In the solitude of the Behistun nights, under a starlit sky that seemed to whisper the wisdom of the ancestors, little Kourosh sat in Mithradates's simple hut, clutching a pen. The cool mountain breeze guided his thoughts toward a grand future, a future in which the Achaemenid Empire would shine in history for thousands of years, not only with the sword but with wisdom, justice, and stability. Kourosh had come to believe that such a magnificent structure could only stand on pillars that each met the needs of an eternal civilization. He envisioned five golden pillars in his mind: a government of justice and human rights, sustainable agriculture and animal husbandry, a people's army, global trade, and the foundation of the sciences. These pillars would not only make his empire stable but would also pave the way for the progress of humanity in the centuries to come. Kourosh decided that in the next five years, before his return to power, he would write comprehensive books in each of these fields—books that, like torches, would guide generations and be the foundation for the splendor of his empire.
Kourosh deeply believed in the principle of a government based on justice and human rights, where the power of an empire lies not in military domination but in the contentment and loyalty of its people. The first pillar was a government founded on justice, human rights, and a strong political system. He envisioned a system that could continue to function with independence and authority even after his death. This system included a council of representatives from the various peoples of the empire who would play a role in drafting just laws and overseeing their implementation. Kourosh intended to introduce his own charter of human rights, which he would later write in Babylon, as a universal document guaranteeing freedom of religion, respect for cultures, and equal rights for all. He also thought of an organized bureaucracy that would prevent corruption through the training of efficient administrators and the establishment of auditing systems. Kourosh planned to write a book titled "The Principles of Persian Governance" that would clearly describe this governmental structure and provide future rulers with a guide for the just administration of a multicultural empire.
Hunger is the silent enemy of civilizations. Kourosh had learned this truth from history and his twenty-first-century experiences. The second pillar of his empire was sustainable agriculture and animal husbandry, which would ensure food security forever. He dreamed of green fields, full qanats, and granaries filled with grain. Inspired by modern knowledge, he had included techniques such as crop rotation, drip irrigation, and the use of natural fertilizers in his agricultural book, "The Green Dream." Kourosh also emphasized food diversity. He planned for fish farming in rivers and inland lakes and even considered raising pigs, despite the cultural challenges, as a cheap and high-yield source of protein. He intended to spread these methods throughout the empire by training farmers and creating model farms.
The third pillar was an army that not only defended the borders of the empire but also won the hearts of the people. Kourosh envisioned a people's army, formed from the various ethnic groups of the empire, which would become an invincible force through modern discipline and training. Unlike the plundering armies of that era, this army was to be kind to its own people, engage in reconstruction and assisting farmers in times of peace, and in war, vanquish enemies with strategies inspired by Sun Tzu and Roman tactics. Kourosh also emphasized training soldiers in military engineering, such as building bridges and fortifications, so that the army would be not only a combat force but also the construction arm of the empire. He planned a book titled "The Persian Art of War" that would describe the principles of this people's army: an army that, with justice and courage, would establish peace and security throughout the Achaemenid lands.
In a world where barter made trade slow and inefficient, Kourosh dreamed of a global trade network. The fourth pillar was an economic system that would turn Iran into the center of global exchange. He thought of inventing standardized coins that would make trade faster and fairer. Kourosh planned to expand the royal roads and build new ports in the Persian Gulf to facilitate the flow of goods like Mesopotamian grains, Indian spices, and Egyptian textiles throughout the empire. This network would not only meet the food and material needs of the Iranians but also strengthen peace and global prosperity by creating friendly relations with other nations. Kourosh would write a book titled "The Golden Roads" that would describe the principles of global trade, market management, and the creation of strategic warehouses. This book would be a guide for merchants and rulers to keep the empire's economy dynamic and stable.
Kourosh believed in the power of knowledge as the driving engine of civilization. The fifth pillar was the establishment of all sciences and their connection to all spheres of human life, especially industry, to increase productivity in all aspects of life. He remembered the actions of Qin Shi Huang, the founding emperor of China, who, by burning scientific and philosophical books in the third century BCE, halted the progress of knowledge for centuries. This act forced scholars into underground activities and set back innovations in fields like medicine, astronomy, and engineering. Kourosh, in contrast, intended to establish schools throughout the empire that would teach mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and engineering. He emphasized the link between science and industry: for example, using the knowledge of geometry to design qanats, or astronomy to improve the agricultural calendar. This link would increase productivity in agriculture, construction, and even warfare, enriching people's lives. Kourosh would write a book titled "The Light of Knowledge" that would not only describe the basic sciences but also teach practical ways to apply them in industry and daily life.
In the solitude of Behistun, Kourosh drew his pen across the New Persian paper, and with each line, he planted the seeds of his thousand-year empire. He was determined to finish these five books in the next five years: "The Principles of Persian Governance," "The Green Dream," "The Persian Art of War," "The Golden Roads," and "The Light of Knowledge." These books were not only his roadmap for building an empire but also tools for educating future generations and training individuals who could turn these dreams into reality. Kourosh looked at the stars and vowed to himself that these five pillars would turn Iran into a shining jewel in the history of humanity; a jewel that would shine forever, not only with power but with justice, wisdom, and prosperity.