ancient greece mediterranean ruler

Chapter 1174 Rush to the battlefield
"Your Highness, we cannot retreat!" Printors immediately objected: "Now the Spartan army is about to engage in battle with us. If we retreat at this time, not only will the soldiers have complaints, but our previous efforts will also be undermined. In vain, it will allow the Spartan army to breathe and make other Greek city-states look down on us. It may also speed up their formation of an alliance with the Spartans and jointly fight against us. If we want to defeat the Spartan army again, It will undoubtedly become more difficult!
Not only can we not retreat now, we should also speed up the attack on the Spartan army before these Greek city-states are ready for military preparations. As long as we can defeat Sparta, the situation will become favorable to us! "

After all, this was the first time Clotokatax was leading an expedition. He lacked experience, and bad news happened to come one after another. He was panicked for a moment. Under heavy pressure, he would inevitably choose to be conservative. After Printors reminded him, , he immediately realized: If he does this, it will undoubtedly lead to the prolongation of the war, which will not only greatly consume the national power and increase casualties, but also make his father, who has always been enterprising in the war, disappointed with himself...

Thinking of this, he cheered up, and immediately changed his words: "Master Printors, you are right, we should intensify our attack on the Spartan army, but how exactly should we do it?!"

"Your Highness, you should first send a messenger to inform our troops stationed in Messenia, so that they can strengthen the defense of the northern border and be ready to carry out military mobilization against the Messenians at any time." Printors patiently suggested : "Secondly, we should detach some reconnaissance cavalry and reconnaissance soldiers to explore westward, not only the situation in the Ellis area, but also the movements of the Acadian Alliance army, just in case.

Then, Your Highness, you must write to Sekerian to tell him about the predicament we are in now, and urge him to launch an attack on the Spartan coast and achieve landing as soon as possible.

At the same time, we led the main force eastward into the territory of Tegea. Instead of taking the initiative to attack the Spartan camp, we pretended to build a new camp on the border between Tegea and Sparta, forcing the Spartan army to leave the camp and confront us. Have a decisive battle. "

"What if the Spartan army closes its camp and wants to unite with the Elis army and then fight us in a decisive battle?" Clotokatax couldn't help but ask.

"Then we will really build a camp there, block the Spartans' way home, and then send some soldiers to cooperate with the fleet soldiers of the first fleet to invade the Spartan territory from the north... I think the Spartans I never want to see such a situation happen." Printors said calmly.

After listening to Printors' words, Clotokatax fell into deep thought and did not respond for a long time.

Printors couldn't help but ask: "Your Highness, do you think there are any shortcomings in my plan?"

Clotokatax heard that Printors was a little dissatisfied, and said apologetically: "Master Printors, your suggestion is very good, I have no objection! I'm sorry, I was a little distracted just now. , because your plan inspired me and gave me an idea."

Clotokatax's initiative to admit his mistake not only made Printors' grudge go away, but he also felt guilty that he was too petty, so he asked seriously: "Do you have any good ideas, Your Highness?"

"When I was in Thurii, I read the past history of the major city-states in Greece in detail. The reason why Ellis expressed goodwill to us before was because although it was a member of the Peloponnesian League, it was not a member of the Peloponnesian League. During the Pennesian War, there had been enmity with Sparta because of Leprion's belonging. Before the Corinthian War, the Spartan army invaded the territory of Elis and forcibly occupied some of its territory. In the 'Peace of the Great King' 'After the signing, Sparta supported Pisa and forcibly transferred the hosting rights of the Olympia Games originally owned by Ellis to Pisa... Since then, the Ellis people hated Sparta, so they deserved it. When they learned that our army was going to fight Sparta, they were very happy and sent Ionicus to Messenia with the fleet.

Now the reason why Elis agreed to join the Greek alliance against us is probably because Pisa voluntarily surrendered to it, giving it finally a chance to completely unify the western region of Peloponnese.But it forgot that if we were really defeated and withdrew from the Peloponnese, once Sparta regained its strength, we would still compete with it for dominance in the western region...

Therefore, we should send diplomat Carias to Ailes and make a promise to them, 'Ailes is not necessarily required to support us, but as long as Ailes can remain neutral, Dionia will support Ailes. Become the leader of the western Peloponnese region'... Even if the Eleans do not agree with our proposal in the end, they will hesitate and argue, thus delaying the military mobilization against us... Lord Printors, how do you feel? "

Clotokatax's suggestion made Printors, who only focused on the military aspect, brighten his eyes and praised sincerely: "Your Highness, your suggestion is really wonderful! I think we not only want Kari If As is sent as envoy to Elis, we can also ask him to go as envoy to other city-states, thereby disrupting the situation in Greece that is beginning to go against us..."

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Clotocathus and Printoles were rushing to implement their plan, but on the second day they received news from the scouts: the Spartan army was attacking the city of Tegea.

The Spartan army's proactive attack made Printors feel that this was a good opportunity for a decisive battle with the Spartan army, so at his suggestion, Crotocathax left 3000 soldiers to garrison the camp and led The army came to the rescue.

The road leading to Tegea is a narrow, undulating mountain road with higher hills on both sides. The experienced Printols did not let Crotokatax take the risk, but suggested that he go first. They sent a mountain reconnaissance team to explore the surrounding situation, and sure enough they found a Spartan army ambushing in the mountains.

As a result, Clotokatax sent a mixed force composed of light armor and light infantry to take the initiative to attack the Spartan army ambushing on the hill.

The battle was not too fierce. This Spartan army did not have Spartan warriors. They were mainly mercenaries and had no heavy infantry. After their whereabouts were exposed, they faced well-trained Dionian light armor and light infantry. Cooperating with the tacit attack, they quickly chose to retreat.

However, the fighting in the mountains delayed time. Seeing that it was almost dusk, the Dionian army had to choose a place to camp and rest.

Early on the morning of the third day, the Dionysian army began to continue marching, but in order to prevent the ambush and harassment of the Spartan army, the marching speed was not fast. It was not until the morning that the leading troops entered the Tegea territory.

The Tegea-Mantinia Plain is a rare and relatively large flat land in the Arcadia region. It is a long and narrow area running from north to south, with rivers running through it. The land is relatively fertile and is the entire Peloponnese. The famous wheat-growing area on the peninsula is also the granary of the Arcadia region.

After trekking through the mountains, the soldiers came to the plain with a wide view and saw the green wheat fields everywhere, undulating like waves in the breeze, all of them were refreshed.

Crotokatax had no time to enjoy the scenery, because he had already received a report from the scout cavalry: the Spartan army was storming the city of Tegea. The battle was very fierce. Judging from the situation, the Tegea people suffered heavy casualties. I can't resist it anymore.

Printors and the generals had analyzed beforehand: Tegea had been under the protection of the Spartans for a long time, and unlike the Mandinians who had not built their own city walls as carefully as the Mandinians, its city walls had not been maintained for a long time. There are no trenches or other defensive facilities outside the city, but after all, Tegea is one of the largest states in Arcadia with a large population, so it should be able to hold on for a while.

How could it fail so soon?

But the scouts who returned one after another all reported the same situation: the Spartan army completely surrounded the city of Tegea. The Spartan soldiers had attacked the city of Tegea several times. There were corpses everywhere under the city... …

It seems that there is no doubt that under the attack of tens of thousands of Spartan soldiers, the city of Tegea is in danger!

Clotokatax and Printors must not allow the city of Tegea to fall into the hands of the Spartans, because first of all, it is still spring, and the people of Tegea still have plenty of food in their homes. This can This greatly alleviated the food shortage of the Spartan army; secondly, Sparta captured the city of Tegea in the center of the plain, established a foothold on this plain, and could continue to threaten Mandinia to the north. Gained a certain strategic initiative.

Therefore, Crotokatax issued an order: "Speed ​​up the march and advance towards the city of Tegea!"

At the same time, the Dionian prince also added an order: "Try not to trample on the wheat fields!"

Tegea City is only a dozen miles away from its southwest edge, and its terrain is flat, and the Dionian army is advancing faster. By noon, the leading troops can already see the outline of Tegea City in the distance.

At this time, Clotokatax received another report from the reconnaissance cavalry: most of the Spartan army had withdrawn from the siege, and began to arrange the soldiers to face west and form an array.

The Spartans are now preparing for a battle with us! ...Klotokas saw that the goal he was seeking was about to be achieved so soon. He was happy at first, and then felt nervous. After all, the upcoming battle will determine the success or failure of the Dionian army and thousands of soldiers. life and death.

Of course, Printors was much calmer. He suggested that the army suspend its advance, and at the same time asked to go to see the Spartan army's formation at close range.

After hearing this, Clotokatax also expressed his intention to go, and also blocked the mouths of the persuaders with the reason that "my father often went to the battle to observe in person".

(End of this chapter)