ancient greece mediterranean ruler

Chapter 1225 Shaking
Cabrias looked slightly embarrassed and explained in a low voice: "In the morning, the Dionian fleet approached the port of Piraeus. At that time, there was news that 'the border defense line was breached by the Dionian army' News, the city is in chaos... In order to prevent accidents, I ordered the port to be temporarily closed... The Dionysian fleet has approached Piraeus Port several times before, and we have done the same, but I absolutely cannot I didn’t expect that the reason why the Dionian fleet did this this time was actually to cover up their attempt to capture Aegina Island!”

"I remembered that you did tell us about the 'Dionian fleet threatening the port of Piraeus'. In order to prevent losses, we all agreed to the order to close the port." Calistra Tusi's face became extremely ugly: "But now Aegina is attacked, what should we do?!"

Cabrias hesitated for only a moment before deciding to make up for his fault. He said resolutely: "Aegina must not be occupied by Dionia. I request to lead the fleet to attack first, attack and divert the Dionia fleet. You Send a fleet to carry reinforcements, take the opportunity to enter the port, and defend the city of Aegina!"

The generals all knew that Cablias' plan was very risky, but at least half of them agreed without thinking, because they all knew that although the Dionysian fleet was powerful, it had not yet been able to completely block the sea of ​​Athens. The reason for this is that they are stationed in the southern Peloponnese and go back and forth every morning and evening. There will always be a period of time when they cannot cruise in the Saron Gulf, but if Dionia is allowed to occupy the island of Aegina, which is very close to Athens, , since Aegina Island has complete military port facilities, they can park the fleet directly on Aegina Island. It is like holding a dagger directly to the chest of Athens, threatening Piraeus 24 hours a day. It would be a huge disaster for Athens.

"Generals, although I have conveyed their request to you in accordance with the request of the Aegina crew, I do not want you to send the fleet out of the port!" The official of Piraeus Port said with an extremely solemn expression: " According to the crew of Aegina, two fleets came from Dionia, one surrounded Aegina Island, and the other blocked the port of Piraeus. Their number may have exceeded 20 ships, so they rushed out of Aegina. All [-] warships in Ina Port were rammed and sunk. Only this clipper used their cover to finally rush into the port...

There are only 75 warships in the port of Piraeus. If you risk an attack, you may suffer the same fate. If Athens does not have the protection of warships, I am afraid the punishment of the gods will come! "

The generals were shocked after hearing this.

Before the Persian army attacked that year, the Athenians asked the oracle at Delphi for a prophecy: The wooden walls would protect Athens!

Bewitched by Themistocles, the people believed that the "wooden wall" mentioned in the oracle was a warship, so they spent huge sums of money to build warships, and the Salamiga naval battle led by the Athens fleet became a Greek battle. The turning point of the Persian War also made the people of Athens believe in the Oracle of Delphi and passed it down from generation to generation.

Now Athens is facing great danger. If the warships that Athens relies on will also be destroyed, these generals will feel panic and at a loss from the bottom of their hearts.

At this time, even Caboulias, who had been resolute just now, became a little confused.

"Let's make a truce with Dionia." Iphicrates sighed softly: "The matter has come to this, and this is the only way to save Athens!"

Iphicrates' words shocked everyone, and the room suddenly fell silent. Before his arrival, no one thought about negotiating peace with Dionia, but no one raised it, because it was the general who Only after the Executive Committee reached a consensus would they vigorously incite the hostility of Athenian citizens towards Dionia and finally declare war on Dionia. Now it has only been a few months since they changed their tune. The general who first proposed this resolution They will undoubtedly have to endure more anger from the citizens of Athens.

But Iphicrates' words pierced this window paper. The Dionian army was about to approach the city, and the island of Aegina, a sea barrier, was invaded. Athens, which was in danger, had no other choice.

At the urgent citizens' meeting, when Callistratus proposed "peace to Dionia", he originally thought that he would be criticized and obstructed by the citizens, but he did not, because no matter from what point of view, The citizens who retreated from the western border, the citizens who followed Iphicrates in the Peloponnese for several months, and the citizens who were on tenterhooks on warships every day, dealing with the Dionian fleet... none of them Exception saw the strength of the Dionian army and was eager to end this terrible war. He had no intention of holding the General Executive Committee accountable.

The proposal was quickly approved, and Callistratus's initiative to apply to be an envoy to the Dionian army was also approved.

In the early morning of the second day, the ground shook outside the city of Athens, filled with dust, and the Dionia allied forces appeared in the sight of the sentinels at the top of the city.

The citizens of Athens who got the news hurriedly put on their armor, picked up their shields and spears, and rushed to the top of the city to prepare for defense.

At this time, the Dionian coalition forces were already well-positioned below the city. They saw waves of soldiers, forests of spears, countless flags waving, countless armors shining... Seeing the citizens of Athens, their eyes were dizzy and their hearts were tight.

"Hades!!! Hades!!! Hades!!!..." The Dionian soldiers shouted in unison, like a thunderous burst, causing the Athenian citizen soldiers to fight in two groups.

Even with the momentum of the Dionian army, Callistratus walked out of the city gate, walked directly into the Dionian army, and met Patroclus, the commander-in-chief of this army.

But when he proposed that "Athens wanted to negotiate an armistice with Dionia," Patroclus shook his head and refused, and told him: The power to negotiate an armistice with the Greek alliance lies under the command of another Dionysian army. In the hands of Prince Crotocartax.

Callistratus had no choice but to ask: Can the attack on Athens be suspended while Athens and Dionia are negotiating?

Patroclus refused outright: Unless an armistice agreement is signed, the Dionian army under his command will never stop attacking the city of Athens!
Hearing this, Callistratus had to rush to the Peloponnese immediately.

Patroclus lined up under the city of Athens, just to show the military power of the Dionysian coalition and undermine the morale of the Athenians.He knew very well that the city of Athens would not be captured easily, so he soon issued an order: the army built a camp two miles away from the city of Athens.

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Callistratus hurried all the way south, passed Megara, and entered the city of Corinth.

The Corinthians took the initiative to ask him about the battle situation in the north. He falsely claimed that Athens gathered all the soldiers in the city and defended first. Now it has easily repelled the Dionian army's all-out attack on the city and is accumulating more strength. .He came this time to discuss with Dionia at the request of the Athenian people, hoping to retrieve the remains of Athenian citizens who died in the Peloponnese.

The Corinthians were skeptical, but they were certain of one thing: the Athenians were already defending the city, and it was impossible to send reinforcements to them.

On the way to the Dionian military camp, Callistratus saw the Dionian army arrayed under the city of Corinth, and their use of a type of ballista specifically mentioned by Iphicrates. The siege equipment and the continuous bombardment of the city wall with stone bombs were really amazing, which made him feel the urgency of the situation even more.

Ifikratus also emphasized one point: the Dionian army is good at building camps, and has the habit of "building camps wherever they go".

This time the Dionysian army built a camp next to Ismia, the port of Corinth on the east side of the isthmus. He heard from the Corinthians that not long after the Dionysian army arrived at the city of Corinth, they attacked Ismia with all their strength. Due to their large number and fierce attack, although the Corinthians carried out reinforcements to the port, the port of Ismia with poor defense facilities only lasted for half a day before being submerged by the raging black tide.

Callistratus stood high on the coast, and he could even see many Dionia warships moored in the port. He could think of the reason why the Dionia fleet started to land on Aegina Island. The attack was precisely because they occupied the port of Ismia, not far from Aegina. With a foothold, they could better blockade the port of Piraeus and continuously attack the people who landed on Aegina. The military provides support…

With a heavy heart, Callistratus entered the relatively simple Deolia camp under the leadership of the Dionia officer and entered a military tent.

There was only one person in the military tent, and surprisingly it was Karias who had been on a mission to Athens before.

With a smile on his face, Callias took the initiative to greet him: "Master Callistratus, welcome! You have come all the way from Athens, you have worked hard, please sit down and rest, I have prepared ice cold for you The honey syrup water, you first quench your thirst!"

Callias performed the courtesy very respectfully, without any hint of arrogance, but the title "Lord Callistratus" still made the chief general of Athens feel the sharpness hidden in his words, and he added The warning in my heart was heightened, but a smile quickly appeared on my face: "Thank you very much! You are so thoughtful!"

After saying that, he sat down unceremoniously, picked up the pottery bottle on the table, poured himself a glass, drank it all in one gulp, and then said happily: "This syrup is indeed delicious!"

Callias also returned to his seat and said with an apologetic look: "Lord Callistratus, you asked to see His Highness Crotocathax. Unfortunately, he is not in the military camp now. Fa sees you."

(End of this chapter)