Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece Chapter 1250: Macedonian Prince Philip

"Clotho," Davos said, using his son's nickname with a gratified smile. "I'm glad you care for me this much. But... just like Amyntas and the others, I've harbored this hope for decades. Would you have me depart for Elysium with regrets?"

Crotokatax froze, unsure how to answer.

Davos smiled. "Rest assured. Decades ago, I led mercenaries fighting across Persia for over a year without falling ill once. I am fully accustomed to their climate and food. And though I am older now, I've never stopped exercising. I rarely get sick, and my body is still in excellent shape, isn't it?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. According to the medical academy's comprehensive analysis of your previous physical examinations, your organ function is nearly identical to that of a healthy middle-aged man," Stesichodas, the Minister of Medicine, replied truthfully.

"Did you hear that, Clotho? My health might even be better than yours!" Davos laughed heartily, then his tone turned resolute. "Everyone, I am pushing sixty. I have spent my life on the battlefield and claimed countless victories, but this will be my final war. Let me eliminate this last great enemy for the Sacred Kingdom of Daunia that we built together!"

Crotokatax hesitated, the words dying on his lips. Finally, he let out a helpless sigh.

The ministers exchanged glances; no one voiced any further objections.

At that moment, Sedorum stood up and asked, "Your Majesty, with you leading the expedition, how will the kingdom's state affairs be managed?"

Davos was already prepared for this. He spoke slowly, "Archon Crotokatax will govern in my stead, fully assisted by you Ministers of State. In truth, this is exactly how the Kingdom Administrative Office has been operating these past few years. I believe you will do an even better job after I depart!"

"Everyone, today's meeting has finalized the resolution to invade Persia. We will discuss this in greater depth later and make covert preparations." Davos swept his gaze across the room, his expression grave. "However—to ensure the upcoming athletic games proceed smoothly, this will not be made public for the time being. I expect you all to obey the kingdom's laws and keep this matter strictly confidential."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

After the administrative council ended, Davos returned to his office. He had just sat down and hadn't even managed a sip of water before Henipolis came in to report, "Your Majesty, Aristiras requests an audience."

"Send him in."

Aristiras walked in with a slow gait and bowed respectfully.

"Aristi, if you're here to ask about the resignation you submitted last time—" Davos looked at him and said softly, "I am not approving it right now. You heard the announcement in the meeting. I will be personally leading the expedition against Persia, so the kingdom's stability still requires your assistance. I need you to shoulder this burden a little longer. What do you say?"

"I agree, Your Majesty," Aristiras answered briskly. "But I have another matter to report."

"Very well. Speak."

"Our intelligence officers in Thessaly have discovered that Prince Philip of the Kingdom of Macedon—whom you ordered the Intelligence Department to closely monitor—is traveling among the Macedonian diplomatic delegation. He is currently on his way to Thurii."

"Hiding among the Macedonian delegation?" Davos's interest was piqued. "You mean he isn't attending the games as a Macedonian prince? Do his mother and brother even know he left Macedonia?"

"They should know by now," Aristiras explained. "I received a subsequent secret report from Thessaly stating that not long after the Macedonian delegation departed by ship, the royal guard began searching for him inside the city of Aegae. I expect Macedonia will soon dispatch another envoy to Thurii to track down their delegation and reinforce Philip's protection. They might even have him reveal his identity publicly..."

Davos understood why Aristiras was providing such a detailed analysis of a Macedonian prince's whereabouts. It stemmed from some unsavory speculations the intelligence chief harbored regarding Davos's earlier command to closely monitor this young, seemingly irrelevant prince who had no ties to the Kingdom of Daunia.

In 369 BC—Year 25 of the Kingdom of Daunia—when the Daionian Army conquered Thessaly and established the New Greek League, Amyntas, the king of their northern neighbor Macedonia, died of illness. His young eldest son, Alexander, succeeded the throne. Soon after, an aristocratic general in northern Macedonia launched a rebellion and occupied the region near Chalcidice. Alexander marched out to suppress the revolt but suffered a defeat. The rebel army drove south, directly threatening the royal palace in Aegae. In this critical situation, King Alexander had no choice but to send messengers to Athens for help.

Macedonia and Sparta had once been allies, so Alexander normally would have sought aid from Sparta. However, he heard that Sparta was now under the control of the Sacred Kingdom of Daunia, and rumors were circulating within Macedonia that the King of Daonia had a blood feud with them over his father's death. The populace was panicking, and the young Macedonian king was fearful, leaving him no option but to seek help from Iphicrates in Athens. This famous Athenian general had close ties to Macedonia; in fact, the former Macedonian king, Amyntas, had been his adoptive father.

Upon receiving the plea for help, Iphicrates naturally submitted a proposal to the Ten Generals of Athens. But Callistratus warned everyone: although the newly established New Greek Alliance did not restrict its member states from mobilizing troops externally, Athens dispatching an army to Macedonia—which bordered Thessaly—would inevitably arouse Daionia's suspicions. Therefore, it was best to secure Daionia's permission first.

Though reluctant, the council ultimately agreed with Callistratus's suggestion and sent messengers to the New Greek Alliance parliament far away in Thurii.

Upon receiving the news, Davos immediately ordered the troops stationed in Thessaly to rescue the Macedonian royal family and repel the rebels.

However, during the time it took for the messengers to make the round trip, the Macedonian rebels breached the city of Aegae. King Alexander was killed in battle. The queen fled south of the Thermaic Gulf with the king's two younger brothers, Perdiccas and Philip.

The Regional Administrator of the Thessaly Region, Hylos, sent envoys to track down the Macedonian queen, conveying the Daunian king's goodwill toward Macedonia. The Macedonian queen finally let down her guard, pleaded for Daunia's assistance, and expressed her willingness for Macedonia to join the Hellenic League.

But the Daunian envoy tactfully explained that if Macedonia wished to join the New Greek Alliance, they would need the approval of more than half the city-states in the Hellenic League, which would take a considerable amount of time. However, if Macedonia simply forged an alliance exclusively with Daunia—much like the nature of their former alliance with Sparta—the treaty could be signed immediately, and the Daunian troops in Thessaly could march out at once.

Driven into a corner, the Macedonian queen had no choice but to agree to the envoy's terms, signing a treaty with Daunia and submitting to Daunia as their sovereign.

The Border Legion stationed in Thessaly was immediately ordered north. They routed the rebel army near the city of Pella, relentlessly pursued them, and ultimately captured and executed the Macedonian general who had incited the rebellion, reclaiming the towns he had occupied. With Daunia's full backing, the Amyntas family regained the throne, and Alexander's younger brother, Perdiccas, became the King of Macedon.

Throughout the campaign to quell the rebellion, the queen and the new king witnessed Daunia's overwhelming might. Recalling the past grievances between the Daunian king and Macedonia, they held a discussion and decided to send their youngest brother, Philip, to Thurii as a hostage to demonstrate Macedonia's loyalty to Daunia.

When Davos received this news, however, he explicitly refused the offer. He personally wrote a letter to comfort Perdiccas, stating, "As long as Macedonia remains loyal to Daunia, Daunia will always guarantee the long-term stability of the Amyntas family's rule in Macedonia. Therefore, there is absolutely no need for any hostage to maintain the friendship between our two nations."

Perdiccas was deeply moved upon reading the letter. He would never know, however, that Davos's primary reason for refusing to accept Philip as a hostage in Thurii was because he possessed some knowledge of the history of Macedonia's rise from his past life.

In his previous life, during this very period, Athens and Thebes had successively intervened in Macedonia's politics. Ultimately, Macedonia submitted to the much stronger Thebes. To ensure Macedonia's loyalty, Thebes forcibly took Prince Philip as a hostage. It was said that after Philip arrived in Thebes, he enrolled in a military academy founded by Epaminondas. There, he witnessed Epaminondas's military reforms and observed the various policies enacted by the Theban leadership—headed by Pelopidas—while forming and consolidating the Boeotian League... A few years later, due to internal strife in Macedonia, the young man in his twenties returned to his homeland, usurped his nephew's throne, and used the knowledge he had acquired in Thebes to forge a powerful new-style army. Not only did he unify Macedonia, but he also transformed it into a formidable power. Later on, his son Alexander would destroy Thebes, the very city that had provided Philip with his political and military awakening...

Davos was taking preventive measures; naturally, he would not give the gifted Philip such an opportunity. As for Macedonia's loyalty, Davos did not care in the slightest. He actually hoped Macedonia would betray the treaty. That way, after a few years of recuperation and having already integrated Thessaly, Daunia could seize the chance to wipe out Macedonia, expanding its territory in Greece and further solidifying the kingdom's presence in the region.

"This Prince Philip really doesn't give me peace of mind!" Davos said with grave caution. "Regardless of whether the Macedonian delegation intends to make his identity public, since he is here to watch the games, he is an honored guest of Daunia. We must guarantee his safety!"

Aristiras stole a glance at Davos, realizing his earlier assumption might have been completely wrong. He immediately promised with utmost sincerity, "Yes, Your Majesty. We will do everything in our power to guarantee Philip's safety!"