ancient greece mediterranean ruler

Chapter 705: Mission to Egypt ([-])

"We can't let this situation continue in Lijim!" Alcibiadas suddenly increased his voice and said: "I discussed with some people and decided to unite with the people of Lijim to convene an emergency citizens' meeting to vote together. Let Lijim be completely integrated into the Kingdom of Dionia!"

Hearing this, Davos could no longer hide the surprise on his face. He leaned towards Alcibiadas and asked: "Is this matter supported by your father?"

He knew Alcibiadas, his brother-in-law, who was very talented in business, but not too interested in politics. Important events like this that determine Lijim's future would not have happened without famous and capable politicians. A strong push is difficult to implement.

"My father is no longer very interested in Lijim's political affairs, and he has no energy to do these things..." Alcibiadas glanced at Davos, and then said: "This matter was initiated by Feidun. The general proposed it and he pushed it forward!"

"Feidun..." Davos touched his chin. He had always been paying attention to this person.

The general who led the Ligem army made a great contribution in the South Italian War that defeated the Syracuse army. After the war, he was also respected by the Ligem people and was elected for several years. He was the general of Lijim and served as the chief general for one year.However, he was resolute and decisive on the battlefield, but he frequently encountered setbacks in the political arena. The bills he proposed often failed to pass the parliament. His ability to govern was also criticized by many people. It was also exposed that his relatives used his power to accept bribes. Scandals of bribery and gain.Feidun took the blame and resigned, and angrily announced that he would no longer hold any public office in Lijim.According to some inside information spied on by the intelligence department of Aristiras: Atilicrus was secretly promoting these things in which the Legim Council criticized Feidun.

Davers' father-in-law, who has a strong desire for power, obviously does not want to see Feidun, whose prestige has increased, take control of Lijim's political arena.

Seeing that Davos didn't speak, Alcibiadas thought that the king was doubting whether Feidun alone could successfully implement this matter.

So he emphasized: "Not only Feidun, but also some businessmen also clearly expressed their support..." Then, Alcibiadas named several people.

Davos was surprised: These, like Alcibiades, are all famous big businessmen in Lijim. Aren't they worried that after Lijim is fully integrated into the Kingdom of Dionia, they will lose the benefits they enjoyed in the past? Some rights? !

Alcibiadas saw Daves' doubts, and he explained: "Your Majesty, Lijim is too small for us. We hope to become a real Dionian merchant and have a larger empire in the entire Western Mediterranean." The convenience of doing business! We firmly believe that after the war between Dionia and Carthage this time, Dionia merchants will have unprecedented precious opportunities to get involved in trade areas that have never been involved before!..." Alcibi Das looked a little excited.

I see!It's not that they care about civilians, but that they are driven by interests. As a businessman in the Free City, it is naturally impossible to obtain the same rights as the merchants in the Kingdom of Dionia...Davos smiled and said with a sigh: "It seems that you are interested in the upcoming business." At the beginning of the war between the kingdom and Carthage, I was more confident than I was. Sure enough, merchants are the most adventurous! Have you come into contact with Saustatus?"

Alcibiadas nodded, feeling nervous in his heart. He knew that the critical moment had arrived.

Davos said in a deep voice: "Then you must have a clear understanding of the difficulties the kingdom will face once this war is launched and the efforts that Sostatus and the others will make to let Dionia win this war."

Alcibiadas said without hesitation: "We Lijim merchants have stronger financial resources than the Turiyi merchants. We can do what the Turiyi merchants can do! What the Turiyi merchants cannot do, we The same can be done!”

Davers did not express his opinion easily, but said in a deep voice: "Very good, I hope Merchant Lijim can prove it to me!"

"Your Majesty, you will see it soon!" Alcibiadas replied confidently.

.............................................

While Alcibiadas was chatting with the children about anecdotes about ancient Egypt, Ansitanus, the foreign minister of the Kingdom of Dionia, had already arrived in Egypt, the oldest kingdom in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Egypt established a unified kingdom more than 2000 years ago, with a prosperous economy, strong national power, and a splendid culture. It was once the most powerful country in the entire Mediterranean.However, as time went on, the national power began to decline, and other races in the Mediterranean also began to rise, so the Egyptians' doom came.

The Hyksos, Libyans, Assyrians, Persians... invaded one after another and eventually ruled this most precious land on the African continent.

The Persian king appointed loyal men as governors of Egypt to exploit the Persians and plunder their wealth to satisfy the luxurious life of the Persian nobles and provide a material basis for further Persian expansion.The Egyptians were unwilling to be ruled and oppressed by foreigners, and launched many riots and resistance within a century.

During this period, in 460 BC, Athens was at its most powerful.The Athenian navy pressed Persia to the east, forcing it to shrink its defense line, and faced the Peloponnesian League army to the south. It won two battles in Aegina and Megali. The Athenians even took this The year is called the year of glory.

At this time, the Libyans in Lower Egypt launched an uprising in an attempt to overthrow the Persian rule, and requested help from the powerful Athens.

Athens readily agreed and sent a navy of [-] warships to Egypt. They achieved some victories at first and even captured the city of Memphis. However, they suffered a disastrous defeat in the end. Many Athenian citizens and allies died in Egypt. on land.

Until 404 BC, when the Persian ruler Darius II died, Cyrus Jr. and his elder brother Artaxerxes competed for the throne. The civil strife in Persia gave the Egyptians an opportunity.This time it was still an uprising led by the Libyans in the Nile Delta. Its leader was called Amirtanius. In the end, he succeeded, drove away the Persians, and became the Pharaoh of Egypt.

However, after only four years in office, he was usurped by one of his ministers, Niflud, who later passed the throne to Hakal.

During Harkauer's tenure, Sparta first attacked Persia, and then the Corinthian War broke out in Greece. After the "Great King Peace Treaty", the Persian king Artaxerxes finally relaxed. 386 BC) sent an army led by Pharnabazus in an attempt to recapture Egypt again.

Pharnabazus even hired Greeks to join the war, led by the Athenian general Iphicrates, but conflicts arose between the Persians and the Greeks and they failed to cooperate well.After three years of fighting, Hacall drove the Persian army out of Egypt.

Egypt was temporarily safe, but last year Fakour became seriously ill and was unable to preside over the government, leading to domestic political turmoil.At the beginning of this year, his son Nephilitis hurriedly ascended the throne, but turmoil soon broke out in the country. Finally, Nektaneb, a general from the city of Bubastis in the northwest of the Nile Delta, seized the throne and became the new ruler. Egyptian pharaoh.

……

Ancitanos recalled what he had learned about the major events that had happened in Egypt in recent years, especially this year was a turbulent year for the Egyptians: it was only four months since Nectaneb became Pharaoh of Egypt. The political situation is still unstable. He came to Egypt at this time as a Dionia envoy, hoping to establish friendly exchanges. In fact, it was not the best time, but the situation forced it...

At this time, the Dionia passenger ship he was on, after being inspected by the checkpoint at the Canobic River, successfully went upstream along the Canobic River, a tributary on the west side of the lower reaches of the Nile River.

It is now the end of October, and the flooding season in Egypt has passed. Therefore, the river is so calm that there is almost no movement. Ships sailing against the current do not need trackers to pull them on the river bank.

Rich Egypt benefits from the regular annual rise and fall of the Nile River.When the rainy season arrives every summer, the Blue Nile River flowing through the Ethiopian highlands south of Egypt surges, taking away a large amount of sediment in the valley. When the peak reaches the Nile Valley, the flood overflows the river bed, submerging the land on both sides, carrying The organic matter contained in the sediment and river water seeps into the soil, keeping the land in the narrow strips on both sides of the Nile always dark and fertile.This is especially true in the Nile Delta downstream. A major Nile flood can even turn this vast coastal lowland into a vast ocean.

Now, although the water of the Nile has begun to recede, and the river banks are still full of puddles and mud covered with water plants, Egyptian farmers have begun to take care of their fields. They are bare-chested and bare-footed, with only their crotches covered with water. Wrapped in a piece of linen.Some farmers built mud dams on the shore and tried to keep the remaining river water in their fields; some cleaned up aquatic plants and other debris in the fields, and picked up a few fish in the puddles as an extra harvest; , some have already driven their cattle and started plowing their own fields... There are also many papyrus boats going back and forth along the river, bringing farming tools, food and wheat seeds to the peasant women working on the shore. .

Ansitanos also noticed that there were often neatly dressed people with pens and papers in hand on the edge of the farmland. They should be the Pharaoh's scribes. They were estimating how much harvest this flooding season would bring next year. At the same time, they are also supervising the work of farmers.

Agriculture is the backbone of Egypt, and the Pharaoh's emphasis on agriculture is far from what other Mediterranean countries can compare with. However, it can also be seen that the new Pharaoh has begun to exercise his authority, which makes Ansitanos a little less worried.

　At the end of the year, there are many social events. I just had a drink on the weekend. Today, because my old boss is treating me, I can’t refuse, so I drink again. Oh, I feel uncomfortable!

　　Thanks to Sniper No. 11 for the tip!Your support is my motivation to write! !

　　
　
(End of this chapter)