“Even that homeless man is entitled to his pursuit of happiness. He should be free to choose what he wants to be.” Adell said as he watched the man fade from view.

“No, he should be held to a higher standard. He is not free to weaken the polity. He must contribute voluntarily or he should be forced to contribute.” Alexander said emphatically.

“You would increase his anguish. Clearly he is down on his luck.”

“Myths and luck. You astound me. That man is a vagrant because he was never held to account. He has been given a pass when he should be working in the mines or fields for the good of your empire.”

“First we have no empire, it is a republic. Second, it is very likely he is a veteran who saw and did horrific things in war and can no longer cope.”

“If he is a veteran then your society has failed. Where are his lands and his bounty for his service?”

“Things aren’t done that way anymore.”

“Abandoning wisdom. You may as well have left him behind to die in battle than to have a soldier fall into such disgrace. It is a stain upon your empire. Are there many such soldiers in your land?”

“Far more than there should be.”

“Where did they fight?”

“Iraq and Afghanistan most likely.”

“I am unfamiliar with these names. Are they territories that existed in my time?”

“Yes, Babylon was in what is now known as Iraq. Afghanistan, let me think, parts of it would be in Bactria.”

“Areas that I conquered. Your soldiers have returned home which leads me to believe that your conquests were successful. Why were they not granted lands in Babylon and Bactria to build their lives and promote stability in the newly acquired territories? Also how could you pretend not to have an empire if you control territory that is 316 days march from here?”

“These were nation building wars.”

“All wars are to build or strengthen your nation.”

“No, to bring democracy to areas that were subjugated by brutal tyrants.”

The look of incredulity on Alexander’s face drew attention from around the restaurant. He was speechless for several seconds as he just stared at Adell.

“You sacrifice men and waste valuable treasure to not conquer territory. You kill people and take their lands only to what? Give it back? These are small scale raids to replace a hostile king with a client king?”

“No, these were major wars.”

“Fought for what purpose?”

“They were pointless wars fought only to enrich the military industrial complex.”

“The military can only get rich by conquest.”

“No, for the people who make the weapons.”

“They should also be fighting.”

“No, they will never see a battlefield.”

“You have perverted the rules of war. You don’t provide for your soldiers and you don’t acquire new wealth. Such actions can only lead to collapse. You will extinguish your treasury in fighting and financing wars without the rewards of riches from the conquest. You will have to tax your subjects far higher than they will want or you will face inflationary pressure. To fight a war in a foreign land requires conquest or outside funding to prevent catastrophic consequences. That’s it, you are a country of mercenaries. Someone else paid you to fight in Bactria.”

“No, we went to war of our own accord.”

“But you don’t know the rules of war or empire.”

“We are not trying to form an empire. Empire is evil.”

“Fighting a war for no purpose is evil. Building an empire is the purpose of civilization. Knowledge is only preserved and enhanced through empire. Those unfit for glory are struck down and replaced by those who will enlighten the world.”

“Says the murderous slave holder.”

“If you tempt the gods one too many times you will be struck down. Now we are done here. Take me to your leader. I wish to speak with him.”

“The only person you will speak with while you’re here is me.”

“You are not in a posting to give orders to a king.”

“You are not a king here.”

“By the blessing of the gods I am a king and will be a king wherever I go.”

“I don’t like you and I don’t want to be around you anymore. So here it is. I had hoped to learn more about you, but everything about you is repulsive to me. That being said I have to extend an invitation to you.”

“Which is?”

I will grant you the opportunity to stay in this day and age as a regular man or I can send you back to your time.”

“I am incapable of being a regular man. I am a king. If I were to stay here I would become a king.”

“It’s not possible.” Adell deadpanned.

Alexander thought back to a time when he was holding counsel with Parmenio. After a victorious battle an offer from Darius arrived. Half of the Persian empire would be transferred to Alexander along with a mountain of gold. It was beyond a generous peace settlement. Alexander was battling the most powerful empire in the world and had succeeded in ways most people did not think possible.

Conventional wisdom held that battlefield success against the Persians couldn’t hold. It was only a matter of time before Darius struck back and killed Alexander and his Macedonian army would become a cautionary tale for the next upstart who dared defy an empire.

Alexander however could see something that no one else could see.

“Parmenio, should I accept the deal?” Alexander asked.

“I would take it if I were Alexander.”

Alexander smiled. “And so indeed would I,” Alexander paused for dramatic effect as Parmenio began to believe that the war against the Persian Empire was about to come to an end. But then Alexander continued “if I were Parmenio.”

Alexander went on to describe how the offer from Darius was too good. If he had been in a position of strength there would be no offer for peace. Darius would win on the battlefield. If they were equals a smaller offer would have been presented. No, it was clear that Alexander was in the superior position and he would strike to his advantage. The earth could not have two suns and there could not be two great kings. Alexander knew he had the better army and thus it had been easy to reject an offer that seemed too good to be true.

Now Alexander sat across from another man who was not his equal and he was being presented with another offer.

“It was not possible to defeat Darius in battle until I did. I make the impossible happen. If I were to choose to stay here you would one day be calling me your king.” Alexander said confidently.

“I will excuse your ignorance of modern warfare and simply ask for your answer.”

“What happens to the Alexander who was just injured in battle?”

“He dies of his wounds.”

“And if I go back?”

“You wake up in your tent with your team of surgeons surrounding you and you continue your conquest.”