Xerxes walked over quickly and asked, "Sophia, are you injured somewhere?"
Sophia was wondering who the woman next to Hilde was, but when she got closer and took a closer look, she found that it was Xerxes. Sophia was so scared that she almost ran away. However, Hilde also came to Sophia's side at this time, and then stood between Xerxes and Sophia, smiling and said to the two of them: "Well, it's almost time for dinner. Let's have dinner together today."
"Ah, good, good."
Xerxes could only nod and agree.
Sophia leaned close to Hilde's ear.
He lowered his voice and said, "Why is she here?"
"I'll talk to you later. Okay, let's go eat first!"
Xerxes' arrival can only be kept secret for the time being, but Hilde is still quite worried. Will Xerxes discover Sophia's secret while he is here? If he does, how will Xerxes react?
The third section of the fifth tune starts with Sparta
Sophia was obviously very surprised by Xerxes' sudden appearance, but she suppressed her surprise. After all, this was the Persian Emperor Xerxes, and whatever he did seemed reasonable. However, in Sophia's heart, she realized that Hilde had gone to do something just now, or the two of them had done something she didn't know about.
However, Sophia knew in her heart that she must not compete for favor, at least in front of Xerxes. She had no ability to compete with Xerxes now. Moreover, if she really wanted to compete for favor, it would only bring a lot of trouble to Hilde, which was not what Sophia wanted to see. Therefore, in order to better resolve this matter, Sophia had to pretend to be very obedient and sensible, and eat with these two people obediently.
Hilde was also very grateful for Sophia's obedience and understanding. And to be honest, Hilde had just been fighting with Xerxes in the basement for several hours, and just after cleaning up, she saw Sophia. Hilde felt like she had cheated on her husband and had not been discovered yet. She always felt sorry for Sophia, although she knew that Sophia should know what might happen and knew the specific relationship between her and Xerxes.
After finishing the meal.
"Sophia, please go back to your room first."
"Ok."
Sophia didn't hesitate and turned around and left.
At this time, Xerxes said curiously: "What kind of injury did Sophia suffer? Why didn't she want to take off her hood when eating? And I feel that Sophia seems to have changed a little. I don't know if it's my illusion..."
"What changes?"
"It's just... a feeling full of oppression. When she looks at me, I can feel a kind of pressure. Haha... There are really only a handful of people who can make me feel this way." Xerxes smiled indifferently, then turned his head to look at Hilde, "By the way, aren't we going to talk about business next? So, should we do this thing now?"
"of course."
Hilde smiled and nodded.
So Hilde took Xerxes to a room specially prepared for her. Hilde knew that after the palace was built, Xerxes would definitely find an opportunity to come and live here, so she had prepared a room for Xerxes a long time ago. So when Hilde came here, she first let Xerxes sit on the bed on the side, and then she moved a chair over and sat opposite Xerxes.
"Why don't you join me in bed?"
Xerxes was lying on the bed, his well-proportioned and beautiful legs were exposed to Hilde. Hilde looked at his wheat-colored skin and said with a wry smile, "Stop it, we're going to talk about business next. I don't like it when something suddenly happens while we're talking about business. And aren't you satisfied now?"
"...Same."
Xerxes nodded.
"If you have anything to say, say it now."
"It's about Ionia... You know, now that I have successfully joined the Delian League, I can smoothly launch operations against Ionia. I want to start with the Gallipoli Peninsula in the south. After all, I am a member of the Delian League. If I don't attack Sparta, I always feel that I won't be trusted."
"That's absolutely no problem. Sparta's allies on the Gallipoli Peninsula are very weak, with a total population of only 1000 to people. The Spartan force on the Gallipoli Peninsula seems to be around people. It will be easy for you to conquer them."
Hear what Xerxes said.
Hilde smiled bitterly and shook his head.
"That being said, the Gallipoli Peninsula is not just populated by Spartans, but also Athenians. If we want to take over the Gallipoli Peninsula, we can't just attack our allies directly."
"Then according to your opinion, do I need to send the Persian army to take over the Gallipoli Peninsula, and then you can drive our army away. In this way, can't we take over this place legitimately?"
Xerxes' proposal was indeed effective.
In fact, Hilde really thought so.
But the place is a little different.
What Hilde really considered was that the plan to send out the Persian army should not be used in the Gallipoli Peninsula for the time being. After all, this is just a small place and does not require such a large formation. When attacking Ionia later, Xerxes will send out her army. So Hilde said: "My current plan is to let the Spartans on the Gallipoli Peninsula control the entire Gallipoli Peninsula. In this way, I will have a reason to annex the entire peninsula."
"Will the Spartans listen to you?"
"You can let them."
“…That might take a while.”
"I'm afraid there really is no way to do this, but there's no need to rush about this. As for how we should gain the trust of the Ionians, I think we need to have a plan. I drafted a plan two days ago, and I brought it here now. You can take a look." Hilde was very well prepared. She took out a piece of papyrus from her chest and handed it to Xerxes. After Xerxes took the papyrus, she first put it in front of her nose and smelled it, then smiled and said:
"It has a faint fragrance."
"...Okay, let's take a look."
Afterwards, Xerxes read Hilde's draft very carefully. She did not raise any objections to Xerxes' plan, but was quite supportive. Hilde also knew that Xerxes would not reject her proposal, so no matter what happened next, she could proceed according to this plan.
Before taking action against Ionia.
Hilde felt that action must be taken on the Gallipoli Peninsula.
But the problem is...
Hilde really has obsessive-compulsive disorder.
If only the Spartans on the Gallipoli Peninsula were eliminated, only half of the peninsula would be occupied, and the other half would be under the control of the Athenians. Therefore, if there was a chance, Hilde still wanted to annex the entire Gallipoli Peninsula, but if there was no other way, in order to smoothly carry out the Ionian plan, she had to take action against the Spartans on it first.
But there is still hope.
Just when Hilde hesitated.
There were indeed some unusual phenomena on the Gallipoli Peninsula.
The 5th tune, the 4th section, the envoy from afar
There are many cities on the Gallipoli Peninsula, but most of them are small cities. Among them, only Cestus and Eraeus are relatively large. Among them, Cestus is located in the northern part of the Gallipoli Peninsula. It is currently under the control of the Spartans and echoes with Cardia in the northwest. A very strong defense line has been established. Eraeus in the south is located at the southernmost tip of the peninsula. It is a port city that is stuck at the entrance of the Hellespont. Its geographical location is very important.
It can be said that the Athenians currently have the advantage on the Gallipoli Peninsula.
The population of Cestus was only over 15,000, and Cardia had only a pitiful 8,000 people, both of which were small city-states. However, Eraeus in the south, with its natural port advantage, currently had more than 35,000 people, more than 3,000 soldiers, and more than 30 warships. In this way, even if the Spartans of Cestus wanted to attack Eraeus from the south, they would have to face the risk of the opponent's navy attacking from behind, so the two sides remained in a stalemate.
Originally, Hilde's idea was to help the Athenians directly.
Take Cestus and Cardea.
But just as Hilde was preparing for this.
Cleopatra, who was from Sparta, arrived in Cestus.
Few people knew about this Spartan oracle who kept his name secret. Everyone thought that Brasidas was the only oracle of Sparta, but they did not expect that there were also Cleopatra and Lysander. Therefore, Cleopatra was able to take a merchant ship and arrived in Cestus very smoothly.
General on Cestus' side.
When he learned that Sparta had sent an envoy, he immediately came out to greet him.
But he didn't expect that the visitor was actually a woman.
"I am from Sparta, Cleopatra, and I have come here at the order of Archidamus, the king of Sparta, to assist you in unifying the entire Gallipoli Peninsula."
Cleopatra had a somewhat strange smile on her face.
Then he walked up to the general.
"Looking at your appearance, do you think there's a woman here?"
"No, I don't dare."
The general is uncertain though.
However, the woman in front of him gave him a very dangerous signal.
"I might as well tell you that I am an oracle, the oracle of Lord Hades. Remember, this matter is still a small secret. If it is known by others, then the people who know this matter, as well as you and everyone related to you, will die strangely in their beds the next day, okay?" Cleopatra reached out and pinched the general's chin, "Give me your general seal, from now on, this place is under my control."
"Yes Yes!"
The general immediately took out the general seal from his bag.
Cleopatra took it and nodded with a smile.
"That's great. You're so obedient."
"If there is anything you need, please let me know, sir."
The general instinctively knew that he must not provoke the woman in front of him. On the one hand, she was a special envoy sent by the Spartan King Archidamus. On the other hand, this woman had an indescribable sense of oppression that made people almost breathless. In such a situation, the general only knew that he had to be careful to deal with it. If he was not careful, he would probably die without a burial place. Cleopatra patted the general's cheek happily.
"Don't worry, if we take over the entire peninsula, all the credit will be yours."
"But……"
"I am a person who lives in the shadows. Those glories have nothing to do with me."
After saying this, Cleopatra disappeared in front of the general.
Her entire body turned into a black mist and disappeared directly into the air.
Soon, all the Spartans of Cestus received an order.
A strange woman suddenly appeared, holding the general seal, and asked the Spartan army and the entourage of Cestus and Cardia to prepare to attack the Athenians in the south. Although everyone thought it was strange, since the general seal was in her hand, the Spartan army quickly prepared. Soon, the Spartans on the Gallipoli Peninsula quickly assembled a thousand heavy infantry and three thousand light infantry, ready to attack southward.
The Athenians soon learned the news.
The commander of Eratosthenes knew the Spartan strategy all too well.
Their army is very powerful.
So it would be obviously foolish to attack them head-on on land.
Therefore, the Athenians of Eraeus decided to use Eraeus's strong defense to keep the enemy out, and then send a naval fleet to attack Cestus, cut off the Spartans' retreat, and force the Spartans to withdraw their troops, and then go out of the city to pursue. This conservative war strategy was the only option available to the Athenians in the current situation.
In fact, Eraeus' situation should not be so bad, because across the sea were the allies of the Delian League, those city-states from Ionia, who would help Eraeus through the difficulties. However, because of the return of the Persians, the Ionians concentrated all their forces in the east and had no time to take care of Eraeus in the west. Therefore, even though Eraeus was across the sea from many Ionian city-states, it had no way to ask for help.
If Eraeus is lost.
Athens’ food security would be in great danger.
Therefore, Eraeus must be protected no matter what.
Thus, war was imminent.
The Spartan army moved in like a nobody, and a large number of farmers were forced to move to the city of Eraeus, just like when the Spartans swept into Attica. Eraeus quickly closed the city gates, and the soldiers climbed up the city walls, ready to fight. At the same time, Eraeus' navy also began to move. These brand new triremes set off immediately, taking the soldiers to Sestus, intending to launch a sneak attack from behind.
And these naval fleets.
It is necessary to pass through the narrow Hellespont.
However, they are very confident in facing the next situation.
On the third day after the fleet set out, they had passed the Hellespont and were less than a day's distance from Cestus. The naval commander of Eraeus looked at the coastline in the distance excitedly, knowing that next, it would be their time to show their strengths.
"We're almost there--!"
The sailors picked up their weapons and prepared themselves for battle.
The commander also looked ahead excitedly.
Fifth key, fifth verse, this is a godsend
"You seem very happy."
At this moment, everyone suddenly heard a strange female voice behind them. You know, there is no way a woman would appear on a warship, so the commander of Eraeus turned around and saw a woman in a black cloak standing quietly behind them. The woman lowered her head and the expression on her face was not clear to them, but the feeling transmitted from her whole body gave people an indescribable sense of oppression.
"You are not so naive as to think that you can easily capture Cestus, right?"
"You are?!"
"Let me introduce myself to you all. My name is Cleopatra, and I am an oracle from Sparta." Cleopatra bowed slightly and saluted. "I know you have never seen me, but it doesn't matter. After all, the purpose of my coming here today is not to get to know you, but to send you to the underworld."
Cleopatra held a two-pronged fork in her hand, which was the weapon of Hades. If the trident was the symbol of Poseidon, then this terrifying two-pronged fork was the symbol of Hades. In mythology, Hades rode in a chariot pulled by black horses, and with this two-pronged fork in his hand, he destroyed everything in front of him. The woman in front of him claimed that she was an oracle, and everyone on the ship suddenly became nervous and scared.
"Kill her!!!"
The soldiers immediately took up arms.
Then he rushed directly towards Cleopatra.
But Cleopatra, who was standing in place, turned directly into a ball of black mist, and then this ball of black mist rushed towards the naval commander of Eraeus. Before anyone could react, the ball of black mist suddenly stopped in front of the commander, and then condensed into Cleopatra again.
"you……"
Before the commander could finish his sentence.
The commander felt his consciousness suddenly disappear, and then his body went limp and fell to the ground.
