I was the Queen of Persia

Page 49

As for the Sogdian military leader Ikhshid, he could only be used as the commander of some special troops (Sogdian soldiers), and could not command large troops with a mix of different types of troops.

A solution was quickly devised.

So she ordered her troops to split into three groups: one led by Rustam Zaman, which entered Hutaliang; another led by Hoslu, which entered Termez and Shihanna; and the third led by Nasida, which crossed the Amu Darya River and stationed itself at the Amur Fortress.

Because the incident was sudden, some of the Samanid courtiers were not clear about the Queen's purpose, but they understood that they only needed to obey the Queen's orders. After receiving their orders, they returned to the Diwan Palace and performed their respective duties.

Troops and weapons from the cities and counties of Bukhara, Baikand, Nakhshab, Keshi, and Shihanna were all mobilized.

……

Weeks later, when the various Ghaznavid armies marched to their destination, they were surprised to find that the Samanid army was already in full battle array and supporting each other.

The Ghaznavid generals, who were in charge of the troops, dared not delay and hurriedly dispatched messengers back to Ghaznavid to report the news to Mahmud.

Mahmoud was somewhat surprised when he learned of the Saman army's deployment—the coordination among the Saman forces was quite ingenious. If a real war broke out, his vanguard would be put on the defensive, and several important border towns could very well be lost.

Moreover, he only wanted to test the strength of the Samanid dynasty and did not intend to actually start a war. Now that the situation was out of control, he simply went with the flow and ordered all troops to retreat.

Ghazni withdrew his troops, and the Samanid dynasty achieved a minor strategic victory.

Only then did Shahzani explain her plan to her ministers at a court assembly in Bukhara. Those ministers who had previously failed to understand the Queen's intentions finally realized their meaning.

The first army of Ghaznavids intended to invade Hutaliang.

Hutaliang is bordered by the Pamir-Badakhshan plateau to the east, with a rugged terrain that makes it easy to defend.

Shahzani sent Rustam Zaman to guard the pass, while also appeasing the nearby mountain tribes such as the Shikenan and Wakhan, as a form of support.

When the Ghazni army arrived, they saw that Rustam Zaman's camp was well-defended and easy to hold, while the Shikenan tribe and other tribes posed a threat on their flanks. Naturally, they had no confidence in winning and began to consider retreating.

The second Ghazneid army was attempting to target Termez.

In the past, when Shahzani recaptured Termez and Shihan, Khoslu accompanied her troops. Moreover, this female general fought bravely, strictly adhered to military discipline, and managed her army rigorously, while also pacifying the people along the way, thus accumulating a high reputation among the locals.

Shahzani then dispatched Khoslu to garrison Termez. Leveraging the popular support she had previously cultivated, Khoslu quickly rallied a large population in her territory. The local people enthusiastically rewarded the army and assisted in constructing fortifications along the Amu Darya River. With the army and civilians united in purpose, Khoslu firmly controlled all the bridges and crossings at Termez, standing ready for battle.

When the Ghaznavid army arrived, they found the front lines well-defended and the soldiers in high spirits, so they dared not provoke them rashly.

The third Ghaznavid army, commanded by Ghaznavid general Artuntash, was headed for Khwarazm.

Shahzani sent Nasida with 8000 elite cavalry across the Amu Darya River to garrison the Amur Fortress.

These 8000 elite cavalrymen were selected from the Shaher Women's Guard, the Transoxiana-Khorasan Standing Cavalry Group, the Khwarazmian Ironclad Army, and the Seljuk tribe. Each of them was skilled in riding and archery, and was especially adept at long-distance raids in the desert.

The Amur fortress was strategically located, allowing for an advance into the Mulv Oasis in Khorasan Province (at that time, under the rule of the Ghaznavid dynasty). If the Ghaznavid army wanted to attack Khwarazm, it had to use the Mulv Oasis as a transit base, because it was surrounded by the vast Karakum Desert, and only the Mulv Oasis could provide large-scale supplies and a route for marching.

Nasita was originally a surrendered general of Khwarazm. Now that her homeland was threatened, she would certainly not stand idly by and would definitely fight the invading enemy.

Therefore, when Artuntash dared to invade Khwarazm, Nasita immediately led 8000 elite cavalry to make a flanking maneuver to Mulru, captured the important town of Mulru, cut off Artuntash's connection with the rear of Ghazni, and left it isolated and alone.

Of course, to be on the safe side, Shahzani also specifically ordered Tahmina and Khorshid to each command a force and station them at key locations in order to support the various armies.

Under these circumstances, Artuntash certainly dared not easily march north, and had no choice but to return to Herat.

Thus, the three probing and provocative Ghaznavid armies were all deterred, and Mahmud's scheme failed.

Chapter 108 Nowruz Festival: Queen's Coronation

At the end of 1001 AD, all of Ghaznavid troops were intimidated and withdrew, and for the next few months, the southern border of the Samanid dynasty maintained a limited period of peace. At the same time, Bahramu, who was stationed in Tashkent, repeatedly thwarted raids by Turkic-speaking nomadic groups from outside the region, thus safeguarding the peace of the northeast.

Shahzani wanted to take advantage of this break to do some internal work.

When Montahir died suddenly, he hastily handed over the throne to her. For more than half a year, although she had been in power and ruling the country, she had not yet had time to hold a formal coronation ceremony.

At the same time, the establishment of many systems and institutions was rather hasty and needs to be further established, improved, and put on the right track.

In the first few months of 1002 AD, which, according to the reign of Yazdegerd, is the end of the 370th year of the Persian calendar, Shahzani began preparing for the ceremonies.

……

March 21, 1002 AD, the spring equinox, the Nowruz New Year of the Persian calendar 371.

As the sun's direct rays shift northward, winter fades and spring arrives, temperatures rise, and the spring breeze turns the parched, brownish-yellow Iranian land green. Flowers bloom in profusion, and trees sprout new leaves.

Nowruz has been celebrated since the ancient Aryan era. Even after the Islamic era, it was endowed with great sacredness. During the Samanid dynasty, thanks to the rise of the revival of Persian traditions, Nowruz, along with other ancient festivals such as Mehrgan, was designated as a solemn national day as part of sacred culture.

Shahzani's coronation ceremony is also scheduled for today.

The spring that year was exceptionally warm, and the harvest from previous autumns still filled the granaries, ensuring a relatively comfortable life for the people of Ha Trung province. The Queen's outstanding civil administration and military achievements added even more festive cheer to the holiday.

The magnificent Bukhara Palace Hall, with its enormous dome and ornate, symmetrical Persian arch patterns, highlights the authority of the monarch and the majesty of centralized power.

Shahzani was dressed as a Samanid royal woman—with a tulip-shaped turban crown, a blouse made of fine Zandan fabric, a Khorasan brocade dress, adorned with gold ornaments, and emeralds and rubies from Shihanna and Sudushana, holding a scepter symbolizing power.

Surrounded by attendants and guards, she walked barefoot and with firm steps to the highest throne. Behind her, the magnificent palace walls decorated with huge Persian arches made her look graceful and noble.

The courtiers kowtowed and kissed the ground in unison, shouting: "May the great Shah live a long and prosperous life!"

Shahzani gestured for the civil and military officials to rise, and then recited the oath, the gist of which was: the former Samanid dynasty was led down the path of destruction by despicable hypocrites and shameful enemies. As a loyal Samanid official and daughter of the Iranian nation and people, she rose up to resist the invasion, joined the restoration army of the former king Montahir, and embarked on the road to reclaim the lost lands. After Montahir was attacked and killed, she took over the heavy responsibility and finally ascended the throne and was crowned, etc.

In short, it was a summary of her resume.

After the oath was taken, the civil and military officials and court poets cheered again. They stepped forward to offer their blessings, adding ornate Persian-style embellishments to their words.

After the greetings were completed, Shahzani officially appointed the officials to their posts.

First, there is the appointment of military officers and their agencies.

She announced that Sipahi Salal would remain Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, with Bahram in the position.

Under Sipahi-Salar, drawing on the institutional experience of the Sasanian dynasty, five "Spahbadh" were established to lead troops in different regions. These five were Hoslu, Nasita, Rustam Zaman, Tahmina, and Khorshid, respectively.

Military officials were assigned vertically in order of rank, from highest to lowest.

Senior commanders and generals all have their own organizations and staff teams.

Other military posts were also established in special areas. For example, in some border areas, "Marzban" (border garrison commander) was established for defense and garrison.

Secondly, there is the appointment of civil servants and their agencies.

The Diwan institution remained the most important central administrative body, with ten departments under it. However, unlike the pre-Samanid dynasty, Shahzani reformed the functions of the various Diwan departments and expanded the scope of authority of the Diwan institution.

The head of all officials in the institution is Grand Vazir-Falzana, who is in charge of all military and political affairs, oversees all officials of the Divan institution, and directly commands the first department—Vazir-Divan.

The first department, the headquarters, is in charge of appointing officials and controls all administrative, economic, defense, and religious affairs.

The second department, the Department of Historical Records, was in charge of national historical documents and archives. Its head was Parviz, a senior official of the Samanid dynasty.

The third department, the Ministry of Finance, is responsible for national land, irrigation systems, and fiscal revenue. Its head is Afshin.

The fourth department, the Postal Service, is in charge of postal stations, roads, and the information transmission system. Its head is Firuz.

The fifth department, the Military Department, is responsible for conscription, selection of military officers, and supply of military equipment and pay.

The sixth department, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is responsible for foreign relations with other countries.

The seventh department, the Craftsmen's Department, was in charge of engineering construction and the manufacture of machinery for various government-run workshops.

Department 8, Marketing Department, is responsible for the order and weights and measures of the bazaar market, as well as dress code.

The ninth department, the Department of Civil Administration, was in charge of the communities, villages, tribes, and household registrations of settled and nomadic peoples.

The tenth department, the Department of Religious Affairs, is in charge of clergy, religious orders, and their temples and monasteries.

Each Diwan department has a local branch office, which is vertically managed.

Thirdly, there are appointments within the religious system.

Through extensive preaching, the highly Persianized Khorami sect of Islam has become the mainstream faith in Transoxiana, Khwarazm, and other regions.

Shahzani combined the Zoroastrian system of the Sasanian dynasty, the Shia system of the Safavid dynasty, and the clergy overseeing the state after the Islamic Revolution to establish a strict clerical system for the new Samanid dynasty. The highest clergy resided in the court and participated in royal councils, while clerics were distributed in mosques in various communities, with hierarchical command.

Finally, there is the setup of the court institutions (Dargah).

Shahzani learned from the lessons of the previous Samanid dynasty's decline and greatly reduced the functions of the court institutions. She stipulated that the court institutions would only have the functions of managing internal affairs and the female slaves and servants in the palace, in order to eliminate their influence on political and military affairs.

The national system has already been established.

Shahzani himself held all military, political, and religious power, serving as the supreme leader who combined military and political power, and possessing the authority to issue "Fatwa" and the final interpretation of the Quran.

As the Queen of Persia, she should openly use the traditional Persian title "Shah." Shahzani broke with the overly cautious tradition of the previous Samanid dynasty, demanding that all foreign exchanges be conducted under the name "Shah."

After the discussion concluded, all the officials shouted "Her Majesty the Shah is great!" and the court poets recited stirring Persian epics and poems, praising the Queen's immortality and glory.

And so, on the joyous day of Nowruz, a new Shahr regime of Iran was officially established in the holy city of Bukhara.

Volume 4 Iranian Intermezzo

Chapter 109 Persian-style Imperial Examination System

The regime has been established, and all civil and military officials have been appointed and promoted.

According to their official rank, Shahzani bestowed upon each official a golden crown, ceremonial robes, a gold belt, and other rewards. For central officials stationed elsewhere, such as Bahram in Tashkent, special envoys were dispatched to deliver appointment letters, banners, and related rewards.

The country's territory encompasses the four provinces of Transoxiana, Khwarazm, Shash, and Fergana; its borders extend from the Aral Sea to the desert at the edge of Khorasan Province.

In terms of calendar and year reckoning.

Shahzani followed the traditions of the pre-Samanid dynasty, using the Persian calendar as the administrative calendar. The first year was 632 AD, the year Yazdegedad ascended the throne (not 622 AD, the year of Muhammad's migration). The spring equinox, March 21st, was the New Year, and the names of the months followed customary practices.

Of course, thanks to the improvements made by astronomers such as Biruni, the Persian calendar at this time was simpler and more accurate, especially in terms of conversions such as leap years.

The role of the Hijra calendar, as a religious calendar, was further diminished.

When a new regime is established, the ruling group often devotes some of its energy to consolidating the economy and institutions.

Shahzani was no exception.

The first issues are land, finance, and household registration.

Prime Minister Farzana, Finance Minister Afshin, and the head of the Ministry of Civil Affairs spearheaded this massive project.

The early Samanid dynasty had already begun land surveying and tax reforms, but due to the turmoil of the previous years, much data had been lost. When Shahzani served as governor of Transoxiana province, he actively worked to stabilize and rebuild order in various regions, organizing local officials to compile and restore some of the data, thus laying a solid foundation for subsequent work.

Following Shahzani's instructions, the central and local governments measured the farmland, irrigation wells, and canals within their territories, counted the number of orchards, trees, and livestock, and investigated the number of men and women aged 15-50, using this data as the basis for conscription, taxation, and the implementation of the general mobilization system.

The land owned by officials who colluded with the enemy during the war, large landowners, clergy, mosques, and other dead and deserters was confiscated by the government and converted into state-owned land for other purposes of increasing value.

Like the previous Samanid monarchs, Shahzani was less inclined to excessively reward his subordinates with land and preferred to directly pay his soldiers' wages and salaries.

The tax system followed that of the Samanids, but the tax rates were slightly lower, and taxes were paid in a mixed form of money and goods, depending on local conditions.

Secondly, there's the military aspect.

This needs no further explanation. Through long-term development and construction, Shahzani has built a well-trained and combat-ready force that includes a regular standing army, a total mobilized militia, auxiliary forces, and special forces.

Thanks to her military achievements (and the buffs provided by the system), the army's loyalty to her is extremely high. Furthermore, unlike previous armies that were primarily composed of men, the New Samanid army has female officers and soldiers making up 60% of its armed forces.

Next came the system for selecting officials.

From the Sasanian to the Samanid dynasties, apart from hereditary succession and promotion based on merit, the most common system for selecting officials in Iran was the recommendation system. Typically, provinces and counties would recommend local talents, and then officials of good character would go to assess them and select suitable candidates for official positions based on their abilities, virtues, and other qualities.

However, this mechanism easily allowed powerful clans to control the selection of officials. Many descendants of these families, even without talent or merit, could enter high positions and gain promotions through the influence of their ancestors, while the vast majority of truly talented scholars were often excluded.

Especially towards the end of a dynasty, this recommendation system was more likely to become a tool for powerful families to monopolize official positions, thus accelerating the dynasty's decline.

Only by breaking down the old can we establish the new.

Shahzani planned to adopt a new system for selecting officials: the imperial examination system.

Fortunately, her Qin camp had many Confucian scholars skilled in the civil service examinations, as the Qin people had been practicing this system since the Sui and Tang dynasties. Shahzani planned to adopt their suggestions and combine them with Iranian traditions to create a civil service examination system with Persian characteristics.

On this day, she summoned several Confucian scholars who had taken the imperial examinations in Qin, treating them with respect and consulting them on their relevant experiences.

Gentlemen.

Shahzani said in Chinese: "I know that you are all intelligent people from the land of Maqin in the East. Now I intend to implement an examination system in this country. I wonder if you have any good suggestions?"

Several Confucian scholars bowed and paid their respects, then exchanged glances for a moment before one of them stepped forward. This man had a handsome face, wore a scholar's cap, and stood tall and straight; his dark-colored Confucian robes accentuated his scholarly air.

Shahzani recognized him as Liu Wenyuan, one of Zhu Jiande's henchmen in Qin's camp.

Liu Wenyuan said, "Your Majesty is wise, and we are willing to serve you to the best of our ability. But we wonder if there are two 'important things' in Your Majesty's kingdom?"

"Oh? What 'important thing'?"

Liu Wenyuan bowed again and respectfully asked, "Does Your Majesty's kingdom have well-established prefectural and county schools, as well as the Imperial Academy and the Imperial College?"

“In each of our cities and towns, there are ‘Dabilistan’ literacy schools, which should be similar to your prefectural and imperial schools. Every year, they train many civil officials and scholars,” Shahzani said with a smile.

Liu Wenyuan bowed again, his tone becoming even more cautious: "In Your Majesty's kingdom, are there any classic books left by our ancestors for future generations to read and refer to?"