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EMPOWER & DELEGATE

I had no choice but to delegate considerable power and empower the locals. Otherwise, I would have exasperated problems in Greece with resistance in Persia. It worked, but occasionally, things went awry.

Execute Errant Governors

Naturally, while I was gone, many of my appointed governors yearned for more power. Many had even recruited private armies to counter the official military, usually run by a Macedonian loyal to me.

In turn they abused local people. Upon my return, I would listen to the charges, then promptly have the local governors executed. It had to be that simple to set an example. I know that Cyrus would have never executed anyone on the first crime, but I had spared these governors their lives when I conquered their land, this was at least technically their second offense in my eyes.

Eradicate Poor Judgment

No one was sheltered from my impatience and so-called temper: two commanders who were otherwise close to me, Philotas and Parmenio, were executed because they had shown strategic incompetence.

I was in search for strong, competent men. I could handle the strategy but needed operational abilities, if they lacked it, they were of no use to me.

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