Chapter 64
"Who do you think you are in the eyes of Timason and Cleano? Think about what will happen if I leave you, your wife, and your daughter here! "Devers sneered.
"You said you would send me to Asia Minor!" Marigi said angrily.
"Asia Minor is going to war, didn't you hear that?"
"I … I can go to a remote mountain in Asia Minor and live a secluded life!" Marigi was still stubborn.
"That's a waste of your talent, Marigi. I've always thought that Cyrus the Younger only let you be his personal merchant, and that's a waste of your talent! Of course, in Persia, your birth limits your chances of success! But if you follow me, you won't be restricted by anything. I'll give you a vast world to showcase your talent! "Devers promised him.
"Follow you?! You're going to fight with the aborigines and become the king of a 'small village'? "Marigi curled his lips.
"Marigi, there's a saying in the East, thirty years to the east, thirty years to the west. The founding king of Persia, Cyrus, was just the leader of a small tribe in Persia. He was bullied by the Medes. Who would've thought that he would build a powerful empire after a few decades? I'm just a leader of a mercenary army, but I might have a glorious day after a few decades! "Devers said confidently.
"You … How can you be compared to Cyrus the Younger!" Marigi said disdainfully, but his voice was much softer. He did not dare to look at Devers's burning gaze. He hesitated for a while and said with a trembling voice, "Do I have a choice?"
Devers laughed, "What do you think?"
"If … if you really succeed, what will you ask me to do?" Marigi raised his head and looked at Devers.
Devers thought for a moment and raised two fingers. He said in a serious tone, "You have two choices. The first is to make you the minister of foreign affairs, and you'll be in charge of diplomatic affairs with all the city-states. The second is to create a new minister of commerce, and you'll be in charge of all business affairs. "
Marigi hesitated for a while and finally made up his mind, "The last negotiation with Xokant scared me enough. I choose the second one! "
"Okay, I'll keep it for you!" Devers promised.
… …
The next day, Burcos was very excited when he learned that all the officers of the Devers Barracks were going to Turií. Devers left Marigi to discuss the employment agreement with Burcos while he left to focus on persuading the soldiers to accept Turií's offer.
In fact, most of the mercenaries were destitute and had nothing to worry about. That was why they chose to live on the edge of a knife. After a long period of war, they could no longer adapt to a peaceful life. Their longing for home in Persia and the huge difference in the treatment they received when they returned to the Greek city-states made them attracted by the Devers' charm and Turií's generous salary. Only about three hundred of them chose to stay. The rest of the soldiers were willing to follow the Devers to Greece. At the same time, the officers' persuasion in the other barracks was fruitful. As they were about to return home, the officers had neither the desire nor the ability to control the soldiers, so soldiers from the other barracks joined them one after another. By evening, the total number of Devers's soldiers had reached more than two thousand, and even General Hieronymus was among them.
The heated negotiations also settled down. The main content of the employment agreement was as follows:
1. The Turií hired the Devers leader to lead a total of two thousand one hundred and thirty-three soldiers. The salary was two Dalic gold coins per soldier per month, which must be paid in full at the end of each month. They would also be provided with a free station and one jin of wheat flour per person per day. If there was any delay or delay, the salary and the provisions would be doubled the following month. (This was a lesson learned from Cyrus the Younger. Due to his early death, the mercenaries did not receive a single cent and had to pay with their lives. It took them a year to return from Persia. Therefore, the Devers learned their lesson. If the mercenaries defeated the Lucanians early, Turií would no longer hire them. Wouldn't it be troublesome? Therefore, he set a deadline. Whether the mission was completed or not, the mercenaries had to be paid within the deadline.)
2. The mercenaries were only responsible for defending Turií and repelling the Lucanians' attacks on Turií territories. If there were any other requirements, they would be discussed later. (This was because the Devers were afraid that the Turií would propose some additional difficult tasks, such as attacking the Lucanians' territories. This would greatly deplete the Devers's forces.)
3. After arriving in Turií, the mercenaries were not allowed to violate the Turií laws. If they did, they would be punished according to the Turií laws.
4. Without the permission of Turií, the mercenaries were not allowed to enter the city of Turií.
5. In battle, the mercenaries' spoils belonged to the mercenaries.
… …
The agreement was signed on April 1 of the second year of the Ninety-fifth Olympia (that is, 399 BC) and would last until April 1 of the third year. When the time came, the agreement would be renewed according to the wishes of both parties.
Burcos and the Devers swore an oath to the gods in the name of the Turií Council and signed their names on the two parchments (under the guidance of Cristoia, the Devers had a basic grasp of Greek).
Burcos stuffed the parchments into his robes and asked casually, "Chief Devers, there's something I don't quite understand. You're going to bring the slaves and women to Turií. Not only do you have to buy food for them with your own money, but you also have to protect them from the Lucanians. They're obviously a burden. It's better to sell them here. Why do you have to bring them? "
There were nearly five hundred slaves and women. To prevent Burcos from getting suspicious, the Devers answered seriously, "Most of the mercenaries are single men. Their families don't have the money to buy slaves to help them work, nor do they have the money to marry. Therefore, they treat the slaves and women they looted from Persia as their precious property. If I don't bring them, I'm afraid the soldiers won't follow us to Turií!"
"Actually, there's no need for that. They'll all be rich in a year," Burcos joked. He was in a good mood after the agreement was signed.
"But they have to be alive!" the Devers replied.
"Alright." Burcos shrugged helplessly and said, "I'm just worried that they'll affect your battle. Since the agreement has been signed, we'll set off next year. I've already arranged for a ship. I'm going to the city now to prepare food and water according to the number of people in your team. "
"Cristoia allowed us to enter the city?"
"Oh, I almost forgot!" Burcos slapped his forehead. "Cristoia allowed you to enter the city, but he wants you to enter empty-handed."
"Empty-Handed?" The Devers's heart skipped a beat.
"That means you have to give up your shields, spears, and swords," Burcos comforted them. "But it doesn't matter. When we reach Turií, we'll equip you with new weapons."
"No, it does matter. It's very important!" The Devers's expression was solemn as he said word by word, "We will never give up our weapons!" Leaving aside the fact that Creulkus and the others had been tricked back then, there had been many incidents on the way back where the natives had welcomed them with smiles on their faces, only to turn against them in the blink of an eye. If this was Cristoia's scheme, and the mercenaries entered the city empty-handed, wouldn't they be stuck in the neck? The Devers would never allow their lives to be in the hands of others! Their weapons were their trump card!
"But if you don't give up your weapons, Cristoia won't let you enter the city, and we won't be able to set off!" Burcos said anxiously.
The Devers thought for a moment and compromised. "I can get the soldiers to wrap their spears and swords with cloth, but we will never give up our weapons!" he reiterated.
Seeing the Devers's unyielding attitude, Burcos had no choice but to compromise. "Alright, I'll discuss it with Cristoia."
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