"So who won the debate in the end?" Lucias asked curiously.

Plato said calmly: "You are more familiar with Isocrates. You should know that Isocrates' voice is hoarse and is better at writing rather than talking, so he sent students to debate, and of course I also asked Spisips to challenge...

Judging from the results of the debate, we should win, but from the subsequent developments, this did not clear away the doubts of the Athenian people about you, Dionia. Instead, it increased their fear of Dionia. Isocrates also achieved his goal..."

"In the past two years, Athens has been a little alienated from Dionia. What is the reason? Is Dionia more powerful?" Ansitanos asked.

"There are multiple reasons." Plato thought, "... Although Dionia has not entered the Greek mainland in recent years, it has long signed friendly agreements with Sparta, but refused to form an alliance with Athens and Thebes in the two wars (the Corinthian War and the later Thebes War), which made the Athenians a little vigilant; more importantly, the maritime trade in Athens has encountered competition from Dionia in recent years. Although the quality of some commodities of the same type is almost the same, Dionia provides more quantity and lower prices, which makes Athens begin to lose some traditional city-state markets, such as Cyrenaga and Crete. This also makes many Athenian merchants and merchants living in Athens full of vigilance. With their instigation and support, the Athenian Civic Conference also passed a resolution the previous year, 'Each city-states that join the maritime alliance led by Athens shall not allow Dionian goods to enter the city-state market for sale'..."

"I know about this matter. Our Minister of Commerce Mariji once made an angry suggestion to His Majesty, asking for an envoy to protest to Athens, and also took the same measures to counter it, but His Majesty did not agree..." Ansitanos said with emotion.

"There is another reason." Plato looked at Davers who was listening: "Pericley called on Greek city-states to build the city of Turiyi. He originally hoped that this sub-state of Athens could become an important force in the Greater Greek region of the Western Mediterranean and thus expand the influence of Athens. Later, due to the Peloponnese War, the decline of Athens was not achieved. Now Turiyi has become the center of the Kingdom of Dionia and the center of the Western Mediterranean. This may make some Athenian elites who want to restore the glory of the Pericle era have a grudge in their hearts..."

"I don't care whether Athens is vigilant about Dionia." Davers said at this time, and he stared at Plato's reaction with a scrutiny: "I just want to know Plato do you think Dionia is a threat to Athens?"

"Dear King Daphs." Plato said frankly: "After the debate with Isocrates, I was a little confused, so this time I seriously wandered around the Kingdom of Dionys. What I saw and heard... all strengthened a thought in my heart - the Kingdom of Dionys is not a threat from Athens, but a hope for Athens and even all Greek city-states!"

Plato's answer was somewhat beyond Davers' expectations, and he blurted out in surprise: "Why?"

Plato replied with a serious expression: "Greece's land is narrow, with many mountains and few lands, with barren land, and survival is difficult. The city-states on that land have been in constant war for their own interests for decades, with people in exile and deserted land. If this continues, the city-states will eventually die...

Now it seems that if this bad situation is completely terminated, a very powerful force must intervene to force Athens, Sparta, Thebes, Corinth and other city-states to be content with their own self-discipline and dare not have another dispute before peace will come.

Persia is not possible, it wants to perish Greece more. Only Dionia, you will treat the city-states in Greece equally as the Samonets and Romans, and may even build flat roads between the mountains and rivers of Greece, so that trade between the city-states can be carried out more freely and conveniently on land and sea, so that the people of the city-states can enjoy peace and tranquility and obtain a happier life under the order set by Dionia..."

Plato's increasingly excited voice echoed in the palace. Ansitanos and Lycias looked at each other. They did not expect Plato to have such great expectations for Dionia, which made them both excited and did not know how to respond. They looked at Davers together.

While tapping the dining table with his finger, Davers listened carefully, but there was no obvious emotional fluctuation on his face. After Plato finished speaking, he smiled faintly and said seriously: "For Greece, Dionia has no plan to interfere with his political situation for the time being."

"I understand." Plato said understandably: "I just hope that in my lifetime I can see long-lasting peace in Greece!"

Afterwards, everyone at the banquet had a tacit understanding and no longer talked about this matter, but talked about other topics.

When the banquet ended and Davers personally sent Plato out of the palace, Plato whispered with a little drunkenness: "Dear King Davers, I remember that you had accepted the employment of the Persian prince Cyrus and went on an expedition to Persia. In order to fight for the throne, the Persian royal family fought each other, resulting in political turmoil, which must have left a deep impression on you... Well, when I returned to Turiyi, I heard a lot of words praising Prince Apox, and Alsibidas had sincerely invited me to the banquet several times, but I refused..."

"Oh." Davers responded quietly, without saying anything.

After sending off Plato's disciples, he returned to the palace and called Aristillas: "Tomorrow you go to the Military Affairs Department and notify Alexis and suspend the order for warships to Alsibidas Shipyard."

"Yes." Aristillas responded immediately without asking any more questions.

But Davers continued: "If Alsie Bidas wants to ask the Military Affairs Department for the reason, you ask Alexis to answer, and say it was me, 'Since he doesn't want to concentrate on his business, don't do it."

………………………………………

A few days later, Davers, who returned to the mansion, was sitting in the study, thinking about the political affairs during the day, and knocking on the door.

"It's Apox, come in!" Davers smiled kindly.

Apox sat calmly across from Davers.

Davers looked at his second son at close range: Apox, who is only 17 years old, has a tall figure and slender figure. He inherited more from Agent's appearance, which is very handsome, but his eyebrows are full of confidence and vitality.

"Father, my uncle found me today, and he told me." Abbots spoke directly.

Davers blinked and asked calmly, "Oh, what did he say?"

Apox did not respond directly, but said loudly: "Father, I remember you once told me that a great scholar is more likely to be remembered by future generations than a king."

"Yes, I said. Everyone knows that Thales of Milidu is a sage, but no one remembers who the consul of Milidu was at that time..."

"Father." Apox said with a sincere face: "I am not interested in the throne of Dionia. I am only interested in learning knowledge and studying knowledge! I only hope that in the future I will have more ideas, benefit the people, and be admired by future generations! I can swear to Hades!"

Apox said excitedly, raising his hands.

Davers pressed his shoulder vigorously, looked at him lovingly, and said softly: "Good boy, you are the one I have seen since I was a child. Of course I know what you want! This time, I punished Alsie Bidas a little bit, but I was angry that he interfered with your concentration in your studies and destroyed the deep feelings between you and your elder brother! Don't worry, I not only respect your choice, but also fully support you. I hope you can become a greater scholar than Thales in the future and shine on the history of the development of human culture!"

"Thank you, my father, I will definitely work hard!" Apox was so excited that he was talking to Davers. He finally calmed down his excitement. After he hesitating for a while, he said, "Father... I have another request."

"Say it, what request?" Davers smiled.

Apox scratched his head, his expression became squeamish: "I want...I want to marry Nelia!"

"Who is Nelia?" Davers pretended to be surprised.

"...the daughter of Miltias, the former commander of the Fourth Fleet Navy, and Eunice's classmate." Apox mustered up the courage and finished speaking in one breath.

"Oh...have you discussed it with your mother?"

"Father, my uncle always goes to my mother's place to match me during this period, so I hope to get your consent first!"

"Will that Nelia agree to your proposal?"

"She will definitely agree!"

"Okay, I agree. The wedding will be held when you become an adult." Davers said seriously and agreed simply.

"Thank you!" Apox excitedly gave Davers a powerful hug.

Davers smiled and patted his son's young shoulders, but he sighed in his heart: the children are all grown up, they are about to get married and have children, but he is already old...

…………………………………………

"Sir, the mouth of the Krati River will be here soon." The captain walked into the cabin and said to Haka who was resting.

"I understand." Haka slowly turned over and sat up, then put on a thick leather robe, stood up, and said to Hasdruba, who was still drinking with his head down, "Brother, let's go outside together?"

"I won't go!" Hasdruba replied stiffly.
Chapter completed!