This should be the easiest expedition ever tasked to Arete. Taking over the nearby small state of Thapsos. As they refuse to declare their loyalty towards Rome, Amiran saw the importance of taking over the land.

“Thapsos will definitely crushed if Rome took over them. And we must take them down before Rome.” Said Amiran, pointing at the drawn map on the table, Thapsos was just at the north side of Syracuse. The place was dangerously near to their city-state.

“Indeed, my lord. I’ve send messengers to warn their statesmen, but they continued to bark at Rome. It’s best that we took them down before they trigger the Romans.” Apollodorus added.

Arete and the other generals were in this meeting, but Chlorus was not there. He used to be the top general within them. Arete was accompanied by Arctus and Petraeus. They were both previously under Chlorus’s command. While Hector, another general trained by Apollodorus, was also in the room with them.

Hector was bulky but short. Next to him, were two larger and taller men. They were all muscular and standing still, without making a sound, they listen to Amiran and Apollodorus’s discussion.

“What do you think? Hector?” Asked Amiran.

“We estimated Thapsos troops of 10,000, they are without any heavy artilleries and their strength is small. This should be an easy take over.”

Amiran and Apollodorus nodded. They all knew Thapsos limited strength and their core reason to conquer their land.

“Alright, we need to get it done as quick as possible. We may send a message to Rome that we took down Thapsos as a sign of our allegiance. Arete, what's in your mind?” Amiran gazed toward his daughter.

Arete was stunned. It was her first time being asked for an opinion. She used to be just sit and listen.

“You have 12,000 spearmen, 3,000 cavalry and 2,000 swordsmen. What will be your strategy to take the Thapsos down as quick as possible?” Amiran added.

Her eyes widened as she heard the question. Was it her opportunity to lead an expedition?

“We shall focus on our 12,000 spearmen in three Phalanx formations.” Replied Arete with confident.

She had been studying the texts, as the phalanx formation had been known the strongest success recorded within all the scrolls. Furthermore, she outnumbered the Thapsos troops.

“Shouldn’t you move some of your spearmen to guard the rear swordsmen? Some of them are from Rome.” Asked Hector.

Ah, those swordsmen. They were inferior troops given by the Romans as a form of political exchange with their allies. They praise the formation of the legionary. Nothing more than just some over-glorified strategy.

“The Thapsos shall have no chance at all to break through our strong frontline. There should have nothing to worry about!” Arete replied.

Original on RoyalRoad: royalroad.com/fiction/51152/tales-of-teleios

“Pardon me, my lady. I don’t mean to protect the swordsmen. I mean we should strengthen our rear formation and use the swordsmen in our battle to diversify our strength.” Hector argued.

Arete felt challenged, but there wasn’t any scrolls that had mentioned about diversify the troops.

“The spear had been the ultimate weapon and it can kill before a swordsman even able to reach to him. Give me a logical reason on why swordsman should be used.” She argued.

“The Romans had multiple successes when they place some spearmen at the rear, given some flexibility to the formation. Swordsmen are good short distance combatants.” Hector explained.

“If we could just quickly wipe off the enemies with our strong frontline phalanx, they won’t even get through our rear!” She defended her strategy.

Hector took a deep breath. He swallowed, as he knew Arete had been trained with an orator. He might further embarrassed himself if continue to argue with her. Furthermore, she’s the daughter of Lord Amiran. When he realised that the Lord hd been looking at him, he surrendered.

“Hector wasn’t wrong, Arete.” Said Amiran.

“My Lord, perhaps this could be an opportunity for us to try out new strategy and formation.” Apollodorus added.

Amiran raised his head and brushing his beard with his hand, he paused.

“Our people had very close relationship with the people of Thapsos. It would be best to end this war as soon as possible with very little fatalities. We will convince the Thapsos army to surrender if we able to show them our majestic frontline!” She added.

Her words strike to the core aimed at her father, he dislike fatalities. And his ultimate purpose for the expedition was to prevent the Romans, in another word, to protect Thepsos from the Romans. He nodded.

“Alright. Arete, this will be your very first expedition. Do your very best!” Amiran said.

Arete was overjoyed.

to be continued...