As the reign of Khosrow Parviz progressed, the radiant shadow of his justice dimmed into severe oppression and avarice. The King, once the protector of his realm, became obsessed with levying harsh taxes and amassing vast treasures, leaving his subjects destitute. Blessed praises turned to bitter curses, and desperate families fled the borders of Iran to seek refuge in enemy lands.
Observing the King's tyranny and the realm's decay, a villainous border commander named Goraz, stationed along the Roman frontier, turned his back on his sovereign. At court, Zad-Farrokh, the King's chief chamberlain, likewise grew disillusioned as the measure of Khosrow's injustice overflowed. Zad-Farrokh entered into a clandestine conspiracy with the aged Goraz. Goraz dispatched a secret missive to Caesar of Rome, urging him to invade Iran and promising to act as his internal guide to overthrow Khosrow. Enticed by the offer, Caesar mobilized a massive Roman host and crossed into Iranian territory.
When news of the invasion reached Khosrow, the Shah remained unperturbed, discerning immediately that Goraz was the mastermind behind Caesar's advance. Gathering his chief counselors, Khosrow devised a brilliant masterstroke of deception. He penned a secret letter addressed to Goraz, fraudulently praising him for successfully luring Caesar into a trap: 'You have craftily enticed Caesar into our snare; hold your position until I arrive with my host so we may crush his army between us and capture all of Rome's forces!' Khosrow then selected an exceptionally clever and eloquent courier, bound the letter to his right arm, and commanded him to deliberately walk into Roman lines and act like a covert scout.
The courier approached the Roman camp and allowed himself to be captured by a Roman patrician. Covered in dust, with pale cheeks and darkened lips, he was dragged before Caesar. A Persian-speaking scribe unsealed the letter from the courier's arm and read it aloud. Hearing the letter's contents, Caesar turned pale as pitch, believing Goraz had betrayed him into a terrifying trap between Khosrow's vast army of 300,000 and Goraz's own forces. Stricken with horror, Caesar immediately ordered a retreat back to the safety of Rome.
When Goraz learned of Caesar's sudden retreat, he sent an anxious letter asking why Caesar had abandoned their pact. Caesar replied with fury, denouncing Goraz as a treacherous villain who attempted to hand him over to Khosrow. Following the Roman withdrawal, Khosrow dispatched a stern ultimatum to Goraz, demanding the surrender of his rebellious troops. Goraz gathered 12,000 elite cavalrymen and stationed them at Khorreh-ye Ardashir under the command of Zad-Farrokh.
Khosrow sent Zad-Farrokh to question the army's allegiance. However, Zad-Farrokh secretly incited the troops to open rebellion, telling them: 'Do not fear the King; his forces are scattered, his glory is gone, and no great men stand by his side. Openly curse both me and the Shah!' Taking heart, the entire host rose and showered the King with curses. Zad-Farrokh returned to Khosrow, claiming the army had turned wild and uncontrollable. Khosrow clearly realized that Zad-Farrokh was double-dealing and sowing discord; yet, out of fear of Zad-Farrokh's brother Rostam, who commanded ten thousand warlike swordsmen, the Shah concealed his knowledge and held his tongue.