Book 2 · Chapter 1

As soon as the sun came up, the generals got together, and they were totally thrown that Cyrus hadn’t shown up himself, or at least sent someone to tell them what to do. So, they decided to pool their resources, gear up, and keep moving until they linked up with Cyrus.

Just as they were about to head out, Procles, the ruler of Teuthrania, arrived with the rising sun. He was a descendant of Damaratus from Laconia, and Glus, son of Tamos, came with him too.

These two guys told them, first, that Cyrus was dead; second, that Ariaeus had pulled back with the rest of the non-Greeks to the spot where they started at dawn the day before; and that, if they wanted to come, he’d wait for them for just one day, but tomorrow he was heading back home to Ionia, where he came from.

"When they heard that news, the generals were seriously bummed out - and so were the rest of the Greeks when they found out. Then Clearchus spoke up: "Man, I wish Cyrus was still alive! But since he’s gone, tell Ariaeus that we, at least, conquered the king.

And, like you can see, there’s not a single person left on the battlefield to even challenge us. If you guys hadn’t shown up, we would’ve already started marching on the king. Now, we can promise Ariaeus that, if he joins us here, we’ll put him on the king’s throne.

It’s just how it works when you take over a kingdom. With those words, he sent the messengers back, along with Cheirisophus from Laconia, and Menon from Thessaly. Menon wanted that, since he was friends with Ariaeus and they’d hosted each other. So, they headed off, and Clearchus waited for them."

The soldiers grabbed whatever food and drinks they could - hitting up the pack animals and chopping up oxen and donkeys. They weren’t short on firewood; they just had to step a few feet from where the battle happened, and they’d find tons of arrows that the Greeks had made the king’s deserters ditch.

There were arrows and wicker shields, plus those huge wooden shields the Egyptians used. There were tons of abandoned supplies and empty wagons, too. It was a goldmine, and they definitely made use of it to cook their meals that day.

It was now close to the busiest time of the market when messengers from the king and Tissaphernes arrived. These were barbarians, with one exception. This was a guy named Phalinus, a Greek who lived at the court of Tissaphernes and was highly respected.

He presented himself as an expert in military tactics and fighting with heavy weapons.

These were the guys who showed up, and after summoning the Greek generals, they delivered this message: "The great king, having won the battle and killed Cyrus, wants the Greeks to give up their weapons and go to the king’s palace gates to negotiate terms."

The Greeks listened with heavy hearts, but Clearchus spoke, and his words were short: Conquerors don’t usually give up their weapons. Then, turning to the others, he added, I’m leaving it to you, my fellow generals, to give the best and noblest response you can to these guys.

"I’ll rejoin you in a bit." At that moment, an official had summoned him to come and look at the animal organs that had been taken out, because he was currently performing a religious sacrifice.

As soon as he was gone, Cleanor the Arcadian, because of his seniority, responded: They’d rather die than give up their weapons. Then Proxenus the Theban said: Honestly, I’m wondering if the king wants our weapons as a ruler, or just as a friendly gift.

If it's as a ruler, why doesn’t he just come and take them? But if he’s trying to sweet-talk us with fancy speeches, he should tell us what his soldiers will get in return. In response, Phalinus said: "The king claims he’s won because he killed Cyrus, and who’s challenging him for the kingdom now?

"He also thinks he has you in his power, since he’s holding you in the heart of his country, surrounded by rivers that are impossible to cross, and he can bring an army against you so huge that even if you were able to rise up and fight, you couldn’t kill them all."

After him, Theopompus the Athenian spoke: Phalinus, he said, right now, as you can see, we have nothing left but our weapons and our courage. If we keep the weapons, we think we can use the courage; but if we give up the weapons, we’ll soon be losing our lives.

"Don’t think we’re going to give up the only good things we have. We’d rather keep them, and with their help, we’ll fight you for the good things you have."

Phalinus laughed when he heard those words, and said: "Spoken like a philosopher, my fine young man, and very pretty reasoning too; but let me tell you, your brains are a bit scattered if you think your courage will beat the king’s power."

A couple of others, it was said, with a bit of weakness in their voices or arguments, responded: "They had been good and trustworthy friends to Cyrus, and the king might find them just as valuable."

"If he wanted to be friends with them, he could use them any way he liked, say for a campaign against Egypt. Their weapons were at his service; they would help lay that country at his feet."

Just then Clearchus came back and wanted to know what they’d said. The words were barely out of his mouth before Phalinus cut in, "Your friends here are all over the place with their opinions - what’s your take? "Seeing you, Phalinus, really cheered me up," he replied.

"And not just me, I’m sure everyone here feels the same! You’re a Hellene, just like us - every single one of us you see before you. Right now, we’re in a tough spot and would love for you to join our discussion about what to do with your proposals."

I’m seriously asking you, in the sight of heaven - give us the best advice you can, advice that will bring you honor down the line.

"It’s going to be said that Phalinus was sent by the great king to ask certain Hellenes to give up their weapons, and when they took him into their counsel, he gave them this and that advice. You know that whatever advice you give us will definitely be reported back in Hellas."

Clearchus dropped these hints, hoping this ambassador from the king would advise them not to give up their weapons. That would make the Hellenes even more hopeful.

But, to his surprise, Phalinus turned around and said, "If you have even a tiny chance, a one-in-a-million shot, to win a war with the king, don’t give up your arms. That’s my advice. But if you have absolutely no way out without the king’s permission, then save yourselves however you can."

And Clearchus answered, "So, that’s your final decision? Okay, take that back to him. We think that whether we’re supposed to be friends with the king, we’ll be more valuable as friends if we keep our weapons, than if we hand them over to someone else."

Or, if we’re going to war, we’ll fight better with them than without. And Phalinus said, "We’ll repeat that answer, but the king also told me to tell you this: ‘As long as you stay here, there’s a truce. But one step forward or one step back, the truce is over - there’s war.’

"So, what do you say about that? Are you going to stay put and keep the truce, or is there going to be war? What answer should I take back? And Clearchus replied, "Please tell him we agree with him on this point. "How do you say that?" asked Phalinus.

Clearchus answered, "As long as we stay here, there’s a truce, but a step forward or a step backward, the truce is over - there’s war. The other asked again, "Peace or war, what answer should I give? Clearchus repeated the same words: "Truce if we stop, but if we move forward or backward, war."

But what he really wanted to do, he refused to make clear.