Life in the majestic foothills of Mount Behistun, for little Kourosh, was not limited to the intensive training of his loyal companions. This period provided him with a unique opportunity to delve into the deepest layers of human knowledge in the solitude and tranquility of nature and to sow the seeds of his future intellectual revolutions. It was a time when Kourosh's mind, free from the clamor of the court and the intrigues of power, blossomed in an unprecedented way, preparing him for the greater role that awaited him. He knew that every moment of this self-imposed isolation was a step towards the thousand-year stability he envisioned for his empire.
After three months of intense and grueling work, and the departure of Aban and Fariborz to begin their perilous missions in the two main centers of power, Anshan and Ecbatana, Kourosh's time was now divided in a precise and purposeful manner. Each part of the day was dedicated to a specific aspect of his character and long-term goals, as if each hour completed a piece of the great puzzle of Persia's future. This precise division was a sign of the discipline that Kourosh had brought from the modern world and was implementing in the context of his ancient life. He utilized every second of this strategic solitude to advance his ideals.
In the mornings, with the first rays of the sun touching the peaks of Behistun, Kourosh would accompany Mithradates, the wise and compassionate shepherd, taking the sheep to the green pastures of the mountain slopes. In this pristine solitude of nature, he would listen to Mithradates's valuable teachings; teachings rooted in years of living in harmony with nature and a deep understanding of the cycle of life. Mithradates spoke of the subtleties of the changing seasons, the precise impact of weather on livestock and land, the medicinal and nutritional properties of native plants, and the behavioral patterns of animals. He even recounted tales of the justice and wisdom of ancient rulers that had been passed down orally among the local people. Kourosh, with his modern and analytical mind, compared this indigenous information with the advanced ecological, agricultural, and water resource management knowledge of the twenty-first century, discovering deep connections between ancient wisdom and modern science. In every word of Mithradates, he found the seeds of new ideas for sustainable agriculture and resource management.
In the afternoons, after returning from the pasture and in the mild warmth of the day, Kourosh and his military group would gather under the vast shade of the mighty mountain trees. These sessions, which were accompanied by strenuous physical exercises and deep tactical discussions, focused on the principles of Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" and modern military knowledge. Arash and several of his military companions, whose numbers grew each day, memorized every word from Kourosh with great enthusiasm and with eyes shining with eagerness; from the disciplined Roman battle formations to the importance of logistics and the complex psychology of warfare. During this part of the day, Kourosh saw himself as a strategist and a military teacher, planting the seeds of his future invincible army in the hearts of these young men and preparing them to face great challenges.
But the peak of Kourosh's mental activities came in the evenings, in the solitude of Mithradates's hut, after the end of the daily chores and military training. In the dim light of the setting sun, he would be engrossed in writing books for the future. These books were not only a tool for spreading knowledge and mass literacy but also a way to organize his own thoughts, formulate new systems of governance, and prepare the ground for great transformations in his empire. These activities, beyond any physical effort, required immense concentration and deep insight to translate the knowledge of the twenty-first century into a language understandable for the ancient era.
The first written fruit of these efforts in the solitude of Behistun was the book "An Introduction to Persian Numbers," which was written in intellectual collaboration with Aban. This work taught the basics of Arabic numerals and the four main mathematical operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) in a simple language with practical examples. This book was a revolutionary step in the mathematics of that era, but Kourosh and his companions knew that publishing it at this stage could draw unwanted attention to them. Therefore, this intellectual treasure remained hidden for now, awaiting the right time to be unveiled and to transform the ancient world.
After completing the book on Persian Numbers, Kourosh's restless mind turned to a vital and fundamental problem, the solution of which he considered more important for the stability and prosperity of the empire than any military battle: agriculture. He knew from history that famines and food shortages had brought great civilizations to their knees time and again and had led to internal rebellions. Therefore, ensuring a sufficient and stable food supply for a growing population and preventing food crises had now become his main priority in writing new books. He intended to use modern agricultural knowledge to formulate principles that would significantly increase food production and ensure the food security of his future empire. This book was to be a comprehensive guide for farmers and to start a green revolution in the soil of Persia.