Questioning and Explanation (Part 2)

“……After impersonating an envoy from Thurii and making several attempts, I finally reached Sparta. Before the Council of Elders, I recounted the calamities that had befallen Thurii and requested reinforcements. The Spartan elders expressed sympathy for our plight but had no troops to spare—instead, they gave me a recruitment permit.”

“Clever!” When Bourkos reached this point, Feris couldn’t help exclaiming loudly. The other generals also breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed Sparta did not hold Thurii’s past assistance to Athens too much against them.

“It’s fortunate we took action in time, otherwise Sparta might have treated us differently,” Kynogoratas remarked beside him, and several generals nodded in agreement. Whether Sparta had changed its stance because Thurii expelled the Athenian descendants, or simply never cared about Thurii at all, these generals—who had supported and approved of that expulsion—needed that false reassurance to dispel their inner guilt.

Bourkos scanned the assembled generals and continued: “When I reached Miletus, while recruiting mercenaries like Drax and Sestas, I heard many reports about Cyrus the Younger leading a Greek mercenary army to attack Persia in an attempt to usurp the throne.”

Several generals nodded. Though Thurii was thousands of miles from Asia Minor, they knew of these events. Not only did merchant ships frequently travel between east and west across the Mediterranean, but even when the earliest mercenaries arrived and could only camp outside the city walls, small traders, peddlers, and even prostitutes kept going to the camp to do business, spreading news and stories into the city.

“That Greek mercenary army routed the Great King’s forces. Even though Cyrus the Younger fell in battle, they repeatedly defeated the forces of the Persian satrap of Asia Minor, Tissaphernes, and the satrap of Armenia, Orontas, during their march back to Greece—killing several of Persia’s renowned generals! They marched a thousand miles, constantly fighting local tribes, including mountain peoples that even the Persians found troublesome. Generals, tell me: isn’t such a Greek mercenary army rich in combat experience? Isn’t their fighting power astonishing? Can they not rival the Spartans?”

“Is the army you’ve hired that—?” one general could not help exclaiming. “Is it that Greek mercenary army that marched against Persia?”

“Yes, generals.” Seeing the mix of astonishment and excitement on their faces, Bourkos felt a weight lift from his heart. “The reason we lost our last battle against the Lucanians was not only Asikulodoax’s negligence but also because our citizens, long accustomed to peace, lacked combat experience.”

In truth, after repelling the Lucanian invasion, the Thurians had launched a major offensive into Lucanian territory—it wasn’t solely Asikulodoax’s will; the entire citizen body, including the generals, had driven it. This intense desire for revenge against the Lucanians had led the army to advance recklessly into enemy territory, resulting in near annihilation.

At this point, Bourkos hypocritically shifted the blame onto Asikulodoax (who had been made the scapegoat by the Thurian Assembly after that disastrous defeat). Seeing the generals nod in agreement, he silently scorned them but spoke earnestly: “I thought that if I could hire such an army, not only would the danger to Thurii be lifted, but we could also deal a heavy blow to the Lucanians. So I stationed my men in taverns and inns, constantly inquiring about the whereabouts and movements of the Greek expeditionary force. Soon, I learned they had reached the city of Heraclea on the coast of the Euxine Sea. But I also heard bad news: ‘Sparta and Persia are about to go to war. The Spartan general Thibron has even been appointed satrap of Asia Minor and rushed to Miletus to begin recruiting.’ Fearing that the Greek expeditionary force might be recruited by Sparta, I took a fast boat overnight to the Hellespont and found them in Byzantium.

“But most of the mercenaries were tired of fighting and unwilling to travel far from home to fight in distant, unfamiliar Thurii. Only the unit led by Commander Davos was tempted by the high pay I offered, and after I agreed to some of their demands, they accepted the hire. However, just as I was sailing away from Byzantium with them, a Spartan fleet intercepted us. It turned out that the Spartan satrap of Asia Minor, Thibron, had sent envoys wanting the entire Greek expeditionary force to fight for him. Davos’s unit was the best among them; several Persian generals had actually been killed by their hands. Only because I had a signed employment contract and the recruitment permit issued by the Spartan Council of Elders, and I also bribed the Spartan envoy with half a talent, did they let the fleet pass…”

“Gentlemen, after accepting the task we entrusted to him, Bourkos faced hardships and dangers, even risking his life. He did not flinch or give up, but used his intelligence and perseverance to complete the recruitment—indeed, surpassing our expectations! Not only has he brought strong reinforcements to Thurii, but he has also let us understand Sparta’s attitude toward Thurii. We should thank him! Every citizen of Thurii should thank him!” Feris concluded emotionally and began clapping.

The other generals joined in, and the applause lasted a good while.

Bourkos found himself at a loss for words.

Kynogoratas stepped forward and said with sincere expression: “Bourkos, you are a hero of Thurii! Forgive me for what I said earlier; I should not have been so suspicious of you. It’s just that Thurii’s financial problems have been troubling us lately. Will you accept my apology?!”

Bourkos nodded in acceptance.

Then Neonxis also expressed his apology.

Another general, Antistanos, said: “Should we not go and visit this Greek mercenary commander who marched against Persia, to show Thurii’s welcome?”

“Antistanos, I know you want to learn more about Persia from them to finish the continuation of your teacher Herodotus’s great *Histories*.” Kynogoratas said sternly, “But now is not the right time. I admit that Bourkos has spoken of the formidable fighting power of this unit, but they are, after all, mercenaries—foreigners! And we represent Thurii! You must understand, soldiers accustomed to bloody slaughter, while intimidating enemies, may also threaten us. Such examples are not uncommon. We must not indulge them or let them harbor unnecessary illusions. Moreover, if we give them too much importance, what will the other mercenary unit think? What will the Tarentine reinforcements think?”

“Exactly! They are just freemen, hired with our money to fight for us!” Neonxis shouted.

Kynogoratas seized the opportunity to continue: “Neonxis is right! No matter how strong the mercenaries are, they are still mercenaries. We pay, so we are the employers. Don’t reverse that relationship!”

Though he had some differences with Kynogoratas on governance, Feris had to nod in agreement. “Kynogoratas is right. We’ll treat them according to the standard mercenary protocol. No need to make a big fuss.”

At that point, Neonxis said: “Since we now have powerful reinforcements and the Lucanians are about to attack, should we revisit our defensive plan?”

Kynogoratas immediately replied: “The villages and farms outside the city have been rebuilt, and the wheat seeds have been sown. We must drive back the Lucanians before they destroy our citizens’ property again!”

“Last time our defeat came from over-aggression, resulting in over ten thousand citizens killed. We must be cautious! According to intelligence, the Lucanian army may number more than ten thousand men,” Feris said carefully. “Our soldiers, including the mercenaries and the Tarentine reinforcements, number at most nine thousand—and that includes many citizens over forty years old.”