CHAPTER XXVI

"Yes, when Christopus comes, we'll talk about it!" At the mention of Chrysops, everyone's expressions were obviously relaxed, which made Davers curious, and asked Xenophon in a low voice, "Who is Chrysops?" ”

Xenophon said with a complicated expression: "I heard that Cyrus the Younger had an agreement with Sparta, and he fully funded Sparta to build a navy, and when Cyrus the Younger went to war, Sparta also needed to provide military assistance. Pen Fun Pavilion www.biquge.info"

Davos reacted immediately and said in surprise: "You mean, Callethopus was sent by Sparta?!" ”

"He was the procurator of Sparta, and I heard that he had joined the ranks of Cyrus the Younger with seven hundred hoplites...... At that time, he didn't know that Cyrus the Younger was going to rebel, and by the time he found out, it was too late, so he and his troops had been keeping a low profile among the mercenaries, but many high-ranking officers knew his identity......" Xenophon said with some schadenfreude.

Davers knew why Xenophon had such an expression, because he was an Athenian. Unlike other Greek city-states that also had procurators, Sparta's procurator system was unique in that it had great powers: it could supervise citizens, try the Periasians, punish the Helots, and enjoy the highest civil and partial criminal trials; He can always monitor the king's every move with a vigilant eye, has the right to sue the king, and can summon him for trial at any time. Moreover, Sparta's Ombudsman could only be served by civilians, and every autumn five Ombudsmen over the age of 30 were elected by lot, and an order would be issued when they joined the company, requiring each citizen to shave his upper lip and beard and abide by the laws of the country, which shows how much importance Sparta attached to the Ombudsman. According to Xenophon, it was because of this system of inquisitors in Sparta that the plebeians held power that it was not regarded as a tyrant by the other city-states.

There was such an important figure hidden in the ranks of the Greek mercenaries, he was probably the only general with official status among the mercenaries, and he was also a Spartan. After the defeat of Athens, Sparta was already the overlord of the entire Greek city-state, and the Greeks regarded it as the first to look at it, at least in awe. The previous Spartan Clearchus was a deserter and was sentenced to death by the Spartan government, but the one who was about to arrive was a real Spartan warrior, and he brought the same 700 Spartan warriors.

As he was about to see the ancient Spartan warriors who had swept the world in his previous life, Davers eagerly awaited and maliciously wondered: Will they wear red pants?

While waiting for Chrythops, the temporary heads of these barracks were not idle, and they invited all the officers of the barracks up to the level of squadron leader to participate in the discussion, there were nearly two hundred in total, and there was no room for so many people in the big tent, so they sat down in a large circle in the open space of the camp of Clearcus, and when everyone had arrived, it was not long before Chrythopus arrived.

Early in the morning, Chrysopus went to a nearby village to prepare supplies for his soldiers, which was south of the Greek mercenary camp and therefore was not intercepted by the Persian cavalry. When the herald found him, he was hurrying back, already knowing what had happened along the way. When he arrived at the meeting, everyone consciously gave him a spacious vacant seat, and without hesitation, he sat down directly on the dirt floor like everyone else, and began to look around: it was true that he did not see the main mercenary leaders...... Thinking of Clearcus' uncertain life and death, he felt a little sad in his heart. Clearchus and his comrades-in-arms, in the war with Athens, made a lot of achievements, was a member of Sparta, but because he could not adapt to peace, refused to obey Sparta's orders, was sentenced to death and fled. When Chrysopus saw him in the army of Cyrus the Younger, he did not send his men to arrest him, first, because he did not want to destroy the cooperation with Cyrus the Younger; The second is to cherish this comradeship......

His gaze slowly swept over the faces, and stopped when it fell on one man: it was a very young face, and among the large number of officers whose average age was mostly over thirty years old, this young man should not have been more than twenty years old, and he was sitting at the front of the line, so he was unusually conspicuous. What's even more strange is that the attitude of several people around him is quite respectful of this young man, he looks at him with blazing eyes, and smiles and nods at himself...... Somewhat confused, Christopus hurriedly whispered to his lieutenant, who asked the others before coming to tell him.

The "Divine Favorite" of the Menon Barracks? Repeated "oracles" have been fulfilled? Chrysops frowned: the management of the mercenaries was really chaotic, allowing a childish-looking young man to occupy a high position!

Although the Spartans claimed to be descendants of Hercules, they did not have much respect for the gods and believed in their own power. Conservative people also do not believe in the idea that young people are promising, otherwise there would be no rule that "Spartans can only break away from collective life after the age of thirty, and become independent, marry, and hold important positions......". As a result, Chrysops' first impression of Davers was not good.

In Davers's eyes, there was a big difference between the image of Chrythopus and the imaginary Spartan warrior: he was not tall and ordinary-looking, and if it were not for a few scars on his face and a sharp gaze to remind others of his warrior status, Davers might have thought that he was just an ordinary old Greek peasant.

After quieting down a bit, Chrythopus began to speak: "I already know what happened, what do you suggest?" ”

For a while, there were many whisperers in the venue, but no one stood up to speak. After all, speaking out in the face of more than 200 battle-experienced generals requires not only courage, but also a certain amount of speaking skills and insight, which is not an easy task for poor Greek mercenaries.

Davers did not speak, not because he was afraid, but because he had found that he was young and just an ordinary soldier in this group, and that his overly ostentatious behavior was too easily offensive, so he decided to wait and see what happened.

At last, Xenophon stood up: "Ladies and gentlemen, the Persians have broken their promise and killed or imprisoned our leaders and soldiers, and they want us all to surrender our weapons. Now our war with the Persians is inevitable! You have all seen that most of the soldiers in the camp were confused, afraid, and even crying when they learned the news! If this situation is not changed quickly, if the Persians come to attack and need them to fight, they will not have the courage to wave their bayonets at the enemy, and we will be in danger of annihilation!

Ladies and gentlemen, you are officers in various military camps, and your salary and status are higher than ordinary soldiers, and your ability is stronger than theirs. Now in the face of danger, the soldiers are pinning their hopes on you, and you must show great courage and determination to fight to the death against the Persians in order to stabilize the mood of the soldiers and boost their confidence!

At the same time, we must at once elect a new general of the various military camps to replace Clearchus, manage and restrain the soldiers of the various military camps, draw up a good plan, command the whole army to defeat the Persians, and lead us to Greece without a smooth return! With the protection of Zeus, we will definitely be able to get out of Persia!! ……”

Xenophon's words provoked a great reaction in the crowd, and some even applauded. Xenophon looked at Timason with a cold expression and quickly looked away.

In fact, the Greek mercenaries who are in a difficult situation at the moment have only this option. Chrysopus immediately stood up, and said in a decisive but firm tone: "Ladies and gentlemen, we have no time to delay, so please go back to your respective barracks at once, elect your new leader, and then let them come here for a military meeting to discuss and formulate a plan." ”

He looked around at the crowd and continued to say loudly: "In the afternoon, still here, let's hold another assembly of the whole army!" With that, he turned and left without waiting for the officers to react.

And so it was! Davers clenched his fists and followed Antonios to their feet.

The officers rushed to their barracks.