ancient greece mediterranean ruler

Chapter 1148 New Messenia

When Dolios heard this, his expression changed drastically, and it took him a long time to say: "...We have the support of Persia..."

Leoticides sneered: "What an irony. I remember when we first joined the military camp for training, each other set the goal of defeating Athens and Persia. Unexpectedly, today's Spartan warriors all aim to become Persia. I am proud of being a vassal."

Dolios blushed and was speechless.

"For the sake of saving my life, I will let you go back to Sparta tomorrow. By the way, you can truthfully tell Agesilaus and the Council of Elders what I said before, so that they can understand that Dai Why did Onia send troops to Messenia, and at the same time, you also told Agesilaus——"

Leotychides stood up and said loudly: "I, Leotychides, am waiting for him in Messenia!"

"Come on!"

The guards walked into the tent, and Dolios still shouted emotionally and unwillingly: "Leotichides, after all, you are the prince of Sparta. Your ancestors led the Spartans to create Sparta." Brilliant, do you really have the heart to destroy this motherland that gave birth to you and raised you with your own hands!"

Leotychides answered firmly without hesitation: "The current Sparta will be destroyed under the governance of Agesilaus, the Council of Elders and the supervisors. Only under the rule of Dionia , Spartans will be reborn!"

After speaking, Leoticides waved his hand: "Take him down."

After Muklu returned to his tent, he did not rest. The news that "Leotichides was most likely a Spartan" made him uneasy, even though he had worked with Leotychides for many years and had a close friendship. It was quite profound, but after repeated ideological struggles and considering the possible serious consequences of this matter, he decided to report to the military judge.

Just as he was about to leave the tent, the guards came to inform him that Commander Prosous wanted to see him immediately.

Muklu hurried into the big tent, and as soon as he saw Leoticides, he couldn't wait to ask: "Commander, are you really a Spartan? And you are also a Spartan prince?!"

"Yes, I am the only son of the former King of Sparta, Agis, and my original name was Leoticides." The commander of the Dionian expeditionary army looked at Muklu calmly, with a look on his face. He said seriously: "After my father died of illness, my uncle Agesilaus used a trick to seize the throne, suppressed me, and even forced my mother to death. I had to escape from Sparta and came to Dionysus. Ya, considering my own special identity and to avoid being hunted by Sparta, I hid my identity..."

After accepting this military mission, Leoticides considered that one day his true identity would be revealed, and he had long been mentally prepared, so he spoke so frankly, which made Mukelu feel a little relieved, but He still said with some concern: "Master Commander, Sparta is your mother country after all. When our army is fighting with the Spartan army or attacking the Spartan territory, you can really give orders calmly. Without any interference?"

Leoticides replied a little impatiently: "I have already said that I am a citizen of Dionia, Sparta is now our enemy, and I will never show mercy on the battlefield!"

Muklu nodded, but he was still a little worried: "I'm worried that if the soldiers learn this news, it may affect their morale..."

"This requires you as a staff officer to help me more. But you don't have to worry too much. Once I lead the army to fight the Spartans again, all doubts will be eliminated." Leoticides Said meaningfully.

In the past, there were adjutants in the establishments above the brigade in the Dionysian army. The adjutant's duty was to fully assist the military commander.In recent years, the Dionian army has undergone new reforms. The position of adjutant has been abolished and a staff officer has been added. This increase and decrease has no change in the number of people, but there are obvious changes in responsibilities. The staff officer is appointed by the Ministry of Military Affairs. Assigned by the Staff Office, he not only helps the military commander handle various military affairs, but also has the power to recommend military operations and supervise the military commander. He also has temporary command power when the military commander is injured or unable to command for other reasons. .

"Okay, leave this matter to me." Muklu responded seriously.

As soon as he finished speaking, the tent was pushed open, and Tertotis broke in and said eagerly: "Father, I heard that you are a Spartan?! Is this true?!"

Mukelu immediately gave Leotekides a wink, which meant "you see, the news has spread".

"Where did you hear this news?" Leoticides immediately asked with a serious expression.

"The Spartan prisoner kept shouting so loudly that many soldiers heard it. Is this true?!"

After Leoticides realized that Dolios was deliberately disturbing the morale of the army, his face became gloomy. He immediately called the guards and issued an order: beat Dolios first, and then gag him.

Seeing Leoticides explaining in detail to his son, Muklu quietly walked out of the tent...

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Several legion commanders, military judges, Tisias and others who got the news came to visit one after another. They all wanted to ask Leotychides whether the rumors were true and prove the situation. What Leotychides said in the past year was not as good as I've been in a bad mood for the past two days.

Although the news that "Commander Proseus may be the prince of Sparta" caused a commotion in the army, this did not affect the various departments of the expeditionary army to work as planned after occupying Messenia.

Although the Spartans evacuated the Messenian plains, a small number of them hid in the mountains to the north (the garrison of Pylos, after receiving the news, decisively retreated to the northern border of Messenia). Some of them were hiding in the pass fortress in Taygetos Mountain, unwilling to fail. They started a raid on Dionia's army last night. The well-trained three legions and the 1st Fleet infantry were heavily guarded and did not suffer Too big a loss.

Another day later, Leoticides, who had been temporarily freed from the rumors, issued a new order: let the Sixth Army go to the northern border to build defensive camps and protect the security of the territory; the Fourth Army was stationed at Taygetos. A camp was built outside the pass to block the Spartans' shortcut to Messenia.

Tisias and other Messenian Dionian citizens took a small number of soldiers and painstakingly traveled through various villages in the Messenian territory, killing or capturing Spartan Sheriffs and other Spartans. , constantly preaching to the Helots that "the Spartans have been driven out of Messenia by the Dionysian army, and they have gained freedom...".Then he enthusiastically talked to them about the friendship between compatriots, conveyed to them the good intentions of the Kingdom of Dionia, and encouraged them to bravely build their own city-state.At the same time, they also distributed the food and supplies they looted from Spartan homes to these poor helots.

This team was followed by legionary medical staff, who took the initiative to treat the helots who were suffering from diseases.

The Helots, who had been treated like cattle and sheep by the Spartans since birth, had never enjoyed such kindness. They were all moved to tears and cried everywhere. They firmly attached the term "Dionia" to their hearts. Keep it in mind.

The vast majority of helots had no education and had worked in the fields all their lives. It was impossible for them to participate in the governance of a city-state. However, due to the small population of Sparta and frequent wars in the past few decades, there were not enough people. People came to manage Messenia, so they appointed a small number of Messenians as village chiefs of each village. Apart from paying less taxes and having more freedom, they had no more rights. They encountered the young Spartans. Soldiers hunt and kill them regularly, and their death is in vain.

Once the harvest in the entire village was poor and the tax revenue was insufficient, these village chiefs would be severely punished, ranging from beatings with sticks (the Spartans were famous throughout Greece for their stick punishments, which were extremely harsh, and they were often beaten to death or maimed). Yes, the same is true for the people of the allies, so many Greeks publicly said that the Spartans were cruel and barbaric), and in severe cases, they cut off their hands and feet, so they also lived in fear.But precisely because of this, they have good management capabilities.

Tisias brought them together and invited them to participate in building and governing a new Messenia, and they were all overjoyed.

Of course, the future leadership of Messenia will mainly be held by this group of citizens from Dionia.When Davos summoned them for discussions, he also issued a special order: allowing them to stay in Messenia to retain their status as Dionian citizens.

According to the laws of Dionia, dual nationality was not allowed to appear originally. The reason why special exceptions were made for this group of people was because Davers considered that after defeating Sparta and capturing Messenia, it would not be possible for the time being. Incorporating this area into the Kingdom of Dionia would otherwise arouse the common hatred of the entire Greek population. Therefore, allowing the Messenians to be autonomous and fully dependent on Dionia has become an important issue for Dionia in mainland Greece. Supporting force, so this group of people is the key. They will become the mainstay of the future Messenian high-level, so it is very important to retain the identity of Dionian citizens and keep them committed to the kingdom.

These people headed by Ticias also know that time is running out. The news that "Messenia has regained its independence" will soon spread throughout Greece, and the exiles may return here one after another. They must form a government as soon as possible and create a The stable operation of the political system makes it difficult for latecomers to follow suit.

In fact, the political system of New Messenia has already been formulated in the Dionian Palace: Messenian Dionian citizens and Helot village chiefs formed the Messenian Council (a total of It is 223 people, known as the 300-person parliament, of which Dionian citizens account for 6%), responsible for the formulation of laws, diplomacy, war and other important affairs, and then the council elects 5 members from the council members every year , forming a general executive committee to be responsible for the internal affairs of the city-state and leading troops in combat...

(End of this chapter)