The Rise Of An Empire In Ancient Europe-Chapter 172: Chirisophus’ Concerns

Chirisophus’ satisfaction with how he had handled the situation with Tibron evaporated the moment Tibron’s adjutant rushed in, his face pale with urgency.

"What did you say?! The soldiers have fled?" Chirisophus demanded, his voice sharp with disbelief. His immediate suspicion was that Tibron was up to some form of mischief, perhaps an attempt to sabotage his leadership.

The adjutant shifted uneasily before responding. "Not all of them, my lord. The deserters are mostly those who were part of Darius the Younger’s expedition. After we returned to Ephesus, the troops were stationed outside the city. With Tibron under investigation, he has not inspected the military camp for several days..." He hesitated before continuing, "When you temporarily assigned me to oversee Tibron’s duties, I decided to assemble the army for a speech to stabilize morale—especially as some soldiers might be uneasy about Tibron’s removal. That’s when I discovered that over 3,000 soldiers were missing."

"Three thousand soldiers!" Chirisophus took a deep, steadying breath. This was no minor matter. If Dercylidas arrived to find the army significantly depleted, the blame would fall squarely on Chirisophus for mismanaging the transition of command.

"Did they flee because Tibron allowed them to plunder, and they feared retribution?" Chirisophus asked, his voice tight with frustration. He was all too familiar with the reputation of the mercenaries who had followed Darius the Younger into Persia.

"No, my lord," the adjutant replied cautiously, his answer bringing both relief and a spark of curiosity.

"Then why?" Chirisophus pressed.

The adjutant’s expression shifted to one of discomfort as he revealed the truth. "It appears that they fled because of a rumor."

"A rumor?"

"Yes," the adjutant confirmed. "It has been spreading inside and outside the city. It claims that another group of mercenaries who had been part of Darius’ expedition followed a man named Juleios to Magna Graecia. There, they defeated the local barbarians and established an alliance called the ’Thurii League.’ According to the rumor, Juleios is now its archon, and the mercenaries who followed him were rewarded with citizenship in city-states, land, and other privileges. Their officers...well, they supposedly became nobles and now hold high-ranking public offices. Many of our soldiers believe this to be true and have deserted, thinking they can share in the same rewards if they go to Magna Graecia."

Chirisophus frowned deeply, his mind racing. "But Juleios left them barely half a year ago! How could anyone accomplish so much in such a short time? It’s clearly a fabrication."

"Where did this rumor originate?" Chirisophus demanded.

"It seems to have started in the port market of Ephesus," the adjutant explained. "The soldiers heard it while buying goods there."

Chirisophus’ brow furrowed further. "Are the leaders of the Persian expedition mercenaries still here?"

The adjutant hesitated. "Aside from Xenophon, who has been trying to keep the remaining soldiers in line, most of the other leaders, like Timasion, Cleanor, and Zantiparis, have already fled. Those who stayed behind were persuaded by Xenophon to remain loyal."

Chirisophus nodded grimly. "Immediately notify the Ephesus council. They must dispatch patrols to seal off the port and prevent further desertions. Deploy soldiers to assist them. If deserters are found, arrest them immediately and return them to the camp. Send word to nearby city-states with ports and urge them to take the same measures."

"What should be done with captured deserters?" the adjutant asked tentatively.

Chirisophus’ gaze hardened. "In front of the entire army, execute the leading officers and generals." He made a decisive slashing gesture across his throat.

After the adjutant left, Chirisophus sank into his chair, waves of unease rolling over him. The deserters had likely been leaving for days, and his measures, though swift, might already be too late. The situation demanded an immediate report to the Spartan Gerousia, accompanied by a carefully worded explanation of the circumstances. If he waited for Dercylidas to discover the issue, it would put him in an untenable position.

His thoughts turned to Xenophon. Surely, the Athenian must have known about the desertions sooner. Why had he not informed Chirisophus directly? Then again, Xenophon had always shared close ties with the other officers from Darius’ expedition—particularly with Juleios. That Xenophon had managed to persuade some soldiers to stay was, perhaps, a favor to Sparta in itself.

The name Juleios surfaced in Chirisophus’ mind with startling clarity. A vivid image of the young mercenary leader formed before his eyes. Half a year ago, Chirisophus had lamented his inability to convince Juleios to remain in Sparta. He recalled a particularly infuriating conversation with Anaxibius, the former admiral. When Chirisophus had inquired about Juleios, Anaxibius had stared blankly and asked, "Who is Juleios?" The memory still stung. How could Sparta have been so careless as to overlook a man Chirisophus regarded as a potential Greek military genius?

To now hear Juleios’ name again, accompanied by such tales of success, was both astonishing and frustrating. If the rumors were true, Juleios had already achieved what few could hope for in a lifetime. Yet Chirisophus hoped fervently that Juleios had no direct involvement in the desertion incident. Any Spartan investigation would unearth the truth, but if Juleios was implicated, it could strain relations with the fledgling Thurii League.

Chirisophus sighed, a mix of admiration and regret washing over him. Juleios had firmly planted himself in Magna Graecia, his ambitions clearly no longer aligned with Sparta. What a loss.

Meanwhile, Xenophon sat in his quarters, his thoughts mirroring Chirisophus’. He knew far more than he let on. He had even learned of Timasion’s clandestine meeting with Agasias at the Temple of Artemis, where Timasion had secured an invitation to join the Thurii League. After returning to the camp, Timasion had quietly encouraged others to join him, spurring the wave of desertions.

Xenophon himself had been approached by Agasias, who had extended the same invitation. The news of Juleios’ meteoric rise—becoming the lifelong archon of two cities in Magna Graecia—had surprised him. He could not help but feel a pang of envy. Both he and Juleios were young men, yet their paths had diverged so drastically. While Juleios now wielded power and prestige, Xenophon remained a wanderer in foreign lands, uncertain of his future.

Yet, despite his curiosity, Xenophon had declined the invitation. It was not merely pride that held him back. As an Athenian, he still believed that Athens was the true center of the Greek world. His experiences in the Peloponnesian War, the Persian expedition, and his time among the Spartans had shaped his worldview. He envisioned a grander goal—one where Athens and Sparta could unite to lead the fractured Greek city-states and challenge Persia’s dominance. That vision kept him in Asia Minor, fighting alongside the Spartans, even as the allure of Magna Graecia tempted others.

For now, Xenophon focused on maintaining order in the camp, hoping to minimize the fallout from the desertions. Still, as he documented the events of recent days, he could not resist one final thought: What had Juleios done to rise so far, so fast?

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