manynovel Page 152
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Shahzani immediately realized that this suggestion, which appeared to be "mutually beneficial," actually harbored malicious intentions.
Due to historical reasons, the northwestern part of the Samanid Empire bordered Armenia. The northwestern provinces, such as Azerbaijan, were also home to large numbers of Christians of Armenian and other ethnic groups. If the central government reduced its power projection in this region, the Eastern Romans could easily take advantage of the situation and invade.
At that time, the Eastern Roman Empire could use its pretense of being the "defender of the Christian Church" to force the "buffer state" Armenia to completely side with them, incite the Christians in the northwestern provinces to become disaffected, and even cause the Alan Kingdom, the Christian kingdom of eastern Iran that had just sided with the Samanid Empire, to change sides again.
Shahzani couldn't possibly be unaware of these principles.
Then she smiled slightly, and immediately launched into a string of witty remarks, leaving the cunning Eastern Romans speechless.
Chapter 351 The Turans' westward invasion?
The diplomatic banquet at the palace continued, with the melodious sounds of the santur, the beautiful chorus of the nay, and the captivating Persian chants of the court poets. Veiled Persian dancers swayed gracefully on the central carpet, their allure captivating yet heroic.
Taking a sip of the jewel-colored fermented fruit juice, Shahzani said calmly:
“Your Excellency makes a good point. Iran and Roum (Rome) have a long history of friendly relations, and we are willing to open the door to friendship. However, in the face of a huge threat from the north, we must remain vigilant at all times.”
She looked at the Eastern Roman envoy, her tone becoming more forceful:
"Your Excellency should be aware of the immense harm that the nomadic horsemen of the north have inflicted upon you throughout history. Whether it be the brutal and bloodthirsty Attila the Huns, the Avars who demanded annual tributes from you, or the Magyars and Pechenegs who swept across your northern borders..."
With a flick of the tongue and a puff of the lips, the devastation left behind by nomadic barbarians is vividly portrayed:
"Think of your country! Think of your civilization! Think of those rich villages reduced to ruins under the iron heel of the Scythians. Think of the once great and glorious city of Rome, where is it now?..."
The powerful and resounding words intimidated the Eastern Roman envoys, who retreated in disarray.
At this point, Shahzani changed the subject.
"Therefore! I will deploy a large number of troops in Azerbaijan Province and Shirvan Province, so that the powerful army of justice can guard the border (Dalband) where the Turan people are heading south, and stop the nomadic barbarians from destroying the civilized world! I believe your country can understand my measures."
The Eastern Roman envoy was speechless and could only repeatedly agree.
Of course, Shahzani was not aggressive. While adhering to her principles, she also agreed to expand trade with the Eastern Roman Empire, including increasing the number of caravans and extending the opening hours of border markets.
at this time.
A Nassak, carrying a secret messenger, strode quickly through the Iwane-style gate, followed the outer path, weaving through glazed tile columns and niches, and casually approached the Queen, presenting her with an urgent military dispatch—
"The Turan Khanate army launched a counter-offensive on the Volga River and recaptured the city of Adil!"
original.
Turan's army, which attacked the Syr Darya region, did not deploy all its elite forces. Just as the fierce battle of Otrar was taking place, Aknu'er keenly sensed the changing winds on the battlefield and swiftly dispatched several Tuman (ten thousand households) to attack the lower reaches of the Ad River to the west.
The Turan cavalry's speed of advance across the steppe was unmatched. They rallied tribes and gathered troops, quickly approaching the city of Ader. With the support of skilled engineers, they could rapidly construct siege weapons on the spot, swiftly defeating the unprepared Saman defenders. After this initial victory, they consolidated their forces to expand their gains, ultimately driving the Samanid army out of the lower Ader River region.
This is undoubtedly bad news.
Shahzani felt a sudden tightness in her chest.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Roman envoy below had been observing the Empress's expression. Seeing her serious face, he seized the opportunity to ask, "Your Majesty, do you need any support?"
“No need,” Shahzani said calmly, her expression unreadable. “The war is progressing smoothly. Please! Let us drink this fine nectar for peace and friendship!”
……
After the meeting concluded and all the envoys were escorted by guards to the post station to rest, Shahzani summoned the Diwan ministers and announced the war situation in the Adshui region.
"With the fall of Adal, the road north to the Bulgar Khanate is blocked, and the Ishtar Holy Fire Force, trapped there, is in a very bad situation!" some Saman ministers said.
“Ishtarkhri is secondary; I believe that with her wisdom and will, she is capable of protecting the entire army. But I am more suspicious that the Turan Khanate has ulterior motives,” Shahzani said.
A new scheme? What could it be? The civil and military officials looked at each other in bewilderment.
"Please enlighten us, great Shah Shah!" they all exclaimed in unison.
“To the west, to invade the lands of the Western Christian world.” Shahzani’s eyes gleamed. “The Turans need to plunder more slaves and wealth in order to fight against us!”
"This..." Most of the officials were at a loss.
The learned Farzana rose and, in her capacity as the Great Vazir of the Empire, addressed the crowd: "The great Shahsha is wise and enlightened; I know the reason."
She then cited historical examples to explain her reasons:
First, the Huns. Six centuries ago, after their defeat in the war against the Sasanian dynasty of Iran, this group of nomadic peoples continued their westward migration along the steppes north of the Sea of Khazars (Caspian Sea), invading the Western Christian world.
Second, the Avars. Five centuries ago, squeezed by other tribes of the Turan-Turkic race, they continued to migrate westward along the steppes north of the Sea of Khazars (Caspian Sea), eventually invading the western world.
Third, the Magyars. A century ago, the Oghuz-Khallugh-Kimak alliance, which dominated the Turan steppe, was defeated by the Samanid dynasty of Iran. Many of its peoples scattered and migrated westward, forcing the Pechenegs to migrate further west. In turn, the Pechenegs forced the Magyars to flee westward, ultimately compelling them to invade the western world.
……
“Historically speaking, from the Khitan steppes of Maqin to the steppes northwest of the Kingdom of Lum, most of Asia and parts of Europe consisted of a single, interconnected steppe. Whenever the Turan-Turks in the east faced war or famine, they would choose to migrate westward, enticing the Turan-Turks in the west to continue their westward expansion,” Farzana concluded.
"I agree with this view!"
Army Commander-in-Chief Bahraim stood up and shared his views:
"The Turans were defeated by our Iranians and are in dire need of rebuilding their strength. But where can they plunder wealth and slaves? The East? That won't work. The Khitan state of Ma Qin is powerful, and the conditions on the Khitan steppe are harsh and severe, with equally fierce nomadic tribes. So only the West is possible, where the Christian kingdoms are scattered and probably unable to resist the invasion of the Turan army."
This Zoroastrian armed forces commander, despite his military background, was influenced by his good friend Shahzani and developed a love for reading and history. He continued this for over a decade, accumulating a wealth of knowledge and gaining a deeper understanding of issues.
"Well said!"
Shahzani nodded in approval: "Ader City has changed hands, but the Turans know the strength of our army. In the short term, they are unlikely to launch another large-scale offensive against us. The turning point has arrived! Only by seizing the opportunity to conserve our strength can we fight and win again."
This is the truth.
Despite the Samanid Empire's victory at the Battle of Otrar, it also suffered heavy losses.
According to statistics, during the battle, Iran killed 58,000 Turan soldiers, captured 26,000, and annihilated and disintegrated more than 80,000 Turan soldiers. They also seized 11,000 warhorses, 5000 camels, 16,000 sheep, as well as a large amount of armor, weapons, food, and wealth, and freed 15,000 captive slaves.
与之相应，伊朗方面同样有5万军民殉道、6万5千军民负伤、讹答剌城外有65座村庄被毁、19个部落遭受洗劫。
Even with a strong nation and abundant wealth, this is still a considerable loss, especially for the economy of the Syr Darya region. Shahzani intends to recuperate for a period of time in order to prepare for the next battle.
Chapter 352 Invasion of Europe
Dust swirls across the Iranian landscape.
The well-organized and sturdy post station, with its rocky outposts standing tall on the ancient road through the yellow sands, features a Persian archway displaying a solemn order, while fully armed Samanian sentries on the watchtowers vigilantly observe their surroundings.
On the horizon, amidst billowing dust, a lone rider, with a command flag strapped to his back, galloped briskly toward the post station. He was none other than a Nassak messenger from the Samanid Empire.
"Latest developments in the Turan Khanate! Urgent! Quick!"
Before even entering the courtyard, Nassakchi shouted at the top of his lungs.
The substitute messenger dared not delay, immediately took the letter bag, mounted his fast horse, and galloped towards the next caravan post station.
This was the norm for the Samanid Empire's communication system; the government-maintained post stations and trade routes were sufficient to connect even the most remote regions of the empire.
Meanwhile, the trading caravans active outside the borders, in addition to engaging in commercial trade, also kept abreast of news and developments from surrounding countries.
By ancient productivity standards, this information transmission efficiency was already quite high.
The message was relayed from one branch to another and soon reached Jahanshahr's palace.
"Reporting to the great Shah Shah, the Turan Khanate has dispatched a vanguard of five Tuman (ten thousand households) to invade the Christian world to the west. The vanguard has already crossed the pastures of the Pechenegs and reached the Carpathian Mountains!"
Nassak's secret envoy reported to Shahzani the sudden change in the situation in the north.
"Just as I expected!" Shahzani said calmly, looking at the contents of the Samarkand paper.
"Your Excellency Shah Shah, shall we continue to hold our positions?" a minister in the court asked.
“Yes,” Shahzani said firmly. “The most urgent task is to build up our strength and strengthen our preparedness for future battles.”
He then ordered the court scholars to draft the imperial edict and transmit it to the provinces and border regions.
……
Near the Carpathian Mountains.
Snow-covered landscape, with endless pine forests.
The rolling green plains, a scene that should have been a peaceful pastoral idyll, were shattered by a sudden calamity. Wolf-headed battle banners led the charge of valiant cavalry, strange and savage howls rising and falling. In an instant, a dark brown cavalry force appeared on the horizon, darting left and right, charging at breakneck speed.
"Gods! Invaders! Invaders!"
Warning shouts echoed throughout the village. The able-bodied men, upon hearing the commotion, gathered at the village entrance, armed with hoes, sickles, rakes, shovels, and all sorts of other "weapons."
However, what came head-on was death.
A hail of arrows swept in, instantly killing or wounding most of the hastily assembled laborers. Before the laborers could recover from their shock, even more horrific deaths followed: scimitars, imbued with the chilling aura of steel, slashed through the air, leaving streaks of crimson light; warhorses' iron hooves trampled wildly, crushing anything in their path.
In just one engagement, the untrained, small, and poorly equipped peasant soldiers collapsed completely. The Turan cavalry stormed through the makeshift fences, roaring as they charged into the village, killing any men they encountered, abducting women and children, and seizing any livestock they could find…
"shoot!"
Several Turan cavalrymen fired burning arrows, burning down the village's farmhouses. Thick plumes of smoke rose into the sky, and scorching flames engulfed the village. Not only this village, but several surrounding villages were also plunged into disaster.
Before long, this area had become a scene of hellfire—
Men lay dead in pools of blood, women and children cried out and scattered in all directions, and livestock howled and fled. Meanwhile, the triumphant Turan cavalry charged back and forth, hacking and slashing and looting wantonly.
"Burn down all the remaining houses! Take all the livestock! Take all the grain!"
Riding on his tall horse, Turanmingbash (the commander of a thousand households), the leader of this raiding cavalry, brandished his sword and gave the order.
This was the routine of the Turan Khanate's army. Since the army had no savings, looting became the main means of sustaining the war effort, while also spreading terror in the newly conquered lands.
"Lord Mingbash!" A rider galloped up on horseback, "The grain from the neighboring village has been completely confiscated!"
“Good!” Mingbash said, “Take it all! For our brave Turan warriors to enjoy!”
The produce of agricultural regions has always been cherished by nomadic tribes on the steppes. Although this village seemed not to be highly Christian and its produce was not particularly abundant, it was better than nothing for Turan's army.
“The mighty Minbash! There are many more rich towns and villages in the southern roum (Eastern Roman Empire) territory. Let’s go and plunder them!” A low-ranking Turan Burke beside him urged.
"Fool!" Mingbash roared. "His Great Khan has ordered us to continue raiding westwards to pave the way for the following troops. No one is to change course! Anyone who disobeys will be killed!"
"Ah, yes, yes, yes!" Burke quickly admitted his mistake.
Indeed, Akhenaten ordered his army to advance westward and strictly forbade any tribal leaders from marching south to invade the Eastern Roman Empire. This was because the Eastern Roman Empire still held significant value, and Akhenaten did not want to antagonize the Eastern Romans for the time being.
The Turan cavalry swept through the local villages like a whirlwind, leaving behind a dazzling array of spoils: grain, honey, raw hides, cured venison, tools...
All of this was witnessed by an Eastern Roman missionary hiding in the nearby dense forest.
……
Constantinople.
Ships still come and go in Golden Horn, the city is prosperous, commerce is thriving, and the population is thriving, showing the grandeur of an eternal city, making the former city of Rome pale in comparison.
The messenger swept through the bustling crowds, reaching the palace to report the Turan attack on tribal villages in the Carpathian Mountains to the Empress Regent, Queen Zoe.
“These Turks are truly barbaric and insatiable!” Zoe said with disgust. “God should never have created such a race!”
“In that case, why not send troops north to drive away these barbarians?” suggested Romanus, the military commander beside him.
“No, no,” Zoe replied coldly, her tone laced with cunning. “This is an interest I ceded to the Turks. In reality, I had already secretly divided the sphere of influence with the Turks long ago. My true intentions are not this.”
“Oh, so what should we do now?” Romanus said.
“Reinforce the northern border military region with more troops. If the Turks go west, let them go as they please. If they turn south, take immediate and strict precautions!” Zoe replied.
The only unexpected thing was that the messenger—the missionary who witnessed the Turanian sweep—was actually an Armenian "double agent," or rather, a broker who traded intelligence. He had long been bribed by Sahimian with his beauty and force, and after leaving Constantinople, he quickly sent someone to deliver the message to the Samanid Empire.
Chapter 353 If we can't beat the Persians, we can at least beat you!
Shahzani had long anticipated that Turan and the Eastern Roman Empire had reached some kind of exchange of interests, and the arrival of the intelligence further confirmed her suspicions.
She decided to wait for the enemy to tire themselves out and take advantage of the lull in the war to continue developing the economy. After all, only with better soldiers and more food could a more solid foundation be laid for victory in the war.
Within the Samanid Empire, in various provinces and counties.
The blacksmith workshops were bustling with activity, the oasis farmland was in full swing, and merchants and travelers on the post roads were constantly coming and going. Grain, weapons, armor, tools, and all kinds of war supplies were flowing into the official treasury.
With the clang of iron hooves and the galloping of armored horses, troops from all units are undergoing rigorous training, their ranks orderly and disciplined, in preparation for a more composed battle against the Turan army.
Seeing the ever-expanding treasury and the increasingly powerful military, Shahzani felt more confident of victory.
……
Late 1026 AD.
The Turan Khanate's westward-invading army had already reached the territory of the West Slavic tribes.
According to the summary in "A Global History", between 1000 and 1500 AD, the Turkic and Mongol tribes in the interior of Eurasia launched large-scale invasions and conquests of the surrounding settled civilizations.