Chapter 78: Before the Battle
Chapter 78: Before the Battle
“Please say it!” Said Burkes.
“The arrangement will be the same, I will still be on the left, Taranto on the right and Thurii will be in the center. But I will place all the 2,000 mercenaries and 200 cavalry from Adrien, Drakos and Sesta on the left. Then I will lead the more than 4,000 infantry and 200 cavalry to defeat the enemy’s right wing in the shortest possible time, and by cooperating with the center to attack the enemy’s center, then it would only be a matter of time before we won the whole battle.”
“Are you sure you can defeat the enemy in the shortest period of time after we give you the right to command the 2,000 mercenaries and 200 cavalry?!” Asked Burkes.
“There are so many unexpected factors in battles that I won’t know it until without fighting them. However, in my opinion, my plan has a much more likely possibility to win than the one you said!” Davos is trying to convince Burkes.
After a long silence, Burkes murmured, “But the thoughts of the strategoi is that their plan is more likely to succeed…in any case, I will report your proposal to strategos Friis, and the others and they will decide whether to adopt your proposal or not.”
Davos understood the implication in the words of Burkes, and a trace of disappointment surfaced on his face, but he sood recovered, “If you can’t give me 2,000 mercenaries, then you can also just give me 200 cavalry.”
Burkes shook his head, “You should know it better than me that it’s a military tradition to having cavalry on both wings. What’s more, a hundred of them are from Taranto, and they won’t leave their own countrymen behind to go to the left wing.”
Davos couldn’t change his mind and so after thinking about it, he asked, “How strong is the reinforcements of Taranto?”
“They should be strong. Archytas has led them twice in defeating the Messapians, a race as strong as the Lucanians.” Said Burkes in high regard.
“Archytas…” Davos remembered the name and said with determination, “In that case, send all the 200 cavalry to the right.”
“Are you sure about it and it is not just because of your anger?” Asked Burkes in shocked.
“For me, war is the most important event that determines the rise and fall of a city-state and the fate of countless lives! Therefore, for this war that has no close relationship with me will also devote myself to it without any selfishness and negligence! However, it’s hard to say in regards to the strategoi of Thurii, did they investigate about the strength of the Lucanian coalition in details? Did they trained all their troops in advance so that they can cooperate with each other in battle?…”
Davos’ discontent has finally showed up through his questioning, which made Burkes blushed from shame. He felt that Davos has really put his all into this battle and he had tried several times to say something but stop, and he resolutely said, “Davos, you can rest assured that once I am done with the camp of Drakos, I will rush back and pass on your proposal to Friis and ask him to seriously consider it!”
After Burkes left, Davos immediately called Asistes, “How are our brothers doing with their practice on climbing a stone wall using a grappling hook?”
“They could climb the stone wall easily. Leader, the grappling hook you have designed is really a great climbing tool!”
“Wonderful!” There was finally a smile on Davos’ face, “Now, you go to the market and tell Mariji that I want to order another 20 sets of grappling hooks, and ask him to urge the blacksmith to finish them as soon as possible in 2 days!”
“Roger, I will immediately go.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
In the early morning on the last day of April, 399 A.D., the climate is warm and the sun shone brightly, the flowers are blooming all over the mountain and it’s a good day for an outing.
However, there are lots of scouts in the plains of Sybaris and the air is filled with killing intent.
The officers filled the tent of the mercenary leader. Davos looks at everyone: some of them are his old comrades who had been following him, such as Hielos, Antonios, Capus, and so on while the others are those who have newly joined, such as Hieronymus, Agacia, etc. And now, all of them have tense expression as if they are facing a formidable enemy and are waiting for Davos instructions.
“The army of the Lucanians has advance to Thurii, and Thurii has come to inform us to immediately leave the camp and join them. Brothers!” Davos smiled and said with confidence, “It’s time to make those ignorant and arrogant Thurians see how powerful the Greek expeditionary army is!”
“Hoo!!!” The officers fighting spirit soared.
“According to the previous arrangement, the 5th hoplite unit led by Hielos and the 3rd peltast unit led by Arpernst* will stay in the camp to prevent the enemies from Amendolara’s sneak attack. The rest of the troops will leave in order.”(Note: They are composed of mercenaries who joined in Byzantium, which includes archer and slingers, totaling more than 200) .”
“By your command!!!”
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
When the army of Thurii left the city, they then saw the mercenaries of Davos waiting early outside the city.
“This is the Greek Expeditionary troops?! I think that statement is exaggerated, you see, these soldiers are either squatting or lying on their sides, with their spears and shields all thrown aside. They are not soldiers at all!” Kunogelata’s face is filled with disappointed from spending a lot of money but getting an inferior product.
Friis wasn’t in the mood to argue with Kunogelata about this common military knowledge because he is worried about the upcoming war.
When suddenly, a young man that is next to him said without any hesitation, “The messengers that we had sent to inform them had just come back, but this army is already standing here waiting for us. This shows that this army has a strong ability to mobilize and carry out orders! As for them lying and squatting, it is for them to conserve their physical strength before the battle, which also shows that they are experienced and are able to relaxed even though the war is coming! I now have some faith that they have the ability to support the left wing on their own!”
Kunogelata quietly ‘hmph’. After all, this young man is a distinguished guest of Thurii, and so he had to shut his mouth.
At this time, Davos, led by Burkes, came to them.
“Strategos Friis, I’m Davos, the leader of this mercenary General Ferris!” Davos while riding on his horse, immediately gave his greeting.
“Although I have already heard it from Burkes, but your young age still surprises me! Young leader, thank you for helping Thurii. Let’s fight the enemy together!” Friis also responded to him.
“As you wish, strategos Friis.” Answered Davos, and then he turned to Kunogelata, who, of course, he could accurately say his name due to the instructions of Burkes, “Hello, strategos Kunogelata!”
“Leader Davos, your proposal is very daring and to be honest, I am very impressed. But after discussing it, we had thought that it is too risky, and so we didn’t adopt it. I hope you don’t mind it!” Kunogelata apologized for that, and he rode his horse forward and patted the shoulder of Davos to show his closeness.
“The purpose of pre-war discussion is to gather ideas. Once a decision is made, it is necessary to firmly implement the order. Don’t worry, I’m also a soldier, and so it’s naturally my duty to carry it out!”
“A good sentence, ‘It’s naturally the duty of the soldiers to carry out orders’” The young man praised him loudly and introduced himself, “Hello, leader Davos! I am Archytas of Taranto, I have heard the legends of the Greek expeditionary army, and you did not disappoint me after seeing you today!”
Davos fixed his gaze at the young man in front of him, although dressed in military uniform, but he still looks gentle and elegant with a sincere smile on his face and a pair of bright eyes, “Strategos Archytas*, it’s my honor to fight together with the mathematical and military genius of Taranto!” (Note: Taranto is a double ruling system, and so there is no ‘strategos’ position and it is just an honorary title.)
Davos returned the friendly greeting and continued, “I think there is an inevitable connection between mathematics and military. Every soldiers in the formation is a point, and countless points forms a straight line and a square. The basic condition for victory is how to make every point give full play to its role…”
“You’re right!” Archytas was happy and asked kindly, “Leader Davos also studies mathematics as well?”
“I don’t know much about mathematics, but I am full of respect for the Pythagorean school!” Said Davos.
When Archytas saw that he spoke with sincerity, he immediately became very friendly with him and was ready to talk again.
But Friis interrupted him, “The leaders of the other mercenaries are coming, and now we need to clarify our respective responsibilities and unify the orders.”
Note: Archytas, the second historical celebrity in this novel, has too few historical records compared with Xenophon, and his activities are focused mainly in Magna Gracia. Maybe there are readers that are mathematics majors that are familiar with him, he has great ideas in classical mathematics and physics. Archimedes used pulleys to make machinery to defeat the Romans besieging Syracuse. And pulleys was first researched by Archytas and Archimedes developed it.