Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece - Chapter 369

[Chapter 36 The Return of Agesilaus]

“Hurry and sit me down!” Aristophanes leaned on the mountain road and looked at the cheering people. His heart was equally excited, although he knew very well that the Athenian Konon was now a Persian hired admiral, leading the It was the Persian fleet, but this victory made Athens much less of a sea threat.

You must know that although the Citizens Assembly passed the decision to join Thebes and declare war on Sparta, the ferocity of Yingying and Spartans, who lost the Peloponnesian War ten years ago, was oppressed like a nightmare. The heart of the Athenians.

Especially now, although the battle situation is deadlocked on the Isthmus, the Allies still lose more and win less, and recently I heard that another Spartan army from Asia Minor led by the Spartan King Agesilaus was sent from the north. Greece has landed and is killing the Pioxia area. How can the people of Athens not be nervous and afraid!

And the victory of this naval battle was like a timely rain, which relieved the big stone in their hearts a lot, and they cheered loudly to vent their fears that had been suppressed for a long time.

Aristophanes was relieved to see that there was more anger in the city of Athens, and then he showed a surprised expression. At the corner of the street, there was a man in shabby clothes, sitting on the dusty steps, leaning against the rough stone wall. Focus on what to look at.

This quiet image is in stark contrast to the joy that surrounds him, and Aristophanes’ back is familiar.

He walked over and shouted uncertainly, “Antisthene?” The

man turned his head and glanced at him, without any intention of standing up: “Aristophanes, if you are here to ask me about Plato’s whereabouts If so, don’t bother me with my reading.”

Why didn’t Aristophanes know that although Antisthenes and Plato were both students of Socrates, their ideas were at odds, so he said slightly teasingly : “I just want to tell you that the fleet led by Konon defeated the Spartan Navy, and now the whole city is spreading the news of this victory.”

“So what?” Antisthenes said disapprovingly: “Victory It will only encourage the people to devote themselves to the war more blindly. How long has Athens calmed down, and this will be a long war…” Having said that, he shook his head and glanced at Aristophanes: ” You just came back from the theater, and your new play “The Dionysian” seems to be very popular among the people.”

Aristophanes was not satisfied with Antisthenes’ negative attitude towards the news of victory, so he said angrily: “Oh! Antisthenes, who has always refused to watch theatrical entertainment, actually knew about my new drama, I am really honored ”

That’s because people are talking about it every day these days. I say you are too loose, it’s their business what kind of citizens Dionysian sends to the Games, you have to write a script to satirize it. What’s the point of them?”

Aristophanes suddenly burst into anger, and just as he was about to retort, Antisthenes turned his head sideways and plucked his ears with his fingers, and said, “Did you know that Dionysus was not long ago? After the public trial of the traitor and the public exposure of Syracuse’s ambitions came in, Thalassiebros and his generals’ executive committee were deliberating whether to send messengers to discuss an alliance with Dionysus, so that Dionia can contain Sparta’s ally Syracuse, so it’s better not to stage your drama, to avoid stimulating the Dionysians and causing the alliance to fail.”

“Therasiboros what are they going to do? their business, but they have no right to interfere with the legal freedom of an Athenian citizen!” Aristophanes shouted angrily.

“That’s what I want to say too.” Antisthenes pointed

to

the cheering crowd: “What does their victory have to do with me?”

Once again affirmed my own understanding: the reason why I can become a good friend with Plato, but always estranged from Antisthenes lies in the sense of responsibility.

And Antisthenes didn’t care about Aristophanes’ departure, he gently brushed off the dust falling from the book and looked intently again.

…………………………

Agesilaus led the army through Thrace and Macedonia and arrived in Central Greece.

At Amphipolis he heard the news of the victory of the Spartans at Corinth, but this did not cheer him, for the Spartans were still held back at the isthmus, unable to advance an inch.

Worried about the war, he accelerated his march, but when he arrived in Chaeronia he encountered a solar eclipse, and the soldiers panicked, thinking it was a bad omen.

Then Agesilaus got the news that the Spartan navy was defeated at Knidos. While he was shocked, he was also secretly glad that he chose to rush to Pioxia by land instead of by sea, otherwise he might still be caught now. Blocked in Asia Minor.

He immediately blocked the news to prevent the military from being shaken.

At the same time, he also felt that he must start a war soon to wash away the bad news with victory.

So, he led his army to rush again, and finally entered the Pioxia area. He encountered the anti-Spartan coalition troops stationed in Crosso, guarding the passage to Thebes, and a war was inevitable.

Before the war, he recruited Xenophon, the leader of the remnants of the famous Persian expedition of 10,000 people.

The 35-year-old Athenian fought with Sparta in Asia Minor for five years. He was already a battle-hardened general. Standing in front of Agesilaus, he was like a tall and tall cedar, showing high spirits* Man’s momentum.

Agesilaus looked at him appreciatively, and then said: “Xenophon, my friend. The enemies of Sparta are arrayed in front of us, and only by defeating them can we enter the city of Thebes. But …In the enemy’s ranks, there are reinforcements from the Athenians, and among them there may be your relatives, your friends, and your classmates. It is undoubtedly an extremely painful thing for you to fight face to face with them… , so although I’m a little reluctant, but-”

Agesilaos showed a very regretful look, and said emotionally: “I… I allow you to lead the team to leave, or even join the other party. I am very grateful for the past few years. Your selfless help to Sparta! Even if you and I will become enemies in the next battle, I still regard you as my dear friend of Agesilaus!”

Xenophon was furious after hearing this: “Sparta King Ta, you are questioning my integrity! Before leading your mercenary army to follow you out of Asia Minor, I have said that since the Athenian Citizens Assembly executed my teacher Socrates and tried me in absentia, I have See Athens as an enemy! And I agree with Sparta’s political philosophy, I am willing to fight for it, and I swore an oath to Zeus! Now you want me to leave here, I… I will leave.” After he finished speaking, he said nothing. Without nostalgia, he turned around and walked out of the tent.

“Xenophon, please forgive my rudeness just now!” Agesilaus hurriedly stepped forward to grab him and apologized repeatedly: “I didn’t want you and your compatriots to fight each other, so as not to feel uneasy in your heart, But I realize now that you have great beliefs that go far beyond the common motherland, for which I have to apologize to you!” He said, bowing sincerely to Xenophon.

Xenophon hurriedly stopped him, and most of the anger in his heart disappeared.

“I have decided to appoint you as the commander of the central army formation in tomorrow’s battle.” Agesilaus made a decisive decision.

Xenophon was a little surprised, but he did not refuse and took the order happily, because he knew that there were some rumors about him circulating in the army in recent days, and he secretly vowed: In this battle, he will use practical actions to make doubts. Shut up his people!

Xenophon left the tent, and Agesilaus’s adjutant, Archidamus, who was also his son, came in, and when he learned of his father’s decision, he couldn’t help but be surprised: “Father, you really have an Athenian as our middle laner. Commander?”

“What happened to the Athenians?!” Agesilaus raised his eyebrows and said loudly in a volume that the guards outside the tent could hear, “Xenophon is the real one of my Agesilaus. My friend! I have always trusted friends. What’s more, Xenophon is a very talented person, and he deserves my trust!”

Having said this, Agsilaus suddenly remembered something and sighed. After a sigh of relief, Shen Sheng said to his son: “You must understand that Sparta has missed Davos, which Cleethorpes highly recommended, and Dionys, who was founded by that young man in just a few years. The city-state alliance has become a big problem for Dionysius. UU read www.sonicmtl.com We can no longer push Xenophon to the enemy…

”

…

The next day, the two sides lined up in Corosso.

Agsilaus led the main Spartan force and formed the left flank. The side facing the coalition was the long-time enemy, the Argos; Xenophon led the remnants of the 10,000-strong expeditionary force and other mercenaries from Asia Minor to sit in the middle. The enemy he faced was his native Athenian; and on the right flank of the center was the Phokis, an allied army of Sparta (the most important city in this area where Phokis was located was Delphi), who faced the The enemy was Thebes, the initiator of this war.

At the forefront of the Thebes army at this moment, the 26-year-old Peropidas and Ipaminonda are in the queue as heavy infantry.

“Why doesn’t the bugle sound?! I can’t wait!” Peropidas said eagerly.

Ipaminonda didn’t say a word, and stared at the side with a melancholy face.

“Ipa, what are you worried about? Are you afraid that we can’t beat the Phokis?” Peropidas asked when he noticed the strangeness of his friend.

“I’m not worried about the Phokis, they have never been our opponents. I’m worried about the Argos, whether they can stop the Spartans’ left-handed attack.” Ipaminonda said worriedly .

“You think too much, Ipa. This should be the commander’s consideration. Our goal is to quickly defeat the Phokis!” Peropidas pointed his thorn forward and said vigorously.