ancient greece mediterranean ruler

Chapter 641 Academic invitation from Dionia Academy

"Plato is indeed a great scholar. I have read his "Utopia", and the description of various systems of the city-state and the conception of the ideal city-state completely shocked me!" Foster Carda's heartfelt praise made The young people looked at him kindly, and he added another sentence: "But he will be invited to Dionia Academy soon."

What? !The students were shocked. Some looked at Plato hurriedly, while others shouted in disbelief: "You are a liar!"

"Calm down, my students! Jealousy and anxiety have blinded your eyes and prevented you from thinking rationally. What's the use of learning so much knowledge!" Plato's several scoldings made the young people feel a little ashamed.

He turned around and said to Foster Kada seriously: "Knowledge is for you to improve yourself and observe the world, not to show off!"

Foster Kada was shocked when he heard this, and quickly admitted his mistake frankly: "You are right, I did something wrong!"

Plato's face softened, he picked up the letter in his hand and asked: "I want to know who proposed the "All-Greek Scholars Conference" mentioned in this letter? How was it carried out? Who did you invite to participate?"

After being given a slap in the face by Plato, Foster Kada was respectful and did not dare to neglect. After thinking about it seriously, he replied: "It turns out that our Kingdom of Dionia holds the "Greater Greece Medical Forum" every year. Later, the Academy of Mathematics Nagato Totic Ayres founded the "Mathematical Symposium of Magna Graecia", and then Mr. Ansitanos held the "History Seminar"... After Mr. Gorkia came, he also proposed to hold the "Mathematical Symposium of Magna Graecia" at the beginning of this year. "Philosophy Seminar", when King Davos learned about it, he believed that many scholars were proficient in multiple fields of knowledge. Various colleges in the kingdom held academic seminars, which were not only repetitive, time-consuming, energy-consuming, and too inefficient, but also invited an excessive range of scholars. Narrow, mainly within the scope of Italy and Sicily. So he proposed to create an "All-Greek Academic Exchange Meeting" to invite famous scholars from all over Greece to participate in the meeting, exchange knowledge with each other, and explore the mysteries of nature and human beings.

I remember His Majesty once said something that was widely circulated in our school.He said, 'The spark of wisdom is generated in the collision, and the truth becomes clearer with more debate. '"

When Foster Carda said this, Plato's eyes lit up and he couldn't help but be moved.

Foster Carda continued: "As far as I know, this conference will be composed of two parts. In one part, scholars will give lectures on one or more topics based on their areas of expertise, and there will be many students. , the public, and even scholars can observe; the other part is the exchange and debate meeting between scholars, which also allows a small number of students to observe and ask questions...

This time, we sent people to invite famous scholars from all over Greece.I don’t know exactly which scholars there were, but at least I know that there were Antisthenes, Isocrates, and Theaetetus in Athens.Because I have to deliver a letter to them. "

Plato frowned slightly when he mentioned Antisthenes.

Spisippus next to him asked anxiously: "This "All Greek Scholars Conference" in Dionia... can we also participate?!"

Foster Kada smiled and said: "Of course. Dionia welcomes all young people in Greece who love knowledge, respect knowledge, and are eager for knowledge to go to Thurii to participate in this all-Greek academic event!"

Having said this, he respectfully asked Plato: "Have you made your decision?"

Plato stroked his long beard, nodded and said: "I have long wanted to travel to the Kingdom of Dionia with its unique political system. This is a good opportunity, and I will definitely arrive on time!"

After receiving a definite answer and a reply written by Plato soon, Forstercada immediately took off the package on his shoulder and opened it on the stone bench. He only heard the sound of metal "clattering", and everything inside was white. Flowery silver coins.

Facing Plato's surprised gaze, Foster Kada said seriously: "His Majesty Davos said, 'Knowledge is priceless, and the time and energy of scholars are very precious.' Therefore, these 500 silver coins of the Kingdom of Dionia , is a reward for attending this meeting, which also includes your round-trip expenses to Athens, so please be sure to accept it!
After you arrive in Turui, your accommodation and meals will be arranged by Dionia Academy, so you don't have to worry about it.And... please be sure to take this invitation letter with you when you go to Thurii. If a Spartan or other city-state ship intercepts it, you only need to show them this letter and they will let us go. Dionia has communicated with these city-states in advance..."

"You are so considerate!" Plato couldn't help but sigh with emotion when he heard these words: Obviously, Dionia knew his previous experience and had such a special explanation.

Six years ago, when Plato visited Syracuse, there was civil strife in Syracuse. When he left, he was intercepted by a Spartan warship.At that time, the Corinthian War was not yet over. The Spartan general who hated the Athenians detained the famous Athenian scholar and sold him as a slave. If his friends hadn’t rescued him immediately, he might still be digging soil in a mine… ... This terrible experience also made him afraid of going to the Western Mediterranean. In addition, the news that "Dionia signed a covenant with Sparta" reached Athens at that time, and most of the people in Athens scolded Dionia , calling it a traitor (because the construction of Old Thurii was initiated by Athens, and the Athenian people believed that Dionia should support Athens).This also affected Plato's mood, making him still not travel to the most powerful kingdom in the Western Mediterranean.

This time, he can finally make up for this regret...

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

In the King's Office of the Dionia Palace, the five rotating presidents of the Senate, Minister of Commerce Mariji, Minister of Finance Melses, and Supreme Overseer Sesta gathered together.

Davos looked at them and said solemnly: "I invite you here this time because there are several important things that I want to discuss with you in advance. You have the Dionia Kingdom Conference and the Tribune Conference at the beginning of the year. People who participated, and those who did not, must have heard about it... Many local council representatives and tribunes mentioned the issue of "seniors accepting gifts from citizens and foreigners", especially the elders who serve as chief executives. This is even more obvious on the issue. They also repeatedly mentioned the 'Polyxis treason case and today's Laodicean case', hoping that we can take some measures on this issue. I once promised them that we would do something about this issue. It’s time to make changes, and now it’s time to fulfill our promise! What do you think about this?”

Everyone looked at each other with solemn expressions. Most of them did not expect that Davos summoned them today to discuss this difficult issue.

There was silence in the hall for a while. As the leading figure in the Senate after the death of Kunogorata, Cornerus had to stand up and speak first: "Your Majesty, since the establishment of Dionysia, it has been a duty to hold public office in the kingdom. The rights and obligations of citizens of the kingdom did not require any salary at first. But today, not only the middle and low-level officials, but also the laborers who transport the baggage, the jailers who supervise the criminals, and the sentries guarding the fortress are all paid, but the entire The kingdom just doesn't have any elders. Because this is a noble position, the elders serve the entire country and citizens and should not care about their salary like low-level officials.

But... I remember that when the alliance was first established, there were no major events. The Senate would usually hold a big meeting every five or six days, and during the rest of the time, we could tend the fields with the slaves at home.But now the kingdom is so big and has so many affairs. We hold meetings in the big council hall almost every day, discuss the kingdom, and pass bills. How can we still have the time and energy to increase income for our own families?Although according to the "Dionysian Law", our elders will give no more or no less gifts to the land acquired in every war.However, the income from land is limited after all, and is often affected by climate and soil. Many elders who do not know how to run housework live worse than lower-level officials..."

"Are you saying that it is reasonable for the senators to receive gifts?" Davos asked softly with a calm expression.

Cornelus was so nervous that he was speechless for a moment.

"Your Majesty, Lord Cornelus is telling the truth." Lysias took over and defended Cornelus: "The position of a senator is noble, but senators are also human beings and they also have desires. We hope to be able to eat good food, drink good wine, and wear gorgeous clothes. Although money cannot reflect a person’s nobility, we can imagine that when a senator who lives in embarrassment receives a gorgeous man wearing gorgeous Burton, exquisite gold and silver jewelry, and followed by When a wealthy businessman has four or five servants, who is more like a senator in the eyes of the people?
So why Laodicean was so popular among the senators was because he was generous and often invited the senators to banquets... This is also why there are so many people vying for every vacancy of chief executive, because after serving as chief executive , they have more opportunities to accept gifts from local people to increase their income, allowing them to live like wealthy citizens of Dionia. "

"Just because we want to live a luxurious life, we can accept gifts from those foreign envoys and outsiders, and speak good words for them in the Senate meeting! Your Majesty, Laodicean is just an unlucky guy who ignores the situation in the Senate. In the interests of the kingdom, it is not uncommon for people to throw out some suggestions that are completely unfavorable to the kingdom and seek benefits for foreign countries! I have long felt that this problem should be solved. This time, since the public’s response is so great, we can take the opportunity to put an end to it. The elders accept gifts from others, and those who violate them will be punished!" the Supreme Inspector Sesta suggested with a serious expression.

　Thanks to Zhan Bili and BingHuo for the reward!Your support is my biggest motivation for writing! !

　　
　
(End of this chapter)