Chapter 60 The Academic Invitation of Dionysian Academy

"Plato is indeed a great scholar. I have read the "Utopia" written by him. The description of the various systems of the city-state and the conception of the ideal city-state completely shocked me!" Foster Carda sincerely praised Jean The young people looked at him kindly, and he continued: "But he will be invited to Dionysian Academy soon."

What? ! The students were shocked, some hurriedly looked at Plato, while others shouted in disbelief: "You lie!"

"Calm down, my students! Jealousy and unease have blinded your eyes, making you unable to think rationally. What's the use of learning so much knowledge!" Plato's reprimands made the young people feel a little ashamed.

He turned around and said sternly to Fosterkada: "Knowledge is for you to improve yourself and observe the world, not for showing off!"

Foster Kada was shocked when he heard the words, and quickly and frankly admitted his mistake: "You are right, I did it wrong!"

Plato's face softened, he picked up the letter in his hand, and asked, "I want to know who proposed the "All-Greek Scholars Conference" mentioned in this letter? How to proceed? Who have you invited to attend?"

After being beaten to the head by Plato, Fostercada was respectful and did not dare to neglect him. After thinking about it seriously, he replied, "It turns out that our kingdom of Dionia holds the "Great Greek Medical Forum" every year, and later the School of Mathematics. Nagato Totik Ayers founded the "Great Greek Mathematical Symposium", and then Mr. Ancitanos held the "Seminar on History"... After Mr. Gorkia came, he also proposed to hold the "Seminar on History" at the beginning of this year. Philosophy Seminar", after King Davos learned about it, he believed that many scholars were proficient in multiple subjects. All the colleges in the kingdom held academic seminars, which were not only repetitive, time-consuming, energy-consuming, and inefficient, but also invited a wide range of scholars. Narrow, mainly in the scope of Italy and Sicily. So he proposed to create a "All-Greek Academic Exchange Conference", inviting famous scholars from all over Greece to participate in the conference, exchange knowledge with each other, and discuss the mysteries of nature and human beings together.

I remember that His Majesty once said a sentence, which was widely circulated in our academy. He said, 'The spark of wisdom is born in the collision, and the truth becomes clearer and clearer. ’”

When Fostercada said these words, Plato's eyes lit up and he couldn't help moving.

Fosterkada continued: "As far as I know, this conference will consist of two parts. One part is that scholars will give lectures on one or more topics according to their areas of knowledge, and there will be a lot of students. , the public, and even scholars to audit; the other part is the exchange and debate between scholars, which also allows a small number of students to audit and ask questions...

This time, we have sent people to invite famous scholars from all over Greece. I don't know exactly which scholars there are, but at least I know that there are Antisthenes, Isocrates, and Seaettus in Athens. Because I still have to send them a letter.

"

Mentioning Antisthenes, Plato frowned slightly.

Spicypus next to him asked anxiously: "This "All-Greek Scholars Conference" by Dionia... Can we also attend?!"

Fosterkada smiled and said, "Of course you can. Dionia welcomes all young people in Greece who love knowledge, respect knowledge, and desire knowledge to participate in this all-Greece academic event in Turii!"

Having said this, he respectfully asked Plato: "Have you made a decision yet?"

Plato stroked his long beard, nodded and said, "I have long wanted to travel to the unique kingdom of Dionia. This is a good opportunity, and I will be there on time!"

After getting a definite answer and a letter written by Plato very quickly, Fostercada immediately took off the package that was over his shoulder and opened it on the stone bench, only to hear the metal sound of "crashing", and it was full of white Flowery silver coins.

Facing Plato's surprised gaze, Fostercada said seriously: "His Majesty Davos said, 'Knowledge is priceless, and a scholar's time and energy are very precious.' Therefore, these 500 Dionysian silver coins , is to give you a reward for attending this meeting, which also includes the cost of your round-trip to Athens, please accept it!

Once you arrive in Turii, your accommodation and meals will be arranged by Dionysian College, so you don't have to worry. Also... When you go to Turii, please be sure to take this invitation letter, in case a Spartan or other city-state ship intercepts, just show them this letter and they will let them go. Dionia has communicated with these city-states in advance..."

"You are so thoughtful!" Plato heard these words and couldn't help but sighed with emotion: Obviously, Dionysus knew what happened to him before, so he made such a special explanation.

Six years ago, when Plato traveled to Syracuse, there was civil strife in Syracuse, and he was intercepted by a Spartan warship when he left. At that time, the Corinthian War had not yet ended, and the Spartan generals who hated the Athenians detained the famous Athenian scholar and sold it as a slave. If he hadn't been rescued immediately by his friends, he might still be digging in a mine now... ...This terrifying experience also made him afraid of going to the Western Mediterranean. In addition, when the news of "Dionia and Sparta signed a covenant" reached Athens at that time, most of the Athenian people scolded Dionia. , said it was a traitor (because the old Turii was built at the initiative of Athens, the Athenian people believed that Dionia should support Athens). This also affects Plato's mood, so that he has not traveled to this most powerful kingdom in the Western Mediterranean until now.

This time, he can finally make up for this regret...

…………………………

In the King's Office at the Palace of Dionia, the five rotating presidents of the Senate, as well as the Minister of Commerce Marigi, the Minister of Finance Mersis, and the Supreme Inspector Sesta gathered together.

Davos looked at them and said solemnly: "I invite you to come here this time, because there are several important things I want to discuss with you in advance. At the beginning of the year, the Dionysian Kingdom Conference and the Tribunal Conference, you have some People who participated, and those who didn't, should have heard of it... Many local councillor representatives and tribunals have mentioned the issue of 'the elders receive gifts from citizens and foreigners', especially the elders who served as chief executives here. The problem is more obvious. They also repeatedly mentioned the 'Polyxis treason case and now the Laodician case', hoping that we can do something about it, I promised them to be on this issue. Now is the time to make a change in the world! What do you guys think about it?”

Everyone looked at each other with solemn expressions on their faces. Most of them didn't think that Davos called them here today to discuss this thorny issue.

There was silence in the hall for a while, as the chief figure of the Senate after Kunogolata's death, Cornerus had to stand up and speak first: "Your Majesty, since the establishment of Dionia, he has served as a public official in the kingdom. The rights and obligations of the citizens of the kingdom were originally not required to be paid. But today, not only middle and low-level officials, even laborers who transport baggage, jailers who supervise criminals, and sentries who guard fortresses can be paid. There are no elders in the kingdom. Because this is a noble position, the elders serve the entire country and citizens, and should not be as preoccupied with salary as low-level officials.

But... I remember that when the alliance was first established, there were no major events. Usually, the Senate would hold a big meeting every five or six days. At other times, he could cook the fields at home with the slaves. But now that the kingdom is so big and there are so many affairs, we hold meetings in the Great Hall almost every day, discuss the kingdom, and pass bills. Where do we still have the time and energy to increase income for our family. Although according to the "laws of Dionia", every time the land acquired by war, our elders will have no more or no less gifts. However, the income from land is limited after all, and it is often affected by climate and soil, and many elders who can’t manage household chores are even worse off than lower-level officials…”

"You mean that it is reasonable for the elders to receive gifts?" Davos asked quietly with a calm expression.

Cornelus was so nervous that he was speechless for a moment.

"Your Majesty, what Lord Cornelus said is the truth." Lycias took over the conversation and defended Cornelus: "The position of the elders is noble, but the elders are also human beings and have desires, and they too I hope to be able to eat delicious food, drink good wine, and wear gorgeous clothes. Although money cannot reflect a person's nobility, we can imagine that when an old man in poverty meets a man dressed in gorgeous Bolton, exquisite gold and silver jewelry, followed by When a wealthy businessman with four or five servants, in the eyes of the people, who is more like an elder?

That's why Laodician was so popular among the elders at the beginning, because he was generous and often invited the elders to dinner... This is why there are so many people competing for every vacancy of the chief executive, because after serving as the chief executive , they have more opportunities to receive gifts from the local people to increase their income, so that they can live like the wealthy citizens of Dionia. "

"Could it be that just because we want to live a luxurious life, we can accept gifts from foreign messengers and outsiders and speak well for them at the senate meeting! Your Majesty, Laodicien is just an unlucky person who ignores the senate in the senate. It is not uncommon for the interests of the kingdom, to throw out some suggestions that are completely unfavorable to the kingdom, and to seek benefits for foreigners! I have long felt that this issue should be resolved, this time since the public response is so great, we can take the opportunity to stop it The elders accept gifts from others, and those who violate them will be punished!" Supreme Inspector Sesta suggested with a serious look.