The New Leader

Davos and his group returned to Menon's camp, where the soldiers had been anxiously waiting. They eagerly welcomed them inside and then asked for news.

“Clearchus, Menon, and the others have been killed by the Persians. The Persians wanted us to surrender, but the officers refused. War with the Persians is unavoidable!” Antonios deliberately exaggerated the situation.

The soldiers erupted in uproar. Although they had already been informed by Heilos's group and were mentally prepared, they still clung to a faint hope for peace. Now, that last illusion was shattered. They panicked, became lost and confused.

“Now, we must immediately elect a new leader to replace Menon and lead us back to Greece!” Philistos shouted loudly.

As soon as the words were spoken, Antonios's nephew, the young man Asiastes whose life Davos had saved, raised his right hand high in the crowd and eagerly shouted: “Brothers, who predicted the death of Cyrus the Younger?!”

“…It was Davos.” Heilos and the others led the response.

“Who invented smoked sausages so we wouldn’t go hungry?!” Asiastes continued shouting.

“It was Davos,” the soldiers responded.

“Who established the field hospital so we no longer had to worry about injuries and illness?!”

“Davos!” the soldiers began to answer in unison.

“Who predicted that today’s meeting with the Persians was a trap and tried to stop Menon and the others?!”

“Davos!!” the soldiers shouted together.

“Who is Hades’ God-Touched One? Who can protect us and bring us back to Greece?!”

“Davos!!!” the soldiers shouted with one voice.

“Who—” Asiastes pointed at Davos and roared in a hoarse voice, “is our new leader?!”

“Davos! Davos!! Davos!!!…” The entire camp’s soldiers shouted excitedly, the cries echoing without end.

Philistos and the company commanders suddenly faced this scene, at a loss for what to do. They all looked toward Davos, who appeared equally astonished, as if he too knew nothing about it. But his gaze quietly swept over Matonis, Georgios, and the others who were waving their arms in the crowd. He hadn’t expected that it would be Asiastes leading the soldiers, but the effect far exceeded his expectations.

The soldiers’ shouts grew louder, and the officers had to respond. After an urgent consultation, Philistos stepped forward. His expression complex, he glanced at Davos beside him, then shouted to the assembled soldiers: “Brothers, are you sure you want Davos as your new leader?!”

“Yes!!!” With Asiastes taking the lead, the soldiers shouted in unison.

“Are there any other candidates?!”

“No!!”

“We need the guidance of the God-Touched One!!”

Philistos turned around. Antonios and Capus nodded, and then Amyntas, Alexis, and the other company commanders reluctantly nodded in turn.

With a solemn expression, Philistos shouted loudly: “By the witness of the gods, as elected by the soldiers and approved by the officers, Davos becomes our new leader!”

Cheers rang out in a wave.

Davos relaxed his clenched fists; his palms were sweaty. He breathed a sigh of relief, his heart surging with excitement: the hard work and effort of this time had not been in vain! He—a transmigrator, an ordinary young soldier—had directly skipped the ranks of squad leader, platoon leader, and company commander to become the leader of over a thousand soldiers. Although they were only mercenaries, his dream had finally been realized in a short time—he had transformed from a pawn into a player. Of course, this also meant he would bear great responsibility, but compared to being sent to die as cannon fodder, what fear was there in any responsibility?

Facing the excited faces, he raised his right arm high.

…

Compared to the other camps, Menon’s camp had suffered the fewest losses. Due to lack of cooperation, only three officers had followed Menon to the Persian camp, and the soldiers quickly elected their replacements.

Afterward, the soldiers dispersed, and the new leader Davos held the first meeting with the company commanders in the main tent. Philistos had only been an adjutant attached to Menon, without command authority. With the new leader in place, his position was naturally dissolved, so he had to wait outside.

Davos surveyed the thirteen company commanders. Some he knew well, like Antonios and Capus, but many others he was less familiar with… The company commanders also looked at this young, overly youthful new leader. Some held expectations, some were merely curious, and others simply ignored him, talking among themselves…

Having been in charge before in his previous life, Davos felt no fear. With a serious expression, he met their gazes. He remained silent for a long time, causing the tent to gradually quiet down from its initial noise. The intangible pressure this young man exuded in his silence made the company commanders begin to take him seriously.

Then, unhurriedly, he began to speak: “I thank the soldiers for their trust in me! And I thank you for your support! I will prove with my actions that your choice is correct!”

This young new leader was not modest at all! Alexis and others opened their mouths slightly in surprise. Antonios and Capus were infected by his confidence and showed slight smiles.

“Now, I decide to keep Philistos as my adjutant to assist me in managing military affairs.” This proposal temporarily relieved several company commanders who had worried that Davos’s lack of experience might lead to chaos.

Philistos was invited in. Smiling, he thanked Davos and then sat down beside him.

“I decide to establish a field hospital unit, with Helpus as medical officer. He must also attend important meetings!” The field hospital in Menon’s camp had long been operating independently; now it was just being formally brought to the table.

Amyntas raised an objection: “As long as the doctor can treat the brothers’ wounds, that’s enough. Why should he attend military meetings? They don’t understand, and this has never been done before!”

“This is a special time!” Davos looked at this sturdy, somewhat fierce-looking man and emphasized his tone: “In the coming march, we may face many battles. We must protect our field hospital unit, and we also need to know how many wounded soldiers it can treat, whether we are short of labor, whether we lack medical supplies… All of these need to be discussed with Helpus!”

Amyntas was taken aback. He scratched his head and fell silent. No one wanted their wounded men to go untreated. Davos’s proposal passed easily.

“I also want Mesis, from the baggage camp, to attend the military meetings. Because we need to know at any time whether food is sufficient, whether we have enough pack animals…” Davos’s second proposal was also accepted by everyone. After all, food was the issue that concerned everyone most. Besides, the baggage camp also held their pay and the spoils they had plundered, so it naturally needed to be monitored and protected at all times.

Having successfully pushed through three personnel appointments in a row, Davos stopped making proposals.

At that moment, Philistos beside him lightly nudged Davos and mouthed something.

Davos realized from the shape of the other’s lips: he had forgotten a key position—the herald. Don’t underestimate this role; transmitting orders upward and downward, ensuring military commands and policies flowed smoothly, all depended on him. If not appointed now in front of everyone, mistakes could easily occur later. Still lacking experience!

Davos thought briefly and said calmly: “Furthermore, I appoint Asiastes as herald.” Not only to repay the support just given, but also because Asiastes had previously assisted his uncle Antonios with various trivial military tasks and was quite familiar with Menon’s camp. Besides, Davos had interacted with this young man many times; he was cheerful, energetic, and well-liked by the officers. Moreover, he was extremely grateful to Davos—who else would he use?

As expected, this appointment was also accepted by everyone.

Antonios went out to call Asiastes.

Asiastes enthusiastically thanked everyone and immediately began to carry out his duties. He quickly summoned Helpus and Mesis.

Thus, the new high command of Menon’s camp was fully assembled.