Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece Chapter 1155: Henipolis's Recommendation

"Where is he now?" Davos asked with interest.

"He retired the year before last and returned to Amendolara. But he isn't one to sit idle, so he applied to the Ministry of Military Affairs to serve as the Military Training Officer in Amendolara..."

"Xanthiparis is over sixty and can still lead a legion into battle to win glory for the kingdom. Ctesus is younger than him, so I imagine he would perform just as well. It's only that..." Davos hesitated. "He has repeatedly declined the position of Legion Commander. Would he really agree this time?"

"Your Majesty, this time is different. The First Legion is currently without a Legion Commander while facing the constant threat of battle. This is a severe crisis for them. As a veteran of the First Legion, Ctesus will absolutely not stand idly by. Furthermore, since this is only a temporary appointment, I am confident he will not refuse!" Alexis said with certainty.

"Alright, it's him then!" Davos agreed decisively. "What about a replacement for Prosous?"

Alexis hesitated for a moment before suggesting, "What does Your Majesty think of Matonis?"

"He is a fierce general, and he has no problem charging enemy lines, but he lacks the experience to command multiple legions in coordinated combat. Moreover, the political landscape of the Greek Mainland is complex..."

Davos phrased it delicately, but Alexis understood his meaning. He followed up, "What about Oliphus?"

"Oliphus certainly has a sharp mind, but he also lacks experience leading multiple legions. Plus, he can be indecisive at critical moments. Right now, the army is facing the Spartans..." Davos kept his tone equally tactful.

"You forget that I specifically mentioned last time that we should try to avoid deploying non-Greek citizens for this campaign, let alone appointing one as the supreme commander of an army."

"Your Majesty, that was my oversight! Then... how about Hylos?"

"How could Hylos suddenly abandon his heavy responsibilities as the Regional Administrator of the Thurii Region to lead an army in the Peloponnese? Besides, he has been away from the front lines for many years. He is probably out of practice when it comes to battlefield command... The same goes for Capus." Dissatisfied with all the candidates presented, Davos finally suggested, "What do you think of Patroclus?"

Alexis had anticipated this and replied immediately, "Patroclus is indeed a suitable candidate. However, he is currently stationed in the Po River Region, where he must be ready to fight the Apulians at any moment while also maintaining regional stability. It would be highly inappropriate to transfer him right now... The same applies to Sextus in the Iberian region. As for Chalcides, while he is very capable, he too lacks the experience of commanding multiple legions..."

Davos stared at him, his tone growing heavier. "Out of all the generals in the kingdom, can we truly not find a single suitable candidate?!"

"Your Majesty, any of the generals I just mentioned is more than capable of serving as an army commander. It is only because this is our first expedition to Greece, and we wish to showcase the kingdom's true power to our motherland, that our standards are set so high." Alexis offered his reassurance gently. He paused, then his face lit up with a smile. "Your Majesty, I have thought of a candidate who should meet all your requirements!"

"Oh? Speak."

"Plintors," Alexis said firmly. "Although he currently serves as the chief of staff, he previously served as the Legion Commander of the Fourteenth Legion. He also commanded multiple legions during the Western Mediterranean War and performed exceptionally well. Your Majesty should be far more familiar with his military achievements than I am."

"But he is currently the chief of staff. His military duties are incredibly heavy—"

"Tolmides or Philesius could temporarily take over his position."

"Hmm..." Davos stroked his chin, mulling it over. "Let me speak with Plintors personally. I will make a decision after hearing his thoughts on the matter."

Watching Alexis walk out of the conference hall, Davos sighed softly. "Many of the veterans in the Ministry of Military Affairs are reluctant to give the younger generation more opportunities. It seems even Alexis is no exception."

Only then did Henipolis speak up. "Your Majesty, it seems to me that Lord Alexis and Lord Plintors share a very close relationship."

Hearing this, Davos fell silent for a moment before speaking slowly, "They share a camaraderie forged over many years of war."

"Your Majesty." Henipolis glanced at Davos, gathering his courage to speak softly. "I also have a suitable candidate I would like to recommend to you."

"Oh? You have a candidate too?" Davos looked intrigued and laughed. "Let's hear it."

"I believe Prince Crotokatax is well-suited to serve as the commander of the expeditionary force."

The name Henipolis offered took Davos completely by surprise. He stared at Henipolis, wondering to himself, 'My son hasn't been back in Thurii for long, and he hasn't had much contact with Henipolis. Could this genuinely be Henipolis's own idea?'

Davos probed carefully, "Croto rarely takes the field, and he has absolutely no experience commanding an army. How could he possibly act as the supreme commander?! This is a life-and-death war, not a game!"

"His Highness Croto may lack experience, but Plintors can assist him. Your Majesty, didn't you mention before that recalling His Highness from Rome was specifically to entrust him with heavier responsibilities? His Highness is your heir, the future King of Daonia. Even if he cannot emerge victorious in every single battle like you do, he must at least wield some degree of influence over the military. Otherwise, when facing generals like Alexis and Amyntas—men who have decided the fates of millions—will he be able to calmly refute their proposals and assert his own will?" Henipolis pleaded, his tone brimming with sincerity.

Davos gazed at him for a long time before letting out a gentle sigh. "In the entire kingdom, you are the only one who considers my interests so deeply."

...

At dusk, Davos returned to his mansion on the hill.

Dinner was the liveliest time for Davos's royal family. A massive round dining table was packed with people: King Davos and his two queens, Crotokatax and his wife along with their two children, Apox and his wife with their child, Eunice and her husband (Eunice had married Arexes, the famous sculptor from Tarentum, the previous year), Brillantes, Avia, Cynthia and her two children, as well as Adoris's wife Aedi and her child.

Over the past few years, as the children had grown up and started their own families and careers, Davos and his wives had entered their golden years. They longed for the bustling prosperity of a large, lively family, but the mansion had often felt empty and quiet. As a result, Davos hired the best engineers in the kingdom to design a layout tailored to the terrain of the entire hill. Christoya then put up a massive sum of money to hire a sprawling construction crew, building multiple manors across the hillside according to the blueprints.

The slopes of King's Hill were gentle, making both the peak and the mountainside perfectly suited for large-scale construction. It was only due to Davos's exalted status that the entire hill had previously housed only a single mansion. With ample funding, it took merely half a year for several new estates to spring up across the hillside.

Davos then issued strict orders to Apox and Antebris, forcing them to move into the new manors. When Eunice got married, she was made to do the same. Although Antebris had put up some resistance initially, he ultimately had no choice but to yield.

Davos also demanded that the entire family try their best to dine together every evening. Sometimes, Christoya would invite the families of Cynthia and Adoris over for the meal. Since Crotokatax and his family had just returned, Cynthia and Adoris's wife had been visiting quite frequently these past few days.

"...The match was almost over. Our team was still down by one point, but we had the final possession, and we were only three meters away from the end line. Three meters isn't that far, right?" Antebris asked the children gathered around him.

"Right!" several of the older children answered eagerly, while the younger ones joined in with excited shouts.

"But—" Antebris gestured broadly with his hands, his expression deadly serious. "The opposing players formed a dense human wall, blocking our path completely. There wasn't a single gap to slip through. What were we supposed to do?! The referee blew the whistle, and the play began. Our quarterback faked a pass to the left winger. After shifting the enemy's attention for just a second, he quickly handed the football to the player right beside him. And the player who took that ball was me!"

The children gasped in amazement.

"Time was almost up. Gripping the ball tightly and keeping my head down, I just bulldozed my way forward with the help of my teammates. The opposing players desperately tried to stop me. Several of them even threw their weight right on top of me! I used every ounce of my strength, carrying them on my back, focusing on nothing but driving forward... All I could see were feet. I couldn't even tell where the end line was. The moment felt like an eternity... Then, suddenly, I heard a whistle. We scored a touchdown! The match was over! Our Thurii Football Team won the kingdom's Rugby Championship, and I, your uncle, was named the most valuable player of the finals!"

"Wow! Uncle is so amazing!..." Basking in the children's adoring gazes, Antebris wore a look of immense smugness.

"Wasn't that just one good play you made during last year's finals? Look at you, bragging about it every single day!" Eunice couldn't hold her tongue. "I've always thought the only reason you managed to force your way through in the end was because the players from Udiae were too afraid of your status to actually hurt you—"

"That is blasphemy against the sacred Rugby Championship!" Antebris's face instantly flushed crimson with anger as he shot to his feet. "Eunice, if you spout any more nonsense—"

"Enough!" Christoya slammed her hand hard on the table and yelled. "Both of you, quiet down! You're adults now, yet you still bicker the moment you see each other. You aren't setting a good example for the children at all!"

"She started it by saying—"

"I said quiet!" Christoya snapped at him again.

Feeling aggrieved, Antebris had no choice but to shut his mouth.