ancient greece mediterranean ruler

Chapter 1289 Agesilaus’ Request
Although Leotychides disliked Agesilaus, this did not prevent him from being inclined to agree with the suggestions of this veteran who had been fighting in Asia Minor for many years and to formulate new battle plans based on this.

In the following days, the active approach of the Persian army in Asia Minor also confirmed Agesilaus's judgment.

Leoticides did not rush to meet the enemy immediately and start a decisive battle with the Persian army. Instead, he led his army to retreat, but the direction of retreat was not towards Ilion in the west, but towards Chios in the southwest. .

The Persian army pursued them closely, especially the cavalry as the vanguard. They fought many times with the cavalry units left to block the Greek coalition. The Persians, who had a superior number of cavalry, naturally had the upper hand in the battle, and their repeated victories also contributed to their success. He lost the arrogance of the Persians, and was even more eager to fight the Greek coalition forces.

The Greek coalition forces withdrew from the Alispi Plain relatively smoothly, but the closer they got to the coast, the terrain became more undulating, and their marching speed naturally slowed down.Finally, on the afternoon of the 12th day, the Persian army in Asia Minor was only six or seven miles away from the Greek coalition.

This time Leoticides ordered the army to stop advancing early and camp on the spot to rest.

Half an hour later, the Persian cavalry arrived and were shot back by the archers arranged by the Greek coalition army, but they did not leave, but lingered in the distance.

Leoticides did not send cavalry to drive them away. Instead, he stood on a high place with other allied generals and looked towards the direction of the Persian cavalry.

At dusk, a huge cloud of dust slowly moved from the north, stagnating three miles away, but the noise could clearly reach the ears of the generals.

"It seems that the Persians think that we can no longer escape, and are planning to camp there to rest first, and then come to fight with us tomorrow." Ipamironda pointed at the fog in front and seriously suggested: "Proso General Us, look at the dust mist that is still rolling in. It can be seen that the Persian army was a little confused after stopping to rest. They pursued it for a long time, and the soldiers must be very tired. Do we need to use this opportunity to lead the army to attack?"

Leoticides pondered for a moment, shook his head and said: "Our soldiers are also tired. Let them have a good night's rest and replenish their energy for a decisive battle with the Persians tomorrow. Besides, it is very possible to attack at this time. It will scare away the enemies that have finally been lured here."

Hearing this, the generals smiled knowingly.

"Everyone, follow me to the military tent for another military meeting to renegotiate and clarify tomorrow's battle plan."

After Leoticides finished speaking, everyone readily agreed.

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At the end of the meeting, the Allied generals left one after another, and only Leoticides and the four Dionysian army commanders were left in the big tent, as well as a special character, Agesilaus.

Leotychides was slightly surprised to see Agesilaus still staying in the tent, and was about to ask.

The former Spartan king spoke first: "Generals, I would like to have a private chat with Commander Leoticides."

The four legion commanders looked at each other and saw that although Leoticides did not speak, he did not express rejection either, so they prepared to leave knowingly.

But Leoticides said: "You guys wait outside the tent for a while, it won't take long."

After the four people came out of the tent, Agesilaus came to Leoticides, with a smile on his wrinkled face: "I think when I led the Spartan army to fight in Asia Minor, even though I obtained We had some victories, but it took so long without much success. On the contrary, after I led my troops back to Greece, the places I had conquered quickly became the possessions of the Persians. This was a pity for me, and also for Sparta. What a pity!
But this time the war against Persia launched by Dionia is obviously different from the previous wars between Greece and Persia. We have shouted for decades that the slogan of "revenge against Persia" may really come true!Not only do I think so, but Ipamironda and Iphicrates also think so, which is why they were scrambling to get their own city-state army to take on the most important attack mission just now.

Leoticides, if you can serve as the commander of the Greek coalition to defeat the Persian army, this will be our Spartan—”

Leoticides frowned and interrupted him impatiently: "I've told you many times, my name is Proseus. If you shout names randomly in the future, please don't enter my big tent again! Yes! Tell me what's going on quickly, I'm very busy, don't talk so much nonsense!"

A gloomy look flashed across Agesilaus's face. He exhaled softly, made up his mind, threw the crutch aside, then squatted down tremblingly, put his hands on the ground, and slowly raised his knees. Kneel down, bend down, "Bang!" His forehead hits the ground, once, twice, three times...

Leotikids was stunned for a while, before he sank his face and shouted in a low voice: "Agesilaus, what do you mean?"

Agesilaus straightened up, with a black patch on his forehead. The rapid kowtows just now made his breathing become rapid. He coughed for a while, and then said feebly: "...I was the one who felt sorry for your mother and your family back then. You, I don’t long for your forgiveness!… But I hope you can promise me something because you were once a Spartan…”

Leoticides looked down at him with an indifferent expression: "Tell me and listen."

Agesilaus sighed: "Sparta was conquered by Dionia. I have no complaints, because Dionia is indeed far stronger than Sparta, and it defeated us upright. We fell to Today's situation, perhaps this is Zeus's punishment for our being too arrogant in the whole of Greece for decades!

But... no matter how miserable the noble descendants of Heracles are, it will not be their turn to be humiliated by those lowly Piliasians and Helots!But they are not only humiliating, but also want us Spartans to gradually disappear!No, this is never allowed! "

Agesilaus clenched his fists, and his thin body trembled with anger: "So this time I strongly requested King Davos that the Spartans form a separate team to fight, just to find a way for us Spartans. To survive, we have no choice but to leave Lagnia, which has raised us Spartans for hundreds of years, and move to a new place!

So I hope... I hope that when this war is over with victory, can you please ask King Davos on behalf of us Spartans to allocate this area of ​​​​the Alispi Plain near the Hellespont to Sparta? A small piece of land allows us Spartans to continue to survive and reproduce..."

Facing Agesilaus's expectant eyes, Leoticides frowned slightly: he had been in Dionia for so many years, and although he was highly used by King Davos, he had never paid any attention to the Supreme One. What did he ask for? Because of his arrogant temperament, it was difficult for him to ask for it.What's more, since he landed in Asia Minor, he has been in this land for several months, and he is well aware that the fertility of the Alispi Plain and the importance and prosperity of the Hellespont are not only coveted by the allies, but will definitely become a key point of the kingdom. In the key areas under control, it may not be easy for Sparta to cut off a small piece of flesh from the kingdom's hands.

He hesitated for a moment and then said indifferently: "Why don't you ask His Majesty?"

Agesilaus stood up slowly, his sore legs almost making him fall. He hurriedly held on to the wooden chair next to him and gasped: "Of course I will ask King Davos... If he can agree, Even if I am asked to kneel down and kowtow, I am afraid that I am not strong enough... It is not that I am greedy. If the new colony is not fat enough, how can the people be willing to leave Laconia... And wait until Dionia is defeated Persia, the Hellespont and the Alisby Plain will inevitably be under the control of the Kingdom of Dionysia. Sparta is now relatively small and weak, and it will be safer to live next to the powerful Dionysia... …”

This old guy is really trying to survive for Sparta... Leoticides looked at the old man in front of him who had difficulty even standing. He was silent for a moment, stretched out his foot to pick up the crutches on the ground, and then handed it to him with a stiff tone. scolded: "As a general who leads the army, you should know very well how important the next battle is to us. I must concentrate on fighting this battle well. How can I have the mood to think about other things!"

Agesilaus took the crutch, but smiled: "I understand... I understand... Don't worry! In the battle tomorrow, my soldiers will never embarrass Sparta!"

After saying that, he used his cane and walked slowly outside the tent. When he was about to walk out of the military tent, he suddenly stopped, turned around, and said with a very solemn expression: "To tell you the truth, regarding your mother's death, I I do feel deeply guilty! ... But now I think it was a good thing to force you to leave Sparta! Leoticides, from now on Sparta’s young and old will be entrusted to you!”

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Early on the morning of the second day, when Pharnabazus led the Persian governors to explore the vicinity of the Greek coalition camp, he hesitated whether to conduct a battle here.

Because the two armies are located in a hilly area, the camp of the Greek coalition forces is at a high place. Although the slope is gentle, it is not very favorable for the attacking Persian side.Moreover, the location of the camp is actually fairly flat, but there are higher rolling hills on both sides of it. Although the distance between the hills on both sides is nearly 10 miles, it is not a narrow, narrow and The terrain is good for defense, but according to previous investigations, the number of the Greek coalition forces obviously exceeds 5. Once the array is deployed during the battle, the two wings will not be far from the nearby hills, and the cavalry will not have enough room to maneuver. Judging from the current situation, the most dominant force in the Persian army is the cavalry.

　Thanks to Hanhai Huangsha for the tip!Your support is my biggest motivation for writing!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)