Chapter 1281
"Alright, then it's settled. When the time comes, all of you will follow me to Persia!" Only then did the Devers smile. He looked at the former minister of commerce and said, "Marigi, you're about to return to your hometown. You should be very happy, right?"
Marigi replied calmly, "Your Majesty, I've lived here for most of my life. I've long since become a citizen of Diónia. The reason why I want to follow you to Persia is because I'm more familiar with the place. I hope to be able to provide you with some good advice during the campaign."
"You don't mean what you say," Epicthenis mocked.
Marigi's words reminded the Devers. He immediately asked, "Is Izzam also part of the group that's going to Persia?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. He's the most eager to sign up. After all, he'll be able to return to his hometown," Felicius replied with a smile.
Alexis immediately understood the meaning behind the Devers' words. She continued, "He should be at home now. Should we call him over immediately?"
"No need to rush. There'll be time in the future." The Devers looked at the crowd and sighed. "It's been a long time since we've gathered together! Don't be in a hurry to go back today. I'll send someone to call Matonis, Olivers, Alpines, and the other former mercenaries from Turín. I'll arrange a banquet in the palace. Let's have a good chat, alright?! "
"That's great!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
… …
Late at night, the Devers returned to his mansion in the Hill of Kings after the banquet.
When he arrived at the backyard, he found that the main hall in front of him was brightly lit. He found it strange. Walking in, he saw the two Queens, Cristoya and Aegnis, sitting in the large hall. He asked drunkenly, "It's so late. You two … why aren't you going to bed yet?"
"Your Majesty, we're waiting for you," Cristoya said in a reproachful tone.
"Waiting for me? Uh … what's the matter? "Devers burped.
Aegnis immediately helped him sit down and brought him a cup of hot honey water that she had prepared earlier. She asked with concern, "We heard that Your Majesty is personally leading an army to attack Persia. Is this true?"
Devers held her hand and comforted her softly, "You two don't have to worry. Persia is obviously weak now. We are fully capable of defeating it completely, so that it will no longer be a threat to the kingdom. Besides, this is a war between Diónia and Persia. Almost all the legions of the kingdom will be deployed. If I don't go there myself, I won't feel at ease!"
Devers gently squeezed Aegnis's hand and looked at Crystal, his tone becoming even more gentle, "Don't worry, this is the last time I'll lead troops into battle. Once this war is over, I'll be by your side and won't let you worry anymore!"
"Your Majesty." Crystal was moved, but her expression quickly became serious, "In the past, when you led troops into battle, my sister and I could only wait at home. But this time, you're going to Persia. We've already discussed it, and we'll go with you!"
"What?!" Devers immediately sobered up. He looked at Crystal, then at Aegnis, and asked in disbelief, "You're not joking, are you?"
"Your Majesty!" Crystal straightened her chest and said in a serious tone, "Aegnis and I have discussed this all day, and we're now making this request very seriously. I hope you'll take it seriously!"
"Alright." Devers let go of Aegnis's hand and sat up straight. He coughed lightly and said in a low voice, "I don't agree!"
Seeing Crystal pull a long face, Devers continued to explain, "I was the one who made the 'Military Law of Diónia'. It's precisely because the army has strictly enforced it that we've been able to win time and time again, and have the powerful kingdom we have today. Article 91 of the military law specifically states that 'generals and soldiers are not allowed to bring their families into battle, nor are they allowed to abduct women. Violators will be punished by beheading!' Do you want me to be beheaded?
Even if no one dares to do so, as the one who made the military law and the commander of the entire army, will the soldiers seriously abide by it if I break it? Once this bad precedent is set, it will eventually lead to the corruption of military discipline. Will the army still be able to win? … "
Aegnis was a little convinced, and she looked at Kristoya.
Crystal was unmoved, "The military law states that women are not allowed to follow the army into battle? Then aren't the nurses in the medical camps women? "
Devers retorted without hesitation, "They're not women, they're soldiers. Over the past few decades, the soldiers have long since stopped treating them as women. They've already become a part of the various armies."
Crystal said with a smile, "Come to think of it, the nurses in the medical camp were originally established by me according to Your Majesty's suggestion. I was still the captain of the nurses at the time, and now I can take on that role again …"
"Absolutely not!" Devers said firmly, "Both of you are now the princesses of the Kingdom of Diónia, the mothers of the nation in the hearts of the people. You can't be compared to how you were a few decades ago. If you take up a post in the medical camp, it will only disrupt the order of the medical camp and affect their efficiency! More importantly, your safety cannot be guaranteed. If something happens to you, how can I command the battle with peace of mind? "
"Your Majesty." Crystal's eyes suddenly turned red, and she choked a little as she said, "I followed you from Persia to Greece, and I haven't returned home for decades. I've heard merchants in Asia Minor say that ever since Persia saw the Kingdom as an enemy, they somehow found out that I was born in Miletus. Although my father was punished by the Persia because of Cyrus's rebellion, he passed away ten years ago. But this time, the Persia killed my father's family … Hundreds of people, including our neighbours … They were either killed or enslaved …"
Crystal clear tears flowed down her well-maintained white cheeks, but her voice became a little shrill, "Your Majesty, I swear in the name of Hades, this time I will go to Miletus personally. All the Persia people who participated in the murder of my family and all the accomplices of Miletus must be punished! I will also try my best to find all the surviving people, so that they can settle down again and live a prosperous life. This is what I owe them! … "
The Devers was silent. In fact, he had already learned about the massacre of Cristoya's family from Aristiras five years ago. In order to not let his wife be sad, he hid it. He did not expect Cristoya to have known about it long ago, but to bear it silently … If her father was involved in Cyrus's rebellion and suffered the revenge of the King of Persia, it could be said that it had nothing to do with Diónia, but the destruction of her family was the real cause of the Devers. Now that Cristoya swore in the name of God, it showed that she was determined.
If the Devers still objected, it would undoubtedly cause a rift in the decades of relationship between husband and wife, so he hesitated.
At this time, Aegnis spoke up to smooth things over, "Your Majesty, what do you think? My sister and I will not go with the army to Persia, to avoid making things difficult for you. When the war is smooth, we will go with the supply fleet … "
"This is still a little dangerous …" The Devers looked at his two wives' expectant and pleading eyes, and finally compromised, "Alright, I will arrange this … But, Cristoya, who will be in charge of your Chamber of Commerce when you are gone? And Aegnis, who will be in charge of the Temple of Hera? "
"Eunice is now able to take charge of things on her own. When I am gone, of course she will be in charge of the Chamber of Commerce."
"Cynthia will be in charge of the Temple of Hera for me."
"What about little Cristoya and the others? Are you willing to leave them behind? "The Devers tentatively made one last effort.
Cristoya said firmly, "I am not their mother, what is there to be reluctant about?"
Seeing the determination of his two wives, the Devers lowered his head and slowly drank a mouthful of honey water, then said, "How about this … After the whole of Western Asia Minor is conquered, I will inform the Ministry of Military Affairs to send troops to escort you to Miletus. After you are done with Miletus, you two will return, okay?"
"No!" Cristoya immediately objected, "If you conquer Persia this time, Aegnis and I will go with you to Babylon!"
The Devers was stunned, "Why are you going to Babylon?"
Aegnis stammered and did not speak, but Cristoya was quite direct, "I heard that the King of Persia has many women, we are afraid that you will marry another one, so we have to keep an eye on him!"
The Devers were stunned, "What nonsense are you thinking, how could I do such a thing that violates military law! Besides, I am already so old, how can I still have such thoughts! "
Cristoya curled her lips, "Who knows, I heard that the King of Persia is already old, and has married his own daughter. If my sister and I follow you, we can prevent you from making mistakes!"
The Devers shook their heads helplessly.
… …
Although the people of Persia in Asia Minor received the news that "Diónia declared war on Persia and formed a Greek coalition to attack Persia", at the same time they also noticed that the people of the Greek city-states were preparing to harvest the fields that were about to be harvested, and had not begun to mobilize, so they all believed that the Greek coalition's attack would not come too soon. As a result, the Tenth Legion of Dioria successfully landed on the beach of Missia in Persia on the east coast of the Hellespont.
Of course, even if the governor of Missia, Theopoulos, was prepared, he would not be able to stop the Dionysian Army from landing, and at most cause some trouble for the Tenth Legion.
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