Back at the inn, Herippolis, still in a state of excitement, followed Ansitarnos into the room and couldn't help but ask, "Teacher, was that Syracusan spy, Hermes, sent by Dionysius or by his opponents?"
"What, are you confused?" Ansitarnos said with a smile.
"Originally, I was very sure that Dionysius was the mastermind, but after hearing Philistus's explanations…" Herippolis scratched his head.
"It can only be said that Philistus acted too well and deceived you. A person of Philistus's status probably has several scribes under him, so the handwriting is naturally different. Moreover, he had already taken precautions, and even the signature was written by someone else. Polysixis had never had any contact with him before, so it's normal to be kept in the dark." Ansitarnos revealed a contemptuous smile: "In fact, their performance wasn't perfect. If you observed carefully, you would have noticed that the minister named Herolis on the opposite side looked a little unnatural when Philistus was explaining. Obviously, they hadn't fully communicated…"
"Oh, so that's how it is!" Herippolis recalled the scene at that time, suddenly understanding, and then said angrily, "But Teacher, why didn't you expose him on the spot?!"
"Why expose him?" Ansitarnos smiled: "Philistus and the other guests put on such a laborious performance, which just shows their concern for Daonia and their unwillingness to fall out with us. This is a good thing. Next, it depends on whether Dionysius is willing to sign the alliance treaty we proposed…"
… … … … … … … … … … …
The next day, Ansitarnos met Dionysius himself.
In a spacious but not luxurious, even somewhat simple palace, the tall and handsome Dionysius (which was one of the reasons why Democritus, the hero of Syracuse who resisted the Athenian army, married his daughter to him) received Ansitarnos.
As the rumored ruthless master of Sicily, he expressed a warm welcome to the arrival of the Daonian delegation with an approachable attitude. At the same time, he apologized for not being able to meet them in time and said: "I have already learned from Philistus that Daonia wants to sign an alliance treaty with our Syracuse. This is a very good thing! You must know that Syracuse has been in constant wars, and both the treasury, food, and population have suffered great losses. It is in urgent need of recuperation. I am very grateful that Daonia can lend a helping hand at this moment! I will send Philistus as a representative to discuss the alliance with you in detail. I hope that Syracuse and Daonia can have friendly relations from now on and set a good example for other Greek city-states in the western Mediterranean!"
The meeting was very short, and soon Ansitarnos left Ortigia Island with a feeling of both doubt and joy.
Philistus, who had sent off the Daonian delegation and returned, also asked Dionysius with doubt: "Your Excellency, are you really going to ally with Daonia?"
"Philistus," Dionysius said affectionately, using the nickname of his important minister, and said in a deep voice: "Last night, at the banquet in your house, a Daonian envoy said something right: 'Although Carthage has been severely damaged, they have a strong influence in Africa, and they are now developing the Iberian Peninsula. It is said that they have also sent a fleet to sail west, passing through the Pillars of Hercules to explore our unknown lands… Next time, when Carthage makes a comeback, its power will inevitably be even greater than this time. But Syracuse is limited to this small island of Sicily, and its territory will not increase much unless it expands outwards!'"
Philistus had discussed this issue with Dionysius many times, and of course he knew where Dionysius's expansion target was, but he still worriedly reminded him: "It's just that Daonia's strength is not weak, and it has basically united the other city-states and natives of southern Italy."
"You're right," Dionysius nodded cautiously: "With your help, I sat on the position of General with Full Powers, and I already had the idea of conquering Magna Graecia in the future,
That's why I married Doris (the daughter of a Locrian nobleman). But I never expected that in such a short period of a few years, a Daonian League would rise in Magna Graecia!"
Regret appeared on Dionysius's face, and he gritted his teeth and said: "Perhaps that Davos really got the favor of Hades, but so what! The western Mediterranean is big, but it can only accommodate one Greek overlord!"
"It's just that we have just ended the war with Carthage and need to rest… Should we slow down for a while?" Philistus reminded him in a low voice.
"We can't slow down anymore!" Philistus shook his head: "The Daonian League is indeed developing rapidly, and it increases by one point every year. I have carefully studied Daonia, and I have to say that the young man named Davos is very good at dealing with the natives. Some of our methods of dealing with the Sicels are still learned from them. With their current rate of rise, the Samnites north of Daonia may not be able to stop their expansion, and their power will continue to spread northward until they own the entire Italy. What will happen to Syracuse then? Become their vassal?!" Dionysius's eyes revealed a cold light, he clenched his fists, waved them heavily, and said in a firm and forceful tone: "We must take advantage of their current weakness and internal instability to concentrate all our strength to destroy them!"
"Then should we still talk about the alliance with Daonia?" Philistus asked again.
"Talk, why not! A non-aggression friendly treaty can be signed, which can just make them relax their vigilance. As for the alliance—humph, Syracuse has never had the habit of signing equal alliances with other Greek city-states!" Dionysius said coldly.
He obviously forgot that there was also Sparta. Of course, Philistus would not be foolish enough to correct his mistake. He nodded and said, "I understand."
"Also… the negotiations with Carthage must be accelerated… uh…" Dionysius paced back and forth, repeatedly considering, and finally made up his mind: "We can return the land west of Selinus and Panormus (west of Solus) to them, but they must pay a large amount of war reparations, open up the grain market to us, and provide cheap wheat trade. At the same time, they must also sign a longer-term peace treaty… This is the price they pay for breaking the agreement and provoking the war again (in fact, this war was provoked by Dionysius). That's roughly the idea. You take people to talk, and you must talk as soon as possible!"
Philistus nodded to show that he understood.
"Okay, that's it." Dionysius motioned for Philistus to carry out these instructions immediately.
Philistus hesitated for a moment and said, "Uh… Your Excellency… About Hermes, the Daonian delegation said that they could return him to us. What do you think…"
"What do we want him back for! What will we do with him when he comes back?!" Dionysius's face darkened, and he said with a fierce air: "Look at his cowardly performance at the Turii public trial, it makes me sick! Tell them that Syracuse respects Daonia's laws. Since this person has committed a crime in Turii, we support him being punished by Daonia's laws!"
Philistus sighed secretly and walked out of the hall. He thought of Ansitarnos, with whom he had had a pleasant conversation last night because of their common hobbies. A sense of guilt floated in his heart, and he looked up at the distant sea and said apologetically in his heart: Ansitarnos, I'm sorry! I'm doing this all for Syracuse…
… … … … … … … … … … …
While Ansitarnos was negotiating with Philistus, in Turii, Davos received Secrian in his study at home.
"Governor!" Secrian gave a solemn military salute as soon as they met.
"Secrian, our hero! I've told you many times, this is not a training ground, so don't be so formal." Davos looked at the young naval commander, whose flamboyant face had become a bit more steady after a few years of training. He nodded secretly and smiled as he gestured: "Sit down! Sit down and talk business!"
Secrian sat upright facing Davos.
"This time, En Anilus was sentenced. Has there been any impact on the sailors of the navy?" Davos didn't exchange any more pleasantries, but asked directly.
"Basically, there is no impact." Secrian replied immediately: "The soldiers learned about En Anilus's crimes through the public trial. In addition, En Anilus rarely participated in training and rarely led the soldiers himself, so everyone is training as usual, and there is nothing unusual. However, we have a concern, will the triremes to be built this year be launched on time?"
"There is no need to worry about this. En Anilus's violation of the law does not involve his family and the shipyard. The Senate has already sent people to appease them, and they have also made guarantees. The Senate's plan for the navy, the launching of five triremes every year will not only remain unchanged, but will only increase in the future, not decrease!" Davos made a promise to him.
"That's great!" Secrian suggested excitedly: "The Senate has made the right decision! Although we now have 30 triremes, if we want to protect the east and west coasts, the number of warships must be doubled to be considered safe."
Davos nodded, stroked his chin with his hand, and began to think about something.
Secrian thought that his request just now had embarrassed the Governor who appreciated him, and felt a little nervous in his heart.
At this time, Davos opened his mouth and said: "If we include the warships of the Daonian allied city-states of Metapontum, Heraclea, and Ligium, as well as the warships of the Southern Italian allies such as Croton and Siris, what do you think of our naval strength?"
Sikeliāns heart tightened, and he tentatively asked, "Lord, are we going to war?"
"War may not necessarily happen, but it's better to be prepared. I believe you've heard about the public trial in Victory Square. Syracuse harbors ambition towards our Daonia."
Davos was pleased with Sikeliāns vigilance towards war as a naval general, and he looked at Sikeliān with a solemn expression: "If war were to break out, what are the odds of our entire Magna Graecia navy against the Syracuse navy?"
Sikeliāns expression also became tense and solemn, but he was still able to maintain a clear head and said fluently: "Due to the previous war with Locri, Croton can now only muster up to 20 trireme warships. Siris can have about ten ships, Caulonia about eight, Terina has five... As for these city-states in the Daonia League, Rhegium's navy has the most triremes, possibly 30 ships, while Heraclea and Metapontum can barely muster five ships. Laos has not yet mastered the technology to build triremes. Castrum and Elia do not have triremes, only small and medium-sized warships... Oh, and there's Tarentum, I almost forgot about it. It has about 25 triremes..."
Tarentum! This reminded Davos that Daonia's relationship with it had become estranged in the past two years, but in the face of a greater threat, Davos decided that he still needed to improve relations with it.
"If all the naval forces of the Magna Graecia city-states are concentrated, there would be about 130 trireme warships, plus small and medium-sized warships... possibly nearly 250 ships. According to previous news, Syracuse currently has nearly 400 trireme warships, and the total number of warships may exceed 600. However, although the difference in numbers is huge, it's not impossible for us to fight Syracuse, but—" Sikeliān said with a worried expression: "The key is that these warships of the Magna Graecia city-states are too scattered, making it easy for the enemy to defeat them one by one. Even if they can be assembled together, they are prone to fighting their own battles due to lack of training and unified command."
Davos pondered for a while and said, "If all these Magna Graecia warships have undergone unified training and have unified command, do you think this Magna Graecia joint fleet would have a chance to defeat the Syracuse navy?"
A newly established fleet with no naval battle experience actually wants to defeat the powerful Syracuse navy? Sikeliān was not shocked by Davos's question. Instead, after careful consideration, he said decisively: "I think it's possible! First of all, the sailors of the Daonia navy are very motivated. Lord, you also know that the quotas for the various infantry legions of Daonia are full. Many freemen and some prospective citizens who have registered with the Household Department are unwilling to wait in the legion reserve, so they transfer to become sailors. These young men are eager to establish merits as soon as possible, shorten their service years, become official citizens as soon as possible, and be allocated 'land shares' like the legion soldiers. Therefore, they train hard and eagerly look forward to the outbreak of war. They are more eager for battle and victory than anyone else."
Sikeliān clenched his fists, as if cheering himself up, and continued loudly: "Secondly, although the Syracuse navy is huge, it is not concentrated together, but is separately stationed in Syracuse, Agrigentum, Catanae... Oh, now there is one more Messana. Therefore, it is also extremely time-consuming for Syracuse to gather all its warships together. We can seize the opportunity to quickly defeat one or two of its sub-fleets, which can change the naval strength of both sides..."
Davos stared at this young man. He is intelligent, capable, and very energetic. He is brave in fighting strong enemies and has a strong enterprising spirit. From his previous well-organized analysis, he has thought deeply about naval warfare, and is not limited to the position of a sub-fleet commander, only training soldiers, patrolling, etc. This is a naval talent!
Davos finally made up his mind in his heart, and he said in a deep voice: "You said it very well! Our Daonia infantry has always used the weak to defeat the strong,
that's how we have today's Daonia League. I hope the navy will also have this spirit of not fearing strong enemies!"
"Lord, rest assured, the Daonia navy will definitely not be worse than the infantry in the future!" Sikeliān immediately made a guarantee.
Davos looked at him and said in a deep voice: "Sikeliān, although you are young, you have always performed very well in training and managing the fleet, and you also have a high reputation among the sailors. In view of the fact that Enaniluss has been imprisoned for violating the law, and the entire Daonia navy has no commander, it is impossible for this situation to continue like this..."
As Davos said this, Sikeliāns heart beat violently.
"Therefore, I have decided to propose to the Senate to let you take over as the naval commander. I believe this appointment may be issued tomorrow."
When great happiness fell down as Sikeliān had hoped, he was so excited that he didn't know what to say, and just kept expressing his gratitude: "Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord! Thank you—"
"Don't thank me yet. You must understand that this appointment is not an honor, but a heavy responsibility! If there really is a day when Daonia and Syracuse go to war, Daonia's long coastline will be under the attack of Syracuse's powerful navy. The fleet you lead must do everything possible to protect the League's land from enemy invasion and the property of its citizens from being lost. Therefore, your responsibility is great!" Davos said with a serious expression.
Under Davos's gaze, Sikeliāns expression gradually became firm: "I understand, Lord!" He gave another extremely forceful military salute.
The next day, the Senate voted to approve Sikeliāns appointment as naval commander, and also passed two bills: First, to incorporate the warships of the Daonia League city-states into the Daonia naval sequence for joint training and joint patrols; Second, to increase the number of trireme warships built from the original five ships per year to ten ships per year.
… … … … … … … … … … … … …
In Athens, the Theater of Dionysus is staging the new play "The Daonians" by the famous playwright Aristophanes, which tells the story of a Daionian foreign citizen participating in the Olympic Games. In the play, Aristophanes uses exaggerated and humorous strokes to portray a Daionian foreign citizen who is extremely ignorant, foolish, and ridiculous about Greek traditional culture. Since its release, it has been highly praised by Athenian citizens, and the various theaters in Athens are often full.
For example: Now, in the center of the theater, the referee is announcing the entrance of the athletes, but this strangely dressed foreigner refuses to be naked. The referee asks him why, and his answer is: "There are many snakes and insects in our mountains, so we must wear good clothes, otherwise our private parts will be bitten off if we are not careful—"
"Hahaha…" The whole audience burst into laughter.
"I like this part the most, it's so ridiculous!" One audience member clutched his stomach, tears streaming down his face from laughter.
"The next part is even more ridiculous, I've watched it several times!" Another audience member said excitedly.
Only a whistle was heard on the stage, and the actor playing the Daionian foreign citizen was desperately making running movements, but the referee stopped the game and questioned him why he had to run into the circle of the track. He said innocently: "People in our tribe always take shortcuts when tracking prey, only in this way can we catch the prey."
After the referee told him the rules of the game, he complained: "How stupid these rules are! No wonder I haven't seen you wearing animal skins and feather decorations, because you can't catch prey."
… …
The audience laughed almost from beginning to end.
In the end, this foreigner won the running championship. The temple priest put a laurel wreath on his head, but he threw the laurel wreath on the ground and said angrily: "Our magistrate lied to me, these branches are not worth any money at all, he said that there would be a reward for winning the championship!"
So he turned to the priest to ask for the golden scepter in his hand.
The greed of the foreigner and the anger of the priest became the final curtain of the play.
… …
The whole audience stood up and applauded and cheered in one direction.
An old man with a white beard stood up and waved to the crowd to express his gratitude. He was the respected playwright of Athens—Aristophanes. Although he was old, he would sit in the audience as usual when his new work was premiered, observe the reactions of the audience, and think about what improvements his work needed.
"The Daonians" is a work he created after hearing about the farce that happened at the Isthmian Games a few years ago (i.e., Lizalus making a scene at the stadium), which triggered deep thought. Most Athenians only regard it as a hilarious comedy, and only a few people can understand the deep meaning contained in the play.
In Magna Graecia's Daonia, Sicily's Syracuse, Campania's Naples, northern Greece's Thessaly, Macedonia, and more and more city-states are beginning to accept foreigners into Greek society, which is beginning to impact Greece's own traditional culture. This is exactly what Aristophanes, who has been committed to defending Greek traditional values, is worried about. He uses this ridiculous foreigner in the play to warn the Athenians, and even the entire Greek world, to be vigilant, but he himself cannot be sure how much effect it will have.
Supported by slaves, he walked out of the theater and walked down the mountain road. The crowded people took the initiative to make way for this respected old man.
Just then, a burst of cheers came from the front.
"What happened?!" The audience patted each other's shoulders, curiously asking forward.
"We won! We won! The fleet led by Conon defeated the Spartan navy at Cnidus, Athens won!!" The people ran around spreading the news, some even bursting into tears of joy.
----
"Quick, help me sit down!" Aristophanes leaned against the mountain path, watching the cheering crowds. His heart was also filled with excitement. Although he knew very well that the Athenian Konon was now a naval commander employed by Persia, leading the Persian fleet, this victory greatly reduced the maritime threat faced by Athens.
You must know that although the Citizens' Assembly had approved joining Thebes in declaring war on Sparta, the shadow of the Peloponnesian War's defeat ten years ago and the ferocity of the Spartans weighed heavily on the hearts of every Athenian like a nightmare. Especially now, although the battle situation in the Isthmus was deadlocked, the allied forces were still losing more than winning. Recently, news had arrived that another Spartan army, led by the Spartan King Agesilaus, had landed in northern Greece from Asia Minor and was advancing towards the Boeotia region. How could the Athenian people not be nervous and afraid! This naval victory was like a timely rain, relieving much of the heavy burden on their hearts. They cheered loudly to vent their long-suppressed fear.
Aristophanes was gratified to see that the city of Athens had regained some vitality. Then, he showed a surprised expression, noticing a man in tattered clothes at the corner of the street, sitting on the dust-covered steps, leaning against the rough stone wall, intently reading something.
This quiet scene formed a sharp contrast with the surrounding joy, and the man's back looked familiar to Aristophanes.
He walked over and tentatively called out, "Antisthenes?"
The man turned his head and glanced at him, showing no intention of standing up. "Aristophanes, if you've come to ask me about Plato's whereabouts, please don't bother me while I'm reading."
Aristophanes knew that although Antisthenes and Plato were both students of Socrates, their philosophies were incompatible. So, he said with a hint of mockery, "I just wanted to tell you that the fleet led by Konon has defeated the Spartan navy, and the whole city is celebrating this victory."
"So what?" Antisthenes said dismissively, "Victory will only encourage the people to blindly plunge into war. How long has Athens been peaceful? And this will be another long war..." Saying this, he shook his head and glanced at Aristophanes, "You've just returned from the theater, haven't you? Your new play 'The Daonians' seems to be very popular with the people."
Aristophanes was dissatisfied with Antisthenes' negative attitude towards the victory news, so he said unpleasantly, "Oh! Antisthenes, who always refuses to watch dramas for entertainment, actually knows about my new play. I'm truly honored!"
"That's because everyone has been talking about it these days. I say, you're being too nosy. It's the Daonians' business what kind of citizens they send to the Olympic Games. What's the point of you writing a play to satirize them?"
Aristophanes immediately felt a surge of anger. Just as he was about to retort, Antisthenes tilted his head, picked at his ear with his finger, and said, "Do you know that after the news of the Daonians publicly trying traitors and exposing Syracuse's ambitions came, Thrasybulus and the other members of the board of generals are discussing whether to send envoys to negotiate an alliance with Daonia, so that Daonia can restrain Sparta's ally Syracuse. It's best if your play isn't performed anymore, to avoid provoking the Daonians and causing the alliance to fail."
"What Thrasybulus and the others do is their business, but they have no right to interfere with the legitimate freedom of an Athenian citizen!" Aristophanes shouted angrily.
"That's what I wanted to say too." Antisthenes pointed to the cheering crowds, "What does their victory have to do with me?"
Aristophanes was so angry that he puffed out his beard and glared.
He simply turned around and left, once again confirming his belief: the reason why he could be good friends with Plato but always remained distant from Antisthenes was due to a sense of responsibility.
Antisthenes didn't care about Aristophanes' departure. He gently brushed away the dust from the book and focused on reading again.
… … … … … … … … … …
Agesilaus led his army through Thrace and Macedonia, arriving in central Greece. In Amphipolis, he heard the news of the Spartan victory at Corinth, but this did not excite him, because the Spartans were still blocked at the Isthmus, unable to advance an inch.
Worried about the war, he accelerated his march, but encountered a solar eclipse when he arrived at Chaeronea. The soldiers were panicked, believing it was an ominous sign.
Immediately afterward, Agesilaus received news that the Spartan navy had been defeated at Cnidus. Shocked, he secretly rejoiced that he had chosen to travel to Boeotia by land instead of by sea, otherwise he might still be blocked in Asia Minor.
He immediately blocked the news to prevent the army's morale from wavering. At the same time, he felt that he had to launch a war quickly to wash away this bad news with victory.
So, he led his army to march quickly again, finally entering the Boeotia region, where he faced the anti-Spartan allied forces stationed in Coronea, guarding the passage to Thebes. A great battle was inevitable.
Before the battle, he summoned Xenophon, the leader of the remnants of the famous Persian Ten Thousand.
This 35-year-old Athenian had fought with the Spartans in Asia Minor for five years and was already a seasoned general. Standing in front of Agesilaus, he was like a tall and upright cedar, exuding a high-spirited aura.
Agesilaus looked at him with admiration, and then said, "Xenophon, my friend. The enemies of Sparta are arrayed in front of us. Only by defeating them can we advance to the city of Thebes. But... in the enemy's ranks, there are Athenian reinforcements. Among them may be your relatives, your friends, your classmates. Facing them in battle will undoubtedly be an extremely painful thing for you... Alas, so although I am reluctant, but—"
Agesilaus showed an unusually regretful expression and said emotionally, "I... I allow you to lead your troops away, and even join the other side. I am very grateful for your selfless help to Sparta over the years! Even if you and I become enemies in the upcoming battle, I still regard you as my, Agesilaus', dearest friend!"
Xenophon was furious after hearing this, "Spartan King, are you questioning my integrity! Before leading the mercenaries to leave Asia Minor with you, I had already said that since the Athenian Citizens' Assembly executed my teacher Socrates and tried me in absentia and found me guilty, I have regarded Athens as an enemy! Moreover, I agree with Sparta's political philosophy and am willing to fight for it, and I have sworn an oath to Zeus! Now you insist on me leaving here, I... I will leave then." After speaking, he turned around to leave the tent without any hesitation.
"Xenophon, please forgive my rudeness just now!" Agesilaus hurriedly stepped forward to hold him back, apologizing repeatedly, "I originally didn't want you and your compatriots to fight each other, to avoid making you feel uneasy, but I now realize that you have a great belief that far surpasses ordinary feelings for your motherland, for which I must apologize to you!" Saying this, he sincerely bowed to Xenophon.
Xenophon hurriedly stopped him, and the anger in his heart was mostly gone.
"I have decided to appoint you as the commander of the central army formation in tomorrow's battle." Agesilaus decisively made a decision.
Xenophon was a little surprised, but he did not decline and gladly accepted the order, because he knew that some rumors about him had been circulating in the army these days. He secretly vowed: in this battle, he would use practical actions to shut the mouths of those who questioned him!
Xenophon left the tent. Archidamus, Agesilaus's adjutant and also his son, came in. After learning of his father's decision, he couldn't help but be surprised: "Father, you really let an Athenian serve as the commander of our central army?"
"What's wrong with an Athenian?!" Agesilaus raised his eyebrows and said loudly, in a volume that the guards outside the tent could hear, "Xenophon is my, Agesilaus', true friend! For friends, I have always been trusting. Moreover, Xenophon is a very talented person, he deserves my trust!"
Speaking of this, Agesilaus suddenly remembered something, sighed, and said to his son in a deep voice: "You must understand that Sparta has already missed Deiphobus, who was highly recommended by Clearchus, and that young man's Daonian city-state alliance, which was created in just a few years, has become a big trouble for Dionysius. We can no longer push Xenophon to the enemy..."
… … … … … … … … … … … …
The next day, the two sides lined up in Coronea.
Agesilaus led the main Spartan force, forming up on the left wing, facing the Argives, long-time enemies of the allied forces; Xenophon led the remnants of the Ten Thousand and other Asia Minor mercenaries in the center, facing his motherland Athenians; and on the right wing of the center was the Spartan ally, the Phocians (the most important city in the region where Phocis is located is Delphi), facing the initiator of this war, Thebes.
At this moment, in the front ranks of the Theban army, the 26-year-old Pelopidas and Epaminondas were in the ranks as heavy infantry.
"Why hasn't the bugle been blown yet?! I can't wait any longer!" Pelopidas said eagerly.
Epaminondas did not speak, staring at the front side with a melancholy expression.
"Epam, what are you worried about? Are you afraid that we can't beat the Phocians?" Pelopidas noticed his friend's abnormality, so he asked.
"I'm not worried about the Phocians, they have never been our match. I'm worried about the Argives, worried about whether they can stop the Spartans' 'leftward advance'." Epaminondas said worriedly.
"You're thinking too much, Epam. This should be a matter for the commander to consider. Our goal is to quickly defeat the Phocians!" Pelopidas pointed his spear forward, saying with high spirits.
The Battle of Coronea concluded with Agesilaus defeating the Argives, and the Thebans defeating the Phocians. In the center, Xenophon led the mercenaries in a fierce attack on the Athenian army. When the situation became unfavorable for the anti-Spartan alliance, the alliance proactively chose to retreat.
Agesilaus's troops, due to excessive casualties, were unable to pursue.
The allied forces successfully retreated to their camp and continued to hold Coronea.
Although Agesilaus won, he failed to pass through Coronea. As enemy reinforcements continued to arrive, the anti-Spartan alliance grew stronger.
Agesilaus realized that this place was no longer suitable for a prolonged stay, so he had to abandon his plan to attack Theban territory and was forced to lead his army westward, eventually reaching Delphi, crossing the Gulf of Corinth, and reuniting with the Spartan army still fighting in Corinth.
… … … … … … … … … … …
Sekellios, now the naval commander of Thurii, once again visited Davos's residence, his respectful attitude towards Davos remaining the same as before.
Davos sought him out this time not only to congratulate him on his promotion but also to discuss a more important matter: "Sekellios, I have carefully considered the strategy you previously mentioned to me for dealing with the Syracusan navy these past two days. I feel that although there is a chance of victory, the risk is too great. I have come up with an idea that might greatly increase the chances of the Thurii navy winning."
"Lord, what is your idea?" Sekellios asked hastily. His posture was not feigned. If someone else had said this, he would definitely have thought it was wishful thinking, but these words came from the mouth of Davos, the "Miracle Maker" praised by the soldiers. How could he not take it seriously?
"Take a look at this." Davos handed Sekellios a piece of parchment.
Sekellios quickly unfolded it and saw a trireme drawn on it, but this warship was somewhat special. A wooden plank, not much shorter than the mast, was added next to the mast at the bow of the ship, with low railings on both sides. There was a downward-pointing tip at the bottom of the plank's top end. Next to it was a detailed drawing of this small bridge-like device, which was about 12 meters long and 1.2 meters wide. The tip at the top was a thick iron nail, and there were holes drilled in the top of the plank, through which ropes were threaded and tied to the mast.
Seeing the somewhat puzzled look on Sekellios's face, Davos first asked, "Sekellios, tell me honestly, how much difference is there between the sailing skills of our sailors and those of Syracuse?"
Sekellios hesitated for a moment and said, "The Syracusan navy has fought against the Carthaginians many times, and their combat experience is richer than ours, so their sailing skills are naturally better than ours… However, we are training hard, and the morale of the brothers is very high…"
"But—our sailors are still rookies who have never been on the battlefield, including yourself," Davos pointed out bluntly.
Sekellios blushed and wanted to retort.
Davos waved his hand, signaling him not to speak for the time being: "The navy is different from the infantry. If a land battle is lost, as long as the city-state has enough citizens, an army can be re-established at any time. But when a naval battle occurs, dozens of ships are often sunk to the bottom of the sea, and thousands of sailors are sacrificed or become prisoners. Once defeated, it is difficult to recover in a short period of time, because it takes at least half a year to build a trireme, not to mention the huge amount of resources and money it requires.
And during this time, the warships of Syracuse can freely ravage any coast and port of Thurii, leaving our land barren and trade stagnant… Therefore, the Thurian League, which is weaker than the Syracusan navy, does not have time for your fleet to gain experience. Our navy cannot afford to lose even once!"
Davos's words made Sekellios feel tremendous pressure.
He clenched his fists tightly, pressing them against his thighs, and shouted in his heart: How is this possible?! Even naval powers like Athens and Syracuse have experienced disastrous defeats…
At this moment, his gaze swept across the drawing on the table, and a thought flashed through his mind: Could the secret to our navy's victory lie here?
"Sekellios, since our fleet is inferior to Syracuse in terms of both experience and technology, why should we compete with Syracuse in traditional ramming tactics?! On the contrary, we have the most elite legion soldiers in the Greek city-states, whether it is individual combat skills or team cooperation, they are among the best heavy infantry in all of Greece. Why not move land warfare to naval warfare, play to our strengths, avoid our weaknesses, and take the initiative in battle into our own hands?!"
Davos's words, "Treat naval warfare as land warfare," flashed through Sekellios's brain like lightning. He grabbed the drawing on the table: "This wooden bridge… this wooden bridge…"
Davos smiled and took over the conversation: "I asked Matikolis about this wooden bridge. He can design pulleys on the warship that can easily lift the wooden bridge. At the same time, he can create a circular track around the base of the mast, and use pulleys to push the wooden bridge around the mast. When an enemy ship approaches this warship from the front or either side, we can seize the opportunity to lower the wooden bridge. The iron nail at the top can use the force of the fall to pierce the deck of the enemy ship, preventing the enemy ship from escaping, and at this time—"
"At this time, the heavy infantry on the ship can use the wooden bridge to step onto the enemy ship and engage in close combat with the enemy!" Sekellios, who had been rapidly deducing this novel naval battle in his mind while listening to Davos's explanation, couldn't help but tremble with excitement: "Lord, this is truly a brilliant idea! Turning naval warfare into land warfare, playing to the strengths of our legion, not only can we strike the enemy, but we can also capture the enemy, capture enemy ships, and rapidly expand our naval power!"
If it were a traditional naval commander, it would probably be difficult to accept such an idea for a while, but Sekellios was young after all, and had just taken office as naval commander, and his mind was full of how to defeat the enemy, so he accepted the new combat method quickly, saving Davos a lot of explanation.
Davos asked with a smile, "Do you think this plan is feasible?"
"Completely feasible!" Sekellios stared at the drawing: "However, when the fleet is sailing, this wooden bridge will affect the speed of the ship, and may even increase the risk of capsizing in a storm. I think if possible… um… usually disassemble it and lay it on the deck, and install it before the battle… In addition, during the battle, this wooden bridge will also affect the flexibility of the warship's maneuvering… Oh, I forgot, that doesn't matter, with the wooden bridge on the ship, our fleet's combat method is no longer ramming but mainly boarding combat, so how many infantry should be placed on the warship?"
Sekellios leaned on the wooden table, staring at the drawing, muttering to himself while racking his brains.
Davos looked at her, feeling both gratified and amused, so he patted him and said, "How to use this new warship device, you can slowly think about it after you go back. I suggest you first find an engineer to install the wooden bridge on a warship. If you encounter any difficulties, you can go to Matikolis, the dean of the Academy of Mathematics, and ask him to help design a solution, but you must be respectful to him. After it is installed, lead the sailors to practice the new tactics first. You need the cooperation of heavy infantry. You can find the military officer Felicius, who will arrange it for you… Until you have completely figured out this new tactic and are proficient in using it, and with my approval, then promote it to the entire fleet. One thing to pay special attention to is to keep it secret! Remember! Before engaging the enemy, you must not let the enemy know our new tactics!"
"Understood!" Sekellios nodded heavily, carefully put the drawing into his arms, and couldn't wait to say goodbye and go home.
Suddenly, he stopped: "Lord, this wooden bridge device… have you named it?"
"Raven! Its name is Raven!" A hint of inscrutable smile appeared on Davos's face.
… … … … … … … … … … …
On this day, in the Gulf of Taranto, among the thousands of ships sailing to and from the port of Thurii, there was an ordinary-looking passenger ship. A 50-year-old man on board looked at the land appearing in the distance, filled with emotion: "Thurii, I have finally returned…"
"Teacher Lysias, this time, in order to complete the important task entrusted to me by the council, I had no choice but to force you to come to Thurii. I have always felt guilty in my heart…" A middle-aged man walked to his side and apologized to him in a hoarse voice.
Lysias said emotionally, "Isokrates, you don't need to apologize. I have said many times that I am willing and actively requested to be sent to Thurii. I love Athens and am willing to do something for it. Thurii is where I grew up, and my respected teacher Tisias is buried here. I should have come to pay my respects to him long ago! (Lysias, mostly translated as Lysias domestically, is called Lysias in this article to distinguish him from General Lysias of Kroton)"
Isokrates had never truly studied under Lysias, but he had once devoted himself to studying the courtroom speeches written by Lysias, so it was not an exaggeration to call him "teacher." At this time, he also looked into the distance, regretting and sighing, "Yes, Thurii was a pan-Hellenic city-state advocated by General Pericles back then, and Athens spent so much material and money on it! So many Athenians put their heart and soul into its establishment! But now it has become a city in a league. You must know that Thurii can also be regarded as a sub-state of Athens. We should have condemned Thurii's behavior and defended Thurii's interests… But now we are asking the Thurian League, which is infringing on our interests, for help. Alas, Athens! The Peloponnesian War made us lose too much…"
"Isokrates, you must understand that the Thurii we know has been burned down by Kroton! The current Thurii was rebuilt by the Thurian League…" Lysias reminded him with a slightly sad expression.
Lysias's gaze was fixed on a fleet of a dozen warships that appeared in the distance, patrolling the waters. Behind the fleet, two massive white breakwaters were vaguely visible, like a pair of arms extending from either side of the coast, as if to hold back the Krati River from flowing into the sea.
"The Thurii of today is a completely different Thurii…" he murmured.
The Athenian passenger ship finally entered the harbor and docked.
Based on the information he had gathered about the Daunian League, Isocrates had speculated that Thurii's maritime trade wouldn't be very prosperous, as its port wasn't located near the famous trade routes of the eastern and western Mediterranean, and it lacked a naturally excellent harbor. However, what he saw overturned his assumptions.
Although it couldn't compare to the prosperity of Piraeus, it exceeded his expectations. In particular, he was struck by the massive wooden cranes erected on each pier: operated by a few laborers, they could easily lift large cargo items that previously required a dozen strong men, and then transfer them to the dock.
Isocrates, coming from the thriving maritime trade of Athens, immediately realized: If such a device could be applied to the port of Piraeus, the dock's unloading capacity for merchant ships could be greatly improved!
He approached, intending to examine the detailed construction of this device, but was rudely warned by the crane operator not to get close, or the patrol would detain him.
Isocrates retreated, disappointed.
At that moment, several burly men approached Lysias. The leader, wearing a flattering smile, said, "Hi! I'm Sperrian, a porter at the harbor. This is my number. Do you need us to carry anything?" As he spoke, he showed Lysias a small, round iron plate pinned to his chest.
Lysias, who hadn't returned to Thurii in decades, curiously approached for a closer look: the dark iron plate bore the image of a scale, with a string of strange symbols below it.
"What is this thing for?" he asked, pointing to the iron plate with curiosity.
Sperrian said with a hint of pride, "This proves that I am a formally registered porter with the harbor administration. If there are any accidents, such as cargo loss during transport, you can complain to the harbor administration. Just report this number, and after verifying the situation, the administration will punish me and compensate you for your losses, so you can rest assured."
"Are these numbers?" Lysias asked in surprise, pointing to the strange symbols.
"Of course not Greek numerals." Sperrian was happy to show off his superiority in front of the old man, who looked like a scholar. "These are numbers invented by our Archon Davos.
They are easy to remember and use, and everyone is using them. The number engraved on it is 2410, got it?"
Lysias nodded, but his mind was racing. It wasn't because of the peculiar numbers—he wasn't a mathematician and wasn't particularly sensitive to them. He was amazed by Thurii's management of the port. The fact that even porters, the most common and lowest of laborers in the harbor, were managed so meticulously demonstrated the Daunians' ability to govern their city. Even Athens didn't have such measures to regulate the chaotic labor market of Piraeus. Moreover, from the numbered badge, the worldly-wise Lysias could sense that the port of Thurii was busier than it appeared to be.
Daunians' rapid rise was no accident! Lysias warned himself inwardly, then calmly reminded them, "I'm hiring you to transport goods, but there are many ceramics among them, so please be careful!"
"Don't worry, I've lost count of how many times I've carried cargo like pottery jars," Sperrian assured him, while negotiating the price with the Athenian delegation's attendants.
At this moment, Isocrates returned.
Sperrian led several men with wooden-wheeled carts carrying the goods, leading the Athenian delegation out of the crowded docks and onto the harbor avenue.
Isocrates was surprised that this avenue was even wider and smoother than the one connecting Piraeus to Athens. Looking at the ditches, sidewalks, and other facilities on both sides of the avenue, it was clear that the Daunians were meticulous and strict in their road construction.
This made Isocrates a little frustrated, because it seemed to be something that the Athenians couldn't match. They focused more on participating in political affairs and court proceedings.
Isocrates couldn't help but squat down, reach out, and touch the grayish-white substance that tightly joined the stones together, tapping it to find that it was very hard.
"Isocrates, are you planning to become an architect?" Lysias knew why he was doing this and couldn't help but joke.
"Is this your first time in Daunia?" Sperrian didn't find his actions strange, but said smugly, "You can see avenues like this everywhere in Daunian territory, except this one is wider. Because there are more and more merchant ships coming to Thurii every year, this road has been rebuilt many times, and many of the surrounding warehouses and bungalows have been torn down, but it still seems a bit narrow."
Still thinks it's narrow?! Lysias was speechless.
Because most of the traffic on this avenue was carts, pedestrians walked along the sides of the road, so Sperrian had to remind them, "Please step back to the side of the road and wait a moment while I go get the carts. But I have to explain in advance that the price I discussed with you earlier was only for transporting the goods. Thurii is more than ten li from the port. If you choose to walk, we will deliver the goods to the city gate and wait for you. If you choose to ride in my cart with us, you will have to pay a little more."
Sperrian was shrewd, and Lysias was equally clear-headed. Although he was a scholar, he had made a living in Athens by writing legal defenses for others, and his life was relatively frugal. He was familiar with the cost of daily necessities: "Isn't there a cart here specifically for ferrying people?"
"Of course, there are many." Sperrian said truthfully, "There are carts that specialize in carrying passengers outside the port. They are more comfortable than my freight cart, but they are more expensive. I'm just giving you a ride and only charging a small fee."
For wealthy Athenians, money wasn't the problem, but Isocrates was clearly a little tired and didn't want to bother, but he still reminded him: "There are five of us, can your cart fit us?"
"Don't worry." Sperrian didn't lie, and soon he drove two carts over.
As Sperrian and the others carefully loaded the goods onto the carts, Lysias couldn't help but ask, "Did you rent these carts?"
"No, these are my carts." Sperrian emphasized the word "my" with pride, saying, "As a prospective citizen, I can apply for a loan from the Crystoea Bank. The loan and interest on one cart have already been paid off, and the other one is almost paid off."
Soon, the two carts started moving.
Sperrian accompanied Isocrates and Lysias in the first cart. This type of freight cart had no canopy, allowing them to have a panoramic view of the harbor avenue and the surrounding area, which suited Isocrates perfectly. He noticed that although there were many carts on the avenue, they followed a certain rule of traffic, so they seemed numerous but not chaotic. Even when problems caused congestion, patrols would quickly arrive to clear the way…
Lysias's attention, however, was more focused on the freight carts, because they were all pulled by horses. In Lysias's memory, Thurii was not a city-state that produced many horses, but he was seeing so many horses in the port. So he asked, "What is the price of horses here?"
"A mare is 30 drachmas, and a stallion is 22 drachmas."
"How can it be so cheap?!" Lysias was taken aback.
"The price of horses in Thurii used to be more than double what it is now, but since the Bruttii joined Daunia, the Bruttians have supplied a large number of pack horses to the Thurii market in recent years, and the price of horses has naturally fallen." As Sperrian spoke, he patted the pack horse's rump, and the horse neighed softly, and he said proudly, "Bruttian horses are good horses, strong, durable, and good-tempered. Now even the Ligurians are starting to come here to buy horses, so I guess the price will have to go back up in the future…"
As Sperrian spoke, the cart reached the port's exit, where they had to wait for the sentries at the checkpoint to inspect them before they could pass.
Originally, when Isocrates's ship entered the mouth of the Krati River, as long as they directly stated that they were Athenian envoys to the patrol boats, they wouldn't have to enter the port at all, and the patrol boats would lead them to the docks inside the city of Thurii, directly into the Daunian Senate, but Isocrates had other considerations and didn't do so.
At this moment, he looked up at the tall city walls in front of the cart, which tightly surrounded the vast port, and couldn't help but sigh: In the past, when Athens was strong, it also used city walls to protect the port of Piraeus, which brought endless wealth to Athens, and it was connected to Athens. Unfortunately, after the defeat in the Peloponnesian War, the Spartans forced the Athenians to tear down the city walls, which made the people feel uneasy this time when Athens and Thebes united to fight against Sparta, fearing that the Spartans would break through the isthmus, and the completely unprepared port of Piraeus would be a piece of fat meat in the mouth of a hungry wolf. The Citizens' Assembly has proposed rebuilding the city walls several times, but this is a huge project, and it is undoubtedly difficult under the current situation where Athens is fully engaged in the war, and it has been shelved due to endless disputes.
When will the city walls of Piraeus be rebuilt? That will be when Athens rises again! Isocrates had his own deep understanding of this.
After the carriage passed through the checkpoint, it headed directly north, passing the east side of the port market. The shops lining the street and the crowded people did not attract the attention of Isocrates and Lysias. After learning about the busy port of Thurii, they had a preliminary estimate of the market situation. But no matter how prosperous it was, how could it compare with the Agora market in Athens, which was famous throughout the Mediterranean?
However, the direction of the carriage caught Lysias's attention: "Hey, the city of Thurii is to the west. You're going north."
"Don't worry," Sperian explained. "If the carriage goes directly west, it will not only pass through a more crowded and longer market, but also the Temple of Hera to the west and the Thurii Arena not far from it (with the increasing popularity of rugby and football matches, the arena in Thurii was not enough, so the citizens of Thurii collectively raised funds to build another arena outside the city two years ago. Because the arena in the city is the venue for the finals of all Daonian teams, it is named the Daonian Grand Arena, and the one outside the city is called the Thurii Arena). Now it is May, and the rugby season is at its most intense. Because a new Thurii champion team will be selected soon to participate in the final, many people go to watch it every day, so the road will not only become very crowded, but there may also be trouble. We would rather take a detour to Thurii than go directly west."
"I see," Lysias nodded. He had heard about the prevalence of a unique ball game in Daonia, but he had experienced many hardships and had been busy making a living, and he was too old to be interested in this supposedly violent sport.
But Isocrates's eyes lit up and he said, "Can you tell us about this Daonian rugby game?"
Lysias glanced at Isocrates in surprise, feeling that this was not in line with Isocrates's hobby and must have a deeper meaning.
His words scratched Sperian's itch, and he immediately gave the two a long explanation, from the origin and rules of rugby to the establishment of the Daonian Rugby Finals.
Isocrates watched the truck drive onto a new avenue (namely Tua Avenue) and then turn west. Except for the slightly narrower road surface, the road facilities were not much different from the port avenue; he listened to Sperian's account of the development history of rugby in the Daonian League.
From the time the passenger ship docked at the Thurii pier to the time it left the port, he had already discovered a characteristic of the Daonian people. To put it badly, it is called restraint and dullness; to put it well, it is called obedience to order. The port is the most chaotic place in a city-state, and the port of Thurii is considered relatively prosperous, but there are very few quarrels, fights, and brawls, and there are also few loud voices and noisy scenes. This is impossible for Athenians, because they are always full of enthusiasm, uninhibited, proud, and like to debate and brag about the history of the city-state.
And listening to the porter say this, the whole people like such a barbaric and rough sport, which makes him realize that there may be some kind of tyranny hidden in the seemingly introverted personality of the Daonians.
"We are visiting Thurii for the first time. Are there any fun places here that are worth visiting?" he suddenly interjected.
Lysias looked at him again.
"Worth visiting?" Sperian was stunned, then smiled: "I said, you two guests, when you come to Thurii, you shouldn't say that you are here to visit, but to enjoy entertainment. There are too many things for you to play with here.
First of all, Christoia Restaurant, you must go! There is the most delicious food in all of Greece, even the entire Mediterranean.
Secondly, the hot spring bathhouse by the Tiluo River in the west of the city, take a good bath and let you Greeks who don't like to take a bath feel the benefits of taking a bath.
Also, as I just said, go to the Thurii Arena to watch rugby and football matches, but it's hard to say whether you can still buy tickets this season.
Also, you can go to Thurii Hospital for medical treatment,
to discover the diseases hidden in your body. You must know that the medical skills of Thurii doctors are very high, because they have been taught by the God of the Underworld.
Oh, yes, I almost forgot, you must go to the Temple of Hades in the city to pray! That is the only residence of Hades, the King of the Underworld, in the human world in all of Greece, and it is very magical! Every time I go there to worship and talk to the priest, I feel very relaxed all over, like taking a hot spring bath..."
Isocrates and Lysias listened to Sperian's endless introduction to Thurii, exchanging glances from time to time.
At this time, the truck had arrived near the north gate of Thurii, and a tall arch made of white marble stood in front.
Lysias recalled some information he had heard about the new city of Thurii and said uncertainly: "Triumphal Arch?"
"That's right, the Triumphal Arch! The second Triumphal Arch!" Sperian said excitedly: "This is the Triumphal Arch that was built last year. The victorious army will start here, enter the city of Thurii, and accept the cheers and review of the Daonian citizens. That is the greatest honor in the life of every citizen who participates in the war! I participated in one, which was after the conquest of Bruttium. We, as temporarily recruited light infantry (that is, the two thousand freemen), also sent some outstanding people to follow the legion into the city... Oh! All the people of Daonia were cheering for us, and the beautiful girls kept throwing flowers at us, and our respected governor gave an inspiring speech. I will never forget that scene in my life!... And I met my beautiful wife after the end of this triumphal ceremony!..."
Sperian looked intoxicated. After a long while, he sighed: "Unfortunately, it has been too quiet in the past few years, there have been no wars, and of course there have been no triumphal ceremonies, alas..."
"Judging from what you said, you actually hope that war will happen?!" The keen Isocrates immediately asked.
"Of course, if there is no war, we will not be able to participate in the war. If we cannot participate in the war, we will not be able to shorten my probationary period, become a formal citizen of Daonia as soon as possible, and will not be able to obtain fertile 'land'," Sperian blurted out without hesitation, and then he saw the strange expressions of the two and immediately explained: "However, we Daonians rarely take the initiative to invade others. It is others who take the initiative to invade us that will usher in our counterattack..."
Isocrates obviously did not believe the words of this porter.
"But war will lead to death, in which there may be your friends... or relatives..." Lysias said in a warning tone.
"Of course I know. The priests of Hades once warned us, 'Any good thing is never easily obtained.' We are not afraid of death, because this is the land blessed by the King of the Underworld. If I die heroically in battle, my wife and children will receive generous pensions and care from the alliance, and my soul will return to Hades' Hall of Heroes to protect our alliance!..." Sperian's face had a little peace, a little firmness, and even a trace of longing, but no fear.
This gave Isocrates and Lysias a great shock.
"Triumphal Arch, I'm here!" Sperian drove to the front of the Triumphal Arch and shouted excitedly, as if he was returning in triumph.
Isocrates frowned, looking up at the many reliefs on the arch and the statue of the legion flag on top, and Sperian's voice rang in his ears: "That sculpture is the scene of Lord Davos leading the legion to help Tarentum defeat the Messapian coalition... That one is the picture of the Third Legion defeating the Lucanian rebels and recovering Pyxous (through the Senate's propaganda, the people believe that Pyxous was once a Greek city, so it is 'recovered' instead of occupied)... There is also the scene of Lord Davos leading the army to conquer Bruttium, which is the one I participated in. There is also a funny story about this relief. According to others, the Bruttian senators in the Senate once protested against making the Bruttian war into a relief, believing that it would be detrimental to unity. But the Lucanian senators retorted, 'We Lucanians have already been carved three times, and we haven't said anything. What are you Bruttians worried about.' Haha, in this way, the Bruttian protest ended without a result..."
Listening to Sperian's laughter and looking at the Triumphal Arch, Isocrates couldn't laugh at all.
... ... ... ... ... ... ...
"Lysias, it's been almost 20 years since you received your brother's letter and rushed to Athens, right?" Cunogolata said with emotion, looking at Lysias, who was so old that he was almost unrecognizable.
"Yes, that year my father passed away, and I rushed back to Athens for the funeral, and then my brother's business ran into trouble, so I had to stay and help him. Then... Athens suffered Failure defeats in the war against Sparta one after another. The Thirty Tyrants came to power, my brother was persecuted, and his property was taken away... So many things have happened in these years that I couldn't even rush back to attend his funeral when the teacher passed away..." Lysias's seemingly calm face could not hide the regret and confusion contained in his low voice, as well as a bit of fatigue.
"We also know about your affairs. At that time, Thurii was also facing difficulties and could not provide you with help. It's just that the teacher kept chanting your name before his death, who told you to be his most proud disciple!" Cunogolata said, seeing tears flashing in Lysias's eyes, he changed the topic and joked: "How come you've made a fortune in Athens recently? You're giving away four or five of these valuable Athenian black-figure amphorae?"
"I don't have the talent to be a businessman, and of course I can't become a rich man, so my father handed over the weapons workshop to my brother to manage," Lysias said with a self-deprecating smile.
Then, Lysias said earnestly, "This time, Athens sent Isocrates to Daunia, and knowing that I had stayed here for many years, invited me to accompany him to Thurii—"
"Are you saying that Athens sent you to Daunia?" Kuno Gorata looked surprised, obviously he had not received any information beforehand and thought that Lysias had come from Athens specifically to visit his old classmate.
"As you know, my father is not an Athenian citizen, so even if I have lived in Athens for so many years, I cannot become an Athenian citizen, and it is impossible to become an envoy. I can only assist Isocrates." Lysias did not understand Kuno Gorata's surprise, and made a special explanation, obviously with some resentment about this.
"Since that's the case, you should take these pottery bottles back, I can't accept them!" Kuno Gorata immediately refused.
"Why?" Lysias was very surprised.
"The public trial of traitors in Thurii caused quite a stir before, I believe you have heard of it." Seeing Lysias nod, Kuno Gorata then said firmly, "I don't want to become a second Polyxis!"
"But... Athens just wants to express its friendly intentions to your Daunian League and conclude an alliance at the same time," Lysias said anxiously.
"Now that Athens is at war with Sparta, who is this alliance aimed at?" As a political veteran, Kuno Gorata immediately guessed Athens's motives: "Sparta? No, Daunia does not yet have the strength to face the wrath of the Greek overlord. Sparta's staunch ally Syracuse? Unfortunately, we have just signed a friendly agreement with Syracuse."
Kuno Gorata's words made Lysias a little at a loss. Unlike Isocrates, although he lived in Athens, he was excluded from political life for many years because he was not an Athenian citizen. He did not have much political experience. Even in terms of court defense, because he was not an Athenian citizen, he could not go to court to defend others. He could only prepare carefully and plan carefully, and write litigation speeches for others. Over the years, he lacked a bit of quick wit, so he didn't know what to say for a while.
Kuno Gorata sighed, "Take these Athenian pottery back first. Since the Athenian envoy has come from afar, the Daunian League certainly cannot refuse to meet him. I will make a suggestion to the Senate tomorrow and let the Athenian envoy prepare."
"That's good, that's good..." Lysias breathed a sigh of relief.
"Lysias." Kuno Gorata stared at her and suddenly asked, "You used to be a citizen of Thurii, have you ever thought about returning to Thurii and becoming a citizen of Daunia?"
Lysias was stunned.
"In Athens, you are a foreigner. Even if you have great talents, you don't have a bigger stage to play on. But coming back to Thurii..." Kuno Gorata said, changing the subject, "Do you know Ansis Thanos?"
Kuno Gorata's words made Lysias a little uneasy. He murmured, "...Yes, I know...He is a student of Herodotus, and we used to come and go often when we were young."
"Our Archon Davos once proposed the establishment of a Daunian Academy in Thurii, concentrating the best scholars from the entire alliance in the academy, whether they are studying mathematics, medicine, or literary rhetoric... They will all enjoy the special salary given to them by the alliance, and continue their research with peace of mind, while teaching their academics and theories to outstanding students, so that their reputation will spread throughout Magna Graecia and even the Mediterranean! ..." Seeing that Lysias was listening carefully, Kuno Gorata showed a smile on his lips.
"In the academy, there is a branch dedicated to teaching students literature. Ansis Thanos is not only a Senator of the Senate, but also the Dean of the Academy of Literature. While teaching rhetoric, he also writes his history books. To this end, he recruited a dozen students to impart knowledge. The Senate also specially allocated funds to hire some people to search for materials in various parts of Magna Graecia for his writing... But I think that although Ansis Thanos is unparalleled in historical research, literary rhetoric is not his strength,
And this is exactly what you are good at. I heard that in Athens, your litigation speeches are copied and studied by many people as model essays. If you can stay in Daunia, our talented Davos will definitely ask the Senate to specially approve you to become a citizen of Daunia and serve as the director of the Academy of Literature, teaching students and writing books. Your reputation will be as famous as Ansis Thanos in Magna Graecia!…"
Based on Kuno Gorata's understanding of Davos, he dared to make such a promise. But these words were like a stone thrown into Lysias's heart, splashing countless splashes and ripples…
… … … … … … … … … … … …
Davos glanced roughly at the information Ansis Thanos gave him, with a surprised expression on his face: "There is also a large altar of Hercules in the urban area of Rome, are you sure?"
"Yes, Your Excellency. This large altar is close to the livestock market in Rome. Initially, we learned about it from the Capua merchants who traded in Picossis, and sent people to confirm it. Your Excellency should know that Hercules once stole Geryon's cattle and brought them back to King Orissus after a long journey. Therefore, many races in the western Mediterranean who make a living by animal husbandry regard Hercules as the patron saint of animal husbandry…" Ansis Thanos did not think that there was anything remarkable about Rome's worship of Hercules. On the contrary, when he talked about Hercules, he began to talk endlessly.
In fact, the research on Hercules's activities in the western Mediterranean is a special task that Davos gave to Ansis Thanos. Because after conquering the Brutii, Davos discovered a strange phenomenon: in the Bruttian region, there are many altars and statues of Hercules, and the Brutii even claim that "they are descendants of Hercules, because their ancestor Brutus was born to the hero Hercules and their Queen Valentia."
This statement surprised Davos. An alien race claimed to be descendants of a famous Greek god, which allowed the Daunian League to find a common point in assimilating the Brutii, because they were all "of the same race."
However, this also made Davos pay attention to Hercules, the Hercules in Greek mythology, and what he learned from Ansis Thanos and others made him suddenly realize: It turned out that Hercules was very famous in the western Mediterranean. Half of the "12 Great Labors" he completed in the legend took place in the western Mediterranean. This alien in the Greek gods wandered in the western Mediterranean for most of his time. He went to Sicily, went north and traveled all over Italy, crossed Gaul, and came to the Iberian Peninsula. Before stealing the golden apples from the Garden of the Hesperides (the 11th great labor), in order to cross the Atlas Mountains, he used his divine power to divide the mountains into two, thus connecting the Atlantic Ocean and the western Mediterranean, which is the origin of the "Pillars of Hercules" in the Greek population.
Hercules traveled as far as the mysterious island of Erytheia in the Atlantic Ocean at the westernmost end of the world, killed Geryon, stole the cattle, and then drove the cattle and walked through Western Europe again, and finally returned to Greece... In his adventure stories, due to his heroic deeds of helping the poor and helping the weak, he was widely spread and loved and recognized by many alien people. In many places in the western Mediterranean, there are legends that he and noble women from local races gave birth to many children. The Brutii are just one of them…
Davos picked up the research data again and read it carefully.
Ansis Thanos was not in a hurry at all. He leaned back in his chair leisurely, closed his eyes, and began to conceive the history book he wanted to write.
After a long time, Davos closed the book, put the data on the wooden table, rubbed his sore eyes, and asked, "Ansis Thanos, as a historian, through these materials you have collected, you wipe away the dust of those myths and legends, what do you see?"
Ansis Thanos opened his eyes. Davos's question was quite interesting, but wasn't this what a historical researcher was good at? So he thought for a while and said, "What I see is the strong attraction of Greek elegant culture to these mountain races that are still in the ignorant stage. They all want to be related to Greece to show that their origins are not barbaric."
"That's right, this is also what we hope to see." Davos nodded slightly and said in a deep voice, "It seems that we need to build a magnificent Temple of Hercules in Thurii and hold a celebration for him every year to enhance the alien people's recognition of Daunia."
"Your Excellency, your decision is very wise!" Ansis Thanos complimented.
"But—" Davos picked up the data on the table and changed the subject: "Ansis Thanos, you only see the superficial meaning of this data. You haven't discovered the deeper meaning."
Is there a deeper meaning? Ansis Thanos looked at Davos with some suspicion. He had read this information many times before handing it over to Davos.
"Look here—" Davos opened a page and read aloud: "On the way Hercules drove the cattle back to Greece, a lost bull swam across the Strait of Messina and came to a place in Sicily called Eryx, where it was collected by a local ruler. After Hercules discovered it, he killed the ruler, took back the bull, and agreed to return the land to the oppressed natives and made an agreement, 'Once his descendants appear in Sicily, the natives must return the land to them.'"
"That's right, there is such a legend about Hercules in Sicily." Ansis Thanos nodded.
"The following information is quite interesting." Davos revealed a hint of a mocking smile: "Decades ago, Dorieus of the Spartan royal family (remember him? The brother of the famous Spartan King Cleomenes, who, after failing to compete with his younger brother for the throne, was exiled from Sparta by Cleomenes under the pretext of sending him to colonize the western Mediterranean) arrived in Sicily with his people, claiming to be a direct descendant of Heracles, and demanded that the Elymians return their land. When the Elymians refused, he led his troops to drive out the natives and established a colony near Eryx. But at that time, Eryx had already begun to become the religious center of the Carthaginians in Sicily. Naturally, the Carthaginians would not allow foreigners to occupy their core area, so they led a large army to counterattack, and Dorieus and most of his people were killed in battle."
"This comes from Herodotus's *Histories*, so it should be true." Ancytanos was quite familiar with these historical events that occurred in the western Mediterranean.
"Take a look at this one as well. It's still that unlucky Spartan prince, Dorieus. It seems that before he went to Sicily, he once tried to establish a colony on the Libyan coast west of Cyrenaica, within Carthage's sphere of influence, on the grounds that Heracles had killed the giant Antaeus in Africa. However, he was driven out by the Carthaginians… There are some similar things in this document. Lord Ancytanos, as a historian, if you put aside your Greek identity and analyze this document from a neutral standpoint, you might be able to discover the problem." Davos gently reminded him.
"Put aside my Greek identity and stand from a neutral standpoint…" Ancytanos muttered softly, as if he had realized something. He picked up the document and began to read it again. Gradually, his eyes lit up: "I understand! I understand! These activities of Heracles in the western Mediterranean provide a rational justification for us Greeks to open up colonies in the western Mediterranean!…
Davos smiled: "It should be said that in ancient times, Heracles was the first hero among us Greeks to explore the western Mediterranean. And considering all the stories about him, look at his journey in the western Mediterranean. Many routes are repetitive, even unreasonable, and unnecessary. It's evident that some stories actually happened (Davos certainly couldn't deny the existence of Heracles, because that would be equivalent to denying his status as a divinely favored person), while others may have been fabricated by later Greeks, so as to provide moral support for their seizure of other people's land and the establishment of colonies…" Davos pointed to the document and said: "Therefore, the people of Cumae in the past did not hesitate to travel thousands of miles to bring the pigskin of the huge wild boar killed by Heracles from the Peloponnese to Italy, and solemnly placed it in the Temple of Apollo in Cumae, in order to prove the legitimacy of the land occupied by the Cumaeans to the natives… Moreover, there are several versions of the location where Heracles fought the giants, one of which took place in Magna Graecia, and this mighty god left legends many times in the lands controlled by the Carthaginians. I can only say that the Greeks who were eager to find a new home in the western Mediterranean were very bold, and actually dared to plot against the Carthaginians…"
At this moment, Ancytanos was immersed in joy: "Lord, thank you for your enlightenment! I have finally experienced that wonderful feeling that Thucydides spoke of, 'writing true history from a neutral standpoint, with an unbiased attitude!'"
"You should be able to do better than him! Once you get rid of the barriers between countries and races, and stand at a higher position to look at history, I believe you will write a great work!"
Davos's encouragement made Ancytanos a little embarrassed: "Lord, I feel that I am still far from Thucydides."
Davos didn't continue to discuss this issue with him, but instead talked about another matter: "Before you came, Khunogolata came. He told me that an envoy from Athens had arrived and had visited him…"
"An envoy from Athens has come to Thurii?" Ancytanos was a little surprised.
Then he thought of something and asked: "Are they here to seek allies for this anti-Spartan alliance?"
"It should be." Davos said: "Khunogolata also mentioned that there is someone you are familiar with in the Athenian delegation."
"Who?" Ancytanos's heart stirred.
"Lysias." Davos stared at him and said slowly: "Khunogolata told me that he is a very talented person, but because he is not an Athenian citizen, he is not doing very well in Athens. He hopes that I can do my best to keep him here. What do you think?"
"Keep him! Of course, we must keep him!" Ancytanos said excitedly: "When I was young, I used to associate with him often. I know that he is extremely talented in prose rhetoric and speech! His articles read naturally and are not boring. Although they are simple, they are not lacking in interest, and it is very easy to arouse the resonance of the people. I still treasure three articles he wrote when he was young in my home, and I often take them out to ponder the writing skills and rhetoric… If he can stay, I suggest that he be appointed as the dean of the Academy of Letters, which is the most suitable place for him to display his talents."
Hearing this, Davos greatly praised Ancytanos in his heart. He did not feel a trace of jealousy or slander towards Lysias's talent, but unreservedly and sincerely praised him, and even took the initiative to recommend him. This truly scholarly realm of modesty and open-mindedness made Davos awe-struck, and he also felt ashamed of his subtle probing just now. He coughed lightly and said: "…Uh… This task of retaining Lysias will be entrusted to you. I can make a commitment here, as long as he is willing to stay, I will immediately propose to the Senate to request the status of a Daunian citizen for him, allocate land, and make him the dean of the Academy of Letters of the Daunian Academy."
"I will do my best to keep him here!" Ancytanos also made a commitment without hesitation.
"If the Daunian League wants to become the center of the western Mediterranean, it is not enough to have strong military force. It also needs a brilliant culture, so that those races that have just emerged from ignorance will admire it, and the other city-states will submit!" Davos set the tone for this retention.
"Lord, you are right! Only a city-state with a splendid civilization can be remembered through the ages!" Ancytanos, who was familiar with history, sincerely praised.
"Also, the Athenian envoy this time is called Isocrates, are you familiar with him?" Davos asked again.
"Isocrates?!" Ancytanos exclaimed: "He is a student of Protagoras, the Athenian sophist." "Of course, I know him. He is a rhetorical genius no less than Lysias, and he not only has profound attainments in rhetoric and speech, but also has a lot of experience in teaching students. Many young people from the city-states go to Athens to study with him. What's going on today?! Two scholars of Greek literature and language have come to Thurii at the same time!" Ancytanos looked excited.
"Then, is it possible to bring him—" Davos hurriedly asked.
"That's impossible!" Ancytanos shook his head and said: "Isocrates is an Athenian citizen. It is said that he often preaches in his speeches to young people that Greeks, especially Athenians, are superior to other races, so it is almost impossible for him to stay in our alliance where various races are integrated…"
Davos sighed regretfully. Although in his previous life he didn't have a very detailed understanding of Greek history, he was familiar with the names of these two ancient Athenian orators, Lysias and Isocrates, because he studied at the University of Political Science and Law, and when he took the course *Western Legal History*, the names of these two people were unavoidable when talking about ancient times.
It would be good to get one of them. He thought hopefully in his heart.
… … … … … … … … … … … …
The next day, Isocrates, who had already learned the general attitude of the Daunian Senate from Lysias, still came to the Daunian Senate with great enthusiasm and made careful preparations—this magnificent venue that could accommodate thousands of people.
But there were only less than a hundred senators sitting leisurely here, so it seemed very empty.
If he had seen this situation before carefully understanding the Daunian League, Isocrates would probably have ridiculed the Daunians for their waste and blind vanity.
But after staying in Thurii for more than a day, watching ball games, tasting Thurii cuisine, worshiping the Temple of Hades, and even visiting the Daunian Academy with Lysias under the guidance of Ancytanos, and even disguising himself as ordinary people, mixing into taverns, and chatting with the Daunian people… He already had some understanding of the Daunian League. He knew the composition of the Senate members, so when he saw the obvious contrast between the size of the venue and the small number of senators, he did not find it funny, but felt a chill in his heart, because he seemed to realize the Daunians' soaring ambition.
He quickly suppressed this annoying thought in his heart, so as to concentrate all his energy on the upcoming speech.
At this time, he felt someone was watching him, with great penetrating power. Following the gaze, he saw a young man sitting in the front row directly opposite the center, turning his head to look at him, giving him a gentle smile.
Isocrates also smiled in return. He understood in his heart: this young man was the creator of the Daunian League—the Consul Davos. There were too many rumors about him in the streets and alleys of Thurii, such as the descendant of Hades, a famous general who had never been defeated, a doctor who could bring the dead back to life, an incomparably intelligent sage, a great inventor… Having actually met him, apart from that demeanor that far surpassed citizens of his age, he was no different from ordinary people. It was hard to imagine that this magnificent council hall was proposed and planned to be built by him.