I was the Queen of Persia

Page 29

After reforming the bureaucracy, Shahzani's Saman army gained more support.

After some time, the residents and merchants of Samarkand were delighted to find that although these men and women soldiers in scarlet armor were stern and cruel, they never oppressed the good and kind, and even their trade was extremely fair, unlike the old bureaucrats and the army who extorted and plundered.

The cities of Samarkand were naturally more prosperous.

This place was already a major center of handicrafts, renowned for its fine and durable fabrics, pristine and soft paper, and high-quality, sturdy steel armor. With the system's enhancements, Shahzani further improved the quality of these handicrafts, attracting even more caravans to come and purchase them.

Shahzani also frequently disguised himself and visited various bazaars to check whether the market order was stable and whether the mukhtasib (officials in charge of the market and weights and measures) were fulfilling their duties.

Stepping through the archway, the massive bazaar bustled with activity, displaying a dazzling array of treasures from all over the world, the constant sound of camel bells, and people of different races and skin colors mingling among the crowds.

A scene of prosperity and flourishing.

Dressed in brightly colored veils and skirts, and sandals, the women, including Shahzani, were not yet identified. Perhaps only a few experts could deduce from their upright posture and robust figures that they had experience in martial arts and military service.

at this time.

"Oh, God bless you, beautiful lady."

A familiar voice drifted from the bazaar. Looking in the direction of the voice, a familiar, plump figure appeared, stroking a small mustache, his face beaming with the smile of a businessman. Beside him stood a male and a female armed guard from a foreign land.

“Long time no see, Mr. Bazargan.” Shahzani returned a polite smile. “I have to thank you for providing the intelligence when Khwarazm launched its surprise attack last time.”

"Haha, it was nothing, it's what I should do," Bazargan said with a smile. "And we also owe it to this brave little girl."

As he spoke, he pushed the Slavic female guard, Polodina, in front of the female governor.

"Polodina, hurry up and pay your respects to the lady!" Bazargan whispered a reminder from the side.

“Oh, no need.” Shahzani quickly helped the Slavic girl up. “Falzana has already told me what happened. You did well and deserve a reward.”

Therefore, she promised to grant the Bazargan caravan certain preferential rights. Of course, the final interpretation of these rights rested with her, and she could withdraw these preferential measures at any time based on objective needs.

Bazargan thanked him repeatedly, and then, as usual, beamed as he promoted his products.

"Dear and beautiful lady, on this journey we have traveled through Khwarazm and the steppes of the Khazars (Caspian Sea), all the way to the land inhabited by the Bulgarians and Slavs. From there I have procured the finest furs and bark for tanning: luxurious fox fur, soft mink fur, durable beaver fur, rare lynx fur, and even pure white fish teeth..."

The businessman talked on and on. Shahzani genuinely felt that if he had been born in the 21st century, he would definitely have become a top-notch "success guru".

"...In short, it's all great value for money." Finally, Bazargan ended his incessant sales pitch.

“I’ll take the fur you brought,” Shahzani said with a polite smile.

Bazargan's eyes immediately lit up.

“But all I need are strong, durable leather and tanning materials to arm my brave warriors. I’ll buy as much as you have,” Shahzani said calmly, her smile carrying an undeniable force.

Bazargan was almost speechless with astonishment.

He felt he couldn't understand this female governor at all. Other high-ranking officials and nobles desired gold and silver jewels, fine silks and satins, precious swords and fine horses, luxurious hats and fur coats, and handsome servants—in short, all the most expensive luxuries in the world, for which they were willing to spend exorbitant sums. But this female leader before him always prioritized the needs of the army, preferring to lower her own material comforts.

To this, Shahzani could only say, "You just don't understand me."

She would naturally enjoy a life of luxury, but only if external threats were eliminated, the country achieved stability and unity, and all industries prospered, bringing in abundant wealth. Until this grand vision was realized, she would prioritize military affairs and the people's livelihood.

Durable leather can be used to make war equipment such as bridles, saddles, and quivers; the more the better.

"Ha, all these things! Polodina, quickly have someone bring over the finest leathers for the lady to inspect!" Bazargan, being a businessman, immediately understood.

soon.

Dozens of camels, laden with heavy bundles, arrived at the designated area in the bazaar amidst the shouts of the caravan's drivers. Polokina deftly cut the ropes binding the bundles, revealing the goods inside to the crowd.

"These are all top-quality leathers tanned from thick northern animal hides, absolutely perfect for making saddles, bow cases, and armor linings," Bazargan explained from the side.

The leather is glossy and shiny, with a firm yet supple texture, making it an excellent material for manufacturing equipment.

After testing, the quality is excellent.

Shahzani nodded in satisfaction, then immediately sent someone to handle the buying and selling matters, and specifically instructed that the price must be fair and that the abuse of power for personal gain was strictly prohibited.

Bazargan was deeply moved by her generosity and immediately offered a very reasonable price. Having learned his lesson last time, he wouldn't dare to ask for an exorbitant price in front of the discerning female governor, even if he had ten times the courage.

In this way, Shahzani purchased a large amount of scarce military supplies from various caravans as an important supplement to the war supply system.

Meanwhile, Samarkand's commerce continued to prosper, and the various taxes generated by trade flowed continuously into the treasuries of the government and the army, accumulating enormous wealth and transforming it into an important material foundation for promoting the growth of strength.

Aside from the bazaar, teahouses, bathhouses, practice rooms, mosques, and other places were also bustling with activity. Apart from the curfew that had to be implemented during the war, daily life in the city was no different from usual.

Of course, it cannot be said that they are 100% identical.

Take various entertainment venues for example. In the past, the male service providers there served wealthy and powerful men who were into homosexual relationships; now, however, they serve the female soldiers in the Samanid army.

When Shahzani led his army to recapture the city, the people, seeing the large number of female soldiers, hid their sons, fearing they would be abducted and used for their pleasure. Handsome young men were especially protected. However, this concern was quickly dispelled. The Samanid army maintained strict discipline upon entering the city and did not arbitrarily plunder men to entertain the soldiers.

However, just as humans have seven emotions and six desires, female soldiers are no exception. Female officers with extremely strong sexual desires would go to bathhouses and other places to seek pleasure, and would specifically request handsome male waiters and male dancers to accompany them, but they would always pay the price and never break the rules.

This also fueled the continued prosperity of the service industry in Samarkand.

Chapter 64 Changing Customs and Habits (1)

After stabilizing the city and county of Samarkand, Shahzani did not forget to pay attention to the vast rural areas.

She often took Bahramu to inspect the countryside.

"Let's go, Bahramu. Prepare the horses and supplies. We won't be back for several days."

"Don't worry, everything is ready."

"Then, Farzanna, I'll temporarily entrust the official duties to you. Make good use of the power you hold."

"Don't worry, with me here, I'll make sure everything stays in order."

Shahzani, dressed in a casual Kaftan robe, nodded, and then she and Bahram mounted their horses and galloped out of the city.

She didn't bring any other attendants or guards. Compared to traveling with a large entourage, she preferred to travel incognito, as it made her feel more relaxed, allowed her to experience local customs and traditions, and also gave her an opportunity to observe the administration of officials.

Stepping out of the tall, protruding arched city gate, and following the main road, one arrives at the lush oasis villages and towns. Samarkand truly lives up to its reputation as a major city in Transoxiana; all its main roads are paved with bricks, far superior to the dirt roads of Zamshahr.

Thanks to effective management measures, Samarkand's irrigated agriculture, dryland farming, fruit and horticulture, and animal husbandry have maintained prosperity, and the farmland and karez systems in the surrounding areas have been well maintained. The irrigation system supplies water to the vast land, producing grains, cotton, and various fruits.

The Mirab (Persian: mir-ab, meaning "official in charge of water") led an armed militia to patrol the wells and canals vigilantly, ensuring timely dredging and repair, and preventing deliberate sabotage by criminals.

This reflects not only the agricultural situation in the Transoxiana province, but also the agricultural landscape of the entire arid region of Iran.

The vast irrigation system was the lifeline of Persian agriculture, ensuring the basic needs of agricultural production and enabling agricultural output to exceed farmers' needs in most years. This allowed large quantities of agricultural products to be sold in the cities, accumulating wealth, or distributed through the state bureaucracy to officials and standing salaried soldiers, supporting the vast bureaucratic class of the Persian Empire.

Farmers are busy with farm work, moving wheat and fruits into warehouses or driving donkey carts into town to do business. The official roads are bustling with activity, and the farms are teeming with life.

“It’s like the grandeur of the Nasr (Samanid monarchs) era.” Bahramu nodded as he gazed at the prosperous scene. “I truly hope this prosperity can last forever.”

“Kadehuda, what do you think?” She looked at Shahzani beside her.

“Of course. The Samanid rulers worked diligently and maintained the prosperity of Transoxiana and Khorasan for a century. Their achievements are worthy of being etched in Iranian history,” Shahzani affirmed.

“Unfortunately, peace is often very fragile, and sometimes it even requires war and bloodshed to defend it, which is something we cannot change.” Bahram said with some emotion, and her expression became serious.

"Khadhuda, what do you think our future and fate would be if we lived in the prosperous era of Nasr's rule?" Her beautiful eyes flashed with longing and contemplation.

“During the long and prosperous period of the Samanid dynasty, the gates of the army will also open to brave women. I will still choose the path of military service, using my wisdom and strength to serve the country. What about you?” Shahzani replied without hesitation.

As an Iranian with a strong sense of history and national identity, her answer was obvious.

“Me too!” Bahramu laughed heartily.

“Very well, then we shall join forces to conquer the Karluks, the Kimaks, and the Oghuz Turkic tribes, and fight against the counterattack launched by the Arab Caliphs. We shall prove with steel and blood that the daughters of Iran are no less than men!” Shahzani smiled, her eyes unwavering.

The two walked and chatted for a while when they suddenly saw a bustling village ahead, with villagers gathering in one direction as if they were watching something.

“Let’s go take a look,” Shahzani gestured.

The two men dismounted and took out wedges and tethering ropes from their saddlebags to secure the horses.

I squeezed through the dense crowd and arrived at the front row.

It turned out to be an ancient form of punishment, or more precisely, a form of vigilante justice.

There was a young woman with worn-out clothes, half of her body buried in the sand. She hung her head and remained silent, seemingly accepting her unfortunate fate.

Beside her, a village imam was reciting the Quran aloud. Dozens of men, women, and children, holding broken bricks and stones, stared menacingly at the woman.

Shahzani immediately recognized it as a common form of stoning punishment in ancient Central Asia and the Middle East, often used to punish those who "tainted moral standards," especially women accused of "adultery" or "damaging family honor."

The priest had finished chanting, and the crowd holding stones was eager to try. One of the woman's relatives stepped forward first, raising a broken brick to throw.

"stop!"

A loud shout suddenly rang out, carrying a commanding force that instantly brought the crowd to a halt.

Shahzani walked straight ahead, exuding the authority and aura of a soldier, which forced everyone to step back.

Although the villagers were not very knowledgeable, they could tell with a little common sense that the beautiful lady in front of them was well-dressed and had an imposing presence, so they all bowed and stepped back.

This reflects the natural awe that the common people had for those in power in ancient times.

Shahzani walked up to the village chief and the priest, pointing to the woman in the pit: "God above, what crime has she committed to deserve such punishment?"

“By Allah, Your Excellency!” The village chief was stunned for a moment, then quickly said, “Her husband went missing in the army several years ago, and she remarried without permission. This is an unforgivable sin!”

"So, you're going to execute a devout Muslim, an upright Iranian, so hastily?" Shahzani stared at them, her expression stern.

The village chief and the imam had never seen such a menacing gaze before, and they were immediately filled with fear, unsure of how to respond.

“In the name of Allah Hudda,” Shahzani’s expression softened slightly, “her husband is missing and his life is unknown as he defends against the invasion of those hypocrites and infidels. As the wife of a warrior, she may have made mistakes, but they do not deserve death. Why not let her atone for her sins?”

"This..." The village chief and the imam looked at each other, speechless.

Shahzani continued, leaving no room for argument:

“I know that because she is a woman, she should adhere to religious and moral standards and be bound by her husband and father. But you must understand that a woman can also be an independent warrior and a hero.”

"Or think back carefully: wasn't the army that liberated you from the rule of the Karakhanids composed of brave female warriors?"

These words resonated with the villagers.

They vividly remembered the Samanian army in their scarlet uniforms. These female Samanian warriors were not only brave and skilled in battle, but also highly disciplined. They did not harm the people when passing through their villages, a stark contrast to the armies that had previously plundered at will.

Chapter 65 Changing Customs and Habits (2)

At this time.

Bahram also provided a "divine assist": he took out the governor's scepter from his robe belt, directly revealing Shahzani's identity.

The village chief, the imam, and all the villagers were stunned. They never dreamed that the governor would actually come in person. In their great fear, they all kowtowed and kissed the ground, begging for forgiveness for their rudeness.

Of course, amidst the fear, there was also a great deal of admiration and awe.

After all, it was this female governor who liberated them from Turan rule; it was this female governor who commanded the army effectively and treated the people with utmost respect; and it was this female governor who severely punished corrupt officials and local bullies, restoring peace to the region. This woman's fairness and wisdom were comparable to those of Abdulrazag.

(Abdul-Zag: Governor of Khorasan Province during the Samanid dynasty, known for his good deeds, integrity, respect for tradition, and love for farmers, and was deeply loved by the lower and middle classes of Iranian farmers, artisans, intellectuals, and small landowners.)

Shahzani did not reprimand them excessively, but simply ordered them to release the woman and warned them not to do it again.

……

Back to the Governor's Palace in Samarkand.

Based on what she had heard along the way, Shahzani decided to take measures to abolish these outdated customs and practices.

A palace cannot be built in a day. She knew that bad habits stemmed from the limitations of feudal thinking and were deeply ingrained in people's minds, so abolishing them could not be rushed but required a gradual approach.

The abolition of the outdated and cruel practice of "honor killing" is the breakthrough point in her abolition plan.

First, a law prohibiting "honor killings" was enacted. Thanks to Farzanna's clear thinking, the new law was quickly drafted. Shahzani ordered its implementation in all counties of the province, requiring local officials to strictly adhere to it.

With regulations as the basis for enforcement, each county formed patrol teams based on a general mobilization militia system. These patrol teams went through the streets and alleys daily, specifically to prevent the abuse of lynching and to rescue women who were about to be executed without authorization.

At the same time, neighbors are encouraged to monitor and expose each other.

Although people may initially feel confused or even resistant, their bad habits will gradually change over time.

After the plan was implemented, the social atmosphere in the counties of Central Thailand did indeed gradually improve, the injustices suffered by women were greatly reduced, and they gained more personal rights.

"Praise be to Allah Hudda, praise be to Governor Shahzani, who gave us new life."

"Sisters, Shahzani is a noble lady, and there are brave women like her in her army."

“Yes, why don’t we join the army and prove with our armor and steel that we are brave Iranian women?”

"Yes! Just like those ancient heroines like Guldaffard!"

"That's right, let's go, let's join the army!"

Many of the rescued women were overflowing with gratitude. While bowing in thanks, they also vowed to join the Saman Iranian army and fight for their country. Their fervent vows inspired courage in other women.