Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece - Chapter 104

[Chapter 3 The 1st Senate Meeting (3)]

Cornerus now sees it clearly: Davos is going to redo a new political structure of Amendolara.

With Davos already in control of Amendolara and the Senate, the only thing Cornerus could do was nod.

Naturally, the appointment of the two men was also successfully passed.

“Executive… Your Excellency, after the materials we seized from the Lucanians have been cleaned up, there are only more than 3,000 drachmas in the treasury of Amendolara…” Mersis reminded.

“Hey, just got elected and started working. The enthusiasm of this public official is too high!” Epithenes said jokingly, and everyone laughed.

“Three thousand silver coins are not even worth one Talent…” Davos frowned slightly and muttered to himself.

Cornelus felt a fever in his face, and he quickly explained: “Cornerus has no port, and there are not many merchants who come to the city to trade, and the quarry we excavated, many city-states have, only Heracles Ya buys some from us every year…”

“It seems that a commercial officer needs to be established to be responsible for managing trade and to think of more money-making operations for Amendolara,” Davos said.

Mersis’ eyes lit up, and he immediately said, “I recommend Marigi to be this business officer!”

“Oh, are you getting along with him now?” Davos was a little surprised.

In fact, it’s not that Mersis and Marigi have improved their relationship, but that Mersis will not have a hard time with money, because Marigi will indeed make money, which Mersis knows very well.

“Although Marigi is a Persian, his business ability is indeed very strong. He did a good job in the market next to our barracks before!” Olivers shouted in the back row.

“I also agree with him to be a commercial officer. I have been to that market, and it is really lively.” Then, Epithenes also said.

“Olivers fell in love with other people’s daughters, and wanted to take the opportunity to please his future father-in-law.” Matonis also came to join in the fun, revealing Olivers’s old background.

“Shut up, big guy!” Olivers cursed urgently.

“Quiet! The Senate is a sacred place, not a place for abuse! Anyone who talks nonsense will be thrown out!” Davos glared at the two of them: it was a good proposal, but as soon as these two people disturbed it, Afraid of causing others to think blindly.

Mattonis and Olivers quickly fell silent.

“Is this Marigi a Persian?” Cornelus asked suspiciously.

“It used to be, but then because of the persecution of the Persian king, he brought his whole family to join us, moved to Persia with us, and came to Great Greece together, and participated in the battle with the Lucanians. He was one of our mercenary soldiers. so he is now a citizen of our Amendolara. I have sent him to Tarantum this morning to negotiate an alliance. He is indeed a very good person! I believe he will be the commercial officer , there will be a significant increase in gold and silver in our treasury!” Davers praised Marigi.

Cornelus listened carefully. He hesitated a little bit about Davos’ proposal. He glanced at Laphias several times, which meant: Do you have any opinion on this new household registration officer?

Don’t let me come out against anything!

Raphias hesitated, then stood up and said, “But he’s a Persian… The Greek city-state never—”

“What happened to the Persians! As long as he is truly willing to become our citizen and has done so much for us, we should accept him!” Davos stood up suddenly and faced everyone in the venue He said loudly: “I originally wanted to wait until the right time to say something, but since the household registration officer has mentioned this sensitive issue, I will share some of my views with you.”

“Everyone knows that in almost all Greek city-states, citizenship is difficult to obtain, and the richer and more powerful the city-state, the more difficult it is to obtain. For example, in Sparta, it is almost impossible for outsiders to obtain citizenship; in Athens,

The current rule is that ‘the child can only become an Athenian citizen when both parents are Athenians’.

Why is citizenship so hard to get?

“Davers raised the question loudly, and everyone in the meeting fell into silence for a short time, especially the new citizens. They remembered the sweat and blood they had paid for this citizenship, and the huge risk they had taken. Firth’s words resonated with them.

“That’s because they are afraid that outsiders will share the political rights, land, and wealth of the city-state with them!” Alexis said bitterly.

“That’s right! The selfishness of the Greek city-states made them reject the participation of outsiders, and at the same time gave up the opportunity to grow themselves! Athens was devastated after the fiasco in Sicily, why? Because they don’t have enough young and middle-aged citizens. Sparta, even if it dominates Greece now, but mainly mercenaries and allies are sent to fight outside, why? Because their citizens are only about 3,500 people, and they have to prevent the domestic riots of Heros, the war-loving Spartans The citizens of Darfur will only fight less and less, and eventually lose the hegemony of Greece. Look at our neighbor Turii, after the defeat of the Lucanian coalition, knowing that we defeated the Lucanians, but cautiously They don’t even dare to open the door, why? There aren’t enough young citizens, and I’m afraid we can’t stop us from rushing in and looting it.”

Everyone laughed, and the same goes for the old citizens. Everyone has the same understanding on the Turii issue.

“And then look at Persia, which we have been to. Is Persia a big country?” Davos asked.

“Big, too big!” The new citizens answered in unison.

“How many Persians are there?”

“Many! There are people of all races!”

“You must know that Persia was only a small tribe in the beginning, and was bullied by the Medes. The leader of the tribe, Cyrus, was very wise and open-minded. He got along with the surrounding tribes friendly and generously accepted other tribes. The races that were originally oppressed by the Medes who dominated the Mesopotamian plains all turned to him, and later even the enemies of the Medes surrendered to Persia. Persia is like the snowball on the top of the mountain that is getting bigger and bigger, and there are only a few decades. A small tribe turned into a great empire…”

Everyone listened carefully to Davos telling about the history of Persia, including the well-educated Cornelus, who knew very little about Persia, a great eastern country, and also listened with great interest.

“Why is the Persian Empire strong? It’s because it tolerantly accepts other tribes as its nationals, just like the Mediterranean Sea is big because countless rivers flow into it.” Davos’s words made everyone ponder.

“As I said before, if you are only content to farm every day in a small city-state, until other city-states and power become stronger, lead a large army to force it under the city, surrender obediently, and become its vassals. , then I won’t say more. If you are not satisfied with today’s ordinary, and want to make Amendolara stronger and no longer bullied by other forces, then please remember that people will always be the greatest wealth of a city-state! We Amendolara should not be as closed and conservative as other city-states! We must be open, and we must sincerely accept everyone who is willing to join Amendolara and contribute to the prosperity of Amendolara, no matter where he comes from. Only In this way, our strength will grow rapidly! Perhaps you will say that Amendolara does not have so much land and wealth to share with them, that is because your eyes are only on the small land of Amendolara !”

Davos looked around the crowd, pointed his left hand to the west forcefully, and said with pride: “Look around us, there are Lucanians and Brutians in the west, and Mesapis, Puchetti, Daoists in the east. Nepalese, I heard that there are still Samonais in the north… Wait for so many indigenous people, aren’t they enough to share the land and wealth they own?!!”

“Defeat them and take their land!” They showed his grand ambitions. For these former mercenaries who had broadened their horizons in Persia, after meeting the basic needs of becoming citizens of the city-state, Davos gave them a grander ambition to make these mercenaries. The mercenaries who were accustomed to fighting on the battlefield, who were no longer able to cultivate, herd, or do farm work, immediately gained new motivation and regarded it as a lifelong goal, and became the biggest support force for Davos to consolidate his power.