Having joyfully crossed the Bridge of Nahrawan, the young monarch Khosrow Parviz summoned all the noble chieftains and seasoned commanders of his army, seating them honorably upon royal thrones. Addressing them, the King declared that this was his first true test of sovereignty, a trial demanding valour and steel. He acknowledged that while they had loyally served his ancestors through sweet and bitter times, he now had a critical secret to impart—one that must remain confined to this inner circle lest public knowledge ruin the strategy.
Khosrow revealed his design to launch a sudden night raid against Bahram Chubin, noting that the rebellious general dismissed him as an inexperienced youth, seeking to daunt him with display of iron and mace. The assembled host initially gave their oath to obey the royal decree. But as the pitch-black veil of night descended over the world like perfumed tresses, Khosrow retired to his royal pavilion, cleared all strangers, and brought forth his most trusted advisers: Gustaham, Bandoy, and the battle-wise Garduy.
When Khosrow laid out his plan for the night strike, Gustaham voiced a stern, profound warning. He pointed out the fatal flaw: the two opposing armies were bound by blood—fathers fought on one side and sons on the other, brothers faced brothers, and grandfathers faced grandsons. A night raid under such conditions would break the morale of the troops and drive them to turn away in horror. Furthermore, Garduy added that such a secret had likely already leaked to Bahram's camp, making a night assault a death trap.
Heeding their sharp wisdom, Khosrow abandoned the reckless night strike. Instead, he handpicked an elite group of fierce, steadfast champions—including Kharrad Borzin, the lion-hearted Gustaham, Shapur, the brave Andiyan, Bandoy, Kharrad, and the war-commander Nastuh. The King then ascended a green, elevated hill overlooking the plain, carefully watching the enemy forces from afar as he prepared his next tactical move.