Young Cyrus, continuing his shrewd planning for influencing the Persian tribes, now turned his attention to the more nomadic and lesser-known tribes. He knew that while these tribes might have less political influence, their tough lifestyle and unique skills made them potential forces for his future army and the expansion of his empire. Gaining the loyalty of these tribes was a delicate challenge that required a deep understanding of their culture and motivations.
He thought of the Mardi, a mountain-dwelling tribe known for their combativeness and skill in guerilla warfare, who sometimes engaged in raiding. Their leader, Tahmuras, was considered a mysterious and ruthless man. Cyrus knew that attracting such tribes required offering opportunities for their martial skills to flourish in a constructive way, not through plunder and destruction. He contemplated transforming their violence into a protective force for the empire, by guaranteeing them an honorable and beneficial life.
Then his mind turned to the Dropici; a tribe about whom direct information was scarce in ancient texts, and who perhaps leaned more towards superstitions and rudimentary beliefs. Their leader, Farhad, was a naive individual who adhered to traditional rituals. Cyrus knew that to attract this tribe, he would have to guide them towards new ideas through education and by demonstrating the tangible benefits of well-being and security, without challenging their beliefs.
The Sagartians, a semi-nomadic tribe with kinship ties to the Medes, were also important to Cyrus. They were known for their skill in using ropes and lassos in battle and served as lightly armed cavalry. Their leader, Ardashir, was a far-sighted and independent individual who prioritized his tribe's interests. Cyrus pondered integrating the Sagartians into his cavalry and utilizing their unique skills. He knew that to gain Qobad's support, he had to offer him common interests and a prominent position in his future army.
In all these interactions and planning, Cyrus's grand strategy for tribal unity became apparent. He sought a meritocratic system where individuals would attain high positions based on their abilities and loyalty, not solely on tribal lineage. This would allow him to attract elites and capable individuals from all tribes and employ them within his government and army structure.
Justice and fairness were two fundamental principles for gaining the trust of these tribes. Cyrus knew that to win the loyalty of tribes, especially those with a history of animosity towards central authority or other tribes, he had to establish a fair and transparent system for resolving disputes and distributing resources. He believed in respecting the cultural diversity of each tribe; every tribe could maintain its customs and beliefs, as long as they remained within the framework of the empire's laws. This approach helped create a shared and encompassing Persian identity, while also honoring tribal identities.
Ultimately, the military integration of these tribes into a unified army was one of Cyrus's most important goals. He intended to build a powerful and unrivaled army based on the strengths of each tribe: leadership from the Pasargadians, tough infantry from the Mardi and Germanians, and agile cavalry from the Daais and Sagartians. This combination would transform his army into a force that would not only be invincible on the battlefield but also a symbol of the unity and solidarity of the Persian nation.
These early interactions and plans, formed during Cyrus's childhood, constituted the fundamental seeds of his thousand-year empire. He knew that gaining the trust and loyalty of these tribes would be a long and arduous path, but with his modern insight and inherent charisma, he was determined to lead all of them towards his great dream for Parsa.