The main forces of Macedonia successfully completed their reorganization. Garrisons and newly formed troops from all over the country gathered outside the capital, Thessaloniki.

Antigone now spends his days in the barracks, leaving most of the affairs of state and administration to Guerras. He himself led the generals to diligently practice the formation of soldiers and the sequence of battles.

He knew that the first task of organizing these soldiers from different cities and regions into a legion was to forge them into an iron plate.

Let each soldier fit into the whole. Understand your responsibilities and responsibilities to your comrades-in-arms, and cover and cooperate with each other between all sides and different arms.

Antigone emphasized the combination of movement and stillness at several meetings of generals. The whole legion should act in unison and in unison; At the same time, it should be pointed out that the phalanx should be flexible and the wings should be able to respond flexibly to unexpected situations.

Pay attention to the use of mobility.

He wanted the generals to understand this meaning and master the degree of this union.

Only an army that can change with the situation on the battlefield and with the changes of the enemy's opponent is the army of the king, and can conquer the world and crusade against the unrighteous army.

Everyone is holding back their strength and striving to forge ahead towards a common goal. Everyone wanted to find a chance to prove that they were not holding the team back, but rather to win the accolades.

The peasants who were working in the countryside were stunned to see such an army. The neat pace, the murderous aura that rushed into the sky, the ever-changing phalanx of spears, and the unstoppable ferocious cavalry. Nothing they've ever seen before.

The citizens of the city often forgot their work and came to watch the Macedonian army drills. They watched with envy, and from time to time they praised and cheered.

There were a lot of beautiful girls who also came to watch. How much they wish they could stand in such a team, as powerful and handsome as they are.

On this day, Antigone came to speak to Gueras and said to him:

"Garas, you are the heir of the Macedonian camp, you must be healthy and live well. It is necessary to conscientiously handle government affairs and not slacken. You don't have to go to the war to conquer Greece. ”

Guerras:

"You don't have to go in person, you're the leader of the faction, you can't live without the king here.

I'm still young, I can go to war. ”

The tone of the old king is unmistakable:

"Needless to say.

You've memorized everything I just said. Now, the state needs an heir; Armies need their king as their commander-in-chief.

You stay, this is my order to you!

There are many dangers in going to war, and I will do my best.

You don't have to take that risk. Listen to my arrangement. Garas, my son, you stay in Thessaloniki and be regent. Stabilize the politics of the country, take charge of our rear security and give us a reliable stream of reinforcements and supplies! ”

Garras felt the weight of the responsibility on his shoulders and nodded silently. He said in a firm tone, "Please rest assured that His Majesty the King. Antigone put his hand on his shoulder as a sign of trust.

It's a sunny morning, and the city of Thessaloniki is full of people, gongs, drums, and flags.

It's a grand ceremony.

Before the army was about to leave the country for battle, the king held a military parade.

The parade drill was the first of the parades, which was to show the Macedonian people the results of the training of the recently formed Macedonian Legion.

in the central square. The first to appear was the phalanx soldiers, and as the trumpet sounded, the soldiers of the four phalanxes formed a thousand-strong honor guard, and they dispersed, concentrated, expanded, and transformed. The movements are neat and the movements are accurate. Four rectangular phalanxes were formed, with guns erected and spearheads formed into walls.

The first five rows of soldiers in this phalanx are stacked with spears stacked in a row and pointed straight forward, and the two rows behind are raised at 30°, the back to 45°, and then 60°, and the last straight up to make up for supplementation.

Each person is equipped with a helmet and a small round shield, and has leather or bronze armor on their body.

The entire phalanx was like a hedgehog, with the tip of the spear moving forward, which was prohibitive. It is not a rigid formation, it can be elongated and spread out, forming an encirclement trend; You can also shrink and get closer, and break through the enemy formation with an iron wall. When attacking, the center of the phalanx protrudes forward, forming a wedge-shaped formation. This formation was first created by the famous Thebai general Ibaminonda. When outflanking the enemy, the central phalanx can form a concave shape.

The phalanx of pikes will form the main infantry of the Macedonian army.

Next starred were the Macedonian cavalry. The hoplites were tall and strong, armed with spears and armor.

The cavalry made various formations to supplement the "two-column wall" to intercept the enemy, the "three-column" and "square formation" to balance the battle, and the "wedge formation" to break through or break up the enemy's formation.

Such a variety of tactics dazzled the guests and people in the square and praised them. The footsteps and horses' hooves on the square are like a rushing river, rolling forward, flowing endlessly, and the earth is shaken. The slogans of the soldiers were shouted loudly and loudly, and the momentum was unstoppable.

After the drill, King Antigone gave a speech from the podium:

"My dear Macedonian compatriots,

We are gathered here today to witness this glorious moment that will go down in history. I will lead the Macedonian army to quell the Athenian rebellion.

The prosperity of Greek civilization is due to our Macedonia. In the same way, it is our responsibility to protect the fruits of the development of Greek civilization.

We are the teachers of justice, and we are on our way to destroy evil.

Just the other day, Athens, the pearl of Greek culture, was taken over by rebels, and these barbaric robbers sacked the city of Athens. They did evil in the city and wantonly destroyed the buildings in the city. They also blocked the passage to Attica and looted passing trade convoys. As a result, our economic activities to Corinth were halted, and many people suffered.

As the king of the Macedonians, I must protect the property and lives of my subjects and guarantee them the right to free trade. At the same time, as a member of the Greek world, we must protect the achievements of Athenian civilization.

Therefore, it was imperative to conquer the Athenian rebels.

We have absolute military superiority over the enemy, so soon we will take the honor and return triumphantly.

I went out with these precious Macedonian warriors, we fought side by side, and then I calmly returned with them.

To my soldiers, I say, go forward, warriors, the rewards and glory of victory await you! ”

The audience cheered.

Then, a sports competition was held in the amphitheater, and the athletes all performed well and got excellent results.

The next day, the king, accompanied by the ministers of civil and military affairs, went to the temple and offered rich tribute to the gods and ancestors, hoping to be blessed by them.

The third day, also the day before departure. Bonfires were lit in the camp, and the soldiers roasted fragrant beef and mutton, and enjoyed the whole jar of hometown wine. The king ordered that everyone must be well fed and drunk. There were bursts of shouting and shouting from the barracks, and all kinds of singing could be heard. All in all, everyone had a great time.

It was a sunny and warm morning. The Macedonian troops were well-groomed, and the weapons in their hands were shining and sharp.

They marched in neat steps and set off under the watchful eyes of their fathers and fellow villagers. The large army was orderly and reasonably distributed, and the procession entered the city from the barracks outside the east gate in turn, passed through the central square to be inspected and blessed, and headed for the south gate. Out of the city gates, to the south, that is the direction of Greece. They went straight to the battlefield.

It's time to go. Macedonian civilians came to both sides of the road and offered to see off the troops. The instructions and admonitions of relatives turned into the infinite strength of the soldiers.

The soldiers sang war songs and rushed to the battlefield amid the farewell cheers of the villagers. The war song echoed over the kingdom of Macedon for a long time:

We are all descendants of the hero Hercules, be brave, Zeus will not turn around! Don't be afraid of the many enemies, don't cower, let everyone run to the front line with armor and shields in hand.

It's a pleasure to be able to pierce an enemy from behind in a vicious battle, and it's a shame to have your body lying prone on the battlefield with a shot in the back.

Heroism is the best quality and the best prize in the world,

The mausoleum of the hero, whose sons and descendants will shine on earth, a high honor that everyone today strives to achieve with all their hearts, do not slack off in the fight.

......