Chapter 176 Negotiations with Different Minds

"He's not here?" Callistratus was both disappointed and suspicious.

"His Royal Highness led the army to Argos." Karias looked at the other party, and his voice was particularly clear: "Because the Argos have decided to withdraw from the Greek alliance and surrender to our Dionysus, His Highness has decided to appease them in person. "

"When will Prince Clotokatax come back?" Callistratus asked with his expression unchanged, as if he didn't care about Argos' surrender, but his heart sank: Argos surrendered already? is this real? !

As the second most powerful country in the Peloponnese, Argos surrendered, in fact, it is reasonable. The Argos army in the Greek coalition before insisted to go east and return to the mother country first, so it was with Ifikrates The main force of the Greek coalition forces led by Sis separated, as a result, they were surrounded by the Dionysian army in the territory of Tygea. Some of the more than 7,000 Argos soldiers died in battle, and more than half surrendered.

Then Printoles suggested to Clotokatax to send messengers to Argos, asking them to surrender, otherwise all Argos captives would be sold to the Western Mediterranean as slaves.

Although three-quarters of the young and middle-aged citizens of Argos fell into the grasp of the Dionian army, the stubborn Argos showed hesitation and did not agree immediately. But it didn't take long for them to learn that "the Dionian army that landed at Thessaly had entered the Attica region, and the army led by Ifikrates had fled back to the city of Athens." Knowing that the situation was over, he decided to surrender to Dionysus.

"His Royal Highness should be back tomorrow." Karias suddenly said in a more serious tone: "However, if Lord Callistratus is here to negotiate, there is no need to see His Highness, because the officials of the Kingdom of Dionia are various To perform its duties, the negotiation is under the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Now, the negotiation with the various Greek city-states is under the responsibility of me, the diplomat of the Holy Kingdom of Dionia, Karias!”

After hearing this, Callistratus smiled again: "This is the best way, Master Kalias and I are already old acquaintances, and it will be more convenient to negotiate."

He coughed a few times, sat up straight, and said with a stern face: "The war between Athens and Dionia was actually not the intention of the Athenians. I believe you should know that the original Turii was created by the great The sub-state advocated by General Pericles and the Athenian people fully supported the establishment of the sub-state, so many Athenian people have always believed that Dionia was gradually expanded from the original Turii, and had a special feeling for Dionia, even if It's because they love watching the play "The Dionysians", and it's mostly because of this feeling, otherwise, why haven't plays about other city-states been created...

The Dionysian army landed in Mesenia and later attacked Sparta, although we were surprised, but did not send messengers to stop it. On the contrary, many Athenians were happy because Sparta, who had oppressed us, was being confronted with The Dionian conquest of Athens, which has some kind of emotional connection, also amounts to a sort of revenge for Athens.

but,

Dionia is a foreign country after all. Your occupation of Sparta has caused unease among the priests of Olympia and Delphi. They persuaded other city-states to turn against Dionia, and even affected many allies in Athens. This eventually led to Athens involuntarily joining the Greek League and declaring war on Dionia..."

Callistratus sighed: "But the war is cruel. A large amount of gold and silver in the Athenian treasury was rapidly consumed, the people's living materials were gradually depleted, and young citizens were constantly killed and wounded... The Athenian people have been I have tasted the cruelty of war! I think it should be the same for the people of Dionia! So today, with the will of the people of Athens, I came here to solemnly propose that Athens is willing to stop the war with Dionia and restore peace !"

Callistratus glanced at the other party and saw that Callias was listening attentively, so he continued: "After the peaceful armistice, Athens will recognize Dionysian's existing possession of Messenia and Sparta. The arrangement, also acknowledging Dionia's handling of the city-states of Thessaly, would also persuade Delphi and Olympia to accept Dionia as a member of the Greek Holy League.

At the same time, Dionia should withdraw all troops from the Greek mainland, and Dionia's fleet can no longer appear in the Aegean Sea.

If Dionia agrees to the above conditions, Athens is willing to sign a long-term peace and friendship agreement with Dionia, and is willing to open the trade market of Athens and its allies to Dionia merchants! "

After listening to Karias, he blinked and said slowly: "The truce proposed by Athens sounds good, and it reminds me of the friendly agreement that Dionia signed with Sparta. But at that time The Dionysus had to compromise with Sparta because of its strength, but the kingdom has grown to this day, and His Majesty has not allowed us to sign such a self-binding agreement—"

"Relying on force and blind expansion and aggression will only arouse the resistance of the Greek people and eventually lead to failure!" Callistratus said righteously: "Only friendly exchanges and peaceful trade can make the city-state stable and prosperous!"

Karias smiled: "Isn't it the constant expansion of your Athens at sea that caused Sparta's concerns, and finally led to the Peloponnesian War?"

Callistratus did not argue, but said solemnly: "You are right, it is precisely because of the mistakes that Athens made back then, so today we should learn more lessons and avoid making the same mistakes again."

Carias was at a loss for words, he drank the water in the wooden cup in one gulp, and then said bluntly: "Let me tell you clearly, Dionysus can't agree to this condition you put forward, Athens wants to cooperate with you. Dionia reached a truce and negotiated peace. I have a request for a truce prepared by His Majesty the King himself. Argos agreed to this request, and Dionia and it quickly turned from enemy to friend. Do you want to hear it? "

Callistratus said solemnly: "Please speak."

Karias said word by word and forcefully: "Athens must dissolve its alliance and join the new Greek alliance led by Dionia, then peace will be achieved immediately, it's that simple."

As soon as Carias finished speaking, Caralistratus said loudly: "Your demands are too harsh, and Athens will never agree! Most of the allies of Athens are sub-states of Athens, and they are related to the people of Athens. It is impossible for the Athenian people to agree to—”

"Come on! The Greeks used to say, 'The stick of Sparta, the tongue of Athens.' I've seen your eloquence in Athens, and I don't want to hear you any more." After cutting off his words, he said firmly: "This is the request made by His Majesty, and it cannot be changed! If you don't agree, you can only go back and continue the war with us. We don't care."

Callias directly tried to meet him, which made Callistratus lose his calmness when he first met. He felt bitter in his heart, but he still wanted to fight for it again: "I can't agree to these conditions you proposed now. You must return to Athens, put it forward at the 500-member parliament, and after negotiating with the parliamentarians and reaching an agreement, you must go through the plenary discussion and approval of the citizens’ assembly before you can give you a positive answer. This process will take about five or six days. Before Athens gives the final answer, can the Dionysian army suspend the attack on Athens? To ensure that your request can be accepted by the citizens of Athens more smoothly.”

"This is absolutely impossible!" Karias clearly refused: "I am only responsible for diplomatic negotiations, and cannot influence the command of the army commander. If you want to make Athens less damaged, you'd better hurry up and give an answer!"

Callistratus saw that the other party did not enter the oil and salt, and although he was disappointed, he couldn't see anything strange on his face. He stood up and said helplessly: "Okay, I will convey your request to the Athenian people as soon as possible. ."

After he finished speaking, he walked outside the tent, took a few steps, but couldn't help but turn his head and said solemnly: "I think you should be prepared, the Athenian citizens who advocate freedom are likely to object to your request. The citizens of Athens will unite to defend the city of Athens and the port of Piraeus! During the Peloponnesian War, the Spartan coalition failed to break through the city of Athens for more than ten years, and the war between Dionia and Athens was bound to happen. It will take a long time and it will be a disaster for both countries by then!"

Karias said confidently: "Thank you for your reminder! The reason why our king dared to put forward such a condition has made us fully prepared, and we firmly believe that the final victory will belong to Dionia. And are you Athens ready? Also, I want to remind you that the envoy of Carthage came to negotiate with us just like you, but it was too late to make a decision. In the end, Carthage had to When they surrendered, they paid more, and I hope Athens will not repeat the mistakes of Carthage!"

Callistratus wanted to say something, but found that he had nothing to say and could only walk out of the tent in silence.

When he walked out of the barracks, he couldn't help but turn his head to look back: the new Greek alliance led by Dionia? ! ... The decision made at the beginning was not wrong. Dionia really had great ambitions for the Greek mainland and wanted to replace Sparta as the new overlord of Greece! Unfortunately……

Callistratus turned to look at the city of Corinth in front of him. Stone bullets kept hitting the city wall. The roaring sound shocked him, and he began to worry about whether the city walls of Athens could continue to withstand such a situation. 's attack: Yes, but unfortunately for a powerful kingdom that can send 100,000 elite troops and thousands of warships, Athens' previous efforts may be in vain, what should I do next?

There is endless dazedness in Kalistratos' lonely eyes...

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