Cabrias looked slightly embarrassed and explained in a low voice: "In the morning, the Dionian fleet approached the Port of Piraeus. At that time, the news that the border defense line was broken by the Dionian army had already been heard. The city was very chaotic... In order to prevent accidents, I ordered the port to be temporarily closed... The Dionian fleet had approached the Piraeus port several times before, and we did the same, but I never expected that the Dionian fleet did this time to cover up their attempt to capture the island of Aegina!"

"I remember, you did tell us the 'Dionian fleet threatened the port of Piraeus'. In order to prevent losses, we agreed to the order to close the port." Kalistratus's face turned extremely ugly: "But now that Aigina is attacked, what should we do?!"

Cabrias hesitated for a moment and decided to make up for the merits. He resolutely said: "Aegina must not be occupied by Dionya. I ask to lead the fleet to attack and lead the Dionya fleet first. You send the fleet to carry reinforcements, take the opportunity to enter the port and defend the city of Aegina!"

The generals knew that Cabrias' plan was very risky, but at least half of them agreed without thinking, because they were all very clear: although the Dionian fleet was powerful, it could not completely block the maritime access in Athens because their base was in southern Peloponnese, and they could travel back and forth in the morning and evening every day. There was always a time when they could not cruise in Saron Bay. However, if Dionia occupied the Aegina Island, which was close to Athens, because there were complete military port facilities on Aegina Island, they could park the fleet directly on Aegina Island, just like holding a dagger and pressing it directly on Athens' chest, which could threaten Piraeus 24 hours a day. That would be a huge disaster for Athens.

"Generals, although I conveyed their request to you as per the requirements of the Aegina crew, I do not want you to send a fleet out of the port!" The official of the Port of Piraeus said with an extremely serious expression: "According to the crew of Aegina, two fleets came to Dionia, one surrounded the Island of Aegina and the other blocked the Port of Piraeus. Their number may exceed 600, so all the 20 warships that rushed out of the Port of Aegina were sunk. Only this cliff ship used their cover to finally rush into the port...

There are only 75 warships in Piraeus Harbor. If you take a risk and attack, you will probably suffer the same bad luck. If Athens will not have the protection of warships, you may be punished by the gods!"

After hearing this, the generals were shocked.

Before the Persian army attacked, the Athenians asked Delphi for an oracle: the wooden wall will defend Athens!

Under the instigation of Dimistockley, the people believed that the "wooden wall" mentioned in the oracle was a warship, so they spent a lot of money to build warships. Therefore, the Battle of Salamiga led by the Athenian fleet became a turning point in the Hippolar War, and made the Athenian people believe in Delphi's oracle and pass it on from generation to generation.

Athens is now facing great danger. If the warships regarded as Athens relying on will be completely destroyed, these generals will feel panic and at a loss from the bottom of their hearts.

At this moment, even Cabrias, who had just been determined, became a little confused.

"Let's get a truce with Dionia." Efikratus sighed softly: "It's over, and only in this way can we save Athens!"

Iphicratus's words shocked everyone, and the room suddenly fell silent. Before he arrived, not no one thought of a peace agreement with Dionys, but no one spoke up, because it was the general's executive committee that reached an agreement that would incite Athenian citizens to Dionys and eventually declare war on Dionys. Now, it is only a few months before the change of course. The generals who first proposed this resolution will undoubtedly bear more anger from Athenian citizens.

But Efikratus's words broke through this window paper. The Dionian army was about to come to the city, and the island of Aegina, which was under the sea barrier, was invaded again. Athens, which was trapped in the dangerous city, had no other choice.

At the urgent citizen meeting, when Kalistratus proposed to "convene peace with Dionia", he thought he would be criticized and obstructed by the citizens, but he did not, because whether it was the citizens who retreated from the western border, the citizens who had fought in the Peloponnese for several months with Iphiclatus, and the citizens who were worried about fighting with the Dionian fleet every day on warships... without exception, they saw the strength of the Dionian army and were eager to end this terrible war, and had no intention of holding the general's executive committee accountable.

The proposal was quickly passed, and Kalistratus took the initiative to apply to become an envoy to the army of Dionia and was also approved.

Early in the morning of the second day, the earth outside Athens was shaken and dust filled the city. The Dionian coalition appeared in the sight of the sentry on the city.

The Athenian citizens who received the news quickly put on their armor, picked up shields and spears, and rushed to the top of the city to prepare for defense.

At this time, the Dionian coalition had already made good formations under the city, and only soldiers were seen like tides, spears were like forests, countless military flags were waving, and countless armors were shining... Seeing the Athenian citizens, their eyes were dizzy and their hearts were tight.

"Haddes!!!Haddes!!!Haddes!!!..." The soldiers of the Dionian shouted in unison, like thunder, causing the Athenian civilians to fight.

It was in the situation where the army of Dionia was full of momentum that Calistratus left the city gate and walked straight into Dionia's army, and met Paltrows, the commander-in-chief of the army.

But when he proposed that "Athena wanted to negotiate a truce with Dionia", Patrocros shook his head and refused, and told him that the power of the truce negotiations with the Greek alliance was in the hands of Prince Crotokatacs, the commander of another Dionian army.

Kalistratus had to propose again: Can the attack on Athens be suspended during the negotiations with Dionia?

Patrocross refused even more bluntly: unless the armistice agreement was signed, the army of Dionia he commanded would never stop attacking Athens!

Hearing this, Kalistratus had to rush to Peloponnese immediately.

Patrocros was arranged at the city of Athens to show the power of the Dionian coalition and to attack the morale of the Athenians. He knew very well that Athens could not be captured easily, so he soon issued an order: the army built a camp two miles away from Athens.

……………………………………………………

Callistratus headed south and passed Meccara and entered the city of Corinth.

The Corinthians took the initiative to ask him about the situation of the war in the north. He said intrigue: Athenian soldiers gathered in the city and first defended themselves. Now they have easily repelled the army of Dionys to attack the city with all their strength and are accumulating more strength. This time he came to negotiate with Dionys at the request of the Athenian people, hoping to return the bodies of Athenian citizens who died in the Peloponnese.

The Corinthians were skeptical, but they had one thing to confirm: the Athenians were already defending the city and could not send reinforcements to them.

On the way to the Dionia military camp, Kalistratus saw the Dionia army lined up under the city of Corinth, and they were using a siege equipment called a crossbow mentioned by Iphicrats, and then constantly ejecting stone bombs to bombard the city walls. The momentum was indeed amazing, which made him feel even more urgent.

Efikratus once emphasized that the army of Dionia is good at building camps and has the habit of "building camps every time you arrive."

This time, the Dionian army built the camp next to the port of Ismia, Corinth, east of the isthmus. He heard from the Corinthians that the Dionian army arrived at the city of Corinth and launched an attack on the port of Ismia. Due to their large number and fierce attacks, although the Corinthians provided reinforcements to the port, the port of Ismia, with simple defense facilities, only lasted for half a day and was flooded by the surging black waves.

Kalistratus stood at a high point on the coast and could even see many Dionyan warships anchored in the port. He could think of the reason why the Dionyan fleet began to launch a landing attack on Aegina was because they occupied the port of Ismia not far from Aegina. With a foothold, they could better block the port of Piraeus nearby and continuously provide support to the troops landing on Aegina...

Under the guidance of the Dionysian team officer, Kalistratus entered the relatively simple camp of Deoria and entered a military tent.

There was only one person in the military tent, and it was actually Karias, who had previously been on a mission to Athens.

Karias smiled and took the initiative to greet him: "Mr. Calistratus, welcome your arrival! Come all the way from Athens. Thank you for your hard work. Please sit down and rest. I have prepared cold honey slurry for you, and you can quench your thirst first!"

Karias was very respectful in his tribute, without any scent of arrogantness, but the title of "Kingastratus" still made the Athenian chief general feel the sharpness implicit in his words. He increased his vigilance in his heart, but a smile appeared on his face: "Thank you very much! You are too thoughtful!"

As he said that, he sat down without hesitation, picked up the pottery bottle on the table, poured himself a cup, drank it in one sip, and then said happily: "This slurry is really delicious!"
Chapter completed!