Episode Twenty-Nine: The Death Rattle of the Encirclement, the King’s Cold Resolve
In the Persian Market: The Roar of an Empire
Episode Twenty-Nine: The Death Rattle of the Encirclement, the King’s Cold Resolve
1. A Sea of Silver, a Wall of Gold
All around Persepolis stretched an endless field of silver.
Thirty thousand Macedonians under Alexander’s command. A forest of sarissas glinted ominously in the morning sun.
“…Beautiful,” Cyrus murmured from the city walls, his gaze cold.
“So that’s the wave trying to swallow the world.”
Opposite them, Persepolis’s walls were lined with countless market contraptions, stripped of their former ornamentation.
Giant catapults designed by Danesh. Foul-smelling smoke bombs concocted by Inaz.
And before the gates—piled carelessly on purpose—were heaps of golden and silver vessels, once symbols of imperial splendor.
2. The Trap Called Desire
“All forces—advance! Looting is permitted!”
A Macedonian general shouted, and the vanguard surged toward the gates.
What met their eyes was a mountain of unguarded gold.
“…Gold! The empire’s treasure is just lying there!”
For a single moment, the disciplined Macedonian soldiers hesitated.
The essence of trade—read your opponent’s desire, and strike at the opening.
“Now—ignite it!”
At Cyrus’s signal, torrents of oil poured from the gate beams, erupting into flame.
“Hot—! It’s a trap! Fall back!!”
Blinded by greed, the soldiers were trapped within walls of fire, cut down by volleys of arrows raining from above, loosed by Azad’s mercenaries.
3. Alexander’s ‘Silent Fury’
Watching from his command tent, Alexander did not change his expression.
Yet his attendants felt the air around the king freeze solid.
“…Cyrus. Have you poisoned my men again—with the toxin called desire?”
Rising, the king spoke calmly.
“There is no need to force the gates. Starve this city dry. Let the market folk consume their own cleverness.”
The encirclement tightened.
An iron ring—tight enough that not even a rat could slip through—was complete.
4. The Queen’s ‘Night Rounds’
Three days into the siege, the shadow of hunger crept through the city.
Queen Nirfar changed into plain clothes and stood among the soup lines herself.
“…We cannot live by eating gold. But if we share our hearts, we can endure a siege as cold as winter.”
She stroked the heads of frightened children, giving them her own rations.
Seeing her, nobles who had wavered in fear opened their hidden storehouses in shame.
“Nirfar… If you are our ‘market,’ then we will protect this place to the end.”
Ironically, Alexander’s siege bound the people together—harder than diamond.
5. Shahab, Into the Darkness
“Cyrus… I’ll keep the line to the outside open.”
Shahab appeared, clad in black, melting into the shadows.
“Using Danesh’s underground drainage routes, we can slip behind the siege. I’ll pay another visit to the Macedonian supply depots.”
“I’m counting on you, Shahab. And tell Kabir—gather what remains of the empire. We’re not planning to die here.”
Cyrus gazed over the darkened streets of Persepolis.
A fortress exactly as planned—
and at the same time, a massive prison with no escape.
The mid-battle of Part Three begins.
Against Alexander’s strategy of stillness, Cyrus’s tactics of motion spark and clash in the night.
