Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece Chapter 1188: The First Fleet's Military Council

The highly decorated commander of the First Fleet stood with his hands on his hips, surveying his subordinate squadron commanders. Radiating confidence, he spoke in a deep voice, "The day before yesterday, we received a letter from Prince Crotokatax. Their situation is looking grim. The Greek city-states are quietly preparing to unite against Daionia!

"If our land army doesn't defeat Sparta soon, they'll likely find themselves encircled by the Greeks. However, now that Sparta has received aid from Persia, their strength has grown. The young prince dares not launch a rash assault, so he wrote to us for help.

"Right now, the main Spartan forces have been drawn to Tegea, and the defenses within their territory have been severely weakened. This is the perfect opportunity for our 1st Fleet to launch another landing on the Spartan coast, capture Sparta, and achieve tremendous glory for our navy! I gave you all yesterday to think it over. Well? Have you come up with any good plans?!"

The moment he finished speaking, the First Fleet's infantry commander, Cephisodorus, stood up. "My lord," he said resolutely, "I have a way to ensure our fleet infantry lands successfully and avenges the brothers we lost last time!"

"Let's hear it!" Secilian looked at his infantry commander with gratification, pleased that the man's fighting spirit hadn't diminished after their previous defeat.

"I believe there are a few reasons why our last landing failed," Cephisodorus said, his deep voice carrying a trace of remorse. "First, we underestimated the enemy. Even though the Spartans had suffered consecutive defeats, they still retained considerable strength. We all saw it that day—Sparta threw over five thousand heavy infantry into the battle. Our fleet infantry only wears light armor; how could we possibly clash with them head-on? According to a recent dispatch from the army, over six thousand Spartan Warriors have left their territory for Tegea, more than half of whom are heavy infantry. Because of this, the pressure we face during our next landing will be vastly reduced.

"Second, the Spartans drove numerous wooden stakes into the shallows, preventing our Warships from approaching the shore. We were forced to use small boats to ferry our troops to the beaches. Including our fast ships, the entire Fleet consists of fewer than a hundred vessels, and each can transport a maximum of twenty soldiers. This made it impossible to deliver a large number of troops to the shore all at once. By the time our fleet infantry managed to land in scattered, staggered formations, the Spartans had already formed dense phalanxes to attack them, quickly routing our forces.

"From what I understand, our various squadrons have been commandeering cargo ships from all over these past few days. I'm told we now have over two hundred of them, which drastically improves our ability to deploy troops to the shoreline in a single wave.

"Furthermore, our fleet infantry have devised a tactic of their own. They can disembark further from the shore, where the water is still relatively deep, and hold their position. Once the second and third waves of transport boats arrive, they can rendezvous with their comrades, form up into a phalanx, and march onto the beach together—"

Cephisodorus smiled confidently. "Every one of my fleet infantrymen is an excellent swimmer, highly skilled at fighting in the water. If the Spartans want to wade out into the sea to fight us, I couldn't ask for anything better. As for standing in the water for an extended period, it will drain some stamina, yes, but that is still vastly superior to rushing into an attack with insufficient numbers and no proper formation.

"Another factor was our unfamiliarity with the sea conditions in the Laconian Gulf during our last attempt. The winds and waves suddenly swelled during the landing, preventing the Ballistae on our Warships from aiming accurately, which left our infantry without proper fire support. I am confident we won't face such miserable conditions this time around."

Secilian had been listening intently. Seeing Cephisodorus suddenly pause, he immediately asked, wanting more, "Is that all?"

Cephisodorus puffed out his chest and declared loudly, "Of course not. For this attack on Sparta, I suggest you alter our strategy, my lord. We would do well to adopt the exact tactic King Davos used during the Battle of the Trionto River—dispatching a small detachment of soldiers across first, who will then coordinate with the main force in a joint assault."

"The Battle of the Trionto River?" Secilian searched his memory for a moment before his eyes lit up. He immediately asked, "Do you have a specific plan?"

"I've spent the past few days taking a boat out to carefully survey the entire coastline of the Spartan territory," Cephisodorus said, pointing to a crude map of the Spartan waters spread across the wooden table. His voice grew solemn. "The central sector is the focal point of the Spartan defenses, and it will also be the primary target for our fleet infantry.

"The western cape is an extension of the Taygetus Mountains. It lacks any viable landing sites, yet the Spartans still haven't relaxed their guard there, knowing they must defend against a sneak attack from our army in Messenia.

"The eastern cape, meanwhile, is an extension of the Parnon Mountains. It is even narrower and longer than its western counterpart, and similarly offers no place for a Fleet to dock. However, one rarely sees Spartan patrols there. Now that the main Spartan forces have been drawn away to Tegea, they lack the manpower to defend the east entirely...

"I've scouted a few promising spots. We can select our best climbers, have them swim ashore from the small boats, scramble over the jagged reefs, and scale the cliffs. Once at the top, they can lower ropes for the rest of the men to ascend the cape. The terrain there is mountainous and densely forested—more than enough cover to conceal two or three hundred soldiers for a short time without being spotted. Then, the following day, when our main force launches a frontal assault, this detachment can strike the Spartans from the flank and rear. It will absolutely shatter their lines!"

"I think this is an excellent plan, and perfectly viable!" Secilian immediately voiced his support, his excitement palpable. "We will draft our new landing strategy around Cephisodorus's proposal. I want everyone to offer suggestions and refine the details. Our next landing operation must be a success!"

............................................................

At his advanced age, Xenophon needed less sleep, so he awoke quite early.

After washing up and eating a breakfast specially prepared by the servants, he left Agesilaus's estate.

The sky was just beginning to lighten, though scattered candlelight already flickered within the City of Sparta. Usually, at this hour, the streets would be bustling with helots carrying their farm tools, hurrying to work the fields. Lately, however, the streets remained largely deserted. The occasional bark of a dog rang out with startling clarity in the quiet city.

As Xenophon walked down the tranquil streets, he was stopped and questioned no fewer than three times by fully armed Spartan Warriors who seemed to emerge from nowhere. Each time, Xenophon calmly explained that he was going out for his morning exercise.

Sparta was a nation built upon martial prowess. Its people prized robust health and looked upon excess fat with deep shame. Therefore, Spartan citizens were trained from childhood, and even in their twilight years, they maintained rigorous exercise habits. It was virtually a tradition. Although Xenophon was not a Spartan citizen, he had lived within Spartan territory for decades, and his daily routines had become indistinguishable from theirs.

Moreover, he was a hero of two expeditions into Persia and had fought alongside Sparta in numerous wars against other Greek city-states, earning countless honors. He had also authored books whose very pages overflowed with praise for Sparta's government and traditions. Thus, he was regarded as an honored guest and enjoyed considerable prestige among the Spartan citizens. Now, with Sparta facing an existential crisis, he had chosen to stay and fight alongside them. This gesture earned him immense gratitude from the populace. As a result, the patrolling Spartan Warriors never gave him any trouble; instead, they kindly reminded him to be careful during his exercise and warned him not to wander too far from the city lest he run into danger.

Strictly speaking, the City of Sparta was not a true city. Though it boasted many temples, houses, and a sizable population, it possessed no walls. Its layout was simple: dense housing at the center, gradually thinning out toward the periphery. By the time one could see patches of farmland scattered to the east and west, it meant Xenophon had officially left the city limits.

Xenophon maintained a brisk pace, marching south along the road lining the eastern bank of the Eurotas River. More than three hours later, the sun was shining brightly overhead. Despite the ache in his legs, the sight of countless tents stretching out before him told him he had finally reached his destination.

When the Spartans received word that the Daionian Army had invaded Messenia by sea, they followed Agesilaus's advice and shifted their defensive focus to the shoreline. They constructed a coastal encampment to house the bulk of their mobilized army. Simultaneously, they organized a massive workforce of perioikoi and helots to work alongside the Warriors, driving wooden stakes into the shallows and erecting watchtowers... It was this series of decisive measures that allowed the Spartan army to successfully thwart the initial Daionian landing.

This coastal encampment lacked both walls and trenches. Its sole purpose was to serve as a staging area where Warriors could rest and remain ready for battle at a moment's notice; it was never intended to be an impregnable fortress. If the Daionians successfully landed, there would be no point in the Spartan Warriors holding the camp. Everyone knew the City of Sparta had no defensive walls. The Daionian Army could simply bypass the encampment and march straight on the capital, which would spell absolute disaster for Sparta. Thus, rather than wasting effort fortifying the camp, their time was better spent constructing obstacles to prevent the Daionian Fleet from ever reaching the shore.

Xenophon observed Spartan Warriors lounging in the sun outside their tents in small groups of twos and threes, while others had gathered together, happily indulging in a ball game unique to Sparta...

Seeing this scene, Xenophon breathed a temporary sigh of relief. If the Spartan Warriors felt secure enough to relax, it meant there had been no sign of the enemy so far today. Only yesterday, a massive Fleet of Daionian Warships had encroached upon the coastal waters, forcing the encamped army into a state of high alert. Ultimately, perhaps intimidated by Sparta's heavy defenses, the Daionian Warships had hovered offshore in a tense standoff for hours before finally sailing away.