Little Kourosh's mind, in the silent world of his infancy, accompanied only by the whispers of his mother's lullabies and the sound of mountain birds, continued to delve ceaselessly into the depths of history. After comprehending the profound philosophy of peace and justice of Cyrus the Great, it was time to examine his unparalleled military and strategic genius; an aspect that was as vital for establishing a stable and enduring empire as justice and tolerance. He recalled how the Achaemenid inscriptions, including the magnificent inscriptions of Darius the Great, referred to the vastness of the Persian territory, boasting of the empire's expanse and the military might of the Persians with epic phrases like, "Behold how far the Persian spear has reached." These phrases themselves were a testament to the war-prowess and unparalleled conquests of Cyrus and his wise successors, who immortalized the name of Iran in world history.
In his conquests, Cyrus the Great never relied solely on sheer military force and brute strength. He was an unparalleled strategist and a deep thinker who utilized various methods to achieve victory; methods that were often beyond the comprehension of the commanders of his time. One of the most prominent of these tactics was the use of accurate and reliable intelligence about the enemy. He would meticulously identify the opponent's weaknesses and strengths, assess the morale of their soldiers, and based on that, draw up complex and multi-layered military plans. This intelligence enabled him to avoid direct and costly confrontations that only resulted in countless casualties, and with calculated moves, to compel the enemy to surrender or place them in an unfavorable position that stripped them of their ability to resist. This approach emphasizes his intelligence, which, instead of pointless bloodshed, focused on management, cooperation, and diplomacy, and he only resorted to the sword when it was necessary to establish order or defend the vital interests of the empire.
The conquest of Lydia was one of the most brilliant and intelligent examples of Cyrus the Great's military genius, which placed his name among the greatest conquerors in history. Croesus, the king of Lydia, relying on his immense and legendary wealth and the ambiguous prophecies of the Oracle of Delphi, believed he could defeat Cyrus. With pride and carelessness, he dismissed his allied troops after a battle, assuming they would reassemble the following spring to fight Cyrus. But Cyrus, aware of Croesus's decision and negligence, immediately and with a surprise attack in the dead of winter—which Croesus never expected—marched toward Sardis, the capital of Lydia. Using a secret and difficult path discovered by a Persian soldier, he was able to enter the city and conquer Sardis without serious resistance. This victory was a testament to Cyrus's speed, fearless audacity, and meticulous planning, which enabled him to succeed even in difficult and unexpected conditions and to catch the enemy in a state of oblivious slumber.
The surrender of Babylon in 539 BCE was another example of Cyrus's unique strategies, the ethical and tolerant aspects of which were mentioned in the previous chapter. Babylon at that time was one of the most powerful and fortified empires in the world, and Nabonidus, the king of Babylon, was a religious man, neglectful of governmental and military affairs, who was more devoted to worshiping the gods. Cyrus marched toward Babylon with a massive army. The final battle took place at Opis, near Babylon, and the Babylonian army was quickly defeated. Then, Cyrus entered Babylon without resistance or widespread bloodshed. By diverting the course of the Euphrates River, which flowed through the heart of the city, he was able to pass under the impenetrable city walls and conquer Babylon without extensive destruction. This action not only allowed him to prevent the ruin of a great and ancient city but also showed that Cyrus, instead of destruction, sought the intelligent control and integration of nations into his empire. This different approach was an unparalleled model of smart power and peace-based management for Little Kourosh in the ancient world.
Cyrus the Great, unlike many conquerors of his time who engaged in massacres, ruthless plunder, and the destruction of cities after victory, focused on the administration and stabilization of the empire. Instead of annihilation, he thought of development and organization, dividing the newly conquered regions into semi-autonomous satrapies. This administrative organization, which was later completed and reached its peak efficiency during the reign of Darius the Great, was one of the main pillars of the Achaemenid Empire's stability for a long time. Cyrus also created an extensive and efficient road system that facilitated communication between different parts of the empire. These roads were used not only for trade and economic prosperity but also for the rapid transfer of military forces, messages, and information. Little Kourosh thought about the greatness of this administrative structure and its importance in maintaining order and stability in the empire, and he knew that to achieve his thousand-year goal, he would have to build an even more efficient and stable system.
In his contemplations, Little Kourosh concluded that being a "warrior" was a much more accurate and fitting description for his predecessor than merely a "conqueror." This distinction means that Cyrus the Great did not necessarily initiate wars but acted in response to sudden attacks from enemies, like the Lydian invasion, or to complete a "historical mission" and establish order in the world, like the conquest of Mesopotamia. Instead of pointless and unnecessary bloodshed, he thought about strategic management and cooperation with nations. He only resorted to the sword when it was necessary to establish order, defend the vital interests of the empire, or spread peace and justice. This perspective emphasized his intelligence, foresight, and responsibility in the use of military power, rather than a mere desire for violence and conquest.
The importance of this military and strategic genius was perfectly clear to Little Kourosh. He knew that in the ancient world, military power was paramount, and to protect the ideals of justice, tolerance, and progress, he had to build an unrivaled and invincible army. In his childish mind, he reviewed designs of modern armies, the clever tactics of Sun Tzu, the great Chinese strategist, and the principles of Roman military discipline. He was looking for a way to combine this advanced knowledge with the resources and capabilities of that era to create an army that was not only invincible on the battlefield but could also spread peace and security throughout the empire and become an arm of construction. This was Little Kourosh's detailed and ambitious plan for the military future of his thousand-year empire.
He dreamed of an army that was superior not only in numbers and equipment but also unparalleled in the morale of its soldiers, its discipline, and its innovative tactics. An army whose soldiers fought not out of fear, but out of faith in the ideals of justice and loyalty to the King of Kings. Kourosh thought about continuous training, the use of simple but effective technologies like composite bows and lighter armor, and the creation of specialized units. This army was to be a symbol of the power and wisdom of Persia; a power used not for oppression, but for the protection of peace and prosperity, immortalizing Cyrus's name in history forever.