"Your Highness, we can't retreat!" Printors immediately objected: "Now that the Spartan army is about to engage us in battle, if we retreat at this time, not only will the soldiers complain, but also our previous efforts will be in vain, let the Spartan army breathe, let the other Greek city-states look down on us, and may speed up their alliance with the Spartans to fight against us, and it will undoubtedly become more difficult for us to defeat the Spartan army!"

Not only can we not retreat now, but we should also speed up the attack on the Spartan army while these Greek city-states are not ready for military preparations, as long as we can defeat Sparta, the situation will become favorable to us! ”

After all, Klotocátáz's first expedition was the first time to lead the army, lacking experience, and coinciding with the bad news one after another, he panicked for a while, and it was inevitable that he would choose to be conservative under heavy pressure, and after being reminded by Printors, he immediately realized that if he did this, it would undoubtedly lead to the prolongation of the war, which would not only greatly consume the national strength and increase casualties, but also make his father, who had always been determined to forge ahead in the war, feel disappointed in himself......

Thinking of this, he perked up and immediately changed his words and said: "Lord Printors, you are right, we should step up the attack on the Spartan army, but what should we do exactly?!" ”

"Your Highness, first of all, we should send messengers to inform our garrison troops in Messenia, so that they can strengthen the defense of the northern border and be ready to mobilize the Messenians militarily." Printors patiently suggested, "Secondly, we should separate some of the scouts and scouts and go west, not only in the Ellis region, but also in the Arcadia League's troops, just in case."

Then, Your Highness, write to Ssecrian of the predicament in which we find ourselves, and urge him to attack the shores of Sparta and land as soon as possible.

At the same time, we led the main army east into the territory of Tigea, and did not take the initiative to attack the Spartan camp first, but pretended to build a new camp on the border between Tegea and Sparta, forcing the Spartan army to go out of the camp and fight a decisive battle with us. ”

"What if the Spartan army is closed and wants to unite with the Ellis army before fighting a decisive battle with us?" Klotockataks couldn't help but ask.

"Then we're going to really build a camp there, block the Spartans' way home, and then send some of our soldiers to join the First Fleet's fleet soldiers and attack Spartan territory from the north...... I don't think the Spartans would want to see that happen. Printors said unhurriedly.

After listening to Printors' words, Klotocátáx fell into deep thought and did not respond for a long time.

Printors couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, do you feel that my plan is inadequate?" ”

Clotokataxques heard that Printorcaules was a little dissatisfied, and hurriedly said apologetically: "Lord Printors, your suggestion is very good, I have no objection!" I'm sorry, I was a little distracted just now, because your plan inspired me and gave me an idea. ”

Crotocatacz's initiative to admit his mistake not only made Printolls want to die, but also made himself ashamed that he was too small-bellied, so he asked seriously: "May I ask Your Highness what good ideas you have?" ”

"When I was in Turiy, I had read in detail the history of the major city-states of Greece proper, and Ellis had shown kindness to us because, although it was a member of the Peloponnesian League, it had a grudge against Sparta during the Peloponnesian War because of Leprion's affiliation. Prior to the Corinthian War, the Spartan army invaded the territory of Ellis and forcibly occupied some of its territories. After the signing of the 'Peace of Kings', Sparta supported Pisa and forcibly transferred the right to host the Olympia Games, which was originally owned by Ellis, to Pisa...... From then on, the Ellis hated Sparta so much that when they learned that our army was going to fight Sparta, they were very happy and sent Ionicus to Messenia with the fleet.

Now Ellis has agreed to join the Greek coalition against us, probably because Pisa has voluntarily submitted to it, giving it finally the opportunity to completely unify the western part of the Peloponnese. But it forgets that if we are really defeated and withdraw from the Peloponnese, once Sparta regains its strength, it will still compete with it for dominance of the western regions......

So we should send the diplomat Karias to Ellis and promise them that 'not necessarily Ellis will support us, but as long as Ellis remains neutral, Dionyas will support Ellis as the leader of the western Peloponnese'...... Even if the Ellis eventually disagree with our proposal, they will hesitate and argue as a result, thus delaying the military mobilization against us...... What do you think, Lord Printols? ”

Crotocatacchus's suggestion made Printols, who was only focused on military affairs, light up and praised him sincerely: "Your Highness, your suggestion is really wonderful! I feel that we should send not only Karias to Ellis, but also other city-states, so as to disturb the situation in Greece, which is beginning to be unfavorable to us......"

……………………………………………………

Klotocatax and Printors were hurrying to carry out their plan, but on the second day they received news from the Scouts that the Spartan army was attacking the city of Tegua.

The Spartan army's initiative made Printors feel that this was a good opportunity for a decisive battle with the Spartan army, so at his suggestion, Klotocatax left 3,000 soldiers in the camp and led the army to the rescue.

The road to Tegea was a narrow, undulating mountain road flanked by higher hills, and the experienced Printors did not let Klotocatax advance, but suggested that a mountain reconnaissance brigade should be sent to find out the surrounding situation, and sure enough, the Spartan army was found in ambush in the mountains.

As a result, Klotocatax sent a mixed force of light armor and light infantry to attack the Spartan army lying in ambush on the hill.

The battle was not fierce, this Spartan army did not have Spartan warriors in charge, mainly mercenaries, and there was no heavy infantry, after the whereabouts were exposed, faced with the well-trained Dionian light armor and light infantry with tacit attack, they quickly chose to retreat.

However, the battle between the mountains was delayed, and as it was approaching dusk, the Dionian army had to choose a place to camp and rest.

Early in the morning of the third day, the Dionian army began to march further, but in order to prevent the Spartan army from being ambushed and harassed, the march was not fast, and it was not until the morning that the vanguard entered the territory of Tegua.

The Tegua-Mandinian Plain is a rare piece of flat land in the Arcadia region, it is a long and narrow area running north-south, with rivers crisscrossing it, the land is relatively fertile, it is a famous wheat growing area in the entire Peloponnese, and it is also the granary of the Arcadia region.

The soldiers trekked through the mountains to the plains with a wide field of vision, and saw green wheat fields everywhere, undulating like waves in the breeze.

Klotocatax had no leisure to enjoy the scenery, for he had already received a report from the scouts: the Spartan army was storming the city of Tigea, and the battle was very fierce, and the Tigurans were already a little overwhelmed by the heavy casualties of the situation.

Printors and the generals had analyzed beforehand: Tegea had been under the protection of the Spartans for a long time, unlike the Mandinians, who built their own walls carefully, its walls had not been maintained for a long time, and there were no moats and other defenses outside the city, but Tegea was one of the largest states in the Arcadia region after all, with a large population, and should be able to hold out for a while.

How could it not work so quickly?

But the reports of the returning scouts were the same: the Spartan army had completely surrounded the city of Tigea, and the Spartan soldiers had already attacked the head of the city several times, and the city was littered with corpses......

It seems that there is no doubt that under the strong attack of tens of thousands of soldiers of the Spartan army, the city of Tigea is in danger!

Crotocartaxis and Printors must not allow the city of Tegya to fall into the hands of the Spartans, because first of all, it is still spring, and the food in the homes of the people of Tegya is still sufficient, which can greatly alleviate the shortage of food for the Spartan army; Secondly, Sparta captured the city of Tegea, which was located in the center of the plain, and gained a firm foothold on this plain, and could continue to threaten Mandynia to the north, gaining a certain strategic initiative.

So Klotocatax gave the order: "Speed up the march and advance to the city of Tegua!" ”

At the same time, the Dionian prince added an order: "Try not to trample on the wheat fields!" ”

The city of Tegya was only a dozen miles from its southwestern edge, and its terrain was flat, and the Dionian army advanced so fast that by noon the vanguard could already see the outline of the city in the distance.

At this time, Klotocatax received a report from the scouts: most of the Spartan army had withdrawn from the siege, and began to have the soldiers facing west, forming formations.

The Spartans are now preparing for a battle with us! …… Klotocatax was overjoyed and then nervous when he saw that the goal he was seeking was so soon to be achieved, after all, the upcoming battle would determine the success or failure of the Dionian army and the life and death of thousands of soldiers.

Of course, Printors was much calmer, and he advised his army to hold off on its advance, while also asking to go and see the Spartan army at close range.

When Klotocatax heard this, he also said that he would go, and he also used the excuse that "my father often went into battle to observe the battle" as an excuse to silence the persuaders.