Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece Chapter 238: The arrival of the Allied Forces of Persian Asia Minor

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As time entered the new year, the Persian army also gathered in Phrygia, and some of the army’s fronts had pressed forward to the eastern border of Missia, Leotichides felt some pressure. He began to gather the troops scattered around.

In early February, the Allied Forces of Persian Asia Minor held an important military meeting in the capital of Phrygia. The Western Commander-in-Chief Fana Bazos served as the chair of the meeting. The participants were all governors of various regions, with the exception of one general. His identity is very special-former Sessaly Tagus Jason.

Five years ago, after the army led by Jason was defeated by the Dionian army, he fled to Persia alone. Unlike many celebrities who were expelled from Greece, who liked to stay in western Asia Minor, he went directly to Syria to see you King of Persia.

At that time, Artaxerxes was planning to conquer Persia himself, but he did not expect a fire in his backyard and a major rebellion in Asia Minor. He had to return to his division to quell the rebellion.

Jason unified Thessaly, became Targus, and served as the main force in the anti-Dionian Greek coalition forces. He once had the advantage in the war... These deeds have been passed on through the mouth of Datis. In the ears of the Persian king, considering that there are many Greek mercenaries in the rebel army, Persia lacks heavy infantry, and Jason is an excellent Greek general, so he not only enthusiastically received Jason, And also made a promise: as long as he is willing to serve Persia and be loyal to him, when Persia and Dionia go to war in the future, he will support him to return to Thessaly and regain the throne of Targus.

Of course Jason could not ask for it, and immediately accepted the appointment of Artaxerxes as the commander-in-chief of the Greek mercenaries belonging to Persia. With sufficient financial support from Persia, Jason quickly recruited nearly 10,000 Greek soldiers from western Asia Minor and even the Ionian Islands. They trained and fought at the same time. During the peace war in Persia, he gained Not a small feat, but also won the trust of Artaxerxes.

At the end of the war, the number of mercenaries of Commander Jason had increased to 15,000. Artaxerxes did not ask him to reduce the number of soldiers? Instead, he led the mercenaries to garrison in Silesia.

Silesia is located in the central-southern part of Asia, with an unusually fertile plain. There are not many people there? But the people are very rich? A kingdom was established very early. In the process of the Persian King Darius conquering westward? Silesia was surrounded by mountains as a barrier, which was difficult to capture, but the Silesian king took the initiative to submit? So the throne was retained.

At the beginning of Artaxerxes' accession to the throne? The Silesian kings and his wife also actively sponsored the little Cyrus to fight for the throne. In the end, the little Cyrus was defeated and died. But at that time, Altaxerxes was afraid of causing turmoil in Asia Minor? Did not dare to deal with the regional governors and kings who had colluded with little Cyrus? Instead, they quietly weakened their power? Until this time the rebellion in Asia Minor was completely put down? He finally completely eliminated the royal family of Silesia? Will this fertile piece Has his land grabbed into his own hands? Not only did he send his confidant to serve as the governor, but also, for fear of causing resistance from the local people, he also sent Jason, who can conquer the war, to sit in Silesia.

Of course, Artaxerxes has a deeper consideration: Silesia is rich enough to support the Greek mercenaries, can reduce the burden of Persia’s finances, and Jason leads the army in Silesia? Once there is a rebellion in other parts of Asia Minor ? He can also go to the rescue in time.

Just a few years later? The rebellion did not appear again? But it was waiting for the invasion of the Greek coalition forces.

When Phanabazos took office as the military commander in Western Asia Minor, he asked the king of Persia for orders to send Greek mercenaries to help the war? Because Jason’s army is directly under the king of Persia and is not subject to any local governor’s command.

Altaxerxes agreed, and Farabazos quickly sent Jason a call-up order.

But Jason, who has been living in Persia for several years, is no longer as urgent as he needed to prove himself at the beginning. He is worried that he will go to Phrygia prematurely and will be used as cannon fodder by the Persians. First, he will be sent to the front line to fight. , So it was delayed for various reasons, and it eventually became one of the few troops to reach Phrygia at the latest, which made Fanabazos a little displeased.

At this military meeting, most of the governor’s opinions are roughly the same: Given that the current number of soldiers in the own army is as high as 80,000, which is far more than the number of Greek coalition forces detected by the scouts, we should boldly lead the army to the west. Going forward, start a decisive battle with the Greeks and completely defeat them. You can't wait any longer, because Greek troops continue to land in Asia Minor, and the number of enemy troops is still increasing.

Jason raised an objection. He believed: Based on his knowledge of Dionia and the native Greek city-states, this time their invasion of Asia Minor must have sent the most elite soldiers of their own city-state. The infantry is not strong. In the past wars with the Greeks were always at a disadvantage. If you take the initiative to engage in a frontal battle with the Greek coalition forces, you are very likely to suffer defeat. By then, the battle situation in Asia Minor will become very serious. Oops. On the contrary, if you are not in a hurry to engage in a battle with the Greek coalition forces, but let the troops take the initiative to retreat, and at the same time remove or burn all the materials that can be used by the Greeks, lure the Greek coalition forces to go deep inland, and then use your own familiar terrain with more cavalry. The advantages of the Greeks, constantly harassing the enemy and raids on the food transportation behind them, so as to achieve the purpose of weakening the Greek coalition forces. When the Greek coalition forces become weak, and then look for opportunities to fight against them, the odds of victory will be much larger.

Jason’s proposal was strongly opposed by the vast majority of Persian governors. These nobles from the core area of ​​Persia had no experience in fighting against the Greeks. On the contrary, they still regarded Greece as barbarians deep in their hearts. Pride will never allow the Persian army to adopt such cowardly tactics to deal with the Greeks they despise. The governors of Mesia, Lydia, and Phrygia strongly demand a quick fight because they don’t want to see their own jurisdiction. The land was ravaged by the Greeks.

Some governors even personally attacked Jason, accusing him: the king of Persia was generous and did not despise him for his fleeing alien status, but only for reuse, but he did not want to return the trust of the king of Persia. On the contrary, at this critical moment, you want to delay the war. What is your mind?

Someone even pointed out that after receiving the call-up order, Jason did not immediately lead his fully organized Greek mercenaries to Phrygia. Instead, he delayed until the end. I am afraid that he would have different intentions in order to avoid him in the battle. Suddenly fell to the Greek, it is best to deprive him of military power first, and interrogate him.

Although Jason is a little weak, he has a bad temper, and instead quarrels with the governors.

In the atmosphere where the governors unanimously demanded that the Greek army be repelled as soon as possible, Fanabazos finally had to adopt their suggestion and actively seek a decisive battle with the Greek coalition forces.

After the meeting, he left Jason alone to appease him, clearly expressed his trust in him, and promised that as long as he performed outstandingly in the next battle, he would report to the king of Persia. Merit, and will also help him return to Sesali in the future.

As the veteran of Persia in Asia Minor, Fanabazos has not only experienced the humiliation of besieging the Greek expeditionary force and eventually letting the opponent escape, but also experienced being blasted by Agcilius. Pain, he knows the strength of the Greek army, so he agrees with Jason’s views, but when so many governors unanimously demand a quick fight, he has to agree against his will, even though he is the new military commander-in-chief of Western Asia Minor. , Is also the son-in-law of Artaxerxes, but his identity as a nobleman from Asia Minor determines that the trust he gains from the Persian king is no better than some of the Persian governors present. A secret letter from anyone will accentuate that one. The suspicious king of Persia doubted him,

Although he is a little afraid of the combat effectiveness of the Greek coalition forces, he believes that his army has gathered the elites of the entire western Asia Minor. Not only the number exceeds the Greek coalition forces, but also the support of the Greek mercenaries who are capable of fighting. It is possible to win the battle, so he confidently led the Allied Forces of Western Asia Minor, left Phrygia, entered Missia, and forcefully pressed toward the Greek Allied Forces.

After hearing this news, Leotich Deston sighed in his heart: That old guy was right!

It turned out that after all the Greek coalition forces gathered together, the coalition commander Leotichides convened a military meeting with generals.

At the meeting, allied generals such as Ipamirunda, Lycomides, and Ifekratus all agreed that the coalition forces are strong and should seize the time, lead the army to the east, and seek to cooperate with the main force of the Persian army. As long as the decisive battle is won, the entire western part of Asia Minor will no longer be able to stop the Greek coalition's attack.

But there are also some people who are worried, because at this time they have discovered that Phanabazos was appointed by the Persian king as the military commander of Asia Minor. This is an experienced veteran who is likely to choose to avoid the war, and the Greek coalition has long Far away from the coast and deep into the inland where the environment is unfamiliar, I am afraid that there will be a lot of trouble.

The old Agsilius told the generals confidently: "You don't have to worry about the Persians avoiding the battle, and you don't have to actively look for the Persians for a decisive battle, because the Persian army will take the initiative to find the coalition forces for a decisive battle!

Because the people of western Asia Minor originally resisted the officials from Persia, and according to the recent news, the people of western Asia Minor have a greater distrust of the new Persian governor. If these governors lead the army and do not fight Instead, retreat and allow the coalition forces to destroy farmland and villages. Then the people here will be full of resentment for the Governor's desperation. This is very detrimental to their future rule. Those arrogant Persians generally would not make this choice. .

As for the Persian military commander-in-chief Phanabazos... I know him well. He is indeed a Persian general with good ability. He also has a lot of fame in Western Asia Minor. If he decides to retreat, the soldier We are able to obey, and the people may be able to accept it, but this person is sleek, good at making friends, and generous, so when he was governor of Western Asia Minor, whether it was his colleagues, officials, or even the local people Get along well, but he lacks decisiveness in doing things, and is too emotional. This is precisely the taboo as a commander. I think it is difficult for him to refuse the requests of the governors and abandon the people of Misia and Phrygia to retreat! "