Chapter 1138
"I understand. I'll go back and discuss with the others to fight for more benefits for the kingdom …" Ancitanos replied.
"Also …" Devers hesitated for a moment before saying, "Do you want to reconsider your resignation as the Foreign Affairs Minister? Another war is about to break out in the complicated Greece. Foreign affairs are of utmost importance, and we need an experienced minister like you to take the helm. How can you leave at such a crucial time? "
Ancitanos stretched out his skinny fingers and touched his gray hair. "Your Majesty, I'm old, and I don't have enough energy to handle such a heavy task, especially when the war is about to break out. I might as well resign as the Foreign Affairs Minister and seize the remaining time to do what I like, such as writing the 'History of the First 20 Years of Diónia'. "
"Alright …" Devers didn't force it. He thought for a moment before saying, "I've looked at the candidates you've listed for the Foreign Affairs Minister and thought about it for a long time. I think Tapirus is more suitable. He's made great contributions in the Western Mediterranean War and the Gallic War. He's qualified and capable enough. What do you think?"
"I fully agree with Your Majesty's decision," Ancitanos replied without hesitation.
"Then, after the signing of the covenant with the Thebes, I'll gather the six assistant ministers to confirm this matter."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Herny, send your teacher off for me."
"Teacher, how many chapters have you written in the 'History of the First 20 Years of Diónia'? It's best to publish it at the same time as my 'Records of the Western Mediterranean War' so that the readers can compare the details and understand the history of that period … "Henipolis was still talking non-stop on the way to send Ancitanos off.
Ancitanos listened quietly and responded occasionally. When they walked out of the palace, he said with a serious expression, "Henipolis, you have to watch your tone when talking to His Majesty in the future. It's best not to be so casual anymore!"
"I've always spoken to His Majesty like this. Is there a problem?" Henipolis was a little puzzled.
"His Majesty is no longer the same as before. Not only does he have unprecedented prestige in the kingdom, but his power has also increased! He had recommended a total of four candidates for the position of Foreign Affairs Minister, and three of them were his students. Be it qualifications or achievements, they were not inferior to Tapius, but the Devers chose Tapius, who was not that close to him. If it was a few years ago, important appointments such as the Kingdom's Minister of Foreign Affairs would usually have to be discussed by the ministers and finally submitted to the Senate for approval. But now, it only needed His Majesty and the six assistant ministers to make a decision. It was basically decided by the Devers.
"Teacher, His Majesty is the same as before. There's nothing different about him. You're thinking too much." Heniboris had a different opinion on this, and he comforted Ancetanos instead.
Ancetanos could only say helplessly, "It seems that I'm really getting old. My imagination is running wild …"
… …
After the signing of the 'Treaty of Kalias', according to the contract, the contracting parties must recall their troops stationed abroad and dismantle their military fortresses in foreign countries.
Therefore, Athens was recalling the troops led by Iphicrates who were stationed in Kekira, but Sparta did not implement the contract. On the contrary, after learning that the Thebes had sent an envoy to Diónia, the Sparta people felt a sense of urgency. They wanted to send an envoy, Xenophon, to Diónia to persuade the King of Devers not to provide support to the Thebes, but the Persia envoy, Datis, who had not left, warned Sparta not to have close contact with Diónia. He also said that in order to support Sparta in punishing the Thebes, a large number of Persia's gifts to Sparta were being carried by a fleet from Miletus and would soon arrive.
Under such a situation, Sparta decided to attack the Thebes first. This time, the Sparta people summoned the alliance army faster than ever. As Agesilaus was not feeling well, the army was still under the command of another Sparta king, Cleombrotus. Before the signing of the contract, he was ordered to be stationed in the territory of Phocis. In May, the reinforcements crossed the Gulf of Corinth and rushed to meet him.
At this time, the news of the alliance between Diónia and the Thebes had spread to Sparta, making the Sparta people nervous.
Subsequently, the messenger of Diónia, Tapirus, also came to Sparta and reminded the Council of Elders that Diónia had formed an alliance with the Thebes. They hoped that Sparta could stop the war with the Thebes and restore peace, so that Diónia would not have to be involved in the war due to the alliance agreement. This would destroy the friendship between Diónia and Sparta that had lasted for more than 10 years.
However, the elders, led by Agesilaus, said that Sparta did not know that Diónia had formed an alliance with the Thebes. Therefore, the army had already set off and might have even fought with the Thebes. Under such circumstances, it was difficult to withdraw the army in a short period of time. However, they would do their best to restore peace to Greece.
Tapirus saw that the Sparta people were perfunctory, but he was only here to notify them according to traditional etiquette. The king of the Devers did not ask him to stop the war, so Tapirus quickly left. On his way out of the city, he encountered the messenger of Persia, Datis, who threatened and ridiculed him.
Seeing that most of the Sparta people were on the side of the messenger of Persia, Tapirus did not refute them with all his strength. After a few words, he left awkwardly, but he remembered the humiliation in his heart.
In the middle of June, Cleombrotus stationed his troops in Phocis and Pioscia's gateway, Coronia, waiting for the subsequent reinforcements to arrive before immediately marching towards the Thebes.
Now, all the people in Greece believed that the decisive battle between the Thebes and Sparta was inevitable, and the vast army of Sparta made them believe that Sparta had the absolute advantage. The next step was to wait for the Thebes to be completely destroyed or become puppets controlled by Sparta.
Even many of the Thebes had no hope of victory, and some even suggested to surrender to Sparta.
Some city-states, such as Athens, gloated over the impending doom of the Thebes; some city-states, such as Argus, silently prayed for the Thebes; and a few city-states, at this time, extended a helping hand to the Thebes, the most famous of which was Tarkus Iazon. He had secretly formed an alliance with the Thebes a year ago, and at this critical time, he sent three hundred Thessaly cavalrymen to the Thebes by sea (because the land route to the Hot Spring Pass was controlled by Sparta, it was impossible for the Thessaly people to go south through it).
At the beginning of July, Cleombrotus unexpectedly ordered his army to quickly pass through a narrow path in the mountains, avoiding the ambush of the allied forces of the Thebes, and arrived at Thisby. He raided the only port occupied by the Thebes, Cleombrotus seized the few warships of the Thebes, thus ensuring the safety of the retreat route.
After resting for two days, the allied forces of Sparta, with more than ten thousand soldiers, marched straight to the Thebes in the north. When they arrived at the highlands of Leuctra, the Sparta found that the road ahead had been blocked by the army of the Thebes.
Originally, when the allied forces of Sparta entered the territory of Pioscia, many Thebes generals thought that this time, the allied forces of Sparta were aggressive, and their numbers were much greater than before, so they could not face the enemy head-on. Therefore, they suggested to temporarily avoid the frontline, give up the military fortresses on the periphery, and retreat back to the city of Thebes to defend.
However, Ipamilonda firmly opposed this idea. He firmly believed that they should take the initiative to face the enemy, and not let the Sparta invade the core area of the Thebes. Otherwise, if they were allowed to destroy the farmlands and villages, the citizens' determination to fight would be shaken.
Over the years, Ipamilonda had led the Thebes to successfully resist the invasion of the allied forces of Sparta, so he had a very high reputation among the citizens. In addition, he had been elected as the military chief of the Pioscia Alliance (the highest position in the Pioscia Alliance was elected once a year, and the other one was Pelopidas). Pelopidas, who had returned to the city of Thebes, fully supported the decision of Ipamilonda. Therefore, the Pioscia Alliance, led by the Thebes, finally decided to fight the allied forces of Sparta to the death.
Ipamilonda led all the forces of the Pioscia Alliance to the highlands of Leuctra early, waiting for the arrival of the enemy.
The highlands of Leuctra was located at the southern end of the plain where the Thebes were located. It was full of low hills, and one of the round hills was relatively flat. It was the place where the commander and the main generals of the Thebes resided, and it was also the place where the heavy infantry gathered.
When Ipamilonda learned that the allied forces of Sparta had arrived, he did not immediately start to arrange his formation and assume a fighting posture. Instead, he moved his army to the hill opposite the settlement of the allied forces of Sparta and began to build a camp.
At this time, some Thebes generals suggested to Ipamilonda that they should take advantage of the fact that the Sparta army had just marched to this point, and when the veterans of the division were tired, they should launch an attack.
Ipamilonda did not take up the suggestion.
On the second day, the Sparta still did not take any military action, but Cleombrotus had learned through the sentries that the number of Pioscia Alliance in the opposite camp was significantly less than his own. This finally prompted him to lead the fully rested Sparta Alliance out of the camp on the morning of the third day, and began to arrange their formation along the gentle hillside.
When Ipamilonda heard the news, he immediately rushed outside the camp and looked at the opposite hill. He then smiled: because the formation of the allied forces of Sparta had not changed much from the formation that the Sparta had participated in in the past. The army was still lined up, and the Sparta warriors in red cloaks were on the right wing, and they stood out from the entire formation.
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