"Brothers, I brought you something to eat." Hiros got into the short tent.
The quiet military tent suddenly became lively. The few people who were lying down turned over, and the hungry wolf quickly snatched the food from Hiros's arms.
"Hiros, if you don't come, I'll starve to death." Matonis was chewing half-baked horse meat, which is usually despised, but it was indescribably delicious in his mouth at this moment.
"I brought it from Antonios. Menon asked them to form a special team, risking the danger of being attacked by the Persians, the dead and wounded horses dragged back from the battlefield." Shiros sighed, hopeful Looking at the man still lying in the innermost part of the tent, he asked with concern, "How is Davos? Are you awake?"
"Wake up. But he's been in a daze. Anyone who talks to him doesn't seem to know each other. He doesn't say a word. Now he seems to be asleep." Giorgris replied sadly.
"I think he may have accidentally fallen into the Forgotten River while sitting on Chiron's boat, and now he has lost his memory." Olivers said.
"Shut up!" Matonis reached out and pressed Olivers' head, but he pushed him away.
Hiros separated the two with force and scolded: "We all came from the same town in Thessaly. We are thousands of miles away from our hometown, surrounded by enemies. If we don't unite, I'm afraid we won't be able to go back. already."
The tent fell silent for a while.
Hiros felt the heavy atmosphere, and he said comfortingly: "I have seen a few fighters with heavy head injuries. They were confused at first, and they will be normal after resting for a while. Maybe Davos will be tomorrow morning. You can greet everyone with a smile.”
"Davos is also a veteran, and he actually fell while chasing!" Olivers just said a few words irritably. Seeing Matonis staring at him again, he immediately closed his mouth.
"Heros, did little Cyrus win or was defeated?" The moment of silence made Geogris unable to bear the question that everyone cared about but feared the most.
Before, when they returned to the battlefield after chasing the fleeing enemy, they only found that the Persian army was still there, but the little Cyrus' army was gone. Because it was getting late, the two armies had no desire to continue fighting. After a confrontation, the Persian army retreated.
It was only then that the Greek mercenaries discovered that their camp had been looted. The soldiers were tired and hungry, and certainly did not have the energy to think and ask this very important question.
"Little Cyrus leads the cavalry. No matter whether they are victorious or defeated, he can easily leave the battlefield and join us tomorrow. Just another battle with the Persian king." Hiros said easily.
"But the Persian king's army is much larger than ours. If the little Cyrus is defeated, there will be fewer troops fighting with us tomorrow." Giorgris said worriedly.
"What are you afraid of! We have more than 10,000 heavy infantry! The Persians are as cowardly as rabbits! No matter how many people there are, they will not dare to fight us! I haven't had enough kills today, and I will fight again tomorrow, just right!" As soon as he heard it, he encouraged everyone in his way.
"Even if the little Cyrus was defeated, we also defeated their left flank and killed a lot of them. Tomorrow, the number of their soldiers will only be less than today!" Hiros was also confident.
"These damn Persians destroyed our camp, stole our food, and stole a lot of my silver coins! Tomorrow we will defeat them and take our things back!" Matonis said angrily.
"That's right!" Everyone shared the hatred: "Not only do we need to take back our things, but also theirs."
"Oh!" Olivers remembered something and said excitedly: "I heard that all the women of Cyrus were taken away, and only one escaped. It's the one I told you last time... It's beautiful like Aphrodite's Miletus woman, I heard that Clearchus led him into his tent, he will be happy tonight!..." Olivers swallowed and said slyly.
"Don't talk nonsense!" Hiros warned him.
"Olivers, if you have the ability, go to defeat the Persian king tomorrow and grab one of his women."
"Oh, that's a good idea! Martonis, you're a rare smart one."
"Damn Olivers, you want to be beaten again!"
While several people were laughing, a hoarse voice came from the innermost part of the tent: "Don't you think that little Cyrus was not only defeated! He was also killed!"
… … … …
Tisafonis rushed to the Persian king's tent, and the eunuch Masabadi was already waiting at the door: "The king is waiting for you, come in!"
When Tisafonis released the sword to the royal guard next to him, he found that the most trusted eunuch of the Persian king looked a little melancholy, and he couldn't help thinking: Is your majesty seriously injured
The large tent is filled with the aroma of rich frankincense, mixed with the smell of a few herbs.
Artaxerxes was lying on his side on the couch, wearing a gorgeous crimson robe, his naked chest was wrapped in white cloth, and red blood oozing could be seen faintly. A beautiful maid was gently rubbing his shoulders, and the medical officer Ketesia was standing next to him.
Seeing Thessaphnes come in, Ctesia immediately retire to the Persian king.
Artaxerxes told him to wait outside the tent door, so that he could be summoned immediately in case his injury changed.
Tisafonis watched the Greek doctor withdraw from the tent, and only half-kneeled, bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, I have lost the battle, and I have come here to ask Your Majesty to punish him!"
Artaxerxes didn't speak, Tisafonis began to feel a little uneasy, kneeling on the ground and even more motionless.
After a long time, I heard Artaxerxes say: "You lost the battle, Tisafonis. But at least you dared to attack. I heard that you led the cavalry to bypass the Greek heavy infantry defense line and attacked their rear. Defeated by their light shields and narrowly missed by a Greek javelin."
"Yes, Your Majesty. You know everything!" Tisafonis breathed a sigh of relief.
"You are much braver than those who fled without fighting! Get up!" Artaxerxes was still a little dissatisfied with the performance of the left wing of the Persian army yesterday, and then he raised his voice: "I am not as lucky as you. . Cyrus' spear stabbed me, fortunately my armor is strong enough. I can take the opportunity to stab him under the horse!"
Wasn't little Cyrus struck by the throwing spear of the guard Miceridad? Tisafonis was surprised, but he didn't show it. Instead, he said with admiration in excitement: "Your Majesty, everyone used to say that Cyrus was brave. Yesterday on the battlefield, when we were about to suffer defeat, Your Majesty, you took the risk. Taking the huge risk that a king should not take, come forward and personally kill Cyrus, the traitor! Let us have an incredible victory! Your Majesty, you are indeed the king of kings! You are born brave !"
Masabadi and Ketesia also immediately expressed their admiration for the heroic performance of the Persian king.
Artaxerxes blushed and said angrily: "Cyrus has been competitive since he was a child. As an elder brother, I have always let him. Last time at the enthronement ceremony, he tried to assassinate me. For the sake of my mother, I forgave him! I didn't expect my good intentions to be deceived by him, and he dared to launch a rebellion!! For the stability of the country, even if he is my brother, I have to execute him!"
"Your Majesty's kindness is known to everyone! Cyrus doesn't know what to do, seduce outsiders and invade the country, he deserves it!" Tisafonis said impassively.
Artaxerxes nodded, couldn't help coughing a few times, and the words just now took a lot of his energy: "My governor, you have repeatedly exposed Cyrus' conspiracy to me, and the governance of Asia Minor has also You have always performed very well! When this counter-insurgency is over, I will reward you well!"
"Your Majesty, as the governor of Asia Minor, this is my duty!" Tisafonis said solemnly.
Tisafonis bowed his head and pointed with his left hand to a large earthen pot placed on the wooden table in front of the couch, with a complicated expression on his face: "This is the head of Cyrus cut off by Masabadi and Hand, take it to the Greek camp and make them surrender immediately!!"
Note: The Battle of Kunasak has two parties who have left accounts, one is Xenophon. The other is the Persian imperial physician Ctesia, whose record is quoted by Plutarch of the Roman Empire in his biography of Artaxerxes, in which the Greek heavy infantry defeats the Persian right flank far from Xenophon. It's so easy to write. I chose Xenophon's account in the novel, although his description is a bit exaggerated, but it can explain some of the strange behavior of the Persians after the war.