Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece - Chapter 641

[Chapter 60 Academic Invitation to Dionysian Academy]

“Plato is indeed a great scholar. I have read the “Utopia” written by him. The description of the various systems of the city-state and the conception of the ideal city-state completely shocked me!” Foster Carda sincerely praised Jean The young people looked at him kindly, and he continued: “But he will be invited to Dionysian Academy soon.”

What?

!

The students were shocked, some hurriedly looked at Plato, while others shouted in disbelief: “You lie!”

“Calm down, my students! Jealousy and unease have blinded your eyes, making you unable to think rationally, What’s the use of learning so much knowledge!” Plato’s reprimands made the young people feel a little ashamed.

He turned around again and said to Fosterkada sternly: “Knowledge is for you to improve yourself and observe the world, not to show off!”

Fosterkada was shocked when he heard this, and quickly admitted his mistake: “You That’s right, I did it wrong!”

Plato’s face softened, he picked up the letter in his hand, and asked, “I want to know whose proposal the “All-Greek Scholars Conference” mentioned in this letter is? How to proceed? You all Who did you invite to participate?”

After being beaten by Plato, Fostercada was respectful and did not dare to neglect. After thinking about it, he replied, “It turns out that our kingdom of Dionia has a “Great Greek Medical Forum every year”. ” was held. Later, the Dean of the School of Mathematics Mentotik Ayers founded the “Great Greek Mathematical Symposium”, and then Mr. Ancitanos held the “History Symposium”… After Mr. Gorkia came, in At the beginning of this year, he also proposed to hold a “Philosophy Seminar”. After King Davos learned about it, he believed that many scholars were proficient in multiple subjects, and various colleges in the kingdom held academic seminars, which were not only repetitive, but also time-consuming, energy-consuming, and inefficient. , and the scope of invited scholars is too narrow, mainly in Italy and Sicily. Therefore, he proposed to create a “All-Greece Academic Exchange Conference” to invite famous scholars from all over Greece to participate in the conference to exchange knowledge with each other. Explore the mysteries of nature and human beings.

I remember His Majesty once said a sentence, which was widely circulated in our school. He said, ‘The spark of wisdom is generated in the collision, and the truth is more and more clear.'”

When Fostercada said these words, Plato’s eyes lit up and he couldn’t help moving.

Fosterkada continued: “As far as I know, this conference will consist of two parts. One part is that scholars will teach one or more topics according to their own areas of knowledge, and there will be many students. , the public, and even scholars to sit in; the other part is the exchange and debate between scholars, which also allows a small number of students to sit in and ask questions…

This time, we have sent people to invite famous scholars from all over Greece. Who are the scholars? I don’t know too well, but at least I know that there are Antisthenes, Isocrates, and Theaetus in Athens. Because I have to deliver letters to them.

”

Referring to Antisthenes, Plato frowned slightly.

Spicypus, who was next to him, asked anxiously, “This “All-Greek Scholars Conference” by Dionia… can we also attend?!”

Fostercada smiled and said, “Of course we can. Dionia welcomes all young people in Greece who love knowledge, respect knowledge, and desire knowledge to go to Turii to participate in this all-Greece academic event!”

Having said that, he respectfully asked Plato: “You have made a decision. Is it?”

Plato stroked his long beard, nodded and said: “I have long wanted to travel to the unique kingdom of Dionia. This is a good opportunity, and I will be there on time!”

He got a definite answer and quickly took it. When Plato wrote the reply, Fostercada immediately took off the package that was on his shoulders and opened it on the stone bench, only to hear the metal sound of “crashing”, and it was full of white silver coins.

Facing Plato’s surprised gaze, Fostercada said seriously: “His Majesty Davos said, ‘Knowledge is priceless, and a scholar’s time and energy are very precious.’ Therefore, these 500 Dionysian silver coins , is to give you a reward for attending this meeting, which also includes the cost of your round-trip to Athens, please accept it!

Once you arrive in Turii, your accommodation and meals will be arranged by Dionysian College, so you don’t have to worry.

Also… When you go to Turii, please be sure to take this invitation letter, in case a Spartan or other city-state ship intercepts, just show them this letter and they will let them go. Dionia has communicated with these city-states in advance…”

“You are really thoughtful!

When Plato heard these words, he couldn’t help feeling very emotional: Obviously, Dionysus knew what happened to him before, so he gave such a special account.

Six years ago, when Plato visited Syracuse, it happened to Syrah

Kuza was in civil strife, but he was intercepted by a Spartan warship when he left. At that time, the Corinthian war was not over, and the Spartan generals who hated the Athenians detained the famous Athenian scholar and sold it as a slave. If it hadn’t been rescued immediately by his friends, he might still be digging in a mine… This terrible experience also made him dread going to the Western Mediterranean. The news of the “Covenant” reached Athens, and most of the Athenians scolded Dionia, saying it was a traitor (because the old Turii was built by Athens, the Athenians thought that Dionia should support Athens) This also affects Plato’s mood, so that he has not traveled to the most powerful kingdom in the Western Mediterranean until now.

This time, he can finally make up for this regret

…

…

In the King’s Office of the Palace of Dionysus, the five rotating presidents of the Senate, along with the Minister of Commerce Marigi, the Minister of Finance Mersis, and the Supreme Inspector Sesta gathered together.

Davos looked at them and said solemnly: “I invite you to come here this time, because there are several important things I want to discuss with you in advance. At the beginning of the year, the Dionysian Kingdom Conference and the Tribunal Conference, you have some People who participated, and those who didn’t, should have heard of it… Many local councillor representatives and tribunals have mentioned the issue of ‘the elders receive gifts from citizens and foreigners’, especially the elders who served as chief executives here. The problem is more obvious. They also repeatedly mentioned the ‘Polyxis treason case and now the Laodician case’, hoping that we can do something about it, I promised them to be on this issue. It’s time to make changes in the past, and now it’s time to fulfill the promise! What do you think about this?”

Everyone looked at each other with solemn expressions. Most of them didn’t think that Davos called them here today to discuss this tricky issue. question.

There was silence in the hall for a while, as the chief figure of the Senate after Kunogolata’s death, Cornerus had to stand up and speak first: “Your Majesty, since the establishment of Dionia, he has served as a public official in the kingdom. The rights and obligations of the citizens of the kingdom were originally not required to be paid. But today, not only middle and low-level officials, but even laborers who transport baggage, jailers who supervise criminals, and sentries who guard fortresses can be paid. There are no elders in the kingdom. Because this is a noble position, the elders serve the whole country and citizens, and should not be as fussy about salaries as lower-level officials.

But… I remember when the alliance was first established, there was nothing For major events, the senate usually holds a big meeting every five or six days. At other times, you can cook the fields with the slaves at home. But now the kingdom is so big and there are so many affairs, we hold a meeting in the big council almost every day. , discuss the kingdom, pass bills, where can there be time and energy to increase income for my family. Although according to the “Dionysian Law”, every time the land acquired by war, our elders will have more or less gifts. However, the income from land is limited after all, and it is often affected by climate and soil. Many elders who can’t manage housework are even worse off than the officials at the bottom…”

“Are you saying that it is reasonable for the elders to receive gifts?” Davos asked quietly with a calm expression.

Cornelus was so nervous that he was speechless for a moment.

“Your Majesty, what Lord Cornelus said is the truth.” Lycias took over the conversation and defended Cornelus: “The position of the elder is noble, but so is the elder. People also have desires. They also want to eat good food, drink good wine, and wear gorgeous clothes. Although money cannot reflect a person’s nobility, we can imagine that when an embarrassed elder meets a person dressed in gorgeous Burton and beautifully dressed. Who is more like a senator in the eyes of the people when he is a rich merchant with gold and silver jewelry and four or five servants behind him?

That’s why Laodicien was so popular among the senators in the first place, because he was generous and often invited the senators. Banquets… This is why there are so many people competing for the vacancy of the chief executive, because after serving as the chief executive, they have more opportunities to accept gifts from the local people to increase their income, so that they can be like Live like the wealthy citizens of Dionia.”

“Could it be that just because we want to live a luxurious life, we can accept the gifts of foreign messengers and foreigners, and speak for them at the council of the senate! Your majesty, Laodicien It’s just an unlucky person. It’s not uncommon for people in the Senate to ignore the interests of the kingdom, throw out some suggestions that are completely unfavorable to the kingdom, and seek benefits for foreigners! I have long felt that this problem should be solved. The response is so great, we can take this opportunity to prevent the elders from accepting gifts from others, and those who violate it will be punished!” Supreme Inspector Sesta suggested with a serious look.