Book 5 · Chapter 6

That’s how that day ended. The next day, the generals called a meeting with the soldiers and decided to invite people from Sinope and get their advice about what to do next. If they had to keep going on foot, the Sinopeans knew Paphlagonia well and could help.

And if they went by sea, those same people would be super valuable - who else could provide enough ships for the army?

So, they called in their ambassadors and asked for their advice, reminding them of the close ties between Greeks, and asking them to show their promised hospitality and give their best advice.

Hecatonymus stepped forward and wanted to apologize for what he'd said about potentially making friends with the Paphlagonians. "I didn’t mean it as a threat, like we were planning to go to war with the Greeks," he said.

"I meant that even though we could be friendly with the barbarians, we’re choosing the Greeks. Then, after being encouraged to offer some advice, he started with a prayer: "If I give you the best advice I can, may blessings pour down on me! But if I don't, may something bad happen to me!"

"‘Sacred counsel,’ as they say - and if there’s ever been a time for it, it’s today! If I give you good advice, I'll have plenty of people praising me, but if it’s bad, you’ll be throwing a lot of curses my way."

"Honestly, you’re going to have way more trouble if you travel by sea, because we're going to have to find the ships," he continued. "But if you go by land, you’ll be dealing with all the fighting yourselves. Still, I need to tell you what I think."

I know the country of the Paphlagonians and their power really well. It's got hills and valleys - some of the best plains and the highest mountains you’ll ever see. First, about the mountains: I know exactly where you need to enter. It’s where the peaks tower over the road on both sides.

Just a few people up there can hold the pass, because once it's secured, not even all the enemies in the world could get through. I could point it out with my finger if you wanted to send someone with me. "Okay, so much for the mountain barrier.

"But here’s the next thing I know: there are plains, and a cavalry that the barbarians themselves think is the best in the world. Just the other day, they refused to answer the king’s summons - their leader’s too proud for that."

"But let’s say you managed to take the mountain barrier by surprise, before the enemy could stop you. And let’s say you even won a battle in the plain against their cavalry and their army of over a hundred and twenty thousand soldiers - you’ll just find yourselves facing rivers."

First, the Thermodon, about three hundred feet wide, which will be tough to cross with enemies right behind you. Then comes the Iris, also three hundred feet wide, and thirdly, the Halys, at least two furlongs wide, which you can’t cross without ships - and who’s going to supply those?

The Parthenius is also impossible to cross if you cross the Halys. So, honestly, I think the land journey is not just difficult, it’s totally impossible. But if you go by sea, you can sail from here to Sinope, and from Sinope to Heraclea.

"After Heraclea, there’s no problem, whether you go by land or sea, because there are plenty of ships at Heraclea."

After he had finished his remarks, some of his listeners thought they detected a bit of a bias. He wouldnn't have spoken like that, but for his friendship with Corylas, whose official representative he was. Others guessed he was looking for a bribe, hoping to get paid for his "expert advice."

Still others suspected he was trying to stop them from traveling by foot and causing trouble in the country of the Sinopeans. Whatever the reason, the Hellenes voted to continue the journey by sea.

After this, Xenophon said, "Sinopeans, the army has chosen the method you advise, and that’s how it stands. If there are enough ships to make sure nobody gets left behind, we’re going by sea; but if some of us are going to be left behind while others go by sea, we’re not getting on those ships."

"One thing is clear: strength is everything to us. As long as we’re strong, we can protect ourselves and get supplies; but if we’re caught at the mercy of our enemies, it’s plain we’re going to be enslaved."

Hearing this, the ambassadors told them to send an embassy, which they did: Callimachus the Arcadian, and Ariston the Athenian, and Samolas the Achaean.

So these set off, but meanwhile a thought struck Xenophon as he looked at that huge army of Hellenes - all those hoplites, plus an array of peltasts, archers, and slingers, with cavalry to boot - all in top shape from years of training, hardened veterans, and all gathered in Pontus, where raising such a large force would cost a fortune.

Then the idea hit him: what a great chance to grab new territory and power for Hellas, by founding a colony - a city, and a big one at that, he thought to himself, as he counted their numbers - and not just them, but a whole population planted on the shores of Pontus.

Then he summoned Silanus the Ambraciot, the soothsayer of Cyrus mentioned earlier, and before saying anything to the soldiers, he consulted the sacrifices.

But Silanus, worried that these ideas might take hold and the army would be stuck somewhere, started spreading a story among the men: Xenophon was planning to keep the army and found a city to make a name for himself and gain power, while Silanus himself just wanted to get back to Hellas as quickly as possible, because he still had the three thousand darics Cyrus had given him during the sacrifice when he’d correctly predicted the ten days.

Silanus’s story was received differently; a few of the soldiers thought it would be great to stay in that country, but most were strongly against it.

The next thing that happened was that Timasion the Dardanian, with Thorax the Boeotian, approached some Heracleot and Sinopean traders who had come to Cotyora, and told them that if they couldn’t find a way to pay the army enough to keep them in supplies for the trip home, the whole force would probably settle down permanently in Pontus.

"Xenophon has a plan," they continued, "which he’s pushing on us. We’re supposed to wait for the ships, and then suddenly turn to the army and say: ‘Soldiers, we now see the trouble we’re in - we can’t keep ourselves in provisions on the return voyage, or send a little gift to our friends back home."

"But if you like, you can pick a place on the coast of the Black Sea that looks good to you and settle there. Those who want to go home, go; those who want to stay here, stay. You’ve got ships now, so you can quickly take over any spot you choose.’"

The merchants spread the story, telling everyone in every city they visited. They werenn't alone, either. Timasion, from Dardanus, sent his fellow citizen, Eurymachus, along with Boeotian Thorax, to repeat the same thing.

So, when the people of Sinope and Heraclea heard it, they messaged Timasion and basically begged him to take a bribe, in exchange for getting the troops moving. Timasion was totally down with that.

He saw his chance when he gathered the soldiers together and said, "Guys, don't even think about sticking around here. Hellas is where it's at, seriously. I’m hearing some people have been making deals behind your backs about this."

But I can promise you this: if you leave these waters, you’ll get paid - regular monthly pay, starting the first of the month. One cyzicene each, every month. I’ll bring you to the Troad, where I’m an exile, and my own state will welcome you. They’ll open their arms to you.

"I’ll personally guide you, and I’ll take you to places where you’ll make serious money. I know every nook and cranny of the Aeolid, Phrygia, and the Troad - and honestly, the whole satrapy of Pharnabazus. It's my birthplace, and I’ve campaigned there with Clearchus and Dercylidas."

"No sooner had he finished than Thorax, from Boeotia, jumped up. This guy had been constantly arguing with Xenophon about who should be in charge of the army. He said, "If you leave the Black Sea, there's the Chersonese - a gorgeous and wealthy country.

"You can settle there if you want, or head back home. Seriously, why mess around in barbarian lands when there's so much territory in Hellas?" He added, "But until you get there, I can guarantee you regular pay, just like Timasion."

He knew the promises Timasion had been making to the people of Heraclea and Sinope to get them to set sail.

Meanwhile, Xenophon stayed quiet. Then Philesius and Lycon, two Achaeans, jumped up. "It’s crazy," they said, "that Xenophon was secretly talking to people about staying there, and asking the victims for their opinions, without telling the army or saying anything about it publicly."

Xenophon had to get up and speak: "You guys know I always sacrifice - for you, for me, I try to do what's best in everything I think, say, and do. Right now, I just wanted to see if it was even a good idea to bring it up, and what to do about it."

Silanus, the soothsayer, told me the victims were good signs. He knew I’ve helped with sacrifices before, but he added there were signs of some trickery or plot against me. That was a lucky find, considering he was already trying to trash my name in front of you!

"He’s the one who started the rumor that I'd decided to go ahead with this without your okay. "Honestly, if I saw you guys struggling, I’d figure out how to help you capture a city.

Of course, anyone who wanted could just leave right away, and those who didn't could follow later, maybe sending some money home to help their friends.

But now, with Heraclea and Sinope sending ships to get you to safety, and someone promising regular pay, it's a rare chance to reach our goals and get paid for it. I’m done with that dream, and I’m telling anyone who came to me about it to drop it. That’s my view.

As long as you guys stick together like you are today, you’ll get respect and find food. Strength definitely has a right over the weaker. But if you break up, with your force split apart, you won’t get food, and you’ll pay a lot to get out of this.

"I’m totally on board with your plan to head back to Hellas. And if anyone stays behind or gets caught deserting before the whole army is safe, they should be judged as wrongdoers. Now, let’s see who’s with me - raise your hands!"

Everyone held them up. Only Silanus started yelling and desperately trying to keep the right to leave for anyone who wanted to go. But the soldiers wouldn’t let him, threatening him that if he himself got caught trying to run, they’d inflict that punishment.

After that, when the Heracleots heard that they were going to leave by sea, and that the plan came from Xenophon, they sent the ships, alright. But about the money they’d promised Timasion and Thorax to pay the soldiers - they totally bailed. They straight-up cheated them both.

So the two guys who’d guaranteed regular monthly pay were completely freaked out and terrified of the soldiers. What they did then was to bring in the other generals - everyone except Neon the Asniaean, who was acting as lieutenant-general for Cheirisophus while he was still gone.

They came to Xenophon as a group and said their minds had changed. Now that they had the ships, they thought it was best to sail to the Phasis and take over the Phasians’ territory (whose current king was a descendant of Aeetes).

Xenophon’s response was short and to the point: he wasn’t going to say anything himself about this. But, he added, if you want, you can call an assembly and voice your opinions. Then Timasion the Dardanian spoke up: It’s probably not the best time for a big meeting.

"First, we should each talk to our own officers." So they left and started working on their plans.