Home Categories world history The Long March

Chapter 47 Volume 7Ⅰ

The Long March 色诺芬 3243Words 2018-03-21
① Later, Farnabas was afraid that the Greek army would invade his territory, so he sent someone to Anaxisis, the commander of the Spartan navy in Byzantium, and asked him to transport the Greek army from Asia ②, Repay him by promising to do whatever is needed for him.So Anaxisis summoned the generals and captains of the Greek army to Byzantium, and promised that if they went, the soldiers could get regular pay.The rest of the officers replied that they would think about it before reporting; but Xenophon told him that he intended to leave the army at once and sail home.However, Anaxisis let him go with others, and then go.Xenophon agreed to do the same.

At this time the Thracian Sethes sent Medothades to Xenophon, asking Xenophon to help him to let the Greek army cross, and said that it would be beneficial if he would do this favor.Xenophon answered: "Why, the army is about to pass; do not let Setus pay me or anyone else in this matter. But when the army, once passed, and I myself go away, let him go on with those Deal with those who stay and hold power, and do whatever he thinks is good." Later all the soldiers crossed over to Byzantium.And Anaxisis not only refused to pay them, but also announced that these teams would leave the city with their weapons and luggage, saying that he would send them back to their hometown and count their numbers at the same time.This annoyed the soldiers, who reluctantly packed as they had no money to buy provisions for the journey.At this time, Xenophon, having made friends with the governor Cleander, went to pay him a visit, saying that he would sail home immediately.Cleaner said to him, "Don't do it.

If you do, you will be condemned, because even now there are some who are blaming you for the army's delay in going away. Xenophon replied: "Why, it is not my fault, but the soldiers lack of supplies, so they are depressed and cannot go away." said Cleander, "but I advise you to leave the city as if you intend to go with them, and leave them when the army has gone out." "'Well, then,' said Xenophon, 'we will go to Anaxis and discuss the matter with him.' So they went, and put the question to him.His order was: Xenophon should act according to the plan; the team should leave the city as soon as possible; and further claimed that anyone who failed to be inspected and named on the scene would be responsible for the consequences.

From this city the army set out on the road, with the generals in front and the rest following.At this time, the whole army, except for a few people, had already arrived outside the city.Ieochonicus stood by the gate, ready to close the gate and fasten the bars when the last man had gone out.At this time Anaxisis called the general and the captains together, and said, "Go to the Thracian village to get supplies. There are a lot of barley, wheat and other supplies there. After you get them, go to Kersony There, Senescus will take you into pay." Some soldiers heard this by chance, perhaps a captain, and passed it on to the army.At this time the generals

Inquiring whether Satus was hostile or friendly, and whether they should advance via the holy mountain or go round through central Thrace.While they were talking about these things, the soldiers took up their arms, and rushed at the gate with all speed, intending to return to the city.But when Iochonicus and his soldiers saw these hoplites running towards them, they closed and bolted the gates.But these soldiers kept knocking on the city gate, saying that they had been treated extremely unfairly, and had been driven out of the city to be manipulated by the enemy.They declared that if the defenders did not open the gates of their own accord, they would attack.Meanwhile others ran to the coast, walked along the jetty, climbed the wall, and entered the town.Some of those who were still inside the walls, seeing what had happened at the gate, broke the bolt with axes and opened the gate, and the rest rushed in.

Seeing this, Xenophon was terrified, fearing that the army would plunder the city and cause irreparable damage to himself and the soldiers.He ran up and swarmed into the city gate with the group of people.As soon as the Byzantines saw the force rushing in, they fled from the marketplace, some to their ships, some to their homes; and all who were in the house ran out, and some put down their warships and took refuge inside. ——All thought they were defeated and the city was conquered.Iochonicus fled to the acropolis.Anaxisis ran to the coast and took a fishing boat around the Acropolis, and immediately transferred from Chalcedon to garrison, because the Acropolis did not seem to be strong enough to bring the Greek army into submission.

As soon as the soldiers saw Xenophon, many people rushed to him and said, "Xenophon, now is the time for you to show your talents. You have a city, you have a trireme, you have money, you have such Many soldiers. If you want, do us a favor, and we will make you famous." Xenophon tried to hold them back, and replied, "Your opinion is indeed very good, and I will do as you say. But If you want to do this, lay down your weapons and get your ranks in order." At this time he himself gave the order, which was passed on to others - lay down your weapons and get your ranks in order.The soldiers lined up by themselves, and after a while the heavy armored infantry lined up in eight rows, while the light soldiers took positions on the two wings.The place where they were was flat and open, and was called the Thracian Square, and it was a very well-formed place.When they dropped their arms and fell silent, Xenophon called the procession together and said: "I do not doubt that you are angry, brethren, and think that you have been treated cruelly. Here the Rasidemonians wreak vengeance on deceit, and sack a city through no fault, consider what will happen. We shall be declared war on the Rasidemonians and their allies. It shall be What kind of war it was, we can at least infer from what we have seen and recalled recent events. Do not forget that we the Athenians fought against the Rasidemones and their allies. We have We have no less than three hundred triremes, some at sea and some in the shipyards; we also have a great wealth at our disposal, and we have accrued internally or donated money from foreign possessions which amount to thousands of talents. We Dominion over the islands, we have many cities in Asia; many cities in Europe, among them is this Byzantium we have now - but we were defeated. You all remember that. Well, now what can you and I look forward to What is the fate? The Rasidemones still have their old allies; Athens and all his then allies belong to them; The Saphornes and all the foreigners on the coast are against us , and especially the king himself, who is in the interior, whom we come to slay and kill when we can, is more hostile, and all these united against us, who would be so foolish as to think we can win? In the name of the gods, let us not Be mad, nor let us perish in disgrace, and become enemies of our motherland and our friends. For all their cities will fight against us, and rightly against us, if we, though victorious, would not have captured any foreign city , and seized and plundered the first Greek city we came to. Therefore, I would rather go to hell than live to see you do such a thing. I advise you

We as Greeks strive to gain your just rights by obeying the leadership of the Greeks.If you cannot do this, let us not be kept from going back to Greece, even if we are wronged.Now, in my opinion, messengers should be sent to Anaxisis, and said to him: "We did not enter the city to riot, but to ask you to do us good, if possible. If not possible, at least It means that we walk not because we are deceived, but because we obey." This way was decided, and they sent Hieronymus the Elis, Eurylochus the Atides, and Phélicius the Achaeans to convey it.They went to carry out this task. While the soldiers were still in council, Koratas the Theban entered.He was a traveler, not exiled from Greece, but because he always wanted to be a general.He offered his services to any city or people who might need a general.Then he came to the army, and said he would lead them to Thrace, which is called the Delta.There they can get many good things.Before getting there, he said he was able to feed them a substantial diet.When the soldiers heard this suggestion, they also got a reply from Anaxisis.His answer: If they obey, they will not suffer.But he's going to report the matter to his home government and give them some good ideas himself.

So they accepted Coratadas as general, and withdrew from the city.Koratadas made an agreement with them to bring sacrifices and an oracle to the army the next day, and to bring food and drink for the procession.Now, as soon as they were out of the city, Anaxisis closed the gates and announced that any soldier found in the city would be sold into slavery.The next day Koratadas arrived with the sacrifice and the seer; with him twenty laden with barley flour, another twenty with wine, three with a load, and one with a full laden Garlic, one person brings onions.After putting these things down, as if ready to distribute, he began to offer sacrifices.

Xenophon then sent to Cleander, asking him to make arrangements for entry into the city, and sail home from Byzantium.When Cleander came back, he said that it was difficult to arrange this, because Anaxisis said that it was not good for Xenophon to enter the city when the soldiers were near the walls, and that the Byzantines had factions, Discord with each other. "But," went on Cleander, "he lets you in, if you intend to sail away with him." Xenophon said good-bye to the soldiers, and returned to the city with Cleander.Let's talk about Koratadas, the first day of sacrifice did not have a good omen, and he did not provide any meals for the team.The next day, when the sacrifice had been placed by the altar, and Coratadas was crowned with flowers to prepare the sacrifice, Timason the Dardanian, Neon the Asinian, and Criano the Orcomenian Come up to him and tell him not to sacrifice, because without provision he cannot be the leader of an army.So he ordered the distribution of food.But when he found that his food was far from enough to supply each soldier with a day's ration, he ran away with his sacrifice and gave up his general post.

Press "Left Key ←" to return to the previous chapter; Press "Right Key →" to enter the next chapter; Press "Space Bar" to scroll down.
Chapters
Chapters
Setting
Setting
Add
Return
Book