Chapter 1176
When was the last time most of the Greek city-states formed an alliance? The Greek War of Hippo a hundred years ago! They were treating Diónia as an enemy like Persia! This was very uncomfortable for Cloto Catax and Printos, who had Greek blood flowing in their veins and had a Greek complex.
Therefore, when the messenger left, both of them looked very solemn.
Printos was the first to break the silence. He comforted Cloto Catax. "Your Highness, you don't have to worry too much! The Thebes have already said that forming an alliance that includes most of the Greek city-states will take a long time. We still have enough time to conquer Sparta.
Once Sparta is conquered, Messenia will belong to us again. The Arcadia Union will still be our ally. Ellis has also expressed goodwill to us. This way, we will have more than half of Peloponnesus. In addition, the Thebes will also support us. Even if other city-states form an alliance to fight against us, their strength will be greatly weakened. We can defeat them with our current strength and dominate the situation in Greece! "
Cloto Catax pondered for a while and said cautiously, "Our arrival is like poking a hornet's nest. I didn't expect Delphi, Olympia, and Corinth to hate us so much. I'm afraid that this will complicate the situation in Greece. Many things may become uncertain … Indeed, the most important thing for us now is to hurry up and defeat the army of Sparta. We need to get rid of this strong enemy first. Moreover, defeating Sparta will increase our prestige. It will also serve as a deterrent to the other Greek city-states. "
"Your Highness is right!" Printos nodded in agreement. "I think we can —"
"Report!" The voice of the royal guard suddenly came from outside the tent.
"What is it?"
"An urgent letter from Messenia!"
Cloto Catax opened the letter. He gradually frowned and fell into deep thought.
Although Printos was curious, he did not take the initiative to ask.
After a while, Cloto Catax put down the letter and said, "Senator Tisias wrote that Nafpaktos has sent an envoy, hoping to let some of their people return to their mother state, Messenia."
"Nafpaktos?" Printos thought for a while and said with some doubt, "I remember that this city-state is located on the north coast of Corinth Bay, near the exit of the bay. During the Peloponnesus War, it was not only an ally of Athens, but it was also the naval base of Athens in Corinth Bay. Athens' Admiral Phormio once won a naval victory there. Athens' Admiral Demosthenes used it as a military base and almost conquered Acarnania, Amnachia, Aetolia, Aetolia, and Locris … But why did this city-state make? "
"Lord Printos is indeed worthy of being the chief of staff. You are very familiar with the military campaigns that have taken place in the past." Cloto Catax praised and then explained in detail, "Before the Peloponnesus War, there was a large-scale riot in Sparta dominated by the Messenians. Sparta could not put it out with the help of Athens' reinforcements. Finally, they reached a compromise with these Heraurochs and allowed them to leave Sparta's territory.
Athens helped some of the escaped Messenians to establish Nafpaktos. It is said that it was from the suggestion of Pericles. The famous chief general of Athens did have a long-term vision. So during the Peloponnesus War, Nafpaktos has been a firm ally of Athens and played an important role.
After the war, Nafpaktos was forced to dissolve the covenant with Athens. But in recent years, Sparta has been exhausted by the war and its strength has been greatly weakened. Nafpaktos has once again been in close contact with Athens … "
Printos was born as a Turkish commoner. He was talented and intelligent, but because of his poor family, he did not receive much education when he was young. Later, when Diónia was established, he was the first to respond to the call of the Devers and attended the adult class of the Turkish school. After he became illiterate, he had not stopped learning. But after all, he was old, so he focused his energy on military research. The new generation of Diónia citizens received a more comprehensive education from an early age. They were more knowledgeable and involved in a wider range of subjects. As a prince, Crotocatax not only had to receive education from the school, but he also had to complete the study tasks assigned to him by the Devers. The amount of knowledge he possessed was more extensive than that of ordinary people of his age.
"The people of Nafpaktos have asked to join Messenia on the grounds that they are descendants of Messenia …" Printos carefully thought about what Cloto Catax had just said. He quickly reacted and said, "But they have close contact with Athens. I am afraid that Athens has secretly instigated them … Now that the First Fleet is patrolling the Aegean Sea, Athens is already dissatisfied, and now there are Delphi and the priests of Olympia secretly operating …
Once Messenia becomes unstable because of their participation, not only will the kingdom's efforts to invest in Messenia be destroyed, but it will also cause problems for the army's retreat. We have to be careful! "
"Lord Tisias is also aware of this problem, so he wrote to ask for instructions." Cloto Catax raised the papyrus scroll in his hand, but there was some hesitation on his face. "But we have already issued a call to the whole of Greece, 'Welcome the immigrants of Messenia back to our mother country'. We have just said that not long ago, so how can we go back on our words now?"
"Your Highness, we do not need to go back on our words." Printos suggested. "We just need to postpone this matter and say, 'In principle, Messenia agrees to let them return to their mother country, but because there are too many of them returning, Messenia does not have enough houses and land for them to settle down. When Messenia is fully prepared, we will take the initiative to tell them to return.'"
Cloto Catax pondered. "You mean … after we defeat Sparta and stabilize the situation in Peloponnesus, we will agree to the request of the people of Nafpaktos?"
"Even after we have taken control of the situation in Greece, we can inform Nafpaktos. After all, Messenia is under our control, so the timing is up to us. Anyway, we did not go back on our words."
Cloto Catax nodded and picked up a pen and paper. He deliberated for a while and prepared to write a reply.
At this time, a guard outside the tent came to report. "Your Highness, the officer in charge of patrolling the West Gate has brought a man from Ellis. He has very important news to tell you."
Ellis? Cloto Catax was curious and puzzled. He put down the pen and said, "Let him in."
Under the supervision of two palace guards, a Greek man dressed as a shepherd walked into the tent nervously. When he saw Cloto Catax sitting at the head of the table, he immediately shouted, "My Lord! My Lord! My master is Ellis' Lala. He wrote a letter and asked me to hand it to the commander of the Dionysian Army. I took the letter, but I was afraid of being discovered, so I did not dare to take the main road. I ran for two days on the mountain roads and did not eat much. I am so tired … "
"Don't talk nonsense. Quickly take out the letter!" Printos said in a deep voice.
When the man was stared at by Printos's sharp eyes, he suddenly trembled in fear and quickly took out the letter from his bosom.
The guard immediately handed the letter over to him.
Cloto Catax opened the letter. The content of the letter made his heart sink. He stared at the letter for a while. When he calmed down, he raised his head and said to the guard, "Take him to eat a good meal first. Then tell the financial officer to give him 5 silver coins as a reward!"
"Yes!"
"Thank you, my Lord! Thank you, my Lord! " The man was so happy that he bowed again and again. Then he remembered something and quickly said, "My Lord, please write a reply to let my master rest assured!"
Cloto Catax nodded. After the guard and the messenger left, Printos immediately asked, "Your Highness, did something big happen?" Although Cloto Catax hid it well, Printos still saw some clues.
Clotho Katak silently handed the letter to him.
Printos quickly read the letter, and his expression became solemn. "Your Highness, the letter says, 'The Olympia Priest and the Pisans have persuaded the Elysian Parliament to join the Greek Union to fight against us.' The letter also says, 'At the Elysian Parliament, the Olympia Priest declared that their people will soon persuade the Oconus to rebel against the Arcadia Union …' If the situation is as the letter says, the situation will be very disadvantageous to us! "
Cloto Catax clenched his hands tightly. Although he seemed a little nervous, he still analyzed the situation seriously. "When I was in Messenia, I heard from Lord Tisias that the father of this Elysian Parliament member, Ionikus, was a Mesenian. He once witnessed our army recapture Messenia from the hands of Sparta. He also stayed in Messenia for a period of time and liberated Heraurochs with Tisias. He has a good impression of the Kingdom of Diónia. That's why he wrote us this letter immediately after he heard the news.
I'm afraid that if we fail, the newly independent Messenia will once again be occupied by the Sparta … So, I don't think he would lie to us. "
"If Elysian Parliament becomes our enemy, and Oconus or more Arcadia cities also rebel, then our path of retreat will be threatened. Messenia is likely to be attacked, and the battle with Sparta will not be easy!" Printos said in a low voice.
Cloto Catax rubbed his hands and asked hesitantly, "Should we … lead the army back to Messenia first and see how the situation changes before deciding on the next step of the military operation?"
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