ancient greece mediterranean ruler

Chapter 636 The progress of the Dauni War

"I will never surrender to the Spartans, even if it means death!" Pelopidas' face was full of grief and anger.

Epaminondas still maintained a calm expression, and gently persuaded again: "Calm down, my dear friend, your sacrifice will not be of any benefit to Thebes. The most important thing you should do now is to quickly find those who have not been killed." Captured anti-Spartan citizens and led them to escape from the city of Thebes."

"You actually let me run away like a coward?!" Pelopidas looked at Epaminondas in disbelief, as if he didn't know him.

Ipaminondas looked sincere, and said in a deep voice: "When the Thirty Tyrants of Athens were in power, Thrasybros escaped from Athens. Later, he led the rebels to attack many times, and finally liberated Athens... I hope you can be like him!”

You must know that Thrasibulos led the exiles to hide in Thebes, and it was the Thebans who provided them with refuge and support, so his deeds are well known in Thebes.

Pelopidas fell into deep thought, and Charon and other friends also came to persuade him.

Pelopidas finally made up his mind: "Okay, I'll go to Athens!"

His friends bade him farewell, and Charon gave him a package containing gold and silver.

Pelopidas hurriedly embarked on the road to escape, but he swore to the gods that he would return to Thebes and drive away the Spartans!

After Pelopidas left, everyone focused their attention on Ipaminondas.When the bad news came and everyone was in panic, Ipaminondas was able to remain calm and persuaded the stubborn Pelopidas away, which made Charon and others look at this ordinary-looking man with admiration and insisted on retaining him. at home.

Until the riots in the city subsided, Ipamironda immediately said goodbye and left.

Walking in a city that was once extremely lively due to festival celebrations, but now only a few people walk there, I often see shocking pools of blood on the streets, and I am also interrogated by the Spartan patrols who speak rudely and act arrogantly. The always kind-hearted people Epaminondas was burning with anger...

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On this day, the Spartan raid on Thebes went perfectly, and Phoebus took complete control of the city of Thebes.

This incident also quickly shocked other city-states in mainland Greece. "Sparta rashly captured a city-state that was not hostile to it without declaring war." This obviously violated Greek tradition and the king's contract, and even made them Feel extremely uneasy.Athens, Corinth, Megara, Argos and other city-states all sent envoys to Sparta to question it and ask it to withdraw its troops stationed in Thebes.

The Spartan Council of Elders fell into a passive position for a time. Some elders scolded Phoebus for his indiscretions, but more elders were very satisfied with Phoebus's success in raiding Thebes, especially Agesilaus. , he declared: Phoebus established a pro-Spartan government in Thebes. This was a great victory!Even during and after the Peloponnesian War, Lysander could not completely turn Thebes over to Sparta, but Phoebus did, and he was amazing!

But in order to deal with other city-states and calm their anger, superficial efforts still have to be made.Therefore, the Council of Elders made a decision: Phoebiades behaved inappropriately and was fined 10 drachmas (in fact, Phoebus did not pay the money at all) and was transferred back to Sparta to reflect behind closed doors.But the reason why Phoebias attacked the city of Thebes was because someone accused Ismailias, another military governor of Thebes, of secretly communicating with Persia.

As one of the leaders of the anti-Spartan faction in Thebes, Ismailias was captured by the Spartans on the day they broke the city. Therefore, Sparta placed this crime on his head and declared that he would Other city-states organized juries to try the matter.

The Spartans actually want to interrogate a Thebes consul for secretly communicating with Persia? !This is really ridiculous!Isn't Sparta the biggest lackey of Persia? !

The native Greek people who secretly cursed "Sparta is too domineering" took another look at the composition of the jury: except for the Spartans, who are citizens of Sparta's allies in the Peloponnese, there is no justice at all. It's Sparta that has the final say!
In the end, Sparta executed Ismailias for "collaborating with the enemy" and then transferred Phoebias back, but sent another general to take over the defense task of the Thebes Acropolis. 1500 troops are still stationed at the Acropolis of Thebes.

The Spartans were shameless, and in the face of accusations from other city-states, they firmly held the results of Phoebus in their hands without making any changes. However, the city-states such as Athens, Corinth, and Argos were just faced with this result. They protested and did not take stronger actions. The King's Peace Treaty weakened their power. Sparta's strength also allowed them to suppress their dissatisfaction. However, Athens began to provide support to the Thebans who continued to flee to its territory.

Phoebias was recalled, but the task of suppressing the Chalcidic League in northern Greece had to continue, so the Council of Elders appointed Teleutias, the brother of Agesilaus who had performed outstandingly in the Corinthian War. Expeditionary general.

At the same time, the Council of Elders also decided to restore the city of Plataea, which was destroyed by Sparta 50 years ago. This town is in the south of Thebes, guarding a passage from the Isthmus of Corinth to Boiosia. Sparta It is about to begin to expand its power in Central Greece...

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"Brothers, get up, we have a mission!" The team leader got into the tent.Shout loudly.

The soldiers who were resting on the bed immediately turned over and sat up.

"Captain, what's the mission?!" Adoris asked first.

"Commander Alexis asked our Fourth Army to attack Sipontum." The squad leader replied.

"Just us as a legion?"

"Of course we are the only legion. Other legions also have their own tasks. For example, the first legion is going to attack Vieste..."

"Vest, that is really a troublesome mission." Adoris' casual words aroused the curiosity of his comrades: "Adoris, is it difficult to attack West?"

"That's not true." Compared to these comrades who knew nothing about the Dauni region, Adoris had learned about the situation in the Dauni region in detail from his father before the Dauni War began: "Vest is a small town. , it is said that the number is less than 150, but it is located at the top of the Lara Peninsula, at least [-] miles from Lucenia to Vest, and half of it is mountain road. If the First Army takes a long way for safety, along the If we march along the coast, the journey will be even further..."

"How far are we to Sipentum?" asked another soldier.

Adoris thought for a moment and said, "It shouldn't be more than 50 miles."

"That's great!" The soldiers breathed a sigh of relief.

"Don't be too happy too early. Warriors from the Dauni tribe may attack us at any time along the way, so Commander Olivers requires us to march in full force!"

The squad leader's reminder did not make the soldiers dissatisfied. From the beginning of the war to the present, although the casualties of the Dionia army are not large, the recruits who have experienced many wars have lost their initial enthusiasm and longing, and feel the war of cruelty and ruthlessness, including Adoris.

"Hurry up and put on your armor, grab your weapons, and gather outside. If you are late, you will experience the power of Captain Olivers!"

……

Although the Dionian army captured Lucenia, the central city of the Dauni people, Alexis only allowed the first legion to enter the city to maintain order, and the other legions were still stationed in the original military camps outside the city.After all, the Daoni people will soon become the people of Dionia. Too many soldiers enter the city and are difficult to manage. Conflicts and disputes will inevitably occur. If the Daoni people are extremely disgusted with the Dionia people, If it leads to riots and may become difficult to govern in the future, King Davos may not praise Alexis for conquering Dauni, but will blame him for the mistakes he made.

After the Fourth Army Corps assembled in the camp, it left the camp and marched eastward.

Not long after walking, I saw the ruined city walls of Lucenia standing not far to the north, quietly telling of the brutality of the siege the day before.

Adoris still remembers clearly:
“That morning, the army surrounded the city of Lucenia, and there were thousands of cavalry cruising around the outside and the Tenth Army as a reserve force to detect and defend against the arrival of Dauni reinforcements.

His Fourth Army was responsible for attacking the west.Their side alone was equipped with 20 ballistae and four large siege towers.

Commander Olivers gave the order.

The ballistae was fired, the siege tower moved forward, and the soldiers carried the ladders, shouting the name of Hades, and rushed to the city wall. The grand and fierce scene made Adoris more excited than the previous battle on the Ofanto River, because This time, his brigade, as the second echelon of the siege, did not go into battle immediately, so standing at the rear had a clearer view of the entire battlefield.

He didn't know if it was because of him that Olivers put his brigade as a reserve, but he never stopped worrying about the stalemate in the siege battle, and was saddened by the fact that other soldiers fell from the top of the city from time to time.

However, when the company attacked the city, Captain Olivers ordered the reserve troops to join the battle. Adoris and his comrades rushed up the wooden ladder of the siege tower with high fighting spirit and swift speed to the city, facing the panic-stricken enemy. The defenders launched a fierce attack...

The resistance of the Daoni people did not last long and ended. When they were excited about the victory and were sent by the legion commander to clean the battlefield, they saw their injured and groaning comrades below the city, as well as many brothers who died in the battle. Adoris felt as if a can of cold water had been poured on him. He who loves fighting experienced the cruelty of war at that moment..."

"You said that when this war is over and we return to Thurii, will we still be able to see the rugby finals?" The teammates next to him interrupted Adoris's thoughts.

(End of this chapter)