"So who won this debate in the end?" Lucias asked curiously.

Plato said calmly: "You are more familiar with Isocrates, you should know that Isocrates has a hoarse voice and is better at writing than speaking, so he sent students out to argue, and of course I also asked Spithopus to fight......

Judging from the outcome of the debate, it should have been our victory, but judging from the subsequent developments, this did not clear the doubts of the Athenian people about your Ionias, but rather increased their fear of Dionia, and Isocrates achieved his goal......"

"In the past two years, Athens has been somewhat alienated from Dionia, what is the reason? Is it just because Dionia is stronger? Ansitanos asked.

"There are several reasons." Plato pondered and said, "...... Although Dionya did not set foot in Greece in these years, it had a long-term friendship agreement with Sparta, but refused to conclude an alliance with Athens and Thebes in two wars (the Corinthian War and later the Theban War), which made the Athenians a little wary; More importantly, in recent years, Athens' maritime trade has encountered competition from Dionia, some of the same type of goods, although the quality is almost the same, but Dionya provides more quantity and lower prices, which makes Athens begin to lose some traditional city-state markets, such as Cyrenaica and Crete, which also makes many Athenian merchants and expatriate merchants in Athens full of vigilance, and with their instigation and support, the Athenian citizens' assembly also passed a resolution the year before last. The city-states that joined the Athenian-dominated maritime alliance were not allowed to allow Dionian goods to enter the city-state's market for sale'......"

"I know that our Minister of Commerce, Mariji, once angrily suggested to His Majesty that he should send an envoy to Athens to protest, and also took the same measures to counteract, but His Majesty did not ......agree," Ansitanos said with emotion.

"There's another reason." Plato looked at Davers, who was listening: "Pericles called on the Greek city-states to build the city of Turi, originally hoping that this sub-state of Athens would become a decisive force in the greater Greek region of the Western Mediterranean, so as to expand the influence of Athens. Later, due to the decline of Athens due to the Peloponnesian War, this goal was not achieved. And now that Turiy is the center of the kingdom of Dioonia and the center of the western Mediterranean, I am afraid that some of the Athenian elites who want to restore the glory of the Pericles era have a grudge in their hearts......"

"I don't care if Athens is wary of Dionys." At this time, Davers spoke, and he watched Plato's reaction with a scrutinizing gaze: "I just want to know Plato, do you think Dionyas is a threat to Athens?" ”

"Dear King Davers." Plato said calmly: "After arguing with Isocrates, I had some doubts, so this time I seriously traveled around the kingdom of Dionia, and what I saw and heard...... All of them strengthened the idea in my heart that the Kingdom of Dioonia was not a threat to Athens, but the hope of Athens, and indeed of all the Greek city-states! ”

Plato's answer was somewhat unexpected by Davers, who blurted out in surprise, "Why?" ”

Plato replied with a serious expression: "Greece itself is narrow, mountainous and poor, and the land is barren, and it is difficult to survive. The city-states in that land are still fighting for their own interests, and after decades of wars, exile and desolation, the city-states will eventually disappear......

Now it seems that in order to put an end to this terrible situation once and for all, a very powerful force must intervene to force the city-states of Athens, Sparta, Thebes, and Corinth to defend themselves and not dare to quarrel again, and peace will come.

Persia can't do it, it wants Greece to perish. Only Dionia, you will treat the city-states of mainland Greece as equally as the Samonians and the Romans, and may even build flat avenues between the mountains of mainland Greece, so that trade between the city-states can be carried out more freely and conveniently on land and sea, so that the people of the city-states can enjoy peace and tranquility and live a happier life under the order established by Dionia......"

Plato's increasingly passionate voice echoed in the palace, and Ansitanos and Lysias looked at each other, they did not expect Plato to have such great expectations of Dionia, and they were both thrilled and did not know how to respond, and looked at Davers together.

Davers tapped his fingers on the table as he listened intently, but there was no obvious mood swing on his face. After Plato finished speaking, he smiled faintly and said seriously: "For Greece itself, Dionya has no plans to interfere in its political situation for the time being. ”

"I understand." Plato knowingly said, "I only wish to see a lasting peace in Greece in my lifetime!" ”

After that, everyone at the banquet tacitly agreed not to talk about it anymore, but talked about other topics.

When the banquet was over, when Davos personally sent Plato out of the palace, Plato said softly with a little wine: "Dear King Davos, I remember that you were hired by the Persian prince Cyrus the Younger to go on an expedition to Persia. The Persian royal family must have left a deep impression on you by fighting each other for the throne, leading to political turmoil...... Well, when I returned to Turiyi, I heard a lot of praise for Prince Apox, and Alcibidas invited me to a banquet several times, but I declined......"

"Oh." Davers answered quietly, and did not speak again.

After seeing off Plato's master and apprentice, he returned to the palace and called Aristiras: "Tomorrow you go to the Ministry of War and inform Alexis that the order for ships to the shipyard of Alcibidas is suspended. ”

"Yes." Aristiras responded immediately, without asking.

Davers continued: "If Alcibidas were to ask the War Department for a reason, you would let Alexis answer, and say that I said, 'Since he doesn't want to concentrate on his business, don't do it.'" ’”

………………………………………

A few days later, Davers, who had returned to the mansion, was sitting in his study, thinking about the day's political affairs, when there was a knock at the door.

"It's Apox, come in!" Davers smiled kindly.

Apox calmly sat down across from Davers.

Davers looked at his second son closely: Apox, who was only 17 years old, was taller and slender, and more inherited from Egnes, who was very handsome and handsome, but his eyebrows were full of confidence and vitality.

"Father, my uncle found me today, and he told me." Abbaux was straight to the point as soon as he spoke.

Davers blinked and asked in a calm tone, "Oh, what did he say?" ”

Apox did not respond directly, but said aloud: "Father, I remember you once told me that a great scholar is more remembered by posterity than a king. ”

"Yes, I said that. Everyone knows that Thales of Miletus was a sage, but no one remembers who the consul of Miletus was......"

"Father." Apox said with a sincere face: "I have no interest in the throne of Dionia, I am only interested in learning knowledge and researching knowledge!" I only hope that in the future, I will have more creative ideas, which can benefit the people and be admired by future generations! I can swear to Hades about this! ”

Apox said excitedly, raising his hands.

Davers pressed his shoulder strongly, looked at him lovingly, and said softly: "Good boy, you are what I have seen since I was a child, of course I know what you want!" This small punishment for Alcibidas is only angry that he interferes with your studies and destroys the deep relationship between you and your eldest brother! Rest assured, I not only respect but also fully support you for your choice, and I hope that you will become a greater scholar than Thales in the future, shining on the entire history of human cultural development! ”

"Thank you, father, I will definitely try!" Apox was so excited by Davers that he finally calmed down his excitement and hesitated for a while before saying, "Father...... I have one more request. ”

"Say, what request?" Davers smiled.

Apox scratched his head, his expression writhed, "I want to ...... I want to marry Nellia! ”

"Who is Nellia?" Davers feigned surprise.

“…… Daughter of former Fourth Fleet Admiral Miltias and a classmate of Eunice. Apox plucked up his courage and finished in one breath.

"Oh...... Have you consulted with your mother? ”

"Father, during this time, my uncle has always come to my mother to tell me about matchmaking, so I want to ask for your consent first!"

"Will that Nelia agree to your proposal?"

"She'll definitely agree!"

"Okay, I agreed, and we'll have a wedding when you're an adult." Davers looked serious and said dryly.

"Thank you!" Apox excitedly gave Davers a powerful hug.

Davers smiled and patted his son's still immature shoulder, but he sighed in his heart: The children are all older, and they are all about to get married and have children, but he has already begun to get old......

…………………………………………

"My lord, the mouth of the Klatty River is coming soon." The captain walked into the cabin and said to Haka, who was resting.

"Got it." Hakka slowly turned over and sat up, then put on a thick leather robe, stood up, and said to Hasdruba, who was still drinking with his head bowed on the side, "Big brother, let's go outside and have a look?" ”

"I'm not going!" Hasdruba replied stiffly.

Haka knew his temper, and no longer persuaded him, and walked out of the cabin slowly, supported by the servants.