(1) After this the Carians fell into faction and were at war with each other, and since the dwellings of each side were in fortified positions, they each appealed to Cyrus. Cyrus himself remained at Sardis while making siege engines and battering rams to knock down the walls of the disobedient, and he gave Adousius an army and sent him to Caria. He was a Persian man, who neither was without good sense in other respects nor was unwarlike, and in particular he was quite charming. Both Cilicians and Cyprians went on the campaign with him very enthusiastically. (2) This is why [Cyrus] never sent a Persian satrap over either Cilicians or Cyprians, but the kings from their own regions always sufficed for him.22 He did take a tribute from them, however; and whenever an expedition was needed, he summoned them.
(3) So Adousius led an army to Caria, and Carians from both sides came to him and were ready to receive him into their fortresses to harm the rival faction. Adousius acted the same way toward both. To whichever side he was conversing, he said their statements were more just, and he said it had to be kept a secret from their opponents that they had become friends, as he could in this way better fall upon these opponents unprepared. He declared it right that they offer pledges [of good faith], and that on the one hand the Carians swear to receive them without deceit into their fortresses for the good of Cyrus and the Persians, and that on the other hand he himself be willing to swear that he would enter their fortresses without deceit for the good of those receiving him. (4) Having done these things, he made compacts with both on the same night and in secret from the other, and during this night he marched into the fortresses and took over the strong points of both. When day came, he sat with his army in the middle between the two and summoned the chiefs of both sides. They became angry when they saw each other, for both believed that they had been deceived.
(5) Adousius, however, said the following: “I swore to you that I would without deceit enter into your fortresses for the good of those receiving me. Now if I destroy either of your factions, I believe that I will have come for the harm of the Carians. But if I make peace for you and make it safe for you both to work your land, I believe that I will have been here for your good. Now starting today it is therefore necessary that you have friendly dealings with each other, that you work your land without fear, and that you give and receive children [in marriage] with each other. If, contrary to these [rules], anyone attempts to be unjust, we and Cyrus will be enemies to them.”
(6) After this the gates of the fortresses were opened, the roads were filled with people traveling to visit each other, and the fields were filled with people working. They held festivals in common, and everything was full of peace and good cheer. (7) At this time messengers from Cyrus arrived and asked whether he needed siege engines or a larger army. Adousius answered that it was already possible to make use of his army elsewhere. As he said this, he led his army away, leaving garrisons on the heights. The Carians begged him to remain. Since he was not willing, they sent to Cyrus and asked him to send Adousius as their satrap.
(8) Cyrus had meanwhile sent Hystaspas leading an army to the Phrygia on the Hellespont.23 When Adousius returned, he ordered him to march anew in the direction Hystaspas had gone in order that [the Phrygians] might more readily obey Hystaspas when they heard that another army was coming.
(9) Now the Greeks who live on the sea gave many gifts and thereby arranged not to have to receive barbarians within their fortresses but to pay tribute and campaign wherever Cyrus directed. (10) The king of the Phrygians, however, was making preparations to withhold the strong points and not submit, and such were his orders. When his subordinate officers revolted from him and he became isolated, he finally surrendered to Hystaspas on condition of receiving a judgment from Cyrus. Leaving strong garrisons of Persians on the heights, Hystaspas went away leading many Phrygian cavalry and targeteers along with his own troops. (11) Cyrus directed Adousius to join Hystaspas and lead the Phrygians who had chosen their own side, leaving them their weapons, but to take away the horses and the weapons from those who had desired to make war and to order them all to follow with nothing but slings.
(12) So this is what they were doing. Cyrus set out from Sardis, leaving behind in Sardis a large infantry garrison, taking Croesus, and leading off many wagons with abundant and varied valuables. Croesus came with accurate written descriptions of what was in each wagon. Giving the writings to Cyrus, he said, “With these, Cyrus, you will know who correctly returns to you what he is transporting and who does not.”
(13) And Cyrus said, “You do well taking forethought, Croesus. However, those who are transporting the riches for me are the very ones who also deserve to have them. Consequently, if they should steal anything, they will steal from what belongs to themselves.” As he said this, he gave the writings to his friends and officers that they might know who among their overseers returned things safely and who did not.24
(14) Regarding the Lydians whom he saw making noble displays with weapons, horses, and chariots and trying in all things to do what they thought would gratify him, these he led with their weapons. Regarding those whom he saw following along ungraciously, he gave their horses to the Persians who joined the campaign first, and he burned their weapons. These too he compelled to follow with slings. (15) Of those who became his subjects, he compelled the ones without weapons to practice being slingers, believing that this was the most servile weapon.25 When present along with the rest of one’s power, there are times when slingers are exceedingly beneficial, but they themselves, in and of themselves, could not withstand a very few who came to close quarters with weapons for fighting up close—not even if there were all the slingers in the world.
(16) While going on to Babylon he overturned the Phrygians of Greater Phrygia, he overturned Cappadocia, and he made Arabians subjects.26 From all these he armed no fewer than forty thousand Persian knights,27 and he distributed many horses from the captives to all his allies. He arrived at Babylon with a vast number of knights, a vast number of archers and spearmen, and innumerable slingers.