Davos smiled: "My answer is to accept Turui's employment."
Despite some preparations in his heart, Burkes couldn't help but look surprised.
"Don't be too happy! This is just my personal opinion. I have to convince the officers and soldiers under my command. After more than a year of fighting in Persia, many of them are tired of the war and eagerly want to Back home." Davos poured cold water on him first, and then said, "I will try my best to convince them, of course, the higher your employment salary, the more you can impress them."
"Two Dalic gold coins a month for a soldier!" Burkes said decisively.
Davos thought about it in his heart and asked, "How many people do you need?"
"Of course the more the better!" Burkes blurted out without hesitation.
"Oh, what a big tone! If I take 5,000 people there, the monthly salary and stipends are a huge number. Can Turui afford it?"
"I said that Turiyi is one of the most prosperous city-states in Greater Greece! Even if you bring 10,000 people, Turiyi can easily support you for a year by himself! Bulcos said confidently.
"Well, I hope so." Davos expressed cautious optimism, and then asked: "And, how do we get to Turii? How many ships do you have?"
"I have already negotiated with the Byzantine shipowners, as long as I pay, there will be as many ships as you want!"
"Then, will the Spartans here allow us to leave and go to Turii?" At this time, Davos asked the question he was most concerned about.
"I have been authorized by the Spartan Senate. At the same time, the Byzantine chief Kleinde is having a headache for your existence. He is happy to see your departure." Bulcos replied confidently.
So Davos simply agreed: "It seems that you have already made arrangements. Then, I will tell you the number of soldiers I will lead tomorrow morning, and discuss a more detailed employment agreement with you."
"Okay, I'll come back tomorrow morning. I hope to get good news from you!" Although there were some twists and turns at the beginning, it was finally settled, and Burkes left happily.
"Dear, are you really going to go to Turii?" said Cristoia, who had been listening quietly.
"Yes!" Davos turned around, his eyes flashing with excitement: "Cristoia, maybe this is a good opportunity! An opportunity for us to turn from fish in the water into fishermen casting nets !"
… … … …
Matonis sat on the ground, excited and curious in his heart: you must know that since he served as the sub-commander, he has never participated in the discussion and formulation of any decision-making in the military camp. Is there any major decision for them to participate in the meeting as sub-captains
He looked around and saw that Olivers was laughing loudly with others not far away. This kid has now become a squad leader and has the same status as him. Every time he sees him, it makes him uncomfortable, so he shouts: " Olivers, there is a military meeting here, not your tent, please keep quiet!"
Olivers turned his head and smiled and said, "It turned out to be the brave Matonis. Are your two soldiers who violated military regulations and robbed Byzantine citizens punished?"
When Matonis heard this, although his stomach was full of fire, he did not dare to shout.
Since entering Armenia, Davos has become an important leader of the mercenary army. His military talents have not only been recognized by the leaders and soldiers, but also conquered the hearts of the subordinate soldiers, so he began to gradually rectify and reform the team. .
During the expedition in Armenia at that time, the mercenaries continued to have small conflicts with the local indigenous people, and there were not a few casualties, including team officers. Moreover, Armenia and later Facia, Taojiya and other places were mostly mountainous, and it was not easy for large troops to expand. So Davos, according to the actual situation, first merged the army of fourteen centenarians into seven two-hundred-man companies, and one company had four fifty-man detachments, which was not only convenient for command, but also in mountain operations. , more flexible and changeable: because one detachment has enough combat power to repel small groups of enemies, and a wing has the ability to undertake independent combat tasks, because it has four detachments, and can use two detachments to fight head-on , another detachment detours to the flank, another detachment is used for preparation, and so on.
After this merger and rectification, the combat effectiveness of his team has been greatly improved, and some soldiers even proudly said in private: "Our Davos is not only the favored one of Hades, but also inspired by Athena!"
Then, Davos took advantage of the death and injury of a team officer to promote his capable confidants. For example, Hiros has been promoted to company captain, and Matonis, Olivers, Georgris, etc. have all become The squad leader gave him a firmer grip on his troops.
Then, he began to implement the second step of the reform plan, formulating a "military law" to strictly restrain the soldiers. For the free-spirited mercenaries, this is simply killing them. However, the situation was special at that time. A considerable part of the conflict with the local indigenous people was caused by the soldiers wantonly stealing and looting property. Therefore, regulating military discipline is the best way to reduce conflicts. However, Davos not only cleaned up military discipline, but also made some regulations in military aspects such as marching, camping, and reconnaissance. For example, Davers was surprised by the simplicity of mercenary camps in the past, and sometimes there was no protection at all, so he It is stipulated that when camping, the camp must dig trenches, set up deer villages, and build earth barriers.
At the beginning, the soldiers were reluctant to execute it. After the march, they were already very tired. They still have to do this kind of hard work. Are they tired? However, during the two nighttime raids on the camp by the mountain people, the soldiers in other camps collapsed, causing casualties and property losses. Only Davos's troops were safe and sound under the protection of the trenches and earth walls, and the soldiers began to accept this from their hearts. a regulation. Of course, Davos only made some simple rules in various aspects, and he did not dare to take it too seriously, such as: fleeing during combat, leaving it in the past life has always been a felony of beheading, but he wants to do it, the barracks Soldiers had to rebel, so he only used some lighter punishments: caning (not dare to beat too much), fasting, etc. For the Greeks who valued honor, they were beaten by stripping their pants in front of their comrades. Ass is a very shameful thing, unless it is a special case, they will try their best to abide by the rules.
Of course, there were many soldiers who couldn't bear the control and ran to other barracks. In addition to the dead and wounded soldiers, the number of soldiers in the Davos Barracks should be greatly reduced. You know, when the entire Greek mercenary army returned to Byzantium, it was reduced from the original 13,000 (purely referring to soldiers) to 9,000 (already more than half the number in history, and Davos played a big role in it). effect). However, the number of soldiers under his command is still not much different from when he took over, about 1,400 soldiers.
There are four reasons why the number of soldiers has not decreased: First, Davos manages the army to try his best to be fair and just. No matter whether the officers or ordinary soldiers are treated equally, there is nothing special. The property harvested from each battle and looting is also distributed to the soldiers according to the credit, and he is empty-handed; 2. His troops are the strongest in combat and have the least casualties, especially after the military reform. Of course, it is a strong support for soldiers who want to go home alive; 3. The medical battalion he established healed a large number of wounded soldiers, and half of the soldiers chose to stay. Among them, Kristoia's intentional guidance helped Great role; Fourth, Davos's personal charm. "God's favor", a military genius, and mysterious in one, he is amiable to the soldiers, and even used his war horse to carry the wounded many times... Soldiers are happy to accept his command, and affectionately call him "our Davos".
Now, Davos has led the mercenaries to gradually adapt to the military law that Davos seems to be relatively simple, but has been very strict to these soldiers. Therefore, Matonis knew that his soldiers violated the laws and regulations made by Davos before coming to Byzantium, and they would definitely be punished, which was somewhat unacceptable to him who guarded the short. At this moment, he had no time to think too much, because Davos had already opened the tent and walked into the venue with Marigi.
Note: The incident of the annihilation of more than 10,000 citizens of Turii by the Lucanians really happened in history, but it was about ten years later (the exact time is unknown), and the reason will be mentioned later.