Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece Chapter 1172: Pausanias and Tegea

Even though Pausanias had been exiled for his crimes, the people of Tegea still treated him as an honored guest. Over the following decade, he had not wasted away in despair. Instead, he had worked to serve as a bridge between Tegea and Sparta, actively integrating himself into Tegean society. Not only did he befriend many Tegean councilors, but he was also elected to the Tegean Noble Assembly.

As the Theban War dragged on, however, even a close Spartan ally like Tegea was inevitably forced to supply substantial military rations every year and dispatch citizens to the front lines. Despite Pausanias's efforts to smooth things over, Tegean resentment toward Sparta only continued to grow. When the Spartan army suffered a crushing defeat at Leuctra and the Arcadians sought to establish a league to break away from Spartan control, many Tegeans were emboldened. Ultimately, the anti-Spartan faction gained the upper hand in the assembly, and Tegea joined the Arcadian League.

The pro-Spartan faction quietly relayed this news to Sparta, prompting the Spartans to warn the Arcadians: dissolve the league immediately, or face war.

Led by Mantineia, the Arcadian League flatly refused. Although this sparked a conflict within the City of Tegea, Tegea ultimately chose to stand with the league against Sparta. As the dark clouds of war gathered over them, the Tegeans began to panic. Pausanias prepared to use the opportunity to persuade them to return to Sparta's embrace—but then the Theonians suddenly invaded Messenia, drastically altering the situation.

After Pausanias went into seclusion in Tegea, his news became even scarcer. He occasionally heard rumors: "Daionia went to war with Syracuse and won... Daionia went to war with Carthage and won..." At the time, he merely remarked, "This city-state is quite belligerent!" before tossing the matter to the back of his mind. He hadn't paid it much heed. After all, the affairs of the western Mediterranean felt far too distant for an inland city-state like Tegea. Pausanias remained focused on the Peloponnese.

Yet now, that western Mediterranean kingdom had sent an army across the sea to attack Sparta, immediately striking its vital weakness. Messenia was seized, inflicting catastrophic losses on Sparta. Then, the Arcadian League forged an alliance with Daionia, and the anti-Spartan faction in Tegea gained absolute dominance... Watching this unfold, Pausanias felt a deep ache in his heart. He even considered leaving Tegea, but where could a frail, aging man like him possibly go?!

He kept his doors tightly shut these days. He wanted to avoid any attacks from the anti-Spartan faction, but he also simply didn't want to upset himself further by witnessing the deteriorating situation.

That evening, Pausanias was walking in his courtyard to digest his dinner when a servant hurried over to report. "Master, someone is outside asking to see you."

"He says he is an old friend of yours, but he is dressed rather mysteriously."

Filled with doubt, Pausanias went to the door himself.

Two people stood outside: a slave supporting a hooded man.

"What do you want with me?" Pausanias asked coldly, his eyes widening as he tried to make out the hooded man's face.

"Pausanias," the man said. "It has been more than ten years. You have grown old!"

"Who are you?" The voice was simultaneously familiar and foreign; Pausanias could not place it for a moment.

The man suddenly threw back his hood, startling Pausanias. "Agesilaus, what are you doing here?!"

"Speak a little louder, and my life will be over," Agesilaus reminded him, half-joking.

Pausanias immediately realized his mistake. He quickly scanned the street outside—fortunately, it was quiet and empty—then hurriedly ushered the two men inside. Only after bolting the door did he speak in a hushed voice. "Agesilaus, you are a king of Sparta and the commander of the Spartan army! To abandon your troops during a war and risk sneaking in here... Do you think this is still the Tegea of the past? It is extremely dangerous here now! If you are discovered and captured, imagine the blow it would deal to the Spartan army! How could they possibly defeat the Theonians then?!"

Pausanias looked utterly distressed. His words were full of reproach, as if he were still a king of Sparta himself.

Agesilaus only smiled. "Though you left Sparta over a decade ago, you are still a Spartan."

"I have no time for idle chatter," Pausanias said with a stern expression. "You must leave the city at once! If the person who smuggled you in does not dare help you anymore, I will arrange it myself."

Agesilaus dropped his smile. Gazing at the old king, he replied in a deep, solemn voice, "I infiltrated Tegea to save Sparta! Only by completely bringing Tegea back into Sparta's fold do we stand a chance of defeating the Daionian Army. Otherwise, Sparta will cease to exist!"

Pausanias froze, then asked with concern, "Is the situation in Sparta that dire?"

"Extremely dire!" Agesilaus immediately laid out all the hardships and dangers currently facing the Spartan army.

Pausanias stood dumbfounded for a long time. As worry crept across his deeply lined face, he let out a long sigh. "Right now, the anti-Spartan faction holds a clear upper hand in Tegea. It will be very difficult to make Tegea a Spartan ally again in such a short timeframe!"

"With your help, we can do it!" Agesilaus answered confidently, before revealing his entire plan.

As Pausanias listened, his expression shifted uncertainly. Thinking of the impending disaster that would fall upon the Tegeans he had befriended, he could not help but ask, "Is this not too cruel?"

"If we do not do this, the fate Sparta faces will be even more tragic!" Agesilaus said heavily.

Pausanias remained silent for a moment before saying with resolute determination, "Wait here. I will go right now and contact all the Tegean councilors who are closest to Sparta and most worthy of our trust..."

"Pausanias!" Agesilaus called out to him. With a solemn expression, he said, "I believe that once we defeat the Daionian Army, the Council of Elders, the ephors, and the Popular Assembly will forgive the mistakes you made in the past!"

At that moment, tears seemed to shimmer in the eyes of the former Spartan king, now over seventy years old. He sniffled and said with deep emotion, "Agesilaus, you have grown old too! To think that the Sparta of today... will be saved by two old men with one foot in the grave!"

...

Ever since the siege of Mantineia was lifted, the Daionian Army had remained holed up in their camp. This was because Crotokatax had adopted Plintors's suggestion.

They had received word from Secilian, learning that the First Fleet had begun patrolling the Aegean Sea, successfully severing the Spartan mercenaries' main supply routes.

Though Crotokatax worried that the First Fleet's actions would incite the anger of other Greek city-states, Plintors was focused on a different outcome: the First Fleet's proactive strikes would drive the Spartan army into a corner. With Sparta's national strength severely compromised and most of its former allies turning their backs, they were not like Daionia, which had endless fleets delivering supplies to Messenia every single day. Sparta could not possibly possess enough rations to sustain such a massive army. As long as the Daionian Army held their ground, it would not be long before the Spartan army collapsed on its own or was forced into desperate military gambles. When that time came, the Daionian Army would be able to secure victory at a minimal cost.

Therefore, when the mountain scouts discovered that roughly six or seven thousand soldiers from within Spartan territory were converging with the Spartan mercenaries in Tegea, Plintors did not feel tense. On the contrary, he felt quite relaxed. The addition of these Spartan troops would undeniably stretch their food supplies even thinner, while simultaneously leaving Sparta's domestic defenses hollowed out due to the manpower drain. Thus, he suggested to Crotocatax:

First, continue bolstering the camp's defensive measures to guard against a Spartan assault.

Second, order Secilian to continue attempting landings on the coast of Spartan territory to heap further pressure on the Spartans.

Third, dispatch more scout cavalry and infantry, expanding their reconnaissance range north of Tegea, and do everything possible to sabotage and sever any remaining supply routes the Spartan army might possess.

Crotokatax adopted these suggestions one by one, then left it to Plintors to persuade the Legion Commanders to execute them.

Half a day later, Crotokatax received a messenger from Thebes. The news that spilled from the messenger's lips not only shocked Crotokatax but also ruined Plintors's good mood: the priests of Delphi and Olympia, along with the people of Corinth, were rushing about, scheming to forge an alliance of Greek city-states to stand against Daionia!

From the day Crotokatax and Plintors set foot in the Peloponnese, everything had proceeded relatively smoothly. Despite Davos's strict instructions and Leotychides's warnings prior to their departure, they had still fallen into the illusion that they could simply fulfill the task King Davos had given them step by step. Had it not been for the Thebans' warning, they never would have guessed that the arrival of the Daionian Army would trigger such fierce resistance from the sacred sites of Greece, threatening to summon monstrous waves that would swallow them whole.