Sardis

…The wealthy provincial capital of Sardis, with its rich treasury, simply opened its gates and surrendered without a fight, which was a delightful outcome for everyone except the Persian treasury.…

…Croesus assembled his allies, gathered his formidable army, and marched east, crossing the river that marked the boundary of his secure territory, and pushing into the contested lands beyond, fully expecting to dismantle the upstart Persian state.…

…On an exact agreed-upon day, no matter where each messenger happened to be, they were to ask the oracle the very same question: What was King Crusus doing at that precise moment back home in Sardis?…