Chapter 68: A Valley Drenched in Fire and Blood
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A Valley Drenched in Fire and Blood
The echoes of cannon blasts reverberated through the valley, each explosion hurling rocks and soil into the air. The clash of swords, the cries of soldiers, and the commands of officers completed the chaos of battle. While the initial hours of the conflict had been driven by strategy and planning, now both sides were mercilessly throwing themselves at one another.
The Türkmen cannons bombarded enemy lines relentlessly, matched by the heavy artillery of Shah Abbas. Both forces were engulfed in dust and smoke at the center of the valley. Halil han stood, lips tightly pressed, watching the battlefield without blinking.
"Selim, what's the status of the cavalry?" he shouted.
Selim, drenched in sweat, ran toward Halil han to respond. "Our cavalry on the right flank is holding, but they're weakening. Shah Abbas's light units are attacking with greater force."
Halil han nodded, gripping the reins of his horse tightly as he turned to Davut beside him. "Move our archers to the right flank. If our cavalry is forced to retreat, the archers will cover them."
At that moment, a cannonball from the enemy crashed into the Türkmen ranks, creating a massive explosion. Soldiers were thrown aside, some collapsing where they stood. Selim's face darkened. "We're running low on artillery, Commander. The enemy has the advantage in munitions."
Halil han raised his sword high and shouted to his soldiers. "Do not fear! These are the enemy's final struggles! Hold your positions and keep fighting!"
At the far end of the valley, Shah Abbas, despite his army's superiority, noticed that Halil han's forces were not retreating easily. This resistance both angered and forced him to be more cautious. He turned to Emir Rüstem beside him.
"The Türkmen are proving more resilient than I expected," Shah Abbas said coldly. "But they have less ammunition than us. We must increase the pressure and deplete their resources."
Rüstem bowed slightly. "My Shah, our frontline troops are advancing, but their archers are halting our cavalry. Our artillery could be more effective."
Shah Abbas nodded. "Pull back our light units and concentrate them at the center. Focus on their cavalry. We can encircle them from the flanks."
On the Türkmen left flank, the battle was just as fierce. Davut, pushing back enemy soldiers with his sword, shouted to his men. "Hold your ground! Reinforcements are coming!"
A young Türkmen soldier fighting beside Davut wiped the blood from his brow, breathing heavily. "Commander, can we hold out this long?" he asked.
Davut's voice boomed. "We will end this enemy in this valley. Hold on, brother! Halil han's plan is working."
The battle across the valley grew bloodier by the minute. The Türkmen cavalry, supported by archers, began repelling the enemy cavalry. Amid the cannon explosions, horses panicked, soldiers tried to break through enemy lines, and chaos reigned.
Halil han observed the flow of the battle keenly and spotted an opportunity. "Selim!" he shouted.
Selim rushed to his side. "Your command, Commander?"
"Send a unit to target the enemy's heavy artillery. If we silence their cannons, the advantage will be ours!"
Selim nodded and swiftly departed. Shortly after, Türkmen agile cavalry launched an attack on the enemy artillery through the mountain paths. Shah Abbas's soldiers, caught off guard by the sudden assault, were thrown into disarray as the Türkmen slashed and stabbed their way through.
When Shah Abbas realized what was happening, his face darkened. "Rüstem! Stop them! If we lose our artillery, this battle is over for us!"
But the Türkmen cavalry's sudden raid had already shaken Shah Abbas's artillery units. Meanwhile, the Türkmen frontlines began advancing. A glimmer of victory shone on Halil han's face.
"Davut!" he called out. "Order all our troops forward. The enemy is starting to panic. This could be our moment of victory!"
As the flames of war blazed across the valley, both sides pushed their forces to the limit. This battle was no longer just about weapons—it was a test of patience and determination.
As the smoke in the valley began to settle, the Türkmen's efforts finally started yielding results. When Halil han moved his troops forward, he noticed the disorganized retreat of Shah Abbas's forces. For the first time, he saw the enemy's morale breaking.
"This is it!" Halil han declared, standing tall on his horse and addressing his army. "Victory is ours! We are forcing the enemy to retreat! One more step forward!"
The Türkmen army, reinvigorated, launched a powerful charge as Shah Abbas's soldiers began to scatter. Halil han knew this victory could not be celebrated too quickly. The enemy army still had strength in numbers and equipment. But once fear took hold of an enemy, there was no turning back.
Selim, drenched in sweat, ran toward Halil han. "Commander, the enemy ranks are falling apart. Our cavalry has completely taken the left flank!"
Halil han smiled. "What's the status of our artillery?"
"Our cannons are still firing, Commander. But we're running low on ammunition."
Halil han fixed his gaze on Shah Abbas's banner in the distance. "We don't need more ammunition, Selim. The enemy is retreating. We'll finish them off with our swords!"
Shah Abbas, observing the course of the battle, saw his left flank collapse while the right flank weakened under the Türkmen's constant assault. His cavalry had been pushed back by archers and artillery. Emir Rüstem approached him with concern.
"My Shah, we can't hold any longer. The army's formation is breaking down. We must retreat!"
Shah Abbas frowned deeply. "Not yet. We can still delay them. Strengthen our central lines. If we can buy time, we may exhaust them."
Rüstem bowed in compliance, though anxiety gnawed at him. The Türkmen army was crushing every unit in their path without hesitation.
Halil han, nearing the enemy's central line, raised his sword high and shouted, "Deliver the final blow, my brothers! Let freedom songs echo across this land! Shah Abbas's tyranny will end!"
The Türkmen soldiers responded in unison, "Victory is with Allah's help!" and advanced fiercely toward the enemy lines.
In the heart of the valley, chaos reigned. Türkmen cavalry charged at the remaining forces of Shah Abbas. As the sounds of cannon fire faded, the clash of swords and spears echoed louder.
Selim passed by a Türkmen cavalryman and ran to Halil han. "Commander, Shah Abbas's banner has fallen! This is a sign that they've accepted defeat!"
Halil han exhaled deeply upon hearing this. "But our work is not done yet. We must corner Shah Abbas here. If we let him escape, he may regroup."
Watching his army fall apart, Shah Abbas turned to Rüstem, clenching his teeth. "Halil han has defeated us here. But they have yet to capture me."
Rüstem quickly guided Shah Abbas toward the narrow passes in the north of the valley. "My Shah, we can retreat from here. Our soldiers will protect you."
"Retreating means fighting another day," said Shah Abbas, though his words were filled with deep anger.
As the Türkmen army mopped up the remaining enemy forces, victory cries echoed across the valley. Halil han calmly turned to Selim and gave his orders. "Gather the wounded in the valley. Shah Abbas may be planning an escape. Prepare to capture him."
Selim nodded and swiftly got to work. This victory for the Türkmen was not just the triumph of a single battle but a symbol of defiance against years of oppression.
As the dust in the valley slowly settled, the Türkmen flag waved proudly in the wind.