Eagle Byzantium

After conquering the great city of Herat, Gawain's reputation was greatly boosted. He gained the most important springboard and military base for his quest in the Ghaznavid Khanate.

The entire territory of the Ghaznavid Khanate, with this city as its center, was actually split into two parts, the Balakt region and the Ghaznavid region, by the huge and steep Hindu Kush Mountains. The two were connected only by a few mountain passes and fortresses. Both were the inseparable essence of the Khanate. Now Gawain, under the guidance of the Gur people, occupied Herat, which actually meant that he had obtained a bridgehead for advancing towards these two regions at the same time.

Now it was Gawain's turn to take the initiative. He did not want to rashly go to the Balakt region, where the land corridor was too narrow and too close to the Oxus River, and could be attacked by the main force of the Great Fair King at any time; according to the original plan, he would of course follow the southern foot of the Hindu Kush and drive straight to Ghaznavid City.

It just so happened that the emperor's plan was also greatly approved by King Iz of Gur, who was also eager to capture the enemy's capital and burn it down.

"Before launching a fatal blow, we need to be cautious and wait for the enemy's movements and the news of our own reinforcements." At this time, Gawain was not very anxious in the camp in Herat. He just asked the generals and centurions not to relax, so that the soldiers and combat readiness of the entire camp were in a state of "loose outside and tight inside", and quickly sent the news of the capture of Herat to the Isfahan court, asking the other side to organize a counterattack in the Kerman area as soon as possible, drive Ghazni Khan Israel back to the Sistan Desert, and drive him into the "pocket" he set up.

Ten days later, the Mosiah Brigade and the Serbian Brigade, a total of 15,000 soldiers, arrived as the successor team.

Then the emperor quickly issued the marching deployment:

Gur King Iz drove all the people in Herat out of the city, and then left 3,000 people to defend the city. The remaining 2,000 cavalry, together with Gawain's four cavalry regiments and the guard cavalry, led by Melo, a total of 8,000 cavalry crossed the Argandab River and attacked Ghazni City directly;

The emperor led the rest of the troops, namely the Three Wings Brigade, the Mosiah Brigade and the Serbian Brigade, including artillery, and quickly moved south along Herat, preparing to seize the city of Drangana (later Zaranj), block Ghazni Khan's retreat, and force him to fight with himself on the edge of the Sistan Desert and Lake!

After the emperor's team walked for three days, Taji Khalaf, the Emir of the "Nasrid Dynasty" in the Sistan region, who was originally canonized by the Seljuk Sultan, came to the emperor's camp with more than 500 Sistan horse bandits and more than 100 camels, and was willing to be the emperor's guide.

This Taji Khalaf is also a descendant of a noble family. His ancestors were from the Persian Safar royal family. They lived in Sistan for generations. They usually farmed and herded, and when things were hard, they went out to rob as horse bandits. The small Nasrid dynasty he ruled was first a vassal of the Ghaznavid Khanate, and later surrendered to the Seljuk Empire. Its fate was not much different from that of the Ghurs. They all survived in the cracks between the big countries. Now, isn’t it relying on Emperor Gawain?

After the "Scourge Invasion" around the Oxus River broke out, Taji was originally in the Sistan Desert to resist Israel, but the little power he had was not enough to fill the gaps in the opponent's teeth. He was soon beaten into exile. After learning that Gawain had arrived, he ran out of the desert and returned to the organization.

Gawain received Taji warmly in the imperial camp, and handed over the eight "valued" handsome Turkic boys given to him by the Isfahan court to Taji. Taji was also grateful. In addition, the emperor promised him that as long as he destroyed the power of Ghazni Khan, the whole of Sistan, including Drangana, would be his.

Taji then told the emperor about the situation here:

"The Sistan region is dry most of the year. Only when the rivers flood in spring can water be brought in. Therefore, the agricultural irrigation areas are concentrated around several lakes and oases. Animal power relies on camels and mechanical power relies on windmills, which is not conducive to the march of the army."

"That means that when Israel attacked Kerman before..."

Taji agreed with the emperor's guess, "Yes, Your Majesty, Israel had swept away all the existing and stored food in the area when he went there, which means that if he returns, Sistan will have no food. What supplies can he plunder, unless he is a cannibal. "

The emperor was overjoyed when he heard this. He pointed to the location of Drangana on the map and said, "As long as I capture this place, Israel's tens of thousands of troops will be trapped and die in the Sistan Desert. I don't even need to fight him."

"That's right." Taji stroked his chest and said, "The great Allah will always be on your side."

At this time, the atmosphere in the tent became joyful, and then strangely condensed-everyone saw that the emperor frowned again, as if he didn't believe that victory would be so easy.

After all, he had to face a powerful country that had been strong for a hundred years and dominated this place for a long time.

After hesitating for a while, the emperor slightly changed the plan, "The decision of all troops to besiege Drangana remains unchanged, but Taji, your people must go deep into Sistan and bring me information about Israel's movements at any time. "

A few days later, intelligence came in: After receiving the news of the fall of Herat, the Isfahan court was overjoyed and immediately tried its best to organize an elite team of ten thousand people to garrison in Shiraz City and fiercely block Isfahan. Lyle's advance; soon Yisrael also obtained Gur After hearing the bad news about the rebellion of the tribe and the loss of Herat, and being alarmed that Gawain's army had begun to cut off his retreat, and making him a rat in the bag, he ordered the entire army to retreat, and then ordered an army of Mongolian servants to guard Gawain. Man Pass, the rest of the team retreated towards Sistan like a tide.

"Very good, really good!" Before the siege position under Delangana City, Gawain excitedly bent the tip of his whip and said in a loud voice to the messenger from the Sistan Desert, "In addition, tell Taji that you must not Relax the scout reconnaissance, I want to grasp Yisrael's retreat route and capture him at any time to eliminate him. "

Then the emperor turned around and looked at the craftsmen in front of him who were constructing the large Pulani cannon in the direction of the Delangana battlements. He felt very satisfied in his heart.

Check out the 16-9 book bar and see the correct version!

As long as the current castle is broken within a reasonable time (based on the current firepower level of Gawain's army, the breaking of any castle is a matter of time and military strength), and then rely on the high trenches and deep fortresses here to prevent Israel from getting supplies and supplies. If the road to the water source is blocked, then tens of thousands of his subordinates will automatically collapse without a fight.

But new military information came three days later, which made Gawain very angry. "Your Majesty, I'm sorry. Israel of Ghaznavids did not take the land route of Sistan. He boarded a large number of ships provided by the kings of Sindh at the seaside." The ship is sailing quickly towards Tata Port in Sindh along with the monsoon wind!”

"Bastard!" The emperor gritted his teeth. It seemed that Israel had the cunning and agility of his ancestors, and his IQ was definitely not that low.