I was the Queen of Persia

Page 101

“That Persian woman named Sahini, the right-hand woman of the Persian demon Shahzani, has returned.” Hakawi paced back and forth, his expression grim. “We have lost our spies in Syria and many assassins. We can no longer afford to take unnecessary risks.”

“No! Great Prophet!” Muhadeb beside him said anxiously. “Don’t you want to accomplish the great things that Muhammad and Omar did? Don’t you hope to return to Baghdad one day?”

"Enough!" Hakawi looked at him, his eyes flashing coldly. "I cannot let my assassins risk their lives in vain. They are all believers well-versed in the doctrine, and the faith of Muhammad is being promoted by them!"

“Fortunately, there is now another way out.” Hakawi’s expression turned slightly serious. “The Fatima Dynasty has provided us with a lot of aid, which can be used to expand our power.”

"Great! Then we'll immediately recruit soldiers and horses and march back to Iraq and Jajira!" Muhadab said ecstatically.

"Heh, it won't be that simple," Hakkawi sneered. "We need to take two paths."

“Oh? Please go ahead,” Muhaddaeb said.

"First, you should lead your old troops to stay here and use the aid provided by the Fatima Dynasty to develop your power and grow stronger. There are many Bedouin tribes in this area who follow our sect. Arm them to fight against those apostates."

"Secondly, I led the main assassins and believers to Egypt, Ifrikiyah, Maghreb and other places to carry out missionary tours, attract more believers and expand the influence of my sect."

Hakkawi held the dagger in his palm, its cold light gleaming.

Chapter 236 The Expansion of the Black Blade Cult

“By the Most High God, I will surely rally countless believers and live up to your expectations!” Muhadeb said joyfully.

The thought of gaining more power, recruiting soldiers, and even accomplishing great things worthy of praise from scholars and Muslims filled him with excitement.

Although he didn't understand why Hakawi was suddenly delegating power to him, the belief that "power unused is power wasted" had already taken hold in his mind, and he couldn't wait to put his skills to use.

Shortly after.

Haqqavi, disguised and well-prepared with provisions, water, and camels, led the core members of his assassin group (the core of the Black Blade sect) on their westward journey. He left only Muhadab behind, leading a smaller force belonging to the Black Blade sect, to hold the line against the Alawite Syrians and the Khorami Persians.

……

Aside from Haqqavi's direct assassins, the majority of the Black Blade Legion's soldiers were recruited from the surrounding Bedouin-Arab tribes. These tribes, in turn, served as an outer supplement to the Black Blade's armed forces.

Currently, the Blackblade sect has established a fundamentalist regime in the northern Arabian Peninsula, which is dominated by it.

Roughly speaking, this regime can be divided into three main parts:

First, the direct line of Black Blade assassins, and the core religious noble class (both are very small in number).

Second, collateral forces and other surrendered armed groups (such as Muhadab).

Third, the peripheral dependent tribes.

These three elements, from the inside out, constitute the political system.

Although the organization of the regime was still quite rudimentary, lacking even a fixed capital and a well-established government, it was already a force to be reckoned with in the context of the Arabian Peninsula, where social development was lagging and the power of various tribes was fragmented.

Haqawi and Muhadab will continue to expand their influence in all directions, even beyond the barren and desolate Nefd Desert, extending their territory to the Hail Oasis in the Nejd region, and having more nomadic Bedouin tribes swear allegiance to their doctrines, further strengthening their power.

This is also an important reason why the Fatima Dynasty intentionally came to "show goodwill".

Camel caravans from Cairo arrived in an endless stream, bringing a dazzling array of military equipment and provisions. Of course, the Fatima people weren't there for charity; while bringing aid, they also took away large quantities of local gold dust and other products.

Muhaddaeb readily opened the door to obtaining sufficient weaponry.

"Haha, the Fatima people are indeed wealthy." Muhaddaub gazed at the countless riches, a greedy glint in his eyes. "This money and provisions are enough to arm tens of thousands of soldiers, but..."

With this in mind, Muhaddaeb did not hesitate to use the "shortcut method," stuffing a considerable portion of the aid into his own pocket.

What works first and what works next.

The leaders at all levels of the Black Blade Legion also lined their own pockets, and as a result of the layers of exploitation, the weapons and provisions that were distributed to the rank-and-file soldiers were almost gone.

This enraged the Black Blade conscripts who were already unwilling to submit to the tyranny.

However, constrained by power, they only dared to curse under their breath and did not dare to actually rebel. Only a few courageous individuals would choose to secretly flee the Blackblade forces and surrender to Hamdan's regime.

After a considerable period of time, as more and more Blackblade soldiers deserted and surrendered, Sahinnian gradually obtained a large amount of intelligence about the deployment of Blackblade troops.

……

Mosul, the military headquarters of the Samanid Empire in Iran.

A nimble, dark figure swiftly scaled the courtyard wall and silently approached the dimly lit study. Three short taps followed by three long taps were made on the windowpane – a pre-arranged signal.

A moment later, the latticed window lattice slowly opened, and the dark figure nimbly jumped inside.

"Commander Sahimian."

Hydia slowly removed her black veil, revealing her beautiful face: "Further intelligence confirms that the Black Blade Cult has annexed the Abdullamidi tribe, which roams the Al-Al Oasis, and established military camps and fortresses there, and is showing a strong momentum to continue expanding northward."

"Not expected."

Shahimian held a copy of the Hadith that the Blackblade Cult had altered and said calmly, "The barbaric doctrines of the Blackblade Cult are very much in line with the wild habits of the Bedouin herders. Moreover, Muhadab himself came from a Bedouin nomadic tribe and is adept at both verbal and sword-based holy wars."

Due to the low level of productivity, the Blackblade regime suffered from a shortage of paper, with only a few religious nobles possessing scriptures and books. They usually preached to believers and Bedouin tribes through oral communication.

Coincidentally, during the last anti-traitor campaign, Sahimian killed many Blackblade assassins and radical priests, and successfully seized several of their missionary scriptures, which allowed her to conduct a deeper study of this force.

The Blackblade's doctrine is simple: its underlying logic is to plunder wealth, expand territory, purge apostates and heretics, and utterly despise knowledge and scholarship. This kind of thinking is very much in line with the materially impoverished and economically backward Bedouin nomadic tribes.

“The Blackblade soldiers have clashed with Hamdan’s border militia in several rounds of fighting,” Hydia said. “Both sides have suffered casualties.”

“I know all of this. There are also several Bedouin tribes under the control of the Black Blades who have openly invaded the oases on the border of Hamdan to plunder and plunder people and livestock. I discussed these matters with Princess Selim before evening prayers tonight.” Sahinnian closed the book, looking thoughtful, and took a sip of tea.

A moment of silence.

"What do you need me to do?" Hydia's eyes gleamed. "As you know, I am a man who walks in the shadows. When the order is given, my dagger will reap the lives of these enemies!"

“No rush,” Sahimian waved her hand. “Prepare your weapons and horses. We’ll go to the same place tomorrow.”

"Where?" Hedia asked without hesitation.

“You’ll see when you get there,” Sahimian said calmly. “Alright, go and rest now.”

"Uh... alright." Hydia acknowledged the order and withdrew.

With the same agility, it leaped over the courtyard wall and disappeared into the night.

Back in her secluded hideout, Hydya removed her black assassin disguise, revealing her fair and slender body. Leaning against the soft carpet, she groaned and gasped as she caressed herself with her left hand, releasing herself intensely.

Assassins who roam the shadows must always maintain a high level of mental tension. Only during brief moments when they shed their disguises can they relax to a limited extent. Hydia has become accustomed to this kind of relaxation as a seasoning and a pressure relief valve for her tense and dangerous assassination and espionage career.

Her stomach was growling with hunger. She picked up a small piece of biscuit from the small dish on the table, dipped it in hummus, and chewed it in small bites. Assassins also have certain requirements for their diet. For an agile assassin like her who needs to leap across rooftops, gaining weight is a major taboo in the profession.

Chapter 237 The Fallen City

The following day, Sahinnian and Hydia prepared their weapons and horses, gathered four or five attendants, and hired two traveling merchants familiar with the terrain as guides. After a simple disguise, they left Mosul.

At the beginning of the journey, they followed the main roads and oasis villages along the way, but after two days of travel, Sahini suddenly changed direction and turned onto a little-known desert trail.

"I'm sorry, I still don't know where we're headed," Hydia asked again, unable to contain her confusion.

"Hehe. We're heading deep into the desert."

Sahimian chuckled twice: "You should have heard that in the Syrian desert, there are several oasis fortresses scattered like pearls, one of which is called 'Knife Sheath Fortress'."

"Knife Sheath Fortress?" Hydia was also startled upon hearing this. "You mean, that desert city that produces mercenaries?"

“That’s right.” Sahini nodded. “A brave mercenary is a sharp sword that pierces the heart of the enemy. I plan to recruit some reliable people from there to help us thwart the plots of the Fatima and the Blackblade Cult.”

"I see." Hedia exclaimed in realization.

The surrounding scenery changed constantly as we traveled.

First came scattered oases, then endless sand dunes, followed by massive cliff valleys and various strangely shaped rocks eroded by the wind.

Following the towering cliffs and winding through several paths, a long-lost patch of green appears in view, followed by the ruins of a massive city gate with Roman-Greek columns on the bare valley wall.

The city gate was surrounded by nomadic tents in the Arabic style, and peddlers and laborers sat on the ground, shouting loudly, while people of all kinds came and went.

“Respected Madam Commander, we have arrived at the place you are looking for. May God bless you.” The guide approached Shahini’s saddle and bowed humbly and respectfully.

After paying the fee and sending the guide away, Sahimian instructed the rest of his entourage to wait nearby, while he and Hydia stepped into the huge Roman-style city gate on the cliff.

Take a few dozen steps forward, and suddenly the view opens up, revealing a bustling and lively scene.

Knife Sheath Fortress.

Colorful Arabic-style tents lined both sides of the streets and alleys. Rough-looking merchants and vendors haggled loudly, and every now and then they would engage in a few full-blown fights until the one with the harder fist won.

The swaggering mercenaries, carrying all sorts of weapons, roamed the middle of the road, causing passersby to scramble out of their way in fear. Occasionally, an employer dressed in a magnificent silk robe would approach the mercenaries and strike up a conversation, which would then escalate into a "hiring deal" after a heated argument.

On a carpeted stall on the street, a group of men shouted and yelled wildly, their eyes fixed on the backgammon board on the table like wolves. After the result was announced, sighs of regret mingled with cheers of fervor, and a torrent of gold and silver treasures flowed into the pockets of the victors.

In front of an inconspicuous little tavern, several heavily made-up prostitutes were vying to pose seductively for passersby. A gambler who had just made a fortune at the gambling table, with a bulging wallet, immediately picked up a prostitute and snuggled into his long-lost warm paradise.

The prostitute, facing a rude pleasure-seeker, whispered coquettishly, but upon touching his bulging purse, her anger turned to joy. With alluring eyes, she feigned reluctance while slowly wrapping her arms around his neck, and was carried into a secluded room.

"incredible……"

Hydia gazed at the decadent and luxurious scene before her and muttered to herself, "I had heard my fellow assassins mention this place, but it wasn't until I saw it with my own eyes that I witnessed its debauchery and depravity. No wonder those outlaws and desperados flock to it."

"Therefore, there are no government decrees or Islamic law here. Everything is based on money and force," Shahini said calmly, seemingly quite disdainful of the scene in the city.

After all, compared to the orderly Samanid Empire of Iran, this place was simply a chaotic paradise.

The formation of this unique land, however, has deep-seated historical and objective factors.

Long before the rise of Islam, the Syrian desert region was the front line of confrontation and fighting between the Sasanian Empire of Persia and the Eastern Roman Empire. After the fall of the Palmyra Kingdom in the third century AD, some Alam-Syrian refugees drifted to this area and gradually formed small settlements.

After the rise of Islam in the 7th century AD, Christian societies along the eastern Mediterranean coast collapsed, and more Christian refugees fled there.

Between the 7th and 10th centuries AD, with the fall of the Umayyad Caliphate and the comings and goings of various forces including the Eastern Roman Empire, Tulun, Hamdan, Baikal, Fatima, Kurds, and Arab nomadic tribes, many people (including Muslims and Jews) in the Fertile Crescent were dispersed, and more people came to this remote place for refuge.

Later, those adventurous merchants gradually carved out several semi-hidden trade routes, connecting them with the main Silk Road.

Because the city does not actually belong to any country or regime, it is located in a "no man's land" where power converges. Here, as long as you are bold enough, ruthless enough, and dirty enough, you can earn ten or even dozens of times more money than elsewhere. Therefore, mercenaries, smuggling brokers, prostitutes, dancers, craftsmen, and other people of all kinds flocked in, making it a lawless place where prosperity and depravity coexist.

"May God and the Lord bless you! Ladies, you've come from afar, haven't you? Are you familiar with this place? Don't worry, I can be your guide. I swear by Hussein's beard, there's no better guide in all of Knife Sheath Fortress than me!"

A skinny man with a sleazy face blocked their way, his eyes gleaming with cunning.

“Wow, perfect timing. We’re new here and don’t know the area well yet. Why don’t you show us around? You’ll get your share of the benefits.” Sahini’s expression was meaningful, and a charming smile played at the corners of her lips.

“Ah! Very well! Of course! I swear to God, I will tell you everything about this place! Please come with me, madam!” The skinny man’s eyes lit up, and he quickly grinned and agreed.

After navigating a winding path, we arrived at a secluded place filled with semi-subterranean dwellings.

"Hehehe." The skinny man at the front suddenly revealed a cunning smile. "Madam, why don't you rest here for a while? Knife Sheath Fortress is quite large."

Immediately afterwards, a large group of short men with wicked smiles emerged from behind the nearby courtyard wall. They carried weapons such as sticks, daggers, and chains, and surrounded the two women. Their faces were etched with greedy and smug grins of triumphant conspiracies.

"Hmph, as expected, they're pulling this stunt again." Sahimian narrowed her eyes slightly, her gaze sweeping over the crowd with a sharp look.

Chapter 238 "Succubus" vs. "Goblin"

Another skinny flower thief stepped forward and lewdly reached out to touch Sahinian's thigh. Then, with a crisp "smack," he was quickly kicked and sent flying several steps away.

"Brothers, let's go! Strip them naked! We'll enjoy these two lambs tonight!" The skinny leader shouted angrily at his gang.

People from all directions rushed forward.

"Heh heh, God is my witness, you struck first, so just wait and see what bitterness awaits you." Sahini spurred her horse and charged towards the enemy crowd.

The number of people is vastly different.

However, the ensuing battle turned out to be a one-sided massacre.

As a general in the Samanid "Holy Flame Brigade" of the Iranian Samanid Empire, and a powerful heavy cavalry commander, Sahimian was tall, strong, and highly skilled in martial arts, capable of taking down a group of smaller men with his bare hands. Although Hydia was an agile assassin, her martial arts skills were not to be underestimated.

Despite their superior numbers, the enemy was extremely weak in combat. Their physiques were equivalent to those of ordinary children in their early teens, with thin limbs, clearly a result of malnutrition caused by the harsh living conditions of ancient times. They were no match for regular soldiers like Sahinnian.

He spurred his warhorse into a gallop and spun around, unleashing a barrage of punches and whip kicks. In an instant, the group of small men, who had rushed at him, were all knocked to the ground.

"Ouch..." The ground was littered with people who had been knocked down, their cries of pain echoing everywhere.

The skinny leader was horrified at the sight. He had thought he was luring two lambs, but instead he had attracted two lionesses. Shocked and terrified, his legs trembled violently. Only after the last of his companions was taken down did he remember to run away.

"Snapped--!"

A delicate hand, strong as a steel clamp, gripped his shoulder firmly, and then an irresistible, enormous torque came through him. A stinging pain immediately spread throughout his body, and his legs went weak, causing him to kneel down.

"Ouch! It hurts so much! Madam, spare me! For the sake of the Imam and Hussein, for the sake of the Prophet, spare this despicable man!" The thin man looked at the dignified and beautiful Persian female general and begged for mercy in terror.

Do you realize the foolish mistake you made?

"I know! I know! I swear to Allah, I know everything!"

"Will you dare to have any improper thoughts in the future?"