Cheirisophus' gaze was focused on the man in the middle first, he was slightly thin compared with the brawny n around him, but he is wearing a short-sleeved leather robe with a lot of bright-colored fur to make up for the defect in his body shape. In addition, he is wearing a tawny Persian robe covering his exposed legs.
When his light brown gleaming eyes locked on the n of Cheirisophus, he raised his right hand and listened to the shout of the old Carduchian, “The leader of the Carduchian's great Sokangte tribe greets the guests from afar!”
The mountain people strike their wooden shield with the hatchet, and ca a sound from their mouth, “O LA O LA…”
The high-pitched, animal like roar made Davos' eardrum uncomfortable. Several of the rcenary leaders were at a loss because the old man spoke in the language of the Carduchian. Marigi imdiately translated it to them in a low voice, and soon they regained their calm, and even Davos curiously enjoyed the primitive way of hospitality.
Marigi, with the consent of the leaders, also loudly shouted in the language of the Carduchians, “The Spartan ephor, Cheirisophus, sends his friendly greetings to chief Kangmoro!” Just as his voice fades, the 50 silent Spartan warriors shouted at the sa ti, “HOO! HAA!” Accompanied by the two roars was a uniform stabbing on the ground with their spear, and the opening and joining of their round shield, then the silence was restored. Compared with the noise of the other side, the Spartan warriors were low-key and reserved, but it gave an invisible pressure on the people.
Kangmoro's complexion slightly changed, and his eyes were fixed on the 50 warriors who were as tall and straight as pine, and with a big symbol “Λ” in the center of their round shield held in their hand, while muttering to himself, “Sparta…”
Over the past centuries, the prestige of the Spartan warriors has spread throughout the diterranean, and even the people in this remote mountain area have heard a bit about them. He raised his right hand, and the roaring of the mountain people stopped. He then said in the Persian language, “Welco! Please sit down!”
As an ephor of Sparta, Cheirisophus, who often have contacts with Persia, can of course undestand it, he then also replied him in the Persian language, “Please sit down as well!”
The negotiations officially began…
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
To Davos expectation, the seemingly Carduchian savages were particularly shrewd in their negotiations, specially Kangmoro. Their demands were to use the Greeks rcenaries as a laborer and hired thugs, and their reasons were quite adequate, ‘When our tribe beco an ally of the Greek rcenaries, it will then offend the powerful Persia and also get isolated and excluded by the other tribes in Corduene. There must be enough benefits to make the whole tribe to agree in signing the alliance.’
The Greek's negotiating ability is also not weak. Cheirisophus' diplomatic ability is beyond doubt since Sparta had sent him as a liaison to Cyrus the Younger. While Davos, as the main director of the urban High-Teach Developnt Zone in his previous life, had participated in many business negotiations. Plus Marigi, a rchant who is greatly familiar with the Carduchians.
Before they ca, the rcenaries had already agreed on the bottom line that they must adhere to: and that is, the marching route of the Greek rcenaries must be decided by them and not at the rcy of outsiders. They deliberately showed that they didn't attach great importance to this alliance. When the negotiation was in a stalemate, Cleanor had repeatedly said that it was okay if the alliance doesn't succeed since their soldiers can just forcefully enter.
Due to this, the chief of the Sokangte tribe have a headache. After all, they are the first stumbling block on the way of the rcenaries to Arnia. They can undoubtedly take advantage of them, but they have to choose to fight and defeat the Greeks who had defeated Persia. Of course, they can also choose not to fight head-on, the rcenaries have no way to attack them, but their stronghold can't be move, so their houses and goods can't be saved. What's more, this will hit the prestige of Kangmoro, and will increase the coveting of the surrounding tribes on the Sokangte tribe.
After several clashes, the alliance was finally reached:
First, the Greek rcenaries and the Sokangte tribe of Corduene beca allies, and the two sides will be on friendly terms and refrain from attacking each other.
Second, The Greek rcenaries will decide their own marching route, and the tribes near the route will be attack by the rcenaries and the Sokangte tribe together. The rcenaries will get 60% of the goods and wealth, while the Sokangte tribe will get 40%. The captured enemies will be handed over to the Sokangte tribe. The rcenaries could not kill or plunder indiscriminately without the consent of the Sokangte tribe.
Third, During the operation, Cheirisophus and Kangmoro will coordinate the command, and if there are differences that cannot be resolved, the operation will be cancelled. (This one was originally put forward by Cheirisophus for fear that Kangmoro, for the sake of the interests of the tribe and regardless of the lives of the rcenaries, will take so tactics against the rcenaries. Therefore, this was specially emphasized. In fact, this part has not been implented in the end, because after tasting the sweetness, Kangmoro was afraid that the rcenaries would cancel assault plan. Therefore, when the rcenaries have any objection, he would take the initiative to seek a solution while consulting Cheirisophus.)
Fourth, If the Sokangte tribe has special targets to attack and is not near the marching route of the rcenaries, then they can hire the Greeks to attack, but they will need to consult with the leaders and obtain the consent of the rcenary soldiers. (This one is mainly the request of Kangmoro, while Cheirisophus and Davos, after discussing, thought that if this cooperation between the two sides went smoothly, then the targets to be attacked will only be close to each other, and it is not impossible for the rcenaries to be employed. After all, since the death of Cyrus the Younger, the soldiers are no longer paid.)…The alliance will be implented on the sa day, and ends when the Greek rcenaries leaves Corduene.
The last step to implent the alliance is a sacrifice. Cheirisophus was ready for this, he ordered 3 white lambs to be slaughtered, and the fresh blood was to be placed on the stump. The Sokangte tribe also slaughtered a deer.
Then the two sides inserted wood strips around the stump, lit it on fire, and read aloud the clauses of the alliance written in Persian on the two animal skins. There were no priests in the rcenary troops, so Cheirisophus had to do it. On the Carduchian side, it was perford by the oddly dressed witch.
When the sacrifice was over and the two sides began to discuss their next action, a mountain wind ca and caused the leaf to fall and blew out the torches around the stump, which made the expression of everyone change. The Greeks, including the silent Spartans, respectfully called out the na of “Zeus”, while the Carduchians fell to their knees and paid respect to the mountain god that they worshipped. Obviously, everyone thought that the gods had co by and made their presence known in order to recognized this alliance.
As a result, the attitude of both sides was much more energetic. Kangmoro had even sent one of his sons to the rcenary troops as a guide.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
20 days later, the rcenaries left the Corduene mountains and entered the plains.
In the past 20 days, the rcenaries cooperated with the Sokangte tribe to breach 4 mountain villages and also defeated an alliance of Carduchian tribes. The casualties in the battle were not small, but they manage to seize a lot of supplies, which made their rations keep up during the long march in the mountains. The gains of the Sokangte tribe was even greater, most of the captured mountain people, except the fanatics, are forced to join the Sokangte tribe. No one knew how big the population of the Sokangte tribe beca, but it's obvious that Kangmoro was satisfied, as it can be seen from his sincere gift of a good white wolf skin to Cheirisophus at the ti of their parting.
One afternoon, they found so villages after a few days since the rcenaries had marched in the plain. Hence, the rcenaries happily stopped moving forward, and started driving away the villagers, plundering supplies, and camping in the village. They can finally sleep well without worrying about getting bitten by snakes and insects.
The next morning, the rcenaries marched to the river Centrites(T/N: Kentrites or Botan River), which is the border between Arnia and the country of the Carduchians, the river is about 60 ters wide.
According to the guide, the troops ca to the place where there was a pontoon bridge, but found that it had been burned.
The leaders looked at the burning marks of the bridge piles on the river bank, and their hearts sank: the Persians are nearby!
Cheirisophus imdiately order Ledes and his cavalry squad to explore the surrounding area(after they entered the mountain area, the cavalry squad lost a lot of horses, leaving only 5~6). At the sa ti, he ordered so soldiers go down the river to explore the depth of the water.
After they received the order, several soldiers that are good swimr took off their armor and walked into the river, the water reached their chest when they reached the middle of the river.
At this ti, soone shouted, “Persian!”
Imdiately, there was a commotion in the troops. There are many Persian cavalry on the other side of the hill, while on the plain below the hill, are Persian infantry in battle formation. They raise the dust which filled the whole sky as they marched towards the river bank…
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