"I have long heard that the kingdom of Dionya is very powerful in the western Mediterranean, and some city-states have to submit to your force, and I don't believe it yet, but today in our own land in Athens, in the holy citizens' assembly, our respected Eleusis Secret Torchbearer Calias was actually threatened in public by a Dionian envoy, which made me believe in the arrogance of Dionia!"

Iphiclates stood up, pointed at Karias, and said indignantly: "Do citizens remember the first sentence of his speech?" - 'On behalf of the two million citizens of Dionia, I greet you' - is this a greeting word! No, it's a threat! He is not only threatening Kalias, but every citizen of Athens! He is threatening us that if we don't accede to Dionia's demands, they will send a powerful army to conquer Athens!

But what I tell you on behalf of the citizens of Athens is that Persia, which had a larger population than Dionys, sent emissaries here a few decades ago to make a similar threat to us, but in the end we won that war, so we Athenians are not afraid of any threat! ”

"Iphicrates is right, we in Athens are not afraid of any nation, be it Persia or Dionia! Don't look at the number of Dionians, they are afraid of war with Athens, otherwise they would not have sent a messenger here to talk about the east and west! ......"Under the influence of Iphicraste, some Athenian citizens waved their arms and loudly expressed their displeasure.

Carias was still calm, and only after the noise had subsided a little did he say confidently: "More than 10 years ago, Athens made a promise to Dionia, 'The Dionian will not be staged again. But when I walked into the city, I found that the play that humiliated the Ionians was being repeated in multiple theaters. When many Athenians learned that I was from Dionia, they would not only look at me with contempt, but also scold me for being a barbarian......

The reason why I deliberately added the phrase '2 million citizens' in my speech is to solemnly remind you that Dionya is a big country, a powerful country in the Western Mediterranean, and no matter whether your perception of Dionya is good or bad, you should first show respect for Dionia!

Think about the Sparta, which has caused you great harm, and how do you treat them every time their messengers come to Athens? Even when their armies plundered the villages near the port of Piraeus, you still did not embarrass their messengers and put them back safely. Every time you went to war with Sparta, either on an advantage or at a disadvantage, you eventually chose a peaceful truce with Sparta......

Is it not because Sparta is the most powerful city-state in Greece, and you must carefully consider the consequences of war with it? Now, the Sparta, which you have been cautious about, is struggling to survive the onslaught of the Dionian army. Therefore, in the face of a divine kingdom of Ionia that is more powerful than Sparta, should Athens show your respect and be cautious about all questions about Dionia!! ”

Karias's words were deafening and thought-provoking to some citizens.

"When your Dionian fleet is showing off its might in the waters of Athens and its allies, intercepting incoming and outgoing merchant ships and threatening the maritime security of Athens, it is too difficult for us to show respect for Dionia!" Another general, Cabrias, suddenly stood up and attacked.

Carias finally showed a hint of nervousness: the Athenians had indeed mentioned this problem, and indeed the arrogance of the 1st Fleet was undoubtedly increasing the level of tension between the two countries, and he had also written to the commander of the expeditionary force, Croto Katax, expressing his opinion, hoping that the prince would dissuade Cyclian from suspending patrols in the Aegean Sea at this stage to avoid further irritating the Athenians. But as things stand, Crotocatacs failed to convince the self-conscious and rebellious Seclion, who had to rack his brains to answer the headache question.

However, just as he was preparing a statement to better appease the disgruntled citizens of Athens, Calistratus spoke again: "Citizens, we all know that the barren land of Attica, which has been able to support so many people, and has prospered to this day, is not due to the abundance of goods on the earth, but on maritime trade.

Through maritime trade, we are able to buy enough cheap food to meet the needs of the people; Through maritime trade, we were able to earn enough money to live a prosperous life and pay enough taxes, so the prosperity of maritime trade was a matter of life and death for Athens!

However, in recent years, Athens' maritime trade has shrunk, merchants' incomes have decreased, many workshops have begun to reduce production or even close, and the number of vagrants in the city and port of Athens has increased, but the price of food has gradually risen...... Do you know why?! ”

Callistratus's words were like a burning torch thrown into an oil pot, and the whole room was boiling.

"That's because Dionian merchants sell cheap olive oil in large quantities in various city-states, resulting in my goods being bought very little, piling up in the cargo station, and finally spoiling, and that's all money!"

"A fine amphora has never cost less than six drachmas, but the Dionian merchants can sell it for four drachmas, and they are engaged in malicious trade competition against our Athens, and if they continue like this, my pottery shop will collapse!"

"I am an excellent accountant, I have been working as an accountant for Parsons for decades, but the other day he suddenly told me that because many of his overseas shops have been sluggish and his income has plummeted, he had to lay me off, and I have left with several old people who have worked for many years. I was upset with him, but I now know that it all turned out to be the fault of the Ionian merchants! ”

……

Waves of denunciations continued to hit Karias in the center of the room, causing him to feel a great deal of pressure, and he frowned, his mind raced, and he quickly thought of a way to defuse the anger of the Athenian citizens.

But at that moment, he heard the majestic voice of Calistratus: "Thank you for your speech to the citizens of Athens!" Now that we've all figured out what Dionia wants and wants, we're going to 'do we want to continue to be friendly to Dionia?' Or help Sparta? 'This is an important subject to a vote, so I ask you—"

"Wait, I still have something to say!" Karias felt a strong sense of uneasiness, and pleaded eagerly.

"Please abide by the order of our conference and leave the venue immediately!" Callistratus looked at him indifferently and said in a resolute tone.

Before the guards came, he took the initiative to leave the center of the venue, although he was a little disappointed in his heart, he still held his head high to face the insults of the Athenian citizens, and walked out of the Athenian citizens' assembly that he had longed for......

…………………………………………………………

In the afternoon, he was invited to the city hall of Athens, where he was greeted by the General's Executive Committee, headed by Calistratus.

Callistratus said to him with a solemn expression: "On behalf of all the citizens of Athens, we officially inform you that Athens has decided to join the Greek alliance to help Sparta and resist the invasion of Dionia!" ”

Although Karias was mentally prepared, the resentment in his heart was not gone, and he sneered coldly: "Your efforts to manipulate the entire citizens' assembly have not been in vain, congratulations on finally achieving your goal." ”

Callistratus looked very calm, and he said calmly: "You are indeed very eloquent, but there will definitely be a battle between Athens and Dionia, which is inevitable, and choosing to start a war at this time is the best time for Athens." ”

"Looks like you're confident of Athens winning!" Karias sneered again.

"I know Dioonia is strong." Callistratus looked at Karias, his eyes were deep, and his words were powerful: "But has Dionia always been strong?" When you fend off the invasion of the armies of Dionysius, when you learn that Carthage has declared war on you...... Couldn't the relatively weak Dionya feel the same as today's Athens! Dionia, which was founded only a few decades ago, dared to take risks again and again, and Athens, with its glorious history, didn't have the courage! ”

He paused, and said meaningfully: "In the morning at the citizens' meeting, you used Sparta many times to stir up the emotions of the citizens of Athens, but let me tell you the truth, the facts of the past few decades have proved that no matter how strong Sparta is, it will not do much damage to the fundamental interests of Athens, but the power of Dionya has not fully entered Greece itself, which has already greatly affected Athens, and for the independence, freedom and prosperity of Athens, the citizens of Athens have the same courage as during the Greco-Persian War!" ”

Karias was silent for a moment, then stared at him and said with a little respect: "Then let's divide the victory and defeat on the battlefield, and I hope to sit with you after the war to discuss the future of Athens!" ”

With that, he bowed slightly, and strode out of the town hall.

Kalistratos looked at the departing back of Karias, his face suddenly became solemn, he turned to the others and said, "Now we have to talk to the Persians quickly!" ”

…………………………………………………………

"Teacher, it's not good! Oh no! ......" Oleas burst into the house out of breath.