I was the Queen of Persia

Page 148

Of course, Shahzani does not use their names directly, but describes them as "heroes of a certain dynasty in ancient Iran" and "martyrs who sacrificed themselves in the process of resisting the Turan invasion" to increase the sense of immersion and emotional impact.

The young princess memorized these lessons, and with her courage and the wisdom of her husband Iraj, she put the heroic traditions of the epic into practice, ultimately achieving success at the gates of Otrar.

……

The Turan army's offensive against Otrar was hampered, and the battle entered a stalemate once again.

Outside the city lies the Salash Grassland.

Inside the golden-topped tent of Turan Khan.

A scene of chirping birds and frivolous extravagance.

Aknuer lay naked on a couch covered with gold thread. To her left and right, a dozen or so naked male and female servants were lewdly intertwining with each other. The atmosphere was extremely ambiguous, and the air was filled with the scent of erotic music.

This extravagant and lustful female Khan is now trying to escape the setbacks of her unfavorable attack by indulging in sensual pleasures.

The lewd sounds came one after another, and Aknuer himself was engulfed by the huge "dragon," breathing greedily, which caused the raging waves of wolves to surge forth.

But at this moment.

Amidst the lewd crowd, a pair of eyes, concealing murderous intent, stealthily fixed their gaze upon the infatuated Aknuer.

"Shh-"

A soft sound rang out, and the slender figure, from some hidden place, pulled out a strangely shaped assassination weapon, still damp with water stains. She feigned a seductive manner and slowly approached Aknuer.

Aknuar also noticed the young girl with the appearance of a Sham-Arab. Her figure was slender and graceful, her delicate skin was like a peeled hard-boiled egg, and the aura of desire she exuded made Aknuar unable to resist.

The ambiguous atmosphere grew stronger, but just as it was about to reach its climax, a sudden change occurred.

Suddenly, the Arab girl's eyes sharpened, and she stabbed with lightning speed, so fast that it was impossible to keep up with her movements.

The couples who were making love nearby were clearly terrified by this sudden turn of events. They screamed and scattered in all directions, leaving the tent in a mess in an instant.

Aknuar was initially slightly surprised, but quickly regained her composure and swiftly dodged the female assassin's deadly strike. Despite her advanced age and the corruption of wine and women, her bravery and strength remained awe-inspiring.

After a brief exchange, the assassin was already at a disadvantage.

At this moment, the female guards of the Khan's personal guards who were guarding outside the tent had already noticed the abnormality inside. They quickly drew their weapons and rushed in one after another, surrounding the assassin in the blink of an eye.

Clearly, the assassination attempt had failed in just a few seconds.

Seeing the situation change, the assassin attempted to escape using her agility, but the Khan's personal guard, clad in full armor, gave her no chance. Mauls rained down, severing her limbs, and long weapons were crossed and used to drag her before Khan Mian.

“Heh heh, you’re a 'sand-bathing' lackey kept by the Persians, aren’t you? You bunch of Arab bastards from the Alawite and Ismaili sects!” Aknuar said coldly.

“That’s right! I am the glorious assassin of the Samanid Empire’s ‘Sand Bathers’ force! Now that things have come to this, I have nothing more to say. You can only wait for your demise! Allahu Akbar!” the assassin mocked with a cold laugh.

After speaking, the female assassin, known as the "Sand Bather," twitched her lips, then black blood gushed from her mouth and nose. Her head lolled to the side, and she breathed her last. She had committed suicide with poison hidden in her teeth.

Aknuar didn't say much, but simply ordered the Khan's guards to drag the corpse away and dispose of it.

After finishing these tasks, she dressed with the help of her servants and then summoned the military minister and nobles to discuss the war plan.

The Turan army, which had been in a state of complacency and relaxation, instantly regained its discipline, order, and solemn atmosphere.

……

It turns out that everything that happened above was just Aknuer's "deception scheme".

First, he pretended to be depressed due to the unfavorable attack, and then he pretended to indulge in sensual pleasures and neglect military operations day and night.

He then ordered Turan's entire army to feign dejection and apathy, while secretly making meticulous plans and preparations for the next siege.

These measures induced Farukzad to make the wrong judgment.

The young Princess Saman was indeed fooled. Recently, she has been arranging for her troops to take turns resting, which has led to a decrease in the overall defense of the city of Otrar.

This was a last resort. After fierce fighting, the Saman soldiers defending the city were also heavily damaged and exhausted. If they did not rest and replenish their strength in time, they would be dragged down by the war even faster.

Of course, Farukzad was also skeptical. While slightly relaxing his defenses, he secretly sent "Sand Bathers" assassins into the Turan army camp. They were the unfortunate man who had just committed suicide, and they tried to assassinate Aknuar once and for all while he was indulging in pleasure and debauchery.

However, surprisingly, her judgment still had flaws.

……

The Turan Khanate army once again assembled and launched a swift attack on the city.

Due to hasty preparations, the Saman army was unable to respond in time, and the outer walls were quickly captured by the Turan army. They were forced to retreat while fighting, heading towards the River Island Castle.

The Turan Khanate army advanced hastily, and this time their crossing and attack were even more ferocious. The Samanid army, due to its hasty deployment and the failure to mobilize its previously victorious warships, was unable to effectively stop the overwhelming Turan troops.

The fierce battle lasted two days and two nights.

The Turan Khanate army had already established a foothold on the outskirts of the river islands, forcing Farukzad to shrink his defensive lines, reorganize his troops, and focus all his efforts on defending the castle.

Turan's army used a mix of "Hashar" squads and dismounted cavalry to scale the city walls, while the elite Khan's personal guards provided suppressive fire from boats on the river.

These Khan's personal guards were not only skilled in charging into battle, but also possessed extremely high levels of archery skills on horseback and foot. Their ability to draw and set up bows was faster than any archer unit in the Samanid Empire.

This was also one of Aknu's trump cards, specifically designed to be used in decisive moments of battle to deliver the final blow.

The fortress on the Eda River is about to fall.

But at that moment, flames suddenly shot up and the sounds of battle grew louder from behind the long and winding Turan army. The Turan guards on the perimeter were the first to be attacked.

Chapter 343 Infantry Achieves Extraordinary Merit

Outside the city of Edarla, the battlefield where the two armies clashed.

The crimson Samanid battle flags stretched as far as the eye could see, and the blood-red army surged forth like a raging torrent. The Samanid army was launching a fierce attack on the Turan Khanate forces that were on guard at the perimeter.

The commander-in-chief of the army was none other than the prince consort, Iraji.

In fact, this was a plan devised by Farukzad and Iraj.

Having long suspected that Aknuar was feigning complacency while actually preparing for war, Farukzad deliberately created an opening, while secretly making meticulous preparations. He waited until the Turan Khanate army launched a full-scale attack, stretching their battle lines and weakening their flanks, before Iraj led his army in a fierce assault.

Ironclad soldiers and armored horses clashed and charged, and a rain of arrows filled the sky like locusts, making the battle exceptionally fierce.

The Turan horse archers were highly skilled; they unleashed a barrage of arrows that blotted out the sun, and with their superior firing speed, they suppressed the Samanian horse archers, putting them at a disadvantage.

However, the Samanid army's heavy cavalry was a step ahead, especially the Savaran heavy cavalry, which served as the core of their regular striking force. These armored warriors relied on a more disciplined attack formation and superior, sturdier armor and weapons to suppress the Turan army's heavy cavalry.

The battle was evenly matched.

Iraji carefully observed the battlefield situation. Based on the current evenly matched battle, he concluded that it was time to deploy the reserves and launch a general offensive.

He then waved his command flag and dispatched two pre-positioned Savaran heavy cavalry reserve units to launch a fierce attack on the Turan army formation, which was locked in a stalemate.

The torrent of steel carried the flames of war.

Savaran heavy cavalry, with their superior formation and combat skills, broke through the Turan heavy cavalry's formation, bringing an end to this arduous and protracted battle.

The troops moved like a flowing river, their iron torrents rolling on.

Despite their fierce fighting, the Turan Khanate's army was ultimately a peripheral force and could not withstand the onslaught of the Samanid Savaran heavy cavalry. After a hard-fought battle, they suffered a setback and retreated.

The Samanid "Kara" (Persian for vanguard of the army) continued their fierce attack, disrupting the overall war plan of the Turan Khanate by exploiting gaps in the Turan army's formations.

The Turan Khanate's battle plans were disrupted in an instant.

……

Inside the city.

Aknuar continued to command the Khan's personal guard in the siege. Although Farukzad's resistance was tenacious, he could only fight and retreat, and it seemed that the castle in the middle of the river island was about to change hands.

Just then, a messenger from the rear rushed up on horseback to report that the flank was under attack and the battle line was faltering.

"These Persians deserve to go to hell!"

Aknuar was furious. He had never expected that despite his prior planning, the Samanid Empire would turn the tables on him, and the advantage that was within his grasp was now back on the defensive.

However, the steppe Khan, known for the wisdom of his wolf pack, had a backup plan.

While the armies of Saman and Turan were locked in fierce fighting beneath the walls of Otrar, she had already dispatched a highly mobile cavalry force to conduct a long-distance detour and extensive reconnaissance, which precisely outflanked the Iraqi forces.

With Iraqi forces currently shifting positions and gaps appearing, their flanks have become weak, presenting an excellent opportunity to use this surprise force and deliver a fatal blow.

Think of this.

Aknuar smiled smugly and immediately ordered his officers to proceed according to plan. If Iraj was caught off guard and forced to retreat, the advantage in the battle would ultimately belong to the Turan army.

……

On the other side of the battlefield.

Iraqi commanders were leading their troops, advancing methodically and steadily eroding the ranks of the Turan army.

The Savaran heavy cavalry, fully armored and imposing, formed a disciplined and orderly ranks, resembling a surging torrent of steel or a raging wildfire, fully embodying the martial spirit of the Samanid army.

The Turan Khanate also had heavy cavalry. As a nomadic empire on the Eurasian steppe and a Turkic-speaking regime deeply influenced by Persian culture, Turan's heavy cavalry legions were not only large in scale but also renowned for their military exploits, making them a formidable force.

However, when the strong clash, there will always be a winner, and this contest ultimately ended with the retreat of the Turan Khanate.

However, just as Iraj was quite satisfied...

From the flank of the Samanid army came deafening battle cries.

The cunning Turan army launched a surprise flanking attack!

Looking through the observation binoculars, the Turan raiding party, composed of steppe lancers and horse archers, was sweeping in like a brown whirlwind with lightning speed.

The Saman army's flanks were mostly lightly armed cavalrymen on support missions. Their combat skills, equipment, and formations were not as strong as those of the Savaran heavy cavalry, so they were naturally unable to withstand the Turan army's sudden attack and were quickly defeated after a brief resistance.

It must be admitted that the Turan warriors were quite tenacious. Taking advantage of the changing situation, the several Turan heavy cavalry units that had previously fought poorly immediately regrouped and repositioned themselves towards the breakthrough point in order to concentrate their forces and expand their gains.

"Infantry formation, defend!" Iraji decisively issued the order.

A front composed of regular mobilized infantry from the "Sipahi" was quickly deployed to the front.

As the main infantry force of the Samanid Empire's army, these warriors wore turban helmets, iron lamellar armor to protect their torsos, and were equipped with various weapons such as spears, shields, and scimitars.

A forest of spears, the cavalry galloped forward across the grassland;

With shields like walls, the Saman infantry remained as immovable as mountains.

The fierce battle resumed, spear against spear, sword against sword, metal weapons clashing, warhorses neighing. Despite the fierce and bravery of Turan's steppe cavalry, they were no match for the well-trained Saman infantry.

This is the power of infantry.

Even if they are not as well-armored and powerful as the Shaher Guard or the Savaran heavy cavalry; even if they are not as brave and fierce as the Turan cavalry of the steppe; even if they are not as burly and strong as the Breaking Formation heavy infantry...

It could even be said that Iran-Persia, a civilization of cavalry, and the Samanid Empire, a cavalry power, had relatively weak infantry: their soldiers were recruited from commoner young men and women, lacking the physique to lift mountains and the rigorous training of professional warriors, with mediocre weaponry and equipment, and average individual combat skills...

but!

This group of ordinary soldiers, given the brilliant command of an outstanding leader, the inspiration of Khorami's faith, and the profound encouragement of the "Shubi" patriotic ideology...

Therefore, the line they formed remained unbreakable; the unwavering will they displayed remained insurmountable for the enemy.

Charge and resistance clashed fiercely.

The mobilized infantrymen remained steadfastly at their posts, the enemy cavalry charging ahead, many of their comrades falling beside them. The gushing hot urine, exceeding their physical limits, had already soaked through the diapers of the female soldiers, flowing down their trousers like a torrent from the Syr Darya…

With the battle so intense, incontinence among the female soldiers was already inevitable.

However, they remained fearless, steadfast, and full of fighting spirit.

Under Iraj's command, the Saman Empire's army also reacted quickly. Several Savaran heavy cavalry regiments regrouped rapidly, and several horse archer units also joined in. The Saman army was filling the gaps and supporting its allies.

Chapter 344 Time to Counterattack

Thanks to Iraj's brilliant tactics, the meticulous command of the Samanian officers at all levels, and the valiant fighting of the Samanian soldiers, the advantage on the battlefield once again shifted to the Samanian army.

The Turan Khanate's army was now on the defensive, unable to break through enemy lines or win battles. Continuing to engage in a war of attrition with the Samanid army would be extremely difficult, with little chance of victory.

And just then.

Shouts of battle echoed again from behind the Turan Khanate army.

What followed was the sky-covering crimson battle flag. Clearly, this was another counter-encirclement and counter-deployment by the Samanid army. In this battle, the generals of both armies used every strategy and tactic to ensure victory was firmly in their grasp.

"Charge! The Queen's victory guides us! Rustam's courage aids us!"

Bahmanyar took the lead, commanding the Samanian reinforcements in a fierce charge. This legion, composed of Savaran heavy cavalry, Seljuk horse archers, and cavalry from various Turan-Turkic tribes, was filled with soldiers who were full of fighting spirit and ready to die for their cause.

The soldiers of the Turan Khanate were greatly alarmed.

All previous tactical deployments were within the plan and under control. The soldiers knew that Aknuer Khan had a plan in mind, so even when the front line was in danger of collapse many times, the morale of the entire army was not fundamentally shaken.

However, the Saman army's counterattack took all the Turan soldiers by surprise, even catching Aknu'er off guard. She had never anticipated that Farukzad and Iraj would secretly harbor this trump card at the very end.