Read Novel Full Chapter 1296: The Price of Victory
Chapter 1296: The Price of Victory
Several mangled, bloody wounds marred Secilian's broad back. What caught Midorades's attention most, however, was that his weathered, sun-darkened skin had turned a ghastly, heart-stopping pale.
"How is he?" Midorades asked the doctor mixing medicine nearby.
The doctor looked up. He hesitated before answering in a grave whisper. "Not well. He took multiple arrows, lost too much blood, and spent too long soaking in the seawater..."
Midorades's heart sank. He wanted to ask more, but a weak voice drifted over. "Mido... you're here... How went the battle?"
Midorades turned. Secilian, who had been completely motionless just moments ago, lay with his dull eyes open, his head turned to look at him.
"Doctor, he... he's awake!" Midorades said with delight.
"He woke up shortly after he was brought in. He keeps asking about the naval battle." The doctor sighed. "Just tell him. If he keeps worrying about it, it will affect his recovery."
Midorades stepped to the head of the bed and crouched down. After a moment's thought, he dropped to one knee so neither of them would have to strain to speak.
But before he could speak, Secilian smiled first. "...Not easy... getting the proud commander of the Second Fleet to kneel. Looks like I'll have to get injured more often..."
Midorades looked at his terribly cracked lips. "If I were you, I would calm down and just listen," he said solemnly. "It will help your body recover faster."
Secilian rolled his eyes and fell silent.
Only then did Midorades continue in a solemn tone. "According to our rough post-battle statistics, we sank over 160 warships and captured nearly 350. The Persian Fleet took a devastating hit. Of course, we paid a steep price as well; a total of 218 warships were sunk... Thanks to you leading that small contingent of warships to hold the line in the shallows, you bought us time, draining the enemy's stamina and morale so we could win with relative ease. Now the Persian Fleet has been completely routed. Total control over the Near East Waters will be in our hands!"
Secilian showed a look of relief. "...We didn't let His Majesty down after all... It really is a shame I couldn't see the result of this great naval battle with my own eyes... Ah, to think I, Secilian, have always been accustomed to the offensive... The first time I fight a defensive battle, I suffer defeat... I really can't compare to you in that regard..."
"I just told you," Midorades said earnestly. "It was precisely because you faced a Persian Fleet several times your size and resolutely chose to hold your ground that we achieved a great victory. This glorious victory was accomplished under your command! Because of this victory, the mighty Daionian Fleet will never have the chance to fight a defensive battle again!"
Secilian stared blankly at his colleague. After a long while, a trace of fear actually surfaced on his pale face. "...Mido, am I getting old?... Back when we fought the Syracusan Navy... my flagship was sunk then, too... I fell into the sea, and I also took an arrow to the shoulder... But I only rested for a dozen days and I was fine... But now... but now... I can't move anything below my neck... I... I... I can't feel my hands or feet at all..."
Hearing this, Midorades wanted to comfort him, but in his sudden anxiety, he didn't know what to say. Behind him, the doctor interjected, "General, I need to apply the patient's medicine. So as not to affect his treatment, please go back for now and visit him later."
"Get some good rest. You'll recover!" Midorades had no choice but to stand up. He grasped one of Secilian's hands and gave it a firm squeeze, wanting to encourage him, but the icy chill of his palm shocked his heart.
Unable to lift his head to look at him, Secilian could only murmur, "Mido... I leave the fleet to you... Take care of the brothers..."
"Rest assured, I will!" Midorades responded solemnly.
When he left the bed and saw the doctors and nurses crowd around, completely blocking Secilian from view, an unspeakable wave of sorrow washed over his heart...
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The vast majority of the Daionian Army that had landed in Egypt had already relocated to the territories of Pi-Ramesses and Daphnae. Only the First Legion remained stationed in Memphis, because King Davos was still staying there.
As the supreme commander of the army, Davos should have stayed with the main force. He had always done so in the past, but this time was different. The Kingdom of Daunia had just annexed Egypt. Although Asistes had been appointed to govern Egypt, having the King of Daonia presiding there undoubtedly made the handling of various administrative affairs smoother, facilitating a more stable transition for Egypt. Therefore, Davos seized this brief interlude in the war to help Asistes resolve some difficult problems. At the same time, he appointed Alexis to go to Daphnae to temporarily command the army in his stead, and had Philesius, Epithenes, and others assist him in managing military affairs and planning and preparing the raid on Cyprus Island. This group of retired veterans, who had originally only accompanied him to Persia, were once again entrusted with heavy responsibilities.
Once the military operation to raid Cyprus began, waiting for its results was an agonizing process, especially for such a major military operation. Because of this, Davos hadn't slept well these past few days.
That day, at Henipolis's strong insistence, Davos took a walk in the garden to relax after dinner.
The garden of the Royal Palace of the pharaoh Talib covered a vast area. In its center, a large artificial lake had been dug, bringing in water from the Nile. Various aquatic plants like lotus and water lilies were planted in the lake, and it was stocked with various wild ducks and geese whose wings had been clipped, as well as rarely seen hippopotamuses... Around the artificial lake, various rare trees and flowers were planted, and some ostriches even roamed freely.
It was the height of spring. Flowers of every kind bloomed in the garden, bursting with vibrant colors, and the chirping of birds and insects made it exceptionally lively. Strolling along the flat path by the lake, breathing the moist air scented with grass and trees, refreshed the mind and washed all worries away.
Davos couldn't help but sigh in admiration. "This really is a wonderful place! I should have Christoya and Agnes come stay here for a good while!"
"Your Majesty, hasn't General Prosous already led the Greek expeditionary army to completely defeat the Persian Army of Asia Minor? I believe they will soon force Miletus to surrender. You could have the two queens come stay in Memphis for a period of time, and then go to Miletus..." As Davos's Palace Secretary and his personally authorized biographer, Henipolis was quite familiar with Davos's family affairs.
Davos shook his head. "We haven't defeated the Persian Fleet yet, nor have we fully grasped dominance over the Eastern Mediterranean. They can't come just yet. It isn't safe."
Henipolis mentally cursed himself for speaking too much, unintentionally reminding His Majesty of the ongoing war. He was just trying to think of a way to divert the king's attention when he heard Davos call out, "Don't stop it, let it come over!"
It turned out that an ostrich, perhaps out of curiosity, was boldly walking straight toward Davos. The guards stepped forward to drive it away, but Davos stopped them.
That ostrich was still just a chick, but it was already as tall as an adult. It strode forward on its slender long legs and walked right up to Davos. Blinking its large eyes, it curiously inspected this new king of Upper and Lower Egypt. It looked very cute, but it made the surrounding guards and attendants feel tense.
Davos couldn't resist reaching a hand out to it. It immediately backed away in alarm.
Davos smiled and said softly, "Don't be afraid."
As if it understood, the ostrich stopped backing away. It blinked its large eyes, tilted its head to the left, and tilted its head to the right, then gingerly stepped up again. It lightly pecked Davos's palm with its long beak. Seeing Davos didn't react, it forcefully pecked a few more times.
The guards immediately shouted loudly. Feeling afraid, the ostrich turned around and ran far away.
"It's just a bird, what is there to worry about? It was only tickling my hand just now," Davos complained, feeling he hadn't had enough.
"Your Majesty, do you want the guards to catch an ostrich for you?" Henipolis quickly asked.
Davos waved his hand. "Don't do that. Watching them run and play freely in this garden is what makes it interesting! Thanks to your suggestion, taking a stroll in this garden really is quite nice!—"
As Davos was speaking, the smile suddenly froze on his face, because he saw a guard running hurriedly toward them from the direction of the Royal Palace.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, an urgent battle report sent from Naucratis!"
Davos immediately took the Papyrus Scroll bound with a black cord and impatiently opened it. After reading it, his expression became turbulent.
"Your Majesty, this is—" Henipolis felt tense.
"Our fleet heavily defeated the Persian Fleet, and the army successfully landed on Cyprus."
"This is a joyous event! But... Your Majesty, you don't seem very happy..."
"The battle report says Secilian was severely wounded, and his entire body is paralyzed, unable to move..." Davos said in a low voice.
The soldiers and attendants, who had originally cheered upon hearing the news of victory, immediately fell silent. Everyone silently followed Davos as he walked along the small path by the lake.
After a long while, Davos finally stopped walking and spoke. "Heni, prepare to record."
"Yes!" The attendants immediately offered Henipolis paper and a pen, and brought over a wooden stool. Then the guards led the attendants back to a far distance, setting up a security perimeter.
"Notify Midorades to send Secilian back safely to Thurii as soon as possible after his condition stabilizes. Have all the doctors at the Thurii hospital do their utmost to treat him. I hope... he can fully recover!" Davos sighed softly. "At the same time, write a letter to the Ministry of Military Affairs. Have Oliphus, Plintors, and the rest discuss the possibility of erecting a Statue of Secilian in front of the Ministry of Military Affairs building, and of renaming the First Fleet to the Secilian Fleet."