I was the Queen of Persia

Page 124

However, just as the raging Nile flood eventually subsided, the output of the Hakimier archers gradually weakened due to the small number of soldiers and the high casualty rate of warhorses because they were generally not armed. A large number of soldiers were shot off their horses and had to fight on foot, which greatly reduced their mobility and flexibility. They were then shot down by the fierce Seljuk knights.

"Not good! Hakimier Infantry Regiment, immediately form ranks and advance to protect our friendly forces as they return to their lines!" Dumiyat was also alarmed when he saw his troops suffer a setback.

The well-trained Egyptian Imperial Guard infantry immediately launched an attack. Shield bearers advanced along the front line, while archers fired under cover. The coordination between the different units was excellent, and the sturdy shields blocked the heavy Persian arrows, producing a series of clanging sounds.

"Their formation is tight, and it's hard to find a weakness for the time being. They can be considered a formidable force!" Shahzani watched the subtle changes in the battlefield situation from afar, her brows furrowing slightly.

Hakimiye's infantry advanced several hundred paces and finally met up with their allies who were fighting a hard-fought battle. They formed a defensive line with shields, and the archers continued to fire volleys. They fought and retreated towards the main force.

Faced with such well-trained infantry in formation, the Seljuk cavalry had no way to break through the lines, and getting too close would invite volleys of fire from the enemy archers. Faced with this situation, the Seljuk cavalry had no choice but to keep their distance and follow, daring not to launch any further attacks.

"The vanguard advances, and we launch a coordinated attack!" Shahzani immediately ordered.

By this point in the battle, the two armies had spread out over a wide area, with vanguards facing vanguards and flanks facing flanks, engaging in fierce and direct combat.

Nasita's Khwarazmian armored cavalry, relying on their strength, horses, and sturdy armor, withstood a dense barrage of arrows and swiftly breached the defenses of the Fatima vanguard Iskandarian infantry legion. Nasita led the charge with fierce courage, and her Khwarazmian cavalry maintained a disciplined formation, moving with ease and agility.

The Seljuk and Karluk cavalry, who had maneuvered to the flanks on a larger scale, unleashed an even more intense barrage of arrows, providing ample support for the Khwarazmian armored cavalry on the main road.

"Order the rocket chariots to fire! Order the heavy cavalry of Khorasan and Fars to follow up and suppress them!" Shahzani made a decisive move when she saw that the situation was very favorable.

She was determined to win this battle.

The ensuing battle was even more spectacular, with the cavalry of both sides constantly weaving in and out of each other, iron weapons clashing, and fireballs flying everywhere, leaving the battlefield a scene of carnage.

The Fatima Iskandarian infantry corps had fought tenaciously. As the main infantry force stationed at the port of Alexandria, they were generally equipped with good spears, bows, and shields, but unfortunately, they encountered a much stronger opponent. After fierce fighting, this Fatima infantry force gradually could not hold on and retreated.

Meanwhile, the Bedouin-Berber militia and Sultan-Sahel warriors who were assisting in the battle had already been routed, their formations broken, and they were scrambling to escape to the rear.

Several Berber camel cavalry units made wide flanking maneuvers, attempting to outflank the Seljuk cavalry using their mobility, but they soon encountered the more powerful Sogdian heavy camel cavalry and were forced to retreat after a battle.

Dumiyat's face was very pale, and his hand holding the reins was trembling slightly. After a difficult decision, he finally decided to send more Hakimiye's guards to attack and cover his own retreat.

The elite Imperial Guards were indeed highly skilled, quickly forming a solid line of defense. Shields formed a wall, spears stood in rows, and archers, using the shield wall for cover, unleashed a barrage of arrows forward, to the left, and to the right.

Just then, a sudden downpour began, as if even God didn't want the contest to end too soon.

Located on the Mediterranean coast, the Sinai Peninsula is influenced by the Mediterranean climate, resulting in mild and humid autumn and winter seasons with abundant rainfall. At this moment, a cyclone blowing from the Mediterranean and a heat wave blowing from the Sahara collided in the air above the battlefield, carrying massive amounts of water vapor that poured down.

This sudden downpour brought about subtle changes on the battlefield.

The battlefield became muddy and uneven, and the Samanid army's warhorses became stuck in the mud, greatly affecting their mobility. The various gunpowder weapons deployed behind the lines, ready to be fired, also became unusable due to moisture.

The Hakimiyya Imperial Guard, skilled in amphibious warfare, thrived in the mud, maintaining their disciplined ranks and moving with ease. Taking advantage of this, the Fatima vanguard rallied his troops and launched a full-scale counterattack against the Samanid army, which was struggling to maneuver.

The Samanid offensive was finally halted. The Iranian cavalry, protected by shield formations and spears, suffered heavy losses despite the armor of their warhorses. The mounted archers who had flanked the flanks were also killed, and the cavalry had to retreat after a fierce battle.

"Good! Excellent! God bless! Warriors, regroup and consolidate the front line!" Dumiyat couldn't help but beam with joy.

With its elite royal guards forming the core of the attack, the Fatima army fought and retreated, its previously scattered formations regrouping. Under the command of the Fatima vanguard, the soldiers regained their courage, formed ranks, and launched a localized counterattack against the Saman cavalry who were stuck in the mud.

Soon, many Saman soldiers were knocked off their horses by spears, some were killed by piercing spears, and others became prisoners of the Fatima army. Due to the torrential rain and the muddy battlefield, the Saman Empire's army, accustomed to the dry climate of Iran, was greatly weakened and had few effective countermeasures.

"What a pity, all our efforts have been in vain!" Shahzani's face was somewhat ashamed. "Order the entire army to cease pursuit and regroup." She made the adjustment in time; otherwise, if the stalemate had continued, it would have certainly caused more unnecessary losses.

The sound of suona horns, signaling a retreat, filled the air for a moment.

The Samanid soldiers at the front, filled with regret and resentment, reluctantly regrouped and prepared to return to their own army.

……

Due to unforeseen circumstances on the battlefield, Shahzani lost her best opportunity to decisively defeat Durmyat. On the other hand, Durmyat, having suffered heavy initial losses, was unable to launch a large-scale counterattack and could only rearrange its formation and strengthen its defenses.

In the following days, the autumn rains continued intermittently, and traffic remained very bad.

Shahzani understood that the weather and traffic conditions were unsuitable for launching a large-scale offensive. Therefore, he increased patrols and reinforced the defenses of the various military camps; he also conscripted laborers from surrounding villages to build roads and bridges; and simultaneously accelerated the compilation of battle reports from various locations to analyze the overall situation.

Chapter 292 Bloodbath in Sinai (3)

The Sinai Peninsula, the Samanid army camp.

The bright moonlight cast a silvery glow on the sand dunes. Bonfires lit up the Iranian military camp like stars. In the orderly military tents, watchtowers, armories, and stables, soldiers sat in small groups, taking turns to keep watch, warm themselves by the fire, and rest.

In the supreme commander's tent, Shahzani was sitting by the lamp at his desk, carefully examining a battlefield map marking the deployment of both armies.

Scouts reported that Fatima's forces, which had outflanked the city by sea, had landed on the Palestinian coast and launched a surprise attack on Gaza City, achieving some success.

"Hmm, it seems this elite Fatima force is quite formidable," Shahzani thought to herself.

Fortunately, the local Iranian troops and Palestinian militias rallied in time and put up a fierce resistance, halting the enemy's further offensive.

However, this isn't exactly good news.

As can be seen from the map, if the Fatima army breaks through Gaza and continues to advance into the surrounding areas, it will easily connect with the main force of the Dumiat. At that point, the Samanid army will inevitably face even greater pressure on its front lines.

So, what about diverting some troops back to Gaza to provide reinforcements?

“I’m afraid that won’t work either.” Shahzani shook her head.

Withdrawing troops at a critical moment in the battle weakens the overall force and could easily disrupt the overall deployment, giving Durmyat an opportunity to exploit the situation. Moreover, the long journey would delay many warplanes on the march, making it difficult to reverse the fall of the city even if they reached Gaza.

The best strategy at present is to turn the tables and find an opportunity to force the Durmyat forces to retreat as soon as possible, which will better resolve the Gaza crisis. To paraphrase an ancient Chinese proverb: "To relieve the siege of Wei by attacking Zhao."

Shahzani's gaze swept across the map.

Suddenly, the focus shifted to Arish, a city in the northern Sinai Peninsula.

This was a key town established by the Fatimid Caliphate in North Sinai, and also one of the main trade routes between East and West. According to intelligence previously gathered by the Nassakhians, the Fatimid fleet that raided Gaza departed from here.

Prior to this, because the main force of Dumiat was deployed on the only road, and the focus of the operation at that time was to concentrate forces to annihilate this large force, the strategic value of Arish was not given much attention.

However, the battlefield situation has now undergone a subtle change. The Dumyat Legion has retreated slightly due to its initial setback, which has created a gap in the road to Arish, giving the Saman army a good opportunity to break through the defenses.

“It is truly God’s help that I have succeeded!” Shahzani stood up happily.

She immediately instructed her staff to convene an operational meeting overnight, attended by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces (Bahram), the Commander of the Military Region (Hossloo and others), the commanders of various branches of the armed forces, and other important military officers. At the meeting, she put forward her ideas.

"...Generals, the situation has changed. The original plan is no longer applicable. We should adapt flexibly to the changing circumstances. This is the way to win on the battlefield!"

In conclusion, Shahzani made the above statement.

The ability to quickly adapt to the ever-changing war situation, seize fleeting opportunities, constantly adjust existing tactics in a timely manner, and execute them bravely and decisively is an essential quality of an outstanding military strategist.

The generals and commanders of the various armies also found this reasonable and unanimously agreed with Her Majesty the Empress's proposal. Subsequently, the monarch, ministers, and generals gathered to brainstorm and discuss specific battle strategies, and formulate action plans for each branch of the armed forces.

……

Far away, in a valley on the other side of the battlefield.

It appeared to be a sporadic skirmish that had just ended, with the corpses of soldiers from both sides filling the valley. The outcome of the battle was clear: the Samanid army had gained the upper hand and then pursued the retreating Fatimians.

But where there is battle, there will be death; where there is death, there will be martyrs whose deeds have not yet been properly observed.

Several groups of figures appeared behind the rocks and gravel. Upon closer inspection, they were dressed in linen robes in the style of Northern Egypt and Arabia, light chainmail shirts in the style of Fatima, and cotton armor for Arabian archers. Clearly, they were militia members of the Fatima army.

"Brothers! Hurry! Remove helmets, arm guards, elbow pads, and iron boots. Remove the core armor from your torso if you can! Quickly! The Persian army could be back at any time!"

The team leader quickly urged his subordinates on.

Upon receiving the order, his men immediately set to work, mainly stealing the weapons and armor of the fallen Saman soldiers.

This was precisely the task assigned by Commander-in-Chief Dumiyat.

During the previous fierce battles, Dumiyat was amazed by the powerful weaponry of the Samanid army and kept it in mind, always wanting to acquire more for Egyptian craftsmen to replicate. This was because, despite the ongoing trade and technological exchanges between Iran and Egypt, and the dissemination of many technologies from Iran to Egypt, this core technology related to military equipment had always been a closely guarded strategic secret of Shahzani.

After a flurry of activity, everyone made quite a few gains.

"God above! The Persians' armor is truly impressive. Look at this armor; it's not only impervious to swords and spears, but it's also as smooth as a mirror!"

A Fatima man, after removing the four-mirror armor from a fallen Khorasan soldier, clicked his tongue in admiration.

"Wow! This Persian woman has an amazing face, and her breasts and buttocks are absolutely gorgeous! If you ask me, she's even better than the seventy-two virgins of paradise!"

The other Fatima man stared at the naked Saman woman with a gleam in his eyes.

"Pah! Get to work! You'll be getting seventy-two virgins with you on your way to heaven!"

The junior leader rushed over and reprimanded him.

"Hehe! Of course, of course, my lord. Eh? Why do you say Persian women wear these triangular, diaper-like things down there?" the soldier chuckled.

"What do you know? Those are their underpants! Shahzani's Persian female soldiers are all devils and succubi, only these triangular diaper-like things can slightly seal their lewd, bloodthirsty mouths!" the leader scolded.

"The fabric is still very soft, thank you for your hospitality, my lord!" the soldier said obsequiously as he pulled down the female warrior Saman's panties.

"Stop talking nonsense! Get to work!" the leader kicked him in the butt and scolded him, but then stuffed the item into his pocket.

In 11th-century Egypt, resources were not yet abundant, and the poor in rural areas were even more impoverished. Most ordinary people could only afford rough cotton and linen clothing, and if they occasionally managed to obtain slightly higher-quality soft cotton fabric, they would naturally cherish it.

Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats suddenly came from afar.

The Fatima initially thought the Samanid army had returned, so they quickly gathered their spoils and hid. However, as the dust cloud approached, they realized it was their own men who had just been sent out to keep watch.

"Brothers! God bless us! Good news!" the visitor said with a joyful expression.

"what?"

"The Persians have relaxed their defenses! God be upon them! They must be afraid of our army's might and have retreated in fear!"

Chapter 293 Bloodbath in Sinai (4)

The Fatima chieftain was skeptical, but seeing how convincing the scout's account was, he decided to investigate himself. He ordered his men to transport the stolen armor and weapons back to the camp, while he led his trusted followers to gather intelligence.

In an instant, the Fatima harvesting team disappeared, leaving behind only the naked corpses of the martyred Samanian female soldiers scattered all over the ground.

Using the terrain of the hills and slopes as cover, the Fatima people sneaked into the outskirts of the Saman army's forward positions. The leader, with his keen eyes, saw that the situation was indeed as the scouts had described.

The defenses of the Samanian camp were noticeably lax, with fewer sentries and patrols. Inside the camp, many tents were being packed up, dismantled, and loaded onto trucks, seemingly to be transported away.

After observing carefully for a moment, the Fatima chief finally believed what he had seen. He dared not delay and immediately returned to his camp to report this important discovery to his superiors.

After being reported through multiple levels, the information finally reached Dumiyat. Dumiyat took this important military intelligence very seriously and sent out more scouts to investigate for several days. As a result, the situation was indeed as reported.

Dumiyat was unaware of the situation, but his cautious nature told him that this might be a deadly trap set by Shahzani, and he should not rush into it.

He then ordered: "Hold your troops still, strengthen the camp's defenses, and continue to send out more scouts to gather intelligence."

This stalemate continued for several days. Then one night, a scout from the outpost suddenly sent an urgent report:

"The Persian army is making a big move!"

Dumiyat's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately ordered all his soldiers to prepare for battle in case the Samanid army launched a night raid on their camp. However, after waiting for a long time, nothing happened. The scouts returned with another report:

"The Persian army has been disbanded and is resting."

Dumiyat felt slightly relieved, thinking to himself, "Could it be that we've been overthinking things?"

However, this did not allow Fatima's commander to completely lower his guard. Although he could not figure out Shahzani's intentions, he knew that it was definitely a trap and trick, so he ordered the entire army to remain on high alert.

……

This situation repeated itself over the next few days:

Suddenly, the Samanid army beat drums and horns and assembled urgently, as if to launch a large-scale offensive. But just as the Fatima soldiers were ready to fight, they suddenly disbanded their troops and returned to their camps to rest.

Once, twice, three times, four times... After more than a dozen times, the Fatima soldiers eventually became complacent.

Despite Dumiat's order for all troops to remain highly vigilant, the rank-and-file soldiers had become complacent, generally believing that the Persians were merely putting on a show and posed no real threat.

Consequently, patrols and sentries at the front lines of Fatima became less vigilant, and communication between battalions decreased.

As the saying goes, "Warfare is based on deception." Through a series of deceptive tactics, Shahzani has achieved surprise in the battle and now firmly grasps the best opportunity to strike when the enemy is unprepared!

"The enemy is exhausted and complacent. Proceed with your tactics as planned. Go forth! Rustam's courage aids our army!" Shahzani commanded the generals.

The various units that had been lying in wait and were already deployed moved upon receiving the order.

First, there was the Sham assassin army under Altaïr's command. They infiltrated several poorly defended camps on the road to Arish in small squads, where the Fatima forces were weak.

The Sham assassins sneaked in under cover of night, silently eliminating the sleeping Fatima soldiers and severing the connection between Arish and the main force of the Dumiyat army.

Bahraim's main attacking force then maneuvered and advanced, using the powerful force of his cavalry to annihilate small groups of enemy troops who attempted to resist.

Dellaman's heavy infantry and Chinese engineers followed closely behind, taking over the enemy camp, building supply depots and roads, constructing trench defenses, and consolidating their gains.

By the time Dumiyat realized what was happening, Arish was already surrounded and in grave danger.

Dumiyat was extremely anxious and hastily assembled a large army to go to the rescue, but soon his march was blocked by the well-prepared Shahzani Legion.

……

Fatima Naval Base – Arish City.

A crimson army surrounded the city, scarlet banners stretched across the plains, and endless armor reflected the dazzling sunlight.