Volume 6: The Meeting of Two Heroes, Chapter 56: Athens's Decision

Athens had been liberated. Thrasybulus and his comrades, who had regained power, restored the original democratic government of Athens. However, they did not retaliate against the former supporters of the oligarchic tyranny. Instead, they issued a proclamation of political amnesty and strictly enforced it. At the same time, they endeavored to heal the conflicts and resentments between the common people and the wealthy, and between the democrats and the aristocrats, making Athens today even more united than it was during the Peloponnesian War. Externally, Thrasybulus and his allies adopted a cautious and moderate policy, forgetting the betrayals of the former allies of the Delian League, treating every city-state equally and interacting with them, gradually drawing these city-states back to Athens through trade and diplomacy. Athens was no longer as domineering as it had been under Pericles, but its national strength was rapidly recovering its former glory.

This was precisely why Isocrates admired Thrasybulus. And despite Thrasybulus being most instrumental in Athens' revival, the people, fearing he might become a dictator, had deliberately not elected him as general for several years. Yet he still served the city-state with advice and suggestions without any complaint.

"Isocrates, I'm sure you've already heard about Daonia's recent declaration of war against Locri," Thrasybulus asked with concern. "You've been to Thurii. Based on your judgment, do you think Daonia will go to war with Syracuse?"

"War is inevitable!" Isocrates declared without hesitation.

"Oh?" Thrasybulus was surprised by Isocrates' certainty.

"I haven't been to Syracuse, but from Dionysius's brutal behavior in Sicily—having destroyed several Sicilian Greek city-states like Catana and Leontini—this man is extremely greedy for land. He has even sent people to disrupt Daonia's political order. The recent assassination of Daonia's chief magistrate was likely orchestrated by him. Clearly, Magna Graecia is his next target for annexation. So if Daonia wants to dismantle his only ally in Magna Graecia, how could he ignore it? He will definitely send reinforcements to fight Daonia! And Daonia—" Isocrates carefully chose his words, speaking slowly, "I believe it will not fear going to war with Syracuse. Although it is weaker than Syracuse, the citizens of this league are as eager for war as cats are for mice. They will flock to battle, and they also have allies like Croton and Rhegium in southern Italy to assist them... Perhaps they are even preparing to deliver a heavy blow to Syracuse in Magna Graecia."

"Like cats and mice... Haha, Isocrates, your words are too exaggerated. No one loves war," Thrasybulus said with a laugh, his expression relaxing. "Hearing you say this, I feel reassured. If Daonia can go to war with Syracuse, then our anti-Spartan alliance will face less pressure. I hope Daonia can defeat Syracuse and completely cut off Sparta's reinforcements, allowing us to focus more on dealing with Sparta."

"Thrasybulus, my thoughts are the opposite of yours. You'd better pray to Athena that these two city-state powers wear each other down," Isocrates said solemnly.

"Why?" Thrasybulus was astonished.

"I don't deny that I have a very good impression of Daonia," Isocrates said in his uniquely hoarse voice. "But upon reflection, that good impression is unsettling... The citizens of Daonia love to fight—that's no joke. Because the Law of Daonia states, 'Citizens must earn military merits to obtain better land.' You can understand what crazy things Greeks will do for land. In fact, it is this law of Daonia and another Immigration Act (namely Davos's Immigration Law) that 'willingly accepts free men as Daonian citizens' that have attracted tens of thousands of free men and foreigners to flock to Daonia. Conversely, these former free men, now Daonian citizens or what they call 'preparatory citizens,' have driven Daonia's rapid outward expansion to acquire more land. Although Daonia does not recklessly seize the lands of its Greek brethren like Syracuse does, the speed of its territorial expansion is still obvious. Besides absorbing Greek free men as Daonian citizens, it even allows foreigners to become citizens of its league..."

Thrasybulus nodded. "I've seen Aristophanes' *The Daonians*."

"The Daonian Alliance not only makes foreigners citizens but also makes the leaders of these foreigners senators in the Daonian Senate and senior generals in the army! Because of this, the Bruttian mountains and Lucania have successively become Daonian territories. Daonia's current land area probably exceeds that of Athens and Sparta combined.

Moreover, under the advocacy of their chief magistrate, Daonia has vigorously built roads and bridges, promoted the worship of Hades, even built temples for foreigners, founded schools and academies, attracted scholars and doctors, and popularized a kind of rugby game across Daonia... If left undisturbed, with such a development trend, in a dozen years, a powerful city-state league might emerge on the Italian peninsula. It would not only surpass the various city-states of mainland Greece in territory and population but also rival Athens in trade and culture. And yet, it has already become vastly different from traditional Greek culture..."

After listening to Isocrates' words, Thrasybulus's expression also grew solemn. After pondering for a while, he said, "Isocrates, aren't you overthinking this? You must understand that any rapidly expanding power cannot expand forever. It will either collapse due to internal problems or be thwarted by external obstacles. Long ago, Argos, Persia before the Greco-Persian Wars, and even us before the war with Sparta—all were like this. A person who eats too much will upset his stomach, and so will a state."

"But Thrasybulus, Daonia might be an exception," Isocrates said urgently, reminding him. "Because this league adopts a political system completely different from any country or city-state in the Mediterranean."

"Oh? What kind of government does Daonia have?" Thrasybulus asked with interest.

"Based on my observations there, Daonia is said to be a league of city-states, but in reality, the city-states that belong to it are not city-states at all—they are cities directly ruled by the Daonian Senate. The Daonian Senate holds supreme power. It sends senators to serve as City Administrators in cities like Thurii, Cosentia, and Grumentum, responsible for internal administration. The cities' taxes and revenues are turned over to the Senate, and their armies are managed by an organization under the Senate called the 'Ministry of Military Affairs.' These cities have no independent administrative capacity; they are completely subordinate to the Daonian Senate's command..."

"This... is a bit like Persia," Thrasybulus said thoughtfully, only to be interrupted by Isocrates.

"Daonia is not like Persia. As far as we know, Persia's city lords and satraps have considerable autonomy. Aside from paying taxes and providing troops, the Persian King has no stronger means of control over them. So just a few days ago, Pharnabazus, the satrap of Asia Minor, could decide on his own to lend us the fleet built with Persian money for Athens' use, and even agreed to let us rebuild the walls of Athens to protect the Piraeus. If it were any City Administrator in the Daonian League, they could never make such a decision, because the Daonian Senate firmly controls everything. In my view, it can effectively concentrate all the resources, population, and gold and silver within its territory to accomplish things that other city-states and countries cannot."

After listening, Thrasybulus pondered deeply with a grave expression. Finally, he let out a long breath and said with a smile, "Isocrates, I originally asked you here to discuss whether Daonia could go to war with Syracuse. I didn't expect you to bring up the threat of the Daonian League. Since Daonia is so formidable, it seems we no longer need to worry about Syracuse. We should strengthen diplomatic ties with Daonia, hoping it can help us deal with Sparta."

Seeing that Thrasybulus seemed not to take his words to heart, Isocrates wanted to say more. But Thrasybulus said seriously, "Isocrates, you must understand that Athens' current focus is to take advantage of Persian support and the favorable situation to concentrate our strength and defeat Sparta as soon as possible, weakening this long-time enemy. Only then can Athens have better development! There are so many city-states and races in the Mediterranean, each with its own unique system. There is no need for us to worry about this and that. The future is only in the hands of the goddess of fate—no one can say for sure. As long as Athens maintains its unity and stability, handles its relations with other city-states, develops its trade, and strengthens its armed forces, Athens will still be that glorious Athens. We fear no one!"

Thrasybulus's words struck a chord with Isocrates, the orator and educator who believed in the principle of 'Athens first.' He said with heartfelt conviction, "You are right. Athens will surely rebuild its glory!"

...

In early August, Puamot, the Great Chief of Potentia, received an invitation from Daonia to attend the Festival of Hades. As in previous years, he politely declined and instead sent his younger brother Pollet to attend.

It was not because he had any particular thoughts about Daonia, but simply because he had never left Potentia's territory since he was a child. He just liked to stay in his own land, guarding his people, and living a comfortable life.