Chapter 58: Battle of the Bridge
Two armies stood in front of each other, fully knowing that only one may emerge victorious. Persian heavy infantry hid behind their thick shields in fear of the notorious Arab archers, while Arab cavalrymen looked around nervously, trying to pinpoint where those elephant roars are coming from. The air in the Persian Officer tent was tense, with the only one wearing a calm expression being Bahman Jaduya.
"General, was this really a good idea? To let the Arabs cross the river? Surely-"
"What could have been no longer matters. What matters is that the enemy has been lured right into our trap. We only need to defeat them here, on the field of battle."
Bahman quickly cut short one of the commander who was criticizing his approach.
"But how do you know we will win? If we lose, Ctesiphon is in danger, together with our Shahanshah."
"Do you think we will lose?"
"No, but-"
"Then do not talk. I don't expect you to win the battle, I only expect you to listen to my orders. Do that, and we will surely win."
"As you command, general." resigned the commander with a sigh.
Bahman then left the tent, the battlefield being laid out in front of him. The battle was about to begin.
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Jalinus was waiting a few hundred metres against the stream, where a provisory dam was built and saw the initial skirmish. Persian Aswaran rode out against the Arab light camel and horse cavalry. The clash was glorious, and the outnumbered Aswaran actually held quite well. But then, horn roared and they were suddenly recalled. In that very moment, out of nowhere, elephants charged the Arab horses and camels, scaring them and making them flee the battlefield, often throwing their riders onto the ground. Most of them were then stomped into the ground. He saw some panic in the Arab army. What could've happened? Nevertheless, the Arab archers quickly took aim and proved once again their ferociousness by aiming at the elephants eyes. Some of the shots connected, some did not and the elephants continued charging, until they were stopped by the bodies of fleeing archers.
--
Bahman was overseeing the situation from afar, being too old to actually participate in the battle. Bahman was overseeing the situation from afar, being too old to actually participate in the battle. He saw some confusion in the Arab army, but thought nothing of it, at least at first. As he saw the number of elephants waning, seeing they already did enough damage, he decided to have them recalled. He looked on the troubadour standing next to him and gave him the order. Then, once again, a horn roaring could be heard, as the elephants started to retreat. He felt as if victory was within his grasp, but couldn't help but feel it came way to easily. What could have happened?
--
"We have to reorganize! Infantry! Form a shieldwall and to the front! Archers, retreat behind the infantry and continue targeting the enemy! Cavalry, to me! We're going to charge!" cried Jabr, Abu Ubayd's son. After seeing his father and uncle die in the heat of battle, trampled by elephants, he wanted to avenge them quickly. But being hot-headed wasn't a trait suitable for a commander. Jabr took all the remaining cavalrymen and attacked the Persians, trying to get his way to the Persian general. He saw him when his father was talking with him in the river. Sleazy old man was he, and Jabr couldn't help but hate him. Not after his father and uncle was killed by that old man's elephants.
But war wasn't a simple thing, and being foolish didn't help Jabr much. His exhausted and outnumbered light cavalry didn't stand a chance against the Aswaran Bahman sent against them. It was a bloodbath, men screaming and falling off their horses. Last prayers could be heard, prayers to Allah, to keep their family safe. Strange, wasn't it? Man's last thoughts always went to his family, no matter what. Jabr himself took at least one Aswaran with him, before being slaughtered. Arab cavalry was gone, and with it any chance of winning this battle.
--
Bahman clearly saw the desperation of the Arab army. From that he deducted that either the general was an idiot, or that he died and was replaced. But it didn't really matter to him. When he saw the Arabs retreating along the coast, some fleeing through water, he knew the battle was won. But this wasn't all. He had one more thing to do. And, once again, roaring of a horn could be heard, but this time three times in a row. It was a signal. A signal for specific someone to do specific something. And it just happened that Jalinus was that specific someone. And he heard the signal loud and clear. And he knew what to do.
--
Al-Muthanna took command over what remained from the Arab army. His main objective was to get the hell out of here, in an orderly fashion. But to do that he had to cross the river or retreat along the coast and across the bridge. But since Persian infantry was already encircling them and cut off the escape route along the coast, he had no choice but to retreat the way they came here – across the river. Persian infantry didn't outright attack the Arabs, as if wanting to allow them to escape. Al-Muthanna thought this was strange, but didn't worry about it. Until he saw it. A massive wave of water quickly thundering straight into the retreating Arab army. Jalinus has done his job and let the water that was held by the provisional dam out, causing something close to a tsunami to lash out.
"By Allah! Move! Move! Quickly! Flee for your life!"
Al-Muthanna was trying to remain calm, but eventually snapped and started running for his life, which wasn't really easy in the water. But he was already almost on the other shore. Some weren't that lucky. Just as he got to the other side, he turned around, only to see half his army being swept away by the water, that would carry them to who knows where. The water took everything. Horses, camels, men, rations, equipment, everything it could. And now, only few thousand from the Arab army remained. Persians could've pursued them more and chase them down, but Bahman thought this will be enough to discourage them from any other invasion. Oh how wrong he was.