The Rise Of An Empire In Ancient Europe
Chapter 49 Racing Against Time (Part 2)

Chapter 49: Chapter 49 Racing Against Time (Part 2)

The Persians had initially prepared to defend against the mercenary army’s assault. However, they soon noticed that the mercenaries were running toward a nearby mountain peak instead. Alarmed, they realized their mistake and quickly regrouped, marching swiftly toward the same peak.

At this moment, Tissaphernes’ main force was nearing the mountain pass. The mercenaries had formed a battle line near the pass, with their baggage train and wounded stationed in the rear. The Persian-held mountain ridge was already very close. If the Persians unleashed a full barrage of arrows from the ridge, they could barely reach the edge of the mercenary formation. However, both the Persians and Xenophon’s troops were now racing toward the summit from opposite sides.

"Form the shield wall! Stone-throwers, get ready! Archers, prepare!" The leaders issued stern commands to their units with grave expressions. At the front of the mercenary formation, the Persians advanced like an overwhelming tide, gradually expanding their lines as they closed in.

"Faster! Faster! Hold on, brothers! You’re fighting for your survival!" Xenophon encouraged his troops as he led them uphill. "Push a little harder now, and we’ll have an easier march ahead, sparing ourselves many unnecessary battles!"

As they climbed halfway up the mountain, the soldiers felt their muscles aching, their breathing labored, and their pace slowing. But seeing the Persians on the opposite slope also scrambling up the mountain spurred them with a sense of urgency, leaving no room for hesitation.

Though the Persians were closer to the summit, their side of the mountain was steep, unlike the gentler slope the mercenaries were climbing from the back.

In this "mountain-climbing race," the Greeks ultimately triumphed. They reached the summit first and, without pausing to rest, immediately hurled javelins and stones at the ascending Persians.

The Persians turned and fled, abandoning their original positions, retreating all the way to the base of the mountain.

Tissaphernes’ long-range attacks continued, despite mounting losses among his troops. He refused to order a retreat, intensifying the pressure on the mercenaries. Just as they struggled to hold their ground, scouts arrived with a message from Xenophon: they had seized the ridge and driven off the Persians!

"Retreat!" Clearchus breathed a sigh of relief.

The mercenaries began an orderly withdrawal. The Persian forces pursued them relentlessly. But when they entered the range of Xenophon’s troops on the ridge, they were struck by a devastating barrage of rolling stones and javelins from above, forcing them to blow the retreat horn.

After exiting the pass, the mercenaries arrived at a plain with several villages. They set up camp, treated their wounded, and replenished their supplies. The guides informed them that the Tukian Mountains lay just ahead. The leaders convened for an important meeting.

"We Greeks oppose the Persians, and the Tukians also resist them," one leader began. "The guides say the Persians once sent a force of about 100,000 to subdue the Tukians but were soundly defeated. Since both we and the Tukians are enemies of the Persians, we should be able to coexist peacefully. We’re merely passing through to Armenia and mean no harm to them. If we send emissaries to express our peaceful intentions, I believe they’ll accept."

After months of hardship, Xenophon’s confidence had grown.

"Peaceful coexistence? Easier said than done!" Timasion scoffed. He was annoyed by Xenophon’s boldness, as both he and Juleios were young and exceptionally capable, drawing envy and resentment from older mercenaries like Timasion and Cleanor. "An army of over ten thousand entering their territory, especially one that has repeatedly defeated the Persians—how could the Tukians not feel threatened? Do you think this is without risk?"

Before Timasion finished, Cleanor added, "My soldiers captured some Tukian slaves from the Persians a few days ago. According to them, ’Tukians’ is just a Persian term for the mountain people in this area. The Tukian Mountains are home to numerous tribes of different races, often at odds with each other. Some are even mortal enemies. If we negotiate with one tribe, it could take too long, and we’ll run out of supplies."

"Looks like we’ll have to force our way through!" Hieronymus, who rarely spoke, said firmly. "We won’t initiate hostilities, but if anyone dares attack us, we’ll show them what we’re capable of!"

"And who’ll show whom?" Zantiparis remarked bitterly. "The Persians’ control of a single ridge caused us no end of trouble, and that was just a few mountains! The Tukian Mountains are entirely mountainous terrain. We’re mostly heavy infantry, burdened with supplies, making it hard to march, let alone fight. The Tukians, familiar with the terrain and skilled climbers from a young age, will have the advantage. They could harass us endlessly, and we’d be powerless to stop them..."

Zantiparis’ words cast a heavy silence over the group.

Xenophon seized the opportunity to add, "That’s why we need to negotiate with the Tukians."

No one responded, instead looking to Clearchus. Clearchus turned to Juleios, who had been silent in the corner, and asked, "What do you think, Juleios?"

Smiling faintly, Juleios replied slowly, "We’re really deciding between two options: negotiate with the Tukians—safe but time-consuming, and there’s a chance they’ll refuse; or force our way through—quick but costly in lives."

"Can these options be combined?" Everyone was puzzled, including Clearchus.

Nearby, Philisius suppressed a chuckle. The officers in Juleios’ camp had already discussed this the previous night. While initially stunned by Juleios’ unorthodox suggestion, they had to admit it was highly feasible. Now, watching the perplexed expressions of the leaders, Philisius couldn’t help but feel a smug sense of superiority.

Everyone asked in unison, "How do we combine them?"

"Find a tribe and collaborate with them. Let them clear the way for us!" Juleios’ response was astonishing.

The group was stunned.

Xenophon was the first to react. "You mean... get the Tukians to fight the Tukians? Is that even possible?"

"Anything is possible with the right incentives!" Juleios said confidently.

During the mercenaries’ three-day stay in the village, Persian cavalry frequently appeared, attacking stragglers, seizing livestock, and attempting to burn the villages.

The leaders concluded that Tissaphernes was doing everything possible to prevent the mercenaries from entering Tukian territory, even at the cost of destroying Persian land and people. To preempt more desperate measures, the army decided to advance into the Tukian Mountains.

At dawn on the fourth day, the mercenaries broke camp and marched north.

From a distance, Tissaphernes watched the long column of Greek mercenaries disappear into the shadows of the mountains.

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