Crossing the River (Part 2)

“The crossing point is about eight li upstream from our camp. The river is about eighty-five meters wide, with the deepest water reaching waist level. The riverbed is gravel and sand—not too slippery and fairly firm. The bank on this side is flat, while the opposite bank is more rocky…” Cheirisophus succinctly explained the findings from his reconnaissance.

“It looks like an excellent crossing point! Let’s muster the whole army immediately and cross quickly!” Timasion said with excitement.

“But we have to consider that Orontas’s troops will block us on the opposite bank. If we force a crossing, our soldiers’ casualties will increase!” Xanthiparis cautioned.

“The Persians will never expect us to ford the river so easily! If we rush to the opposite bank at top speed, we can surely launch a surprise attack on them!” Timasion said confidently.

“Don’t forget, we also have the Dukeyans at our back! What about our baggage camp? Moreover, the Persians outnumber us, and they have the Carduchians. As long as they can hold the bank against our assault for a while, we’ll be in trouble. Who knows how long the sand in the river can support the soldiers!” Xanthiparis said with some concern.

Timasion immediately retorted, “Then do you have a good plan?”

Xanthiparis replied, “So everyone should discuss carefully how to cross the river smoothly while minimizing our losses.”

“I thought you had something brilliant to offer,” Timasion shot him a glance.

“I have a suggestion,” Xenophon interjected. “We can detach some soldiers to protect the baggage camp. When the main force is ready to cross, these soldiers will lead the baggage camp to the original pontoon bridge site and pretend to cross there. The Persians will surely think we’re trying to cross again from that spot to attack them from the rear, so they’ll split their forces to defend. Once the main force defeats the enemy on the opposite bank, these soldiers can then escort the baggage camp back to where the main force fought and cross there. This way, we both divide the enemy’s strength and protect the baggage camp. What do you all think?” Xenophon said with a hint of self-satisfaction.

Admittedly, Xenophon’s plan had merit, and the leaders fell into thought. After a moment, Cleanho asked, “The baggage train is massive. How many soldiers will you detach to protect it? If too many, it will affect the time it takes for us to crush the Persians. And having the baggage camp and soldiers march back and forth will not only exhaust them but also leave them vulnerable to attacks from the Dukeyans. Have you considered that?”

“Well…” Xenophon was momentarily at a loss. He mumbled, “In war, casualties are inevitable. As long as we can minimize the losses, it should be fine…”

At that point, Davos spoke up: “Inspired by Xenophon, I’ve also thought of a way.”

As soon as he spoke, everyone’s attention focused on him, because it had been proven many times that this youngest of leaders rarely spoke lightly, and his suggestions always solved problems.

“We won’t cross the river today during the day.” Davos scanned the leaders, noticing they were somewhat surprised but continued listening quietly. “Tonight, after the Persians have all entered their camp to sleep, we can first send a detachment to cross the river and find a place to hide. Then tomorrow, when our main force engages the Persians, they can suddenly attack the rear of the Persian battle line, throwing their formation into chaos. With a pincer attack, we not only crush the Persians but might even annihilate a portion, weakening their strength. That way, after we enter Armenia, we can reach the Euxine Sea more smoothly…”

The leaders’ eyes lit up. Davos’s suggestion was indeed original and unconventional. In truth, the other leaders were still constrained by centuries of Greek military tradition that favored frontal assaults. Davos’s crossing plan was inspired by the strategy of that great red army from his previous life when they liberated Hainan—combining small-unit stealth crossings with a major frontal assault.

“Davos, the soldiers have no experience crossing a river at night. How many men do you want to send across first? If they panic in fear during the crossing, it could easily lead to drowning, or even alarm the Persians, causing our operation to fail and revealing the crossing point we worked so hard to scout!” Cleanho’s tone was much more respectful than when he’d addressed Xenophon. The concern he raised was a major reason mercenary armies avoided night crossings.

“Also, how will the troops conceal themselves after landing? When should they launch the attack on the Persian rear? These all need to be considered,” Timasion reminded.

Davos replied without hesitation, “For a certain force, the problems you mentioned are not problems at all!” Then he looked at Cheirisophus.

Cheirisophus nodded in tacit understanding.

That night, seven hundred Spartan soldiers successfully forded the Centrites River stealthily.

…

The next morning, the mercenary army began to strike camp and form ranks.

The Persians saw this and quickly assembled on the opposite bank.

The mercenaries sacrificed three lambs, and the leaders offered them to Okeanos, the god of the great river Ocean, while the whole army devoutly sang hymns.

Orontas sensed that the Greeks intended to cross the river and ordered his troops to prepare immediately.

After the sacrifice, the mercenary army began marching downstream along the riverbank. After several li, they stopped and rested for a while. Then they turned and marched upstream again…

The handsome Armenian satrap, favored by the Persian King, could not understand where the Greeks were going. He thought they dared not cross while the Persian army was on the opposite bank and were desperately looking for an escape route. Watching them scurry about like headless flies, he felt a surge of smugness.

The Persian army continued to shadow them on the opposite bank.

Finally, the mercenaries reached the crossing point Cheirisophus had marked. They immediately halted and, as planned, pivoted the entire formation toward the river, using the left wing’s end as the axis…

Before Orontas could grasp what was happening, the mercenary army had already deployed facing the Centrites River. The whole force was divided into three parts: The first part, seven thousand soldiers ready to cross and engage the Persians, stood on the bank in a narrow front with deep columns (since the fordable stretch of river was not long); the second part was the baggage camp, positioned directly behind them; the third part, three thousand soldiers, stood behind the baggage camp with their backs to the river, guarding against attacks from the Dukeyans.

While the Persian army was slowly adjusting its formation, the mercenaries sounded the charge with war trumpets. The seven thousand soldiers unhesitatingly stepped into the Centrites River…

Orontas’s face changed. He finally understood: the Greeks were going to cross here!

Without bothering to worry about the long-range attacks from the mercenaries’ slingers, Orontas shouted urgently, “Quick! Have the infantry block them! Archers! Archers, loose!” As he yelled, he hoped the Centrites River would slow the mercenaries’ advance and that the volley of arrows would cause chaos among the Greeks, leading to panic, crowding, and drowning. After a moment of panic, Orontas regained his composure, having personally tested the river’s depth.

Perhaps this is my chance for a great achievement! he thought excitedly.

Davos, on the right wing behind the front line, followed the soldiers ahead, striding forward over the firm river sand.

The early winter river water was bitingly cold, but the soldiers, their morale high, had no time to feel it. Their minds were filled with a single thought: reach the opposite bank as fast as possible!