it is narrated about anushirwan that while he was on a journey and no one was following him at first and the people of high ranks were behind him in their ranks if he turned to the right the guard would approach him and if he turned to the left the one who was badgered would approach him. so he ordered him to bring whoever wanted to follow him. he said so he turned to the right on this journey and the guard approached him and said soandso. so he brought him and he said tell me about ardashir bin babak when he fought the king of the khazars. the man had heard this story from anushirwan once but he found it difficult to understand it and made him think that he did not know it. so anushirwan told him the story and the man listened to him with all his limbs and they were walking on the bank of a river.
وفيما يحكى عن أنوشروان أنه بينا هو في مسير له، وكان لا يسايره أحد من الخلق مبتدئا وأهل المراتب العالية خلف ظهره على مراتبهم، فإن التفت يمينا، دنا منه صاحب الحرس، وإن التفت شمالا، دنا منه الموبذ، فأمره بإحضار من أراد مسايرته، قال فالتفت في مسيره هذا، يمينا، فدنا منه صاحب الحرس، فقال فلان. فأحضره، فقال حدثني عن أردشير بن بابك حين واقع ملك الخزر، وكان الرجل قد سمع من أنوشروان هذا الحديث مرة، فاستعجم عليه وأوهمه أنه لا يعرفه. فحدثه أنوشروان بالحديث، فأصغى الرجل إليه بجوارحه كلها، وكان مسيرهما على شاطيء نهر.