Plato frowned, put down the pen in his hand, and said, "Aureas, don't panic! I said that you should try to stay calm in everything you do, because only calm can you think rationally, especially you, who have said it many times and always forgotten! ”

"Teacher...... That's right, today's 5,000-strong assembly passed a resolution to 'join the Greek alliance and declare war on Dionia'......" said Aureas, gasping for breath.

Plato was not surprised, but shook his head slightly: "Didn't I already say before, judging from the current situation in the city of Athens, it is only a matter of time before Athens declares war on Dionia. These stupid Athenians, who were always easily driven by anger and lost their minds, and the citizens' assembly, which held the supreme power of the city-state, became a place for them to vent their emotions, which is the defect of the so-called democracy! ”

"Teacher...... And ......" Oleas swallowed and wanted to continue, but was replaced by a more calm voice: "Teacher, the citizens' assembly also passed a resolution - saying that you are treasonous and that you will be judged!" ”

Ssidipus walked into the house and said with a sad expression, "I have come to the stage to defend you, but I have not been able to prevent it from passing ......"

Plato looked at his proud disciple, saw several bruises on his face, and his chin was swollen, and he could imagine the terrible situation at that time, and he whispered in pain: "It's hard work, let you worry about me!" ”

"You are our esteemed teacher, and this is what we should do!" Aureas finally regained his breath and said indignantly: "Fortunately, you didn't attend the citizens' assembly today, the situation at the scene is too bad!" Isocrates, in particular, wrote a speech for his students to read in the meeting, which was full of slanderous words against you, but the ignorant people listened to him, and Spiphorus came to defend you, and the people who lost their minds called us traitors and attacked us with pottery shards......"

"I can imagine how bad it is." Plato's expression became serious: "I also participated in the citizens' assembly that called for the trial of Teacher Socrates! ”

"Teacher, the Socratic scholars did not heed your advice and believed that the citizens' assembly would give him a fair trial, but in the end he lost his life! Don't—" Spithopus desperately tried to persuade.

"I know what you're trying to say, don't worry, I'm not Socratic Teacher!" Plato lowered his head, looked at the manuscript on the bookcase, and gradually made up his mind, and said in a firm tone: "I will not participate in the so-called fair court trial!" I haven't finished my exploration of the polis yet, I still have books to write, and I don't want to die so sadly so soon, so I've decided to leave Athens first! ”

Spitipus breathed a sigh of relief, but Aureas hesitated and said, "Teacher, if you leave like this, you will ...... It will make the ignorant populace believe in Isocrates' slander even more! ”

"A momentary slander is nothing, time will finally prove who is right and who is wrong!" Plato said confidently.

"Teacher, where are you going to leave Athens?" Spitipus asked again.

"Since Isocrates says that I am in causance with Dionia, then I will go to Turii and study at their Turiyi Academy for a while...... Plato said hopefully, "When we return to Athens, we can make the Accademia School even better!" ”

"Teacher, I'll go with you!"

"Me too!"

…………………………………………………………

At this moment, Calistratus, the chief general of Athens, was meeting the Persian envoy Datis at his home.

Datis had been staying in Sparta before, but after the Dionian army captured Messenia and the First Fleet began to blockade the coast of Sparta, Datis felt frightened, fearing that he would not be able to escape when the Dionian army attacked Sparta's territory in the future, so under the pretext of supervising and coordinating the mercenaries and supplies sent by Persia to Sparta, he ran to Corinth, and was disturbed by the attack of the Dionian First Fleet on the port of Corinth, and came to Athens not long after.

"Congratulations General, your proposal has finally been approved at the citizens' meeting!" Datis congratulates Callistratus.

But Callistratus said seriously: "You are mistaken, this proposal was jointly negotiated and drawn up by our General Executive Committee, and it is the common will of most Athenian citizens!" ”

Speaking of this, he smiled: "I believe that your king will be very happy when he learns this news. ”

"It's hard to say." "The king of Persia wants peace in Greece, and if he learns that there will be another great war here, and that the 'Peace of Kalias' that he has worked so hard to urge you to sign cannot be carried out," said Dattis, "The king of Persia wants to keep peace in Greece, and if he learns that a great war will break out here, he will be very annoyed!" ”

Callistratus sat up straight, looked at Datis with sharp eyes, and said solemnly: "Let's all be open and tell the truth, isn't the reason why the king of Persia asked the Greek city-states to sign a contract is that he wants us to unite to defend Dionya together!" And now that his wish is being granted, and the Greek city-states are forming an alliance against the invading Dionian army, I am sure that you will report this news to the King of Persia, and he will be very happy and will reward you greatly! ”

Dattis didn't respond, but a slight smile appeared on his face.

Callistratus continued: "But if this newly formed alliance is defeated by the Dionians, and thus the Dioonians take control of Greece, then I think it will not be a good thing for Persia, and then the king of Persia will probably ...... you"

Dartiston sank his face: "What do you mean by that?!" ”

"Don't get me wrong!" Callistratus said with a sincere face: "I just want to tell you that the interests of Persia, the interests of Athens, and the interests of you and me are aligned on the important issue of defeating the Dionians, and Athens needs your help!" ”

Datis was stunned for a moment, and then smiled meaningfully: "What help can my little messenger give to Athens?" ”

"In the few days you have been in Athens, I believe you have learned that our finances are in trouble, the treasury is short of money, we cannot provide sufficient military funds for the army, and we cannot form a large army without money, and even if the other city-states join this alliance, if they see that our Athens has not taken action for a long time, I am afraid that they will be hesitant...... And if this drags on for a long time, the situation will only be in Dionia's favor!

Isn't the reason why the king of Persia wants our Greek city-states to unite to defend Dionya is precisely because Dionya has the strength to pose a threat to Persia! Now that Dionia has discovered our intentions, he will definitely send more troops to Greece!

Sparta suffered defeat at the Battle of Leuctra and now lost Messenia, and their strength has been greatly weakened, and even with your help, I don't think they are any match for the Dionian army! Now we are the only ones who can call on the Greek city-states and protect Greece, Athens! So we want to get the full aid of Persia, not only gold and silver, but also the navy! ”

Callistratus said in a deep and earnest voice: "We are now short of warships to confront the Dionian fleet, once we start a war against Dionia, the Dionian fleet will inevitably blockade the Gulf of Salon, and it will be very difficult for Athens to obtain war materials from the outside world, so we need Persian naval support!" As long as Persia fully supports Athens, I assure you - Athens will make Greece a strong bulwark against Dionia! ”

Datis looked at Calistratus, who was a little emotional, and couldn't help but gasp: Athens wants to replace Sparta!

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, and Datis fell into deep thought.

Callistratus did not rush and waited quietly.

After a long time, Datis said, "I will convey your request to the king as soon as possible." In view of your current financial difficulties, I can first take a part of the funds allocated to Sparta by the Great King, so that you can raise an army as soon as possible, but I must first see the sincerity of your Athens. ”

"What sincerity?"

"Send some citizen soldiers to the Peloponnese to help the Spartans."

Callistratus thought for a moment before he said, "I will have to discuss this matter with the other generals first, and then submit it to the council for discussion before I can give you an answer, but I think it should not be a big problem. ”

"Okay, then it's decided, I hope you Athens and Sparta will work together to repel the Dionians and return peace to Greece!" Datis said sternly, and suddenly remembered something: "Uh...... The king may have agreed to any other request from your Athens, but about the assistance of the Persian navy...... Be prepared for the king's disapproval. ”

"Why?" Calistratus was a little puzzled, you must know that during the Corinthian War, in order to suppress the Spartans, the governor of Virginia, Fanabatus, asked Conon to lead the Persian fleet to attack Sparta, and later Conon left those ships in Athens without authorization, and the Persian king did not seem to pursue it, which shows that the Persian king was generous and sensible, and was very willing to invest heavily at the critical moment.

"Because we are going to have a big military operation in Persia, we can't do without a navy."

"What military action?" Calistratus's heart moved.

"You'll find out soon."

…………………………………………………………

In a mansion on the northern coast of Kissira, Sekerian was holding a military conference.