mediterranean hegemon of ancient greece
After Athens failed in the Peloponnesian War and experienced the brutal rule of the “Thirty Tyrants”, the wise men in Athens were more or less aware of the flaws in the system, but there wasn’t anyone who had completely denied the Athenian democracy like what Davos did.
This deafening words were like a loud thunder, that made Xenophon not regain his sense for a long time and absentmindedly said “…You mean Sparta… is the best?”
“Sparta?!” Davos sneered: “When they decided to turn its compatriots into Helots[1] (referring to the Messenians), it is destined that it will never be strong! Although the Spartan warriors are very brave, but thousands of Spartan warriors have to suppress slaves ten times their number. Its city-state is like a volcano that will erupt once it meet a great defeat.”
“Davos, now Sparta is the most powerful city-state in Greece!” Olivos interrupted.
“Then let’s wait and see how powerful it is in a few years!” Davos answered confidently. He vaguely remembered that it wasn’t long before another war broke out in Greece, and Sparta got defeated by the rising Thebes and thus fall in decline.
“Is this an oracle?” Several of his teammates were surprised.
Davos laughed but didn’t answer.
“So, which city-state has the best system?” Xenophon relunctantly asked.
Davos also responded with a mysterious smile.
At this time, Xenophon seems to have recovered his calmness on the surface, but in fact, his heart is thumping. He didn’t made any blunder even though decades of habits and beliefs was smashed by what Davos had said and it is due to Socrates’ years of teaching that made him more adept at learning and thinking independently than the average person.
The restless man could not stay any longer and has to go back and think about what Davos had said. So, he bid farewell to Davos.
As he was leaving, Davos seemed to ask a casual question: “Xenophon, have you ever commanded an army before?”
“I served as a cavalry captain.” Xenophon hastily answered.
Davos’ face became grave as he watched the shadow of Xenophon fade away. As a student of Socrates, Xenophon’s insights were clearly beyond those of his teammates. However, as a newly arrived Athenian with a low reputation and without a rich mercenary experience, and currently is still only an adjutant of Proxenus, how did Xenophon manage to lead the retreat?
When he thought how the author of 《Anabasis》 is Xenophon himself, Davos will inevitably have some doubts: ‘Did Xenophon stole other people’s credits for himself?’
“Davos, Athens and Sparta are really that bad?” Hielos clearly understood than the others and was more confused.
Davos nodded and sighed: “Both Athens and Sparta will live very well if it is in a period of peace, but this is an era in which you are doomed to perish if you don’t struggle!”
Hielos seemed to understand and couldn’t help but ask the same question as Xenophon: “So is there a city-state in the Mediterranean that has a better system than Athens and Sparta?”
Davos looked at the curious and eager eyes of Hielos and turned his head. On the horizon, the sunset emits its last afterglow before falling, looking at the red clouds, thinking of the Mediterranean in the future, with frequent wars and powerful countries that have come and gone, until the emergence of a great Emperor and his dazzling light that shined the western world for more than two thousand years…
Davos had a sudden surge of enthusiasm in his heart, this time he did not refuse to answer and said positively: “Not at the moment. But if you and I can live longer, maybe one day you can see it!” (T/N: Most likely talking about Alexander the Great’s Macedonian Empire)
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
In the early morning, Davos’ mind was in the midst of confusion and heard the voices of people outside.
“Wake up! Wake up! My nephew woke up!!” Antonios ecstatically broke into the room and hugged Davos: “Thank you! Thank you! Asistes, he is alive!!”
Davos wasn’t fully awake and confusedly asked: “Really?”
“It’s true!” Then Herpus said excitedly: “Asistes is awake! His temperature is not as hot as it was yesterday, although he is still weak, he can already eat porridge made of bread. Davos, the method you taught really works!”
In the face of Herpus admiration, Davos was finally relieved, he suppressed the excitement and said calmly: “Although Asistes is out of danger, you can’t relax and need to continue taking care of him with the method I taught before, so that he could get better soon!”
“Yes!” Herpus replied respectfully.
“Davos, there are many people outside that want to see you.” Hielos came in and said.
“Oh, it’s Kapus. They were surprised when they heard that Asistes woke up. They must have come over to see you and want to get your help.” Antonios answered with some shame, Davos have put so much energy into saving his nephew that he might have even prayed to Hades. And he hasn’t paid him back yet and brought him another trouble.
“Kapus?” Davos had no impression of the name.
“Another hoplite squadron leader in our camp.” Hielos explained.
Davos slightly murmured and immediately stood up: “Let’s go out, don’t keep them waiting.”
He walked out of the house, while being surrounded by people.
“Look, Davos is out!”
“This is Davos? He is too young!”
“Despite his youth, he is really favored by Hades! If not, he would not have been able to save Asistes. You and I have seen that Asistes was in a coma back then.”
“Davos, one of my brothers was also injured like Asistes, he is burning and unconscious, I hope I can get your help!”
“I also have one of my men injured…”
“And me…”
In the small yard, crowds of people are desperately waved their arms, shouting like a surging tide, and they are waving higher and higher.
In the face of an out-of-control incident, everyone were slightly nervous, but only Davos’ look remain unchanged. As a cadre that was promoted from the bottom in his previous life, no matter if it is in towns, counties and cities, he have seen mass petitions a lot of times. Even when he was the village head, he once held a meeting in the town and was caught up by peasants that have surrounded the town government to discuss the land expropriation, the leaders hid while only he stood up and faced the hoes and sticks in the hands of these passionate peasants, he tried his best to persuade them to withdraw. This small incident in front of him is really hard for him to ignore, besides, it is a good thing for him.
He raised his hand and shouted: “Everyone be quiet!”
“Quiet! Quiet!!…” Antonios also helped shout.
People gradually calmed down.
“I am very grateful for everyone’s trust!” Davos said with excitement: “We are all comrades who fought together and face death! They are good brothers who are able to entrust their right shoulders to protect their teammates! If any brother is injured, I will take Herpus with me and do our best to save and never abandon any wounded!!”
Herpus was thrilled to hear his name.
Hearing this, the soldiers in the yard were even more grateful.
“This is great! Thank you Hades!!”
“Thank you, Davos, you are our savior!!”
“Davos, you are our best brother! Whatever you want in the future, I will try my best to do it for you!!”
In this era, it is very common for soldiers to be injured and get infected and die, which is also a nightmare that plagues the army, now, Davos gave them hope. And this person is generous and kind, how can they not be moved!
“Davos! Davos!…” Their shouts resounded over the sky of Meno’s camp.