ancient greece mediterranean ruler

Chapter 255 The banquet of Avinogis
Only one year after Laos joined Dionia, its port changed so much that it really surprised Kanios.

His boat had to wait for a while before there was a free pier for him to dock and land.After receiving the news, officials sent by the Laos City Hall were already greeting him on the shore. Canios readily accepted the official's invitation to meet the owner of the city, the consul Avinogis.

"Is this port so busy every day?" Kallios asked among the crowded people.

"Yes." The official said proudly: "Businessmen from the Dionysian Alliance like to rent ships from us to go to Gaul in the north or the Iberian Peninsula in the west for trade, and then disembark here with full loads of goods and carry them on their backs. The team was transported back to Thurii. After the South Italian League was founded a few months ago, our place has become even busier! Merchant ships from Trina, Colonia, Crotone, and Siritin also come to Laos from time to time. As long as it is an ally of the Dionysian Alliance, we, Laos, will provide the best services and preferential rates for ship berthing, accommodation, and water supply. Now, Grumentum has become a member of the Dionysian Alliance Later, more merchants came here, and most of them came here for the excellent iron ore in Grumentum... Laos very much welcomes Elian merchants to come here to trade!"

Kanios was about to respond with a smile, when there was an angry voice in front of him: "Damn stupid things get out of the way!"

Then came the screams, and Kanios saw two naked men lying on the side of the road ahead, with bloody whip marks on their bodies, and several heavy sacks dumped aside.

"These slaves are Lucanians." For fear of leaving a bad impression on the guests, the official quickly explained: "Their ancestors forcibly captured Laos and turned all the Greeks in Laos into slaves. , we have been living a life worse than death for generations, and now Lord Avinogis has led us to take back Laos! A year ago, they were the masters of this city and treated us like cattle and sheep. Now We Greeks have become the masters of Laos again and let them taste what it is like to be slaves!"

Kanios looked at the excited official and thought: You don't look like a pure Greek.

"You turned all the Lucarians in this city into slaves?!" he asked.

"Not all. Some of them were related to the citizens of Lucaria in the Dionysian Alliance. They were later released by Lord Avinogis and went to Niutum. They are now probably Dionysians. Citizens. I don’t know why the Dionians are so tolerant of these barbarians who believe in alien gods!” The official muttered in a low voice. Although he had hatred, he did not vent it out as loudly as before.

Kanios's heart moved, and this also shows the influence of Dionia on the people of its affiliated city-states.

The city of Laos, located near the mouth of the La River, is not too big. It has less than 5000 citizens. It is mainly composed of two parts: one part is the tribe that has been led by the Avinogis family, which is why he has settled down. The core strength of the lifelong consul of Laos lies, so after these people were converted into citizens, Avinogis gave them land; the other part were the original Greek slaves, Avinogis liberated them and gave them They have obtained their citizenship rights, but do not have "allotments". In order to make a living, they work as low-level city officials or become hired workers or dock laborers... Fortunately, the tax burden in Laos is not heavy. As long as they work hard, they should be able to survive. Little savings.

Although Avinogis claims to be of Greek descent, he has always known that he, like most of the citizens of this city, is of mixed race, so the citizens of Laos have similar feelings of inferiority, exclusion and ethnic identity, not to mention , and he freed them from slavery. As long as he treated the people well, they would support him.So even though he learned from Davos and proclaimed himself a lifelong consul, in fact the council of Laos was just a decoration, and there was no citizens' assembly. All major and minor matters were decided by Avinogis. He was a real tyrant. .

Kanios met Avinogis in the so-called city hall, which was actually the palace of the city lord. This tall, fat, slightly sinister-looking consul of Laos actually prepared a banquet and was very enthusiastic. He gave a welcome speech to Canios and invited him to the table.

This made Kanios, who was a little wary, relieved. After he took his seat, he also raised his wine glass and expressed his sincere thanks to Avinogis for his hospitality, and then said: "Three years ago, I came here I have passed through Laos, but this time I came and found that Laos has changed a lot, especially the trade at the port is very prosperous. It has only been less than a year since Laos was free, and it has achieved such great achievements. The consul is very impressed. This must have taken a lot of effort!”

Kanios' words of praise made Avinogis feel comfortable. He laughed loudly and said: "Of course I didn't bother less, but I should be more grateful to Laos' allies. But in this alliance, Laos Enjoyed a lot of convenience!..."

Kanios listened thoughtfully.

At this time, Avinogis asked: "Are Elijah sending you here to prepare to join the Dionysian Alliance?"

Kanos was taken aback.With Elijah's situation and coming to Dionia at this time, anyone with a discerning eye can roughly guess the purpose of their mission, but Kanios didn't expect Avinogis to ask so directly, and he put down the Wine Glass, after thinking about it, said vaguely: "Whether to join the alliance or adopt other covenant methods depends on the outcome of discussions with Dionia."

Avinogis looked at him and grinned: "Please forgive me for speaking directly. With my understanding of Dionia and Elijah's current strength, I am afraid that Dionia will not accept other covenant methods. "

This statement obviously means that Elia is not strong enough, so don't expect to get better treatment when meeting with Dionia.Kanios was a little embarrassed, lowered his head to drink, and said nothing.

Just listen to Avinogis say again: "I heard that your Aelia has close contacts with the Greek city-states of Campania. If Aelia has any alliance with them, Dionia may not necessarily Will accept Aelia into the alliance because it does not allow city-states in the alliance to have any diplomatic relations with other city-states."

Kanios was a little surprised. He didn't know that there was such a rule between Dionia and the allies: "Thank you, Lord Consul, for reminding me! The city-state of Campania gave Elijah some help, but Elijah Leah does not have an alliance agreement with any city-state." Kanios answered without hesitation.

In fact, the Campania League, headed by Naples and Capua, has always refused to accept Aelia, because Campania and Aelia are separated by the two powerful races of Samnite and Lucania. Aelia is not strong. Once they become an alliance, only Campania will continue to help Aelia. However, it is difficult for Aelia to make a big contribution to the Campania Alliance. How could the always shrewd Greeks do this? Do this kind of loss-making business.Aelia can trade with Campania, but they both need each other. If they can recruit mercenaries from Campania to resist the attack of the Lucanians, they all have to pay.

"That's great, let Elijah join the Dionia Alliance. With Dionia's credibility and strength, the Lucanians will no longer be your trouble. And Elijah and Lao As the only two seaport cities on the Tyrrhenian Sea in the Dionysian League, St. Petersburg can cooperate with each other in the future to strengthen trade..." Avinogis smiled excitedly, seemingly speaking out without any thought. suggestions.

Kanios listened in his heart and was silent for a moment. How could he express his opinion casually without seeing the rightful owner, so he changed the subject: "The consul must have met Davos, the consul of the Dionia Alliance, right? , what kind of person is he?"

"I've met him many times. I even fought side by side with him!" Avinogis looked proud. He wiped the wine stains from his mouth and said solemnly: "I'll give you a piece of advice! Don't do it because of him. Young and contemptuous, he was an amazing man!”

Since Elia wants to deal with Dionia, he has naturally done some understanding of Dionia. Naturally, the focus of the investigation is Davos.The members of the Aelia Council had mixed reviews of him: they admired his superior ability, and the rise of Dionia in such a short period of time was definitely inseparable from his efforts; what made him uneasy was that his identity was actually the only one in the world. What is the difference between a lifelong consul and Dionysius, the tyrant of Syracuse?

Will Elia's cooperation with Dionia attract wolves into the house?Canios needs to make a judgment based on what he sees and hears. The prosperity of Laos reduces his worries, while Avinogis's words increase his curiosity: Is this the admiration of a tyrant for a tyrant?

"By the way, I can take you to Thurii tomorrow." Avinogis said suddenly.

"Lord Consul, I am very grateful for your hospitality! How dare you ask me to see you off in person again? This will make me uneasy!" Kanios declined while being touched and tactful.

"Hahaha!..." Avinogis laughed loudly: "You don't need to thank me, I'm just dropping by. The Temple of Hades in Thurii City was built, and Dionia invited me to watch the ceremony! "

Avinogis' teasing made Kanios a little embarrassed, but he was even more surprised by what he said: Temple of Hades? !

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

Upon hearing that Heraclid fainted and was unconscious when the Temple of Hades was completed, Davos immediately put aside all his affairs and rushed to his home.

Heraclide was already awake, but he couldn't move at all. His eyes were half-open and half-closed, his mouth was wide open, and his chest was rising and falling rapidly, like a broken bellows making a harsh "whooshing" sound...

　Thanks to book friends 20170214135030192 and Yuyunyushi for their rewards!Your support is my biggest motivation for writing! !

　　
　
(End of this chapter)