After the end of the three-month intensive training in the secret sanctuary of Mount Behistun, Arash, the elite soldier and Kourosh's military pillar, stood beside little Kourosh with curious eyes and an eager mind. He knew that now was the time for his mission to begin. But contrary to the ambitious dreams he had harbored, Kourosh explained to him that real and extensive military reforms required immense financial resources that were not available at this stage. Furthermore, any overt military activity would attract the attention of the Median court and Astyages, endangering their secret plan. Therefore, at this stage, the focus would be solely on the training of Arash and his companions; sowing the seeds of wisdom in the hearts of the young men who were to be the hidden sword of the future empire.
Little Kourosh, with a stature still small but with a piercing gaze and a deep calm, stood in the majestic foothills of Mount Behistun. A cold wind blew from the plain, playing with his black hair. He turned to Arash and a few other young men, who looked at him with the bearing of future soldiers, and began to speak in a calm but wise voice. "War, Arash, does not only happen on the battlefield. The real war begins in the mind of the commander and ends in the hearts of the soldiers. To be victorious, you must first know yourself, and then know your enemy." These words made the companions ponder; simple yet meaningful sentences that were different from what they had previously learned.
Kourosh continued, "To know yourself means to know the strengths and weaknesses of your army. To know your enemy means to know their numbers, their morale, their tactics. But that is not all. A good commander must know the 'heavens' and understand the 'earth'." Arash asked with curiosity, "My lord, the heavens and the earth? What do you mean?" Kourosh smiled, "The heavens mean time and conditions. The right time to attack, the right time to retreat. Knowing the weather, the seasons, and even the stars for navigating at night. The earth means the geography of the battle. The mountains, the rivers, the plains, the swamps. A wise commander uses the terrain to his advantage, turning it into his ally, not his enemy. Where the enemy is strong, you turn the land into his trap, and where you are stronger, you turn it into a field of victory."
One of the young men, named Giv, asked with astonishment, "But my lord, how can one person know all this and make a decision in an instant?" Kourosh fixed his gaze on Mount Behistun: "This knowledge is not gained just by reading a book. One must experience, one must observe, and one must learn. A good commander, before the battle, lives the battle in his mind over and over again. He examines every scenario and has a response ready for each one. He is always learning, even from his own defeats."
Arash, with a deep bow, said, "This wisdom is beyond anything we have ever heard. In the military schools of Media, we are only taught courage and the strength of our arms, but you speak of wisdom and a broad vision." Kourosh nodded, "The sword is the commander's arm, but wisdom is his heart. Without wisdom, the sword is just a lifeless piece of iron. I will teach you the power of the sword, but more importantly, the power of thought and spirit." He added, "A good commander must be just, be kind to his soldiers, but at the same time, be decisive and fearless. He must be inspiring, so that his soldiers fight for him with all their being, not just out of fear of punishment."
Kourosh's training continued in the following days. He taught Arash and his companions not only the principles of Sun Tzu's "The Art of War," which he remembered from his eidetic memory, but also the fundamentals of Roman discipline, the importance of military logistics, and even the concept of "psychological warfare," such as using rumors to weaken the enemy's morale. He asked them to look at their surroundings with the eyes of a strategist, at the movement of the clouds, the course of the rivers, and the habits of the animals. These teachings opened new horizons for the young men and turned them into soldiers different from what was common in the ancient armies.
Arash and his companions were more and more amazed by Kourosh's intelligence and insight every day. They saw that this five-year-old child not only had endless knowledge in his heart but could also teach it in a simple and understandable way. Their loyalty to Kourosh was now based not just on respect for a lost prince, but on a deep faith in his unparalleled wisdom and abilities. They knew they were learning from someone who would change destiny, and that they themselves would be a part of this great transformation. These seeds of wisdom, in the silent foothills of Behistun, were sprouting and were destined to one day grow into a mighty tree whose shade would spread over Kourosh's thousand-year empire.