Chapter 155: The Rain of Steel and the Beginning of the Deception
The charge of the Median army began like a roaring flood from the slope of the hill.
The earth trembled under the hooves of thousands of horses and the feet of tens of thousands of infantry.
They reached the breathtaking slope of the hill with war cries and with the certainty of a swift victory.
The Persian soldiers, with a discipline born from months of training, waited in silence.
They stood behind their shield walls like statues of steel and will.
Arash, who was standing in the front line with his men, held his hand up.
He was waiting for the opportune moment.
When the first wave of Median soldiers reached the middle of the slope, their breath ragged from the ascent, Arash brought his hand down.
"Archers!"
With this command, thousands of Persian archers who had taken position in the rear ranks drew their bowstrings.
A moment later, the sky was covered with a black cloud of arrows.
The first wave of Persian steel arrows rained down upon the defenseless attackers with a sound like a deadly wind.
The arrows easily pierced their leather shields and light armors.
Hundreds of Median soldiers rolled down the slope of the hill with cries of pain and disbelief.
However, their numbers were so great that these initial casualties did not stop their charge.
The main wave reached the Persian shield wall.
The impact was like a massive wave crashing against a rock.
The Persian infantry, using the advantage of the high ground, thrust their long cast-iron spears into the chests and throats of the Median soldiers who were struggling to climb.
For a few moments, it seemed that this steel wall was invincible.
But this resistance, according to the plan, was fragile and short-lived.
After a bloody engagement, Arash gave the next signal.
The sound of the horn, this time, had a tone of doubt and retreat.
The Persian soldiers, flawlessly playing their roles, began to retreat towards the top of the hill.
This retreat was orderly at first, but gradually became more chaotic.
They deliberately created gaps in their shield wall to lure the enemy in.
The Medes, who saw this retreat as a sign of collapse, increased their pressure with cries of victory.
They penetrated the Persian lines through the gaps and began a bloody, hand-to-hand battle.
In this controlled chaos, the Persian soldiers, while seemingly fleeing, inflicted heavy casualties on their reckless enemy.
At the top of the hill, Arash executed the final part of this act.
He issued the command for a full retreat towards the plain behind the hill with a shout that trembled with despair.
This command, like a spark in a powder keg, took away the last particles of order from the Persians.
They now poured down from the top of the hill towards the plain like a defeated army.
Azhidahak, who was witnessing this scene from afar, let out a triumphant laugh.
"It's over! They've broken!"
"Follow them! Today we will finish them for good!"
This scene erased the last particles of doubt from Azhidahak's heart.
He issued the final pursuit command with a victorious shout.
Kourosh, while mounted on his small horse and seemingly fleeing, passed through the chaotic ranks.
He looked at the faces of his soldiers and said in his heart:
"Endure, brothers. Just a little more."
"This echo of defeat will soon turn into a roar of victory."
He looked at the high walls of Pasargadae, visible in the distance.
The stage for the performance was set.
And the main actor was blindly walking into the trap.