Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece Chapter 56: Athens’ decision
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Athens was liberated, and Serasibulus and others who regained power restored the original democracy in Athens, but they did not report back to the supporters of the tyranny of the oligarchy. Instead, they issued a political amnesty announcement and strictly enforced it. At the same time, he also tried his best to bridge the contradictions and envy between the civilians and the rich, the democrats and the aristocracy, making Athens today more united than during the Peloponnesian War. Externally, Serasibulus also adopted a cautious and gentle policy, forgetting the betrayal of the allies in the Delian League in the past, and treating and interacting with each city-state equally, making these city-states gradually gather to Athens through trade and diplomacy. On the other hand, Athens is not as domineering as it was during Pericles's reign, but its national power is quickly recovering to its former glory.
This is where Isocrates admired Serasibulus, and despite his great contributions to the revival of Athens, the people were worried about his dictatorship and deliberately refused to elect him as a general for several years. He still did not Complaints, as always, offer advice and suggestions for the city-state.
"Isocrates, I believe you already know about Dionia's declaration of war on Lorry some time ago." Serasibulus asked with concern: "You have been to Turri, according to your judgment, Do you think Dionia will go to war with Syracuse?"
"There will be war!" Isocrates said flatly without hesitation.
"Oh?" Serasibulus was surprised at Isocrates' such affirmation.
"I have not been to Syracuse, but from the brutal performance of Dionysius in Sicily, he destroyed several Sicilian Greek city-states such as Katane and Leonid. The land is extremely greedy, and people have been sent to disrupt Dionia’s political order. The assassination of Dionia consul in the recent past is probably the mastermind behind it. It can be seen that Great Greece is the next one he wants to annex. Target, so Dionia wants to slander his only alliance in Great Greece, how could he ignore it, and will definitely send reinforcements to fight Dionia! And Dionia—"
Isocrates weighed his words and said slowly: "I don’t think it will be afraid to go to war with Syracuse. Although its strength is weaker than Syracuse, the citizens of this city-state alliance are like war The cat is as eager as the mouse. They will enthusiastically participate in the war, and they have the assistance of Crotone, Lijim and other Yugoslav League gangs... Maybe they are preparing to give Syracuse a lot of weight in Great Greece. Click."
"Like a cat and a mouse... Hehe, Isocrates, your words are too exaggerated. No one loves war." Serasibulus laughed, and the expression on his face relaxed: "Listen to you That said, I am relieved. If Dionia can go to war with Syracuse, the pressure on our anti-Spartan allies will also be less. I hope Dionia can defeat Syracuse. Zha, completely cut off Spartan’s backup, so that we can deal with Sparta more focused."
"Serasibulus, my thoughts are exactly the opposite of yours. You'd better pray to Athena, so that these two city-state forces will lose both." Isocrates said solemnly.
"Why?" Serasibulus was surprised.
"I don't deny that I have a very good impression of Dionia." Isocrates said in his unique hoarse voice, "But this kind of good impression, when you think about it, makes your heart feel. Surprised... Dionian citizens love to fight. This is not a joke, because the "Dionian Law" stipulates that'citizens have military merits to obtain better land.' What crazy things can the Greeks do for the land , I believe you can understand. In fact, it is this Dionian law and another immigration bill that "willing to accept free people as Dionian citizens" (the Daves Immigration Law) that has attracted thousands Tens of thousands of freedmen and foreigners flocked to Dionian. In turn, these former freemen who became Dionian citizens or what they called "preparatory citizens" pushed Dionian to expand rapidly. In order to obtain more land. Although Dionia did not unscrupulously embezzled the land of his Greek compatriots like Syracuse, its rapid expansion of the territory is also obvious. In addition to absorbing free Greeks to become Dionia Citizens, they even made aliens become citizens of their alliance..."
Seracybulus nodded: "I've seen Aristophanes' "Dionians"."
"The Alliance of Dionian not only made the aliens become citizens, but also allowed the leaders of these aliens to become the senators of the Dionian Senate and the high-ranking generals of the army! Because of this, the Bruti Mountains, Lucca The area of Dionia has successively become the territory of Dionia, and the land area of Dionia may have exceeded the sum of our Athens and Sparta.
Furthermore, under the advocacy of their consul, the Dionian territory vigorously built roads and bridges, promoted the belief in Hades, and even built temples for aliens, built schools, academies, and recruited scholars and scholars. Doctors, a kind of rugby game is popular in Dionia... If it is not disturbed, according to the development trend of Dionia, a strong city-state alliance may appear on the Italian peninsula after more than ten years. Not only in terms of territory and population, it far surpasses the city-states of the native Greece, but it is also not weaker than our Athens in terms of trade and culture, but it is already very different from the traditional culture of Greece..."
After listening to what Isocrates said, Serasibulus's expression also became solemn, and he pondered for a while, and said: "Isocrates, do you think too much? You have to understand anything The rapidly expanding power cannot expand forever. It will either collapse due to internal problems or be frustrated by external forces, such as the Argos long ago, the Persia before the Hippo War, and the war with Sparta. It’s the same for us before. People eat too much and they hurt their stomachs, and the country is the same."
"But Sarasibulos, Dionia may be an exception." Isocrates reminded him urgently: "Because this alliance adopts a completely different kind from any country and city-state in the Mediterranean. Political system."
"Oh? What kind of government is Dionia?" Serasibulus asked with interest.
"According to my observation there, Dionia said it was a city-state alliance. In fact, the city-states that belong to it are not city-states at all, but cities directly ruled by the Dionian Senate. The Dionian Senate holds the highest authority. It sends elders to serve as the chief executives of cities such as Turriy, Cosenza, Grumentum, and is responsible for the internal affairs of the cities. The city’s finances and taxes must be turned over to the Senate. , The city’s army is managed by an organization called the'Military Affairs Department' under the Senate. These cities do not have independent administrative capabilities and completely obey the command of the Dionian Senate..."
"This...is a bit like Persia." Serasibulus groaned and just said a word, but was interrupted by Isocrates: "Dionia is not the same as Persia. As far as we know, Persia Those city owners and governors of Persia have considerable autonomy. In addition to paying taxes and providing troops, the Persian king has no stronger control over them. So a few days ago, Farabazos, Governor of Asia Minor of Persia, could make his own decisions. The fleet built with Persian money was given to us in Athens, and we agreed to let us rebuild the city wall in Athens to protect the port of Piraeus. If it is the chief executive of any city in the Dionian League, it is impossible. This decision is made because the Dionian Senate firmly controls everything. In my opinion, it can effectively concentrate all the resources, population, gold and silver in the territory to do something that other cities and countries cannot do. Thing."
After listening to Serasibulus, he thought about it seriously for a long time, and finally exhaled and said with a smile: "Isocrates, I originally asked you to talk about whether Dionia can be with Sila. About Kuza’s war, I didn’t expect you to talk to me about the threat of the Dionian Alliance. Since Dionian is so powerful, it seems that we don’t have to worry about Syracuse anymore, and we have to talk to Dai more. Onia strengthens diplomatic ties, hoping that it can help us deal with Sparta."
Isocrates saw that Serassibulus didn’t seem to take his words to heart, and wanted to say something more. Serassibulus said sternly: "Isocrates, you have to understand what Athens is now focusing on. The problem is to take advantage of Persia’s support and the whole situation is beneficial to us, concentrate on defeating Sparta as soon as possible and weaken this long-standing enemy, so that Athens will have a better development! There are so many cities and races in the Mediterranean. With our own unique system, we don’t have to worry about this or that. The future will only be controlled by the goddess of fate, and no one can tell. As long as we can maintain the unity and stability of our city-state, we can handle it well with other city-states. To develop our trade and strengthen our armed forces, Athens will still be the glorious Athens. We are not afraid of any one of us!"
Serasibulus’s words happened to be what Isocrates said, a speech educator who believed in the concept of "Athens supremacy". He said convincingly: "You are right, Athens will surely recast Its magnificence!"
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At the beginning of August, Potentia Chieftain Puamote received an invitation from Dionia to participate in the Hades celebration. As in previous years, he tactfully refused and still sent his younger brother. Pollet went to participate.
It wasn't because he had any other thoughts about Dionia, but because he had never left Potentia's territory since he was a child. He just likes to stay in his own territory, guard his people, and lead a comfortable life.