Chapter 1: The Death of Xiao Ju Lu Si (Part 1) - Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece

Chapter 1: The Death of Xiao Ju Lu Si (Part 1) "The king's army is approaching! The king's army is approaching!!..." A scout cavalryman rushed in with lightning speed from afar, repeatedly shouting in Persian and Greek. The soldiers, who were about to stop and rest, started to become restless. "Pathikias, is it true? Is Artaxerxes really coming?!" Seeing the scout who just jumped off his horse, Xiao Ju Lu Si impatiently asked while still mounted. "Yes, Your Highness. Artaxerxes is here! Artagates is here too! And that... damn Tissaphernes is also here!!" Pathikias replied, panting heavily and speaking in a hoarse voice. "Good, my friend! Good! He has finally come!!" Xiao Ju Lu Si excitedly jumped off his horse, while his servant fastened his cuirass. He shouted to his adjutant, Arioch, "Notify the entire army, prepare for battle!!" "Yes, Your Highness!" Arioch hurriedly called for the messengers: "Inform the Greeks immediately, and have them form ranks on our right wing! Prepare for battle!" The messengers rode off swiftly. Arioch then summoned the Persian commanders. Xiao Ju Lu Si instructed them to lead their soldiers to unfold on his left wing, while he led eight hundred cavalry in the center. The meticulous Artaphernes asked, "How many of them are there?" "About sixty thousand... or maybe eighty thousand..." Pathikias recalled the scene, with a hint of fear on his face. "So many!!" The attendants exclaimed, visibly apprehensive. "Ha ha! Are you scared, my friend?" Xiao Ju Lu Si walked forward and gave Pathikias a strong embrace, unfazed by the dust and sweat on his body. Then, turning back to his horse, he shouted to those around him, "Friends, are you scared?!" Xiao Ju Lu Si's followers and the guard contingent naturally professed their bravery. "Even with more soldiers, Artaxerxes is still that cowardly Artaxerxes! Never forget, even a little hunting dog can scare him into wetting himself!" Xiao Ju Lu Si's crude words sent a wave of laughter around. "And I have all of you! And my army! Together, we defeated mighty Athens! The same Athens that once repeatedly defeated us Persians!" As Xiao Ju Lu Si's gaze swept across each person, they stood taller. "And we have the valiant Greeks! They are fighting alongside us!" Xiao Ju Lu Si gazed to the right—where the Greek heavy infantry began to slowly form ranks. Seeing this filled him with confidence: "We are unstoppable! Invincible!!" "Victory!" Artaphernes exclaimed first, and then everyone eagerly shouted, "Victory!!" Confronted with the mounting morale, Xiao Ju Lu Si raised his right hand high: "Friends! Warriors! After this victory, I swear to the Supreme God Ahura Mazda, I will do my utmost to repay your friendship and contributions!!" "Ju Lu Si, THE GREAT!!" Someone shouted, and soon, like a flood breaking through, the shouts surged like a tide. ………………… "Hey, Mato Nis, anything happening?" Dae Phus couldn't help but tap the shoulder of the warrior in front of him again. "How many times have you asked already! No! Nothing!" Mato Nis wiped his sweat-soaked neck with his free left hand, exclaiming irritably, "Why hasn't the enemy arrived yet? The sun is already at its zenith! If we wait any longer, I’ll be roasted by its flames!" "Mato Nis, even if your meat was cooked, I wouldn’t want a whiff of it. I’m fed up with eating meat these days," quipped a cheeky warrior beside him, eliciting a burst of laughter from the soldiers. "Shut up, Oliverus, you lecherous fellow! If you want me to stuff your hand into your mouth so you can taste the flavor of your own flesh, keep talking!" Mato Nis threatened fiercely, waving his muscular arm. "Oh, I’m so scared!" Oliverus feigned fear, causing another round of laughter. "Stand ready, cut it out! Menon is here!" As soon as Hylos spoke, a sharp voice called out, "You brats think this is your family banquet?" A well-built warrior, with a red plume on his helmet, stood in front of the ranks, pointing and scolding, "This is a battlefield! If you don't give it your all, Hades will be more than happy to visit you!" "Menon, the foul-mouth!" someone shouted from the ranks. "Who said that?! Step forward!!!" The crowd held back their laughter, watching Menon jumping with anger. At that moment, someone shouted sternly, "Look, ahead!!!" The soldiers immediately turned their attention forward. The smiles on their faces were quickly replaced by alarm. Dust billowed up at the edge of their sight, engulfing hills, trees, and houses, all veiled in gray. Before long, a thin black line pierced through the dust, beginning to extend to the sides, slowly thickening... Moments later, when the soldiers could barely make out the enemies’ outlines, countless gleams began to dazzle their eyes in the bright sunlight. The cold gleams from armor, spears, and shields seemed endless like the Milky Way at night; the sound of footsteps, shouts, and horses' neighs amassed into a thundering roar, causing even the ground to tremble, much more the soldiers' legs. Just as Oliverus felt he was about to crumble, Hylos cried out, "Prepare for battle!" "Prepare for battle!!" "Prepare for battle!!!" Greek mercenary soldiers donned helmets, unstrapped the round shields from their left shoulders, gripped their spears, and began striking their shields. "Boom! Boom! Boom!..." The immense noise reminded Oliverus and the soldiers that they too were part of a great force, gradually calming their spirits. …………………… The Persian King's army continued its slow but orderly advance: war chariots rolled at the front, followed by unarmored archers, then light cavalry, with long-shield infantry and spear-bearing wicker-shield infantry bringing up the rear. The heavily armored cavalry was divided into two parts—one part encircling the Persian King, the other on the far left of the formation... The vast Persian army was like the thick clouds before a storm, pressing down slowly and suffocatingly. …………………… At this moment, Xiao Ju Lu Si, accompanied by a few followers, sped along the formation, issuing instructions to each Greek mercenary leader... To the continuous cheers, he reached the far right end of the Greek formation, where he could even see the roaring Euphrates River not far off. "Salute to you, Your Highness!" Klearchus saluted him with a military gesture.