The next morning, before the sun had fully risen over the vast plains near Anshan, the air was filled with excitement and activity. The sound of neighing horses, the clash of metal armor, and short, decisive commands broke the silence of the dawn. The plain, surrounded by green grass and gentle hills, seemed to have been transformed into an ornate battlefield. Cambyses, the king of Anshan, wearing a magnificent war robe and a helmet adorned with the image of a Shahbaz eagle, stood beside little Kourosh. His face was a mixture of curiosity and fatherly pride. Around them, the elders and chiefs of the Persian tribes, in formal attire and with faces colored by anticipation and sometimes doubt, had gathered. The news of a military maneuver featuring Kourosh's "hidden army," which had been nurtured in the solitude of Behistun, had drawn them all to this plain. They were about to witness a display of power they had never seen before.
Kourosh, in a simple yet elegant attire that showed his humility and determination, stepped forward. His eyes, which seemed to burn with a flame of wisdom and will, were fixed on each of the elders and then on his father. In a clear and confident voice, he said, "My noble father, elders of Persia, today you will witness a glimpse of the 'Persian Art of War,' which has been shaped in the solitude of Behistun with wisdom and practice. This hidden army, who are the children of this land, will show today how we can, with unity and discipline, build an eternal future for the Persians." He pointed with his hand towards the field, where a thousand soldiers were lined up in the distance in orderly military formations. In the center of the field, Arash, the young and talented commander, stood with a firm posture and sharp eyes, ready to lead this maneuver. Kourosh's disciples, each in command of a group, stood beside him with precision.
With Kourosh's loud cry of "Begin!", the dawn maneuver started. First, a group of archers, who had been trained under one of Kourosh's prominent disciples named Darius, came forward. With swift and coordinated movements, they formed a triangular formation that Kourosh had designed in the book "The Persian Art of War." Their bows, made of oak wood and strong strings, were drawn with precision and power. At Darius's command, who shouted, "Fire!", a rain of arrows was launched towards the wooden targets in the distance. The accuracy of the arrows, which hit the center of the targets one after another, took the breath away from the spectators. One of the elders, with wide eyes, whispered, "What accuracy is this? It is as if Ahura Mazda himself guides their hands!"
Then, a group of light-armed cavalry, under the command of another of Kourosh's disciples named Rostam, entered the field. Their agile horses, equipped with light and durable saddles, charged towards the hypothetical targets with breathtaking speed. Rostam, with a firm shout, commanded, "Encircle!" The riders, with a coordinated movement, surrounded the targets in a tight ring and, using hit-and-run tactics that Kourosh had been inspired by from studying ancient wars, showed how they could disrupt enemy lines and then quickly retreat. One of the tribal chiefs said with amazement, "This speed and coordination... these are not soldiers, they are like the wind of the plain!"
Next, the heavy-armed infantry, which Arash directly commanded, entered the field. The soldiers, with large, curved shields that Kourosh had designed, formed a phalanx formation. The shields, reinforced with leather and metal, created an impenetrable wall. Arash, in a voice that echoed across the plain, shouted, "To the defensive square!" The soldiers, with unparalleled coordination, changed their formation into a solid square, as if they were a living fortress. With their swords and spears, they executed offensive and defensive maneuvers with such cohesion that they seemed to be a single body. Kourosh's disciples, each leading a group, implemented Arash's commands with short and precise shouts. Cambyses, who was watching this display carefully, looked at Kourosh and said, "My son, this order... this power... how did you build this army in these years?" Kourosh replied with a smile, "Father, these are the fruits of the wisdom of Behistun and the faith of these soldiers in our cause."
In another part of the maneuver, a group of military engineers, under the command of another of Kourosh's disciples named Bahram, went into action. With simple but efficient tools, which had been made based on the designs in the book "Army-rearing," they began to dig hypothetical trenches and set up obstacles. Bahram, in a clear voice, commanded, "Prepare the trench!" The soldiers dug a deep trench with speed and precision and set up wooden obstacles, demonstrating the army's ability to use the terrain to its advantage. One of the elders whispered with amazement, "These are not only warriors, but architects of the battlefield!"
Then, a group of soldiers who played the role of the "Construction Corps" came onto the field. They, under the command of another of Kourosh's disciples named Mehrab, quickly built a temporary bridge over a hypothetical river. Mehrab shouted, "Secure the bridge!" The soldiers, with wood and rope, erected a sturdy bridge that seemed ready for the army to cross in moments. Simultaneously, another group began to dig a canal for hypothetical irrigation, demonstrating the army's ability for development and construction in times of peace. One of the tribal chiefs said with astonishment, "This army has both a sword and a shovel! What a dream Kourosh has in his mind!"
The maneuver reached its climax. Arash, with a loud shout that echoed across the plain, gave the command for the final assault: "Charge!" A thousand soldiers, with a coordinated cry that seemed to come from the depths of their hearts, rushed towards the hypothetical targets. The dust of the plain trembled under their feet, and dust filled the sky. The archers, cavalry, and infantry, in perfect coordination, presented an unparalleled display of power. At the end, the soldiers stood in their ranks in an orderly fashion and, with a coordinated bow, paid their respects to Kourosh, Cambyses, and the elders. A silence filled with wonder and admiration filled the plain. Cambyses, whose eyes were shining with pride, looked at Kourosh and said, "My son, this was not just a maneuver. This is the birth of a legend that will shake the world."
Kourosh replied with a humble smile, "Father, this army is the beating heart of our dream. But this is only the beginning. Tonight, I will speak with the elders to build a unified and central army that will make the name of Persia eternal." This maneuver was not just a display of power, but a manifestation of Kourosh's determination to build an army that would carve the legends of Persia in history.