The Rise Of An Empire In Ancient Europe-Chapter 27 - A New Leader

Juleios and his group returned to Menon's camp to find the soldiers eagerly awaiting their arrival. They rushed to greet them, desperate for news.

"Clearchus, Menon, and the others have already been killed by the Persians," Antonios declared, deliberately exaggerating the situation. "The Persians also demanded our surrender, but the officers refused. War with the Persians is now inevitable!"

The camp erupted into chaos. Although Xilos and the others had already informed the soldiers of the situation, they still held onto a faint hope for peace. Now, with that hope shattered, fear and confusion overtook them.

"What we must do now," Philesius shouted above the din, "is immediately elect a new leader to replace Menon and guide us back to Greece!"

As soon as Philesius finished speaking, Antonios's nephew, Asisters—whom Juleios had once saved—raised his hand high and shouted eagerly, "Brothers! Who predicted the death of Darius the Younger?"

"It was Juleios!" Xilos and his squad responded first.

"And who invented smoked sausages so we didn't starve?" Asisters continued.

"Juleios!" the soldiers answered in unison.

"And who established the medical camp, sparing us from the fears of injury and sickness?"

"Juleios!" the soldiers' voices grew louder.

"And who warned us that today's meeting with the Persians was a trap and tried to stop Menon and the others?"

"Juleios!" the soldiers shouted even more vigorously.

"And who is Hades's chosen, the one who can lead us safely back to Greece?"

"Juleios!"

"Who," Asisters pointed directly at Juleios, his voice hoarse with emotion, "should be our new leader?!"

"Juleios! Juleios! Juleios!" The soldiers roared in unison, their voices echoing throughout the camp.

Philesius and the centurions, caught off guard by the overwhelming fervor, exchanged uneasy glances. Juleios himself appeared stunned by the situation, as though entirely unaware of what was happening. Yet his quick glance toward the cheering crowd caught sight of Matonis and Georgilos gesturing wildly, revealing that they had orchestrated this moment. What surprised him most, however, was that it was Asisters who had taken the lead. The results, nonetheless, exceeded his expectations.

As the chanting grew louder, the officers had no choice but to respond. After a brief and urgent discussion, Philesius stepped forward. His expression was complex as he glanced at Juleios, then turned to address the soldiers.

"Brothers! Are you certain you want to elect Juleios as your new leader?"

"Yes!" the soldiers roared in unison, led by Asisters.

"Is there anyone else you wish to nominate?"

"No!"

"We need the guidance of Hades's chosen!"

Philesius turned back to the officers. Antonius and Kapus nodded, followed by reluctant nods from Amintas, Alexis, and other centurions.

With a solemn expression, Philesius raised his voice. "By the witness of the Divines, and with the soldiers' unanimous nomination and the officers' agreement, Juleios is hereby declared our new leader!"

Cheers erupted from the soldiers, their voices shaking the very air.

Juleios unclenched his fists, his palms damp with sweat. He let out a deep breath, his heart pounding with excitement. All his hard work and efforts over the past weeks had paid off. He—a time traveler, an ordinary young soldier—had leaped past the ranks of squad leaders, platoon leaders, and centurions to become the leader of over a thousand mercenaries. While they were just a group of hired soldiers, this achievement was a monumental step toward his dream. He had transitioned from being a pawn on the chessboard to becoming a player. Of course, this also meant taking on significant responsibilities, but compared to being cannon fodder, responsibility was nothing to fear.

Looking at the excited faces around him, Juleios raised his right arm high.

Compared to other camps, Menon's suffered the least loss. Only three officers had accompanied Menon to the Persian camp due to a lack of cooperation from the soldiers, who had quickly elected replacements.

Once the soldiers dispersed, the new leader, Juleios, convened his first meeting with the centurions in the main tent. Philesius, having served as Menon's adjutant without commanding troops, was now relieved of his duties and waited outside.

Juleios scanned the thirteen centurions in attendance. Among them were familiar faces like Antonios and Kapus, as well as others he barely knew. The centurions, in turn, studied their young and surprisingly youthful leader. Some were curious, others indifferent, and a few engaged in side conversations.

Having served as a leader in his past life, Juleios showed no sign of nervousness. He met their gazes with a serious expression, maintaining a long silence. Slowly, the chatter in the tent subsided, replaced by a tense quiet. The pressure emanating from the young leader's stillness forced the centurions to reevaluate him.

Finally, Juleios spoke, his tone calm and deliberate. "I thank the soldiers for their trust and you, the officers, for your support. I will prove through my actions that your choice was the right one."

The centurions were taken aback by his confidence. Alexis and others gaped slightly, while Antonios and Kapus exchanged smiles, clearly impressed by his composure.

"First," Juleios continued, "I appoint Philesius as my adjutant to assist in managing military affairs."

The announcement reassured the centurions who had worried about Juleios's lack of experience.

Philesius was called into the tent. Smiling, he expressed his gratitude to Juleios before taking a seat beside him.

"Second, I will formalize the establishment of the medical camp. Helpus will serve as the medical officer and attend important meetings to provide updates."

The battlefield hospital had already been functioning independently, so this decision was more of an official acknowledgment.

Amintas, a brawny man with a fierce look, objected, "Doctors just need to heal our men. What do they know about military matters? There's no precedent for this!"

"These are extraordinary times," Juleios replied, meeting Amintas's glare with a firm tone. "As we move forward, we may face frequent battles. We need to protect the medical camp while ensuring we know how many wounded soldiers can be treated."

Amintas scratched his head and said no more. Juleios's proposal passed easily; no one wanted their injured soldiers to go untreated.

"Third, I propose that Mersis from the logistics camp also attend military meetings. We need to monitor food supplies, pack animals, and other resources constantly," Juleios continued. This suggestion was quickly approved, as food was a matter of universal concern. The logistics camp also housed the soldiers' wages and plunder, further underscoring its importance.

Having successfully passed three motions, Juleios paused.

Philesius lightly nudged him, mouthing something. Realization struck Juleios—he had forgotten a critical role: messenger. It was a minor position, but crucial for clear communication of orders. Neglecting it could lead to serious issues later.

Maintaining his composure, Juleios announced, "Lastly, I appoint Asisters as the messenger officer." This decision wasn't just to repay Asisters for his earlier support. Asisters had long assisted Antonius with minor administrative tasks and was well-acquainted with the workings of Menon's camp. Energetic and cheerful, he was well-liked by the officers and, above all, loyal to Juleios.

As expected, the choice was unanimously approved.

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Antonios stepped outside to call in Asisters, who entered the tent beaming. After thanking everyone, he immediately began his duties, summoning Helpus and Mersis to the meeting.

With their new leadership team in place, Menon's camp was ready to face the challenges ahead.