The Rise Of An Empire In Ancient Europe
Chapter 40 Suspense (Part 1)

Chapter 40: Chapter 40 Suspense (Part 1)

"What you mean is..." Zantiparis asked thoughtfully, "to form our ranks and fight the pursuing Persians after passing through the gorge?"

"And the narrow road in the gorge will slow their retreat, making it easier for us to catch up. The more Persians pursue us, the slower their retreat from the gorge will be, allowing us to inflict heavier losses!" replied Cheirisophus with confidence.

"But the Persians aren’t fools. If they see us prepared, why would they risk entering the gorge?" Xenophon asked, causing the group to pause.

Cheirisophus, full of confidence, responded, "That’s why we won’t attack near the mouth of the gorge. Instead, we’ll attack whenever they catch up to us! We’ll lure them into pursuing us."

"Exactly! The Persians won’t dare engage us head-on. Now that we have slingers and cavalry, we can give them a surprise. Once we attack together, we’ll drive them back to the gorge. Its narrow exit will slow their retreat, making it easier to chase them down!" said one of the commanders.

Everyone chimed in, and the plan quickly took shape.

Suddenly, someone suggested, "Why don’t we station a force on this side of the gorge to ambush the Persians and seal off the gorge after they pass through?"

The group was stunned and turned to look. It was Juleios, who had been sitting in the corner, listening attentively.

"...You’re suggesting we annihilate them completely?" Cheirisophus looked at Juleios, trying to suppress his surprise.

Juleios extended his hand, forming a fist and swinging it forcefully. "Of course! Simply defeating them means they can retreat, regroup, and attack us again. Only by encircling and annihilating them can we deliver the greatest blow to the Persians!"

The Greeks, who admired strength and favored direct assaults, rarely used tactics like ambushes or encirclements. Their armies, composed mainly of heavy infantry, relied on brute force to win battles. Even the renowned Spartans were no exception, achieving victories like those at Marathon and Plataea through frontal assaults. Concepts like ambushes, encirclements, and annihilation were almost absent in the military history of Greek city-states.

However, Juleios, with a soul from the future, wasn’t bound by this era’s limitations. While his military experience was still nascent, his strategic thinking was centuries ahead. As he proposed this plan, a famous saying from his past life came to mind: "Injuring ten fingers isn’t as effective as cutting one off."

Cheirisophus studied the youthful face of Juleios, astonished by his audacity and vision. Though the plan was tempting and feasible, he remained cautious. "There’s a dense forest not far from the gorge. But if you station too many soldiers, Persian scouts might discover them. If too few, how will you stop a large number of Persians from retreating?"

Juleios had anticipated this question and replied earnestly, "No plan is perfect, and every military operation carries risks. Our goal is to minimize those risks. First, let me ask you, Cheirisophus, how far is the forest from the gorge entrance?"

"About three miles," Cheirisophus answered without hesitation, as if the terrain were etched in his mind. Juleios couldn’t help but admire him; terrain reconnaissance was an essential skill for a competent commander, one he needed to master.

Hearing this, Juleios felt reassured about the plan’s feasibility. He analyzed confidently, "If the entire army sets off before dawn, the ambushing force should reach the forest while the Persian scouts are still asleep. Stationing 300 to 400 soldiers should keep the ambush hidden. If the Persians do send a large force, the ambushers don’t need to completely block them. Leaving a small gap for the Persians to flee through will give us an opportunity to strike during their retreat. Even if we can’t annihilate them, the results would still be significant."

"Encircle three sides and leave one open"—Juleios’s strategy echoed the teachings of Alexander the Great, the military theorist from his era. A sense of pride welled up in him, further boosting his confidence. "If the Persians don’t take the bait, we have nothing to worry about. By midday, if the enemy hasn’t shown up, the ambushers can withdraw. Without baggage, they’ll move quickly, and our main force can support them at the gorge entrance."

Juleios’s meticulous reasoning won over the other commanders. They unanimously agreed to add an ambush unit to the plan.

Even Timasion, who had often dismissed Juleios due to his youth, began to see his potential. In a manner characteristic of Spartans, who valued nurturing the next generation, he asked, "Juleios, would you be willing to lead this ambush unit?"

Juleios froze for a moment, seeing trust and expectation in Cheirisophus’s eyes. After careful consideration and despite Philesius’s objections, he nodded firmly under the group’s complex gaze. "I will!"

The next day, before dawn, the Greeks were roused by the sound of the war horn. They packed their belongings, donned their armor, and set off groggily.

They reached the gorge just as the horizon began to brighten.

Juleios led three heavy infantry companies and one light infantry company, separating from the main force. The other leaders sent him off with blessings:

"May Zeus be with you!" Cheirisophus said.

"May Ares grant you strength!" Timasion added.

"May Athena bring you luck!" Xenophon chimed in.

Meanwhile, Artauzus began his march even earlier than the day before. His force now included 4,500 archers and 1,500 mounted archers, boosting his confidence. He was eager to crush the Greek army and claim the deputy governorship promised by Tissaphernes.

Scouts reported that the Greeks had already broken camp and crossed the gorge, putting 20 miles between them and the Persians.

Artauzus assumed the Greeks were fleeing to avoid his assault. Recalling his vows to Tissaphernes, he felt a sense of urgency. "I can’t let them escape! I must crush them today!" he declared, urging his troops to quicken their pace.

When they reached the gorge, Artauzus didn’t hesitate to advance. His scouts had told him the Greeks were five or six miles beyond the gorge’s exit.

"The Persians have entered the gorge, Leader Juleios!" Asistes ran back to the forest to report.

"How many are there?" asked Antonios.

"Their column is long—probably several thousand!" Asistes replied, panting.

"Looks like we’ve caught a big fish!" Amintas whistled lightly.

"Then let’s execute the second plan we discussed last night," Juleios said, maintaining his composure despite the tension.

"Brothers, it’s time to get to work!" Kapus shouted firmly.