Chapter 117 Thebes Riding the Wall
"Thinking about what? Dionians?" Peropidas asked.
"Accurately speaking, it should be the Dionysian army." Ipamironda said frankly, "This time I went to Messenia and stayed there for several days. I was fortunate to visit Dionia's camp and checkpoint. , a temporary port, I watched their training, logistical transportation, and healing of soldiers... I benefited a lot. For fear of forgetting, I took the time to record and organize them after I came back..."
After listening to Peropidas, he immediately understood his intention: "Do you think that these beneficial things practiced by the Dionysian army can be applied to our army?"
Ipamironda shook his head lightly, "Dionia is a powerful kingdom, but we have not even unified the whole of Pioxia. We do not have such strong national strength, and many things cannot be implemented, but we can learn from it, and more importantly It can clarify the direction our military will develop in the future..."
"After you've sorted it out, be sure to show it to me first." Peropidas said with interest.
"That's for sure! Because at that time I will have a new proposal for reform of the army to be presented to Parliament, and I need your support."
"In this regard, I have always supported you." Peropidas agreed without hesitation, and then he said, "It seems that you have determined that the Dionysian army is strong and that they can defeat Spar. Da."
"Yes, I think that even if Sparta did not experience the battle of Leuctra, they would never be the opponents of the Dionians!" Ipamironda said firmly.
"Even with Persian support?"
"Persia is too far away, and they can't support Sparta indefinitely."
"And after the Dionysians defeated Sparta?" Pelopidas changed the conversation. "I remember when you came back and told the parliament about your envoy to Messenia, you said, ' Commander Dionia wants the Greek mainland to stop the war and restore peace' . . . what do you think he meant by that?"
"Don't you think this sentence is very familiar! The Persians just said it not long ago." Ipamironda said meaningfully.
Peropidas was not surprised, he stood up, thinking and pacing, "You think the same as I, the Dionysians probably want to become the second Persia and control the whole situation in Greece... With Dionia's current strength and its hostile relationship with Persia, it is completely understandable that they want to control Greece in their own hands. It's just... Although Dionia is farther from here than Persia Near, but their territory is not here after all, do you think Dionia will be like Persia... pick a Sparta to control the situation here?"
Ipamironda pondered and said, "From the current situation,
Dionysians, like Persia, wanted to take control of Greece first, as a springboard, and then confront each other. But the situation in Greece is very complicated. There is hay everywhere. If you accidentally touch a little spark, it may cause a fire. So the method you just said should be the best choice for the Dionysians, and we want to Try to become Sparta in the hands of Dionia, which will be of great benefit to the future development of Thebes! "
"I think so too, and if Dionysus really has such an idea, our Thebes is undoubtedly their best partner in Greece!" Although Peropidas said this, his emotions did not appear excited, but instead He frowned, "It's just that the situation has changed a bit. Before I came to your house, I met with the priest of Delphi."
"Why did Delphi send priests to Thebes?" Ipamironda immediately became alert.
Peropidas said solemnly, "The priest told me that after they heard the news of the invasion of the Peloponnesus by the Dionysian army, they felt that things were unusual, so they asked Apollo to ask God. As a result, Pythia saw the vision of the temple of Delphi burning in the fire. They believed that this was a warning given by Apollo. If the invasion of the Dionians who harbored heretical beliefs was not stopped, the Greek mainland would be destroyed. It will be destroyed, so they sent priests to the various city-states of the Holy Alliance, hoping that the city-states of Greece can unite, just like the Persians were repelled, and the alien race of Dionia was driven out of Greece..."
Ipamironda, who had spoken casually and had an elegant manner before, changed his face and asked anxiously, "How did you answer the priest of Delphi?"
"Of course I don't agree with this statement of the priests of Delphi. If the gods can really give a warning, why did they not bless us Thebes, but let the Spartans easily occupy our acropolis." Pelopida Si said angrily, and then sighed again, "However, after all, Delphi has a great influence on the people, so I did not expressly object to it, but evaded and said, 'We Thebes are now in a deadlock with Athens, and We also need to beware of the Thessaly going south. There is really no spare energy to fight against the Dionysians, not to mention that we have just signed an alliance agreement with them, and now the Dionysians fulfill the covenant and help us fight against our sworn enemy Sparta. How could the Bise people not keep their promises and betray the Diorians at this time!"
However, the damn priest of Delphi accused, 'Thebes should not have formed an alliance with Dionia, which gave Dionia a reason to interfere in the war in Greece. 'He asked us to break the covenant with Dionia as soon as possible, and also told me not to worry about the security of the territory. Delphi had discussed with the priests of Olympia and agreed to send messengers to each city-state. Including Jason of Thessaly and Athens, persuade them to put aside their hatred and join hands to fight against the foreign invader Dionia..."
"This is to form an all-Greek coalition to fight against Dionia!" Ipamironda took a deep breath. He really did not expect that the Dionysian army entering the Peloponnese would make Delphi and Olympia. The reaction was so great that although these two places had almost no force, they were holy places in the whole of Greece and had a great impact on the people. If they were determined to oppose Dionysus, the city-state governments would be in control of the people. Under the coercion, maybe it can really be realized...
He settled down and said, "I think... Athens is likely to agree with the proposal of the priest of Delphi, but will Jason agree? Thessaly already had the strength to fight against Sparta, but this man has always been Hiding his ambitions like a cunning wolf in the grass to the north, until we beat the Spartans at Leuctra, did he take action, will he do it again this time?"
"Jason is indeed very shrewd, and the Delphi priest may not be able to persuade him." Pelopidas agreed, and he said solemnly, "I didn't give the Delphi priest a definite answer, but tomorrow he will be at the council. A request to all members of parliament.”
"So you came to me first, and then went to other councilors' houses to seek support?" Ipamironda understood the true intention of his friend, and he immediately asked, "Then what is your opinion on the request of the priest of Delphi? what?"
"My opinion... Didn't I just say that if Dionia wants to become the second Persia, then Thebes will become the second Sparta. I have been to Persia, and I have been to Dio Ordinary towns in the kingdom of Dionia and Dionia are also more prosperous than many city-states in Greece, not to mention their central city Turii, I feel that it is no less than Persian Babylon, even more vibrant than Babylon!
What's more, you told me just now that Dionia's army is also very strong! So I think that today's Greece is not only a collection of the power of most city-states, but also difficult to confront the powerful Dionia. Thebes should be on the side of the winner, so that our efforts over the past few years have not been in vain! "
"I support you!" Ipami Ronda first expressed his attitude, and at the same time he reminded cautiously, "But it is difficult for you to get the full support of the parliamentarians, and it is even more difficult to convince the people of Thebes. Step back and say , even if you do get the council to agree to your proposal, it will be difficult to get all the other allies of Pioxia to support our decision. At that time, the Pioxia alliance we have worked so hard to establish will not only be disbanded, but also in Central Greece, Thebes will be isolated and even besieged by other city-states again!"
"I have also considered these issues you mentioned. Of course, I will not explicitly reject the request of the priests of Delphi and openly support Dionia." , Corinth, Argos, Elis, Phokis, Lochris, and Thessaly... There are many Greek city-states, and each has its own interests and needs, and there are many contradictions between them. Delphi, Olympia could not convince them in a short time to join forces against the Dionians.
And even if they are persuaded, it will take a lot of time for the city-states to conduct military mobilization and finally bring the army together. I see... these will take at least two or three months, and within such a long time, Maybe the Dionian war on Sparta is over, the Dionians will take new actions, the situation will become clearer, and we will make new decisions. "
Ipamironda pondered and said, "I think it's okay, just because... Thessaly and Athens have not made a clear statement, and they are still hostile to Thebes, and the safety of Pioxia is still threatened. I believe that the resolution of not expressing our attitude and temporarily delaying the time will be accepted by the MPs and the people of Thebes, and it is also in the interests of other Pioxia allies.”