I was the Queen of Persia

Page 97

Instead of confronting them head-on, Shahzani pointed her warhammer, and the Shahri Guard immediately adopted a sloping defensive formation and moved at a speed that ordinary people could not even react to, quickly outflanking the weak side of the Yhomes Chapter.

Askeladd was leading his Viking berserkers in a rapid advance, but upon seeing the direction of Shahr's Guard's advance, his expression changed drastically, and he immediately ordered his troops to halt and protect their flanks.

However, the infantry line in a charge was not so easily stopped. After the order was given, the Vikings collided and jostled each other, and chaos ensued.

Before they could recover from the chaos, Shahr's guards pressed forward.

The sound of steel weapons clashing was deafening for a moment.

Although the Yoms Vikings are tall and strong and excel in hand-to-hand combat, they are not a highly organized regular army. They lack coordination and cooperation, and their current disarray prevents them from fully utilizing their physical strength and hand-to-hand combat advantages.

The Viking soldiers' armor and equipment were also significantly inferior to those of the Iranian soldiers.

In contrast, the female soldiers of Shaher marched in perfect unison and maintained a disciplined formation. In close-quarters combat, the advantages of their steel armor were fully demonstrated, making them unstoppable.

Shahzani has already set her sights on the peak of the opposing group's strength—Torukel.

He strode closer to the giant, and when he was only about five steps away from his target, he suddenly brandished his warhammer with a fierce strike. At that moment, the sun was blazing, and the iron metal of the warhammer instantly reflected the blinding sunlight, shining directly into Torukel's eyes.

The burly giant felt a flash of bright light before his eyes, and his eyes immediately felt like they were being pricked by needles. He couldn't help but squint, and even his movements became clumsy and sluggish.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Shahzani swung her left arm sharply, gripping the opponent's wrist like a steel clamp. With a swift swing of her right hand, the hard handle of her warhammer slammed heavily into Torukel's left flank, causing him to bend over in pain and lose his balance.

Before Torukel could recover from his panic and shock, Shahzani launched another fierce attack.

Shahzani swept her right hand across, seizing Torukel's leather belt. With one hand firmly gripping his wrist and the other tightly holding his belt, she then used all her strength to lift Torukel high into the air before delivering a beautiful Persian wrestling move, slamming him heavily to the ground.

"Clang—!" He picked up the warhammer from the ground and pressed it against Torukel's neck.

“You have lost,” Shahzani said calmly.

But in her heart, she was full of complaints: Is that all? I gave you a chance and you couldn't do it.

This was almost another decisive duel, with the Yoms Vikings being utterly routed and unable to mount any effective counterattacks. Even the most powerful berserkers in the chapter were defeated: Torukel was subdued by Shahzani, Askelat by Bahram, Björn by Holshid, and Thors by Sahimian…

Shahzani removed her helmet and visor, revealing her stunningly beautiful face to the Vikings—a beauty that carried an undeniable aura of menace. She maintained her alluring smile, but to the Vikings, it appeared as utter terror.

"thump--!"

The once-mighty Viking warrior bent his proud knees, his helmet touching the ground.

"We were blind and foolish to commit such an act of disobedience. We beg Your Majesty the Great Queen to punish us!" Ashrat knelt on the ground, trembling with fear and trepidation.

Yes, he certainly recognized Shahzani's appearance, but he did not know that the female knight who had led the charge was the Queen herself (after all, her face was covered by a mask).

He originally planned to make a name for himself first to enhance the value of the Yorms Mercenary Group, and then quit while he was ahead. However, he did not expect to run into trouble in the preliminary round and make things worse.

"That's enough." Shahzani didn't blame you. "You have proven your courage. I won't blame you. Go! From now on, you must uphold the virtues of noble warriors and refrain from killing and plundering."

After saying that, he waved his hand again, indicating that the Yorms Chapter would be rewarded with some gold and silver as an "encouragement prize".

Askeladd and the others dared not be negligent, and quickly expressed their gratitude before withdrawing.

……

After several days of competition, the Saman army also swept the national team championship, demonstrating the formidable fighting capabilities of Iranian warriors to all the spectators present.

The several-day competition has come to a successful conclusion.

To conclude, Shahzani arranged for the best-performing Shahr Guard to hold a full-armor parade.

Iron soldiers in steel armor, cavalry in full armor, their blood-red uniforms exuding a majestic aura, scarlet battle flags fluttering in the wind, covering the sky and the earth, a dazzling crimson that could rival the sun in brilliance.

These Iranian-style heavily armored cavalry were both the most elite assault force in the battlefield legions and the most magnificent ceremonial guard in front of the emperor's carriage. The steel horse armor forged from fine iron, the iron-clad female knights like an iron torrent, and the crimson uniforms that eclipsed even the sun—all of this showcased the formidable military power of the Samanid Empire.

Return to Jahanshahr.

Upon hearing of the army's victory in the martial arts competition, the people of the Samanid Empire lined both sides of the road, scattering flowers and offering fragrant crispy naan bread, sweet figs, and spicy roasted mutton, welcoming their army with the most enthusiastic cheers.

written request for leave

I need to take a day off.

Chapter 227 The Secret Alliance Against Iran

The sky was so blue...

Well, actually, it's not blue at all. Iran is located in an arid region with frequent sandstorms, and it's early spring, so the sky is not only not blue, but rather somewhat gray and yellowish. Various communities in Jahanshahr have organized sand-clearing teams to maintain the appearance of the capital and leave a good impression on foreign missions.

"Allahu Akbar!"

Long live the great Shah Shah!

As the procession passed, cheers and applause were almost constant. All the citizens, whether officials, soldiers, priests or commoners, expressed their most sincere and enthusiastic greetings to Queen Shahzani.

Shahzani smiled and waved to the crowd in response to the many elders, sisters, and fellow villagers. The grandeur of the procession and the splendor of her military uniform added to her air of authority.

Through the martial arts competition, envoys from most countries have witnessed the formidable fighting power of the Saman army. Although it was not yet a bloody battlefield battle, it was enough to deter hostile forces lurking in the shadows.

Therefore, after the martial arts competition, the envoys from various countries also had new plans.

Small groups like Armenia, struggling to survive between powerful nations, began to consider submitting to the Saman Empire in order to seek stronger military protection.

Countries like the Volga Bulgarian Khanate, which adhered to Islam and had close ties with Iran, intended to form an alliance with the Samanid Empire to strengthen relations between the two countries.

Countries like the Song Dynasty and Kievan Rus', which maintained trade relations with Iran, were also preparing to further expand their trade with the Samanid Empire, hoping to make money together.

……

Samanid officials guided the envoys to sign various documents, then affix their signatures and the monograms of the Diwan institution, creating two copies which were stored in the national archives and historical records department for future reference.

Currently, only two countries are likely feeling the pressure: the Fatimid Caliphate and the Eastern Roman Empire.

As major powers bordering Iran and having geopolitical, religious, and territorial disputes with it, conflicts between them are almost inevitable. The military display of the Samanid Empire has made people in both countries feel as if a sword is hanging over their heads.

dusk.

Evening prayers echoed for a long time from the minaret, in the foreign missions' lodging area.

"It seems that the power of this group of Persian Horamis has exceeded all expectations. God above! This is truly a horrifying piece of bad news."

The Fatimid envoy, Dumiat, hung his head helplessly. Based on his assessment of the situation, he knew that once war broke out, his country would have a hard time resisting the Samanid army. Even if it could barely hold out in the end, it would be a Pyrrhic victory with heavy losses and a drain on resources.

His ruler, Hakim Amur Ala, was determined to wage war against these "cursed Persians," and for this purpose, he amassed troops and collected large quantities of weapons and provisions in the Sinai Peninsula. The military standoff and even war were already "on the verge of breaking out."

His most important mission during this mission to the Samanid Empire in Iran was to gather intelligence and investigate the Samanid Empire's war potential.

Dumiyat knew he could not change the mind of the arrogant and tyrannical monarch. Watching the war spread and people suffer, he felt a sense of frustration at being powerless to change the situation.

“Our wise man once said, ‘The situation is often not as bad as we imagine,’” Zoe, the envoy from the Eastern Roman Empire, said casually from the side.

"how you said that?"

"You cannot stop your monarch's will to wage war, but you can offer other good strategies."

"A good plan? Ha! If I had a good plan, I could have already achieved the same feats as Muhammad and Omar. Why would I be doing this arduous work here..."

"Don't be pessimistic. In terms of military strength, the Persian army is stronger than Egypt's, but your Egyptian navy is far superior to the Persians'. Therefore, I believe your country can..."

Zoe went on and on.

She "suggested" that the Fatimid dynasty leverage its powerful navy to threaten the southern flank of the Samanid Empire from the Red Sea-Arabian Peninsula-Persian Gulf, and so on.

Anyone with a modicum of common sense would immediately recognize this as a scheme to "drain the trouble in the east": by letting the Fatimid and Samanid dynasties fight to the death, the Eastern Roman Empire could seize the benefits that would be left vacant.

"But by then, when our soldiers are fighting bloody battles on the front lines, what are your country's plans?" Dumiyat was no fool, of course. He clearly heard Zoe's calculations, so he deliberately asked a question in a roundabout way.

"Rest assured, our Emperor Basil the Great will not allow the Persian army to run rampant. We will station a large number of troops in the military region of the southeastern frontier, and also bring in the elite Varangian Guard, the Vadaretai Garrison Legion... The Persian army will certainly not dare to make any rash moves!"

His eloquent speech in Greek was quite persuasive, but it did nothing to dispel Damiat's concerns.

"Alas..." Dumiyat sighed, looking up at the sky, "I only hope that your country will prioritize the greater good at that time."

“Of course, I swear in the name of God, in the name of Constantinople!” Zoe said solemnly.

Dumiat knew that Zoe was unlikely to keep her promise, but he was helpless in the face of it. He was caught in the middle between a headstrong monarch and a hypocritical ally.

After initial discussions.

The delegations from Fatima and the Eastern Roman Empire decided to return home ahead of schedule, and went to the palace to meet with Empress Shahzani to present their requests.

“Why are your esteemed envoys leaving so soon? Why not stay a little longer? We in Nowruz, Iran, will be celebrating the Lunar New Year for several more days, with many grand ceremonies to follow.” Shahzani knew perfectly well what was going on, but pretended to be nonchalant.

"Ah, no, Your Majesty, Queen Shahsha, the Queen of Kings and the Center of the Universe, we have already troubled you greatly by staying here, and we still have many state affairs to attend to in our country. Therefore, we thank you for your generosity and wish your country prosperity and glory!" Zoe said a string of diplomatic phrases in a grand and dignified manner.

“Indeed, Your Majesty, you have bestowed upon us unparalleled favor. We are already overwhelmed with gratitude. How dare we indulge in such pleasures? We should return to our country as soon as possible and report back to our sovereign.” Dumiyat echoed from the side.

"Since that's the case, then I won't try to keep you any longer."

Taking advantage of the situation, Shahzani immediately addressed the royal minister: "Issue the decree! Grant the envoys of the Fatima and Rumi (Eastern Roman Empire) gold and silver robes, issue exit permits for their respective delegations, and respectfully escort them back to their countries!"

Purple and green banners fluttered across the land of Khorasan Province.

Following the wide and long Khorasan Road, Fatima and the Eastern Roman delegation embarked on their journey home.

An alliance based on geopolitical interests has begun to take shape, and undercurrents are starting to emerge.

Chapter 228: Another silver party...

Shahzani knew what the Eastern Romans and the Fatimids were up to.

The Eastern Romans and the Fatima knew that Shahzani knew what they were up to.

Shahzani knew that the Eastern Romans and the Fatima knew she knew what they were up to.

……

However, all parties adhered to the principle of seeing through things but not saying them, and did not openly address the conflict of interests.

“Great Shahsha, why don’t you issue an order to detain these apostates and heretics who are hostile to our country?” said Nassak, the executive officer in charge of intelligence gathering.

“When two nations are at war, envoys should not be killed,” Shahzani said calmly. “Let them go! Fatima and the Eastern Roman Empire are already suspicious of each other, and their fragile alliance will not last long.”

Although the Fatimians and Byzantines returned home early, most other delegations intended to stay in the Samanid Empire for a longer period of time to discuss more matters with the Iranian court and to appreciate the magnificent scenery of the Iranian Samanid Empire.

Aside from political affairs, banquets were naturally an indispensable part of the main activities. After all, for a country, banquets, drinking, and poetry were also external manifestations of its strength and power.

More importantly, many issues that are difficult to resolve on the surface often become easily resolved when they are discussed at dinner parties or banquets.

Jahanshahr, the royal palace.

The colonnade is filled with columns, the niches are magnificent, and the rich and colorful flowers adorn countless intricate and symmetrical Persian arch geometric patterns.

The barbat, the naïve, and the tombak drum blended together to create a melodious and languid tune; court poets recited poems praising wine and pleasure, many of which were famous pieces from the Rudaki Collection; on the wide, enormous carpet in the center, barefoot dancers in light veils swayed gracefully, their voluptuous bodies appearing and disappearing in the shadows.

"Emissaries from friendly nations."

Shahzani raised the cup filled with jewel-colored nectar and surveyed the assembled ministers. "The Saman Empire welcomes all friendly nations to come and exchange ideas. Our doors of friendship will always be open to friendly countries."

As the delicious fermented fruit juice flowed from glass to glass, the attendees toasted each other, clinking glasses and exchanging laughter. Coupled with the aphrodisiac fragrance and the languid Islamic court music, the atmosphere quickly became increasingly intense.

Shahzani raised her cup again and said loudly, "Tonight is the time for pleasure, esteemed envoys, please enjoy yourselves to the fullest!"

After speaking, he gave a knowing look to the dancers dancing gracefully on the huge carpet—actually, the female guards of Shaher dressed as war dancers.

The war dancers understood immediately, and with alluring movements, they moved closer to the envoys from various nations, their bodies pressed against them, their seductive aura igniting a raging fire of desire.

Shahzani stepped down from the throne, holding a cup, barefoot, and recited Rudaki and Sufi erotic poems as she wandered around the hall, frequently adding fuel to the fire of this "revelry."

Under such a passionate offensive, even the most resolute person would probably succumb.

As the Queen had predicted, under the relentless onslaught of flirtatious advances, almost all the attendees eventually surrendered. Now, whether male or female, civil or military officials, religious clergy, wealthy merchants, noble lords, warriors, or tribal leaders, everyone was immersed in unparalleled pleasure.

Amidst the warbling of birds and the soft moans of women, all sorts of clothes were scattered everywhere. Some, deeply in love, immediately pulled out their enormous penises, allowing the Persian war dancers to disregard their modesty and ride them on their backs.

Only the Song Dynasty's envoy—a handsome young scholar dressed in a scarlet Song Dynasty official robe—was still sitting upright.

Just recently, during discussions, the Samanid Empire and the Song Dynasty had some disagreements over a trade agreement. This agreement involved the two countries sending more caravans to each other and also planned to open up several sea routes from Guangzhou and Quanzhou ports to Sherab (Shirov) and Hormuz. At the same time, the variety of goods would be greatly enriched. If the agreement was reached, the Samanid Empire would be able to obtain more precious goods and specialties such as silk, celadon, and famous tea.

However, out of caution, the Song Dynasty delegation did not immediately agree. That was just as well; issues that could not be resolved in the talks could be resolved over a banquet.

"Your Majesty." Upon seeing Shahzani stroll over, the Song envoy quickly rose and bowed. "Your Majesty, I am truly unable to hold my liquor and must take my leave to return to my residence. Please forgive me."

Having said that, he got up to leave.

"Wait a minute." Shahzani's voice carried an undeniable authority. "Wouldn't it be impolite to leave like this?"

He raised his cup, drank it all in one gulp, and then looked at the bewildered Confucian scholar in front of him, his voice alluring: "Your country has an old saying, 'Isn't it a pleasure to have friends coming from afar?' I'm right, aren't I?"

As he spoke, he gently pulled the scholar down to sit, and then gave a knowing look to Sahinian, who was dancing gracefully beside him.

The valiant and alluring female general knew perfectly well what was going on. She cast a seductive glance, swayed her voluptuous and slender waist like a green cypress, sat on the Song Dynasty envoy's lap, her fiery red lips exhaling sweet breath, and her beautiful and strong hands moving up and down.