"Hold me down!" Aristophane leaned against the mountain road, looking at the cheering people, and he was also excited. Although he knew very well that the Athenian Connon was now a naval general hired by Persia and led the Persian fleet, this victory made Athens face much less maritime threats.

You should know that although the Citizens Congress passed the joining Thebes side and declared war on Sparta, the shadow of the failure of the Peloponnese War ten years ago and the ferocity of the Spartans pressed tightly into the hearts of every Athenian like a nightmare. Especially now, although the battle is at a stalemate in the isthmus, the Allied side still has more losses than victory. Recently, I heard that another Spartan army from Asia Minor led by Spartan king Agsilaus landed from Northern Greece and was coming to the Piosha area. How could the Athenian people not be nervous and afraid! The victory of this naval battle was like a timely rain, which relieved the big rocks that were pressing on their hearts a lot. They cheered loudly to vent their fear that had been suppressed for a long time.

Aristophane was relieved to see that there was a little more anger in Athens. Then he showed a surprised expression. On the corner of the street, there was a shabby man sitting on the dusty steps, leaning against the rough stone wall, watching something.

This quiet picture contrasts sharply with the joy around it, and the man's back makes Aristophane feel familiar.

He walked over and shouted uncertainly: "Antisteni?"

The man turned around and looked at it without any intention of standing up: "Aristophen, if you are here to ask me about Plato's whereabouts, don't disturb me from reading."

Why didn't Aristophane know that although Antisteni and Plato were both students of Socrates, their ideas were not in harmony, so he said with a little teasing: "I just want to tell you that the fleet led by Connon defeated the Spartan Navy, and now the whole city is celebrating the news of this victory."

"So what?" Antisteni said disapprovingly: "Victory will only encourage the people to devote themselves to the war more blindly. Athens has been calm for a long time, and this will be a long war..." At this point, he shook his head and looked at Aristophane: "You have just come back from the theater. The new drama "Dionian" you wrote seems to be very popular with the people."

Aristophane was not satisfied with Antisteni's negative attitude towards victory news, so he said angrily: "Oh! Antisteni, who has always refused to watch drama entertainment, actually knows my new drama, and I am so honored!"

"That's because people are talking about it every day these days. I said you're too busy with it. What kind of citizens Dionia sends to participate in the sports meet is their business. What's the point of writing a script to mock them?"

Aristophant suddenly felt angry. Just as he was about to refute, Antisteni leaned his head and said, "Do you know that after the news of the traitors being tried by Dionia some time ago, and the news of publicly exposing Syracuse's ambitions came, Serasiblos and the executive committee members of the Generals were discussing whether to send envoys to discuss alliances with Dionia so that Dionia can restrain Spartan ally Syracuse. Your drama should not be performed again, so as to avoid stimulating the Dionians and causing the failure of the alliance."

"What Serasiblos and their business is their business, but they have no right to interfere with the legal freedom of an Athenian citizen!" Aristophane shouted angrily.

"That's what I want to say." Antisteni pointed to the cheering people: "What does their victory have to do with me?"

Aristophane was so angry that he glared at him, and turned around and left. He once again affirmed his understanding: the reason why he could become good friends with Plato but was always alienated from Antisteni was his sense of responsibility.

Antisteni didn't care about Aristophane's departure. He gently brushed away the dust falling from the book and looked at it with concentration again.

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Agsilous led his army through Thrace, Macedonia, and arrived in Central Greece. In Anphepolis, he heard the news of the Spartans' victory in Corinth, but this did not make him excited, because the Spartans were still blocked at the isthmus and could not make any progress.

He was worried about the war and accelerated his marches, but when he arrived in Karonia, he encountered a solar eclipse, and the soldiers panicked and thought it was a bad omen.

Then Agsilous received news again that the Spartan Navy was defeated in Knidos. He was shocked and secretly glad that he chose to rush to Piosha by land instead of sea, otherwise he might have been blocked in Asia Minor now.

He immediately blocked the news to avoid the sway of the army. At the same time, he also felt that a war must be launched soon and victory should be used to wash away the bad news.

So he led his army again and finally entered the Piosha area. He met the anti-Spartan coalition forces stationed in Crosso, guarding the passage to Thebes, and a war was inevitable.

Before the war, he recruited Xenophon, the leader of the famous Persian 10,000 expeditionary force.

This 35-year-old Athenian fought with Sparta in Asia Minor for five years. He is already a brave general who has experienced many battles. Standing in front of Agsilous, he is like a tall cedar, exuding a high and compelling momentum.

Agsilous looked at him with admiring eyes, and then said, "Xenophon, my friend. The enemy of Sparta was in the front line. We can only advance to the city of Dibes by defeating them. But... in the enemy's team, there are reinforcements from the Athenians, among them, perhaps your relatives, your friends, your classmates, and fighting face to face with them is undoubtedly an extremely painful thing for you... Alas, so although I am a little reluctant, but-"

Agesilos showed an extremely regretful expression and said emotionally: "I...I allow you to lead the team away, and even join the other party. I am very grateful for your selfless help to Sparta over the years! Even if you and I will become enemies in the next battle, I still regard you as my best friend of Agesilos!"

After hearing this, Xenophon was furious: "King Sparta, you are questioning my integrity! Before leading the mercenaries to follow you to leave Asia Minor, I had already said that since the Athenian Citizens' Conference executed my teacher Socrates and tried me in absentia, I have regarded Athens as an enemy! And I agree with Sparta's political philosophy, willing to fight for it, and swear to Zeus! Now that you insist on leaving me, I...I will leave." After that, he turned around without any nostalgia and was about to walk out of the tent.

"Xenophon, please forgive me for being rude just now!" Agsilous hurriedly stepped forward and grabbed him and apologized repeatedly: "I originally didn't want you and your compatriots to fight each other to avoid your inner uneasiness, but now I realize that you have a great belief that is far beyond the ordinary mother's emotions. For this, I want to apologize to you!" As he said that, he bowed sincerely to Xenophon.

Xenophon hurriedly stopped him, and most of the anger in his heart disappeared.

"I decided to appoint you as the commander of the Central Army in tomorrow's battle." Agsilous made the decision decisively.

Xenophon was a little surprised, but he did not refuse and took the order happily because he knew that there were some rumors about him in the army in the past few days. He secretly vowed: In this battle, we must use practical actions to shut up those who question him!

Xenophon made a big tent, and Agesilous, a lieutenant of Agsilous and his son, came in. After learning about his father's decision, he couldn't help but be surprised: "Father, do you really let an Athenian serve as the commander of our middle lane?"

"What's wrong with the Athenians?" Agesselaus raised his eyebrows and said loudly at the volume that the guards outside the tent could hear, "Xenophen is my real friend of Agesselaus! I have always trusted my friends. What's more, Xenophen is a very talented person, and he deserves this trust!"

Speaking of this, Agsilous suddenly remembered something, sighed, and said to his son in a deep voice: "You must understand that Sparta has missed Davers, which Kerithops highly recommended, and the Dionysian City-Constitution Alliance, which the young man founded in just a few years, has become a big trouble for Dionysius. We can no longer push Xenophon to the enemy..."

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The next day, both sides lined up in Corroso.

Agsilous led the main force of Sparta, and formed the left wing. The side facing the coalition was the long-time enemy of the Agos; Xenophon led the remnants of the Expeditionary Force and other small Asian mercenaries in the middle, and the enemy they faced was his mother Athenians; and the right wing on the middle were the Spartan Allied Fokis (the most important city in this area where Fokis is Delphi), and the enemy they faced was Thebes, the initiator of the war.

At this moment, at the forefront of the Thebes army, Pero Pidas and Ipaminonda, who were already 26 years old, were in the queue as heavy infantrymen.

"Why haven't the bugle sounded yet?! I can't wait!" Pero Pidas said eagerly.

Ipaminonda didn't speak, staring at the front with a melancholy face.

"Ipa, what are you worried about? Are you afraid that we can't beat the Fokis?" Pero Pidas found out what his friend was doing and asked.

"I don't worry about the Fokis, they have never been our opponents. What I worry about is the Agos, whether they can block the Spartans' 'le-rotation attack'." Ipaminunda said worriedly.

"You're thinking too much, Ipa. This should be something the commander is considering. Our goal is to quickly defeat the Fokkis!" Pero Pidas pointed the spear forward and said with great enthusiasm.

Thanks to Tiggo 2, Southern Sixteen, Little X Niu, Reuss, and Orchast for the reward! Your support is my greatest motivation for writing!! There will be a dinner tonight, update in advance.
Chapter completed!