Following the Khagan's proposal, the valiant and sagacious Gordyeh gathered her counselors and commanders in secret to chart a new path. She addressed the leaders, declaring: 'The Khagan is indeed a noble and grand monarch, yet historical destiny warns us that any blood-bond between Turan and Iran yields nothing but agony and doom. Remember how Siyavash, pure of spirit, allied with Afrasiab only to lose his head upon a golden basin? Remember how his son Kay Khosrow subsequently filled both realms with dust and blood? We are strangers in Turan, without roots or shield; we must not surrender our lives to the treacherous embrace of Turanian rule.'
She thereupon executed a brilliant stratagem: she drafted a covert letter to her brother Gorduya at the Iranian court, bidding him reveal their plight to Shah Khosrow Parviz and sway the King's heart with eloquent pleas so that a royal pardon might be granted. Upon hearing her words, the chieftains marvelled at her wisdom, praising her as a leader whose iron resolve no mountain could shake, outshining even the wisest viziers.
Without delay, Gordyeh summoned the army's muster-master, distributing generous coin to review the ranks. From the entire force, she handpicked one thousand one hundred and sixty elite horsemen—warriors so formidable that each could hold off ten foes in battle. She then gathered three thousand sturdy camels from the plains to carry their baggage and provisions. As pitch darkness fell over the land, Gordyeh arrayed herself in full war gear: she donned her coat of mail, strapped rich armor onto her steed, put on her helmet, and grasped a heavy mace. Alongside noble champions such as Sinah, Mehr, and Izad Goshasp, she led her armored host. Riding like the swift wind across dawning days and dark nights, they secretly abandoned Turan, spurring their chargers toward the sacred soil of Iran.
#1
وزان پس جوان و خردمند زن
✦
به آرام بنشست با رای زن
“Thereafter, the young and wise woman sat in tranquil council with her advisers.”
#2
چنین گفت کامد یکی نو سخن
✦
که جاوید بر دل نگردد کهن
“She said: 'A new matter has arisen, one that will never grow old or fade from the heart.'”
#3
جهاندار خاقان بیاراستست
✦
سخنها ز هر گونه پیراستست
“'The world-ruling Khagan has adorned his court and arrayed speeches of every kind.'”
#4
ازو نیست آهو بزرگست شاه
✦
دلیر و خداوند توران سپاه
“'There is no fault in him; he is a great king, brave, and master of the Turanian army.'”
#5
ولیکن چو با ترک ایرانیان
✦
بکوشد که خویشی بود در میان
“'Yet whenever a Turk strives to forge family ties with Iranians...'”
#6
ز پیوند وز بند آن روزگار
✦
غم و رنج بیند به فرجام کار
“'From such a bond and the turn of fate, nothing comes in the end but grief and torment.'”
#7
نگر تا سیاوش از افراسیاب
✦
چه برخورد جز تابش آفتاب
“'Consider what Siyavash gained from Afrasiab, save the blinding heat of misfortune?'”
#8
سر خویش داد از نخستین بباد
✦
جوانی که چون او ز مادر نزاد
“'That youth—the likes of whom no mother ever bore—lost his head at the very beginning.'”
#9
همان نیز پور سیاوش چه کرد
✦
ز توران و ایران برآورد گرد
“'And likewise, what did Siyavash's son do? He raised dust from both Turan and Iran in bloody strife.'”
#10
بسازید تا ما ز ترکان نهان
✦
به ایران بریم این سخن ناگهان
“'Make preparations so that, in secret from the Turks, we may suddenly take our word to Iran.'”
#11
به گردوی من نامه‌ای کرده‌ام
✦
هم از پیش تیمار این خورده‌ام
“'I have written a letter to my brother Gorduya, having already anticipated this grief.'”
#12
که بر شاه پیدا کند کار ما
✦
بگوید ز رنج و ز تیمار ما
“'So that he may reveal our plight to the Shah, and speak of our hardship and sorrow.'”
#13
به نیروی یزدان چنو بشنود
✦
بدین چرب گفتار من بگرود
“'By the power of God, when he hears my eloquent words, he will be swayed to mercy.'”
#14
بدو گفت هرکس که بانو توی
✦
به ایران و چین پشت و بازو توی
“Everyone said to her: 'You are our lady! You are the pillar and strength in both Iran and China!'”
#15
نجنباندت کوه آهن ز جای
✦
یلان را به مردی تویی رهنمای
“'Not even a mountain of iron could dislodge you; in courage, you are the guide to heroes.'”
#16
ز مرد خردمند بیدارتر
✦
ز دستور داننده هشیارتر
“'More vigilant than a wise man, more sharp-minded than a knowledgeable counselor.'”
#17
همه کهترانیم و فرمان تو راست
✦
برین آرزو رای و پیمان تو راست
“'We are all your servants and your command is supreme; your judgment and vow in this matter are right.'”
#18
چو بشنید زیشان عرض رابخواند
✦
درم داد و او را به دیوان نشاند
“When she heard this from them, she summoned the muster-master, gave him coin, and set him at his ledger.”
#19
بیامد سپه سر به سر بنگرید
✦
هزار و صد و شست یل برگزید
“He came and reviewed the army thoroughly, selecting one thousand one hundred and sixty champions.”
#20
کزان هر سواری بهنگام کار
✦
نبر گاشتندی سر از ده سوار
“Such that each rider, in the hour of battle, would not turn their head away from ten opponents.”
#21
درم داد و آمد سوی خانه باز
✦
چنین گفت با لشکر رزمساز
“She gave out money and returned home, speaking thus to the battle-ready force:”
#22
که هرکس که دید او دوال رکیب
✦
نپیچد دل اندر فراز ونشیب
“'Every one of you who has gripped the stirrup leather will not falter in hardship or triumph.'”
#23
نترسد ز انبوه مردم کشان
✦
گر از ابر باشد برو سرفشان
“'Who fears not the crowd of blood-spillers, even if swords rain down upon them like clouds!'”
#24
به توران غریبیم و بی پشت و یار
✦
میان بزرگان چنین سست و خوار
“'We are strangers in Turan, without support or allies, weak and humbled among their nobles.'”
#25
همی‌رفت خواهم چو تیره شود
✦
سر دشمن از خواب خیره شود
“'I intend to march when it grows dark, when the enemy's head is dazed with sleep.'”
#26
شما دل به رفتن مدارید تنگ
✦
که از چینیان لشکر آید به جنگ
“'Do not let your hearts grow anxious, for an army of Chinese will surely march out to fight.'”
#27
که خود بی‌گمان از پس من سران
✦
بیایند با گرزهای گران
“'For surely behind me, their chieftains will pursue us with heavy maces.'”
#28
همه جان یکایک به کف برنهید
✦
اگر لشکر آید دمید و دهید
“'Hold your lives in your hands, every single one of you; if their army arrives, charge and strike hard!'”
#29
وگر بر چنین رویتان نیست رای
✦
از ایدر مجنبید یک تن زجای
“'And if your mind is not set upon such a course, let not a single person move from this spot.'”
#30
به آواز گفتند ما کهتریم
✦
ز رای و ز فرمان تو نگذریم
“With one voice they cried: 'We are your servants; we shall not stray from your counsel and command!'”
#31
برین برنهادند و برخاستند
✦
همه جنگ چین را بیاراستند
“Upon this they agreed and arose, preparing all things to do battle with China.”
#32
یلان سینه و مهر و ایزد گشسپ
✦
نشستند با نامداران بر اسپ
“The champions Sinah, Mehr, and Izad Goshasp mounted their steeds alongside the famous warriors.”
#33
همی‌گفت هرکس که مردن به نام
✦
به از زنده و چینیان شادکام
“Everyone said: 'To die with honor is better than to live while the Chinese rejoice!'”
#34
هم آنگه سوی کاروان برگذشت
✦
شترخواست تاپیش او شد ز دشت
“At that moment she turned to the caravan, demanding camels until they were brought from the plain.”
#35
گزین کرد زان اشتران سه هزار
✦
بدان تا بنه برنهادند و بار
“She selected three thousand choice camels from among them to load the heavy baggage.”
#36
چو شب تیره شد گردیه برنشست
✦
چو گردی سرافراز و گرزی بدست
“When the night turned dark, Gordyeh mounted her steed, like an exalted hero with a mace in hand.”
#37
برافگند پر مایه برگستوان
✦
ابا جوشن و تیغ و ترگ گوان
“She draped precious armors over her steed, donning mail, holding a sword, and wearing a hero's helmet.”
#38
همی‌راند چون باد لشکر به راه
✦
به رخشنده روز و شبان سیاه
“She drove the army forward like the wind, traveling through bright days and pitch-black nights.”