Chapter 1154
However, Agesilaus had remained silent ever since he found out about this.
Some people suggested to change the messenger and send someone close to Leotychides; some people who understood the situation back then objected, thinking that this would only be counterproductive.
Both sides argued endlessly and could not reach a consensus, so they had to temporarily turn to another topic: Dorios's retreat without a fight and his abandonment of Mersenia.
At this time, Agesilaus spoke up. He supported Dorios, causing Dorios to only be deprived of his right to a communal meal and become a lowly person.
On the way home, Agesilaus once again saw the people greeting him, but he had a different feeling in his heart.
Back home, he was alone in a room, pondered for a long time, and finally made a decision.
… …
In Mersenia, the soldiers of the various Diónia legions were busy every day under the leadership of the team officers and engineers: building the city of Mersenia, building simple docks, building important defense camps …
The Helaohs of this land were quickly organized by the village chiefs of the various villages and rotated to the military camps of Diónia. These Mersenian citizens, led by Tisias, registered them and officially announced them as citizens of the new city-state in the name of the Holy Kingdom of Diónia and New Mersenia. At the same time, they were allocated land and briefly explained the political system and laws of New Mersenia to them …
These Helaohs, who had been ordered around by the Sparta since they were young, were confused, but they were very clear about one thing: they were free! They were the masters of this land!
After living in darkness for so long, they suddenly saw the light. The Helaohs were extremely grateful to the people of Diónia. At the same time, with the reminder of Tisias and the others, they did not want the happiness that they had just obtained to be snatched away by the people of Sparta, so all of them were filled with boundless energy. They actively participated in the construction of the city of Mersenia and other facilities, and in addition to the hard work, they also participated in the military training organized by the soldiers of Diónia. At night, when they returned home, almost all of them were exhausted, but few of them complained of tiredness …
The high spirits of the Helots also infected the soldiers of Diónia, so that the whole of Messenia was full of vitality.
Leotychides was the only one who felt more and more depressed. Not only did he have to give a detailed explanation to the corps commanders, senior team officers, and even Sekerian, but the rumor that he was the prince of Sparta had spread throughout the Dionysian Army in the past two days. Whether he wandered in the camp or went out for inspection, he was faced with strange looks from the soldiers. He learned from his son that the most popular topic among the soldiers was, "Since His Excellency Prososus is the prince of Sparta, will he lead us to fight against Sparta and destroy them?"
Leotychides understood that the whole army was still in good order because of the deterrence of military law and the influence of his illustrious achievements in the past, but if this continued, it would inevitably affect his control of the army, leading to a decline in combat effectiveness.
But in a short period of time, he could not show his determination to the soldiers. At this time, he was really a little helpless and regretted being too careless before, so he simply shut himself in and stayed in the big tent.
"Commander, there is a small boat coming from the east, saying that it is a messenger from Sparta, asking to see you." The staff officer Mukru walked into the big tent and reported to him.
A messenger from Sparta … Leotychides thought that this was a good opportunity, "Bring him here! Inform the corps commanders and the three corps commanders to come to the big tent for a discussion! Uh, and the military judge! "
As Leotychides's partner of many years, Mukru heard this and could roughly guess what he wanted to do, so he immediately replied, "Okay!"
Leotychides was the commander of several corps. According to the "Military Law of Diónia", his tent had to be spacious enough for military meetings, so a staff officer, a military judge, two corps commanders, and twenty-four corps commanders stood together in the tent. There was still a passage in the middle, so it did not seem too crowded.
"Report, the messenger from Sparta has arrived!"
"Let him in." Leotychides sat upright, his face cold and solemn.
The generals on both sides also straightened their bodies, but there was more or less a trace of curiosity on their serious faces.
The curtain of the tent opened, and a white-haired old man walked in. Not only was his body slightly hunched, his body was very thin, and he was also walking with a limp …
The generals were surprised: Sparta actually sent a disabled old man as a messenger, what is the meaning of this?
Only Leotychides, who was sitting in the middle, suddenly opened his eyes wide and stared at the person who walked in.
The Sparta messenger held a wooden staff in his hand, his eyes also staring straight at Leotychides, and he unconsciously staggered forward. It was not until he was stopped by the guards that he came back to his senses and said in a disappointed tone, "Dorios is not mistaken, you are indeed my nephew, Leotychides …"
As soon as he said this, the surrounding generals were shocked. According to the age and appearance of the messenger, some of them quickly came up with an unbelievable answer in their hearts.
"You are … the King of Sparta, Agesilaus?!" Olivers could not help but ask aloud.
There was a sudden uproar in the military tent. Most of the people present were high-ranking officers of Diónia. According to the usual practice, they would naturally go through the information in the military camp before coming to Greece to fight with Sparta, to strengthen their understanding of Sparta in order to know themselves as well as the enemy. The most mentioned person in the information about Sparta was Agesilaus. This Sparta king had achieved impressive results against Persia and other Greek city-states in his decades of conquest. He was famous in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
At this time, in the eyes of the people present, he was just an old man with a frail body. There was no sign of a Sparta warrior at all. It was no wonder that some Greeks who were hostile to him called him the "King of Sparta who is the least like a Sparta". However, his courage to come alone was indeed admirable!
Mukelu subconsciously looked at Leotychides, only to see the Diónia commander leaning forward with his right elbow on the table and his left hand on his thigh. His body was leaning forward, his face was frighteningly gloomy, and his eyes were filled with coldness.
Although Agesilaus' appearance had changed a lot, Leotychides still recognized him at first glance. At that moment, a wave of anger rushed to his head. He could not help but want to rush forward and stab Agesilaus to pacify his decades of hatred. However, the cold temperament that he had developed over the years and his current identity suppressed the impulse in his heart, allowing him to maintain some calmness. He exhaled softly. He wanted to see what this cowardly man who rarely went into battle was planning to do by risking his life to come here.
Agesilaus ignored the questions from the people around him. He saw that the person in front of him was gloomy and silent, and his expression gradually became sorrowful. "I know that you must have hated me for all these years, thinking that I took away your throne … When your father passed away, I really wanted to become the king of Sparta … I'm similar to you. We were discriminated against by the people since young, so we always wanted to do something to prove ourselves. You broke the tradition of the royal family and participated in Agago's training, but because of my health —"
Agesilaus patted his broken leg, and his words became more honest. "I couldn't fight for glory like a normal Sparta citizen, so I wanted to become the king and command the army to win … At that time, Sparta's situation in Greece wasn't too good. I was confident that I could lead Sparta out of its predicament better than the young and energetic you, so … sigh!"
Agesilaus let out a long sigh from the bottom of his heart, and his eyes became a little lonely. "But Sparta's situation today is worse than back then. It's obvious that I haven't done well all these years. Maybe I was wrong back then, and I shouldn't have fought with you for the throne …"
Leotychides glared at the sincere king of Sparta. The aggressive, confident, and arrogant image in his mind had now become old and lifeless. He loosened his fist, then clenched it again, and squeezed out a sentence in a cold tone. "You forced my mother to her death."
Agesilaus did not avoid his nephew's knife-like gaze. He said calmly and painfully, "In order to become king, I did use some despicable means, but I never thought that I would force your mother to her death, and also force you to leave … All these years, whenever I think of this, I feel a little sad. Perhaps Sparta's situation today is Zeus's punishment for my sins!"
As Agesilaus spoke, his whole body slowly squatted down, his right hand supporting himself with the wooden staff. His healthy right leg bent while his left leg dragged behind, and he actually knelt on the ground.
Everyone was shocked. The dignified king of Sparta actually knelt in front of everyone!
Leotychides was also surprised, but his wooden expression effectively concealed his emotions.
Agesilaus' next words were even more shocking. "If killing me can eliminate the anger in your heart, I am willing to die by your sword! I only hope that my death can make you no longer hate the Agidai family that gave birth to you and raised you! No longer hate the people of Sparta who have the blood of Hercules flowing in their veins like you! Think about the majestic mountains of Tegetos, the surging rivers of Ourtas, the ancient Temple of Artenis, the arduous Aggo training … That beautiful land was created by the great gods. We, the people of Sparta, have lived there for hundreds of years under the guidance of the gods. Even if it is destroyed one day, it should not be done by you, a pure royal of Sparta, because when you grow old and recall the past, perhaps you will feel pain and regret like me — "
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