Hilde looked at Sophia in surprise. He didn't expect that even Sophia noticed it. So Hilde smiled and shook his head, then stretched out his hand and placed it on Sophia's head.
"You can rest assured about my current situation. There is nothing wrong with my current condition and I don't need to spend time resting."
"Is it really okay?"
"Don't worry, it's really okay."
"OK then."
Since Hilde had already said so, Sophia had no choice but to go along with Hilde's wishes.
"The army is almost ready now, just waiting for your final order. If Thebes is still unwilling to open the city and surrender, then we can directly launch an attack on the city."
"Sofia."
Hearing this, Hilde couldn't help but ask:
"Do you think there is any other way to solve the current problem besides attacking Thebes?"
"Not really."
Sophia shook her head.
"Thebes is blocking the passage between us and Athens. Although we can also set out along the coastline, that road is more tortuous and there is no way to reach Athens smoothly. Therefore, if we want to reduce the risk and besiege Athens later, Thebes is a target we must get rid of. Otherwise, if Thebes sends troops to reinforce Athens, it will also cause us a huge trouble."
Sophia's idea is actually the idea of most people, but now Hilde is also a little confused. He doesn't know whether to attack Thebes. As one of the top three city-states in the Greek peninsula, Thebes' military strength is self-evident. In addition, it is located in a strategic location, so the walls of Thebes are built high and thick.
As a city-state very close to Athens, Thebes actually stood with the Spartans during the Peloponnesian War and also took on a large part of Athens' pressure. Therefore, the relationship between Thebes and Athens has never been very good. On the way back just now, Hilde was also thinking whether he could use the conflict between Athens and Thebes to get Thebes to stand on his side.
"what a pity."
Hilde couldn't help but shook her head.
"It would be nice if there was a peaceful solution."
"Haven't we already given each other a chance?"
"In fact, when I sent the troops here, I thought Thebes would open the city and surrender. After all, in front of our army, Thebes had no reason to persist. But unfortunately, the Thebans chose to fight to the end. I can clearly feel that there are no oracles in their city, so I don't know what the point of them wanting to hold on to the city is."
This is also what confuses Hilde the most.
The city-state itself is a collection of selfish entities.
There was no way Thebes would go through fire and water for Athens.
Now that Thebes insists on staying here, the biggest beneficiary is Athens, and during the previous negotiations, Hilde had also explained to the Thebans that if the Thebans were willing to surrender peacefully, then Hilde would never harm any Theban and would maintain the independence of the city-state of Thebes.
After all, Hilde came to Greece not to expand the territory, but to integrate the military forces here for use in her attack on Persia. Therefore, Hilde did not want to see any behavior that would greatly deplete the Greeks' strength, including the Athenian fleet, the Theban army, and the Spartans.
However, the Thebans were unwilling to surrender, and instead used violent means to drive back the envoys sent by Hilde, completely refusing to surrender and willing to live and die with the city. It was also for this reason that the officers of the Byzantine Kingdom and Hilde herself were somewhat angry. If Thebes was let go, how would the Byzantine Kingdom establish its prestige in the Greek peninsula?
How can this be allowed to happen.
Think about it.
Hilde really had no way to resolve the matter peacefully.
The battle that needs to be fought must be fought.
There is no escape by running away.
The ultimatum given by the Byzantine Kingdom to the Thebans was also passed to the Thebans. The Theban officers who knew this looked worried, looking at the dense Byzantine army under the city wall. After the siege for several days, the Byzantine Kingdom prepared a lot of engineering equipment, many of which were not developed by the Greeks at present.
Therefore, the Thebans looked at the tall and large catapults and various heavy crossbows, and their confidence was slightly reduced. They felt that the thick city wall under their feet could not withstand the attack. Similarly, the fully armed Byzantine soldiers were ready to attack. Once the siege began, they would wait for the siege weapons to launch a series of fatal attacks, and then use the ladders in their hands to climb the city wall.
Siege warfare is obviously not the forte of heavy infantry and phalanx infantry, but the Byzantine army has a large number of melee infantry who use swords, axes, knives and other melee weapons. These troops will become the first to climb the siege. The shorter weapons in their hands will inevitably cause huge casualties when they enter the close combat environment such as the city wall.
It can be said.
Whether it is in terms of weapons and equipment, soldiers' training, or tactical concepts.
Thebes as a traditional Greek city-state.
They were all lagging behind the Byzantine Empire in all aspects.
The outcome of this battle is also obvious.
However, the Theban archon had no intention of opening the city and surrendering.
Chapter 6: The Decision to Persevere
In the city of Thebes.
The Archon of Thebes, Atrometos, is now listening to the Byzantine Empire's ultimatum.
He listened calmly.
Then he waved.
"Okay, I see."
After the envoys from the Byzantine Empire left, the officers and citizen representatives nearby could not help but surround them.
"Lord Atrometos!"
"Now, we in Thebes have no other choice. If we don't open the city and surrender, then we in Thebes will suffer a devastating disaster! There is no need for us to resist the invasion at the cost of ourselves for the sake of Athens!"
"Yes! Sir, please make a decision quickly."
Listening to everyone's noisy voices.
Atrometos simply glanced around calmly.
He thought for a moment, then said, "I know you are nervous now. The enemy we are facing now is the powerful Byzantine Empire, and they also have several oracles. It would be easy for them to defeat us... But, do we really have to open the city and surrender now? If we open the city and surrender, wouldn't it be a betrayal to the gods who protect us?"
"But the gods won't save us!"
"So do you think Hilde can defeat the gods?"
Atrometos' words.
Those who spoke were suddenly speechless.
"Now, the Byzantine Kingdom stands against the gods, and Hilde is despised and hunted by the gods. I think you must be very clear about this! The messenger from Athens and Lady Hera who came in person have told us the truth! Now, the Byzantine Kingdom is the common enemy of us Greeks! If we, the Thebans, are afraid of death and choose to surrender, this will be an act despised by the gods! We will be punished by heaven!"
"But, Master Atrometus..."
At this time, an elderly man dressed as a wise man stood up.
"What will the citizens of Thebes do if they don't surrender?"
"We can only fight to the death."
"If we surrender, the gods will be furious. However, if we do not surrender, a calamity like divine punishment will fall directly on our heads! Lord Atrometus, do you really think that we in Thebes can resist the attack of the Byzantine Empire?" The wise man pointed outside excitedly and said, "All Thebans know that the enemy, who is far more terrible than the Athenians, has begun to sharpen their knives and is ready to capture our city at any time and destroy everything we have built!"
"But even if we surrender, there is no guarantee that they will let us go."
Someone suddenly said this.
It immediately shut the wise man's mouth.
Although the Byzantine Empire always ensured this.
However, no one knows whether things will develop in this way.
For many native Greeks, the Byzantine Empire was a country on the edge of civilization. The country was mainly Greek, but also included many Thracians and other barbarians, such as the Getes and Scythians. Therefore, for a country like Thebes, which was located inland and did not know much about the Byzantine Empire, there would be such a problem. Their understanding of the Byzantine Empire was very fragmented.
On the one hand, the high-quality agricultural products and handicrafts of the Byzantine Kingdom would flow into Thebes from Athens. Due to the role of the Byzantine Chamber of Commerce, these goods would be marked with the city in the Byzantine Kingdom where they were produced, and would not be regarded as Athenian goods. Therefore, the people of Thebes knew that many high-quality and low-priced goods were produced in the Byzantine Kingdom. In particular, those high-quality wines were the favorites of the Thebans.
But on the other hand, rumors about the demonization of the Byzantine Empire were also spreading.
People are afraid of unknown and powerful things.
Barbarism, chaos, evil, all these things were blamed on the Byzantine Empire.
Anyway, the Byzantine Kingdom was too far away, and few people knew what it was like, so prejudice and hostility took root in the Greek peninsula. Anyone who knew about it would never think that the Byzantine Kingdom was a country that would burn, kill, and plunder after opening the city. But... now, except for Atrometos and a few others, everyone here was confused.
"..."
Atrometos coughed twice.
"The Byzantine Empire is also a Greek country. They would not do such a thing."
"But they are not bound by the gods!" Someone loudly retorted, "Whether we surrender or not, our end will be tragic!"
The discussion now has suddenly become very chaotic.
Originally, Atrometos insisted on holding the city.
Others demanded the surrender of Kaesong.
But with this point, surrender or not surrender became a difficult choice. If you surrender, what should you do if the Byzantine army enters the city wall and suddenly starts killing people? If you don't surrender, everyone knows what will happen after the city is broken. So, Atrometus was also confused... But after calming down, Atrometus slammed the table and said, "Since surrendering may cause trouble, it is better to fight to the death and have a chance to survive!"
"This……"
"It is decided now!"
Atrometos said firmly:
"Everyone, get ready to defend the city!!!"
"Yes!"
Now that it has been confirmed.
No one else had any ideas.
When the Byzantine army was preparing to attack, the Theban army also began to move. The Theban army numbered about 15,000 people. Under the command of Atrometus, these troops immediately came to the front of the city wall and prepared for defense. However, these soldiers were also terrified. Just looking at the dense torches below, they felt an indescribable fear in their hearts.
The Byzantine Empire's army.
Could they possibly win?
Everyone has this question.
Even if the general brainwashed them and told them that everything would be fine.
There are gods standing behind them.
However, this fear still exists.
Back in the Byzantine Kingdom, Sophia looked at the torches on the city wall and felt a little anxious.
Judging from this reaction, it seems that the Thebans are determined to fight to the end.
"It seems that the ultimatum has failed."
"The Archon of Thebes... I remember his name was Atrometos, a name that's hard to remember." Hilde rubbed his temple and said helplessly, "I don't know, is he stupid, or does he have some hidden card that we don't know about."
Chapter 6, Section 7: The Beginning of the Siege
"I don't know that either."
Xue Xi held his cheek and frowned as he thought about it.
"It's basically impossible for an oracle to come. Will the gods come directly? This seems unlikely either."
"Yes."
"Or, are the Thebans at a loss for where to turn?"
Xerxes' words reminded Hilde.
Hilde was stunned for a moment, then asked, "I'm at my wit's end. What's going on?"
"That is to say, the Thebans are now standing with the Athenians, and the Thebans' confidence may come from the goddess Hera in Athens. So, if the Thebans firmly believe this, they may think that if they open the city and surrender, they will be punished by the goddess Hera. If they fight to the death, there is a possibility that the goddess Hera will come to support Thebes." Xerxes said this casually, and then turned to look at the other side. "So, I think Atrometus may be betting on this."
"Hera is not stupid."
Hilde said with certainty:
"She actually knows very well that if she comes here now, she will face a situation even more tragic than Apollo."
"Yes, so Atrometos made the wrong bet."
Here, Hilde and Xerxes both have the ability to kill gods, especially Hilde. Now equipped with two great artifacts, she can even fight Apollo. Moreover, the most terrifying thing about Hilde is that her own power does not seem to be restricted. Unlike gods who have to sacrifice some of their abilities when they descend to the earth, her power comes from the surging Creation Library in her body, and the power of the Creation Library is not affected by any rules at all.
"So, do you want to fight or not?"
"We must fight."
Hilde clapped her hands gently.
There was a playful smile on his face.
