When the army assembled at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Apamea&groupId=340&placeId=660">Apamea</a> and a mutiny broke out among the soldiers on account of some arrears of pay that were owing to them,
observing that the king was very nervous and alarmed at such a movement taking place at so critical a time, Hermeias engaged to discharge the whole sum due, if the king would consent that Epigenes should take no part in the campaign;
as he said there would be no chance otherwise of anything being properly managed in the army in view of the bitterness of the quarrel between them.
The king was displeased at this request, and would fain have refused, being anxious for Epigenes to accompany him on the campaign owing to his military capacity,
but beset as he was and preoccupied through Hermeias' nefarious machinations by court etiquette and by a host of guards and attendants, he was not his own master, so that he gave way and acceded to the request.
When Epigenes retired, as he was bidden, into civil life, the members of the council were intimidated by this consequence of Hermeias' jealousy,
but the troops upon their demands being met experienced a revulsion of feeling and grew well disposed to the man who had procured payment of their pay. The Cyrrhestae, however, were an exception,
as they to the number of about six thousand mutinied and quitted their quarters, giving considerable trouble for some time; but finally they were defeated in a battle by one of the king's generals, most of them being killed and the rest surrendering at discretion.
Hermeias, having thus subjected to his will the councillors by fear and the troops by doing them a service, left <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Apamea&groupId=340&placeId=660">Apamea</a> and advanced in company with the king.
With the connivance of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Alexis&groupId=310&placeId=605">Alexis</a>, the commandant of the citadel at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Apamea&groupId=340&placeId=660">Apamea</a>, he now engaged in the following plot against Epigenes.
Forging a letter supposing to have been sent by Molon to Epigenes, he seduced by promise of a large reward one of Epigenes' slaves and persuaded him to take it and mix it up with Epigenes' papers.
This having been done, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Alexis&groupId=310&placeId=605">Alexis</a> at once appeared and asked Epigenes if he had received any letters from Molon.
Upon his denying it with some acerbity, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Alexis&groupId=310&placeId=605">Alexis</a> demanded to search his house and on entering it very soon found the letter, and on this ground at once put Epigenes to death.
The king was induced to believe that Epigenes had merited his fate, and the courtiers, though they had their suspicions, were afraid to utter them.
Walbank Commentary