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Chapter 22 Volume Three III

The Long March 色诺芬 1658Words 2018-03-21
Xenophon broke up the meeting after saying these words, and each went back to the camp to set about burning the chariots and tents.As for the excess baggage, those that were needed were shared among others, and the rest were thrown into the fire. When they were done, they set about preparing breakfast.At this time, Mithridates led about thirty horsemen, called the Greek generals to a place where he could hear the voice, and said, "Greek warriors, I am loyal to Cyrus, and you all know this. , now I am friendly to you. To tell the truth, I am afraid to stay here. Therefore, if you show a welcome attitude, I will join you and bring all my attendants. Tell me, then I will tell you what you want to do, I promise to be your friend, I wish you a bright future, and I am willing to walk with you.” The generals deliberated and decided to use Cherisophus as the spokesperson to reply as follows: “We have made up our minds: if No one hinders our march back home, and we will try to damage as little as possible along the way; but if anyone hinders the journey, we will try our best to compete with him." At this time Mithradat said that unless the king wants, they will not It is possible to return home safely.Then the Greeks understood that his mission was a fraud.In fact, a relative of Tisafonis also came, to see his devotion to the task.The generals therefore decided that it would be best to adopt a rule that no negotiations should be made with the enemy as long as they were in enemy territory.Because the Bos are always coming, trying to win over and corrupt the soldiers; there was an Arkadian captain named Nicarhus who was successfully drawn by them, escaped from the camp at night, and took away about

Twenty soldiers. After breakfast, they crossed the Zapatas River, and set off on the road according to the determined formation, with the pack animals and camp personnel within the phalanx.They had not gone far when Mithridates reappeared, with about two hundred cavalry, and with archers and slingers--men and horses extremely strong and agile--four hundred in number.He came towards the Greek army, and seemed very friendly.But when others approached, suddenly some cavalry and infantry started shooting and throwing together, causing damage.The rearguard of the Greek army was seriously injured and could not retaliate at all, because the Cretan archers ① not only had a shorter range than the Polish army, but because they had no armor stomach, they were surrounded by the hoplites; So far away, you can't hit the enemy slingers.So Xenophon decided to pursue the Polish army.They pursued with heavy and light infantry protecting the rear, but in the pursuit they were not able to catch a single enemy.Because the Greek army has no cavalry, and their infantry can't catch up with the enemy's infantry in a short distance-the enemy's start when fleeing has drawn a long distance from the Greek army-they can't go too far away from the main body of the Greek army Go on a long chase.In addition, the Polish cavalry can shoot back from the horse even if they are fleeing.The distance advanced by the Greek army in pursuit had to be retreated in battle.As a result, they walked no more than twenty-five stadia for the whole day.However, towards evening they reached the said villages.

Here again the discouraged mood emerges.Cherisophus and the oldest general complained that Xenophon left the army to pursue the enemy, risking himself and doing no harm to the enemy.When Xenophon heard this, he replied that their complaints were justified, and that the result of the matter itself justified their views.He continued, "However, I was compelled to pursue it because I saw that we had sacrificed too much to fight back. But when we did pursue it, what happened proved you to be right: Again we could not injure the enemy, but accomplished our retreat only with extreme difficulty. Let us thank the gods that they came not in great numbers, but in a small detachment, which did us little harm, but exposed our Disadvantages. At present the enemy can shoot arrows and throw stones so far that our Cretan archers and lancers cannot return to hit them. If it is a pursuit, it is impossible to pursue a long-distance pursuit away from the main body, but in a short-distance pursuit, an infantry, Even if he is fast-legged, he can't keep up with the other infantry who is ahead of him.

We, therefore, must have slingers and cavalry ourselves at once, if it is to prevent them from possibly doing us harm on the march.It is said that there are Rhodes people in our team, and most of them can use stone slings, and the projectiles they shoot are no less than twice as far as Persian slings, because Persian slings use stones, which are as big as palms and have a short range.The Rhodes were also skilled at throwing buckshot.If we figured out who had the sling, paid to requisition it, rewarded anyone who would make up a new sling, and then instituted an immunity for anyone who volunteered to serve as a slinger in a designated position, there might be people who could help us.Also, I saw some horses in the procession—I had some myself.A part of Clearcus's team remained.There were many other horses obtained from the enemy that were used as pack animals.If we pick out these horses and replace them with mules, and equip them to form a cavalry team, maybe this cavalry team will also cause some trouble to the enemies when they flee. These proposals, too, were accepted. A company of two hundred slingers was organized that night; the next day horses and cavalry, fifty in number, were tested and established, and for them they were provided with tunics and Breastplate and back armor. Lycius, son of Polystratus the Athenian, was appointed to lead this army.

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