ancient greece mediterranean ruler

Chapter 18 The Eastern Kingdom in Dream?
After walking for a few days, Davers saw a huge city wall more than [-] meters high standing in front of him, extending infinitely to the southeast...

"Oh! The Median Wall!! No matter how many times I see it, I still feel shocked!!" Xenophon exclaimed loudly.During the march these days, he would run into the ranks of Menon's mercenaries and walk with Daves.In his words, 'Talking to Davos is helpful in stimulating his thinking about knowledge. Davos thought that he was bored marching in the ranks of Proxenus, because he had no common language with anyone except Proxenus, so he came to show off his knowledge to Davos.

"It is said that the Mede Wall is more than 100 miles long. It was built by the former Kingdom of Babylon to defend against the Medes in the north. However, the Kingdom of Babylon was still destroyed by the Medes..." Xenophon looked up at the tall city wall. , said with emotion: "The Medes were later destroyed by the Persians. Herodotus has a wonderful description in his "History" book. Just like people are born, old, sick and die, no matter how powerful a kingdom is, it will also perish. So Regardless of how vast Persia is now, we still don’t know who will destroy it in the future! I hope I can see that day in my lifetime!”

Of course Davos remembered that in the history of his previous life, Persia was wiped out by Alexander the Great, the Macedonian king who had been highly regarded by Westerners for more than 2000 years. He could not remember the specific time, but it was probably a few decades later.In his memory, Macedonia is not yet a unified kingdom, and it is still his "enemy".

Looking at the huge wall made of burned bricks and asphalt, Davers was also filled with emotion: It seems that building the Great Wall to defend against barbarians is not a patent of the Chinese nation.China now should be in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period...

He turned his head and looked at the east, standing there for a long time, with indescribable nostalgia and regret in his eyes: as a Greek in this life, he is thousands of miles away from his homeland, and it is impossible to return...

"Davos! Davos!..." Hearing Hilos's cry, Davos came back to his senses and found that his stay affected the progress of the column.He quickened his pace, but couldn't help but said: "Do you know? Maybe there is a country in the far east. The land it governs is wider than Persia, and the people it rules are more than Persia. Its customs Its habits are completely different from those of Greco-Persia, and its political system is also completely different from that of Greco-Persia, but it is strict and efficient! It has gorgeous clothes, elegant etiquette, magnificent mountains and rivers, and delicious and rich food! Its army is powerful, and it has The people are rich..."

"Davos, are you dreaming? How can there be such a powerful kingdom in the East?" There is India on the front, Arabia on the southeast, Scythians and One-eyed people on the northeast... There should not be this kingdom you mentioned! Is this a revelation given to you by Hades? "

"So beyond the races you mentioned, what is it to the east?" Davos asked.

"It should be the ocean." Xenophon said uncertainly.

"This is what Herodotus said again. Did he confirm it himself?" Davos asked again.

"He...probably listened to what others said...and recorded it." Xenophon began to stutter.

"Since I heard it, I can't be sure it's true, and I can't deny that there is no such country in the far east!" Davos retorted.

Xenophon was speechless for a moment and looked at Davos strangely: "Look at how serious you are, as if there really is such a country."

Davos chuckled and said nothing.

"It would be great if one day I could go to the far east and take a look!" Olivers, who was on the sidelines, was attracted by the scene described by Davos and suddenly sighed.

"Then, you have to pass through the Kingdom of Persia first, and then there are the Magsateans, a horse-riding race that comes and goes like the wind. It is said that they cut off the head of Cyrus, the great king of Persia... Well, there are also terrible things. The one-eyed man, and the mysterious India... If you are lucky enough not to be killed or captured as a slave, you can see that there is an ocean in the far east, and there is still a powerful country..." Xenophon was half joking and half serious said.

Olivers shrank his neck and said no more.

Matonis was a little annoyed. Although he didn't like Olivers, he hated this Athenian who loved to show off his knowledge even more: "What are you afraid of! If I had a strong army, I would go anywhere, not to mention the far east. Dare to go!”

"A powerful army?" Xenophon pointed contemptuously at the loose marching ranks ahead: "Like this one?"

"Of course it must be stronger than this!" Matonis said loudly.

Davos listened to their bickering and narrowed his eyes: A more powerful army?

....................................

Passing through the Median Wall meant that the Greek army left the Babylonian region.In the next few days, what kept appearing in Davos's field of vision was: criss-crossing plains, endless golden wheat fields, and artificially dug rivers... These artificial rivers lead the water of the big river to more small ones. In canals, ditches, and finally into farmland...

When Davos saw this, he couldn't help but sigh: This should be the oldest irrigation project in the Middle East!The fertile land and abundant water resources gave birth to a large population, creating one splendid ancient civilization in the other two rivers! …

Further ahead, we reach the source of the artificial river: the Tigris River.As another mother river in the Mesopotamian plain, the Tigris River is equally wide. At first glance, it is difficult to reach the other side. Countless sails are swaying on the river. The ones that are rushing forward with the oars must be merchant ships. The sails are lowered slowly. What flows slowly along the water are fishing boats. The songs of the fishermen and the shouts of the sailors on the boats can be heard on both sides of the river.Countless waterbirds chirped and soared above the river, and big fish leaped from time to time in the water, creating a beautiful and peaceful river scenery.

Near the river bank was a large and densely populated city, Sitas, where Greek mercenaries approached and set up camp.But the Persian army and the troops of Arereus crossed the bridge and camped on the other side of the river.That night, because the Persian army was on the other side, the psychological pressure on the Greek soldiers was much less. Davos and the others rarely had a good sleep.

On the second day, the atmosphere suddenly became a little different.When Davos and the others crossed the river, they saw heavily armed soldiers on guard on both sides of the bridge. After crossing the pontoon bridge, soldiers on guard were also on guard on the other side.

What happened?

Davos didn't understand the reason until Xenophon came over.

"Last night, a man came from the other side. He said he was an aide of Alireus, and he had a message to bring to Clearcus and Proxinus. So several leaders received him, and I followed Proxinus. In the camp, I heard the man say, 'Arireus reminded Clearcus to be alert, because the Persian army may attack the Greek mercenaries at night, and also intends to destroy the pontoon bridge and trap you in the Tigris and artificial waterways. Between.' Several leaders were a little nervous when they heard that, but I—"

Xenophon said with a slightly more serious tone: "After thinking about it, I think this news is unreliable!"

"Oh, what do you think?" Davos asked pretending to be curious.

"Because when the Persians come to attack us, they will either win or fail. If they are defeated and destroyed, there will be nowhere to escape; if they win, we will be on the land of the Persians and have nowhere to go." If you want to escape, why bother destroying a bridge that was built with great difficulty? Clearchus and the others followed my advice!" Xenophon said with a slight complacency.

"Well, that makes sense!" Davos thought for a moment and praised.

"Even you can think that Tissaphernes is not a fool, why would you make up such a thing that sounds like a lie?" Olivers said sarcastically.

“That’s because he is really afraid that we will destroy the bridge!” It produces a large amount of food, enough to feed our mercenaries for more than half a year. If we destroy the bridge and refuse to leave, and Tissaphernes’ army is on the other side and cannot cross for a while, then——”

(End of this chapter)