In his fourth year of life, after establishing the paper workshop and preparing the first new writing tools, young Cyrus turned his attention to another aspect of the empire's future: human connections. With his mature mind, he knew that a powerful government is built not only on the army and economy but also requires a network of loyalty and trust among nobles and tribes. Therefore, he decided to utilize his childhood years to plant the seeds of friendship among the future generation of Persian aristocracy, especially his close relatives.
Amidst family and social gatherings in Anshan, Cyrus found opportunities to connect with members of the other branch of the Achaemenid dynasty, namely the Ariaramnes lineage. He remembered that this branch, though currently overshadowed by Cambyses's rule, would play a decisive role in the empire's future. His first interactions began with his uncle, Arsames, son of Ariaramnes, a wise and dignified man. Cyrus listened carefully to Arsames's words, as if seeking wisdom from this elder of the family, and Arsames, in turn, was amazed by the child's unusual intelligence and manners.
Next came the turn of playing with his cousins, who would become his main companions in the future. Hystaspes, son of Arsames, who was almost the same age as Cyrus and would later become the father of Darius the Great, was a curious and spirited youth. Cyrus also became acquainted with Pharnaces I, Hystaspes's brother and another cousin. Pharnaces would later become an efficient administrator for Darius, and his administrative skills held great value for Cyrus.
In his childhood games, Cyrus not only displayed his intelligence and justice but also tried to plant the seeds of new ideas in his cousins' minds. He spoke with them about better organizing games, fairly resolving disputes, and sometimes even about simple construction or order-keeping plans. These conversations were very appealing to Hystaspes and Pharnaces, as they saw a spark of genius beyond that of a child in them, and from a young age, they were influenced by Cyrus's charisma.
Furthermore, Cyrus interacted with Bagapates, another close Achaemenid relative and his cousin. Bagapates, who would later be known as one of the important generals of Cyrus the Great and then Darius the Great, was a powerful and militarily talented youth. Cyrus, during mock battles and initial archery practices, paid attention to Bagapates's skills and, through his admiration, steered him towards cooperation and friendship.
These initial bonds were more than just simple childhood friendships. Cyrus consciously strove to gain their loyalty for the future. He listened to their words, understood their fears and aspirations, and showed empathy in a manner unprecedented for a child. He knew that these cousins would one day become his empire's main generals, ministers, and advisors, and the strong bonds forged in childhood would be the best guarantee of their future loyalty.
These deep connections, meticulously shaped by Cyrus, not only allowed him to penetrate the heart of the new generation of Persian nobility but also provided a hidden channel for introducing his innovations. These children and adolescents, now captivated by Cyrus's unique games and ideas, would soon take his new writing tools to their powerful homes and inadvertently sow the seeds of the knowledge and technology revolution among the Persian elders.