Volume 4: The League of Dionia, Chapter 35: Punishment from Sparta

The assembly suddenly fell into a cold silence. The elders all knew that Pausanias and Lysander had a very strained relationship.

Elder Diopeithes coughed twice and asked, "This Thua Alliance mentioned in the report—how is it that I have never heard of it?"

"It is a newly formed alliance, its full name being the Thurii–Amendolara Alliance!" Lysander's explanation left the elders, who rarely paid attention to the western Mediterranean, still looking bewildered. But Lysander had clearly done his research, and he reminded them, "Does everyone remember the matter of the Thurii envoy coming to Sparta a year ago to request aid?"

"Hmm... I remember. At the time, we refused his request." Elder Lysippus nodded. "But we granted Thurii the right to recruit mercenaries among the Greek city-states of the eastern Mediterranean. For a city-state that had once supported Athens and even sent troops to fight against us, if it weren't for seeing it being invaded by natives, out of the moral obligation of being fellow Greeks, we displayed Sparta's generosity and mercy. Otherwise..."

"Exactly right!" the other elders echoed.

"It was precisely this envoy from Thurii, who had obtained permission from our Council of Elders, who arrived in Byzantium and recruited a portion of those mercenaries who had just returned from the expedition to Persia. And it was these very mercenaries who helped Thurii defeat the natives and recapture Amendolara, which had been occupied by the natives. In the end, these mercenaries became citizens of Amendolara, and their leader... his name is... Davos. He even became the lifelong magistrate of Amendolara." When Lysander reached this point, Agesilaus exclaimed in surprise, "Cheirisophus once told me, 'Among the mercenaries on the expedition to Persia, I discovered a military genius named Davos. I wanted to request the Council of Elders to make Davos a guest of Sparta, grant him land, and let him settle in Laconia, to be of use to our Sparta.' Is he talking about this man?!"

"Military genius?!" Elder Diopeithes sneered. "Wouldn't it be ridiculous to speak of military genius in front of us Spartans?!"

"We Spartans know that in battle there is no genius, only unremitting harsh training from childhood on, and the rich experience gained through constant fighting. At a sufficient age, every Spartan citizen can become an excellent commander!" Elder Lysippus said proudly.

"You are right!" The forty-five-year-old Agesilaus said humbly.

Lysander glanced at him and continued, "Not long after, we all know that Croton occupied Thurii and burned that city. And it was this Davos who led the Amendolara people in a night attack on the army that was preparing to return to Croton, and captured them. After that, Thurii and Amendolara formed an alliance, still with Davos as lifelong magistrate..."

"So it was these mercenaries who defeated Croton. This Davos seems to have some ability after all," one elder marveled.

"Lifelong magistrate of two cities! I'm afraid this Davos has no small ambition, wanting to become the tyrant of Magna Graecia, just like Dionysius!" Lysippus warned everyone.

"The matter is already very clear. It is these mercenaries who have settled in Magna Graecia who want their former mercenary comrades who once fought alongside them to come to Magna Graecia to help them. That's why they sent people to Ephesus to incite those mercenaries to desert!" Diopeithes declared loudly.

"Cheirisophus's report did not mention discovering anyone secretly causing trouble. Perhaps it's just that these mercenaries heard the news coming from Magna Graecia," another elder said, hoping they wouldn't take things too seriously.

"Then why didn't we Spartans hear this news? This is clearly the work of someone with intent!" Diopeithes retorted.

Several began arguing. Although Lysander and Diopeithes didn't get along either, at this moment he said, "As long as there is a connection between these two matters, if we Spartans say it was the Thua Alliance's doing, then it was their doing!"

"Well said! That is our Spartan way!" Lysander's hardline view gained the approval of the elders led by Lysippus. Pausanias inwardly scoffed: Lysander, renowned for defying tradition, actually had the nerve to advocate carrying out Spartan tradition! But he kept silent and did not object.

The argument ended. With the culprit identified, the opinions on how to punish the Thua Alliance were nearly unanimous: send someone to condemn the Thua Alliance, demand compensation for Sparta's losses, and order them to return the mercenaries who had fled to the Thua Alliance!

Lysander added one more condition: "Since this Davos of the Thua Alliance is skilled in commanding battles, let him lead troops to join Dercylidas's forces and fight against the Persians!"

"Agreed! Let this be their punishment for disrupting our Spartan operations in Asia Minor!" Diopeithes and several elders approved.

The elders spoke one after another, deciding the fate of the Thua Alliance.

At this point, Agesilaus asked, "What if the Thua Alliance refuses our demands?"

"They wouldn't dare! That would mean war with Sparta!" Diopeithes had barely finished speaking when he sensed something was wrong.

Pausanias immediately interjected, "At present, we have to deal with the Persians, garrison the Peloponnese, and be ready at all times to strike those city-states like Elis that are dissatisfied with our Sparta. I'm afraid we have no spare forces to send troops to Magna Graecia."

"That's right! Magna Graecia has always had good relations with our Sparta, and we have never sent troops there before. If we cause discontent among the city-states there, the gain would not outweigh the loss!" another elder added.

"Are we to tolerate the Thua Alliance trampling on Sparta's dignity?!" Diopeithes shouted angrily.

"Everyone, don't worry. We don't yet know the Thua Alliance's reaction to this. Even if they refuse, and we cannot send troops, isn't Syracuse still there?" Lysander said with a smile. His words enlightened the elders. Sparta supported Syracuse, even ignoring the fact that Dionysius was a tyrant—wasn't it precisely because they hoped for a strong state in the western Mediterranean, where Spartan power had not yet reached, that would be friendly to Sparta and act according to Sparta's wishes to stabilize the situation there? So the elders stopped dwelling on this issue and began discussing who to send as an envoy to the Thua Alliance.

"Let me go," Agesilaus volunteered. He was somewhat interested in this Davos that Cheirisophus had mentioned.

"You'd better not go, lest the Thua Alliance look down on our Sparta!" As soon as Diopeithes said this, the other elders felt it was somewhat excessive. Clearly, Diopeithes was mocking Agesilaus for being lame.

Faced with such humiliation, Agesilaus managed to remain calm. It seemed that having faced contemptuous gazes for decades had tempered his mind to be extremely strong. His expression unchanged, he was about to say something more.

At that moment, Lysander said, "The Thua Alliance, a remote little city-state alliance, is not worthy of a noble member of the royal family of Sparta, the hegemon of Greece, to serve as envoy!"

Lysander's words restored Agesilaus's dignity and also blocked his path to the Thua Alliance.

"I propose Phoebidas as the envoy," Lysander continued.

As soon as he said this, an elder exclaimed in surprise, "Phoebidas?! That man has a violent temper and loves to act on his own!"

"We need a forceful envoy to pressure the Thua Alliance into making concessions!" Lysander said resolutely.

After discussion, it was finally decided that Phoebidas would be the envoy to the Thua Alliance.

After the meeting ended, Lysander stopped Agesilaus, who was about to leave. "You're not still blaming me for not letting you go to the Thua Alliance, are you?"

Agesilaus shook his head. He had already thought through the ins and outs of the matter. Smiling, he said, "I think you did it for my own good. Because of Agis?"

Lysander nodded with satisfaction and put his arm around his shoulder, speaking in a low voice. "Agis won't last many more days. If you leave now, wouldn't you let that bastard Leotychides take advantage? ... Rest assured, I've always been on your side..."

Agesilaus then solemnly thanked Lysander.

Lysander smiled. He liked Agesilaus's steady and modest nature, and the fact that he was friendly and respectful towards him, easy to control...

Lysander did not see that behind him, Pausanias was watching him and Agesilaus laughing and talking intimately with wary eyes.

Pausanias quietly called Diopeithes over and said softly, "Look, our 'reformer' has been quite close with Agesilaus lately!"

Diopeithes coldly watched the scene before him, then turned solemnly to Pausanias and said, "Although it is beyond doubt that Leotychides will inherit the throne, lately rumors have been rampant. To ensure he succeeds Agis smoothly, I must ask for your help!"

"You want me to seek an oracle from Delphi in the name of the king?" Pausanias immediately understood Diopeithes's request. Since ancient times, Sparta's dual kings claimed to be direct descendants of the mighty Heracles. They had a privilege that no other Spartan possessed: only they could request oracles from the sanctuary of Delphi, thus holding the sacred power of interpreting the oracles.

"Yes!" Diopeithes looked at him expectantly.

"I will send someone to Delphi!" Pausanias nodded his agreement without hesitation. "I will never let that man extend his ambitions into our royal family!"

...

The time had already reached November. If this were the archaic period hundreds of years ago, this would not be a good season for sailing with Tushu. But with the advancement of navigation technology, even today in the Mediterranean, which is prone to violent storms in winter, the major trade routes were still quite busy.

The merchant ship carrying Timasion, Xanthiparis, Cleanho, and others finally arrived at the Gulf of Taranto in Magna Graecia.

"Ahead is Thurii, our city-state!" Agasia pointed excitedly at the faint green coastline visible in the distance.

Everyone crowded to the ship's side and peered forward.