Chapter 27
More than 20 strong men rushed out from both sides and pressed Cleulkus and the four leaders to the ground. They immediately tied them up with ropes.
The officers and soldiers waiting outside the door were also surrounded by the heavily armed Persia. They were holding sharp blades, spears, and large shields, and they cut down the unarmed Greeks one by one.
"Congratulations, Lord Governor, your plan has succeeded!" There was laughter in the tent.
The candles were lit, and the light was restored.
Cleulkus saw Tisafniss, Otarons, and Thistle laughing in the center of the tent. He was so angry that his eyes almost popped out of their sockets. "Tisafniss, you despicable villain! You deceived us with lies, slaughtered my soldiers, and broke the promise you made to your supreme god, Ahura Mazda, when we signed the contract! Aren't you afraid of the wrath of the gods? Aren't you afraid of the shame of your king? Aren't you afraid of the disaster that befell your family?! … "
"Hahaha …" Tisafniss smiled and took a glass of wine from the servant. He took a sip and walked to the mercenary leaders. He slowly said, "Cleulkus, let me tell you. Our king returned to Persia the day after the death of Cyrus the Younger. Of course, he never gave any instructions to negotiate with you. I made that up to deceive you. As for whether the gods will punish me or not, you don't have to worry. I don't think they will! " He said in a serious tone, "Mazda, if you see that I captured and killed a group of barbarians who invaded Persia's territory and slaughtered the people of Persia, you will reward me! Oh, let me tell you one more thing. I sent people to spread those rumors! "
Seeing the astonished look on Krylkus' face, he happily drained the glass of wine in one gulp.
Proxinus fiercely spat at him, but he nimbly dodged.
"Liar! Coward … "Proxinus scolded.
Tisafniss was not angry at all. Instead, he said proudly, "Liar? Lie? No, no, no! I prefer to call it wisdom! Unlike you Greek barbarians who only know how to fight, we Persia prefer to use our brains to think of ways to achieve a greater victory with a smaller price! Just like how I talked to you in the beginning to paralyze you. Of course, I know you will still be vigilant, but once you get used to this peaceful and stable state, you don't want to return to the tension and hostility of the past. You want to work hard to maintain peace. So, I purposely sent my soldiers to clash with the mercenaries, scolded them, fought them … and then spread rumors. If you didn't suspect me, who would you suspect? "
Disafniss glanced at the captured leaders and said mockingly, "Let me guess, it's Menon, right? You see, I know all about the dirty things that go on inside your organization! I also know that you are a very responsible leader. The more serious the conflict between the two armies, the more worried you will be. Instead, you will take the initiative to negotiate with me! Look, not only did you take the initiative to visit me, you even gave me a big gift! … "
"If you want to kill me, then kill me. Don't talk nonsense!" Krylkus roared with a red face.
"Lady Tisafoniss, please spare my life! Please spare my life! … "Next to him, Menon struggled and begged," Even if you make me your slave, as long as you spare me! I will persuade those stupid mercenaries to surrender to you for you! I can also conquer Asia Minor for you! I am willing to do anything for you, as long as you spare my life!! … "
"Anything?" Tisafniss narrowed his eyes and seemed to be interested. "Learn to bark a few times first."
"Woof woof woof!" Menon really barked with all his might.
"Look, this is the barbaric Greeks!" The Persia in the big tent were overjoyed.
"Menon, shut up!" Krylkus and the others were so ashamed that they scolded Menon.
Menon turned a deaf ear and simply knelt on the ground, looking at Tisafniss ingratiatingly.
"Very good! Very good!! " With a smile, Tisafniss clapped her hands and walked towards Myron.
Menon put his hands behind his back and squatted on the ground, sticking out his tongue and barking even more happily.
Tisafniss walked up to him and gave him a secretive smile. He quickly pulled out his sword and slashed it down hard at Menon's neck.
Amidst the screams of the crowd, blood spurted out wildly, and Menon's head, which rolled to the ground, still had an expression of disbelief.
"Idiot! Do you think I don't know that you desperately attacked me in front of Cyrus the Younger and even took the initiative to attack my mansion! " Tisafniss stepped on Menon's head with his left foot, his face splattered with blood. He was as cold as a god of death.
The four leaders stared blankly at the headless corpse on the ground. Even Krylkus, who had always had a grudge against Menon, had grief on his face. A kind of sadness enveloped them.
"Tanned this head and immediately escort it to Persia Polis along with these four criminals for His Majesty to personally judge!" Tisafniss ordered.
After the four leaders were escorted out, Socrates lamented regretfully, "If only I had listened to that young man on the way! … "
Krylkus was expressionless and silent.
…..
"My lord, Alreus requests an audience!"
"Let him come in."
Alreus walked into the large tent and saw the shocking pool of blood on the ground. He slowed down and heard Tisafniss say, "That's Menon's blood. I just chopped off his head with my sword! "
"By Rashnu (the god of good and evil in Persia mythology), this is the punishment he deserves!" Alreus said hurriedly. Looking at Tisafniss' playful smile, he quickly added, "Governor, I have sent cavalry to kill all the Greeks wandering outside the barracks as per your orders."
"Very well, I will report your achievements to His Majesty!" Tisafniss understood that he had to both deter and rope in Cyrus the Younger's troops. After all, it was an army of nearly ten thousand men, and he still had to rely on these local Persia nobles when he returned to Asia Minor.
"Now that the main leaders of the Greek mercenaries have been taken down, the stupid Greeks are probably in a panic and don't know what to do. You and Cist go to the Greek barracks and find a way to make these Greeks surrender … "
…..
Antonios wanted the soldiers to escort the Devers to the Menon barracks, because no one would dare to touch the Devers there.
The Devers refused. He obeyed the soldier's request and went to the Krylkus barracks. Because it was the vanguard, the barracks were located in the northernmost area, close to the Persia, so it would be easy to get news as soon as possible. He asked Hilos to call Xenophon over, and at the same time told Antonios to return to the Menon barracks to be prepared. Then he thought of something again, pulled Matonis over, and whispered something in his ear. Matonis looked at him in surprise and finally nodded.
Watching Hilos and the others leave, the Devers suppressed the nervousness in their hearts and walked to the Krylkus barracks. The soldier escorting him couldn't help but ask, "Is Krylkus really in danger?"
The Devers asked, "When Krylkus is absent, who is in charge of your barracks?"
"First Platoon Leader Timason."
"Then you'd better go and tell him to get ready for defense." As the Devers spoke, the barracks guard pointed ahead and shouted in shock, "Look, the Persia cavalry!!"
The Devers and the soldiers looked back together and saw countless Persia cavalry galloping back and forth a hundred meters in front of the barracks, stirring up sand and dust into the sky. Screams could be heard from time to time in the dust.
"This is …" The soldiers looked nervously at the Devers.
Although their guess had been confirmed, the Devers didn't feel a trace of joy. War was finally coming! He also felt nervous.
"Quick! Go back to the camp! "He called for the accompanying soldiers to quickly enter the camp and close the gate.
At this moment, a soldier emerged from the dust in front of them. He covered his bleeding abdomen with one hand and stumbled over.
The guards and the Devers hurried forward and brought him back to the camp.
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