Faced with Leonidas' words, the coalition soldier was stunned for a moment.
"Your Majesty, I am a soldier."
Leonidas just shook his head. "I mean before that."
The soldier was even more confused: "Fisherman."
Then Leonidas pointed to another coalition soldier.
"And you?"
The soldier glanced at the commander before slowly speaking, "Craftsman."
Next, the remaining few people also answered. Most of them were farmers or held other positions in the city-state.
Just as the allied soldiers were looking at each other in confusion and finally looking at Leonidas, they heard the voice of Leonidas.
Leonidas was turning to look at his soldiers and raised his hand.
"Tell me, Spartan!"
"What do you do?"
He was answered by earth-shaking roars.
That is a voice that only a trained warrior with blood and faith can make.
The sound was so shocking that the remaining soldiers of the coalition forces couldn't help but take a step back. Some even subconsciously tightened their weapons, thinking they were under attack.
Then, the coalition soldiers stood there in a daze, looking at the Spartans.
As for Leonidas, he smiled with satisfaction and turned to the stunned commander.
Needless to say, the coalition soldiers were all well aware of the huge gap between them and the Spartans in front of them.
It is a belief that never backs down in the face of death, and it is an iron will formed after rigorous training.
"King of Sparta, please allow us to fight alongside you."
"We have already sent people to various city-states in Greece. As long as we hold this place, we can buy more time for the entire Greece."
Leonidas nodded.
"Where are the Persians you met marching?"
When the commander heard this, he just thought about it before continuing to answer.
"According to our intelligence, the Persian army's main marching route is south along the coastline. They intend to enter central Greece through Thermopylae."
Leonidas nodded when he heard this, which was what he expected.
The commander continued speaking.
"Thermopylae is strategically located and is the perfect place to stop them."
"But the problem is that in addition to the main road, there are two auxiliary roads that can bypass the surrounding mountains."
Leonidas crouched down and drew a simple map on the ground with the tip of his sword. "So, what was your previous deployment?"
The commander then began to explain.
"We deployed troops along all three routes, but because our forces were dispersed, the main force of the Persians broke through the central defense line."
"I think this time we should concentrate our forces on defending the main roads and abandon those secondary roads."
"At least it can delay the Persian attack."
When Leonidas heard this, he flatly rejected it: "No, this will only lead to repeating your mistakes."
"Thermopylae is easy to defend and difficult to attack precisely because of its geographical location."
"If we can't even hold this place, no amount of delaying tactics will mean anything."
The commander blinked and said, "But you only have 300 men."
"You intend to confront the Persian army head-on?"
Leonidas stood up and looked at the commander with a raised lip.
"We will guard the entrance to Thermopylae and not let a single Persian pass through."
"And your mission is..."
The commander interrupted him, his expression becoming increasingly confused, because he didn't know whether what Leonidas had just said could be considered an answer.
"Are you really planning to defend the entire Thermopylae with only 300 men?"
Leonidas nodded, his expression turning serious.
"We have three hundred Spartans, plus you, that's more than enough."
Upon hearing this, the commander immediately stood up.
Only now did he fully understand the king's intentions.
"You are committing suicide! I have heard that Spartans are ready to die, but I have never seen a commander rush into battle so recklessly!"
"You are the king!"
“You, you?!”
Leonidas was silent for a moment, then spoke.
"Have you ever heard that Spartan men know from a young age that the battlefield is their destiny?"
Without waiting for the other party to answer, he continued speaking.
"I don't know how you fought your battles before, but the Spartans have their own way."
"We don't need numerical superiority or complicated tactics."
"We just need to find the best position to fight."
The commander was speechless for a moment, stunned by Leonidas' words.
He looked into Leonidas' deep eyes, and for some reason, he felt that the experience and rational analysis accumulated on the battlefield seemed so pale and powerless at this moment.
The commander finally relented.
"I understand, King of Sparta."
"We will monitor the service road and hold our ground there."
Leonidas smiled, and the commander continued speaking.
"King, I have another suggestion."
"We can use a small boat to send a request for assistance to Holy Egypt."
"If Greece were to be conquered by Persia, the situation of Holy Egypt would also become very dangerous."
"Holy Egypt has never stated their position. I think if we tell them the news about the Persians, they might..."
When Leonidas heard this, he just looked at the other person and frowned slightly.
"We are Spartans."
"This is our land, the land of the Greeks themselves."
Having said this, Leonidas took a few steps forward.
"You want to ask Holy Egypt for help?"
"To a foreigner?"
"I would rather send a soldier to Athens right now and ask for help than rely on foreigners."
The commander of the coalition forces opened his mouth, but hesitated to speak.
Because Leonidas' expression made him feel terrified.
Now, he still has to rely on the three hundred warriors brought by Leonidas. After all, they are the only ones willing to stay here.
Stay in this place where there is no return.
So the commander of the coalition forces did not mention it again, and Leonidas continued to move forward with his soldiers.
Before the two teams separated, the commander looked at Leonidas one last time.
"Dear King, please do not go any further after passing Thermopylae."
"The Persian vanguard may have already arrived there."
"It would be dangerous to act rashly."
Leonidas smiled, and that was his response.
As he watched the Spartans retreating into the distance, the allied commander muttered to himself.
"These Spartans are a bunch of lunatics."
"Three hundred, three hundred people!"
"They're all going to die here!"
The allied soldiers watched the Spartans leave, and none of the Spartans even turned their heads to look back.
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