Bureaucrats of the Greek Empire.
That's basically it, everything has been confirmed.
Some people are happy that someone is worried.
However, Hilde saw everyone's reactions.
But after all, there must be such a beginning. The Greek Empire now has a chaotic population composition, and it needs a programmatic government agency as a guide to make the empire become solid. It is absolutely impossible to use the experience of governing a kingdom to govern the current multi-ethnic empire. Therefore, for this time, Hilde also worked hard and finally confirmed this system.
This is the best system that Hilde can come up with.
As for the effect.
We'll have to wait and see.
But after solving this big problem, it's time to deal with the Spartans.
While Hilde was busy issuing official posts, the Spartans were in a great panic. Although the Spartans expected the Corinthians to surrender, they did not expect it to happen so quickly. Aristocles talked a lot with the Spartan envoys and asked the Spartans to think about it carefully. As a result, after returning, Pausanias actually discussed with the elders for a long time and even considered whether to cede part of the territory controlled by Sparta to Corinth in exchange for the possibility of Corinth's participation in the war.
But what is the final result?
Aristocles surrendered quickly.
He immediately sided with Hilde.
The spies planted by the Spartans in Corinth reported that in order to welcome Hilde's arrival, the entire city of Corinth was completely deserted. Everyone gathered on the streets just to see Hilde's beautiful face with their own eyes. It was extremely lively. The Corinthians did not dislike Hilde, but cooperated with her. By the way, Hilde's four legions were stationed around Corinth. It seemed that they would go south at any time and tear apart the Spartan defense.
Now, the army is approaching.
The Spartans' allies also began to waver.
Among them, Argolis was the most afraid.
Politically, Argolis was opposed to Sparta because his region, Argolis, bordered Sparta's Laconia, which created a natural conflict of interest. Moreover, Argolis also had trade conflicts with Corinth, which led to Argolis's great disgust with the existence of the Sparta-Corinth Alliance. However, under pressure and because the Athenians had indeed gone too far, Argolis finally chose to join the Peloponnesian League and fight alongside the Athenians.
In real history, of course.
Argolis was a member of the Delian League, an ally of Athens.
But in this era, differences have occurred due to some minor changes.
Due to this natural hostility towards the Spartans, and the fact that the Greek Empire's army was now approaching, the next target was obviously Argolis, so Argolis' attitude was no longer as firm as before. Perhaps the Corinthians had made a good start, telling Argolis that as long as he opened the city and surrendered, there would be no danger.
But for Sparta.
This is completely bad news.
Once Argolis surrendered.
Sparta would lose its most important ally.
By that time, Sparta was estimated to have only 30,000 soldiers available, and would even be outnumbered when fighting against Hilde. The Messenian allies were not very strong. Arcadia was an idyllic place, and it was wishful thinking to expect the people here to fight side by side with the Spartans and achieve results. So, in the end, the Spartans were fighting alone, and they would have to fight the entire Greek Empire on their own.
That's just asking for death.
Everyone knows this very well.
What's more, the Spartans also lost the protection of the gods.
Both the god of war Ares and the strong god Hercules disappeared.
Now is the most dangerous time for Sparta.
And today, at a Spartan banquet.
The two kings, Pausanias and the young new king, Ages, as well as the elders, overseers, and generals of Sparta gathered together. Everyone looked heavy-hearted, and it didn't seem like they were having a banquet. After all, in the current atmosphere, no one could eat anything. The news that Corinth had abandoned Sparta was like a dark cloud, hanging over everyone's heads and over the sky of Sparta.
This is the darkest day.
--------
Greek Empire – Political System:
Basileus - Archon, General, Censor - High Priest, Palace Master, General of the Guards, Chief Praetor, Chief Treasurer, Chief Tribune
Imperial Citizens' Assembly (General Tribune) - Provincial Citizens' Assembly (Tribune) - City Citizens' Assembly
——The Legionary Assembly (Military Tribune)
Imperial Government (Consul) - Province (Governor-Consul) - City (Alcalde)
Imperial Treasury (Treasurer General) - Provincial Treasury (Treasurer)
Imperial Censorate (Grand Censor) - Provincial Censorate (Censors)
Imperial Court of Justice (Chief Judge) - Provincial Court of Justice (Judge)
Imperial Army (General) - Legion (Leader/General) - Battalion (Deputy General, Military Assistant)
——Centurion (Centurion, Auxiliary Assistant)
——Engineering Corps (Battalion Commander)
- Military inspector (military tribune)
——Provincial Garrison (Garrison General) ——Centurion (Centurion, Auxiliary Assistant)
Imperial religious institution (high priest) - Provincial religious institution (chief priest) - Temple (priest)
Imperial Palace (Palace Chief, Imperial Guard General) - Imperial Guard Corps (Corps Commander/General) - Battalion (Deputy General, Military Assistant)
——Centurion (Centurion, Auxiliary Assistant)
——Engineering Corps (Battalion Commander)
- Military inspector (military tribune)
Greek Council (Basileus) - Greek nobility (knights)
Social Class:
Byzantines (core nobility, knight class, all soldiers)
Imperial citizens (the vast majority of the free class)
Gentiles (no political rights, but free)
State slaves (belonging to the empire's slave class, with no political rights, protected by the state, and able to serve in the army)
Private slaves (no political rights, no state protection)
The seventh tune, the fifth section, a banquet with a heavy atmosphere
"Everyone."
In such a depressing environment.
Pausanias raised his head and looked at the people in front of him.
"What do you think about the current situation?"
"His Majesty……"
"Any idea is fine, even surrender or submission. What I want is a solution that can help us solve the current dilemma. So, I need you to speak freely and don't worry about other things." Pausanias just shook his head. He did not show too much disappointment or sadness. Although Sparta's situation is very dangerous now, he still asked, "Sparta's current crisis is more turbulent and terrifying than when the Persians invaded. So, I want to know what you think."
"..."
Everyone was silent.
When Persia invaded, Sparta was not in such great danger.
Moreover, that was when Leonidas was still around.
It was the time of the famous 300 Spartans and the world-famous Battle of Thermopylae.
Can it be the same as Sparta today?
Sparta was now in a desperate situation. Its main ally had surrendered to the enemy, and the attitudes of other allies were confused. It was unclear what to do. If Sparta continued to persist, it would be destroyed by Hilde just like Thebes, and completely disappear from the map. This was obviously not the result the Spartans wanted to see.
Then Lysander began to speak:
"If we continue to resist, I don't think we will be able to win."
"……really."
Even war enthusiasts like Lysander have begun to waver in their thinking.
Not to mention other people.
After Corinth was taken, the only barrier in front of Hilde was Argolis. Now, Argolis's attitude was very confusing. Once it was taken, Hilde's army could march straight into the Laconia Valley. Sparta would be cut off from Messenia at that time. There was no doubt that this would be a catastrophe. However, everyone knew this situation, and no one dared to guarantee that they could defeat Hilde's combat team of four legions.
"Is there still no news from the priest's side?"
"Yes……"
Lysander replied hopelessly: "There is still no movement from the priest's side, and the gods have no reaction at all."
"Damn it."
"We must have been abandoned by the gods."
"So, now we are the ones who need to make a decision?"
Pausanias couldn't help but cover his forehead.
The Thebans' predicament came upon them.
Either they choose to fight to the death and wait for the salvation of the gods, or they surrender directly... Thebes chose the former. Everyone knows the final result. The gods did not appear. Moreover, not only did they not appear, but even Athens, which the gods came to protect, could not escape the fate of being conquered. Therefore, anyone who is clear-headed knows that it is meaningless to directly choose to rely on the gods.
But do we really have to give up?
The Spartans' despair filled the entire banquet hall.
Now, the mainstay here is Lysander.
As one of the earliest oracles of Sparta, Lysander was anxious when he saw the general decline of morale, but he was powerless. He could only say that he was helpless.
Then Lysander rose to his feet.
"Your Majesty, I will go to the temple."
"what happened?"
"Now, at least Hilde hasn't persuaded us to surrender yet. We still have time. I want to pray in person..."
"I am coming too!"
Callisto also stood up quickly.
Seeing the attitude of the two oracles, Pausanias smiled bitterly.
"Thank you both."
"If...if the gods really don't respond, and Argolis is unwilling to fight Hilde with us, then, everyone, be prepared to flee from here, or surrender directly." Pausanias made up his mind, he slapped the table, and then stood up, "Everyone, let's wait for the miracle to happen."
----------
Lysander and Callisto walked towards the temple, one in front and one behind.
Callisto looked at Lysander's back.
She could feel the extremely heavy pressure on Lysander.
"Lord Lysander, will the gods really favor us?"
"……Won't."
Lysander said this directly.
"Then why do we have to go to the temple..."
"If we don't go, everyone's last glimmer of hope will be gone. You saw it too. Everyone at the banquet felt as if they were going to die! Are they still Spartans? Spartans, even if they want to negotiate, shouldn't be like this today! This is my opinion! But... there's nothing we can do. His Majesty Pausanias has tried his best. The current situation is indeed the most difficult one for Sparta. So, all we can do is to let everyone hold on to a glimmer of hope and cheer up!"
"Ah, yes, yes."
Callisto had not thought of this level.
She was so naive that she just thought that she could really summon gods.
This made her even more worried.
"But, Lord Lysander, if Sparta is really unable to fight against the Greek Empire, then we..."
“There is no other choice.”
Lysander turned around and said helplessly: "In order to save the Spartans, I can only choose to surrender, but I will not surrender. That day, I will take the Spartans who are unwilling to surrender and leave the port to go somewhere else. Even if I wander around this world as a mercenary, I will never become Hilde's subordinate..."
