Chapter 1292
Although Leotychides hated Agesilaus, it did not stop him from agreeing with the old general who had fought in Asia Minor for many years and came up with a new battle plan.
In the following days, the Persia army of Asia Minor took the initiative to approach, which also confirmed Agesilaus' judgment.
Leotychides was not in a hurry to meet the enemy and fight the Persia army. Instead, he led the army to retreat, but the direction of retreat was not towards Elion in the west, but towards Caius in the southwest.
The Persia army pursued them relentlessly, especially the cavalry that was at the forefront. They fought many times with the cavalry left behind by the Greek Coalition Army. The Persia, who had the advantage in terms of cavalry, naturally had the upper hand in the battle. The repeated victories also boosted the arrogance of the Persia, and they were eager to fight the Greek Coalition Army.
The Greek Coalition Army successfully withdrew from the Alisby Plain, but the closer they got to the coast, the more uneven the terrain became, and the marching speed of the army naturally slowed down. Finally, on the afternoon of the 12th day, the Persia army of Asia Minor was only six to seven miles away from the Greek Coalition Army.
This time, Leotychides ordered the army to stop advancing early and set up camp on the spot to rest.
Half an hour later, the Persia cavalry arrived, but they were shot back by the archers of the Greek Coalition Army. However, they did not go far, but patrolled in the distance.
Leotychides did not send his cavalry to chase them away. Instead, he stood on a high ground with the other generals and looked in the direction where the Persia cavalry came from.
When it was close to dusk, a huge cloud of dust slowly moved from the north and stopped three miles away, but the noise could clearly be heard by the generals.
"It seems that the Persia people think that we can't escape anymore. They are going to set up camp and rest there, and come to fight us tomorrow." Ipamilonda pointed at the fog in front of them and suggested in a serious tone, "General Prososus, look at the fog. It's still rolling and not dissipating. It's obvious that the Persia army is in a mess after they stopped to rest. They've been pursuing us for a long time, and the soldiers must be very tired. Should we use this opportunity to launch an assault?"
Leotychides pondered for a while before shaking his head and saying, "Our soldiers are also tired. Let them have a good rest tonight and recuperate their energy for the decisive battle with Persia tomorrow. Besides, if we attack now, it's very likely that we'll scare away the enemies that we've spent so much effort to lure over. "
Hearing this, the generals smiled knowingly.
"Everyone, follow me to the tent for another military meeting. We will discuss and clarify the battle plan for tomorrow."
After Leotychides finished speaking, everyone agreed.
… …
At the end of the meeting, the generals left one after another. Only Leotychides, the four commanders of the Legion of Dionysia, and a special person, Agesilaus were left in the tent.
Seeing that Agesilaus was still in the tent, Leotiades was slightly surprised and was about to ask about it.
He was about to ask, but the former king of Sparta spoke first, "Generals, I would like to talk to Commander Leotychides in private."
The four commanders looked at each other. Seeing that although Leotychides did not speak, he did not refuse either, so they prepared to leave.
However, Leotychides said, "Wait outside the tent for a while. It won't take long."
After the four of them left the tent, Agesilaus came in front of Leotychides and smiled with his wrinkled face, "When I led the Sparta army to battle in Asia Minor, although we achieved some victories, we didn't achieve much after spending so much time. On the contrary, after I led my troops back to Greece, the places that I conquered quickly became the territories of Persia. This is my regret, and also the regret of the Sparta people!
But this time, the war launched by Diónia against Persia is obviously different from the previous wars between Greece and Persia. The slogan of 'revenge against Persia' that we've been shouting for decades may really be realized! I'm not the only one who thinks so. Ipamilonda, Iphicrates, and the others also think so. That's why they were fighting for their own city-state army to take on the most important attack mission just now.
Leotychides, you can be the commander of the Greek coalition army and defeat the Persia army. This will be our Sparta people's — "
Leotychides frowned and interrupted him impatiently, "I've told you many times, my name is Prosoeus. If you call me by my name again, don't enter my tent again! If you have anything to say, hurry up and say it. I'm very busy, don't talk so much nonsense! "
A gloomy expression flashed across Agesilaus' face. He heaved a sigh of relief and made up his mind. He threw the walking stick in his hand to the side and squatted down shakily. He placed his hands on the ground and slowly knelt down. Bam! His forehead hit the ground. Once, twice, thrice …
Leotychides was stunned. He froze for a while before his expression darkened and he shouted in a low voice, "Agesilaus, what do you mean by this?"
Agesilaus straightened his body. His forehead was black. The continuous kowtowing just now was a little too fast, causing his breathing to become rapid. He coughed for a while and said weakly, "I let you and your mother down back then. I don't wish for your forgiveness! But I hope that you can promise me one thing on account that you used to be a Sparta … "
Leotychides looked down at him with a cold expression, "Tell me."
Agesilaus sighed, "I have no complaints about Sparta being conquered by Diónia because Diónia's strength is far stronger than Sparta. They defeated us fair and square. Perhaps this is Zeus' punishment for us being too arrogant in Greece for decades!
But … Even if the noble descendants of Hercules are down and out, it's not the turn for those lowly Pyriathi and Helaoth to humiliate them! But not only did they humiliate us, they also wanted us Sparta to gradually die out! No, this is absolutely not allowed! "
Agesilaus clenched his fists, his skinny body trembling with anger, "So this time, I strongly requested the King of Devers to form a team and join the war. This is to find a way for us Sparta to survive. We have to leave Lagonia, where we Sparta have been raised for hundreds of years, and move to a new place. We have no other choice!
So I hope … I hope that when this war ends, can you please ask the King of Devers for us Sparta to give Sparta a small piece of land in the Alisby Plain near the Hellespont Straits, so that we Sparta can continue to survive and multiply … "
Facing Agesilaus' expectant eyes, Leotychides frowned slightly. He had been in Diónia for so many years. Although he was valued by the King of Devers, he had never asked for anything from the supreme because he was proud and it was difficult for him to ask for anything. Moreover, ever since he landed in Asia Minor, he had stayed in this land for a few months. He knew the fertility of the Alisby Plain and the importance and prosperity of the Hellespont Straits. Not only were the allies coveted, but it was definitely an area that the kingdom would focus on controlling. It would not be easy for Sparta to cut a small piece of meat from the kingdom's hands.
He hesitated for a moment, but still said coldly, "Why don't you ask His Majesty?"
Agesilaus stood up slowly. His numb legs almost made him fall. He quickly held onto the wooden chair next to him and said while panting, "Of course I will ask the King of Devers … If he agrees, I can even kneel and kowtow to him, but I'm afraid that I'm not strong enough … It's not that I'm greedy, but if the new colony is not fertile enough, the people will not be willing to leave Laconia … And when Diónia defeats Persia, the Hellespont Straits and the Alisby Plain will definitely be under the control of the Kingdom of Diónia. Sparta now has a small population and is weak. It will be safer for us to live beside the powerful people of Diónia …"
For the survival of Sparta, this old man really … Leotychides looked at the old man in front of him who could barely stand. After a moment of silence, he used his leg to pick up the crutch on the ground and passed it to Agesilaus. He scolded in a harsh tone, "As a general, you should know how important the upcoming battle is to us. I must focus on this battle. I don't have the time to think about other things!"
Agesilaus took the crutch and smiled, "I understand … I understand … Don't worry! In the battle tomorrow, my warriors will not embarrass Sparta! "
After saying that, he slowly walked out of the tent with the help of his walking stick. Just as he was about to leave the tent, he suddenly stopped and turned around. With an incomparably solemn expression, he said, "To tell you the truth, regarding your mother's death, I truly feel deeply guilty! But as for forcing you to leave Sparta, now I think it's a good thing! Leotychides, from now on, the people of Sparta will be in your hands! "
… …
The next morning, when Fanabazos led the governors of Persia to the Greek encampment to investigate, he was hesitant about whether to engage in a battle here.
The two armies were in a hilly area, and the Greek encampment was at a high point. Although the slope was gentle, it was not very advantageous for the attacking Persia. The location of the encampment was actually quite flat, but there were higher hills on both sides of the encampment. Although the distance between the two hills was nearly 10 miles, which was not a narrow terrain that was advantageous for defense, according to the previous investigation, the Greek encampment obviously had more than 50,000 soldiers. Once the battle began, the flanks of the encampment would not be far from the hills, and the cavalry would not have enough room to maneuver. Judging from the current situation, the cavalry had the most advantage in the Persia army.
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