ancient greece mediterranean ruler

Chapter 369 The Return of Agesilaus

"Hurry and help me sit down!" Aristophanes was sitting on the side of the mountain road, looking at the cheering people. He was equally excited, although he knew very well that the Athenian Konon was now a naval admiral hired by Persia to lead the army. It was the Persian fleet, but this victory made Athens face much fewer maritime threats.

You know, although the citizens' assembly approved joining Thebes and declaring war on Sparta, the shadow of the failure of the Peloponnesian War ten years ago and the ferocity of the Spartans tightly oppressed every Athenian like a nightmare. The bottom of human heart.Especially now, although the war situation is at a stalemate on the isthmus, the Allied forces are still losing more and winning less. Recently, I heard that another Spartan army from Asia Minor led by Spartan King Agesilaus came from the north. Greece has landed and is heading towards the Boeotian area. How can the people of Athens not be nervous and scared!The victory in this naval battle was like a timely rain, which relieved the heavy pressure on their hearts. They cheered loudly to vent their long-suppressed fears.

Aristophanes was pleased to see that there was a little more life in the city of Athens, and then he showed a surprised expression. At the corner of the street, there was a man in shabby clothes, sitting on the dusty steps, leaning against the rough stone wall. What to focus on.

This quiet scene was in sharp contrast to the joy around it, and the man's back felt familiar to Aristophanes.

He walked over and shouted uncertainly: "Antisthenes?"

The man looked back and showed no intention of standing up: "Aristophanes, if you are here to ask me about Plato's whereabouts, don't bother me reading."

Why didn't Aristophanes know that although Antisthenes and Plato were both students of Socrates, their ideas were at odds with each other? So he said with a hint of teasing: "I just want to tell you that Conon led The fleet defeated the Spartan navy, and now the whole city is singing the news of this victory.”

"So what?" Antisthenes said disapprovingly: "Victory will only encourage the people to devote themselves more blindly to the war. Athens has only been calm for a long time, and this will be a long war..." Having said this, he shook his head and glanced at Aristophanes: "You have just come back from the theater. The new play "The Dionians" you wrote seems to be very popular with the people."

Aristophanes was not satisfied with Antisthenes' negative attitude towards the news of victory, so he said angrily: "Oh! Antisthenes, who has always refused to watch theatrical entertainment, actually knows about my new play. I am really honored. !”

"That's because people are talking about it every day these days. I said you are too lenient. What kind of citizens Dionia sends to participate in the sports is their business. You have to write a script to satirize them. What’s the point?”

Aristophanes suddenly became angry, and just about to refute, Antisthenes tilted his head and rubbed his ears with his fingers, and said: "Do you know that some time ago, Dionia publicly tried traitors and exposed them in public? After the news of Syracuse's ambition came, Thrasybulos and their general executive committee members were discussing whether to send envoys to discuss an alliance with Dionia, so that Dionia could contain Sparta’s ally Syracuse, it’s better not to stage your drama again to avoid irritating the Dionians and causing the alliance to fail.”

"What Thrasybulos and the others do is their business, but they have no right to interfere with the legal freedom of an Athenian citizen!" Aristophanes shouted angrily.

"This is what I want to say." Antisthenes pointed to the cheering people: "What does their victory have to do with me?"

Aristophanes was so angry that he turned around and walked away. He once again affirmed his understanding: the reason why he became good friends with Plato but was always alienated from Antisthenes was his sense of responsibility.

Antisthenes didn't care about Aristophanes' departure. He gently brushed the dust off the book and looked at it again.

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

Agesilaus led the army through Thrace, Macedonia, and arrived in Central Greece.In Amphipolis, he heard the news of the Spartan victory in Corinth, but this did not cheer him up because the Spartans were still blocked at the isthmus and could not advance.

Worried about the war, he accelerated his march, but when he arrived at Chaeronea, he encountered a solar eclipse. The soldiers panicked and thought it was a bad omen.

Immediately, Agesilaus received news that the Spartan navy was defeated at Cnidos. Although he was shocked, he was also secretly glad that he chose to rush to Boiosia by land instead of by sea, otherwise he might still be captured now. Blocked in Asia Minor.

He immediately blocked the news to avoid shaking the army's morale.At the same time, he also felt that a war must be launched soon, and the bad news should be washed away with victory.

So, he once again led his army to march quickly, and finally entered the Boeotian area, where he encountered the anti-Spartan coalition forces stationed at Croso, guarding the passage to Thebes. A big battle was inevitable.

Before the war, he recruited Xenophon, the leader of the famous remnant of the Persian Expeditionary Force.

The 35-year-old Athenian had been fighting with Sparta for five years in Asia Minor. He was already a experienced general. Standing in front of Agesilaus, he looked like a tall cedar tree, exuding high-spiritedness. The momentum of a person.

Agesilaus looked at him with admiration, and then said: "Xenophon, my friend. Sparta's enemies are arrayed in front, and we can only advance to Thebes if we defeat them. But... ...In the enemy's ranks, there are Athenian reinforcements. Among them may be your relatives, your friends, and your classmates. Fighting face to face with them will undoubtedly be an extremely painful thing for you... Alas, So although I’m a little reluctant to part with it, but——”

Agesilaus showed an expression of unusual regret and said emotionally: "I...I allow you to lead the team away, or even join the other party. I am very grateful for your selfless help to Sparta over the past few years! Even if you I will be my enemy in the coming battle, but I will still consider you my best friend, Agesilaus!”

After hearing this, Xenophon became furious: "King of Sparta, you are questioning my integrity! Before leading the mercenaries to follow you out of Asia Minor, I already said that since the Athenian Citizens' Assembly executed my teacher Socrates, after trying me guilty in absentia, I already regard Athens as my enemy! And I agree with Sparta’s political philosophy, am willing to fight for it, and have sworn an oath to Zeus! Now you force me to leave here, I...I just want to leave." After saying that, he turned around and walked out of the tent without any hesitation.

"Xenophon, please forgive my rudeness just now!" Agesilaus hastily stepped forward to hold him, and apologized repeatedly: "I didn't want you and your compatriots to fight each other, so as to prevent you from feeling uneasy in your heart. But now I realize that you have great beliefs that are far beyond the feelings of ordinary mother nations, for which I want to apologize to you!" He said, bowing sincerely to Xenophon.

Xenophon hurriedly stopped him, and most of the anger in his heart disappeared.

"I have decided to appoint you as the commander of the center formation in tomorrow's battle." Agesilaus made a decisive decision.

Xenophon was a little surprised, but he did not refuse and accepted the order happily because he knew that there were some rumors about him circulating in the army in recent days. He secretly vowed: In this battle, he will use practical actions to dispel doubts. His people shut up!

Xenophon went out, and Archidamus, the adjutant of Agesilaus and his son, came in. After learning of his father's decision, he couldn't help but be surprised: "Father, you really let an Athenian serve as our middle roader!" Commander?"

"What's wrong with the Athenians?!" Agesilaus raised his eyebrows and said loudly at a volume that could be heard by the guards outside the tent: "Xenophon is my true friend, Agesilaus! For friends, I have always trusted him. What's more, Xenophon is a very talented person, he deserves my trust!"

At this point, Agesilaus suddenly remembered something, sighed, and said to his son in a deep voice: "You have to understand that Sparta has missed Davos, who was highly recommended by Chrysops, and that man The Dionysian city-state alliance founded by young people in just a few years has become a big trouble for Dionysius. We can no longer push Xenophon towards the enemy..."

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The next day, both sides took up positions at Coroso.

Agesilaus led the main force of Sparta and formed an array on the left flank. The side facing the coalition forces was the Argives, their long-standing enemy; The enemy he faced was his mother-state, the Athenians; and on the right wing of the center was Sparta's allied Phocians (the most important city in the region where Phocians was located was Delphi). The enemy was Thebes, the initiator of this war.

At the forefront of the Theban army, the 26-year-old Pelopidas and Epaminondas were in the queue as heavy infantry.

"Why hasn't the bugle sounded yet?! I can't wait any longer!" Pelopidas said eagerly.

Ipaminondas did not speak, but stared sideways with a melancholy face.

"Ipa, what are you worried about? Are you afraid that we can't defeat the Phokians?" Pelopidas noticed the strangeness of his friend and asked.

"I'm not worried about the Phocians. They have never been our opponents. What I'm worried about is the Argives. I'm worried about whether they can stop the Spartans' left-turn attack." Epaminondas said worriedly .

"You think too much, Ipa. This should be something the commander considers. Our goal is to quickly defeat the Phokians!" Pelopidas pointed his spear forward and said with high spirits.

　Thanks to Tiggo 2, Southern Sixteen, Mavericks, Reuss, orchast for the rewards!Your support is my biggest motivation for writing! !

　　There’s a dinner party tonight, so I’ll update in advance.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)