made their faces flush and their groins slightly damp.

Meanwhile, the three female protagonists had already finished their morning prayers and breakfast, and occasionally performed ablutions when necessary, before going to handle their official duties.

……

By this time, Samarkand had already restored order. Although troops could be seen patrolling everywhere in the streets and alleys, and the operating hours of public places such as bazaars, teahouses, and bathhouses were regulated, this did not affect the overall prosperity.

Located at a crucial hub of the Silk Road, this region attracted a large number of merchants and pilgrims traveling between east and west, and its ethnic composition was also more diverse. Not only were there predominantly Iranian peoples such as Persians and Tajiks, but also Turkic-speaking peoples like the Karluks, Turkmen, Oghuz, and Kipchaks; as well as foreign groups such as Indians, Slavs, Arabs, Armenians, Greeks, and Chinese. Treasures from all directions converged here, transforming into a vast fortune in the official treasury.

Samarkand generates substantial annual tax revenue by levying customs duties on transit caravans. Its size and prosperity far surpass those of Zamshahr.

Shahzani wanted to take this prosperity to the next level. So she took many measures, and they were effective.

First, the administration of officials in the counties under Samarkand County has been greatly improved.

On the fifth day after taking office as governor, Shahzani launched a massive rectification campaign.

The incident stemmed from an incident during which she, disguised in plainclothes, discovered that the minor officials guarding the city gates were abusing their power and openly setting up roadblocks to extort exorbitant taxes from people entering the city, while tacitly allowing their subordinates to forcibly plunder passersby.

These local tax collectors devised various pretexts: a "family visit tax" for visiting relatives, a "business tax" for doing business, a "cart and horse tax" for driving a horse-drawn carriage, a "donkey tax" for riding a donkey, and even a "city entry tax" for passing through. After extorting money from travelers with these numerous taxes, they also demanded a "mosque donation" from passersby, claiming that "only in this way can Allah protect you from robbery along the way."

Shahzani inquired with the exploited merchants and travelers from other regions and discovered that many of them frequently suffered such injustice. Moreover, the government had previously turned a blind eye to this, and when the exploited travelers had banded together to file complaints with the government, they were beaten and verbally abused and driven out by the officials.

Faced with this group of scoundrels who drew salaries from the court but committed heinous crimes, Shahzani initially remained calm, instructing Farzana to secretly send capable officials to gather evidence. Farzana's team of officials was naturally highly efficient, and significant progress was made in a short time.

The investigation's findings surprised Shahzani, revealing the formation of numerous interest groups in the Samarkand region. These groups, spanning both political and religious circles, protected and colluded with each other, weaving a tight-knit network of vested interests. She refrained from alerting them for the time being, instead instructing Farzana to continue her covert operations.

When the time was right, Shahzani ordered her warriors to bring these villains to her, publicly displaying evidence of their misdeeds. Faced with overwhelming evidence, the corrupt officials and unscrupulous priests instantly lost their former arrogance, kowtowing and begging for mercy. But Shahzani remained unmoved; those who deserved to be killed were killed, those who deserved to be imprisoned were imprisoned, and all their ill-gotten gains were confiscated.

Some particularly arrogant mullahs even attempted to use their religious influence to overpower the female governor. The result was predictable: they were shaved, tied to donkeys, and paraded through the streets.

Following the rectification, a large number of corrupt officials and clergy members were dismissed and investigated, and subsequently replaced by selfless and dedicated military staff and clergy members. Through these measures, a more efficient administrative bureaucracy was established.

Of course, this wouldn't have been possible without Falzana's strong support.

After the rectification of officialdom, the local bullies who used to run rampant in the countryside suddenly lost their "protective umbrella".

Several gangs were active in the Samarkand region, each with its own territory. They frequently extorted money from residents and often engaged in armed clashes during major festivals such as Ashura to seize profits. Meanwhile, local tyrants and bullies ruthlessly seized land from farmers, driving many landowners into bankruptcy.

In the past, these forces were tools for the government to siphon off funds, receiving covert protection. The situation worsened under Jafar Teghan, the governor of Karakhanid Khanate. It was precisely because of the protection of local officials that this extremely dangerous and sinister group survived, sucking the blood and flesh of the people.

After Shahzani punished the wrongdoers, the people of Samarkand felt they had welcomed a just and noble governor, and gained the courage to stand up to the tyrants. Soon, lawsuits from all over the country poured into the governor's palace like snowflakes, and many people knelt day and night before the tall archway of the governor's palace, pleading with the female governor—the protector of Muslims and people of all faiths—to uphold justice.

While lamenting the hardships faced by the people, Shahzani felt deeply that beneath Samarkand's glamorous exterior lay so much corruption. He immediately ordered his bureaucracy to gather evidence and to severely punish these wicked vipers.

Once the deployment was complete, the female governor immediately ordered the operation to begin.

The heavily armed Saman warriors swiftly raided the hideouts of the local bullies. These outlaws, adept at harassing unarmed civilians, were utterly powerless against the heavily armored soldiers. A storm of justice swept away evil and corruption in an instant; the thugs were either beheaded on the spot or paraded through the streets in disgrace.

The most heinous tyrants were beheaded in the street, their heads then hung in front of the city gates for public display. The rest of the villains were either hanged, trampled to death by horses, beaten to death with clubs, stoned to death, thrown from towers, or reduced to slavery or other lowly status—in short, none of them met a good end.

Through these measures, Shahzani's standing among the people of Samarkand rose rapidly.

Chapter 63 Initial Results of Governance