Ling Tong crouched low in the setting sun, hidden behind a small hedge of native shrubs. He and his men were placed to the East of the gate, with Pausanias and his elite Spartans further behind him. They were waiting for a signal from Aristides, the Athenian currently preparing to lay siege to the camp, where the Persian’s inside were low on Morale as their Commanders were either dead or planning to flee.

"It’s nearly time." Alpheus commented from beside him, a tone of excitement in his voice. Ling Tong had dispatched all of his Centurions, except for Centurion Phillip to complete other missions or gather their men together. Andrew had gone north of the camp, finding a subtle location with Myron and the men he had taken with him.

They had made contact with DragonKnight who had taken some trusted players with him to support, whilst the rest of the surviving players were currently in the lines with the Athenians and other Greek Allies as they besieged the Persian Camp.

"It is time." Ling Tong replied as he saw the Athenian’s send some men towards the walls, the sound of pounding could be heard as some men chopped down some trees nearby to make a simple ram for the Persians gate. "Send the signal."

From nearby, Centurion Phillip raised a strange long curved horn to his lip. It was shaped like an S and made from bronze material, whilst being almost the height a man itself. It’s head was the shape of a boar and once he blew it, the sound that echoed out caused all those to pause and look on in horror. The sound was almost something that one would hear in nightmares, as Centurion Phillip blew another note. Whilst Ling Tong tried to push the noise from his ear, the sound of the East Gate began to creak as they were swung open.

"Charge!" Pausanias shouted, as all of the Warriors on his flank ran forwards, spears and swords in hand as they charged through the now opening gate in to the enemy camp beyond. Ling Tong also ran, moving in the direction of Centurion Phillip as he did so. He noticed that Aristodemus followed him with his own Spartans, taking his command to keep Ling Tong alive seriously.

Pausanias had provided Ling Tong with some more Warriors for this part of the Battle, allowing him some freedom in honour for his support in the battle so far, as well as showing to Aristides and the other Greek Allies that Ling Tong was on the side of the Spartans. Ling Tong didn’t complain, unlike everyone else that had joined the Battle; He, Andrew and the rest of them were not part of the Battle and had arrived here uninvited, so their goals were very different to everyone else’s.

"What was that noise?" Ling Tong asked as they approached the gate, some Spartans were ahead of them and already engaging with enemy units. The sound of spears stabbing forwards could be heard as the Spartans and their Allies moved in deadly precision, something that Ling Tong was impressed to see. The Hoplite units may not have the flexibility of the Legionaries, but the Spartans at least were trained to a higher level. If he could train units of Spartan’s who had been honing their bodies for war since childhood, to fight like the Legionaries that were the elite in Riverside, they could be unstoppable within this era.

"To the south!" Ling Tong heard Nicomedes shout to his men as he broke through the gate himself, his mission to open the gate for the Athenian’s and the rest of their allies to enter. The Plataean’s General Arimnestos had declared they would take the front line in the assault, to reclaim some honour of their land being invaded and the lives of their allies that had been sacrificed in their name.

"I believe it is called a Carnyx, one of the other Lord’s had it in the Persian Camp for his men, I purchased it as it looked interesting and I thought Lord Lazarus might like it." Phillip smiled, the horn now being carried by one of Phillip’s Theban Hoplite that had stayed with them. We tried to gather as much information from the others that had arrived, as Xun Yu and Xun You asked.

"I am not sure if he’ll like it, but that sound was terrifying." Ling Tong admitted, the sound echoing in his ears as if a Jiaolong itself, a River dragon, had appeared and struck fear in to the battle. "If we can have our men equipped with these in Battle, we can cause some fear before we even engage."

"I said the same thing to my partner, Pelopidas!" Phillip laughed happily, "I intend it as a gift, but I may have to see if Ou Yezi or one of his apprentices can build me some replica’s."

"Watch out!" Alpheus shouted, as Ling Tong quickly ducked as a spear was thrown in his general direction. A Spartan behind him caught it with his shield, before breaking it off and continuing forwards.

"Thanks Alpheus!" Ling Tong laughed as he charged as some Persians that seemed to be trying to make a defence line against them, their faces a look of worry as the gate around them collapsed to people coming in. These Persians were poorly armed and Ling Tong quickly dispatched one, before Phillip on one side took down another and Alpheus followed through on a third. The Spartans around them charging forwards and quickly stabbing in to the terrified enemy.

"Formation now!" Pausanias’s voice echoed from nearby as the Spartans quickly put themselves in to tight ranks. His commanding voice absolute on the battlefield. Nicomedes had now disappeared south with a large number of their allies, whilst Pausanias directed them to the centre of the camp.

"Let’s go!" Ling Tong ordered his own men as Pausanias took control of the Siege, with Ling Tong heading north around the interior of the east wall, heading towards some temporary buildings that had been constructed. Phillip ran ahead, knocking on a door with a specific beat, that was returned from the inside. Their men fanned out, assaulting any enemies in the area so they could put this place as a holding space for their forces. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

The door then opened, an attractive man waiting for them in his Hoplite armour that was of a much higher quality than the rest of those around, only matching those of Ling Tong’s own men from the Lazarus Kingdom.

"Everything is ready." The Hoplite said to Ling Tong and Centurion Phillip, "We have mapped out all the locations that we should hit."

"Did Mardonius survive?" Ling Tong asked the Hoplite as more faces began to appear.

"Barely, he was in a very bad way when he was returned to camp. He has already headed north with some of the others that arrived at the battle like us General. The current commander in the camp is Artabazos, but he will be preparing to flee with the remaining Immortals and Cavalry, leaving behind their weaker allies." The Hoplite replied, whilst Phillip approached him and embraced him in a hug. "I expect that we already have people in position to the rear of the Fort, but if they miss Artabazos then they would be better hitting the middle of retreating columns to cause chaos."

"Pelopidas we have sent Myron there." Phillip explained as he started shouting orders in to the room where armed men were sharpening weapons and preparing themselves for action.

"Myron is smart for an Athenian." Pelopidas the Hoplite replied with a nod, before turning back to Ling Tong, "We are ready when you are General."

"Let’s get what we came for and go." Ling Tong replied, before looking over at his men, especially Aristodemus who looked on the most confused as to the relationships of all of these people. Centurion Phillip nodded and headed towards the centre of the camp with some of the Hoplite, whilst Pelopidas did the same to the north.

"What are they doing?" Aristodemus asked Ling Tong with a look of mental exhaustion in his eyes.

"The Persians will have many prisoners, slaves they have taken or women they have made in to concubines. Centurion Phillip had infiltrated this camp with his men such as Pelopidas, they know these locations so they are going to look at what they can free and arm, whilst those that we do free, we will claim as our gains and take home with us." Ling Tong explained to the Spartan, knowing that he would be aiming to take Aristodemus and the hundred Spartans with him back to Riverside after the battle.

"So from one slave owner to another?" Aristodemus replied, having no issue with the process but seeing it as a sly way of gaining a larger chunk of the victory rewards, which was against his honour. They continued through the camp as they spoke, it had at one point housed thousands upon thousands of Warriors and the camp followers that made the fort like a small

"No, we do not practice slavery." Ling Tong explained, "But population is something that we are in need off to grow our own Kingdom. That isn’t the only thing they are going for though, they know where all of the riches are, the coins that paid the Warriors, the looted items they have taken throughout their conquest, the special horses and weapons that’s worth could make a kings eye water."

"Wouldn’t the Persians have taken them away?" Aristodemus asked as they headed to a location one of the Hoplite was taking them to. They came across a group of Persian Warriors, another group that were from the Persian allies, rather than from the main forces of Xerxes themselves. A Small clash happened, where the warriors under Ling Tong won easily, taking no prisoners as they continued. The sound of battle could be heard all around the camp now as Pausanias caused destruction in the middle, whilst his brother Nicomedes fought at the south gate to allow the Athenian’s entry.

"They expected to win this battle, they would have left anything that they couldn’t take. Myron and Andrew will hit the middle of their fleeing column, where they will have their riches they are taking with them hidden. If we are lucky, we can gain most of it for ourselves." Ling Tong explained honestly, his larger unit having split in to three now.

"So you aim to pillage the battlefield for rewards before anyone else gets chance to?" Aristodemus asked as they approached an area that was full of wooden chests that had clearly been partially cleared through before they had been interrupted by the east gate opening and those who had been clearing through them had fled.

"Alpheus, check that section. You check that area!" Ling Tong shouted, pointing to different Warriors in his current group to see what they could gain and take them back towards the East Gate where they had some Cavalry that should now be waiting for them if the plan was being followed. Ling Tong then turned to Aristodemus, his temper flaring slightly at being questioned when he knew that their window for the best rewards was getting smaller and smaller. "We are on the side of Pausanias, so who looses the most if we take them?"

"The Athenian’s." Aristodemus nodded in understanding, his mind seeming to click. "Very well, Where do you want me?"

"Searching in that area, you know the men better than me, so take over here as I move forwards." Ling Tong ordered, knowing that the next set of plans Aristodemus would not agree with.

"As you say General." Aristodemus agreed, a slight tone change, before turning to the men behind him. The men behind him were extended parts to this unit that Pausanias had gave them for the battle. Whilst they were Hoplite and fought with the Spartans, they were actually Perioeci, citizens from Spartan affiliated cities that whilst free, were still subservient to the Spartans. "Someone head to Pausanias, get us two hundred Helots to start moving these chests to the east, I want one hundred to support the General as well!"