Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece Chapter 1201: Bad News

A glimmer of hope ignited in their dim eyes.

Agesilaus, however, sighed inwardly. Even if they eventually retook Sparta, would the perioikoi and helots who had already tasted freedom ever willingly accept their rule again?

...

That evening, an exhausted Davos dragged himself back to his mansion.

Dinner was usually the liveliest time of day for the family, but tonight Davos barely spoke. Even when Eunice tried to strike up a conversation with her father, his replies were perfunctory.

After the meal, Davos called Christoya and Agnes to the master bedroom on the second floor.

"Your Majesty, did something happen to Clotho?" It was rare for Christoya to see Davos looking so grim. Coupled with her lingering anxiety over Crotokatax's expedition, a violent unease seized her heart.

Davos let out a long sigh. "It is not Clotho. It is Adoris... He has gone to Elysium..."

The first half of his sentence made Christoya breathe a sigh of relief, but the second half gripped her heart once more. "Adoris? How could this be? He has always been so dependable, so strong. He had just become a senior captain... How—"

Christoya stared blankly for a moment before suddenly erupting in anger. "What was Clotho doing?! As the army's commander, why didn't he look out for his older brother?! Has he forgotten how Adoris has cared for him all these years?!"

"Sister!" Having married into the family later and possessing a naturally cool temperament, Agnes did not share a deep affection for Adoris and remained calm at the news. She sat beside Christoya, tightly clasping her trembling hands, and offered soft comfort. "Clotho and Adoris share a deep bond. He would never neglect his brother. I am afraid this was just... an accident."

Davos nodded and said in a low voice, "The Spartan king, Agesilaus, is a cunning opponent. He devised a vicious battle plan that temporarily plunged the First Legion into chaos, nearly routing our entire army. Fortunately, Clotho responded well and ultimately secured the victory... but the entire battalion led by Adoris was almost completely wiped out. It is the greatest loss of this battle."

"But... how am I supposed to face Cynthia, Aedi, and the child?" Christoya sobbed, hot tears streaming down her face. "Ever since Adoris moved out, I have hardly paid him any attention. I am not a good mother..."

Davos gently squeezed his wife's shoulders, his voice laced with emotion. "No, you have always been a good mother to Adoris. You raised him with such care... It is I who never truly accepted him as my own. I was far too strict with him. Thinking back on it now... I truly regret it."

Christoya looked at her husband through teary eyes. Wiping her face, she tried to comfort him. "Your Majesty, do not blame yourself. Teaching the children has always been our duty as women, and you are so busy with affairs of state..."

Her words could not diminish the guilt in Davos's heart. He shook his head and stood. "Agnes, stay here and keep Christoya company. I am going out for a walk."

"It is so late. Where are you going?" Agnes asked with concern.

"To stand on the cliff and look at the Crati River."

Davos soon stood on the hill, looking down at the evening waters of the Crati River. He still remembered when he first moved here over a decade ago. At night, the surroundings had been pitch black. The swirling river had reflected the moonlight, appearing exceptionally deep and profound. Coupled with the rumbling of the water rushing downstream, it had always filled him with a sense of trepidation.

Now, however, the lights on both banks of the Crati River twinkled like stars, and the lights upon the river itself merged into a continuous sheet, swaying across the surface. These belonged to the ships entering the river port under the guidance of the lighthouse, as well as the floating restaurants Daionian merchants had built from custom-made pleasure boats... Bustle and noise had replaced the cold desolation of the past. This was the fruit of Davos's decades of effort, his transformation of this world.

At this thought, a surge of pride rose from the bottom of his heart, dispelling his lingering guilt.

...

The news that the Daionian Army had conquered Sparta soon spread throughout Greece. While it shocked and terrified many city-states, it also prompted some to accelerate the formation of a united resistance.

Having actively participated in the war between Daionia and Sparta—and even suffering Daionian Fleet attacks on the merchant ships in their port—an enraged Corinth was one of the earliest city-states to join the Anti-Daonian Alliance. Now, they were highly likely to become the next target of the Daionian Army.

The anxious Corinthians urgently mobilized their military while pleading for help from their allies.

Argos had remained hesitant throughout this war. Aside from refusing to help their mortal enemy, Sparta, another key reason was a proposal from the Daionian envoy, Callias. He had promised the Argive council: "As long as you support Daionia, after the war ends, Daionia will return Tethia to Argos"—a small city in the northeastern corner of Spartan territory adjacent to Argive lands, which Sparta had seized a century ago (not to be confused with Tegea in the Arcadia Region).

The Argives were tempted, but soon wavered under the lobbying of eloquent Athenian envoys. Later, as Sparta's close neighbors, the Argives discovered that after occupying the city, the Daionians had completely abolished its original system of government, elevating both the perioikoi and the helots into new Spartan citizens... Aside from the land itself, everything in Sparta had changed.

This terrified Argos, which was also an oligarchic regime. They ultimately decided to join the Anti-Daonian Alliance, strengthening their border defenses while dispatching reinforcements to their ally, Corinth.

The Athenians had long since begun their military mobilization. Upon learning that the Daionian Army had completely occupied Sparta, the Athenian Council felt an even greater sense of urgency. They repeatedly urged their overseas allies and subordinate states to send reinforcements and supplies to Athens as quickly as possible. Generals like Callistratus knew that with the fall of Sparta and Daionia's overwhelming display of strength, if Athens did not step forward to rally the Greeks, many wavering city-states would likely defect to Daionia.

Therefore, Athens quickly assembled an initial army of 10,000 men. Led by Iphicrates, they marched out with great fanfare to reinforce Corinth.

After learning that Daionia had captured Sparta, Thebes and its allies grew even more resolute in their determination to remain neutral. Meanwhile, to their west, the city-states of Phocis and Locris, influenced by the priests of Delphi, actively responded to Athens's call. They dispatched a total of 6,000 soldiers to rendezvous with the Athenian army.

With Sparta utterly defeated, Pisa lost its powerful backing. Even without their prior promises, it was inevitable that they would eventually subordinate themselves to Elis in the same region. Conversely, Elis, which had previously shown hostility toward Daionia, began to waver. With both Messenia and Sparta occupied by Daionia, and the Arcadian League securing an alliance with them, Elis—located in the northwest corner of the Peloponnese Peninsula—was now completely surrounded by Daionian forces and their allies. Thus, while the other members of the Anti-Daonian Alliance took active measures, Elis quietly ceased its operations.

After the Daionian Army gifted Tegea to Mantineia, the other city-states of the Arcadian League hoped Mantineia would return the territory and join them in persuading the Daionians to pardon the captured Tegean citizens, allowing them to return to their homeland.

But how could the people of Mantineia be willing to spit out the prize they had just swallowed? Lycomedes, who had initially voiced his opposition, ultimately changed his tune in the face of surging public opinion and stepped up to defend Mantineia's interests.

The two sides argued endlessly, with some city-states even threatening to leave the league. Right at this moment, news arrived that the Daionian Army had occupied the entirety of Sparta. The quarrels within the Arcadian League ceased immediately, and they quickly reached a consensus: they would send envoys to Sparta to congratulate their ally, Daionia, while simultaneously ascertaining how they intended to handle the conquered territory.

In Thessaly, located in Northern Greece, Jason publicly declared in Pharsalus: "As members of the Greek city-states, the people of Thessaly will never sit back and watch foreigners invade Greek lands and oppress our Greek compatriots! I, the tagus of Thessaly, shall lead all our warriors to drive out the invaders and help our compatriots in the south reclaim their homeland!"

After he issued the military mobilization, the various city-states within Thessaly and the tribes from the surrounding mountains dispatched their armies, converging on Pharsalus...

...

Within the borders of Persia, the entire western region of Asia Minor (modern-day Anatolia in Turkey) was divided into several districts. Phrygia was one of them. Hundreds of years ago, it had risen as a kingdom, wielding enough influence and territory in Asia Minor to rival the Hittite Empire. Even now, having been absorbed into Persian territory, it still retained its unique culture and certain special privileges.

Currently, Phrygia was located entirely in the center of western Asia Minor, completely landlocked. However, during Pharnabazus's tenure as satrap, he used his prestige to lease the coastal town of Aspendos in the southern region of Pisidia to serve as Phrygia's port. Their military port was also established there, and now, Timotheus was serving as the fleet commander in this very harbor.