I was the Queen of Persia

Page 58

As she spoke, Shahzani glanced at the "special forces" deployed in a concealed location within the main camp.

“Even if it is a dragon as fierce as Ardahaka, the warriors of Khwarazm are still fearless! Your Majesty Shah, please give the order! I am willing to go through fire and water for any decision you make!” Nasita declared.

Other Samanid generals also expressed their loyalty to the Queen and their determination to win.

“Good.” Shahzani looked around at them approvingly. “In that case, let’s proceed with the battle according to plan!”

"We will obey Your Majesty's decree!" the generals replied in unison.

The Samanid army sounded their war drums and whistles, signaling their attack.

The Seljuk-Turkmen cavalry, deployed at the forefront, took the lead in forming ranks and charging toward the enemy lines. Once they reached a certain distance, they immediately formed a circular formation and began harassing the enemy with mounted archery.

The rest of the Saman army immediately followed, ensuring coordination between the units.

Arrows rained down like locusts, and many Ghaznavid soldiers fell to the ground, struck by arrows.

"Arab cavalry, Khabarovsk cavalry, attack and drive them away!" Mahmud, sitting on his elephant-drawn carriage, immediately gave the order from within the Ghazni formation.

The Arab cavalry, a group of soldiers known in the Ghaznavid army as "daring devil warriors," immediately charged out of their ranks and pursued the Seljuk cavalry who had come to harass them.

The Haraj Turkic cavalry, inheriting the talent of Turkic tribes in riding and archery, and having honed their physique in the harsh environment of the Hindu Kush Valley, charged out of the battle formation with howls and galloped away swiftly.

The light cavalry units of both armies engaged in a chase, maneuvering, maneuvering, and charging on the battlefield, sometimes turning around to fire, sometimes circling and driving away.

Meanwhile, the vanguard forces of Saman and Ghazni also began to clash.

Sogdian heavy infantry, clad in armor and armed with weapons, charged fiercely; the double-pointed spears of the Deraman infantry slashed with deadly iron light; the axes of the Kurdish infantry whistled in the wind and sand.

Indian Kshatriya warriors and low-caste cannon fodder, wielding various strange weapons, charged into the battlefield in an orderly or chaotic manner; Gur tribe soldiers continued to charge, displaying the fierceness of the nomadic tribes of eastern Iran; Tibetan warriors from Kashmir and Ladakh also attacked, wearing armor decorated with colorful prayer flags.

The Ghulam infantry from the Caucasus region charged forward in formation, wielding fearsome hexagonal hammers and spiked clubs; the mercenaries from the Slavs, Varangians, and Bulgarians were not to be outdone, charging head-on with double-handed axes.

However, the most intense fighting was between the two sides' large standing or conscripted armies.

The standing infantry legions clashed in formation, their spears, shields, swords, hammers, axes, and other iron weapons flashing coldly. The dazzling Naftan oil bombs streaked across the sky, accompanied by crashes, shouts, and cries that shook the battlefield.

Various religious conscription groups, inspired by national and religious fervor, flocked to the front lines one after another, braving fire and water, even at the cost of their lives and martyrdom.

The auxiliary soldiers of various towns and villages, lured by official positions, titles, and spoils of war, worked hard to cooperate with the regular army, hoping to make a name for themselves in this battle and embark on a bright future.

The infantry units of the two armies are already engaged in fierce fighting, and now it is time for the main cavalry force to show its strength!

Looking at the battlefield situation, Shahzani said to Holshid beside her, "Order the heavy cavalry legions on both flanks to launch a flanking attack."

The Queen's military orders, under Halshid's obedient command, were immediately transmitted to the relevant troops in the form of flag signals and verbal commands.

In a moment.

The heavy cavalry units of Transoxiana and Khorasan on both flanks formed a charging formation and rushed towards the Ghaznavid army, their armored men and horses forming a torrent of red iron, their iron hooves thundering across the battlefield as they outflanked the Ghaznavid army.

When two strong teams clash, the one with a slight advantage often gains the upper hand.

The Ghaznavid army also deployed heavy cavalry on both flanks and knew the tactics of flanking attacks, but in the actual execution, they were a moment slower than the Samanid army.

In that seemingly insignificant moment, the shift in the offensive and defensive dynamics between the two armies was established.

Thanks to the efficient command of officers at all levels, the Samanian heavy cavalry seized the fleeting opportunity, gained the upper hand with a slight advantage, and then launched a fierce charge against the Ghaznavid army like wildfire.

The Ghazneans suffered fierce attacks on both flanks, resulting in numerous casualties, while their vanguard was in danger of being surrounded and devoured.

Mahmoud was clearly unprepared for this turn of events; his facial muscles twitched incessantly, and his hand gripping his weapon trembled slightly.

Chapter 129 Elephant Charge

The Samanid army's Transoxiana-Khorasan heavy cavalry outflanked the Ghaznavid army and launched a charge, closing in on the enemy to within a few dozen paces in an instant.

At this point, the Ghaznavid heavy cavalry had not even begun their charge when they were already at a disadvantage in terms of impact, and were unable to exert the advantages that heavy cavalry should have.

The Samanian heavy cavalry, with their superior organization and formation, were able to launch the first attack.

Then came the clanging of steel clashing, and the Ghaznavid cavalrymen were thrown into chaos. Many Ghaznavids had not even had time to prepare for battle before their armor was pierced by thrusting lances and their helmets were shattered by fierce axes and hammers.

After a series of attacks, the Samanian heavy cavalry repelled the Ghaznavid heavy cavalry.

Meanwhile, the light cavalry of the two armies that had been roaming and chasing each other on the periphery gradually came to a conclusion.

The Seljuk cavalry of the Samanid army, with their superior horsemanship and archery skills, gradually suppressed the Arab cavalry and Khajiit cavalry of the Ghaznavid army.

After a brief reversal, the Seljuks immediately launched a counterattack, disrupting the formations of the Arabs and the Kharaji Turks. They then quickly drew their sabers and spears and charged at the now-disorganized enemy.

These Turkmen from the Caspian steppes inherited the strengths of the Saka, Parthians, Abdali (Yanda), and Turks in horsemanship and archery, and were recognized as fierce and valiant raiding cavalrymen, natural friends of warhorses.

Meanwhile, the overwhelming force of the Samanian heavy cavalry forced the Ghaznavid light cavalry to flee and break up their ranks.

With this two-pronged approach, Ghaznavid light cavalry were routed and scattered, while the Samanian light and heavy cavalry successfully regrouped and continued their assault on Ghaznavid main forces.

Seeing that the formation was beginning to falter, the Ghazni commander at the front quickly dispatched several squads of Ghulam infantrymen armed with round shields and short spears, attempting to use the discipline of these regular infantrymen to form a battle line and intercept the cavalry group.

But the Saman heavy cavalry, riding the wave of victory, had no intention of giving them a chance to complete their deployment. Their armored warhorses roared as they charged forward, their lances and axes unleashing a devastating force that quickly pierced and tore through the Ghazni lines, causing even these well-trained Ghulam infantry to collapse and retreat.

The cavalry's breakthrough also helped the infantry clear obstacles. The Samanian infantry and cavalry advanced in close coordination, with no gaps between the different units, continuing to suppress the Ghaznavid forces in a tight formation.

As one side advances steadily while the other retreats step by step, the offensive and defensive situation between the two armies is undergoing a significant change.

Mahmoud's face turned pale and then red, his eyes almost blazing with fire. The increasingly obvious defeat on the battlefield was extremely embarrassing for this once-victorious monarch.

at last.

"Order the elephant corps to attack immediately!"

This Central Asian conqueror was unwilling to let the situation continue to deteriorate. After careful consideration, he deployed his elite reserve force—the elephant corps—in hopes of turning the tide for him.

Once the order was given, the war elephants deployed behind the Ghaznavid army, under the command of General Artontash, immediately launched a counterattack against the Samanid army.

In this battle, the Ghaznavid army deployed more than 500 war elephants, 100 of which were clad in sturdy elephant armor. Each elephant was equipped with steel tusks and carried iron-clad elephant towers on its back. The Ghaznavid soldiers used the elephant towers as cover and fought with bows, crossbows, and projectiles.

Each war elephant was flanked by 10 infantrymen and 5 cavalrymen to further enhance its combat and defensive capabilities.

The behemoths, laden with steel weapons, roared across the battlefield. As they advanced in formation, the earth shook, as if the entire ground trembled.

As the war elephants approached, the earth trembled violently, striking the hearts of the Saman warriors.

The behemoth brandished its steel tusks, propelling its massive thighs, while the Ghaznavid archers atop the tower fired down their bows in unison, hurled armor-piercing spears, or launched stone projectiles.

Even heavily armored cavalry, both men and horses, could not directly confront this massive, heavily armed beast.

Upon seeing this overwhelming force, the advancing Samanid troops finally halted their advance.

A heavy sense of oppression swept over them, and a temporary sense of tension and panic spread through the Samanid army, keeping the soldiers on edge.

Many Saman warriors still vividly remember the power of these war behemoths.

The large number of Samanian female warriors who had escaped death witnessed this horrific scene again, and immediately their crotches were soaked with urine, the stench of which filled the air. The urine dripped down their saddles and vests onto the brown Persian sand.

The Samanian female warriors were highly trained, and the formidable army capable of terrifying them to the point of collective incontinence was no ordinary force. The terrifying elephant corps created by Mahmoud was clearly one of them.

The Samanian warriors, though armed and valiant soldiers, are ultimately human beings with flesh and blood. It would be impossible for them to be completely fearless in the face of immense pressure.

However, their courage and faith were not diminished. On the contrary, their blood surged with an even stronger sense of honor to fight for their country, nation, and religion.

"The female warriors of Iran!"

The female officer, her crotch soaked, shouted to the female soldiers who were also urinating uncontrollably: "Don't panic! Her Majesty the Queen's victory banner guides us! On my command, switch to ranged weapons and engage the enemy!"

Under the command of officers at all levels, the Saman army immediately switched from offense to defense, fighting and retreating to avoid the onslaught of the war elephants.

Of course, this was one of the plans that Shahzani had devised in advance: to lure the Ghaznean elephant army into a blind advance, leaving them vulnerable from both sides, and then to send out a "surprise force" to defeat them.

Ghazneh's forces were naturally unaware of this.

Watching the Samanid army retreat step by step, the Ghaznavid officers at all levels, and even Mahmud himself, were overly optimistic, believing that the Samanids were afraid of the powerful elephant cavalry and were therefore retreating in panic.

"Order the elephant corps to continue the charge!"

"Drummers, beat the drums faster!"

"Infantry and cavalry, coordinate your actions!"

Within the Ghaznean army ranks, war drums resounded, seemingly signaling an impending "victory."

Deceived by this illusion, the Ghaznavid elephant cavalry swept through the Samanid army like a whirlwind, plunging headlong into the trap the Samanids had laid in advance. They failed to notice the thick smoke rising from behind the Samanid lines.

“Very good, very good. They charged forward as expected, just what I wanted.” Shahzani smiled as she watched the advancing Ghazni elephant herd.

She then ordered the tactics to be executed as planned.

Suddenly, Saman's rear army split apart, and thousands of galloping camels burst forth from the gaps in the formation. Each camel carried a load of burning hay, like thousands of massive fireballs rolling violently, and hurtled towards the Ghaznavid elephant cavalry.

Chapter 130 A Concerto of Gunpowder and Steel

Mahmoud sat on his elephant chariot in his main camp, watching the approaching formation of fire camels in the distance, and his heart skipped a beat: "This is bad!"

Due to their animal instincts, elephants are naturally afraid of scorching flames and dense fires, which can easily frighten these giant beasts and cause them to lose control. Worse still, once an elephant is frightened and goes berserk, it becomes extremely difficult to control and is more likely to charge and trample its own troops.

as predicted.

The Samanid army's fire-camel formation charged head-on, and the terrified Ghaznavid war elephants immediately scattered and fled in panic. The combined trampling of the elephants and camels killed many Ghaznavid soldiers instantly, and their ranks clearly fell into disarray.

"Quick! Take control of the elephant herd!"

The Ghaznavid general at the front was extremely anxious and shouted orders. The mahouts desperately struck the barbs with their iron hooks, trying to calm the elephants down.

Thanks to the rigorous daily training of the Ghaznavid army, these measures did have some calming effect, but the elephant herd as a whole remained in a state of fear and chaos.

Will Shahzani give them a chance to breathe? The answer is obvious: no.

"Rocket tank units, move out!" she issued the order once again, signaling the imminent devastation to the enemy.

As soon as the order was given, Saman's army split up again on both sides, and behind the army, more than 50 war machines were launched, operated by soldiers from the Qin artisan camp.

The order to fire was given immediately, and 50 chariots loaded with incendiary arrows instantly spewed out towering flames that blotted out the sky.

Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh!

The flaming arrows, carrying scorching heat and a sharp whistling sound, hurtled towards the terrified Ghaznean war elephants.

The rocket vehicle has a complex structure, and the arrows it launches have extremely high kinetic energy, far exceeding the energy exerted by a human drawing a bow. They pierce through the elephant's felt and iron armor, penetrating its rough and thick hide.

The Ghaznean war elephants, wailed in agony and fear, and fled in panic, scattering the Ghaznean main force.

In an instant, screams, roars, and wails filled the air, plunging the Ghazni army into even greater chaos.

Meanwhile, within the Saman army's ranks, the Qin soldiers of the rocket chariot battalion, protected by archers and spearmen, continued to calmly load and fire.

"Give it your all! The Persian Queen values ​​us highly; we must fight and show the might of the Han!"

Liu Wenyuan, dressed in Confucian robes and a silk turban, wearing a lamellar vest, ran back and forth among the rocket chariots, shouting encouragement to the Qin soldiers. When Zhu Jiande was not in his own unit, he was one of the main commanders of the Qin army.

Mo Yuxuan personally operated the war machine and fired at the Ghazni troops.

With a sharp whistling sound, the rocket he fired pierced the eye of another war elephant. The giant beast let out a blood-curdling scream, then frantically broke its saddle straps, threw off its elephant tower, and trampled the surrounding Ghaznavid soldiers.

The burning arrows, like shooting stars, had driven the elephant herd into a completely out-of-control run, and no matter how hard the mahouts tried to whip and control them, it was all in vain.

The crowds and the herds of animals had completely lost their sense of order, trampling each other and causing countless deaths and injuries.

The time has come to organize troops for a counterattack.

"Send word to launch a counterattack against the Ghazni army!" Shahzani immediately ordered.

The infantry continued their advance in formation, the light cavalry continued their guerrilla raids, and the heavy cavalry continued their charge from both flanks... Taking advantage of the Ghaznavids' confusion and retreat, the Samanid forces pressed forward in full force, reaping the fruits of local victory.

How could the Ghaznavid army possibly withstand them? Right now, they wish they could avoid their onslaught as soon as possible, retreat to their own lines, regroup, and make further plans.

But Shahzani will not give them that chance either.

Amidst the deafening sounds of battle, a fierce and swift cavalry unit charged out from behind the hills on the flank, carrying the scarlet battle flag of the Samanid army. The flag bearer at the forefront also held aloft a banner bearing the emblem of the Khwarazmian Afriq family.

It was Nasita's elite Khwarazmian cavalry.

Indeed, just as the two armies were locked in fierce combat, Shahzani ordered Nasita to lead his troops on a wide-ranging outflanking maneuver, unexpectedly deploying them to concealed locations in an attempt to inflict heavy damage on the enemy.

Although the Khwarazmian cavalry were heavily armored, they were also adept at long-distance raids. Simply replacing their metal horse armor with felt or tanned leather riding robes would both ensure their defense and increase their mobility, achieving two goals at once.

Nasita charged ahead, her double-pointed spear gleaming coldly, splattering blood wherever it went. This powerful female warrior seemed to have fully transformed into Anahita, the war goddess of the ancient Aryan era, or like Venus colliding with the sun, sparking dazzling flames.

The Khwarazmian cavalrymen were all fearless in the face of death. These warriors from the shores of the Aral Sea inherited the bravery of their ancestors in eastern Iran. They charged left and right through the defeated Ghaznavid troops as if they were in an empty field, and their momentum was unstoppable.

Thousands upon thousands of warhorses galloped, unleashing an extremely powerful impact that felled Ghazni soldiers like wheat, further accelerating their rout.

"Damn it! Hold the line and don't retreat! God will grant us victory!" Ghazni general Artuntash roared, sword in hand, trying to rouse the retreating troops.

Those irregular troops, bound together by forced conscription and spoils of war, were clearly no longer stable. These cannon fodder units rushed to safety, and there was no way to stop them.