บท 35: Mithridates’ Scheme
After a long time, the adjutant, Philesius, came to report, "All troops are ready."
Davos expressionlessly announced, "Let's go."
Previously, he didn't feel that it was obvious in the squad, but now, as the leader, looking down on the whole situation, he found a problem. In his previous life, although he wasn't a soldier, he more or less knew from watching movies and browsing the forum that one of the foundations of the army's victory is discipline and rapid mobility. During the university's military training, the emergency assembly was calculated in minutes. But now, it took more than an hour from the time he blew the trumpet to the end of the formation. This kind of delay had dampened half of his excitement as a leader.
Now, he, who has no prestige in the military, can only quietly observe and memorize all the disadvantages and think of solutions. When the time is ripe, he can talk about reorganizing the army and reforming the military system, which will probably be a long road.
When nearly half of the troops had left the camp, Philesius said, "Leader Davos, we should also go."
Davos nodded, Hielos had already brought his horse. Yesterday, when Davos learned that the leader had a horse to ride, he was quite nervous. In his previous life, he didn't know how to ride a horse. Who knew that after riding it, he could control it freely. It turned out that at that time, one of the few most powerful horse-riding races in the Mediterranean world was the Thessalians, and the original owner of this body had been grazing sheep and horses since childhood. The remaining memory and instinctive muscle memory were enough for Davos to control the horse freely.
He grabbed the reins of the horse, jumped onto it, and slightly clamped his legs. The horse raised its head and neighed, then trotted forward.
Davos sat on it with his head held high. Yesterday, the words of Tolmides had made him stop thinking about sharing the joy and suffering with the soldiers, and give the horses to the old, weak and disabled soldiers. Now, he needs to be high on the horse and remind the soldiers that he, Davos, is the leader of the whole army! As for the ways to win the hearts of the people, he should wait until he becomes a famous general.
Sitting on his horse and looking at the marching troops, Davos naturally felt a sense of pride in his heart, 'A man should be like this!'
Davos controlled his horse and rode slowly, Philesius and Asistes followed him, followed by the guards of Hielos who were walking. After leaving the camp and marching forward, they arrived at the meeting place of the whole army.
Davos thought that his team's movements were slow, but he didn't expect that there were other teams that haven't arrived. It seems that the delay of action is a common problem of the mercenaries, and everyone is used to it.
The Spartan troops of Cheirisophus were already standing in front of them. When Davos rode over to greet them, there was a lot of commotion among the troops that passed by. The soldiers of the other camp recognized him as the leader who had made a wonderful speech yesterday, but there were still some people who were jealous and dissatisfied at the fact that a young man who was still wet behind the ears was so high and mighty that they criticized his commanding ability, which made Asistes, who was following closely behind, to blush and look angry. Davos, however, did not hear it and just continued forward.
Only the troops of Cheirisophus were quiet, as if they didn't see him coming, which made Davos seriously look at these real Spartan warriors: They were dressed in full gear and arranged into a neat phalanx formation, each of them is strong and standing silently, like a tall pine tree, which became a unique sight in this noisy meeting place. And in their sharp and murderous eyes, Davos felt that once this silence erupts, what powerful strength will be released! The body, skill, tactics and discipline are one, this is the Spartan warriors!
Davos looked at them enviously, 'When will I be able to command such elite soldiers!' Later, he learned that only about a third of the soldiers of Cheirisophus were real Spartan warriors, while the rest were Periasis.
On both sides of the Spartan army are the small mercenary groups, such as Sousis, Passion, and so on. After the general meeting, most of them joined the troops of Cheirisophus, while the other leaders also had teams joining them, only Davos' camp was not interested. For this, Davos felt helpless.
Davos' army was very fast this time, because they basically followed the order when they left the camp: On the outermost side is the hoplite column, which is divided into four rows, and the first column is arranged in order behind. On the inner side is the hoplite column, which is divided into two rows, so that the length of the hoplite is the same, about half a mile in front and back. When the enemy attacks from the left wing, the marching hoplite soldiers can immediately turn right, the hoplite in front and the hoplite in the back, and they will quickly form a regular combat unit. The supply unit is located on the inner side of the hoplite, on the left side of this huge central open space. Davos and his guards are between the hoplite and the supply unit.
After about an hour, the troops of each camp were lined up, and the sound of the bronze horn rang out once more, and they could finally set off.
The marching speed was not fast, mainly due to the burden of the various supply camps. The tents, food, medicine, items and other supplies that can't be carried by people must be carried by horses and oxen. Horses can't carry heavy carriages, otherwise, the horse tools will squeeze their necks and suffocate them. The bulls are stronger than the horses, but their endurance is not good, and their temperament is not reliable.
Davos then saw Mersis shuttling back and forth in the supply camp to deal with the unexpected situation, and from time to time, he called the soldiers to help. Davos was secretly glad that he had listened to Mersis'suggestion and had sent him a squadron to help the supply camp. Finally, Davos' gaze fell on Cheiristoya, who was among the women. Although she was wearing the same clothes, her figure and temperament were like a crane in a flock of chickens, and it was easy to recognize her.
Cheiristoya seemed to have sensed it and turned to look.
Davos quickly looked away.
"At this speed, we won't be able to walk more than 5 kilometers in an hour." He said.
"It's already good that there are no Persians harassing us." Philesius had just finished speaking, when there was a commotion behind him.
"What happened?" Davos asked anxiously.
Asistes immediately sent a herald to check the rear.
After a while, the herald rode back, "It's the Persian general, Mithridates! He brought about 30 cavalry and loudly urged them to surrender not far from the right wing of the whole army!"
Heart attack! Davos' eyebrows jumped.
"Mithridates is the strategos of Cyrus the Younger, but his tactics won't work. We have been fooled by the Persians once, and only fools will fall for it again." said Philesius calmly.
Davos nodded and said, "Keep an eye on Mithridates and continue to inquire!" At the same time, ask Asistes to send another herald, so that they can send messages back alternately.
…
"More than 20 soldiers abandoned their weapons and ran to the Persians!… They… they surrendered to Mithridates!"
Davos was shocked, it was obvious that Philesius overestimated the intelligence of the mercenaries. Besides, the troops of Hieronymus had been arguing over the election of their leader yesterday, and now, they were easily torn apart by Mithridates with a lie. Will it cause the whole army to snowball? Davos began to worry.
"Mithridates went around to the rear of the whole army and shouted at Cleanor's troops!… About ten more soldiers threw down their weapons and ran to the Persians!"
Damn it! Davos' worries are coming true.
Philesius was also nervous.
It seems that Mithridates is ready to circle around the huge formation of the mercenaries and continuously disintegrate the morale of the soldiers. Moreover, he will soon arrive in front of Davos'troops!
"If only we can drive him away." said Asistes hatefully. But he also knew that it was impossible. The other party is a light cavalry, and they come and go like the wind, while the mercenaries don't have any cavalry.
"Just shoot him with a javelin!" Matonis pulled out the javelin on his back and shouted in the guards.
"How?! By the time you take the javelin out, the Persians will have run far away! Besides, the javelin is not as far as the Persian's bow!" Asistes retorted.
An idea flashed in Davos' mind, and he urgently asked the herald, "When Mithridates shouted, how far is it from our formation?"
"About a hundred meters away."
"When the surrendered soldiers ran over, did the Persians retreat?"
"No."
…
Davos asked a few questions in a row, and after getting an answer, faced with the puzzled gaze of Philesius, he pondered for a moment and then said to Philesius, "Now, I have an idea, do you think it will work?"
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