by Theseustoo

Impatient with the limitation on his speed that having to stay with the infantry and baggage train had imposed on him, Cyrus had boldly pushed ahead. Thus he was the first to arrive at the city gates of Sardis at the head of his cavalry; even before the rest of the army. Cyrus left the column at a distance he deemed safe from any archers on the city walls who may be tempted to take pot-shots at them, then, holding aloft a lance, to which he had attached a piece of white cloth to serve as a flag of truce in his right hand and a wickerwork shield in his left, he cautiously approached the city gates. With his wickerwork shield held in front of him and keeping and extremely sharp eye out for possible missile fire, Cyrus hailed the guards that he knew would be on duty in the gate-house to man the now heavily-barred gates, which had been closed the instant the dust from Cyrus’ expedition had been seen rising in huge brown clouds above the horizon.

Soon a Lydian guard appeared on the wall above the gate; although he was armed from head to toe, his hands were empty as he waited for Cyrus to state his purpose. In tones which would undoubtedly be clearly heard well inside the city walls Cyrus declaimed: “Ho there! Inside the city! Tell your master, Croesus, son of Alyattes, that Cyrus, son of Cambyses, King of Persia and Media, has come to finish what Croesus started! If he does not wish to come out to fight, let him skulk inside his city, and hide behind its walls like a coward, we will then lay siege to the city and deprive you of all the goods that you normally receive through these gates; until you either surrender or starve!”

As the guard disappeared once more from the top of the wall to give his message to Croesus, Cyrus returned to the column where Harpagus awaited his instructions. “Let us fall back far enough to allow him time to come out of the city and draw up his battle-lines.” Cyrus said; then he added, “These Lydians are brave men; in all Asia there are none braver; they will not surrender without a fight!”

Appreciating the appropriateness and the candour of his king’s personal assessment of the enemy, Harpagus saluted him, striking his gauntleted right fist across his mailed leather cuirass. “Yes Lord!” he responded firmly, as he turned and, giving a brief hand-signal, wheeled his column about and withdrew far enough to allow Croesus to draw up his lines of battle without any fear of interference. While the Lydians were occupied with this, the Persian infantry section began to appear on the horizon; followed closely by the baggage train.

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Croesus had assembled his generals to discuss how they might best approach this new situation with which they were confronted. As soon as he entered the war-room, Sandanis spoke, “Sire, I’ve sounded the assembly; all the mercenaries who live in or near the city have been recalled; they await your command.”

Croesus nodded his approval of Sandanis’ actions; smiling at the other generals he said confidently, “He is very bold this Cyrus! But we Lydians still have the best cavalry in all Asia! What forces does Cyrus have with him?”

“Mostly infantrymen,” Sandanis responded, “with only a small detachment of cavalry… he is too rash Lord; it seems he has attacked us impetuously; although we have very few infantry without the support of our allies, yet our cavalry are easily a match for him now!”

“Very well,” Croesus said thoughtfully, “…the enemy have courteously withdrawn to allow us to draw up our battle-lines; we shall oblige this young man and teach him not to be so impetuous! As for battle-lines, we shall put our cavalry in front with our infantry behind them; the shock of a cavalry charge from my lancers will break up their formation and make the infantry’s job much easier; the Persians won’t know what’s hit them.”

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Harpagus had watched Croesus form his battle ranks and had immediately observed the strength of Croesus’ cavalry; which consisted mainly of heavy lancers; and which formed his front rank. Obviously, he thought, Croesus intends to use them as shock troops to charge our front line, hoping to scatter it and thus break through to the rear of our ranks; where he realized grimly, they would easily be able to do incalculable damage. Although he was reluctant to admit it, Croesus’ battle-lines worried him; he knew that in the face of such a charge, even the most experienced spearmen could break ranks and flee. Harpagus knew all too well that if this happened the battle could easily turn into a complete rout and all would be lost.

The general trotted up to Cyrus just as he was giving his final instructions to his officers, “My lord,” he said gravely, as his king finished speaking, “the enemies’ strength lies in their cavalry; our infantry-men cannot match them; neither can our cavalry, which number less than half of theirs. But I know how we can make their cavalry useless to them…”

“Indeed Harpagus?” the King enquired eagerly. Cyrus had agreed grimly with his general’s assessment of the enemy’s plans; convinced by what he had seen himself of how they were beginning to line up in their battle formation; he too had been worried by the strength of the Lydians’ heavy cavalry, “What do you think we should do?” he asked frankly.

Harpagus replied with surprising confidence, a grim smile, and a twinkle in his eye: “Have half the cavalry dismount; unpack the camels from the baggage train and then have the cavalrymen mount these as their steeds; we will put them in front, with our infantry close behind, with the rest of our cavalry protecting their flanks and to hunt down enemy deserters; horses have a natural dread of camels; they cannot stand the sight or the smell of them. Thus the enemy cavalry will be uncontrollable and spread confusion among the enemies’ ranks, leaving their cavalrymen easy targets for the spears of our infantry and the rest of our cavalry.”

“Very well; do it! Quickly!” Cyrus ordered, immediately and intuitively recognizing a sound plan. A few minutes later, as Harpagus had suggested, Cyrus and half of his cavalry had mounted their new steeds. Fortunately Cyrus’ cavalrymen were just as familiar with these beasts of burden as they were with their own horses; so they had no trouble adapting to their new mounts as they now quickly rode up to take their place in Cyrus’ front line. When this was done, Cyrus turned once more to give his final instructions to Harpagus, “Show them no mercy; but make sure that Croesus is taken alive even if he resists when he is captured!”

“Yes Lord;” Harpagus said obediently, then, nodding his head in the direction of the enemy’s ranks, he said, “It seems the enemy is almost ready…” “Then sound the charge before they have a chance to seize the initiative!” He ordered. Harpagus saluted as he instantly replied, “At once Sire!” Then turning to his trumpeter to relay his King’s command, he said firmly, “Trumpeter, sound the advance!”

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