Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece Chapter 1167: Fence-Sitting Thebes

"Considering what? The Theonians?" Pelopidas pressed.

"The Daionian Army, to be exact," Epaminondas said frankly. "I spent several days in Messenia on my latest trip. I had the privilege of touring their camps, checkpoints, and temporary port. I watched them train, handle logistics, and treat their wounded... I learned a great deal. Afraid I might forget, I hurried to compile my notes the moment I returned..."

Pelopidas immediately caught his meaning. "You think these Daionian military practices could be applied to our own forces?"

Epaminondas gently shook his head. "Daionia is a powerful kingdom, while we have yet to even unify Boeotia. We lack their immense national resources, so many of those methods simply aren't feasible for us. But we can learn from them. More importantly, they can help us chart the future course of our army's development."

"Once you finish compiling those notes, I want to be the first to read them," Pelopidas said, intrigued.

"Of course. When the time comes, I'll be submitting a new military reform proposal to the Council, and I'll need your support."

"You've always had my support in that regard," Pelopidas agreed without hesitation. "But it seems you're already convinced of the Daionian Army's strength—that they can actually defeat Sparta."

"I am. I believe that even if Sparta hadn't suffered their defeat at Leuctra, they still wouldn't be a match for the Theonians!" Epaminondas declared with absolute certainty.

"Even with Persia backing them?"

"And after the Theonians defeat Sparta?" Pelopidas pivoted. "I recall that when you presented the report on your Messenian embassy to the Council, you quoted the Daionian commander as saying he 'hopes the Greek Mainland can cease its wars and restore peace.' What do you think he meant by that?"

"Don't those words sound familiar? The Persians said the exact same thing not too long ago," Epaminondas noted meaningfully.

Pelopidas wasn't surprised. He stood and began to pace the room, deep in thought. "You and I share the same suspicion. I fear the Theonians want to become a second Persia and dictate the political landscape of all Greece. Given Daionia's current strength and their enmity with Persia, it's completely understandable that they'd want Greece firmly under their thumb. It's just... while Daionia is closer to us than Persia, their core territory still isn't here. Do you think Daionia might act like Persia and prop up a proxy—their own version of Sparta—to control the mainland on their behalf?"

Epaminondas pondered this before replying. "Given the current situation, the Theonians—much like the Persians—want to secure Greece as a springboard against their rival. But the situation in Greece is complicated. The mainland is a bed of dry tinder, and a single careless spark could ignite a conflagration. Finding a proxy would indeed be their best option. If that happens, we must do everything in our power to become the 'Sparta' in Daionia's hand. It would be immensely beneficial to the future of Thebes."

"My thoughts exactly. And if Daionia truly harbors such ambitions, Thebes is undoubtedly their best potential partner in Greece!" Despite saying this, Pelopidas did not look excited. Instead, he furrowed his brow. "However, the situation has grown somewhat complicated. Before coming to your house, I met with a priest from Delphi."

"Why would Delphi send a priest to Thebes?" Epaminondas immediately grew alert.

Pelopidas's expression was grim. "He told me that when Delphi heard the Daionian Army had invaded the Peloponnese, they sensed something unnatural and sought an oracle from Apollo. In response, Pythia saw a vision of Delphi's temple consumed by fire. They interpret this as a warning from the god: if they fail to halt the invasion of these Theonians and their heretical beliefs, the Greek Mainland will be destroyed. So, they have dispatched priests to every city-state in the Sacred League. Their hope is that the Greek city-states will unite—just as we did to repel Persia—and drive the foreign Theonians out of Greece..."

Epaminondas, who had been conducting himself with his usual calm, refined elegance, suddenly paled. "How did you answer the Delphic priest?" he asked urgently.

"I certainly didn't agree with him," Pelopidas said indignantly. "If the gods are so willing to hand out warnings, why didn't they protect Thebes back then? Why let the Spartans seize our acropolis with such ease?" He let out a sigh. "However, Delphi wields massive influence over the common people, so I didn't oppose him outright. Instead, I deflected, saying, 'Thebes is currently at odds with Athens, and we have to guard against a southern incursion by the Thessalians. We simply lack the strength to fight the Theonians. More importantly, we just signed an alliance with them. While the Theonians are honoring their treaty to help us fight Sparta—our sworn enemy—how could Thebes possibly break faith and betray them?'"

"But that damned priest just threw it back in my face. He claimed Thebes should never have allied with Daionia in the first place, that we gave Daionia the perfect excuse to interfere in Greek affairs when they had already been coveting our lands. He demanded we break the alliance immediately. Then he told me not to worry about our borders, because Delphi has already conferred with the priests of Olympia. They unanimously agreed to dispatch envoys to every city-state—including Jason of Thessaly and the leadership in Athens—to persuade everyone to set aside old grudges and unite against the foreign invader, Daionia..."

"They want to form a Greek expeditionary army to fight Daionia!" Epaminondas drew a sharp breath. He truly hadn't expected the Daionian Army's push into the Peloponnese to provoke such a massive reaction from Delphi and Olympia. Though neither sanctuary possessed an actual military force, they were the sacred grounds of all Greece and wielded immense influence over the masses. If they were dead set on opposing Daionia, popular pressure could force the city-states' governments to actually make it happen...

He steadied himself. "I suspect... Athens will eagerly agree to Delphi's proposal. But will Jason? Thessaly already had the military might to challenge Sparta in the past, yet that man kept his ambitions entirely hidden. Like a cunning wolf hiding in the northern grass, he didn't strike until we had already broken the Spartans at Leuctra. Won't he just play the exact same trick again?"

"Jason is indeed shrewd. The Delphic priest might not be able to persuade him," Pelopidas agreed, his expression remaining grim. "I didn't give the priest a definitive answer today, but tomorrow he will address the Council and present his demands to the entire assembly."

"So you came to me first, and now you plan to visit the other council members to secure their support?" Epaminondas finally understood his friend's true purpose. "What is your stance on these demands, then?"

"My stance? Didn't I just say it? If Daionia wants to be the next Persia, then Thebes must become the next Sparta. I've been to Persia, and I've been to Daionia. Even the most ordinary towns in the Kingdom of Daunia are more prosperous than many Greek city-states—to say nothing of their central city, Thurii. I'd argue it rivals Babylon in splendor, and possesses far more vitality!"

"Furthermore, you just confirmed how formidable the Daionian Army truly is. Even if the majority of the Greek city-states pool their strength, I believe they'll still struggle to resist a beast like Daionia. Thebes needs to stand with the victor. We can't let our hard-won progress over these past few years go to waste!"

"You have my support," Epaminondas declared at once, though he quickly offered a warning. "But getting the full backing of the Council will be difficult, and convincing the citizens of Thebes will be harder still. And even if you do manage to push this through the Council, keeping our Boeotian allies in line will be a nightmare. If they fracture, the Boeotian League we worked so hard to build will collapse. Thebes will be isolated in Central Greece, and we could find ourselves besieged by a coalition of city-states all over again!"

"I've considered all of that. I certainly won't reject the priest's demands outright or publicly declare for Daionia." Pelopidas gave a sly smile. "But I can stall for time. Athens, Corinth, Argos, Elis, the Phocians, the Locrians, the Thessalians... the Greek city-states are numerous, self-interested, and riddled with mutual conflict. There is no way Delphi and Olympia can unite them into a cohesive front against the Theonians overnight.

"And even if they are persuaded, mobilizing their respective armies and rallying them into a single force will take a considerable amount of time. I'd estimate... two or three months, at least. In that time, Daionia's war against Sparta might already be over. The Theonians will take new actions, the political landscape will clarify, and we will be in a far better position to make a new decision."

Epaminondas thought it over. "That could work. We can argue that because the Thessalians and Athens have not yet declared their stances—and because they still harbor obvious hostility toward Thebes—Boeotia's security remains under active threat. On those grounds, we pass a resolution to withhold our final decision and buy ourselves time. I believe both the Council and the citizens of Thebes will accept that logic, and it aligns perfectly with the interests of our other Boeotian League allies."