Hmm, i hadn't thought of offering them assistance... (or bullpooping them into thinking i would give them assistance) i may try this. See, i can pull off some amazing victories due to the stupidity of the battle-AI, but one needs at least 3 units of spearmen to hold most of their army in place while you lure their most powerful units into traps, and by the time the Seleukids attack i just don't have those units left or the money to train them.

I'm going to try it your way later.