I was the Queen of Persia

Page 85

“Good.” Shahzani nodded in satisfaction. “Half a month is enough time to occupy the southern swamps of Iraq and bring these Shiites under my authority. Issue the order to gather supplies and prepare for the northward advance!”

"We will obey Your Majesty's command!" the aide replied, bowing.

……

at the same time.

The Caliph's Palace in Baghdad.

Mustafa also learned that the Samanid Persian army had captured Basra and was preparing to advance north. Although he had anticipated that the Persians would attack from the south, he had not expected the Persian army to advance so quickly, capturing the important southern city in just a few days.

This left him caught off guard and forced him to adopt a defensive posture.

"Damn it! What are those idiots good for?!" Mustafa looked at the document presented by the messenger and tore it to shreds in anger. "So many men, and they couldn't even defend against a mere few thousand Persians!"

The close advisor, Gulai, said from the side: “Great faithful leader, now that Basra has fallen and Samara is besieged by mobs, the situation is critical. I think it is time to end the ‘holy war’ in Jagira and order the army to withdraw immediately.”

“Hmm, you have a point.” Mustafa pondered for a moment and nodded slowly. “However, our war in Jagila is progressing rapidly, and we have already captured a large number of towns. If we hastily recall the army now, it will probably demoralize our brave Muslim warriors.”

Mustafa had previously promised that after capturing Jagila, he would allow the "jihadists" to plunder land, treasure, and slaves. If he recalled them to Baghdad now, Mustafa was genuinely worried that these impoverished fanatics might take extreme actions, or even rebel against him.

After all, most of these "jihadists" are either bandits, rebels, extremist sects, or fanatics from nomadic Bedouin tribes, and they are not so easily controlled by order.

Therefore, Mustafa preferred to let this group of "extremely unstable factors" spill out and let the trouble flow elsewhere.

“But wouldn’t that leave your defenses in Iraq very weak? How will you protect the sacred capital and the many devout believers?” Gulai cautiously reminded him.

“I have my own plan,” Mustafa said with a sneer.

It turned out that Mustafa, through repeated weighing of the strength of his opponents, discovered that the peasant uprising near Samara was the weakest and lacked a tight organization and authoritative leadership.

Therefore, he quickly assembled the limited troops at his disposal, appointed trusted generals and soldiers, and concentrated on suppressing the rebel army, eliminating one threat first.

As for Shahzani, who was about to head north, he believed that the swamps in southern Iraq were wide enough to stop the Persian army's advance, and that the local Shia believers and swamp Arabs would also resist the Persian army.

……

Vast reed beds conceal crisscrossing waterways, flocks of waterbirds skim across the reeds, the thatched huts of the Madan people (swamp Arabs) float on the lake, and boats come and go in an endless stream.

This is the swampy region of southern Iraq, the cradle of ancient Middle Eastern civilization, where almost all of the earliest city-states, the earliest states, the earliest writing systems, and the earliest forms of deity worship in the Middle East and even the world were born…

However, danger also lurked. Arabs, Persians, and even Du Huan, a Tang Dynasty traveler who came here, all mentioned that "many people suffer from malaria and dysentery, and within a year, five out of ten die."

Shahzani led his troops into this ancient and mysterious fertile land. The warm and humid climate, the winding waterways, and the reed marshes that obstructed the view became the biggest obstacles to the army's advance, because the Iranian soldiers were used to marching and fighting on land and were not very adapted to marching by boat.

However, Shahzani had made preparations. Back in Khuzestan province, she had her soldiers practice adapting to waterborne marches and prepared a large quantity of medicines to relieve heatstroke and treat dysentery. After capturing Basra, she recruited a large number of craftsmen and worked day and night to build many dugout canoes.

"The troops split up and marched separately."

Shahzani ordered his generals: "But do not disperse too much. Keep the formations within half a Farsah interval, use the battle flag as a communication signal, and support each other immediately in case of sudden battle."

"We will obey your orders," the generals bowed and said.

The Saman army spread out in formation, advancing in alternating cover. Shahzani led the most elite Shahri Guards, advancing along the central route. Rows of boats on the water were lined up one after another, yet in perfect order.

But at that moment, Shahzani sensed that there seemed to be enemy activity lurking around. She quickly drew her warhammer and scanned the reeds, and sure enough, she found a faint movement hidden behind the grass.

"Something's up! Be on alert!" Shahzani decisively gave the order, while looking towards the reeds and shouting in Arabic, "Who goes there? Come out!"

Chapter 197 An Unexpected Acquaintance

However, all that came flying at them were sharp arrows.

Shahzani reacted swiftly and decisively; even her pregnancy could not diminish her fierceness. She drew her round shield, engraved with Persian geometric patterns, and blocked the flying arrows.

Meanwhile, the female guards of Shaher were naturally prepared, and their sturdy armor was enough to withstand this level of hidden arrows.

"Surround them! Attack!" Shahzani gave the enemy no chance and quickly ordered a counterattack.

Several Samanian armies quickly constructed an impenetrable encirclement, launching a fierce and orderly barrage of attacks on the enemy in the reed marshes, gradually tightening the encirclement and trapping the ambushing enemy like turtles in a jar.

"Let me lead the warriors to charge ahead!" His beloved general, Bahraim, took the lead, gripping his bow in one hand and a sharp axe in the other, urging the soldiers rowing the boats to move faster.

Under her command, a large number of soldiers advanced in an orderly manner to encircle, outflank, cut off retreat routes, and suppress the attackers with volley fire, quickly rendering them incapable of retaliating. The Samanid army launched a pincer attack, repeatedly ordering the enemy to surrender in the Arabic Mashrik dialect.

The attackers slowly raised their hands, stepped out of the reeds, and revealed their true forms.

They are a group of dark-skinned Zanchi people (Black Africans).

There were men and women, all of them naked from the waist up, with only a few strips of linen cloth wrapped around their waists that did not reach their knees. Some of them were holding bows and arrows, while others were holding javelins.

"Stop the attack!" Shahzani waved her hand, stopping Bahramu and Saman's soldiers, because she realized that these "attackers" did not seem to be Mustafa's soldiers, but rather armed civilians scattered here.

She summoned several female guards who were fluent in the Zanzibar language, and they approached her slowly while striking a friendly pose.

"Who are you? Why are you here?" Shahzani stared at the terrified Sanji people, her gaze sweeping over them with a stern and intimidating intensity...

After a series of exchanges involving translation and gestures, we finally managed to understand some of the situation.

It turns out that these people came from Zanzibar and other places in East Africa. They were kidnapped and sold into slavery in Basra by Arab merchants. Later, slave owners took them away and prepared to send them to slave camps near Baghdad to work as forced laborers for Mustafa.

However, a rebel army later attacked the slave ships, led by a white woman. The rebels killed the slave owners and guards, freed them, and recruited them into their ranks.

They mistakenly believed that the Saman army was Mustafa's troops, and thus attacked the Saman army without knowing the truth.

“I think I understand the plight of these Sanchi people.” Shahzani nodded slightly after hearing this, then turned to the Saman officer beside her and said, “Give them rations and let them go. Also, make them understand that they shouldn’t ‘play with fire and get burned’ again!”

The officer, fluent in the Zanzibar language, accepted the order.

But that's it.

A young Zanzi man suddenly knelt down with a thud, crawled desperately to the tips of Shahzani's boots, and mumbled a long string of words.

Several female guards of Shaher instantly drew their weapons, ready to punish his insolence, but were stopped by Shahzani waving her hand.

“What did he say?” Shahzani looked at the officer from before.

The officer leaned forward, listened intently for a moment with a frown, and then reported, "He said that you are their mistress's queen. They failed to recognize your identity and rashly attacked your army, a grave crime that even the gods would not forgive."

"I am their mistress's queen? Who is that?" Shahzani frowned slightly upon hearing this news, feeling quite puzzled.

Her first thought was of Shahinian, her capable and loyal sister. But wasn't Shahinian currently in Jajira in the north? Could it be that she had made rapid progress and established a base in southern Iraq?

He smiled and shook his head, ruling out that answer.

“It’s Polodina, the Slavic bodyguard of the Bazargan merchant caravan,” said Officer Saman.

"So it was her." Shahzani's eyes lit up upon hearing this. "Ask her where she is? How is she doing?"

Initially, the Caliph instigated rebel forces to attack westward-bound caravans. Most of the caravan women, including Polodina, were reduced to slaves, bound in chains. Shahzani initially thought she had been reduced to a plaything for others' pleasure and felt sorry for her future and fate.

Unexpectedly, this young woman from Ross miraculously escaped and even established a preliminary business in this dangerous and unfamiliar place.

Think of this.

Shahzani decided to summon his subordinate, so he sent the Sanji man back to report the news and ordered the entire army to temporarily halt and take a short rest.

Several hours passed.

From behind the dense reeds opposite, the faint sound of oars could be heard. Soon after, several dugout canoes slowly appeared on the rippling blue water.

The rowers were several young Arab girls from the swamps. They wore long robes commonly seen on women in southern Iraq, stood barefoot on the edge of the boat, and slowly propelled it by pole.

The people on the boat were rebel soldiers of various skin colors and attire, of diverse races, and equipped with all sorts of gear. Some were even only wearing a loincloth, their breasts and nipples left uncovered.

Shahzani glanced around and immediately saw that familiar face.

"I would die for the great Queen!"

Polokina, dressed in a southern Iraqi robe and sandals, resembled a woman from the swampy Arab tribe. However, when you look at her blonde hair, green eyes, and fair skin, which are typical of Eastern European Rus's features, there is a strange and incongruous beauty.

She hurried forward and prostrated herself before Shahzani: "Your most loyal servant has failed to fulfill his mission and preserve his honor, and has been forced to become an outlaw here. Please punish me!"

“Rise, Polodina.” Shahzani smiled and helped her up. “You have done well, I will not blame you. I swear by the just Hu Da, the culprits are those infidels who have seized Baghdad! They openly provoked an unwarranted war and launched a surprise attack.”

Upon hearing this, Polodina understood Shahzani's magnanimity and kindness, and was immediately filled with gratitude: "Thank you, Lord! I am willing to go through fire and water for you, and charge into battle!"

“I think we should get down to business,” Shahzani said. “How many troops do you have? Where are your camps located? How do you usually handle supplies?”

“Please allow me to lead the way, Your Majesty,” said Polodina. “We are outnumbered and outgunned, like weak sheep surrounded by wolves. Therefore, I must remain extremely cautious at all times. Our camp is set up in a secluded area deep in the swamp, where Mustafa’s hounds will have a hard time finding it. Your Majesty, please follow me, and I will lead you to my humble abode.”

Shahzani then ordered his army to set off, following Polodina's rebels to their temporary refuge.

On the journey.

The water surface shimmered, and the banks remained lush and green.

Shahzani took off her armored boots, rolled up her trousers, and frolicked barefoot in the water, letting the cool river water soak her feet to relieve the summer heat of southern Iraq.

"Polodina, how did you escape from that hellhole? And how did you find refuge in this remote swamp? Tell me the story of your escape." The Queen turned to look at Polodina.

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Polodina also took off her sandals and sat down next to Shahzani to play in the water. “Let me recount what happened…”

Chapter 198 Polokina recounts her adventures

Swamps in southern Iraq.

As the Samanian warships advanced in formation, Polodina recounted her ordeal to Shahzani.

“At the time, we were ordered to escort a caravan through Armenia to the Roman provinces of Cappadocia and Halsian. However, while passing through the foothills of the Zagros Mountains, we were attacked by a group of unidentified armed men,” Polodina said.

“That’s right, they were Musayab’s gang, Mustafa’s accomplices, and they have now been wiped out and defeated,” Shahzani said.

“Yes, I only found out about it later. After the attack, although I fought back fiercely, I was ultimately outnumbered and shamefully became a slave. My Novgorod helmet and Rus’ scale armor were stripped off, and I was eventually stripped naked and taken to the slave market,” Polodina said.

At this point, she lowered her head and remained silent for a moment, then raised her emerald green eyes and began to recount the most exciting part of the story:

"I and other female captives were taken to a slave market in Baghdad, which was one of the largest slave markets in Asia at the time. There were Turks, Caucasians, Indians, Romans, Andalusians, Abyssinians, Zanchis, and all kinds of people. Beautiful female slaves were especially popular, and the buyers were all high-ranking officials and nobles."

“We were pushed onto a tall hawking platform. For each female slave sold, the slave trader—an old Iraqi man with a white goatee—would tear off the cloak covering them to display the ‘goods.’ The buyers below the platform shouted at them, creating a cacophony of noise. The slave trader kept striking the copper plaque in his hand with a copper hammer to maintain order in the marketplace.”

"Finally, it was my turn. The slave trader ripped off my covering and shouted, 'Come and see! This Sakkariba (Slavic slave) is fair-skinned, beautiful, and strong. Buying her is definitely worth more than her price!' As soon as he finished speaking, the eyes of the crowd were instantly focused on me, from my face, to my neck, to my chest, to my stomach, to my private parts, to my thighs, to my ankles, leaving no place unexamined."

"I naturally disliked the piercing gazes of the crowd and was figuring out how to escape when I suddenly heard an argument in the crowd. It turned out that two of Mustafa's trusted officers were arguing over the issue of seizing slaves. They both wanted to buy me, and the price kept rising from five hundred dinars to one thousand dinars..."

"I realized my chance had come, so I used my words to sow discord and intensify their rivalry. Their conflict escalated completely, from arguing and insults to a public brawl, and the scene descended into chaos. Just then, a sandstorm swept through Baghdad, plunging the city into darkness and further disrupting the order. This was divine intervention! I seized the opportunity to break free of my bonds, incite the other slaves, and we escaped."

"But the other slaves weren't so lucky; they were captured by slave traders and taken back. I, on the other hand, was blessed by God and escaped Baghdad."

This is definitely an "Escape from Baghdad" scenario.

"So, you went to great lengths to get to this remote place?" Shahzani asked.

“Yes.” Polodina nodded. “But it wasn’t so easy, because at that time, I had nothing left and was constantly threatened by pursuers.”

At this point, Polodina began to recount the most bizarre part of the entire story.

"I concealed my whereabouts and fled to Madain, south of Baghdad. Since I was completely naked, I took advantage of the darkness to hide in a nearby bathhouse. I was planning my next move in a dark and secluded corner of the bathhouse when a female relative of a Mustafa officer, dressed in a black robe that covered her entire body, came to bathe surrounded by female slaves..."

“I have a pretty good idea of ​​what’s going to happen next,” Shahzani said. “You managed to disguise yourself as this officer’s wife and escape successfully?”

“Yes,” Polodina nodded, “but it was entirely a coincidence and an accident.”

“Oh? Tell me about it,” Shahzani gestured.

Polokina continued her story.

“I hid in the darkness, spying from afar. The female slaves dispersed to get their toiletries, leaving only the mistress in the bath. She swam in the water for a moment, then suddenly began to thrash violently, and then lay still. Curiosity drove me to sneak over and check on her, and guess what?”

"She drowned herself?" Shahzani asked.

"Yes."

Polodina shrugged: "At that time, I realized that I was in great danger: who could prove that I didn't kill her? Once her female slaves returned and found that something was wrong, they would definitely have the scene sealed off and a full search conducted, and then I would have no way to escape. What's more, my identity was that of an escaped female prisoner of war."

"Haha! Hmm, I got it. Then you just pretend to be her, put on her black burqa, and get away with it without anyone noticing." Shahzani almost burst out laughing when she heard this ridiculous plot.

"You're right."

Polodina continued, “I decided to take the risk and prayed to the gods for help. The slave girls returned, and because the bathroom was dimly lit at night, and slaves often dared not look directly at their masters, they were unable to expose me. Thanks to my years of traveling with Bazargan, I had a basic understanding of several languages ​​and had met all sorts of people, which enabled me to play different roles. I tried my best to act like an overbearing master, ordering the slaves around, and thank God, no one noticed anything amiss until the bath was over.”

“Fortunately, Lady Luck is on your side,” Shahzani said. “Continue.”

Polodina continued, “After my bath, I put on the black burqa of the Caliphate women. You know, this kind of cage that binds women often covers the whole body completely, leaving only a net over the eyes.”

Shahzani added, “Of course I know that this burqa was originally designed by extremely conservative religious figures to confine women, but it was not something to be encouraged by enlightened and tolerant rulers. When I was the Khadhuda of Transoxiana, I ordered a ban on women wearing the extremely conservative burqa, and after becoming Queen, I strictly prohibited it throughout the country. However, Mustafa's Caliphate adheres to extreme religious doctrines, thus binding almost all Iraqi women into this black cage.”

Polodina nodded: "Yes, that's right. But in that critical moment, this 'cage' unexpectedly became my talisman. Once I put it on, no one could know who was inside. So, with their help, I rode on a donkey and was led back to the mansion by several Sanji maids, and successfully entered the inner chambers. This officer Mustafa had several wives, but they all lived separately, and I was fortunate enough to keep my identity hidden. At this moment, I pondered how to make good use of this identity."

Chapter 199 The Queen specifically requested a "burqa".

"Wait a minute, let me think about it." Shahzani lightly stroked his chin. "I think you found the right opportunity to kill that Mustafa officer, thereby forcing all the servants to flee with you, right?"