Chapter 121: Alliance with Thurii (I)
In the afternoon, at the council meeting, Davos proposed to contact Thurii and improve their diplomatic relation, but it was met with the strong opposition from Stromboli and the other elders.
Instead of voting immediately, Davos said earnestly, “Elders, I urge you to consider this proposal calmly and seriously, and to not be blinded by hatred! You are the elite of the city-state, so you should create more livelihood for the people of the city-state and point them to the right direction for the prosperity of the city-state! Will the security of the city-state improved by being friends with Thurii?! Will the trade of the city-state improved by being friends with Thurii?! Will the war with Lucania give us more advantage by being friends with Thurii?! As long as you are sincere for the city-state and for the sake of our descendants, I believe that you will make the right choice! Remember, individuals can have grudges, but there is only eternal benefits between city-states!”
The word of Davos obviously move Cornelius, and most of them bowed their heads and thought about it.
At this time, Scambras stood up and said angrily, “Will we just forget what Thurii has done to us and greet them with a smile?! Davos, you have never felt the tragic experience of having your wife and son die. Hence, why you can easily talk about making friends with Thurii here!…”
“I am just talking about improving relations with Thurii and not about forgetting your hatred. There’s a saying in the east that ‘it’s never too late for a gentleman to take his revenge within ten years.’ We will use Thurii to strengthen ourselves, until one day we are strong enough to the have the Thurians swallow the bitter fruit of our hatred!” Argued Davos.
“Just that I don’t know how long we have to wait…” Muttered Scambras, the discontent on his face faded.
The result of the final voting is that, except for Stromboli, Scambras and Raphias abstaining, the rest of the elders voted in favor and the proposal of Davos, passed smoothly.
Davos acted immediately, and he asked Asistes to send someone into the port of Thurii to give a message to Burkes that Amendolara is willing to repair the relationship with Thurii.
And in order to show their sincerity, Thurii sent a delegation of delegates headed by Kunogelata, Nianses, and Ansitanos.
For the sake of reciprocating the diplomatic etiquette, Amendolara also sent a delegation headed by the archon, Davos, the city’s praetor, Cornelius, the inspector, Antonios, the commercial officer, Mariji, and the council elder, Stromboli (he himself strongly asked to participate), and at the same time, he put forward a special request, that the delegates of Thurii should not cross the river Saraceno, and the meeting should be held on the southern bank of the river.
Just as the delegate of Thurii exited the gate of the city, they then received a message from the north and it was like a blow to their head, which had immediately halved their happiness. Without having any alternative, they still agreed to this proposal.
In the morning, the two sides met on the bank of the river.
With the exception of Kunogelata, this is the first time that the other Thurians meet Davos the hero that have wiped out the Lucanian alliance and have saved Thurii, and now, he is the archon for life of Amendolara. Although he is still young, none of them dared to underestimate him. On the contrary, in addition to respect, they were somewhat afraid of him.
However, Kunogelata’s thoughts were deeper. After all, when he met him for the first time, he had slap the shoulder of Davos and said some words of concern and encouragement as an elder meeting a younger generation. At that time, Davos seemed to be mild tempered and even a bit shy. Kunogelata had of course, did not pay attention to it, and even doubted in his heart when he heard that the mercenaries manage to accomplish the impossible. At this time, Davos was as gentle and friendly as when he had met him for the first time, but Kunogelata felt his heart tremble: In just one move, nearly 10,000 Lucanians perished, and at the same time, he could make the people of Amendolara to willingly choose him as an archon for life. Isn’t it frightening that the young man who now completely controls the power of Amendolara can still maintain such a seemingly humble attitude!
Ansitanos didn’t think it too much, and he just thought that when the meeting is over, he would ask Davos to tell him about their experience in Persia.
The main representative of the two sides sat down under a temporary shelter made by the soldiers.
“Before the meeting, allow me to say a few words.” Kunogelata stood up and said emotionally, “This invasion of the Lucanians has caused great disaster to both Thurii and Amendolara! The city of Amendolara was taken over, and the people were captured and most of them died from getting abused. While in Thurii, nearly 13,000 citizens died in the war, and every family mourned and everyday, the whole city of Thurii is covered with the sound of mourning…Here, on behalf of the strategoi and elders of Thurii, I would like to express our deep condolence to the people that died in the two cities…” With that, he shed tears from the corners of his eyes, and the delegates of Thurii bowed their heads with sadness.
Davos was taken aback, as he didn’t expect that the Thurians would do this, and he hesitated whether he should also put on a sad expression. Then a sneer came from behind, “If it wasn’t for your unreasonable demands, then we, the people of Amendolara, would not have gone through such sufferings! Stop acting here and get down to business!”
Stromboli’s voice broke the melancholic mood created by Kunogelata, which made the Thurians in the meeting place to be a bit embarrassed. However, Kunogelata continued to look at Davos and said gratefully, “Fortunately, Lord Davos, you have led those brave mercenaries to fight back against the powerful Lucanians, and saved Thurii and Amendolara! You are the hero in the eyes of the Thurians! Several times ago, we have tried to invite you to the victory celebration and to accept the heartfelt gratitude of the people of Thurii to you, but we weren’t able to. Which have cause the other strategoi and I, and also the elders to be heavily criticized by the people!” When he said this, Nianses and Ansitanos nodded in agreement.
“I hope that once the discussion is over, you will be able to visit Thurii! This is the wish of the whole city of Thurii” Kunogelata gave the invitation with sincere expression.
In the face of this kind of hospitality, Davos could not immediately refuse. Fortunately, Stromboli once more sneered, “Lord Davos is now the archon for life of Amendolara. His visit to other city-states is no longer his personal matter and needs to be discussed and decided by the council!”
“Then, we await for the decision of the council of Amendolara. However, the people of Thurii will once more criticized us.” Kunogelata looked disappointed, and then he said, “Now that both Thurii and Amendolara are actively engaged in postwar reconstruction, Thurii is willing to give our full help if Amendolara needs anything!”
As soon as Kunogelata said this, Stromboli stood up and shouted, “Amendolara doesn’t need any help from Thurii, because once we accept it, it may cost us more next time!”
Kunogelata’s expression did not changed, then said to Davos without even looking at Stromboli, “Who is the one in charge of Amendolara?”
Davos smiled slightly and then said, “Let’s start the discussion.”
Hearing this, the members of the Amendolara’s delegates straightened up immediately.
Kunogelata looked at him, and felt afraid in his heart.
Ansitanos was the first one to say, “Everyone, we all know that there had been a 41 years alliance between Thurii and Amendolara, and the last alliance agreement has not yet ended. So, Thurii and Amendolara should continue to maintain our former alliance.”
Stromboli wanted to speak again, but was immediately held back by Cornelius, and shook his head.
Stromboli held himself back and spat on the ground.
“Amendolara also agreed to renew the alliance with Thurii -” As soon as Antonios said this, the Thurians all beamed with joy, “But on one condition, that it will not harm the interest of Taranto. That is to say, if there is a war between Taranto and Thurii, Amendolara will be on the side of Taranto.”
As soon as Antonios said this, the delegates of Thurii was in a state of uproar.
“You have violated your vows to the gods! Remember that the alliance between Thurii and Amendolara has not yet ended. Therefore, it is against the alliance agreement for you to privately contact Taranto and sign an agreement. Considering the friendship with Amendolara for many years, we do not intend to raise this matter for the time being. But now you think that we are weak and easy to deceived, and have even made such a shameless request!” Nianses stood up and shouted.
“You Thurians should also remember that when you Thurians broke your oath and did not immediately send reinforcements to rescue the fallen Amendolara, the former Amendolara died on the day when it got occupied by the Lucanians! The one in front of you now is the newly born Amendolara, if there was any debt owed to Thurii before, I believe that the Amendolarans have already paid it off with their half a years imprisonment, but has the debt owed by Thurii been paid off yet?! In the most difficult time of Amendolara, Taranto gave Amendolara the greatest help! Therefore, Amendolara has nothing to repay them back besides our utmost sincerity! What did Thurii gave to Amendolara? It is the fall of the city of Amendolara, and the imprisonment of its people!!” The words of Davos stabbed Nianses like a sharp dagger and made him unable to say anything.
Stromboli roared, “I have already said it a lot of times that we shouldn’t even bother talking about alliance with these selfish Thurians. They will never be considerate to others, and will just think about themselves! If it wasn’t for Davos insisting on coming, I wouldn’t even bother coming to meet them. Them being not satisfied, makes me happy! If they are going to teach us a lesson, then I am even more happy, and the spears of the citizens of Amendolara is ready!”