Seuthes is a sensible man, and so when the Greeks propose an alteration to his usual method of night-marching he is able to see the tactical sense and agree to it. Xenophon demonstrates excellence as an officer again in their initial attack: Seuthes sends him forward with his men, and then asks why Xenophon is dismounting when speed is wanted.
When they had reached the villages, Seuthes, with about thirty troopers, rode up, exclaiming: "Well, Xenophon, this is just what you said! the fellows are caught, but now look here. My cavalry have gone off unsupported; they are scattered in pursuit, one here, one there, and upon my word, I am more than half afraid the enemy will collect somewhere and do them a mischief. Some of us must remain in the villages, for they are swarming with human beings." "Well then," said Xenophon, "I will seize the heights with the men I have with me, and do you bid Cleanor extend his line along the level beside the villages." When they had done so, there were enclosed--of captives for the slave market, one thousand; of cattle, two thousand; and of other small cattle, ten thousand.
Seuthes burns the village and sends the plunder to market so that he can assure pay for the soldiers. This is indeed a more sensible approach to mercenaries than the ones the Spartans attempted at Byzantium!
The warning of burning the first village causes the villagers of others nearby to flee, thus obtaining for the army a winter camp with plenty of buildings and supplies. At first this seems good for the army because it is already bitterly cold: Xenophon remarks that they suddenly understood the Thracian fondness for fur caps. Yet Xenophon quickly realizes that the tactical position is poor: the enemy is not only still close, they are the experts on the structure of the encampment because they are the ones who built it. Sure enough, when the attack comes each party is led by the owner of the house being attacked. They know its layout and location perfectly. Xenophon and his men are in some peril of being burned alive as the parties set fire to the houses, but the Greeks manage to hold out long enough to be rescued by the cavalry.
The man who was sent to sell off the plunder returns, but only has enough to pay for twenty days' pay rather than the full month owed. He and Xenophon clash over this, and he afterwards begins slandering Xenophon (so we are assured by Xenophon!) to Seuthes. This causes a chilly relationship between Xenophon and Seuthes. The soldiers also begin to be irritated with Xenophon as they are not getting any more pay at this time.
Yet the expedition is going very well. Seuthes' basic goal is to recapture his family's old country for himself, and people are coming and pledging loyalty to him just as he desired. The army is quite successful. The only problem is what to do with them now that they've served their purpose.
Lo and Behold, some Spartan emissaries arrive with a solution to that problem. Tissaphernes, whom you will remember as the Persian leader who murdered the Ten Thousand's first generals and led the Persian pursuit of them all the way into Kurdistan, has been appointed Satrap of Cyrus' old satrapy. That territory borders the Greek world, and runs up against the part controlled by the Spartans. They want to hire the Myriad to go to war with him.
Initially Seuthes and his advisors thinks this is a great way to get rid of the army without paying them, but that doesn't work. The offer does provoke a dramatic dispute between Xenophon and his soldiers, but in the end he convinces them to stay and fight for their money before taking any Spartan job. The plundering of this newly-won land quickly produces enough upset among Seuthes' new citizens to convince him to pay up after all. The army is delighted to receive their back wages -- which they had definitely earned, since they fully succeeded in their mission -- and now has a new job.
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