Part 3: The Rise of Cyrus: Becoming a Leader of Men (Time: 581BC) "The Rise of Cyrus: A Memoir of Time in 581BC"

The year was 581BC and I had just turned twenty-one. I had been living in the city of Sardis, in the kingdom of Lydia, for the past three years. I had been working as a shepherd, tending to the sheep and goats of the local farmers. I had also been learning the ways of the Lydian people, their customs, and their language.

But I had a greater ambition than just tending to sheep and goats. I wanted to lead. I wanted to be a leader of men.

So, I decided to leave Sardis and travel to the city of Babylon. I had heard stories of the great city and its powerful ruler, King Nebuchadnezzar. I wanted to learn from him, to understand how he had become such a powerful ruler.

When I arrived in Babylon, I was welcomed by the people and was given a place to stay. I quickly made friends with the locals and began to learn about the city and its culture. I was also able to observe the way King Nebuchadnezzar ruled the city.

I was impressed by the way he ruled with justice and fairness. He was a great leader and I wanted to be like him. I wanted to be a leader of men.

I decided to stay in Babylon and learn from King Nebuchadnezzar. I studied his methods of ruling and the way he interacted with his people. I also studied the way he handled conflicts and how he dealt with his enemies.

I soon became a trusted advisor to King Nebuchadnezzar and he began to rely on my counsel. I was able to help him make important decisions and I was even given the responsibility of leading his armies in battle.

I had become a leader of men. I had achieved my ambition. I had become the leader I had always wanted to be.

But I knew that I could not stay in Babylon forever. I had to return to Sardis and use the knowledge I had gained in Babylon to become a leader of my own people.

So, I returned to Sardis and began to build my own kingdom. I used the knowledge I had gained in Babylon to create a strong and prosperous kingdom. I was able to unite the people of Sardis and create a powerful and unified nation.

I had become the leader of the Lydian people. I had become Cyrus the Great.