Chapter 372
"Sir, are we going to start a war?" he asked tentatively.
"War might not happen, but there's no harm in being prepared. I believe you've heard about the public trial in Victory Square. Syracuse is ambitious towards Diónia. " Devers was satisfied with Syracuse's vigilance towards war as a admiral. He looked at Syracuse with a solemn expression. "If war breaks out, what are the chances of our entire Greek navy winning against Syracuse's navy?"
Syracuse's expression also became tense and solemn, but he was still able to maintain a clear mind. He said smoothly, "Crotone can at most assemble 20 three-tiered warships due to the previous war with Rockley. Syracuse has about 10, Corunna has about 8, and Triene has about 5 … As for the city-states in the Diónia alliance, the Lijim Navy has the most three-tiered warships, maybe 30. Heraclea and Metapontum can assemble 5 at most. Laos hasn't grasped the technology to manufacture three-tiered warships yet. Castellón and Elia don't have three-tiered warships, only small and medium-sized warships … Oh, there's also Tarantum. I almost forgot about it. It has about 25 three-tiered warships …"
Tarantum! This reminded Devers that Diónia had been estranged from him for the past two years. However, in the face of a greater threat, Devers decided to improve their relationship.
"If we gather the naval forces of all the city-states in Greece, there will be about 130 three-tiered warships. Including the small and medium-sized warships … there will be about 250. According to the information we received, Syracuse currently has close to 400 three-tiered warships, and the total number of warships is probably more than 600. However, although the difference in numbers is huge, it's not that we can't fight against Syracuse. It's just that … "Syracuse said with a gloomy expression," The key is that the warships of the Greek city-states are too scattered, and it's easy for the enemy to destroy them one by one. Even if they can gather together, it'll be easy for them to fight separately due to the lack of training and a unified command. "
Devers pondered for a moment before saying, "If all the Greek warships are trained together and have a unified command, do you think the Greek Coalition Fleet has a chance to defeat Syracuse's navy?"
A fleet that has just been established and has no naval battle experience wants to defeat the powerful Syracuse navy? Syracuse was not shocked by Devers's question. On the contrary, after serious consideration, he said decisively, "I think it's possible! First of all, the sailors of Diónia's navy are very high-spirited. Sir, you also know that the quota for Diónia's infantry corps has been filled. Many free people and some probationary citizens who have already registered with the Household Registration Department are unwilling to wait in the corps' reserves, so they've become sailors. These young and strong men are eager to be like the legionnaires, to make contributions as soon as possible, to shorten their years of service, to become official citizens, and to be given a piece of land. For this reason, they're training hard and eagerly looking forward to the outbreak of war. They're more eager to fight and win than anyone else. "
Syracuse clenched his fists as though he was cheering himself up. He continued to speak loudly, "Secondly, although the Syracuse navy has a large number, they're not gathered together. Instead, they're anchored in Syracuse, Agrigento, Katanai … Oh, and now there's Rona. For this reason, it'll take a lot of time for Syracuse to gather all of their warships together. We can seize the opportunity and quickly destroy one or two of their fleets. This will change the strength of both navies … "
Devers stared at the young man. He was smart, capable, and full of vigor. He had the courage to fight in the face of a strong enemy and was full of initiative. Based on his previous logical analysis, it could be seen that he had thought deeply about naval warfare and was not limited to the position of a fleet commander. He only trained soldiers, cruised, and so on. This was a naval talent!
Devers finally made up his mind. He said in a deep voice, "You're right! The Diónia infantry has always fought against the strong with the weak. That's why the Diónia Alliance is formed today. I hope that the navy has the same spirit of not being afraid of the strong! "
"Don't worry, Sir. The Diónia navy will never be inferior to the infantry in the future!" Syracuse immediately guaranteed.
Devers looked at him and said in a deep voice, "Syracuse, although you're young, you've always performed very well in training and management of the fleet. You also have a high prestige among the sailors. Now that Enanilus has been imprisoned because he broke the law, the entire Diónia navy has no commander. We can't let this situation continue … "
When Devers said this, Syracuse's heart beat violently.
"Therefore, I've decided to propose to the Senate to let you take over as the commander of the navy. I believe this appointment will be made tomorrow. "
When great happiness came crashing down on him as Syracuse hoped, he was so excited that he did not know what to say. He could only express his gratitude, "Thank you, Sir! Thank you, Sir! Thank you — "
"Don't thank me yet. You must understand that this appointment is not an honor, but a heavy responsibility! If there is a day when war breaks out between Diónia and Syracuse, Diónia's long coastline will be attacked by Syracuse's powerful navy. The fleet you lead will have to think of ways to protect the alliance's land from being invaded by the enemy. The citizens' property will not be damaged. Therefore, your responsibility is great! "Devers said solemnly.
Under the Devers' gaze, Syracuse's expression gradually became resolute. "I understand, Sir!" He gave another military salute with great vigor.
The next day, the Senate voted to appoint Syracuse as the commander of the navy. At the same time, two bills were passed. The first was to incorporate the warships of Diónia's allied city-states into the Diónia navy. One would train while the other would patrol. The second was to increase the number of triple-oared warships from the original five per year to ten per year.
… …
In the Dionysian Theater in Athens, the famous playwright Aristophanes's new play, The Diónia Man, was being performed. The play was about a foreign citizen of Diónia who participated in the Olympia. In the play, Aristophanes portrayed the image of an alien citizen of Dionysia who was ignorant of the traditional Greek culture and foolish and ridiculous. Ever since the play was released, it was highly praised by the citizens of Athens. Every theater in Athens was always full.
For example, in the middle of the theater, when the referee announced the athletes to enter the arena, the strangely dressed foreign citizen refused to be naked. When the referee asked him why, his answer was, "There are many snakes and insects in the mountains. I have to wear clothes. Otherwise, if I'm not careful, I'll be bitten off …"
"Hahaha …" The audience burst into laughter.
"I like this part. It's so funny!" One of the audience held his stomach and laughed so hard that tears came out of his eyes.
"The next part is even funnier. I've watched it several times!" Another audience member said excitedly.
A whistle was heard on the field. The actor who was playing the role of a Dionian citizen was trying his best to run, but the referee stopped the race and asked him why he ran into the circle of the track. The actor answered innocently, "Our tribe always takes shortcuts when hunting. That's the only way we can catch our prey."
After the referee told him the rules of the race, he complained, "How stupid these rules are! No wonder I didn't see you wearing animal skins and feathers. It's impossible for you to catch the prey. "
…
The audience laughed from the beginning to the end.
In the end, the foreign citizen won the race. The temple priest put a laurel crown on his head. However, he threw the laurel crown on the ground and said angrily, "Our archon lied to me. These branches are not worth anything at all. He said that the champion would be rewarded!"
So he turned to the priest and asked for the golden scepter in his hand.
The greed of the foreign citizen and the anger of the priest became the ending scene of the play.
…
The audience stood up and applauded in one direction.
An old man with a white beard stood up and waved to the audience to express his gratitude. He was the respected playwright of Athens, Aristophanes. Despite his old age, he still sat in the field when a new work was performed. He observed the audience's reaction and thought about where his work could be improved.
The Diónia Man was written after he heard about the farce that took place at the Isthmian Games a few years ago (Lizaru's havoc at the games). Most people in Athens only saw it as a funny comedy. Only a few understood the deeper meaning of the play.
More and more city-states such as Diónia, Syracuse in Sicily, Neapolis in Campania, Thessaly in northern Greece, and Macedonia began to accept foreign citizens into Greek society. This began to impact Greece's own traditional culture. This was what Aristophanes, who had always been committed to defending the traditional values of Greece, was worried about. He used the ridiculous foreign citizen in the play to warn the people of Athens and even the entire Greek world to be vigilant. However, he was not sure how effective it would be.
With the help of his slaves, he walked out of the theater and walked down the mountain road. The crowded crowd voluntarily made way for the respectful old man.
At this moment, there was a burst of cheers in front of him.
"What happened?!" The audience patted each other on the shoulder and asked curiously.
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