In the evening Eric gathered in the big and spacious hall of the town council two dozen residents. Before them stood the most talkative poor, burdened by large families and minimal diligence, carefully collected from all over the city.
" Citizens of Piraeus! "You have a very important and responsible task on which the welfare of your entire city and your families depends in particular. After the end of this meeting every hour one of you will go to the side of Athens. On arrival, your task will be to get as many people as possible about what atrocities I am creating in this city. It is especially worth emphasizing that my warriors, drunk heavily, roam the groups around the city and rape everything that is female. Embellish this version with references to the violence against young nuns right in the church or something else in the same spirit.
" Sir, why should we lie? "You are very kind to the townspeople.
- This is necessary for the implementation of my plan. I can not tell you the details yet. The main goal of my idea is to minimize losses among the civilians of Athens, whom I promised to cut out all. So you try and paint my atrocities in the brightest colors. Of course - do not name any names so that there is no specifics and you could not be caught in lies. Before you go out, you get two dozen denarii to be uncoated in the city. In addition, your family will receive as much for food and, if it burns out, then on the Bosporan ruble from above. And whether you survive or not - it does not matter, money will reach your families in any case. Do you understand everything?
- Yes, sir. - The men answered in chorus.
" In that case, I need the bravest of you, take two steps forward. " - Five people came out of the crowd, to whom the prince came and personally made them several cosmetic cuts of the skin. - So it will be more realistic. By the way, do not forget to dress in slightly torn and dirty clothes, for a fugitive in clean and new clothes will arouse suspicion. So, if everyone understands everything, then you are at the disposal of Theodore. "Eric nodded at the calm man standing by the window with attentive cold eyes. Then he turned and left. His next task was to install observers on all possible routes from Athens to his bet. As well as creating the illusion of fires in the city, for which he ordered at every intersection to lay a large fire, in which to burn raw firewood and wet old rags to more smoke. Residents reacted with understanding - let them burn old rags better than their homes. In the morning of the fourth day, a breathless messenger galloped around, who reported that the enemy had advanced with all his strength towards the city. The detachment led a detachment of five dozen knights on horseback, followed by a column - to a thousand militia with spears. The key task of this battle was the need to destroy the enemy and prevent the retreat of large forces into the city. A real, serious assault on his plans was not included. Therefore, he did so. On a small hill, overgrown with shrubbery, he ambushed personnel of artillerymen who, from one or two volleys, were to cover the knights, shooting from twenty to thirty paces. The rest of the forces must go in the equestrian order from the rear and be accelerated in the meadow to strike at the infantry. The strength for a horse-drawn attack was not small - up to two with half a hundred heavy cavalrymen, capable of moving in a dense formation. No sooner said than done. Already by lunchtime heading the cavalry detachment, going by a line at sixty with a penny man and depth of four horses, he flew into the orders of a frightened mob of militiamen. The horses were so fast that the first few meters people did not slow them down, bouncing like rag dolls. After, having slowed down enough for melee, the riders began to work with sabers along the people who were rapidly disappearing into a deep panic. Some ten minutes and on the battlefield lies a bloody mess instead of an army that tried to threaten the prince. Immediately advance in Athens did not, because it was necessary to give time to as many residents as possible to flee. Therefore, they took up trophies and funerals. In general, the entire remaining day was spent and only on the morning of the fifth day did they leave for the city.