Book 6 · Chapter 6

After that, the enemy focused on their own stuff and moved their families and belongings as far away as possible. The Hellenes were still waiting for Cleander and his warships and supply ships - they should be arriving soon.

So every day, people went out with the pack animals and slaves, bringing in wheat and barley, wine and veggies, millet and figs; the area produced everything good, except for olives. When the army camped to rest, small groups were allowed to go out and take what they could find.

But when the whole army went out, if anyone wandered off and grabbed something, it was declared public property. Before long, they had tons of supplies - goods arrived from all over the Hellenic world, and markets popped up everywhere.

Sailors passing by, hearing about a new city and a harbor, were happy to stop and check it out. Even the nearby tribes started sending messengers to Xenophon. He was the one building the place into a city, as far as they understood, and they wanted to know what it would take to become his friends.

He made sure to introduce these visitors to the soldiers. Meanwhile, Cleander arrived with two warships, but not a single supply ship. When he showed up, the army was out, and a small group had gone off to raid some small livestock in the hills.

Worried about losing their loot, these same people talked to Dexippus - the same guy who had escaped from Trapezus with that big warship. "Take some for yourself," they said, "and give the rest back to us."

So, without a lot of fuss, he pushed the soldiers nearby aside, who kept yelling that the loot was public property. Then he headed to Cleander. "There’s an attempt at robbery here," he said. Cleander told him to bring the culprit to him.

Dexippus grabbed someone and was about to drag him to the Spartan governor. Just then, Agasias stepped in and rescued the man, who was part of his company; and the rest of the soldiers started throwing rocks at Dexippus, calling him "traitor."

Things got so bad that some of the crew of the warships got freaked out and ran to the sea, and Cleander went with them. Xenophon and the other generals tried to stop them, telling Cleander that the whole thing was nothing and that the army’s decree was to blame.

But Cleander, pushed by Dexippus and still annoyed by the scare he’d had, threatened to leave and issue a ban, forbidding any city from receiving them, declaring them public enemies. At that time, the Lacedaemonians ruled the whole Hellenic world.

Things were looking seriously bad, and the Hellenes begged Cleander to change his mind. He said he’s sticking to his word and nothing was going to stop him, unless they handed over the guy who started the stoning and the one who rescued the prisoner.

Now, one of those guys - Agasias - had been friends with Xenophon, which is exactly why Dexippus was pushing so hard to accuse him. Super stressed, the generals called a huge meeting with all the soldiers, and some people were ready to brush off Cleander and tell him off.

But Xenophon took it way more seriously. He stood up and spoke to the group: "Soldiers, I cann't just laugh this off. If Cleander leaves like he's threatening, things are gonna get messy."

There are Greek cities nearby, but the Lacedaemonians are basically running Hellas, and they can do whatever they want in those cities.

If the first thing this Lacedaemonian does is close the gates of Byzantium, and then tells all the other governors not to let us in because we’re a bunch of troublemakers who aren’t loyal to the Lacedaemonians, we’re in trouble.

And if this news gets to their admiral, Anaxibius, deciding whether to let us stay or go will be tough. Remember, right now the Lacedaemonians are in charge both on land and at sea. So, we shouldn’t banish the rest of us from Hellas just for one or two guys.

Whatever they tell us to do, we gotta obey. Don’t our own hometowns obey them too? And, Dexippus keeps telling Cleander that Agasias wouldn’t have done this if I, Xenophon, hadn’t told him to, so I’m clearing you both of any blame. And Agasias too, if he says I had anything to do with it.

If I started this whole stone-throwing thing or any other kind of violence, then I’m guilty - I deserve the worst punishment, and I’ll accept it. I also say that if anyone else is accused, that person has to hand themselves over to Cleander for judgement.

"That's how you’re all cleared of the accusation. But right now, it’s messed up that just as we were trying to earn respect and honor throughout Hellas, we’re gonna be rejected by the Greek cities whose name we share."

After him, Agasias stood up and said, "Seriously, guys, I swear to all the gods and goddesses, I didn’t do this at the request of Xenophon or anyone else here. I saw an honest man - one of our own - being grabbed by Dexippus, that guy who betrayed us, you all know that."

I couldn't let that happen, so I rescued him, yeah, I admit it. Don’t hand me over to the authorities. I’m willing to surrender myself to Cleander, and let him decide what to do with me. Don't start a feud with the Lacedaemonians over this. I hope you all reach your goals safely.

"Just decide who you want to come with me to Cleander, so they can vouch for me if I mess something up." The army agreed, letting him choose who would go with him. He immediately picked the generals.

Then, they all headed to Cleander - Agasias, the generals, and the man Agasias had rescued - and the generals spoke: "The army sent us to you, Cleander, and here’s what they said: ‘If you’re going to find fault with everyone, then judge them all and do whatever you think is best."

"But if the blame is on one person, or a couple, or even a few, they want those people to surrender to you for judgment. So, if you have any complaints about us generals, we’re here to answer for it. Or is someone else to blame? Tell us who."

Then, Agasias stepped forward and said, "It was me, Cleander, who rescued the man you see standing here from Dexippus. I ordered Dexippus to be stopped. I know this guy is an honest man."

As for Dexippus, he was chosen by the army to command a large ship we got from the people of Trapezus to help us get home safely. But Dexippus betrayed his fellow soldiers, who had helped him through so much, and ran off like a fugitive.

Because of him, we’re going to look like we stole their ship, and we’ll be in trouble with the people of Trapezus. He’s really messed things up for us - we all heard how impossible it would be to walk across the rivers and make it back to Greece safely.

"That's the kind of person I stopped from getting away with someone. If you had taken him, or one of your people, or anyone who wasn’t one of us, I would have acted completely differently. If you kill me now, you’re sacrificing a good, honest person for a coward and a criminal."

After he’d heard those remarks, Cleander replied that if Dexippus had acted like that, he couldn't congratulate him. But still, he added, turning to the generals, even if Dexippus was a real scamp, he shouldnn't have to face violence. But according to your request, he deserves a fair trial.

"So, here's what I'm saying: leave your friend here and go. When I give the word, be present at the trial. I have no further charges against the army or anyone, since the prisoner himself admits he rescued the guy."

Then the rescued man said, "Cleander, if you think I was being arrested for something, it’s not true. I didn’t hit or shoot anyone; I just said, 'The sheep belong to everyone. It was a rule the soldiers made - anything found when the army went out together was public property."

"That's all I said, and then that guy grabbed me and started dragging me off. He wanted to shut us up so he could keep a share of the loot for himself and these pirates, going against the rules."

In response, Cleander said, "Alright, if that's how you feel, you can stay behind too, and we’ll consider your case too. Then Cleander and his group went to breakfast, but Xenophon gathered the army in assembly and suggested sending a delegation to Cleander to ask him to release the men.

"So, they decided to send some generals and officers, along with Dracontius the Spartan, and those who seemed best suited for the job. The delegation was supposed to ask Cleander, by all means, to let the two men go. So Xenophon came and spoke to him like this: "Cleander, you have the men.

The army has accepted you and agreed to do whatever you want regarding these two soldiers and themselves in general. But now they’ve come to beg and pray you to release these two men and not to kill them. These two have done a lot of good for our army in the past.

Just let them go, and in return, the army promises that, if you take charge and the gods are with you, they’ll show you how disciplined they are, how ready to obey their general, and, with the gods’ help, how fearless they are in the face of their enemies.

They’re also asking you to lead them and test them, and Dexippus, to see what each of them is like, and then assign them what they deserve . " When Cleander heard this, he replied, "No, by the twin gods, I’ll give you a quick answer. I’m giving you these two men as a gift, and I’ll do as you ask.

"Then, if the gods allow, I’ll take charge and lead you into Greece. Your words are very different from what I used to hear about you from some people, that you wanted to pull the army away from the Lacedaemonians. After that, the delegation thanked him and left, taking the two men with them.

Then Cleander made sacrifices before marching and got along well with Xenophon, and the two formed an alliance. When the Spartan saw how well the soldiers followed orders, he wanted to be their leader even more. However, even after three days of sacrifices, the animals weren’t favorable.

So, he called the generals and said to them, "The animals aren’t smiling on me; they won’t let me lead you home. But don’t be discouraged. It seems you’re meant to bring your men home safely. So, go ahead, and for our part, whenever you get there, we’ll give you a warm welcome."

The soldiers decided to give him some of the town's cattle, which he took but then gave right back. So, he sailed off. But the soldiers split up the corn they’d gathered and all the other stuff they’d taken, and started heading home through Bithynia. At first, they stuck to the main road.

But since they weren't finding anything that would let them reach a safe place with some cash, they decided to turn around and march the opposite way for a whole day and night. Doing that, they grabbed a bunch of slaves and a bunch of smaller livestock.

On the sixth day, they reached Chrysopolis in Chalcedonia. They stopped there for seven days, selling off all their loot.