When Nikitanipos learned of the change in the city and was in a hurry to reinforce the city gates, the Dionian army had already stormed the city under the guidance of Memphis officials.

After a day of fierce fighting in the city, the rebels were routed, Nicotanipos was captured, and the Dionian army entered the city of Memphis.

On the second day, Foreign Minister Tapirus, who had been instructed by Davers to accompany the army to Egypt, began to meet frequently with Memphis officials and priests at several temples in the city.

………………………………………………………………

It was already the middle of August, and the news that "the Holy Kingdom of Dionya had officially declared war on Persia and was forming a Greek coalition to attack Asia Minor" had reached Babylon, shocking Artaxerxes, who had suffered repeated military defeats and inaction, and at some point became a little afraid of the Dionian kingdom in the far west, which could continue to win and expand despite any obstacles, and could not help but say in public: "It is finally here!" ……”

Then he stood up abruptly and shouted, "Go and call Tribasus!" ”

"My Majesty, Lord Terebasus has been sent by you to conquer Egypt!" A minister reminded.

Artaxerxes stood for a moment as if from a dream, and then asked, "Where is he now?" ”

"Also calling up troops in the Syrian region."

Artaxerxes sat down again, clutched his fists, muttered for a while, and said with a little nervousness, "...... The order to attack Egypt has been cancelled for the time being, let him come back first, and the most important thing is to prepare for the invasion of the Ionian army at the moment! …… Send me all the spies out to keep an eye on the movements of Greece itself...... At the same time, the governors of the districts were informed to immediately carry out military mobilization, and the garrisons of the districts were assembled and on standby, waiting for my orders! ”

"Yes, King!"

………………………………………………………………

Artaxerxes realized: Although Dionya had officially declared war on Persia, it would take some time for the Greek coalition to complete its formation and invade Persian territory.

However, he did not expect that Leoticides had already led the 10th Army and the 11th Army to Thessaly, and that the Dionian commander, after a detailed understanding of the enemy situation on the other side of the Aegean Sea, after much thought, resolutely decided: not to wait for the Greek army to converge before attacking Asia Minor, but to send a vanguard force to land in Asia Minor before the Persians have completed their defensive preparations, occupy a foothold, and provide a guarantee for the further landing operations of the successor army.

The Tenth Legion, Stephorus, was the adopted son of Amintas, a famous member of the Dionian army, a close friend of Patroclus, and an old subordinate of Leoticides, who had a deep understanding of his abilities and therefore entrusted him with this task.

Stephorus, who was in the prime of life and eager to perform another meritorious service, did not hesitate to take up the task, and after consulting with Leoticides, he targeted the landing on the beaches of the Misia region in western Asia Minor.

The reason for this choice is simple: from the port of Philae in Thessaly, it sailed eastward, across the Aegean Sea, to the west of Asia Minor, and the closest in a straight line was Misia, which is also the westernmost region of present-day Persia, and naturally Persian rule was weakest here.

Due to its proximity to Greece and the proximity of Misia to the Greek mainland, Persian rule in the region was not stable, and Misia was one of the great rebellions against Persian rule in Asia Minor, because Artaxerxes issued some edicts in favor of the Greek colonial city-states in Asia Minor during the war, such as giving them more autonomy, paying fewer taxes, and having more freedom in religious beliefs...... As a result, most of the Greek city-states in Asia Minor did not participate in the rebellion, nor did they support the rebels, but rather cooperated with the Persian army.

However, after the rebellion was put down and the new governors of the western regions of Asia Minor were appointed, many of them, including Theopemps, the governor of Misia, did not carry out the decrees proclaimed by the Persian king, which caused discontent among the Greek city-states in their territory. The Persian nobleman from Susa apparently did not expect that the Greeks in his territory would dare to oppose his decision, and most of the other local races, including the Persians, were also indifferent, and few people were willing to move closer to this outsider, resulting in Theopemps's rule over Misia still very weak for more than a year, and the political situation in the whole of Misia was very disorderly.

A few days later, more than 8,000 soldiers of the 10th Dionian Legion, fully prepared, boarded troop carriers at Port Philae and, escorted by the Fourth Fleet, sailed straight east, and two days later landed on the beach of Misia, while at the same time quickly capturing the unsuspecting island of Tenidos, not far from the landing beach.

………………………………………………………………

In September, as soon as the news that "King Davos will personally lead a large army to attack Persia" was officially announced, the palace office welcomed several guests.

Davers looked at the guests and asked, pretending to be surprised, "What is a good day for you to come and visit me?" ”

"Your Majesty!" Phellisius, who had been retired for many years, replied respectfully: "We heard that you are going to lead an army against Persia yourself, so the big guys are very excited, and they have made an appointment to come to see you, hoping that you will allow us to go with you to the land where we have been born and died and fought side by side!" ”

"Yes, Your Majesty! For so many years, I have never forgotten those comrades who died in Persia, when we were in a hurry to flee for our lives, and we hurriedly buried their bodies without even putting a copper coin in our mouths...... This time I will go to Persia, and I will definitely transport their bones back to my hometown and bury them well, so that their souls wandering in a foreign land can return to hell smoothly......" Alexis, who has always been calm, also said emotionally.

"And Clearcus, Ploxinus, and Menon, whose heads were sent to Babylon and discarded in the rubbish by the Persians, and which may not be found even with great effort, but...... It is everyone's common wish to collect their bones and bring them back to their hometown! Immediately after Hieronimus finished speaking seriously, Tolmid, Agacia and others immediately echoed loudly.

"Everyone's common wish?" Davers heard something in it.

"Your Majesty, we are here to ask you on behalf of most of the old mercenaries who are still alive and at home, hoping to follow you back to Persia!" Epitenis said loudly.

Davers' gaze shifted from Felicios, Alexis, Silonimus, Tormid, Marigi, Agacia, Epitenis, Martius, Giogris...... Wait for the gray-haired, wrinkled old man's face to sweep over and finally land on Amintas's body.

The once prolific and heroic General Dioonia was now completely unable to stand, and was paralyzed in a wooden wheelchair and pushed into the palace by his henchmen. Unable to walk on the ground for a long time, his burly body became very fat, and he closed his eyes and snored when everyone was talking.

Davers couldn't help but whisper, "Amintas." ”

"Hoo ......"

"Amintas!"

"Huh? ……”

"Are you going to Persia with you?"

Under the push of the slave, Amintas finally woke up, he supported the armrests of the wooden chair with both hands, tried his best to sit up, gasped and said, "Your Majesty...... I'm just dead...... Die on the way to Babylon! ……”

Davers looked around at everyone again and asked with a solemn expression, "You think the same way?" ”

Phellisius looked back at the others, and after receiving their nods, he replied with a serious expression: "Your Majesty, we have followed you to achieve countless victories in the past few decades, and the only regret is that we were driven back by the Persians like dogs in Persia, this time we want to follow you to make up for this regret, even if we die on the way to the battle, it is also the glory of our life!" ”

"Your Majesty, I have one more request!" Epitenis shouted from behind, "If I do die on the way, allow my servants to carry my body into Babylon, so that I can see with my own eyes what the hanging gardens boasted of by the Babylonians look like!" ”

Martius immediately complained to him dissatisfiedly: "We have all discussed it in advance, and it is too much for you to break the agreement and suddenly make such a request to Your Majesty!" What can you see when everyone is dead, hurry up and apologize to Your Majesty and take back your unreasonable request! ”

"I'm glad that I don't think Your Majesty will blame me." Epitenis looked so indifferent that Mattius tugged at his clothes and tried to beat him.

"Alright, alright." Davos waved his hand, looked at everyone, and said solemnly: "I can allow you to go to Persia with me, but - you are all veterans who have followed me for many years, and you are all familiar with Dionian military law, you should understand that this war against Persia will determine the ownership of the entire Mediterranean, and it is related to the rise and fall of the two countries, and you must not be neglected at all, so you must have the mentality of 'going to fight and not playing', and you must obey orders and obey commands!" If someone can't do it, then it's better to quit now, otherwise someone will violate military law at that time, and I will never show mercy! ”

"Your Majesty, please rest assured, we will fight all our lives, and we will never ruin our reputation at the last moment, and we will never let the juniors look down on us!" Felicios, Alexis and others said in unison.