A Startling Success (Part 2)

“They might say, ‘O great ancestors! Your heroic deeds gave us strength! Inspired our confidence! We achieved an unprecedented feat!’”

“Will that day ever come?” Timasion gasped, clenching his fists and muttering.

The leaders, too, were seduced by Davos’s hypothetical vision, lost in reverie. None of them knew that, decades later in history, a Macedonian named Alexander would use the story of the Ten Thousand’s retreat to rally his soldiers for the invasion of the Persian Empire…

As the soldiers were still basking in the beautiful scene conjured by Davos, Davos reached over and took a wooden rod from Asiastes, changing his tone: “Soldiers, some of you might ask, ‘Davos, you make it sound so good, but there’s one key problem. First, we have to get back to Greece safely.’”

Seeing that the soldiers were still completely absorbed in listening, Davos continued: “I won’t say much about battle matters. Because Cheirisophus, Timasion, and the other leaders, as well as every one of you here, are rich in combat experience. Most of you took part in the struggle against Athens and ultimately won. That is something the Persians, who have spent years in comfort, cannot compare with.”

Hearing this, Xenophon pursed his lips.

“What I want to say is, in such a difficult situation, each of us is like this stick I’m holding—” Davos picked up a wooden rod and, with a light snap, broke it in two. Then he snapped another: “It’s easy to break. But when they’re all bound together—” Davos grabbed all the remaining sticks, walked to the edge of the platform, and approached a tall, sturdy soldier. “Brother, what’s your name?”

“Ebertus,” the soldier said.

“Can you try to break them?”

The soldiers watched Ebertus intently as his face turned red. He strained with all his might to snap the bundle, but it was futile.

“Thank you, brother!” Davos patted him on the shoulder in gratitude.

Ebertus blushed and scratched his head sheepishly.

“Soldiers, you saw it. A single stick, even a weak young man like me, can break it easily. But when they are together, even the strongest warrior using all his strength can’t do anything to them. What does this mean?”

Xenophon nodded; he now understood Davos’s intent. Of course, he wasn’t the only clever one. A soldier shouted, “Unity! It’s unity!…” Prompted by some soldiers, the rest gradually caught on.

“Exactly, it’s unity!” By now, Davos had completely let loose. He was full of spirit, even changing how he addressed them: “Brothers, we come from various city-states of Greece. Usually, due to differences in customs and temperaments, we have minor squabbles and conflicts. But we are all Greeks of the same blood and race. Under the great goal of returning home safely and making history, any internal problems among us should melt away like snow under the sun! We must be as tightly united as our ancestors who repelled the Persian invasion. Let us not be shaken by Persian rumors. Trust your comrades to have your back! Not only must we unite in spirit, but we must also unite our wisdom in the face of the difficulties along the way home. Brothers, don’t leave all the problems to the leaders to solve. Take the initiative to think of solutions yourselves. As long as we put our minds together, no problem can defeat us!

Brothers, let us unite as one man! Then that man’s strength will be as mighty as Ares! His wisdom as deep as Athena! The enemies and obstacles on our path will be crushed easily!” With that, Davos raised both fists and shouted, “Brothers, remember—if we unite, we can create miracles! Every step we take forward is making history! Let us fight shoulder to shoulder!”

“Hooo!!!” The cheers from the crowd shook the heavens and earth, lasting endlessly.

“Davos! Davos!…” The whole assembly called out his name. Many were moved to tears. Some even pleaded, “Say more! Davos, say more…”

As Davos stepped down from the wooden platform, the soldiers swarmed around him. They hoisted him up and passed him from front to back, as if he were a victorious general returning.

This left Cleander, who was about to take the stage, dumbfounded: The soldiers’ morale had been fired up to such a degree—was there any need for others to speak?

“At least in oratory, he surpasses any one of us,” Zanthippus admitted sincerely.

“War isn’t won by words; ultimately, it’s settled by spears and shields!” Timasion said grudgingly.

Looking at Davos being tossed into the air in the distance, Xenophon couldn’t deny a pang of jealousy. Since Hieronymus was not good with words, Xenophon had obtained Cheirisophus’s approval to speak on behalf of the leaders. He had prepared carefully, hoping to showcase his talent before the whole army—but now the situation…

Cheirisophus inwardly agreed with Timasion. Spartans had always disliked the eloquence of Athenians, just as Athenians detested the rigidity of Spartans. Yet he had to admit that Davos’s performance exceeded his expectations, achieving and even surpassing the goal of inspiring the whole army. It seemed this young man’s selection as a leader wasn’t just riding on the name of the god-touched one; he truly had talent…

And the company commanders of Menon’s camp were equally full of pleasant surprise. Watching Davos cheered by soldiers from other camps, even Amyntas, who had some objections to Davos being chosen as leader, couldn’t help saying to Antonios, “Our new leader doesn’t seem too bad.” Previously, he had called Davos “the boy.”

Antonios smiled. Davos, Davos—you always bring surprises!

…

Finally, Cheirisophus went up again to announce that the camp would be struck at dawn and the army would march north, and he informed the whole army of matters to be mindful of and preparations needed.

Thus the assembly ended.

As the soldiers dispersed, they still savored Davos’s speech with relish, praising him: This “God-Touched One” certainly lived up to his name!

The soldiers of Davos’s camp, surrounded by praise, escorted their new leader with heads held high back to their camp, then recounted his deeds to those who had stayed behind.

Davos finally broke free from the excited soldiers and returned to his original tent, only then remembering that Menon’s command tent was now his new home.

When he reached his new dwelling, Mesis was standing at the entrance. He came up to him, his expression strange, and said, “Davos, there’s someone waiting for you inside.”

“Who?”

“Go in and you’ll know.” Mesis jerked his chin toward the tent, looking somewhat lewd.

Curious, Davos lifted the curtain. In the center of the tent stood a person—a woman, tall and slender, with a graceful figure…

Since his rebirth, Davos had seen Greek and Egyptian women of this era in Mesis’s baggage train and Helpus’s medical camp. Some were quite attractive, but not one had ever stirred desire in him just by her silhouette…

Where did Mesis find her? Davos couldn’t help swallowing.