I was the Queen of Persia

Page 165

Because most of Turan's main force was transferred, those left behind were mostly puppet troops composed of former vassals of the Duchy of Lower Lorraine, who were scattered and stationed in castles and villages throughout the river islands.

It was a chilly dawn.

Achoo!

The puppet army sentries stationed at the coastal outpost wiped their snot from their noses and listlessly stared at the sea. They had been on duty for a long time but were short of food and clothing, and even their pay was being arbitrarily deducted by unscrupulous officers. It was truly a miserable job.

"Damn maggots, may they all go to hell! Damn it, the Flanders City Chamber of Commerce is so rich, these maggots have extorted so much money under various pretexts, and it all went into their own pockets! We conscripts didn't even get a sip of leftover soup!"

The puppet army sentry cursed under his breath.

"Ha! Just you wait! When our own troops return, I'll have no choice but to defect!" he continued to curse in his heart.

at this time.

On the distant horizon, amidst the wispy mist, countless ships of all sizes suddenly appeared. Atop the flagship at the head of the fleet, a silver-white flag fluttered, its enormous cross emblem particularly striking.

It's the forces of the Dawn Crusade; they've fought back!

"My God! Almighty God!" The sentry stared in disbelief, taking a moment to recover. "The Dawn Crusaders are back! Be on guard! Be on guard!"

The commotion caused chaos in the camp, and taking advantage of the confusion, the sentry threw down his spear and ran away.

The Dawn Crusaders' fleet quickly reached the shore, and the soldiers in the cabins rushed out. Taking advantage of the chaos and lack of organized resistance among the puppet army, they achieved a great victory and took control of the coastal villages and fortresses.

This was precisely the tactic devised by Nisa Sahinnian, the military envoy of the Samanid Empire.

She learned from her spies that Turan was diverting troops to conquer Bohemia, leaving the defenses of the lower Rhine coastal region vulnerable. She then decisively urged the Dawn Crusade to launch a counterattack.

Chapter 378 Female Ranger Captain

The North German puppet army stationed along the coast, with its low morale, was powerless to mount a counterattack when the Dawn Crusaders arrived and was quickly routed.

The Dawn Crusaders seized control of the cities of Flanders and joined forces with the local resistance militias.

Cities across Flanders enthusiastically joined the Dawn Crusade's restoration efforts, sending money, food, and supplies. The number of people eager to enlist was even greater, and even large numbers of former German puppet troops who had defected swore allegiance.

With a single call to arms, the Dawn Crusade's strength increased dramatically without expending too much effort.

On the hill.

Nisa Sahinnian, the military envoy of the Saman Empire, and Karithus, the Grand Marshal of the Dawn Crusade, stood before the cliff, gazing at the ever-expanding camp walls, each lost in thought.

Karithus: "This victory is inseparable from your strategic advice, my esteemed lady."

Nisa Sahini: "You flatter me. On the other hand, the nobles and people here are your fellow believers, and they will naturally support your troops in recapturing lost territory."

“Then,” Karithus turned around, his eyes gleaming with intense greed, “I am willing to offer all my jewels and wealth in exchange for you serving under me. Would you be willing?”

Nisa Sahimian smiled charmingly, "Do you think I can't see through your tricks?"

You're clearly just lusting after me. But I'm sorry, we can have some fun, but you want me to abandon my loyalty to the Saman Empire and my allegiance to Empress Shahzani to work for you? No way.

“You have many capable men under your command,” Nisa Sahini said casually. “Besides, in the holy land of Christianity, there’s not much place for a ‘Persian heretic’ like me to fight.”

Carlisle's expression turned cold for a moment, but he quickly regained his smile: "Hehe, in that case, I will take good care of you while you are here."

Nisa Sahimian nodded seductively.

Just then, she felt a strong urge in her body and was eager to absorb the essence of a man to replenish her strength and desire. So she reached out her strong, pretty hand and stroked his stubble-covered cheek.

"Tonight, I would like to invite the Marshal to my tent as a guest..."

"Also, bring five handsome and holy military chaplains with you..."

"If these requirements cannot be met, your troops will lose the favor of the god of victory..."

……

at the same time.

Bohemia, the Sudetenland region.

The Turan army has breached the outer defenses of the Battle Sisters, occupied villages, burned, killed, and looted, and stationed troops to establish outposts and fortifications.

Chagli Teqin rode his sturdy steppe horse, patrolling back and forth triumphantly under the protection of Turan Khan's personal guard cavalry.

While passing through a forest, arrows suddenly shot out from the dense woods. Although the heavily armored Turan Khan's personal guards managed to deflect the arrows with their shields, the Chagli Special Forces were still quite frightened.

As a graceful figure darted about, a clear but decisive voice rang out:

"You butchers! You may breach our first line of defense, but you will never breach our second! Put away your arrogance! Your cavalry cannot stand a chance against our chariot formation!"

Chaglit looked in the direction of the sound and saw a figure moving like the wind, already swiftly reaching the cliff above.

She was a beautiful and agile young female knight-errant: a gray-green hooded cloak covered her body, over which was a brown leather bodysuit; her light green eyes were sharp and alert, and her long brown hair flowed out of the hood, fluttering in the wind.

Thanks to his years of experience hunting and herding on the grasslands, Chaglit's eyesight was also excellent. When he saw the female ranger, his eyes immediately flashed with greed.

"Let the swords decide the outcome of this battle!" Chagli sneered. "But before I kill you, tell me your name!"

"Captain of the Battle Sisters Ranger Squad—Chisevanas!"

After saying this, the female knight-errant disappeared into the jungle behind her.

"Chisevanas? Heh, Avrashiyab's iron cavalry will make you suffer." Chaglit sneered.

……

The Turan army assembled and advanced deep into the territory controlled by the Battle Sisters.

We now need to conquer an important castle, Zola Castle, which is located at a crucial pass. Although the castle is not large, it is strategically located and easy to defend.

Turan's scouts report back.

The Battle Sisters were indeed prepared.

They chained the wagons together, with archers hiding behind them, and combined this with the castle's defensive system, taking advantage of the terrain's undulations. This effectively strengthened their defenses.

This is a common horse-drawn carriage in Bohemia. Due to insufficient equipment, the Battle Sisters collected these farm tools and added thick slats, leaving only a few firing holes for ranged troops to fire.

Despite its crude and simple design, it was quite powerful.

Especially when used properly.

And the one in command was none other than the leader of the rangers—Chisevanas.

The Turans are still launching attacks.

A large number of Germanic puppet troops launched a probing attack, resulting in mountains of corpses.

The mobile Turanian horse archers then pressed forward, attempting to suppress their opponents with their superb archery skills, but due to the terrain and the situation of attack and defense, they also suffered heavy casualties.

"Useless! Deploy our gunpowder weapons!" Chagli commanded.

The Turan army's rocket vehicles were immediately deployed, scattering heavy explosive fire arrows with a range far exceeding that of the Battle Sisters' archers' bows and arrows, and with far greater destructive power.

Explosions rang out one after another, and the wooden chariots were reduced to burning ashes.

"Charge! You bunch of bastards, charge forward and break through their defenses!" Turan, the vanguard commander, was overjoyed and whipped the German cannon fodder soldiers as they charged forward.

"Sisters, hold on! Stop them!"

Chisevana rose from the ashes-covered ground, drew her bow, and fired at the endless stream of Turan soldiers. Every time the bowstring twanged, an enemy soldier would fall to the ground; her arrows never missed their mark.

Her graceful figure flashed left and right, moving back and forth. Even though the defense line had been breached and the front lines had been overwhelmed by the Turan army, she still used the terrain and woodlands for cover and tenaciously fought against the invading enemy.

Suddenly, she felt a dark shadow flash by. Before she could react, a rough noose tightened around her throat. The intense pain and suffocation made her instinctively drop her bow and arrows and start struggling.

Arash!

The Turan cavalryman, gripping the lasso tightly, dragged the female ranger along, howling as he galloped. The jagged stones on the ground tore the ranger's clothes to shreds, leaving bloody scratches.

"boom--!"

The battered and bruised female ranger was thrown in front of the Chagli Special Forces, followed by the bitterness and humiliation of defeat and capture.

“You have won.” Chisevana’s eyes were dull and lifeless. “Now, kill me.”

“Kill you? Heh, it’s not that simple.” Special Agent Chagli sneered with a dark face. “I have a more interesting idea now.”

With a sudden tear, her fair skin, covered in wounds, was exposed to a burning, greedy gaze.

“No…” Chisevana wailed in anguish.

Chapter 379 Hindustan? Coming to cause trouble too?

The Turan army has already achieved a major military breakthrough in Bohemia.

Meanwhile, in Jahan Shahhar, the power center of the Samanid Empire, Shahzani and the Iranian Shahhar's advisors and bureaucrats were also strategizing.

……

A Samanid horse ranch in Khorasan Province.

The oasis grasslands are vast and boundless, and herds of strong and fierce warhorses gallop freely across the riding arena.

"drive--!"

The strong and capable horse handlers, wielding whips and lassos, guided the horses to gallop and roam freely.

"call--"

The lasso flies out frequently, accurately and powerfully controlling the horses that have strayed slightly from the group and guiding them back onto the route.

Just like the Iranian epic hero, Rustam, who was brave and decisive.

Under the command of the horse steward, the horses returned smoothly to their respective stables and entered the tall Persian archway in batches.

"Aga Sadiq. How is it? What's the quality of these warhorses?"

An official dressed in an elegant long robe with a front opening walked over, wearing an elaborate East Persian-style Namadi felt hat, indicating his higher rank.

"Greetings, Lord Halege." Sadiq bowed with his hand on his chest. "These are all excellent warhorses, surpassing Rustam's divine steed, Lahsh."

"With a powerful stride and strong bones, he can wear heavy horse armor and carry valiant Iranian warriors..."

"They are fearless in the face of death, courageous and determined, and fully capable of taking on the heavy responsibility of charging into battle..."

"Moreover, they strictly adhered to military discipline, marching through several Farsakhs, yet remaining within the predetermined route..."

Sadiq summarized the excellence of this batch of "Rahsh" type heavy warhorses.

"Yes. More importantly, the herd's population is also steadily increasing. Praise be to Her Majesty Shahzani for her brilliance and authority! It is because of Her Majesty's encouragement of scholarship and protection of scholars that outstanding wise men and scholars have been able to unleash their academic talents," said the horse steward, Halij.

"Yes, praise our Shahsha."

“I have a cousin who works as an official at an iron ore mine in Nishapur. According to him, the mining machinery and techniques promoted by scholars have also become widespread there, and mining output has increased sevenfold.”

“My brother is one of the chief armorers of the Jahanshahr state-run armory. According to him, the production of armor and weapons in the various armories of Khorasan Province has increased more than fivefold. This is not only due to the surge in iron ore mining, but also to the improvements made by scholars in forging techniques.”

"Speaking of scholars, my cousin works at the Wisdom Palace Academy in Jahanshahr. By God I have never seen such a large group of scholars, and the library there has more than ten times the size of the former Bukhara Library!"

"In short, praise to Queen Shahzani! Praise be to Allah! Under her rule, our nation stands at the pinnacle of the world!"

The two chatted and laughed as they walked, discussing the current golden age of the Samanid Empire.

“Oh right, Sadar. I’ve heard that recently, the number of warhorses and equipment being transferred from the stables and armories of various government offices to the army has been steadily increasing. Is our great Empress preparing to crush those Turanians in one fell swoop?” Sadid asked.

“Yes, but not entirely,” Halage said. “There are reports that the southeastern states have also been making troop movements recently.”

"The southeast? Could it be... Hindustan?" Sadiq asked, somewhat surprised.

“That’s right, it’s Hindustan. According to caravans that have been there, the kingdoms and kingdoms there have been unified under the power of a queen,” Halage said.

……

Yes, the situation in Hindustan has changed significantly in recent years.

The Nassak intelligence officers of the Samanid Empire had already reported this situation to Queen Shahzani.

Currently, Shahzani is aware of the following:

After the fall of the Ghaznavid dynasty in 1003 AD (372 AD in the Persian calendar), the remaining Ghaznavid people fled to northern India in large numbers.

Over time, this group of Ghaznavid remnants actually formed a significant military and political group. Subsequently, they played a prominent role in the power struggles among the northern Indian kingdoms.

The remnants of Ghaznavidy were losers in the competition for the greater Iranian region, but in the relatively underdeveloped Indian region, they were an invincible force.

With their relatively advanced Turkic-Persian tactics, organization, and military technology, they overthrew the kings of Ghazalco, conquered the rich Ganges River basin, and even extended their reach to the Bengal region, destroying the local Pala dynasty.

Ultimately, they destroyed the Buddhist temples in Kanauj (Kannauj) and established a new power center on the ruins of the old city, their territory stretching across northern India. The military of the Samanid Empire then referred to it as the "Kanauj Dynasty."

And its ruler was none other than Rajana, a former general of the Ghaznavid dynasty who had clashed with the Samanid army several times.