Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece Chapter 1277: Landing in Asia Minor

By the time a furious Nectanebos learned of the uprising and led his troops to reinforce the gates, the Daionian Army had already stormed the city, guided by the officials of Memphis.

After a day of fierce urban combat, the rebels were routed and Nectanebos was captured. The Daionian Army then occupied the City of Memphis.

The very next day, Minister of Foreign Affairs Tapirus—who had traveled to Egypt with the army on Davos's orders—began holding frequent meetings with the officials of Memphis and the priests of the city's temples.

...

It was already mid-August. News that the Sacred Kingdom of Daunia had officially declared war on Persia and was assembling the Greek expeditionary army to invade Asia Minor finally reached Babylon, leaving Artaxerxes in shock. The militarily inept King of Persia, having suffered repeated defeats, had gradually developed a deep-seated fear of this distant western realm. Despite facing constant obstacles, the Kingdom of Daunia only continued to win and expand. In front of his court, he couldn't help but blurt out, "It has finally come!..."

He abruptly stood up and shouted, "Summon Tiribazus at once!"

"Your Majesty, you already dispatched Lord Tiribazus to conquer Egypt," a minister reminded him.

Artaxerxes jolted as if waking from a dream. He stood frozen for a moment before asking, "Where is he now?"

"He is still in the Syrian Region, mustering the army."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

...

Artaxerxes reasoned that although Daionia had officially declared war, it would still take considerable time for the Greek expeditionary army to finish assembling and invade Persian territory.

What he did not anticipate was that Leotychides had already arrived in Thessaly with the Tenth Legion and the Eleventh Legion. After thoroughly analyzing the enemy situation across the Aegean Sea and deliberating at length, the Daionian commander made a bold decision: rather than waiting for all the Greek forces to converge before attacking Asia Minor, he would strike while the Persians were still unprepared. He would dispatch a vanguard force to land in Asia Minor and secure a foothold to guarantee the main army's subsequent landing.

Tenth Legion Commander Stiphylos was the adopted son of the renowned Daionian Army veteran Amyntas, a close friend of Patroclus, and an old subordinate of Leotychides. Knowing his capabilities well, Leotychides entrusted Stiphylos with this task.

In the prime of his life and eager to earn further glory, Stiphylos accepted the heavy responsibility without hesitation. After conferring with Leotychides, he pinpointed their landing target: the beaches of Mysia in western Asia Minor.

The reason for this choice was straightforward: sailing due east from Pherae Port in Thessaly and crossing the Aegean Sea, the shortest straight-line distance to western Asia Minor was Mysia. As Persia's westernmost region, it was naturally where their ruling power was weakest.

Because Mysia lay relatively close to the Greek Mainland, the region contained many colonial towns established by Greeks, making Persian rule there chronically unstable. During the great wave of rebellions against Persian rule across Asia Minor, Mysia had been among those to revolt. However, Artaxerxes had issued decrees during the war favoring the Greek city-states in Asia Minor—granting them greater autonomy, lowering their taxes, and allowing more religious freedom. Consequently, most Greek city-states in Asia Minor refrained from joining that rebellion or supporting the rebels. Instead, they offered a degree of cooperation with the Persian army's suppression efforts.

Yet, once the rebellion was quelled and the new governors took office across western Asia Minor, many of them failed to execute the decrees announced by the King of Persia. Theopompus, the governor of Mysia, was one of them, which sparked discontent among the Greek city-states within his borders. This Persian noble from Susa clearly never expected the local Greeks to dare oppose his decisions. Meanwhile, other local ethnic groups—including the Persians—mostly watched coldly from the sidelines, with few willing to align themselves with an outsider. As a result, more than a year into his tenure, Theopompus's grip on Mysia remained extremely fragile, and the region's entire political climate was highly chaotic.

Several days later, having made full preparations, over 8,000 soldiers of the Daionian Tenth Legion boarded troopships at Pherae Port. Under the escort of the Fourth Fleet, they sailed straight east and successfully landed on the beaches of Mysia two days later. At the same time, they swiftly occupied Tenedos, an undefended island situated just off the landing beach.

...

By September, mere moments after the official public announcement that King Davos would personally lead the grand army against Persia, his office in the Royal Palace welcomed several guests.

Looking at these guests, Davos feigned surprise and asked, "What is the occasion today, that brings you all here to see me together?"

"Your Majesty!" replied Philesius, who had been retired for many years, answering respectfully. "We heard you are going to personally lead the army to attack Persia. Everyone was thrilled, so we agreed to come see you together. We hope you will permit us to go with you to that land where we once braved life and death, fighting side by side!"

"Yes, Your Majesty! All these years, I have never been able to forget the comrades who died in battle in Persia," added the usually calm Alexis, speaking with emotion. "Back then, because we were rushing to escape with our lives, we buried their corpses in haste, without even placing a copper coin in their mouths... Going to Persia this time, I must collect their bones and bring them home for a proper burial, so their souls wandering in a foreign land can safely return to the Underworld..."

"And then there are Clearchus, Proxenus, and Menon," Hieronymus added earnestly. "We heard their heads were sent to Babylon and casually tossed into the rubbish heaps by the Persians. Even if we spend a great deal of effort, we might not be able to find them, but... collecting their remains and bringing them home is a shared wish among us all!" Tolmides, Agasias, and the rest immediately shouted their agreement.

"A shared wish?" Davos heard the underlying implication in those words.

"Your Majesty, we are here representing the majority of the old mercenaries who are still alive and sitting idle at home, to petition you," Epithenes declared loudly. "We hope to follow you and fight our way back into Persia!"

Davos's gaze swept over the white-haired, wrinkled faces of the old men before him—Philesius, Alexis, Hieronymus, Tolmides, Marigi, Agasias, Epithenes, Martius, Geogris... before finally landing on Amyntas.

This once highly decorated and fiercely brave Daionian general was now completely unable to stand. He was slumped in a wheeled wooden chair, having been pushed into the Royal Palace by his trusted servant. Because he had been unable to walk for a long time, his originally burly physique had grown severely bloated and flabby. While the others were all talking, he had actually closed his eyes and started snoring.

Davos couldn't help but call out softly, "Amyntas."

"Zzz..."

"Amyntas!"

"Eh?..."

"Are you going to follow us to Persia as well?"

Prodded by his servant, Amyntas finally woke up. Gripping the armrests of his wooden chair with both hands, he tried his best to sit himself up. Panting heavily, he said, "Your Majesty... even if I die... I will die on the road to Babylon!..."

Davos looked around at the crowd again, his expression turning solemn as he asked, "Are you all of the same mind?"

Philesius looked back at the others. After receiving their nods of confirmation, he answered gravely, "Your Majesty, over these past few decades of following you, we have achieved countless victories. Our only regret is that we were chased out of Persia by the Persians like dogs. This time, we want to follow you and make up for that regret. Even if we die during the campaign, it will still be the glory of a lifetime of battle!"

"Your Majesty, I have one more request!" Epithenes shouted from the back. "If I really do die on the way, please allow my servant to carry my corpse into Babylon, so I can see with my own eyes what these Hanging Gardens the Babylonians brag about actually look like!"

Martius immediately whispered his complaints to him in dissatisfaction. "We agreed on everything beforehand! Breaking our agreement and suddenly springing a request like that on His Majesty is too much! What can a dead man possibly see? Hurry up and apologize to His Majesty, and take back this unreasonable request!"

"I'm happy with it, and I'm sure His Majesty won't blame me," Epithenes replied with a completely nonchalant look. Furious, Martius grabbed his clothes, looking ready to punch him.

"Enough, enough," Davos said, waving his hand. He looked at the crowd and said sternly, "I can allow you to accompany me to Persia, but—you are all veteran generals who have fought alongside me for many years, and you are all intimately familiar with Theonian Military Law. You should know that this war against Persia will determine the ownership of the entire Mediterranean Sea and the rise and fall of both countries. There is no room for the slightest negligence. Therefore, you must hold the mindset of 'going to fight, not to play'! You must obey all orders and follow my commands! If anyone cannot do this, it is best to withdraw now. Otherwise, if someone violates Military Law when the time comes, I will show absolutely no mercy!"

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty. We have fought our entire lives; we will never ruin our reputations at the very end, nor will we give the younger generation a reason to look down on us!" Philesius, Alexis, and the others declared in unison.