Volume 4: The League of Dionia, Chapter 38: Triumphant Return: The Highest Honor of the Alliance Warriors

The rooftops along the streets were packed with people. They called out their loved ones’ names with affection, excitedly interacting with the advancing soldiers, proudly introducing their husbands or fathers in the ranks to their neighbors, giving every soldier the feeling of returning home in glory.

As Philistos marched past his own house, he instinctively glanced up. On the crowded rooftop, wasn’t that jumping, shouting young man Melysander? Amid the noisy crowd, he could faintly hear Melysander’s cries: “That’s my father! That’s my father! Father! Father!…” And beside him, Delia was looking at him, smiling…

Philistos smiled—a genuine smile from the heart.

The marching army turned west. There stood a huge marble archway made of white stone—the Triumphal Arch Davos had spoken of. The arch’s top held a statue of the goddess of victory, and on the lintel stone walls, according to Davos’s suggestion, four battle scenes were to be carved: the Battle to Annihilate the Lucanian Tribal Coalition, the Night Capture of Amendolara, the Surprise Attack on the Croton Army, and the Skillful Seizure of Nerulum—deeds that laid the foundation for the Daonia City-State League, so future generations would remember. But time was short; no good sculptor had been found yet, so the arch remained blank for now.

Passing through the Triumphal Arch and marching west, the road gradually widened. At its end stood the newly built square. Time had been so tight that it had not even been named before being put into use.

Lizaru, holding the military standard high, quickened his pace, for he could already vaguely see dozens of white-robed figures on the square’s platform. According to prior instructions, he knew they were the respected Magistrate Davos and the senators of the Senate, waiting for their arrival.

“They’re coming! They’re coming!…” Henipolis shouted excitedly.

“Calm down, son.” Avinogis held Henipolis back and said to Davos, “Sir, thank you for taking care of Henipolis during this time!” After Henipolis arrived in Thurii, Davos had not lodged him in an inn but had let him stay in his own home.

“Henipolis is very sensible! And he loves learning! His teacher Antistanos likes him very much! And since he came, my home has been much livelier!” Davos said with a smile.

These past two days, Avinogis had learned from Henipolis how Davos had carefully looked after his son. He was not one to voice gratitude openly, but he resolved in his heart to repay Davos’s kindness when the opportunity arose. So he changed the subject: “Sir, your warriors are here!”

“They are not only the warriors of the League, but also the warriors of our alliance, guarding the safety of the entire confederation!” Davos said with a smile.

Amykles, the chief general of Castron, nodded in agreement. As members of the Daonia Alliance, the high-ranking officials of Castron and Laüs had naturally been invited to observe the ceremony and had gladly attended.

At this moment, watching the long dragon-like column of troops marching orderly toward them, they did not feel that the Daonia Alliance was flaunting its military might. After all, as the leader of the alliance, Daonia neither plundered its allies for tribute like Athens did in the Delian League, ignoring their will, nor crudely interfered in their internal affairs like Sparta did in the Peloponnesian League. Sending troops to war was simply the duty of allied city-states, a sign of equality. Thus, the stronger the Daonia Alliance grew, the safer they felt as its allies.

Davos watched the column approaching the square, his mind wandering. He had not followed the Roman model of his past life, letting the victorious general march at the front, but instead had the soldiers lead. First, this cultivated a sense of honor in the soldiers and better highlighted the League’s ideal of equality, greatly boosting the army’s morale. Second, it reduced the victorious commander’s influence over the people, preventing unforeseen incidents over time. For this reason, he had placed Philistos in the inconspicuous middle of the column and also granted the honor of riding in chariots to several battalion commanders, all for the same purpose. Even so, for the officers and soldiers, this novel victory celebration—never held in any Greek city-state—was a tremendous honor.

Bronze trumpets blared, war drums thundered, and the soldiers began to enter the square.

“Oh, I can’t believe it! Marching at the very front is actually Lizaru!”

“Which Lizaru?”

“The famous hunter from Bacule’s tribe!”

“Look! He’s even at the front, ahead of the Greeks! The League really has no prejudice against us Lucanians!”

“Look! Look! Bacule! There’s Bacule, actually sitting in a chariot! How enviable!!”

“When will I ever be like him?!”

…

Among the crowd on one side of the square, Kxima, Ulaza, and Hemon—Lucanians who had come from Nerulum—shouted and cheered, waving their arms excitedly…

Bacule certainly could not spot them among the dense crowd. The charioteer drove the chariot around the square once, then brought it into the center. But his majestic figure, like a boulder, stirred a great wave in the hearts of the Lucanian youths: A true warrior should enjoy such glory!

When the drums and trumpets ceased, the square fell silent. The soldiers looked up at the platform where the League’s magistrate stood.

Davos stepped forward and declared in a loud voice: “Warriors of the League, during these more than twenty long days, you have left your families, marched into unfamiliar mountains, fought tenaciously against fierce enemies, captured Nerulum, and at the same time helped our allied city-state restore Laüs, solving the problem of enemy raids from the mountains that had plagued Thurii for years. The people thank you! The Senate thanks you! The League thanks you! On behalf of the Senate and myself, I offer you the most sacred gratitude for your efforts and sacrifices!” With that, he bowed solemnly along with the senators behind him to the troops before them.

The square instantly erupted.

“Hail!”

“Hail!”

“Hail!!!”

The soldiers cheered ecstatically.

“It is because of your efforts that the Daonia Alliance has been formally established! After deliberation, the Senate has decided that the day of the triumph shall become a festival for the entire League, celebrating the birth of the League! And your military standard shall become the flag of the League, flying high over this square!”

“Hail the League! Hail the League!! Hail the League!!!…”

Listening to the cheers of the soldiers and the people, Davos believed that the National Day and the National Flag would add heavy weight to gradually unifying—and subtly transforming—the people from various Mediterranean city-states and ethnicities under the League into a brand-new race!

In the afternoon, Davos hosted a banquet at his residence in Thurii for Timasion, Xanthiparis, Cleanho, and Tolmides. Also attending were Agasia, Philistos, and Hieronymus.

Eating novel, delicious food and drinking fragrant wine, reminiscing about their days fighting together, the banquet atmosphere was quite lively.

Then Cleanho, hiccupping from wine, asked: “Davos, look at this beautiful courtyard of yours, and you being magistrate and legion commander—it’s really enviable… uh… when will we be like you?!”

Here it comes! Agasia perked up.

Davos smiled and said seriously, “As long as you strive to make contributions to the League, becoming League citizens, getting land, and living a life like mine is completely possible! In fact, there are plenty of people in the League richer than me…”

“Contributions? What kind of contributions? I heard it takes five whole years just to become a full citizen of your League, let alone becoming a senator—that’s even harder!” Cleanho complained.

“That’s right, that’s what the League law says. All foreigners and freemen are subject to this rule, no exceptions!” Davos said calmly but firmly.

“But—” Cleanho pretended to be drunk, pointing at Agasia, and shouted, “Uh… Agasia didn’t tell us that in Ephesus. He said, ‘As long as you come to Magna Graecia, you can become citizens and get land soon! Even become senators!’ It’s because of his words that we came all this way. And now you tell us it’ll take another five years to achieve all this—isn’t that a scam?! And I heard those Lucanian soldiers in the triumph were still slaves half a year ago, and now they’re full citizens. Their leader even became a senator. Are we worse than natives?!”

The atmosphere in the room instantly froze.

Agasia clenched his fists in anger. He had said some tempting words to attract Timasion and the others, but definitely not as exaggerated as Cleanho claimed. He wanted to retort, but under these circumstances it would only stiffen the situation further.

Agasia hesitated. Philistos also seemed to want to speak but stopped. Hieronymus frowned and looked at Davos. Meanwhile, Timasion, Xanthiparis, and Tolmides acted as if they hadn’t heard, continuing to eat while pricking up their ears…

Davos’s expression remained unchanged. He threw a reassuring glance at Agasia and said unhurriedly: “Cleanho, don’t be hasty. Sit down and let me explain…”

Cleanho had vented his anger, but it was like punching wet cotton—it seemed to have no effect… He sat down resentfully.

“To be honest, why some people need five years and some only half a year? It all comes down to interests!” Davos looked seriously at these mercenary leaders. “Because the Lucanians helped the League pacify Nerulum, and they can even help the League conquer more Lucanian territories. Besides, they had already contributed a lot to the League before. The road you rode on was built by them. The Croton army was defeated with their help. They actively learn Greek, understand and follow League laws. For a group of foreigners willing to integrate into the League and bring great benefits to it, the Senate naturally grants them citizenship early. And the people have no objection, because they all clearly know that the League gains far more than it gives!

“Agasia isn’t wrong either. Although you don’t have the advantage of being natives like the Lucanians, you excel in combat. There will be no shortage of wars for the League in the future. As long as you keep winning victories and let the Senate see your value, becoming citizens a few years early won’t be a problem!”