Before the Battle

"Please, speak!" Bourkos said quickly.

"I am on the left wing, Tarentum on the right, Thurii in the center—that order remains unchanged. However, send all two thousand mercenaries from Adrianx, Adras, and Sestas, along with two hundred cavalry, to the left wing under my command. I will lead over four thousand infantry and two hundred cavalry to crush the enemy's right wing in the shortest possible time, then cooperate with the center to pincer their center. Victory in the whole battle is only a matter of time!" Davos said confidently.

"Are you sure that after giving you command of those two thousand mercenaries and two hundred cavalry, you can crush the enemy in the shortest time?" Bourkos asked, showing some interest.

"There are too many unexpected factors in battle. I can't be certain until we actually engage. But in my view, this plan has a much higher chance of victory than the one you proposed!" Davos tried hard to convince Bourkos.

Bourkos was silent for a long time, then said in a low voice: "But in the minds of the generals, their plan has a greater chance of success... Regardless, I will report your suggestion to General Feris, and let the Council of Generals decide whether to adopt it."

Davos understood the implication in Bourkos's words, and a trace of disappointment appeared on his face. But he quickly rallied his spirits: "If you can't give me the two thousand mercenaries, at least you can give me the two hundred cavalry."

Bourkos shook his head: "Dividing the cavalry between the two wings is a military tradition—you should know that better than I. Moreover, a hundred of those cavalry are from Tarentum. They cannot abandon their own countrymen and run to your left wing."

Davos had no choice. After thinking, he said: "What is the combat effectiveness of the Tarentine reinforcements?"

"They should be quite strong. Archytas once led them to repel the Messapians twice, and the Messapians are a race as fierce as the Lucanians," Bourkos said positively.

"Archytas..." Davos murmured the name, then said resolutely: "Since that's the case, send all two hundred cavalry to the right wing."

"Are you sure that's not just a rash remark?" Bourkos asked in surprise.

"To me, war is the most important matter that determines the rise and fall of a city-state and the fate of countless lives and deaths! Therefore, even for this war that does not closely concern me, I have devoted myself heart and soul to it, without an ounce of selfishness or carelessness! But as for those generals of Thurii—it's hard to say. Have they ever gone to thoroughly understand the composition of the Lucanian coalition forces? Have they conducted unified training of all troops beforehand to ensure coordinated fighting?..."

Davos's dissatisfaction finally erupted through a series of questions, making Bourkos break out in a cold sweat. He felt that Davos had truly invested his heart and effort into this battle. He tried to speak several times but stopped, finally saying resolutely: "Davos, don't worry. After I visit Drakos's camp and the others, I will immediately rush back, convey your advice to Feris, and earnestly urge him to consider it carefully!"

After Bourkos left, Davos immediately summoned Asiastes: "How are the brothers doing with climbing the stone wall using rope hooks?"

"They can already climb the stone wall very easily. The rope hook you designed is an excellent tool for climbing!"

"That's really great!" A trace of a smile finally appeared on Davos's face. "Go now to the market and tell Mariji I want to order another twenty sets of rope hooks. Have him urge the blacksmith to finish them within two days!"

"Okay, I'll go right away."

...

On a morning at the end of April, 399 BC, just like any other day, the weather was warm, the sun bright, and flowers blooming all over the hills—a perfect day for an outing.

However, on the Sybaris Plain, scouts were out in all directions, and the air was thick with the tense atmosphere of impending battle.

The mercenary leader's tent was filled with officers. Davos looked around at them: among them were old comrades who had always followed him, such as Heilos, Antonios, Capus, and others; also acquaintances who had recently joined, like Hieronymus and Agasia. Now every one of them wore a solemn expression, as if facing a major enemy, waiting for his orders.

"The Lucanian army has set out for Thurii. Thurii has sent word for us to leave camp immediately and join them. Brothers!" Davos said confidently, with a smile: "The time has come to let these ignorant, arrogant Thurians see how truly formidable the soldiers of the Greek expeditionary army are!"

"Hoo!" The officers' morale soared.

"According to our prior deployment, Heilos's Fifth Heavy Infantry Company and Alpuens's Third Light Infantry Company (composed of mercenaries who joined at Byzantium, including archers and slingers, over two hundred men) will remain to guard the camp, prevent the enemy from Amendolara from launching a surprise attack. The rest of the troops will leave camp in order."

"Yes!"

When Thurii's army marched out of the city, they saw Davos's mercenaries already waiting outside the city walls.

"So this is the Greek expeditionary army? I think it's also overrated. Look at these soldiers—some are squatting, some are lying down, their spears and shields tossed aside. They don't look like soldiers at all!" Kynogoratas wore a pained expression, like someone who paid a high price for inferior goods.

Feris, at the moment preoccupied with the impending great battle, had no mind to argue with Kynogoratas over such a basic military common sense.

At this moment, a young man nearby spoke without hesitation: "Our messenger sent to notify them must have just returned, yet this army is already standing here waiting for us. This shows their mobilization capability and ability to execute orders are very strong! As for lying down and squatting, that's to conserve energy before battle, and it also shows they are experienced, able to relax even when a great battle is imminent! I am now somewhat convinced that they have the ability to hold the left wing on their own!"

Kynogoratas snorted lightly. After all, this young man was an honored guest of Thurii, so he had to keep his mouth shut.

At that moment, Davos, led by Bourkos, rode toward them.

"General Feris, mercenary leader Davos salutes you!" Davos solemnly bowed while on horseback.

"Though I have heard from Bourkos, your youth still surprises me! Young leader, thank you for your help to Thurii. Today, let us fight side by side and kill the enemy!" Feris also responded with a solemn bow.

"As you wish, General Feris," Davos replied. Then he turned to Kynogoratas, and with Bourkos's guidance, he could of course accurately call out his name: "My respects to you, General Kynogoratas!"

"Leader Davos, your proposal was very bold. Honestly, it tempted me greatly, but the generals discussed it and thought it was too risky, so it was not adopted. I hope you don't mind!" Kynogoratas said with some apology, specifically explaining this. He even rode forward and patted Davos on the shoulder to show closeness.

"Pre-battle discussions are to gather ideas. Once a decision is made, orders must be resolutely carried out. Don't worry—I am a soldier, and carrying out orders is my inherent duty!"

"Well said—'a soldier's inherent duty is to carry out orders'!" the young man praised loudly, and introduced himself proactively: "Leader Davos, hello! I am Archytas of Tarentum. I have long heard the legendary tales of your Greek expeditionary army. Meeting you today—you have not disappointed me!"

Davos looked closely. Although the young man before him was clad in military attire, he appeared gentle and refined. On his face with a sincere smile, his bright eyes were slightly deep. "General Archytas (Tarentum has a dual-archon system with no 'general' position; this is merely an honorific), the mathematical and military genius of Tarentum, it is my honor to fight alongside you!"

Davos returned the greeting amicably and continued: "I think there is an inevitable connection between mathematics and warfare. Each soldier in the formation is a point, and countless points form lines and squares. The basic condition for victory is how to make every point fully play its role..."

"You are absolutely right!" Archytas said happily, and asked cordially: "Does Leader Davos also have an interest in mathematics?"

"I don't know much about mathematics, but I have great respect for the Pythagorean school!" Davos said earnestly.

Archytas, seeing his sincere words, immediately took a strong liking to him and was about to speak further.

Feris interrupted: "The other mercenary leaders are coming. Now let us together clarify each of our responsibilities and unify the commands."

Note: Archytas, the second historical figure to appear in this novel, but compared to Xenophon, historical records about him are far too few—probably because his activities were always in Magna Graecia. Readers with a background in mathematics may be more familiar with him. He made great innovations in classical mathematics and physics. Archimedes used pulleys to build machines to defeat the Romans besieging Syracuse, and it was Archytas who first made research on pulleys; Archimedes was the one who synthesized it.