Chapter 1233
"I've promised those big shots that I'll send you safely to Delos. Although I, Storus, always keep my word, don't give me any trouble. Otherwise, if you piss me off, I'll send you into the sea to feed the fishes! "The owner of the boat said fiercely as he rowed.
"I don't like it when people order me around!" The man suddenly said sternly, "I'm telling you, I'm not going back to that smelly boat to lie down! If you're not happy, you can push me into the sea right now. "
The man's words carried a sense of authority, and the owner of the boat did not dare to meet his sharp gaze. He muttered a few words in a low voice, then lowered his head and rowed with all his might.
After a while, he saw that the man was staring at the shore without moving. He could not suppress his curiosity and asked, "Hey, who are you? Why did Callistratus, Iphicrates … all these generals come to the dock to send you off?! "
"Because … I'm their creditor!" The man said angrily. Then, he added meaningfully, "It's also because I'm Dionia's sworn enemy!"
That was the truth, because this man was Iazon. After he escaped to the city of Athens, the generals of Athens treated him with great courtesy. They hired the best doctors to treat him, and even set up a luxurious mansion for him to recuperate. However, they hoped that he could temporarily hand over the command of the mercenaries to the executive committee of the generals.
Like a stray dog, Iazon had no choice but to agree. As a result, these nearly 8,000 mercenaries became the main force against the attack of the Dionysian Army, and they suffered heavy losses. They were elite troops that Iazon had spent years and countless money to cultivate. They were very loyal to Iazon.
However, when Iazon learned of this, he did not complain at all. Instead, the higher-ups of Athens were embarrassed. Therefore, when Athens decided to surrender to Diónia, Callistratus specially talked to Iazon and made it clear that he was willing to take the risk to help Iazon escape from Athens. This was because once Athens surrendered to Diónia, the people of Diónia might demand this Thessaly Tarkus.
Whether the people of Athens wanted to cause trouble for the people of Diónia out of guilt or indignation, Iazon knew that he had no other choice.
At this moment, Iazon stared blankly at the shore that was constantly being hit by the waves. He remembered that his life's work had been destroyed, and he was even forced to leave his homeland. He was extremely annoyed and remorseful, and he could not help but want to go crazy. He suddenly knelt down, grabbed the side of the boat with both hands, and put his head directly into the sea …
The owner of the boat was shocked. He hurriedly dropped the oars and ran over to pull him up, shouting, "Get up quickly, don't be stupid, don't jump into the sea!"
Iazon pushed himself up with both hands and suddenly stood up. The cold sea water temporarily extinguished the anxiety in his heart. He wiped his head and face with his hands, then threw the sea water in his hands at the owner of the boat.
Seeing the owner of the boat dodging in panic, he laughed, then looked up at the sun that was slowly rising, and said fiercely, "Hurry up and row, I want to rush to the east!"
… …
The surrender of Athens was like pushing down the dominoes, so that all the Greek city-states that were still watching no longer had any hope. Elis, Phocis, Locris, Arcadia, and the Ionian city-states that originally belonged to the Athens Maritime Alliance … all sent messengers to the Diónia barracks in Attica to express their goodwill to Cloto Catax and take the initiative to join the new Greek alliance.
Under such a trend, the city-states of Achaia, Euboea, and even Crete, which had remained neutral since the beginning of the war (Crete was forced by the Second Fleet of Dioria. Under the order of the Ministry of Military Affairs, the Second Fleet led by Midolades sailed around Crete every day) … also expressed their willingness to serve Diónia as the leader of the alliance.
As a result, Delphi, which had not moved at all, was particularly eye-catching. Many people speculated that as the holy land of the entire Greek world, Delphi might be fighting to the end against the heretical Diónia.
But in fact, the priests of Delphi had long been in a panic, because there were rumors that Diónia was preparing to send troops to destroy Delphi and rob all the gold and silver in the sacred vault.
Therefore, when they received the news that the Prince of Diónia, Cloto Catax, was coming to visit Delphi under the escort of the army, all the priests and people of Delphi felt that a disaster was coming. Some packed their bags and were ready to flee, while others had already made up their minds to protect the Temple of Apollo, even at the cost of their lives …
All the eyes of the people of the native Greek city-states were focused on Cloto Catax. They were all worried.
After the noble Prince of Diónia entered Delphi, although he violated Delphi's tradition by leading the palace guards up the mountain and into the temple due to safety concerns, he did not meet the priests with weapons. On the contrary, he had been amiable. Not only did he solemnly worship Apollo, but he also took the initiative to build a sacred vault in Delphi to store the gold and silver donated by Diónia.
The priests of Delphi temporarily put down their guard and began to negotiate with Cloto Catax.
Cloto Catax promised the priests that after Diónia became the leader of the New Hellenic Alliance, the status of Delphi among the native Greek people would not change! Moreover, the Holy Kingdom of Diónia would not only guarantee Delphi's status as the "holiest oracle" in the Greek world, but also make it the greatest oracle of the Holy Kingdom of Diónia. In the future, the areas conquered and controlled by Diónia would also carry out this promise!
The priests of Delphi were overjoyed by this sudden big pie that fell from the sky. Since the rise of the Kingdom of Diónia, fewer and fewer city-states and people came to Delphi to worship and seek oracle. Today, the sacred status of Delphi among the Greek people was not as good as before. The promise made by Diónia would not only allow Delphi to regain its former glory, but also allow Delphi's influence to expand beyond the Greek world and to the vast Mediterranean Sea with the help of the strong power of Diónia.
Just when the priests were overwhelmed with joy, Cloto Catax made a request: Delphi must recognize the contents of the "Divine Canon of Hades" issued by the main temple of the Diónia, recognize Hades as the leader of the Greek gods, and accept the jurisdiction of the main temple of the Hades in name.
The priests were stunned. On one side was the Dionysian Army sharpening their swords in their territory, and on the other side was a brighter and brighter future. Delphi had no other choice.
The priests accepted Cloto Catax's request and quickly got to work. They held a grand sacrificial ceremony in which all the people of Delphi were asked to participate. Then, in front of everyone, Cloto Catax sought oracle from the Temple of Apollo.
The old Pythia danced around in the sulfur-smelling oracle for a long time and almost fainted. When she came out, she announced that she saw the great Apollo driving the golden chariot, leaping out of the mountains in the west. The black-haired Hades was sitting in the chariot, and he was talking to another young man wearing a crown. The golden chariot rose high into the sky and turned into a dazzling white light, illuminating the land and the sea … Everyone immediately came up with their own interpretation of the oracle.
Not long after, a version of the oracle that everyone agreed with began to spread in Greece. The "mountains in the west" referred to the Italian peninsula and the Kingdom of Diónia, because Italy to the west of the Adriatic Sea was indeed a peninsula traversed by the majestic Apennines Mountain Range. Furthermore, the native Greeks often ridiculed the people of Diónia as barbarians, and barbarians were often a mountainous race. The "golden chariot leaping out of Italy" meant that Apollo had acknowledged the Kingdom of Diónia. Moreover, he was driving the chariot for Hades, implying that Apollo had changed his allegiance to Hades. As for the young man in the chariot, there was no doubt that he was the king of Diónia, because it was widely known in the western Mediterranean that the king of the Devers was a descendant of Hades, and Delphi had publicly acknowledged this statement on behalf of Greece. The final scene implied that the Kingdom of Diónia would achieve unprecedented glory, and that Hades and Apollo would share the glory …
It could be said that the Pythia's oracle was very thoughtful, but it set off a spiritual storm in the minds of the native Greeks. In contrast, what Delphi announced next was more acceptable to the people: Delphi acknowledged the sacred name of the Kingdom of Diónia, and that it was undoubtedly the Kingdom of Greece. It would become an important member of the Sacred Alliance, and it was fully qualified to participate in the Pythian Games.
In any case, Delphi was saved, and it was a happy ending. The Greeks breathed a sigh of relief. Of course, some city-states were disappointed and annoyed, but it was to no avail.
… …
Cloto Catax achieved a satisfactory result in Delphi. He did not rest for long, and immediately announced that he would be visiting the Olympia.
It was the Olympia's turn to feel nervous.
Unlike Delphi, the Olympia had never been an independent holy land. For centuries, it had been back and forth between Elis and Pisa, and Agos, Sparta, and Athens had often criticized it. It also did not have the great influence that Delphi had among the people. Perhaps it was because the Greek people did not like the temperamental, lustful, and lustful King of Gods.
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