v9 Chapter 237： Return to Byzantium

At this time, Melisanda asked: "I see on this map, the distance from Egypt to Cyprus seems to be farther than the distance from Crete to Cyrenaica. Such a long sea distance makes it impossible to travel. Staying and resting, replenishing fresh water, can the troop carrier really arrive smoothly? After our fleet arrives in the waters near Cyprus, will it still be capable of fighting?"

Karsidis replied earnestly: "I have specifically and carefully asked the Greek merchants in Naukratis who often go to Cyprus to trade. They all told me that there will be no storms in the East Sea in this season, as long as they are on board. It takes only three or four days to get to Cyprus with enough water to sail day and night. (One of the important reasons why a ship sails faster than a land march is that as long as the route is clear and the sail is used, it can be uninterrupted 24 hours a day. Sailing), and we can hire these Naukratis merchants as guides to guide us.

As for the navy...I still remember that they had rushed to Carthage from Sicily and eventually defeated the Carthage fleet. They should be very experienced in this aspect. Of course, they need to make their own judgment. "

"How is the defense on the island of Cyprus? How many troops are there?" Matonis was a little moved, and his tone became anxious.

"Decades ago, Cyprus was only a subsidiary of Persia. The king of Cyprus united the Greek city-states of Asia Minor several times. In order to gain independence, Persia finally suppressed it. Since then, the Persians have learned their lesson and abolished it. The king of Cyprus split Cyprus into multiple city-states and did not allow them to build tall and thick walls. Otherwise, they would be dissatisfied with Persia.

Although I don’t know how much force Cyprus can assemble against us, it is clear that their defensive capabilities are not strong, and their largest city-state, Nicosia, is located in the middle of the plain, which is easy to be attacked... and you all felt that It is more difficult to attack Cyprus from the sea. We all have this idea. Cypriots will never think of this. Our raid will be successful! "

After Calcidis finished speaking, the eyes of the legion leaders lit up.

Daves coughed slightly, attracted the attention of the generals, and then groaned: "It is indeed a good idea to attack Cyprus from the sea, but it is more for gaining maritime dominance, not for us attacking the Persian Near East. The main route of the area, after all, except for the Gulf of Issus, no other areas have the conditions for large-scale landing...

According to intelligence, the Persians have gathered a large number of troops in the Mesopotamia. Once we capture Cyprus, it will inevitably arouse the Persians’ vigilance. They will definitely strengthen their defense against the coast of Issus. Our main force must be Landing operations in the Near East will undoubtedly take great risks, so our offensive focus should still be on land.

As long as we occupy Cyprus and annihilate the Persian fleet, the transport fleet can safely sail along the coast, ready to supply troops marching on land. Even with the maritime transport guarantee, our army can completely advance north without attacking Gaza—"

Daves looked down at the small and long seaside area north of Gaza City on the map, with a complicated expression: "Karsidis, do you know anything about Canaan Jerusalem?"

"Your Majesty, I have asked people that the Jews living in Jerusalem are a weak people. They were massacred by the Assyrians and imprisoned the survivors in Babylon. Although the Persians later released them and let them Back to their hometown, but decades later, their number is still small...

I heard that they sent people to plead with the king of Persia a few years ago, hoping to allocate some money to rebuild their dilapidated temple. The Persian king agreed to their request and even appointed Nehemiah, a Jew who he trusted, as the governor of Jerusalem to take charge of this matter.

As a result, after Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, he had conflicts with the Samaritan Governor-General Sanballa in the east. There are still conflicts... Therefore, the weak Jews have no power to stop our army. We can even occupy here—" Si pointed to an icon on the map: "Jaffa, a port town in the Jerusalem area, for our fleet to anchor..."

"Very good!" Daves looked away from the map, looked around at the crowd, and said solemnly: "Everyone, I think everyone agrees with Calcidis's suggestion, so I will call in Sekley as soon as possible. Ann, Midolades and Stefakas held another military meeting to discuss the feasibility of attacking Cyprus and destroying the main force of the Persian fleet...

Regardless of the outcome of the next military conference, the attack on Persia will be launched in a short period of time. I only hope that you will use this time to let the soldiers of the legions learn and adapt to marching, camping and fighting in the desert as soon as possible! "

"Yes, Your Majesty!" everyone responded in unison.

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On the second day, Daves took the high priests of Asistus and Amonhotep to the temples of Puta and Osiris to make sacrifices. They were warmly welcomed by the priests of the temple. Niu Apis made close contact.

The black fat cow with only a little white star on his forehead behaved very friendly to him. It flicked the oxtail and quickly ate the forage he handed over, making Priest Puta and Priest Oriss loudly. Admiration (Appis was first considered the incarnation of the creation **** Puta, and later evolved into the incarnation of Osiris): "Pharaoh Davos is worthy of being the son of Amon, and even the easy sacred cow dare not slack !"

Then Daves went to the temple of the goddess of wisdom and war Knight, and he even made a promise to Amon Hottepu that he would take time to worship at the Karak Temple in Thebes, but he refused this Another suggestion from the Egyptian high priest: Go to the Temple of Amon in Siwa Oasis to obtain the oracle.

The Siwa Oasis is located in the desert of western Egypt. The Temple of Amon there is quite old and highly respected. Its oracles are well-known. Not only the Egyptians often go to worship, but even the Greeks also have worshipers, especially It was in Thessaly and Macedonia in Northern Greece.

Daves refused because it was very difficult to go to the Siwa Oasis. Although he remembered that Alexander in the past life, after conquering Egypt, he went to the Siwa Oasis Temple to worship, and suffered a lot on the way. However, Amonhotep has repeatedly explained: Although Siwa Oasis is in the desert, its journey is very safe due to frequent people going to worship.

The question that Daves considered was that many Greeks who went to the Siwa Oasis to worship were seeing Amon in that temple as the incarnation of Zeus in Egypt. In history, Alexander declared that he was a child of Zeus. Bye, but Daves, who is a descendant of Hattis, is obviously not suitable.

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At the same time that King Daves arrived in Egypt, the central Italian coalition led by Wolsey, Herniki, and Sabine also landed in Asia Minor by boat. So far the Greek coalition forces commanded by Leotichides have all Get together.

During the time that the Greek coalition forces arrived, he did not wait quietly, but was always in an aggressive offensive posture. Not only did he continuously force the towns near the Hellespong Strait, but also used the victory of the Samos naval battle. Under the influence of, led the main force to leave the coastline and penetrate deep into the inland of Missia. At the same time, he also sent some troops to the south and into the territory of Lydia.

Due to the inability of the Persian army to fight, the Greek coalition forces were shocked for a while, not only the coastal Greek city-states, such as Bosworth and Caios, surrendered, but even some inland towns in Missia and Lydia also surrendered to them. .

An interesting incident happened during this period. The Tenth Army Commander Stefros made a request to Leotichides: he hoped that he could take a troop to the other side of the strait and surrender to Byzantium.

Thirty years ago, the Persian mercenary, the predecessor of the Dionian army, was humiliated in Byzantium. This included King Davos. Leotichides had heard of this, and he knew clearly: this The request is probably not Stifros' own will, but comes from his father Amintas, and may even be the collective instruction of many veterans in the army.

Leotichides certainly will not refuse, even because there is not much military pressure at present, UU reading www. uukanshu.com he generously approved: Stefros can lead the entire Tenth Army.

Steffilos led the army to land on the beach near Byzantium. Just after setting up a camp, the Byzantine messenger arrived and humbly stated to him: Byzantium is willing to dominate the Holy Kingdom of Dionia!

For Byzantium, which had almost changed a generation, the incident that happened decades ago has long been remembered, but the Byzantines knew that Athens, Sparta, and even the whole of Greece, which they once attached to, were creeping. At the feet of Dionia, the forces of Dionia had not yet spread to the Yoke Star Sea, and the Byzantines could still pretend to be ignorant. Now the opposing army is close at hand. They have always been able to see the wind and the rudder. .

Of course, Stefros will not take the initiative to re-examine the embarrassment of the year, but put forward some harsh requirements, such as providing a large amount of food, tribute, and providing fleet and labor to provide assistance to the army... Byzantium all accept.

The Byzantines were so fascinated. Of course, Steflos couldn’t make trouble unreasonably. He had to lead an armed march of 8,000 soldiers in the Byzantine city, and finally asked the Byzantine government to build a memorial column in the port, with Dave on top of it. Statue of King Sidney on horseback wielding a sword.

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