I was the Queen of Persia

Page 81

This renowned city in the eastern Islamic world was once one of the largest cities in the world, reaching its glorious peak during the reigns of Harun al-Rashid and several subsequent caliphs.

However, as the Caliph's power waned, Baghdad also declined. After the Turkic Guard seized control of the government, Caliph al-Mutassim, for the sake of maintaining a balance of power, relocated a significant number of people and the center of power to Samara, further accelerating the dissipation of the golden age.

Today, the city's prosperity is far less than it once was; only the still majestic palace domes continue to showcase its remaining glory.

In the Caliph's palace.

Dark-skinned Sanchi slaves stood respectfully, blonde and blue-eyed Andalusian dancers danced gracefully, braided Turkic slave guards stood in a strict formation, and palace slaves of various ethnicities and skin colors bustled about.

Caliph Qadir sat on his throne, leisurely enjoying the fruits and desserts served by his servants, watching the dancers perform their enthusiastic dances, and immersing himself in a scene of peace and prosperity.

Sudden.

"Report! Your Excellency, the great faithful commander! Rebels have stormed the palace!" A servant rushed over and knelt to report.

Immediately afterwards, fierce shouts of battle erupted outside the palace gates, throwing the inner court into chaos as servants screamed and fled in all directions. Faced with this scene, the Caliph was terrified, thinking that one of the Turkic imperial guards stationed in the city had rebelled again.

The rebels had stormed into the palace hall and were wreaking havoc. The guards loyal to Qadir hurriedly drew their swords to resist, but they were outnumbered and were soon all cut down and killed.

The rebel leader entered. Caliph Qadir looked up, trembling, and saw that the newcomer was none other than one of his many sons—Mustafa.

"God above! My son, what are you doing?" Qadir's eyes widened, unable to believe that his son would draw his sword against him.

Mustafa sneered, “Father! You are too old to control those unruly Turks. Therefore, I am willing to take on your responsibility, to restore the Caliph to the highest authority of the believers, and to restore Baghdad to its status as the holy city of Muslims!”

After saying this, he waved his hand and ordered the soldiers on his left and right to rush forward, drag Kadir off the throne, blind him, and lock him in prison.

Mustafa ascended the glittering throne and arrogantly declared: "From this day forward, I am the ruler of Baghdad! The ruler of Iraq!"

In an instant, his soldiers brandished their swords and shouted praises.

As the saying goes, a new broom sweeps clean, and this is especially true for monarchs.

After seizing power, Mustafa immediately mobilized his soldiers and clerics to prepare for war and to eliminate the arrogant and interfering Turkic guards. Many of the soldiers who participated in the battle had fled back from the Ra'i-Tehran battlefield and had not suffered too many losses on the battlefield, which gave Mustafa the leverage to change the situation.

Caught off guard, the Turkic Guard's camps were breached, large numbers of soldiers were killed, and the survivors were captured by Mustafa's army. Mustafa ruthlessly executed these apostates who had disrupted the government. The Turkic Guard was completely wiped out, and its history of holding power and influencing the Caliph was over forever.

Mustafa then spread the “jihad” throughout the entire Iraqi region.

The Mustafa troops, who had been disguised and lying in ambush, were fully organized and mobilized, and then stormed into Samara, into Wasit, into Kufa, into Najaf, into Karbala, into Nasiriyah, into Basra...

Because Mustafa had planned this for a long time and made ample preparations, the Turkic imperial guards, separatist armed groups, and remnants of the Baikal forces in various regions were caught off guard and quickly fell to their respective opponents. Mustafa thus swiftly gained control of various parts of Iraq and eliminated the remaining Iraqi Baikal forces.

In a very short time, Mustafa took control of the entire Iraq and then extended his reach to Jajra in the north, establishing a new caliphate.

Mustafa ordered the country's name to be changed to "Caliphate." He sought to restore the regime to the "pure and devout" state of the Muhammad and Umar era. After coming to power, he abolished the hedonistic customs of the Abbasid dynasty, believing that he had a responsibility to restore the original simple and unadorned religious system and establish a purely Arab fundamentalist regime.

Based on this, he revered extremist sects, suppressed academic research, and shut down academic institutions such as the Wisdom Palace in Baghdad. Scholars of Persian, Arab, Armenian, Rummud, and Jewish descent were either killed, imprisoned, or expelled from the country.

Disheartened, the physicians, philosophers, astronomers, and writers who had been working in Baghdad fled eastward to join Shahzani's Samanid dynasty. This undoubtedly strengthened Shahzani's power, but that's another story.

Mustafa also vigorously recruited various sects and tribal militias that adhered to extremist doctrines, including the Jihadi sect, which had been severely suppressed and banned by Shahzani.

The newly appointed Caliph seems to have forgotten that the Arab Empire's prosperity and strength in the past was precisely due to its openness and inclusiveness, its vigorous appointment of capable officials from foreign tribes such as Persia, and its active absorption and assimilation of the achievements of various civilizations in Central and Southeastern Europe, which enabled it to join the ranks of powerful nations.

But Mustafa clearly doesn't think so; he has his own "way of thinking."

The Caliph's harem also housed a large number of female slaves of various ethnicities for his amusement. Although Mustafa claimed to abolish the extravagant customs of the previous dynasty, he inherited the harem's beauties entirely, far exceeding the doctrine's limit of "four wives." This was because he sought to procreate through more concubines, and the number of wives and concubines was a measure of a Bedouin man's status.

On this day, Mustafa was indulging in revelry in the harem, amidst constant cries and screams.

His close advisor, Muhammad Qulai, stood respectfully outside the palace gates, waiting to report on state affairs after the monarch had finished his pleasure-seeking.

"What is it, Muhammad? Speak quickly if you have something to say!" After Mustafa finished playing with several female slaves, he impatiently kicked them away and walked out of the palace gate.

“Master… Ah, no! Great Caliph! I came here earlier to seek a crucial divine will!” Muhammad prostrated himself and kissed the ground.

"What is it? Speak," Mustafa gestured.

"We now face two great enemies: the Fatimids and the Samanid Persians. We cannot afford to fight on two fronts simultaneously; we must choose to wage war against one of them. I wonder, which one will you choose to fight?" Muhammad asked.

"Saman Persia".

Chapter 188 The Mosul Uprising

Objectively speaking, while Mustafa may not be a competent politician, he has maintained a degree of wisdom and clarity in matters of power struggles.

He understood that although the Fatimid dynasty upheld heretical doctrines, controlled the holy sites, and acted arrogantly, each of which was an unforgivable crime, the Fatimids and his Caliphate were ultimately close relatives of the Semitic-Hamaist-Arab lineage. The two families still maintained many intermarriages and exchanges, and there was still room for maneuver on issues of interest.

However, the relationship with the Samanid dynasty was different. Not only were their religious doctrines vastly different, but their ethnic composition was also very different. Moreover, compared to the various transgressions of the Shahzani dynasty that could be described as "worthy of hellfire," the Fatima people's actions were really "small fry compared to big fish" and became "forgivable."

More importantly, the Samanid dynasty had a well-trained and well-supplied army, a larger territory, and greater national strength. Mustafa was no fool; he knew that keeping Fatima to cooperate in resisting the Samanids would allow his caliphate to exist for longer. If Fatima, this useful "ally," were gone, his regime would be instantly destroyed by the Samanid army's iron torrent.

Therefore, Mustafa decided to ease relations with the Fatimid Caliphate and sent his close advisor Muhammad Quray to Fustat (near Cairo, the center of the Fatimid regime). The two countries signed a series of agreements, including: jointly resisting the Samanid Caliphate, limited missionary work within each other's territories, matters concerning the pilgrimage to Mecca, the demarcation of spheres of influence, and so on.

The Fatimid Caliphate had just destroyed the Hamdanid Caliphate, bringing the eastern Mediterranean coast, including the Sham and Palestine, under its control. It inherited the developed commercial system and mature social structure of the Egypt-Levant region, and its national power was at its zenith. They were also wary of the Samanid Caliphate's glorious victories in the East and were hostile to Shahzani's various measures.

Both countries had their own needs, and thus formed an alliance to share interests, although this alliance was very fragile.

However, while Mustafa was still running around and continuing to build the "anti-Saman alliance," the sounds of war and bugle calls were already heard in the north of Jagira.

After learning of the alliance between Mustafa and the Fatima dynasty.

“They’re no match for us. We’ve already driven the deadly nails into their fragile bodies,” Shahzani scoffed dismissively.

The Saman generals knew that the "nails" Her Majesty the Queen referred to were the Sacred Flame Brigade commanded by Sahimian and the Syrian Restoration Army commanded by Selim.

……

Mosul, north of Jagira.

This ancient city, situated on the alluvial plain of Mesopotamia, has witnessed the rise and fall of countless ancient Middle Eastern civilizations. In the last century alone, it has experienced the changing hands of several powers, including the Hamdan Dynasty, the Ugal Dynasty, the Bayi Dynasty, and the Kurdish regime.

Today, this place is one of the centers of the Euglene dynasty.

The Ugel dynasty has recently been attacked by rebels supported by Mustafa, and many of its tribes have become disloyal, putting the regime in jeopardy and plunging the city of Mosul into chaos and danger.

Sahimian and Selim had already taken advantage of the chaos to infiltrate Mosul, and most of their soldiers had also disguised themselves and sneaked in.

As the situation spiraled out of control and the garrison's strength waned, eventually reaching a point where the Ogel regime was struggling to survive, Sahini immediately decided to launch an armed uprising.

January 20, 1005 AD, the 30th of the month of Tay in the Persian calendar.

The sounds of battle and shouts echoed throughout Mosul. The sworn men, chanting the slogan "Restore the Hamdan Dynasty," were fearless in the face of death and quickly defeated the small number of Ugel defenders, capturing the city.

"In the name of the merciful and almighty God!"

Surrounded by soldiers, Selim ascended the castle and addressed the people: "I am the princess of the Hamdan family! This was once the sacred ground of our regime, and now I have returned with a victorious army! All devout Muslims, submit to me immediately!..."

With his military power, Selim seized control of Mosul and declared the restoration of the Hamdan dynasty there.

Many sheikhs, chieftains, wealthy merchants, landowners, and Alawite clerics who were loyal to Hamdan's regime immediately surrendered. They contributed money and food, and armed their servants to fight alongside Hamdan's army.

Despite the initial victory.

However, Samanid officer Sahini, who served as "war advisor," was well aware of the current situation.

The Ughail dynasty has disintegrated, and the Mustafa forces have taken control of central and southern Jagira. They will soon continue northward, even reaching the outskirts of Mosul, leading to a new round of conflict.

The Restoration Army, confined to the small town of Mosul, was still weak and unable to contend with the powerful enemy forces. Moreover, they lacked money and food, and were poorly equipped, making it temporarily impossible for them to engage in a sustained head-on battle with the vast enemy cannon fodder.

While the female warriors of the Samanid Holy Fire Brigade under his command were indeed better equipped and armored and had stronger combat capabilities, there were only 500 to 600 soldiers participating in this expedition, and their strength was very limited, so they could not withstand continuous attrition.

A more effective "weapon" is the will of the people.

Sahimian then advised Selim: "Your Highness, your strength is still very weak at present, and strengthening your military is the top priority. I know that you admire the Shia Alawite sect, but in the face of Mustafa, a common enemy, I think all sects will unite. Therefore, you should also try to win over the Sunni, Christian, and Yazidi followers."

“Yes, you’ve said a lot.” Selim nodded in agreement with Sahinian’s suggestion.

As a descendant of Syrian nobility, she was educated by wise men and was naturally aware of the history and religious origins of this land.

While the majority of the population here is Arabs who practice Islam, there are also a large number of Christians and other ethnic minorities. Syria has always been a holy land for Christianity; long before the rise of Islam, Christianity had flourished here for centuries and will continue to do so. Wise scholars have said, "Sham and Jajra are sacred lands where the Bible and the Quran coexist."

The Hamdan regime favors the Shia Alawite sect, which remains a minority group compared to the wider Sunni communities. Selim understood that only by adopting inclusive measures and breaking down these religious and ethnic barriers could his regime endure.

Therefore, under Sahimian's guidance, Selim set out to win over the various Christian communities and villages in the Mosul region. Christianity was relatively widespread in the area, with churches belonging to Armenians, Syrians, and Assyrians.

Selim won him over to his side.

Chapter 189 The Yazidis

Under the guidance of Iranian female general Shahini, Christian villages throughout Mosul also established their own militias for self-defense, receiving basic martial arts training in order to cooperate with the main force in combat.

Scouts reported that Mustafa's northward-advancing army had breached the Sinjar Mountains, massacring local Yazidis and other non-Muslims, triggering a massive exodus. Large numbers of citizens, farmers, and tribal people fled with their families to areas controlled by the Hamdan dynasty.

This undoubtedly further strengthened Selim's power.

……

Located 10 Farsah (approximately 60 kilometers) west of Mosul.

Sahimian and Selim are leading a group of riders on a patrol of the village's defenses.

The conscripted soldiers and civilians were working diligently. Various types of clay were mixed into blocks, bound together with goat's milk and thick porridge, and then tamped down by gravity to form simple rural fortifications. Although these walls were quite rudimentary, they could still provide a certain degree of defense against irregular armies lacking heavy siege equipment.

As a princess of the Hamdan dynasty, Selim, though not a full-time commander, vaguely remembered her ancestors' experience in fighting: establishing areas known as the "front line" in the border areas with hostile regimes such as the Eastern Roman Empire and the Fatimid Empire, and building a large number of fortified outposts to serve as buffer zones during battles.

Sahimian, however, was secretly thinking: rather than defending, it would be better to "attack".

She believed that despite having much support, Hamdan's regime still had few towns and weak military forces, and even if it tried its best to build fortifications, it would ultimately be unable to offset Mustafa's numerical advantage.

Just as Hamdan's soldiers were working hard to build fortifications, another wave of refugees arrived seeking refuge.

People of various ethnicities who fled from Mustafa's army were ragged and weary from their journey. Some walked, some rode donkeys, some sat on camels, and some lay on carts. There were men and women, young and old...

Like a long dragon, it travels endlessly along the dusty desert trail.

"It seems the Caliph's offensive is not to be underestimated, to the point that many people are fleeing their homes," Shahini said earnestly, gazing at the scene before her.

“That’s right, so we need to strengthen the defenses of our fortresses and keep those Caliph’s henchmen at bay outside the border. But…” Selim paused, looking at the murky sky with some concern, “to be honest, I’m still worried about the future of the new regime.”

“Don’t think too far ahead. Let’s win this battle first.” Sahinien tightened the reins, took a few steps forward, and then looked back at Selim: “Give your warriors more camels.”

"Oh, what's the purpose of this?" Selim was a little confused.

“If we are outnumbered, order the soldiers to mount their camels and retreat immediately. Remember, strongholds and fortresses can be temporarily abandoned, but the lives of our soldiers cannot be sacrificed lightly. There are plenty of camels around Mosul; we can requisition another batch, which will be enough for the army,” said Shahini.

at this time.

A Hamdan rider dressed in Arab archer's armor rode up quickly, stopped in front of Sahini and Selim, knelt on one knee, and said respectfully, "Madam General, Your Highness Princess, a Yazidi chieftain requests an audience."

“Invite them here,” Selim said after glancing at Sahimian and receiving her consent.

Several men dressed in Kurdish rider's leather armor rode up on horseback. The leader was a tall young man, about twenty years old, with a robust build and a long peacock feather on his helmet. Beside him was an old man with a white beard, whose face was full of wrinkles and whose cheeks were so withered that he looked like a skeleton.

Upon seeing Shahinian and Selim, they immediately dismounted, crossed their arms, and bowed deeply, saying, "The Yazditamat tribe pays respects to the envoys of Shahr of Iran! Pays respects to Princess Hamdan! May you enjoy boundless blessings!"

The young man who was in the lead stepped forward and said, "I am the chief of the Tamat tribe, Zayed Aga." He then pointed to the old man beside him: "This is my uncle, the elder of the tribe, Murad Sheikh."

"No need for formalities, Chief Zaydi. What brings you here all of a sudden?" Selim had already guessed the reason, but still asked symbolically.

"As you can see."

Zayed's grey eyes revealed a hint of worry: "Mustafa's army has occupied our homes and is massacring our fathers and fellow countrymen. We know that in your eyes, we are 'devil-worshipping' heretics, but we are also human beings, and we also cherish our lives. We have nowhere else to turn, so we have come to beg for your protection."

He paused, then his tone suddenly became resolute: "If you give the order, we will mount our warhorses, wield our spears, and carry our swords, and fight those Mustafa's bastards to the death, without fear or hesitation!"

Having said that, he bowed respectfully once again.

Sahimian walked to Selim's side and leaned down to remind him, "Although they are 'Kafiel,' since they have come to you, it means they admire your authority and tolerance. You should not refuse them."

Selim nodded in agreement.

Sahini then turned around, her serious expression carrying a hint of allure, and said, "Zayadi, since you came from the direction of Sinjar Mountain, you must have already clashed with Mustafa's army."

“Yes. But we were completely outnumbered, so we had no choice but to break through and retreat.” Zayedi lowered his head in shame.

“Very good,” Sahimian said. “Then briefly tell me what you know about the enemy.”

Zayed and Murad Sheikh then recounted in detail what they had seen and heard.

Mustafa's army numbered about 3 to 4 men. According to Zaydi, they were "a vast, dark mass that stretched as far as the eye could see." They were all extremely fanatical and bloodthirsty, and they would cut off the heads of Yazidis without batting an eye.

However, most of them were foot soldiers with a variety of equipment, and most of them lacked armor. They charged recklessly based solely on their incited religious fervor.

……

After listening to their retelling, Sahinnian already had a plan in mind.

“Very good, Chief Zaydi, the information you provided is invaluable.” Sahini nodded, then looked at Selim. “I think I have a way to deal with Mustafa.”

She planned to lead the elite cavalry of the Holy Fire Brigade to draw the enemy's attention, use their long-range raiding capabilities to defeat the enemy, and then have Selim's men launch a surprise attack, ultimately achieving victory against all odds.

"Please allow us to join the fight, to be the vanguard in the charge," Zaydi pleaded, his eyes burning with the flames of revenge.