Read Novel Full Chapter 1298: Resistance of Carria
Chapter 1298: Resistance of Carria
Capus lowered his voice. "Are you planning to lead the army east along the coast next?"
"I am. It keeps our supply lines safe and accessible, limits the Persian threat to the Allied Forces' flanks, and guarantees we conquer Asia Minor at a much faster pace."
"Well... after I returned from the Po River Region to Thurii, while I was waiting to deploy, Queen Cheiristoya summoned me. She asked me to pass along a message: she hopes you can capture Miletus, or secure its surrender, as quickly as possible."
"Miletus?"
"You didn't know?" Seeing Leotychides's confusion, Capus quickly explained. "Queen Cheiristoya is originally from Miletus. Ever since she joined His Majesty, she hasn't been able to return for decades. I heard His Majesty promised her that once Miletus submits to the kingdom, she will be allowed to visit her homeland and see her relatives."
Leotychides stopped in his tracks, falling deep into thought.
Capus didn't rush him. He stopped as well, his gaze drifting to the towering gates of Sardis just ahead. Even for a veteran who had weathered countless storms, a surge of emotion swelled in his chest. More than thirty years ago, he had stood in this very spot under Menon's command. Back then, the citizens of Sardis had strictly barred them from entering the city. They had cordoned off a cramped patch of land five li away, restricting the mercenaries to their camp and forbidding them from wandering. They had guarded against them like thieves... But today, not only could he stride through those gates with his head held high, he was about to become the master of this very land and its people!
...
With Capus and his administrative officials managing their newly conquered territories in the rear, Leotychides was free to focus entirely on the military campaign.
By late June, the Allied Forces pushed east to the shores of Ephesus. The city's citizens had already staged an uprising, overthrowing the pro-Persian oligarchs. They marched over ten li out of the city just to welcome the Greek expeditionary army.
In mid-July, the Greek expeditionary army approached Miletus. The city's oligarchic government dispatched envoys to meet with Leotychides, formally declaring that Miletus would remain neutral and take no part in Daionia's war against Persia.
Leotychides rejected the offer without a second thought. His demand was absolute: Miletus had to surrender unconditionally.
While the oligarchs of Miletus bickered endlessly over this ultimatum, the Greek expeditionary army encircled the city. The Daunian 4th Fleet arrived shortly after, blockading the port and throwing the citizens into a state of sheer panic.
Meanwhile, operatives from the Daonian Intelligence Department embedded within the city began spreading rumors. The populace was astounded to learn a hidden truth: in the Sacred Kingdom of Daunia, there lived Queen Cheiristoya, deeply cherished by the King of Daonia. She was a native of Miletus and had always yearned to return home. The current oligarchs knew this perfectly well. They were only refusing to surrender because most of them were the very culprits who had persecuted Queen Cheiristoya's family years ago. The rumors promised a simple solution: if the citizens arrested these corrupt leaders, handed them over to the Daionian Army, and surrendered the city, Queen Cheiristoya's gratitude—and her profound nostalgia for her homeland—would guarantee the city's safety from the fires of war...
The rumors were incredibly detailed. Though initially skeptical, several citizens investigated the specific names and events mentioned, only to discover the claims were entirely true. This revelation sent shockwaves through the populace. Soon, dissidents who harbored long-standing grievances against the ruling oligarchs began networking, inciting the masses to overthrow the government and pledge allegiance to Daionia.
Sensing the escalating threat, the government prepared to deploy troops to suppress the unrest. But to their horror, the Daionian Army outside the walls launched an assault at that exact moment.
Miletus boasted towering, solid walls, but the city's garrison was spread far too thin to mount a proper defense—especially since they were entirely surrounded with no hope of reinforcements. Pinned down by the Daionian Army's pressure, the oligarchs couldn't spare enough soldiers to quell the internal instability. To make matters worse, the patrols they sent out began arresting people indiscriminately, sparking outrage among the citizens. The populace soon erupted into a full-scale revolt, assisting the Daionian Army in easily breaching the city. Casualties on both sides were remarkably low, allowing Leotychides to achieve his goal: securing a perfect outcome to present to Queen Cheiristoya, a figure deeply revered by the people of Daionia.
After Miletus surrendered, the Greek expeditionary army faced no further battles. Their march proceeded smoothly, with every town in their path throwing open its gates in surrender, until they finally reached the walls of Halicarnassus, the capital of Caria.
The coastal city-states of Caria, much like most of the coastal city-states across western Asia Minor, had originally been established as colonial outposts by the Greeks. Over the centuries, these settlements not only maintained strong ties to the Greek Mainland, but they had also gradually civilized and assimilated the indigenous Carian populations. Aesthetically, most of the towns here were indistinguishable from cities on the Greek Mainland, and Greek had naturally become the region's lingua franca. Even after the Persian Empire conquered and annexed Caria as a province, the region retained a strong degree of independence, much like the rest of western Asia Minor. The majority of the local towns were even bound together in an amphictyony centered around the temple of Zeus in Lagina—though this was strictly a religious organization rather than a political entity.
After Agesilaus and his army threw western Asia Minor into chaos, and Tissapheris was executed by the Persian Queen Mother for his crimes, the Carian noble Hecatomnus capitalized on the turmoil to establish his rule over Caria. Around the same time, because the King of Persia had not only brokered peace with Sparta but also openly backed Spartan hegemony over the Greek Mainland, this sparked tremendous resentment among the nobles and commoners of western Asia Minor. To appease them, Artaxerxes married off one of his daughters to Pharnabazus's son, while simultaneously making a temporary appointment of Hecatomnus as the satrap of Caria.
Hecatomnus was a very shrewd man, as was his son, Mausolus. Both meticulously paid their tribute to the Persian treasury on time, signaling their submission to the King of Persia. Five years ago, when almost every satrap in western Asia Minor rose in rebellion, Mausolus—having just succeeded his father as satrap of Caria—also wavered. He initially remained neutral, then defected to the King of Persia when the rebels were at a disadvantage, actively assisting the Persian army in completely eradicating the rebellion. Therefore, after the war ended, he was allowed to retain his position as satrap. During this turbulent period, his power in Caria was further strengthened. He was not only the officially appointed Persian satrap of Caria, but also the common tyrant of the many cities within the region.
Furthermore, Mausolus relocated the satrap's seat of government from Mylasa to Halicarnassus. He spent a vast fortune rebuilding Halicarnassus and dramatically expanding its port. Off the coast, on the small island of Zephyrion, he constructed a solid fortress and two military ports. He also funneled immense wealth into establishing a fleet. Highly ambitious, he clearly intended to develop Caria into a maritime power.
Fearing that a landing by the Greek expeditionary army would interrupt his ongoing plans, Mausolus actively supported Pharnabazus this time. Not only did he supply a substantial number of troops, but he also became one of the main advocates for the creation of the Asia Minor Fleet. A full quarter of its Warships were generously provided by him. Naturally, he was already plotting how to seize command of the Asia Minor Fleet for himself once the war ended.
Unfortunately, the Daonian Fleet's total annihilation of the Asia Minor Fleet at Samos delivered a heavy blow to him. When the Allied Forces then utterly routed the Persian army, he felt extreme unease. He immediately initiated a military mobilization across Caria, bolstering the defenses of Halicarnassus.
His prediction proved correct. Crushing all resistance in their path, the Greek expeditionary army surged eastward along the coast and entered Caria.
Mausolus immediately repeated his old trick, dispatching envoys to meet with Leotychides. They proposed that Caria was willing to remain neutral in this war, and even offered to provide the Greek expeditionary army with some wealth and grant them conveniences when passing through the region—as long as the Greek expeditionary army no longer treated Caria as an enemy.
Mausolus's idea was sound, but Leotychides had thoroughly reviewed the intelligence reports on Caria and distrusted the crafty, volatile ruler. Furthermore, Caria was simply too powerful; he could not comfortably leave such a hidden danger untreated in the army's rear. So, Leotychides rejected Mausolus's request and delivered his counter-demand: Caria had to surrender to Daionia!
For the ambitious Mausolus, such submission was naturally unacceptable. Negotiations failed, and hostilities began.
Mausolus knew full well that the Greek expeditionary army was riding high on morale and possessed tremendous strength. Meeting them in a field battle would only result in a crushing defeat. Instead, he withdrew his forces into the city, committing entirely to its defense to stall for time and wait for the tides of war to shift.
Hecatomnus and Mausolus had governed Caria for over two decades. The opposition had been suppressed for so long that their influence was minimal, and the populace largely accepted the family's rule. As a result, Halicarnassus was not going to fracture into unrest and riots in the face of an advancing army like Ephesus or Miletus had. The Greek expeditionary army was left with no choice but a head-on assault.
However, against the towering, thick walls and tight defenses of Halicarnassus, several fierce assaults by the Greek expeditionary army ended in failure. The arrogance that had taken root among the commanders after their string of smooth victories was swiftly swept away, forcing them to settle in patiently for a grueling battle of attrition against Mausolus.
...
By late April, Davos led his massive army out of Daphnae, marching eastward while a colossal fleet of supply vessels shadowed them along the coast. After a long six-day trek, they crossed the desert, bypassed the City of Gaza, and entered the Canaan Region. They then effortlessly captured the port of Jaffa, turning it into a vital supply hub for the army.