Through friendly lands or hostile, trust me, in this business of
supplying my troops with all they need I will always play my part."

[12] "Well, my son," the father resumed, "and do you remember certain
other points which we agreed must never be overlooked?" "Could I
forget them?" answered Cyrus. "I remember how I came to you for money
to pay the teacher who professed to have taught me generalship, and
you gave it me, but you asked me many questions. 'Now, my boy,' you
said, 'did this teacher you want to pay ever mention economy among the
things a general ought to understand? Soldiers, no less than servants
in a house, are dependent on supplies.' And I was forced to tell the
truth and admit that not a syllable had been mentioned on that score.
Then you asked me if anything had been taught about health and
strength, since a true general is bound to think of these matters no
less than of tactics and strategy. And when I was forced to say no,
you asked me if he had taught me any of the arts which give the best
aid in war. Once again I had to say no and then you asked whether he
had ever taught me how to kindle enthusiasm in my men. For in every
undertaking, you said, there was all the difference in the world
between energy and lack of spirit. I shook my head and your
examination went on:--Had this teacher laid no stress on the need for
obedience in an army, or on the best means of securing discipline?
[14] And finally, when it was plain that even this had been utterly
ignored, you exclaimed, 'What in the world, then, does your professor
claim to have taught you under the name of generalship?' To that I
could at last give a positive answer: 'He taught me tactics.' And then
you gave a little laugh and ran through your list point by point:--
'And pray what will be the use of tactics to an army without supplies,
without health, without discipline, without knowledge of those arts
and inventions that are of use in war?' And so you made it clear to me