Chapter 36 The Return of Agesilaus

"Hurry and sit me down!" Aristophanes leaned on the mountain road and looked at the cheering people. His heart was also excited, although he knew very well that the Athenian Konon was now a Persian hired admiral who led the way. It was the Persian fleet, but this victory made Athens much less of a sea threat.

You must know that although the Citizens Assembly approved to join the Thebes side and declare war on Sparta, the Y shadow and the ferocity of the Spartans who lost the Peloponnesian War ten years ago were oppressed like a nightmare. The heart of the Athenians. Especially now, although the battle situation is at a stalemate on the isthmus, the Allies still lose more and win less, and recently I heard that another Spartan army from Asia Minor, led by the Spartan king Agesilaus, came from the north. Greece has landed and is killing the Pioxia area. How can the people of Athens not be nervous and afraid! And the victory of this naval battle was like a timely rain, which relieved the big stone in their hearts a lot, and they cheered loudly to vent their fears that had been suppressed for a long time.

Aristophanes was relieved to see that there was more anger in the city of Athens, and then he showed a surprised expression. At the corner of the street, there was a man in shabby clothes, sitting on the dusty steps, leaning against the rough stone wall. Focus on what to look at.

This quiet image is in stark contrast to the joy that surrounds him, and Aristophanes' back is familiar.

He walked over and shouted uncertainly, "Antisthene?"

The man turned his head to look at him, without any intention of standing up: "Aristophanes, if you are here to ask me about Plato's whereabouts, don't bother me with my reading."

Why didn't Aristophanes know that although Antisthenes and Plato were both students of Socrates, their ideas were at odds, so he said slightly teasingly: "I just want to tell you that Conon led the way. The fleet defeated the Spartan navy, and the news of this victory is now being preached all over the city."

"So what?" Antisthenes said disapprovingly: "Victory will only encourage the people to devote themselves to the war more blindly. How long has Athens been calm, and this will be a long war..." Having said that, he shook his head and glanced at Aristophanes: "You just came back from the theater. The new play "The Dionysians" you wrote seems to be very popular among the people."

Aristophanes was not satisfied with Antisthenes' negative attitude towards the news of victory, so he said angrily: "Oh! Antisthenes, who has always refused to watch theatrical entertainment, actually knew about my new drama, I am really honored !"

"That's because people are talking about it every day these days. I say you are too loose, it's their business what kind of citizens Dionysian sends to the Games, you have to write a script to satirize them. What's the point?"

Aristophanes immediately burst into anger, and just as he was about to refute, Antisthenes turned his head sideways and plucked his ears with his fingers, while saying, "Did you know that some time ago, Dionia tried the traitor and exposed it in public. After the news of Syracuse’s ambitions came in, the members of the general executive committee of Thalassibos were discussing whether to send envoys to discuss an alliance with Dionia, so that Dionia could contain it. Syracuse, Sparta's ally, it's better not to stage your drama, to avoid provoking the Dionysians and causing the alliance to fail."

"It's up to them to do what they want to do, but they have no right to interfere with the legal freedom of an Athenian citizen!" Aristophanes shouted angrily.

"That's what I want to say." Antisthenes pointed to the cheering crowd: "What does their victory have to do with me?"

Aristophanes blew his beard and stared,

As soon as he turned around and walked away, he affirmed his understanding once again: the reason why he could become a good friend with Plato but was always estranged from Antisthenes was due to his sense of responsibility.

And Antisthenes didn't care about Aristophanes' departure, he gently brushed off the dust falling from the book and looked intently again.

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Agesilaus led the army through Thrace, Macedonia, and arrived in Central Greece. At Amphipolis he heard the news of the victory of the Spartans at Corinth, but this did not cheer him, for the Spartans were still held back at the isthmus, unable to advance an inch.

Worried about the war, he accelerated his march, but when he arrived in Chaeronia he encountered a solar eclipse, and the soldiers panicked, thinking it was a bad omen.

Then Agesilaus got the news that the Spartan navy was defeated at Knidos. While he was shocked, he was also secretly glad that he chose to rush to Pioxia by land instead of by sea, otherwise he might still be caught now. Blocked in Asia Minor.

He immediately blocked the news to prevent the military from being shaken. At the same time, he also felt that he must start a war soon to wash away the bad news with victory.

So, he led the army to rush again, and finally entered the Pioxia area. He encountered the anti-Spartan coalition forces stationed in Crosso, guarding the passage to Thebes, and a war was inevitable.

Before the war, he recruited Xenophon, the leader of the remnants of the famous Persian expedition of 10,000 people.

The 35-year-old Athenian fought with Sparta in Asia Minor for five years. He was already a battle-hardened general. Standing in front of Agesilaus, he was like a tall and tall cedar, showing high spirits* Man's momentum.

Agesilaus looked at him appreciatively, and then said: "Xenophon, my friend. The enemies of Sparta are lined up ahead, and only by defeating them can we enter the city of Thebes. But ...In the ranks of the enemy, there are reinforcements from the Athenians, and among them there may be your relatives, your friends, your classmates, and fighting them face to face is undoubtedly an extremely painful thing for you... Alas , so although I'm a little reluctant, but-"

Agsilaus showed a very regretful expression, and said emotionally: "I... I allow you to lead the team away, or even join the other party. I am very grateful for your selfless help to Sparta over the past few years! Even if you I will be the enemy in the next battle, and I still regard you as my dear friend of Agesilaus!"

After listening to Xenophon, he was furious: "King of Sparta, you are questioning my integrity! Before leading the mercenary army to follow you out of Asia Minor, I have already said that since the Athens Citizens Assembly executed my teacher Socrates, after I was tried in absentia, I have regarded Athens as an enemy! And I agree with the political philosophy of Sparta, I am willing to fight for it, and I swore to Zeus! Now you insist that I leave here, I... I just leave." After saying that, he turned around without hesitation and was about to walk out of the tent.

"Xenophon, please forgive my rudeness just now!" Agesilaus hurriedly stepped forward to grab him and apologized repeatedly: "I originally didn't want you and your compatriots to fight each other, to avoid your inner unease, But I realize now that you have great beliefs that go far beyond the common motherland, for which I have to apologize to you!" He said, bowing sincerely to Xenophon.

Xenophon hurriedly stopped him, and most of the anger in his heart disappeared.

"I have decided to appoint you as the commander of the central army formation in tomorrow's battle." Agesilaus made a decisive decision.

Xenophon was a little surprised, but he did not refuse and took the order gladly, because he knew that there were some rumors about him circulating in the army in the past few days, he secretly vowed: In this battle, he will use practical actions to make doubts. Shut up his people!

Xenophon left the tent, and Agesilaus' adjutant, Archidamus, who was also his son, came in, and when he learned of his father's decision, he couldn't help but be surprised: "Father, you really have an Athenian as our middle laner. Commander?"

"What happened to the Athenians?!" Agesilaus raised his eyebrows and said loudly in a volume that the guards outside the tent could hear: "Xenophon is my true friend of Agesilaus! For friends, I have always trusted. Besides, Xenophon is a very talented person, and he deserves my trust!"

Having said this, Agsilaus suddenly remembered something, sighed, and said to his son in a deep voice, "You have to understand that Sparta has missed Davos, who was highly recommended by Cleethorpes, and that The Dionysian city-state alliance, founded by young people in just a few short years, has become a big problem for Dionysius. We can no longer push Xenophon to the enemy..."

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The next day, the two sides lined up in Corosso.

Agesilaus led the main Spartan force and formed the left flank. The side facing the coalition was the Argos who had been enemies for many years; Xenophon led the remnants of the 10,000-strong expeditionary force and other mercenaries from Asia Minor to sit in the middle. The enemy he faced was his native Athenian; and on the right flank of the center was the Phokis, an allied army of Sparta (the most important city in this area where Phokis was located was Delphi), who faced the The enemy was Thebes, the initiator of this war.

At the forefront of the Thebes army at this moment, the 26-year-old Peropidas and Ipaminonda are in the queue as heavy infantry.

"Why doesn't the bugle sound?! I can't wait!" Peropidas said eagerly.

Ipaminonda did not speak, and stared at the side forward with a melancholy face.

"Ipa, what are you worried about? Are you afraid that we can't beat the Phokis?" Peropidas asked when he noticed the strangeness of his friend.

"I don't worry about the Phokis, they have never been our opponents. I worry about the Argos, whether they can stop the Spartans' left-handed attack." Ipaminonda said worriedly .

"You think too much, Ipa. This should be the commander's consideration. Our goal is to quickly defeat the Phokis!" Peropidas pointed his thorn forward and said vigorously.