I was the Queen of Persia

Page 43

Judge: No.

Drunkard: I basked in the sun a little longer. Does that mean I'm violating God's sacred commandment?

Judge: No.

Drunkard: So why should I be punished for drinking some fruit juice that has been fermented in the sun?

Judge: Wait, I also have a few questions for you.

Drunkard: Please speak, sir.

Judge: If I splash some water on you, will you get hurt?

Drunkard: No.

Judge: If I throw some dirt on you again, will you get hurt?

Drunkard: No.

Judge: If I let you sunbathe a little more, will you get hurt?

Drunkard: No.

Judge: If I were to hit you with a brick made from a mixture of water and soil that has been dried in the sun, would you be bleeding from your head?

The drunkard stammered: Yes.

The judge nodded: "In that case, you should be punished for your alcoholism."

Chapter 95 The Mordard Mutiny (3)

Outside Bukhara, at the underground meeting place of the Arslan Yaru Group.

"Commander-in-Chief, something terrible has happened! The rebellion in Naheshab has been quelled, and Mullah Muhammad Nadan has been executed!" A trusted guard rushed into the hall and told Arslan the devastating news.

"Report! The uprisings in Debussy, Kerminie and other cities have been quelled! Shahzani is mobilizing troops and heading towards Bukhara!" Another guard rushed in, speaking rapidly.

"Oh God! What should we do?" The officials present were shocked upon hearing the news.

Arslan Yaru, clearly not expecting the situation to take such a sharp turn for the worse, suddenly stood up from his seat and paced back and forth anxiously.

"Our retreat has been blocked. The only option now is to stage a coup and overthrow Montahir!" After a long silence, Arslan Yaru stopped and said in a deep voice.

“We are willing to follow in your footsteps!” Hassan Ibn Taq, the deputy, immediately stepped forward to express his opinion.

All the officials present had something on them that Arslan Yaru had in his hands. In short, they were already tied to the rebel group's war machine and had no choice but to agree, seeing that they had no other way out.

With Arslan Yaru's authorization, the rebel group hastily sent out pre-written letters of rebellion to the Ghulam guards in various battalions of Bukhara.

They also attempted to send rebellious letters to the troops outside Beijing, urging them to turn their forces around and attack Shahzani. But this was all in vain.

……

On the 2nd of Mordad in the Persian calendar, which corresponds to July 24, 1001 AD, the flames of rebellion were finally ignited.

Upon receiving orders from Arslan Yaru, the Ghulam Guards stationed in various districts and counties of Bukhara launched a full-scale attack on government offices, city walls, fortresses, and watchtowers.

In the sweltering heat of midsummer, Bukhara was suddenly plunged into chaos and slaughter. The entire city was shrouded in thick smoke and filled with the stench of blood.

at the same time.

The loyalist troops under Shahzani's command have swiftly advanced to the outskirts of Bukhara, on the banks of the Muryan River.

"Khadhuda, all the city gates of Bukhara have been taken over by the rebels," Shahinien rode up and reported the rebellion's progress to Shahzani.

"The situation is urgent. Shahini, immediately organize the siege according to the plan and deployment!" Shahzani decisively ordered.

The Samanid army advanced from multiple directions, besieging all the city gates and walls of Bukhara, and then launched an offensive.

……

Arslan Yaru's rebel army has already stormed the Dar Mehr Gate and Dar Rafshan Gate, which connect the inner city, and is advancing into the inner city of Arg, approaching the Saman royal castle.

But to his surprise, the several Ghulam guards protecting the Bukhara Palace did not obey his orders and rebel.

In contrast, these loyal slave warriors, organized by Minister Parviz and officer Ishk Berg, formed ranks and stood ready for battle.

"God above! You ungrateful devils! You wicked traitors!" Ishk Beg stood at the front of the battle and shouted sternly.

"Heh heh, God only bestows power and divine light upon the strong!" Arslan Yaru said without changing his expression.

He rode his warhorse forward a few steps and shouted, "The authority of the Samanid family is like a flickering flame, about to be extinguished! Only a strong and powerful ruler can save God and the cause of Iran! And I am the one who will lead the nation to revival!"

He roared, pointed his sword, and commanded the rebel army to attack the imperial guards.

The sounds of clashing weapons and shouts of battle were incessant.

Although the Ghulam Guard, which was escorting the emperor, was small in number and outnumbered, it still fought tenaciously against the rebel army under the command of Ishk Beg.

……

Night had fallen over Bukhara.

Outside the city, Shahzani's loyalist army was concentrating its forces to attack several key gates.

"Warriors! Hold the line! After the Commander-in-Chief ascends the throne, he will bestow titles and ranks upon you!" Hassan Ibn Taq stood on the city wall, brandishing his sword and surveying the surroundings, shouting to boost morale.

However, such resistance was futile in the face of Shahzani's powerful offensive.

The city gate with its protruding arch was breached, and the Samanid soldiers who came to the king's aid shouted slogans as they charged in.

Shahzani personally led the Qadhuda Women's Guard, charging ahead, and wherever the iron cavalry passed, the rebels were harvested and felled like wheat.

Shahzani was also very anxious. She knew that time was of the essence! Every moment of delay would increase the danger facing the future of the Samanid nation.

“Kadehuda, that hypocrite plotting rebellion, is right ahead!” Sahini pointed ahead.

Shahzani looked over and saw Hassan ibn Taq in retreat, but still fighting desperately against the advancing counter-insurgency army.

Clearly, they were unwilling to let the loyalist army pass through easily, so they were still putting up a stubborn resistance, simply to buy time for Arslan Yaru.

“That venomous snake lurking in the shadows,” Shahzani cursed, then gestured to the female guards beside her, “Warriors, follow me, charge!”

As soon as the words were spoken, the sound of orderly iron hooves rang out, and the female warriors, clad in armor and armed with weapons, charged towards the rebel army like a raging fire.

Faced with such a powerful offensive, the rebels could no longer hold out and scattered in disarray. Hassan ibn Tak was killed by Shahzani after five rounds of fierce fighting.

With the obstacles cleared, Shahzani continued to command the army as they advanced into the inner city.

……

In front of the grand gates of the palace.

Ishk Beg has been killed in battle, and the Ghulam Guards protecting him have been repeatedly defeated by the rebels.

The remaining imperial guards retreated into the palace and continued their fierce resistance. The loyal eunuchs, female slaves, and Bandagang slaves in the palace also took up arms to resist, but it was clear to everyone that they could not hold out for much longer.

"Hahaha! Warriors, keep charging! Whoever captures Montahir will be credited with the greatest victory!" Arslan Yaru shouted, raising his sword high.

But that's it.

Behind the rebels, the clarion call of justice suddenly resounded.

A deadly arrow pierced the night sky and penetrated Arslan Yaru's armor.

“This…is impossible…I…am the Shah!” Arslan Yaru, with an incredulous expression, shouted a few words on his deathbed before falling heavily from his horse and going to meet Allah.

The Samanid army, which came to the aid of the king, was unstoppable. In a short period of time, they formed an encirclement and surrounded the rebel army.

Shahzani, mounted on her warhorse, surveyed the rebel soldiers within the encirclement with imposing authority.

"The despicable traitors have been executed. Everyone, lay down your weapons immediately. Otherwise, Hu Da's wrath will burn you all to ashes!"

Her expression was stern, and her words carried an undeniable force.

The outcome is already decided; any further resistance will not change the established facts.

The rebels dropped their weapons, knelt down, and surrendered to the valiant female warrior.

……

公元1001年7月24日到25日，即波斯历莫尔达德月的2日到3日，以图谋篡权为目标的莫尔达德月兵变，最终以阿尔斯兰·亚鲁的兵败被杀、莎赫扎妮的胜利平叛而告终。

Chapter 96 Deathbed Abdication

After suppressing the Moldad rebellion, Shahzani, through the introduction of the palace servants, entered the palace and met Montahir.

"Your Majesty, the King of Kings and the Center of the Universe, I, a loyal subject of the Samanid dynasty, pay my respects to the Great King. I have arrived late to rescue you, allowing the shameful traitor to ignite the flames of rebellion. I have failed in my duty of protection, and I beg Your Majesty's punishment," Shahzani said, bowing.

“Cough cough… In the name of Almighty God… You have come just in time.” Montahir lay on the silk couch, raising his hand with difficulty in response.

Shahzani bowed again and continued, "This long-planned rebellion was a shameful conspiracy orchestrated by Arslan Yaru and Hassan ibn Tak. Now, these two villains have been punished for their crimes."

“Hmph…this despicable scum! They must go to hell like Alptegin, Faik, and Simgul! They are the demon Ahriman…cough cough cough cough!” Montahir became agitated.

Shahzani looked up and gestured to the palace servant beside him to help him lie down.

"Rest assured, the rebels have been defeated, the ringleaders of the rebellion have been executed, and the glorious city of Bukhara still basks in your majesty," she said.

“That’s good…that’s good.” Montahir’s pained and solemn expression turned into a hint of relief. “I appoint you as Sipahi-Salar, to take command of the national army…you must nip the root of the rebellion in the bud.”

"I will obey Your Majesty's decree." Shahzani bowed again and withdrew from the palace.

With her formidable strength and righteous act of serving the king, Shahzani's prestige continued to rise, and there was no one in the court or government who could rival her.

She carried out a large-scale purge of the officers and officials involved in the rebellion.

Members of the Arslan Yaru Group were either executed, imprisoned, or stripped of their official positions. Thousands of people were implicated, and this once powerful group was uprooted in just a few weeks.

Montahir's days were numbered, and the next Samanid ruler had already been decided.

……

August 19, 1001 AD, the 28th of Mordad in the Persian calendar.

Montahir, the restorer of the Samanid dynasty, reached the end of his life.

The magnificent Bukhara Palace was shrouded in an atmosphere of sorrow. Officials, concubines, their families, servants, and slaves all wept bitterly.

"Friends... do not grieve for me, all of this is God's arrangement." On his deathbed, Montahir murmured softly, having already accepted life and death.

"Your Majesty... Waaah!"

"Your Majesty... Waaah!"

The concubines knelt before the bed, their hair disheveled and feet bare, wailing and weeping. They did not know what fate awaited them after the king's departure.

Montahir stretched out his withered but broad hands and gently stroked the cheeks of his beloved concubines. Hot tears dripped onto his fingertips.

He ordered his servants to bring silk threads and distribute them to the concubines one by one.

"Iranian women should take pride in their self-reliance. After I die, you must support yourselves and live comfortably... Lady Shahzani is a prime example," the king said earnestly.

The concubines sobbed as they accepted the silk thread and withdrew.

Montahir then summoned all civil and military officials.

“I was born in a chaotic world and have devoted my life to the revival of the Samanid family and the Iranian state. However, before the revival is even half completed, I am about to go to Allah’s Paradise,” Montahir lamented.

"Whatever Your Majesty commands, we are willing to give our lives!" the officials kowtowed in unison.

“After my death, the country cannot be without a leader. The princes of Saman are too young to inherit the heavy responsibility, so a noble and outstanding person is needed to rule the country,” Montahir said.

The officials stood respectfully, awaiting the king's final instructions.

"Lady Shahzani, you will succeed me to the throne."

Montahir solemnly said, “You are an outstanding lady, far more courageous than Guldar Farid, far more skilled in martial arts than Gulshaspu, and far more cunning than Guldia. Allah has bestowed upon you the ‘farr’ to rule over all people. You will surely achieve the great cause of restoring Iran, but I also ask you for one thing.”

“Your Majesty, please speak,” Shahzani stepped forward and bowed.

“I implore you to treat the Samanid royal family well after you ascend the throne,” Montahir said.

"Anyone who rules the world and is the ruler of a country,"

"The wise choice is to take the middle road."

"Let reason guide your heart,"

"Don't be indecisive or domineering."

This king-warrior, with his poetic temperament, immediately recited a philosophical poem.

Shahzani agreed.