Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece Chapter 1130: Meeting

Gazing at the place the Theonians called a naval base, he realized it was nothing like what the Greeks considered a military port. It was practically a town. Yet, according to the clipper captain, the base housed exclusively the sailors of the Daunian Navy and their families...

Xenophon recalled the reports he had heard regarding the Western Mediterranean War. "In the several naval clashes between Daionia and Carthage, both sides deployed around four to five hundred Warships..." He had previously dismissed the figures as exaggerated, but now, they seemed entirely plausible.

By now, Xenophon realized he had been making a fundamental mistake since yesterday. He had been evaluating Daionia through the lens of the traditional Greek city-states, which made everything feel discordant. In reality, Daionia was not an ordinary city-state at all—it was a kingdom, a nation akin to Persia!

Even after adjusting his mindset, the rest of the journey continued to leave him thoroughly astounded.

Their ship sailed out of the great port of Tarentum and entered what the Theonians called the Bay of Thurii. To Xenophon and his companions, however, it hardly looked like a bay—it was an open stretch of sea. The only difference was that Daionia's territory bordered it on three sides, transforming it into a convenient shipping lane connecting its coastal towns. The Spartan Delegation watched as an endless stream of vessels crisscrossed the water around their passenger ship in every direction. It felt as though they were navigating a bustling port, yet they were out on the open sea; the Theonians had simply turned this entire maritime expanse into their own inland sea.

Upon reaching the Crati River Mouth, the sheer prosperity and clamor of the port left them stunned. The massive scale and immense population of Thurii City were completely overwhelming. Even the few Spartans in the delegation who had initially scoffed at this diplomatic mission grew deeply unsettled. Anyone, no matter how foolish, could see the truth: with such thriving trade and a population this large, Daionia was entirely capable of raising a massive army to cause immense trouble for a Sparta already mired in crisis.

Every member of the delegation grew somewhat heavy-hearted, and gradually, all conversation died away.

The passenger ship pulled into the port of the Inner District. Officials from the Daonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs were waiting to receive them, but rather than escorting the delegation to the Kingdom Guest House first, they led them straight to the Royal Palace, because King Davos wanted to receive the Spartan envoys immediately.

Walking through the streets of the Inner District, Xenophon spotted the dazzling Colossus of Hades on a distant hill, making him feel for a moment as if he were in the inner city of Athens. In reality, the two were vastly different: Thurii's Inner District was noticeably quieter and cleaner than Athens, and it featured many unique structures. There was the rumored Elevated Aqueduct, massive waterwheels, automatic fountains, a triumphal arch representing Daionia's glory, an unusual arena, a profoundly symbolic library with a unique design, and the magnificent Grand Council Hall... The sheer number of sights overwhelmed the delegation's eyes.

Finally, they arrived before the Royal Palace, where the Daonian National Flag fluttered high. Xenophon and another Spartan envoy (the Council of Elders and the Ephors had ultimately agreed to Agesilaus's proposal, but they only allowed Xenophon to serve as deputy envoy, appointing a decorated Spartan general as the chief envoy to monitor Xenophon, prevent him from making mistakes, and minimize public criticism) were led into the Royal Palace by a protocol officer.

Given everything they had witnessed, even the notoriously domineering Spartan envoys were somewhat nervous, let alone Xenophon. He had already cast aside the joy of soon reuniting with an old friend. His mind was entirely consumed by a single thought: how could he fulfill the mission entrusted to him by the Spartans while ensuring the powerful Theonians would not retaliate?

"Your Majesty, the Spartan envoys have arrived!"

"Let them in."

The voice was deep and steady, holding almost none of the familiarity it once possessed... Xenophon composed himself, straightened his attire, and stepped into the great hall.

Inside the hall, aside from the royal guards and the ministers of the kingdom's major departments, stood the six former Rotating Chairmen of the Senate. They were not here by coincidence; they had been serving in the Royal Palace for the past few years, as they were now titled "Ministers of State."

In the second year following Daionia's conquest of Gaul, during a Senate meeting, a newly promoted Senator suddenly launched an attack, criticizing the current Senate system for being flawed. The Rotating Chairmen presided over Senate meetings while simultaneously participating in the kingdom's administrative affairs, which allowed them to obtain more important information in advance and use their power to better help those close to them. This was unfair to the other Senators.

His words immediately caused an uproar in the Senate. The Senators who supported the Rotating Chairmen roundly condemned him, while the Senators who had long been dissatisfied refused to be outdone, helping the Senator to argue back. They cited numerous examples over the past few years of Senators winning elections with the help of the Rotating Chairmen...

The two sides engaged in a fierce argument over this matter that did not subside for several days and even showed signs of expanding. Finally, King Davos forcefully intervened to restore order to the Senate, but as a result, he implemented new reforms upon it: the position of Rotating Chairman of the Senate would be filled by the Senators in rotation, no longer fixed to a few individuals;

While the Senate would continue to draft and amend laws, elect Regional Administrators, and supervise the administrative performance of mid-to-high-ranking officials, all administrative resolutions and diplomatic affairs of the kingdom would no longer be submitted to the Senate for approval, but would instead be decided directly by the Kingdom Administrative Office;

The kingdom would establish the position of Minister of State, with a total of six officials serving terms equal to those of the other departmental ministers, who would assist the king in managing the kingdom's administrative affairs. Upon the expiration of their terms, successors could be elected by the Senate and approved by the king to take over...

After Davos used this Senate disturbance to implement reforms, the Senate's power was reduced, and its functions became more singular. More authority was consolidated into the Kingdom Administrative Office, making administrative efficiency much faster and more effective.

The Senate made such massive concessions because ever since Davos had been crowned with the name of "Hades," his prestige in the kingdom was unprecedented, and ordinary Senators dared not oppose him. Meanwhile, the Rotating Chairmen, who had the ability to organize everyone in opposition, had their vulnerabilities seized upon and became the core of this disturbance. They were unable to even fend for themselves. Furthermore, Davos gave them a way out through the position of Minister of State, so his plan to consolidate power was ultimately realized without a hitch.

Naturally, Xenophon knew nothing of the political shifts within the Kingdom of Daunia. He paid no attention to the ministers standing on both sides; from the moment he walked into the great hall, his gaze remained fixed on the man seated high upon the throne.

Wearing his crown, Davos stood up, walked down from the throne with an excited expression, strode directly up to Xenophon, and gave him a powerful embrace.

Because it happened so quickly, the ministers and guards in the hall had no time to intervene before they heard Davos's hearty laughter: "Xenophon, oh, Xenophon! I thought I would never see you again in this lifetime. But by the protection of Hades, we finally meet again!"

Davos's sudden action also caught Xenophon by surprise, leaving him feeling quite moved. He immediately cast aside the words he had planned to say upon meeting and sighed with emotion: "Indeed, it has been twenty-seven years since we parted ways in Byzantium!"

"Your memory is quite good." Davos clasped his hands behind his back, leaned forward slightly to look at him, and asked with a smile, "Do you remember what I said back then?"

Xenophon furrowed his brows in thought for a moment, then shook his head. "I don't remember."

Davos arched an eyebrow. Pointing at their surroundings, he said slowly, "I said back then, 'I am going to Magna Graecia. I am going to establish a nation of my own, and I invite you to join.' But you refused... Twenty-seven years have passed. Do you think what I said back then has come true?"

"Respected King of Daonia, you created countless miracles when you were in Persia, so no matter what astonishing things you do afterward, I consider them to be a matter of course," Xenophon replied unhurriedly.

"Hahaha..." Davos laughed heartily once more. He patted Xenophon's shoulder and said meaningfully, "After not seeing you for so many years, you have become quite a smooth talker. Is it because you have spent so much time with Agesilaus, the King of Sparta?"

"It is because everything I have seen within Daionia has compelled me to feel awe!" Xenophon said with profound sincerity.

Davos looked at him, withdrew his smile, and said seriously, "Every time I look through your

"..." Xenophon felt guilty in his heart and remained silent, making no response.

"It seems you haven't been doing too well in Sparta either!" Davos remarked, half-joking and half-serious.

"That is incorrect!" someone nearby immediately retorted in a loud voice. "Xenophon is highly respected in Sparta, otherwise he wouldn't have been appointed as an envoy to your Daionia this time!"

Davos's gaze instantly sharpened, piercing the man wearing a red cloak with his hair braided into a thick plait. "And who are you?" he asked in a deep voice.

"Gaesylus, a Spartan citizen," the man replied in a loud and clear voice, not avoiding Davos's sharp gaze. "Appointed by the Council of Elders to accompany Xenophon on his mission to Daionia."