That got a reaction from the men at the table. An army that size was larger than any force ever assembled in the Land Between the Rivers, even larger than the armies Akkad had defeated at Isin.
“The most critical attack will come from the south, along the coast of the Great Sea, to besiege Sumer. Our agents tell us that perhaps fifteen to sixteen thousand soldiers will take that route.”
Eskkar noted the stunned looks on the men’s faces, as they calculated the total number of invaders, between forty-five and fifty thousand, that would have to be defeated.
“Sumer will be the key to stopping the invasion. If Sumer falls, the Elamites will be able to keep men and supplies flowing along the coast. And with so many soldiers to man Sumer’s walls, we will never be able to drive them out. Even now, they are gathering ships and storing weapons and food to support that army. If Sumer is taken, Akkad and Isin, and the other cities, will not be able to withstand the greater numbers of the enemy, and sooner or later, we will be defeated. It might take another year or two, but with Sumer as an Elamite base, we cannot win.”
The commanders exchanged grim looks. Such numbers were daunting even to experienced and battle hardened fighters.
“But we have made our own plans,” Eskkar said, “and we have prepared a few surprises for the Elamites. This time, thanks to Trella’s efforts and despite all the rumors of war you’ve heard, the cities of Sumer and Isin, and Uruk and Lagash, too, will be fighting alongside Akkad’s soldiers. Even now, King Gemama of Sumer is readying his city and all his people for the coming siege. He will have to hold out until Hathor, and as much cavalry as we can spare, joins with the horsemen of Isin to break the siege and cut the Elamite supply line to the sea.”
“Then all these rumors of war with Isin and Sumer were false?” Draelin reached out his hand and touched the map at the City of Isin.
“Yes. But only King Naxos of Isin and King Gemama of Sumer knew the truth, and they have only been made aware in the last few months.”
“Will they have sufficient time to prepare?” Wakannh, Captain of Akkad’s Guard, asked that question.
“King Naxos of Isin has always been prepared for war.” Eskkar smiled at the looks on their faces. Everyone knew of Isin’s constant readiness to wage war. Since the war with Sumer more than ten years ago, King Naxos had prepared for an assault by Akkad.
“But this time, he will turn his eyes to the south, to aid Sumer. And we will provide men and supplies for that fight. Even as we speak, King Gemama has his men working day and night to prepare Sumer for the Elamite onslaught. Uruk and Lagash are already delivering supplies, weapons, and tools to help him, along with a few hundred laborers and soldiers. However, it will be up to us to provide a way to break the Elamite siege of Sumer.”
“Who will help Akkad withstand our own siege?” Daro, the recently promoted Commander, raised the question no doubt all the others were thinking.
“No one, Daro, because we are not going to just sit and wait for the Elamites to surround Akkad’s walls and grind us down. We’re going to meet them in the Dellen Pass, and hold them long enough until they run out of supplies and have to turn back. In the narrow mountain passes, their greater numbers will not be as effective against our men, and they will soon be short of food. They will be marching with only a few days rations, expecting to live off the land once they enter into Akkad’s territory. Meanwhile we will have plenty of food, water, and weapons delivered by bearers recruited by Trella and led by her clerks. Instead of a siege lasting months, we need only stop them for five or ten days.”
“What if they manage to resupply, and you can’t hold them?” Wakannah’s voice held no trace of worry, just a question.
“That, too, has been considered. Sargon will make sure the Elamites do not get their supplies. But if we are unable to drive them off, we will simply fall back to Akkad. Trella will make sure we are resupplied with enough food along the way, so we can have an orderly retreat if we have to return here. Meanwhile, Bantor and you will prepare Akkad for an extended siege. Food and weapons for at least six months will have to be stockpiled. But we hope it does not come to that. If we have to fight behind Akkad’s walls, it will mean the enemy has driven us back from the Dellen Pass.”
Daro had another question. “If the Dellen Pass and Akkad will be the Elamite’s main thrust, how will Sargon block the enemy from resupplying?”
“The time has come for the Alur Meriki to fulfill their pledge. Chief Bekka, Sargon, and more than a thousand Alur Meriki warriors will soon be on their way to Elam’s northern lands. Once the Elamite army has entered the Dellen Pass, Sargon and the warriors will disrupt any supply lines behind them. With almost all the Elamite soldiers taking part in the invasion, the Elamites will have no force in reserve to deal with Sargon and the warriors.”
Everyone’s eyes went to Sargon, who nodded. “The warriors of the Ur Nammu and the Alur Meriki are eager for this fight. They will ravage everything they find.”
Eskkar went on. “With luck, Sargon and the warriors will only need to stop the flow of supplies for a few days. Without food and water, the Elamites will have to break our ranks, or fall back. And they are not going to break our soldiers. Bantor and Alexar have trained them into the finest fighting force in the land.”
“That we have,” Alexar said. “Our spearmen and archers are ready.”
Eskkar nodded. “Even so, we have considered every possible way to maximize the number of men we can put into the field. We will be greatly outnumbered on every front, and never have we put together such a difficult battle plan. Much depends on events that will unfold in the next two months. Fortunately, thanks to Annok-sur, King Shirudukh of the Elamites believes what we want him to believe, that we are unprepared and without allies. He expects an easy victory with his superior numbers. That is the weakness we will exploit. ”
He glanced around the table, and saw no signs of fear or doubt. “Remember, I’ve been fighting my enemies for nearly thirty years. One lesson I’ve learned very well is that even a small force, used ruthlessly and with all possible speed, can defeat a more numerous or stronger enemy. Especially if that enemy is not expecting the tactics and weapons we have prepared.”
“Some of our men will be worried about the enemy’s numbers,” Mitrac said, speaking for the first time.
Eskkar leaned forward, his hands resting on the Map Table. “Most of our soldiers are simple men, who place their trust in their leaders. They know that we will not throw away their lives, that we will not fight a senseless battle. As long as we show no signs of worry or apprehension, they will believe they can win. We must not display even the slightest sign of doubt of our victory. There must be no loose talk to give them pause.”
Everyone at the table understood that. If the men distrusted their commanders, morale would vanish. And once an army took a single step to the rear, they were as liable to turn and run as stand and fight.
“Will we be using the river to fight those attacking Sumer?” Daro had led the war boats that helped defeat the Sumerians.
“No, Daro,” Eskkar said. “This time we have a different surprise for those invading the south. You and Master Miner Orodes will be working together on that. Yavtar has given me an interesting suggestion, and you are the best man to carry it through.”
Drakis and a few of the others chuckled at Daro’s expression of surprise at the mention of Orodes’s name.
“What about the Elamites coming from the north, through the Jkarian Pass? How will we stop them?” Draelin raised the final question.
“That will be your assignment, Draelin.” Eskkar grinned at another surprised look, this time on Draelin’s face. Then Eskkar nodded to Trella.