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Rh ject peoples, while the Parthian administration under Pacorus was evidently popular. Confronted with such a situation, Ventidius had to act with caution. Knowing that Pharnaeus of Cyrrhestica, one of his allies, was secretly in league with the Parthians, he determined to use him to advantage. Ventidius treated him as though he had his entire confidence, but pretended to fear those very things which he most desired to bring about. In this way he caused Pharnaeus to give Pacorus an entirely false idea of the situation. Pacorus was told that the Romans hoped he would advance via Zeugma, along the ordinary and shortest route, for then they could avoid the Parthian archers in the hills; should the Parthians cross the Euphrates farther down, Ventidius was fearful of disaster. Pacorus, acting on this false information, led his troops by the long route through Cyrrhestica and spent forty days gathering material and building a bridge over the river, which at the chosen point was quite wide.

In the time thus gained Ventidius collected his troops and was ready for action three days before