By the time the sun began to sink in the west, the soldiers were beginning to organize their equipment.
Put on the breastplate - this is made of several layers of linen glued together. It is about five or six centimeters thick, very stiff and tough, but not too heavy. The hemline goes up to the thighs and is cut in a feathery shape to facilitate movement.
Put on the gaiters that protect the calves' bellies. Fasten the Greek saber to your waist - a curved sword, sixty-five centimeters long, single-edged and curved like a dog's hind leg.
The Corinthian helmet could not be taken on at this time, for night marching was already difficult to see, and such a helmet, with only the mouth and eyes exposed, would narrow the line of sight. Davos followed the example of the others and strapped his helmet to his two-meter long bayonet.
The bayonet, which was the main weapon of the Greek heavy infantry. The shaft was made of ash tree, the leaf-shaped head was made of iron, and the end of the shaft was studded with a brass tail spike.
Davos picked up the round shield in his left hand. It was in the shape of a shallow bowl, wooden on the inside and copper clad throughout on the outside, about ninety centimeters in diameter, with the face of the Minotaur painted on the face of the shield. On the inside there was a strap for the left arm to be inserted up to the elbow, allowing the soldier to place his entire left lower arm over the round shield, not only saving effort but making it easier for defense and shield strikes. There is also a small metal hook on the inside outer edge of the shield that allows it to be slung over the shoulder, making it easier to carry on the march.
Davos, shield in his left hand and gun in his right, couldn't help but laugh bitterly at the transformation of himself from a modern man into an ancient western armored warrior. However, the cells of his entire body were boiling up in a cheering style, making him realize that it was the muscle memory of this body that was at work.
He tried a few steps and felt comfortable. While he was nervous, he was also a bit excited. Every man had a warrior dream in his heart! That was the inheritance in the bloodline of our ancestors from the time of the Rouge and Blood Drinking Era. The modern man in the era of peace could no longer feel the face-to-face courage to fight, and Davos who traveled through this era had such an opportunity!
Davos was still getting used to the outfit when Xellos reminded him, "You still have something left."
Seeing two javelins and a string of meat sausage on the ground. He laughed bitterly: this is really self-inflicted!
He slipped the meat sausage carefully over his chest, lest the grease get on his breastplate.
At that moment, Squadron Leader Antonios came over and said to Xilos, "We have to go to the supply camp and move with Melsius." After saying that, he also nodded his head towards Davos, apparently Davos' reputation had already reached the ears of this lieutenant captain, which actually made him not dare to neglect it.
"Who gave the order? Isn't Menon still with Arielus?" Xellos asked curiously. He was reluctant to move with the supply battalion, slow moving not to mention dangerous.
"Orders from Adjutant Felicius, who is temporarily acting as Menon's commanding officer. The last time the Persians overran our camp, most of the slaves in the supply battalion escaped, they are now in short supply, and Melesius has named our team to help." After saying that, he glanced at Davos again.
...............
"Davos, I didn't expect it! We meet again!" Melesius laughed and walked right through the squad officers and soldiers to give Davos a hug.
I knew it was this fat guy who was causing trouble! Davos smiled helplessly and bitterly.
"Everyone else go get those animals. Davos is with me for a piece." He commanded.
This fat man is harsh and ruthless when he doesn't know you well, and then he is overly enthusiastic once he is on good terms. Isn't this helping to pull hatred for himself? Davos hastily refused.
The supply camp had several hundred head of livestock and dozens of ox wagons full of goods, along with a number of slaves and women.
At the same time. The columns formed could reach two miles long. This was still just one barracks, one could imagine how bloated the entire Greek mercenary army's supply wagons were. Davos observed all of this and mused in his mind.
At that moment the long, dark bivouac horn sounded over the boisterous camp.
It was time to go. Davos subconsciously tugged on the bull rope with a slight tension in his heart.
The procession began to advance. The supply battalion was on the right, the troops on the left, and the teamsters held their torches aloft. Under the illumination of the cool moonlight. The entire Greek army was like a long, unseen fire dragon slowly crawling along.
After walking for about an hour, he heard the sound of rushing water ahead. Davos knew: the Euphrates was near.
At night, the river is so dark that when you look at it, it seems to be infinitely wide and deep, and it can instill great fear in people. Therefore the procession was much quieter, lest the river god be disturbed.
At this time the formation naturally became one in which the supply battalion marched along the left bank of the Euphrates, with the troops on the outside, protecting the property of their camp, and it was evident that the chiefs had some experience in night marches. Davos watched and learned in silence.
Mei Nong's troops were walking at the end of the entire queue. Of course, it wasn't Menon's request, in fact, he had sent someone back to ask his troops to walk in the middle of the entire line. But the chiefs were displeased with Memnon. Because at the beginning of the march from Asia to Babylon, Menon, in order to earn a performance in front of little Cyrus, grabbed the vanguard, burned and looted, and made a lot of benefits. Now it is time to retreat, and want to go in the middle to let their soldiers from the attack and reduce losses. How can all the good things let him alone! So it was unanimously decided to let his team go last. This was what Melesius, Mei Long's beloved, had told Davos, giving him some insight into Mei Nong.
At that moment, Tormid, the herald of the whole army, finally arrived in front of Menon's group and conveyed the order, "The front has been joined with Arizos' army. The chiefs are conferring with Arrizos. Please rest in place, stay on guard, and wait for orders!"
The quiet group stirred:
"Finally, I can rest for a while!"
"We've been walking for what must be two hours, I'm exhausted!"
"Me too. It's simply too tiring to lead the oxcart! We can't follow the supply battalion tomorrow!"
"Right! Go talk to the lieutenant tomorrow."
"Say go now!"
...
Looking at the noisy warriors, Davos stood up and shouted, "Brothers, please be quiet! Brothers! I am Davos!"
Unexpectedly, his shouts were even more effective than Lieutenant Antonios, and the soldiers of the supply battalion stopped their clamor to hear what this 'God's Favorite' had to say.
"I'll tell you guys a story to take the edge off, okay?"
"What's the story?"
"It's called A ... Aris and the Forty Thieves."
"Sounds good! Tell me about it!"
So Davos cleared his throat and began to speak aloud, "Once upon a time there lived a family in a small town in Ionia ..."
Gradually, the supply camp fell completely silent, and even the pack animals stopped hissing. The soldiers, as well as the slaves and women, listened intently. They envied Aris for his unintentional acquisition of the thieves' wealth; they laughed at Aris's brother's disorganized shouting of the cave's password; they were nervous that the thieves had found Aris's house; and they applauded the female slaves for their wisdom.
The story was told and people couldn't get enough of it:
"Aris is lucky!
"He's lucky because he has a smart and beautiful Persian slave girl!"
"Right! I see that he can ransom the slave girl and make her a free citizen! After all, she saved Aris!"
"Idiot! He should have taken the slave girl as his concubine. That way the slave girl can continue to help him!"
...
There was a lot of talk.
"Davos, is there really a cave full of gold and silver?" Even Melsius couldn't help but come over to Davos and ask.
Antonius looked at Davos' back in front of him and couldn't help but exclaim, "Xilos, your village has produced a talent!"
"Are you talking about Davos? That's for sure, he's a 'God's Favorite'! I'd even like to give up my position as squad leader to him."
"Squad leader?" Antonius bristled. A mercenary leader would often change to replenish his soldiers, while most of the middle and senior officers leading the team were his beloved ones, and would not be easily changed as it would facilitate his control of the troops. Antonios had been with Menon for five or six years, and had met many Greek and Persian dignitaries because of his missions, so he had some experience in reading people.
After a day's observation, he found that Davos had a calm character and was not at all like a nineteen-year-old boy. He was very organized in his work, modest and courteous in his treatment of others, and eloquent, and the soldiers were happy to be close to him. But he also often has a strange idea, can solve the problem that others can not solve; marching, he also witnessed Davos either help others carry shields, or push the pack. Such a man, even if young, could be trusted.
If his ability to command battles wasn't weak as well, then the future of such a charismatic and capable person was immeasurable. If he had enough financial resources again, he could well become a qualified mercenary leader! As Antonius thought of this, he was reminded of Menon: what would he do when he realized that such a character had suddenly appeared in his barracks?
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