Douluo: The Adventures of King Skin

"The Scythians plucked their bowstrings and made clear sounds during carnivals and banquets. Even if they were indulged in sweet dreams, they still had to keep their courage awake."

——Plutarch

After hearing what Hippias said, Pyrrhus fell silent.

He is not a superhero and cannot save the world by himself.

As for the soldiers who follow him, they have no country, no nation, no class, and no ideals. They are fighting entirely for their own interests. How can I make such a group of people obey unconditionally?

Can you drive them by becoming the city lord of Lamia?Can he drive them by becoming Tagus of Thessaly?

Windfall?commission?slave?land?

Is there really a shortage of robbers and robbers in this world?Lack of successors?Missing another Rome?Missing another Qin state?

What is the meaning of coming here?

…………

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As a child of Alexander, Ptolemy was not unlucky.

As the youngest, most junior and lowest-born among the first generation of successors, Ptolemy easily gained control of Egypt during the Babylonian enfeoffment, allowing him to maintain a detached and calm attitude in the subsequent hegemony game. posture.In history, his dynasty has the longest inheritance.

However, his fighting skills are really mediocre, and he has been involved in the successor disputes for decades. Intuitively speaking, he is in a state of continuous losses.

——He sent people and money to support Greece, but the Greeks refused to accept his help; he went out to fight for territory, but he couldn't defeat them.

After all this hard work, the pharaoh is now over 60 years old and still living in a corner of Egypt. He can basically be said to be lying flat.

After retirement, Ptolemy's biggest hobby was to encourage the development of scholarship.

When he was a child, he studied with Aristotle with Alexander, and he had a strong academic foundation.He was willing to spend money and personally organized the book collection and copying. He also had a good relationship with other successors. Moreover, Egypt was also the origin of papyrus, so intellectuals from all over came to visit one after another.

After many years of operation, Alexandria has become another prosperous place of civilization after Athens.

**

Not long ago, the people of Rhodes were grateful for the successor's mediation and rescue. They set aside a site in the city to build a shrine for their great benefactor. They also sent a special mission to Egypt to seek the oracle of Amun in order to entrust the Pharaoh. Dedicated to the title of "Savior" - Ptolemy has always been known among the Macedonians for his good temper and eagerness for justice. The name of "Savior" is indeed well-deserved.

Anyway, Ptolemy is happy!

On this day, an old friend whom he had not seen for many years came to seek refuge. Ptolemy invited many scholars and celebrities from Egypt to the palace to greet this old friend.

At this time, in his tall temple-like palace, there were philosophers from Miletus, playwrights from Attica, poets from Crete, and mathematicians from Magna Graecia; there were priests from Thebes, Chaldeans, etc. The famous astrologers, the witches of Atlas, the alchemists of Babylon, the ascetics of India...it can be said that the house is full of distinguished guests and a gathering of heroes.

Everyone was chatting and laughing, not sticking to vulgar etiquette, composing poems and songs, discussing mysteries and Taoism, drinking and drinking, and having a great time.The prosperity of Egyptian humanities can be seen.

There were two people sitting on the main seat in the palace. One of them had a bald head and was the "Savior" Ptolemy; the other had a round chin and was Demetrius of Phalerum, Ptolemy's old friend.

This Dmitri happened to have the same name as the "Becker" King Dmitri in the previous article, and the two had some communication.A few years ago, the "besieger" Demetrius was ordered by his father to send troops to Greece and liberated Athens without bloodshed. At that time, the tyrant Cassander established in Athens was Demetrius of Phalerum.

This tyrant was originally a disciple of the leader of the Xiaoyao sect, and he was also a fellow disciple of the playwright Menander. He was knowledgeable in speech, drama, philosophy, and history, and his works were voluminous and profound.The attackers respected his literary name and took special care of him to escape from Athens.

It would have been fine anyway, and the Athenian politicians would not continue to embarrass his benefactor even in order not to offend his benefactor.Unfortunately, before his death, he abducted Diogenes, the lover of all Athens' dreams, causing public outrage.

A few days ago, when I was shopping with my best friend in Thebes, a love rival came to chase me. Fortunately, I escaped.So Thebes didn't dare to stay any longer, and a pair of miserable mandarin ducks simply came to Egypt to join their fellow apprentices.

At this moment, the Falalum man is holding a wine glass and pouring out bitter water to his senior brother:

"This "Bright Eyes Times" was originally a good thing, very helpful to politics, academics, and business. But I don't know what the people in this newspaper think, but they actually dedicated their precious space to publishing some gossip news - otherwise Di and I How could anyone know that Ognes was staying well in Thebes?"

Ptolemy smiled and touched his bare chin:

"This newspaper is indeed a good thing. We in Alexandria should also get one, how about it be called "Pyramid Times"? Of course, we must not publish these gossips!"

"No, no, the pyramid is a mausoleum. This is a bad name." A guest below said, "I think we should just call it "Pharaoh's Times" or "Savior's Times". How good would that be?"

Everyone is despised - we are all civilized people, how can you be so naked and flattering?

So one after another spoke out to refute and put forward their own naming plans.For a time, the palace was like a vegetable market.

Ptolemy didn't take it seriously either. He continued talking to the guests in front of him, "This Pyrrhus can achieve such martial arts at such a young age. He really has the style of Alexander back then."

The people of Falalum said: "How good his martial arts will be depends on the future, but his achievements in humanities are enough to rival Alexander-man-made paper, printing, and newspapers are all major contributions that can be passed down to future generations!"

Ptolemy lamented: "It's a pity that once artificial paper comes out, our papyrus industry in Egypt will be affected. I really don't know how many people will have difficulty making a living as a result."

"Pharaoh need not worry." The speaker was a young Theban priest named Manetho.

This Thebes is the temple city Thebes on the upper reaches of the Nile River, not the Greek city-state Thebes.Thanks to Ptolemy's rule, Egypt's priests are now deeply influenced by Greek academic culture. They are open-minded and keen on academics. They are often good at geometry, history, theology, and alchemy. Compared with their Greek counterparts, I don't know how advanced they are. .

Manetho's family background meant that he could become the Pharaoh's guest at a young age.He comforted Pharaoh:

"The principle of artificial paper is nothing more than the use of fibers from plants. Since ordinary weeds can make paper, papyrus should be able to make better paper."

He greeted an old man next to him, and then continued: "As long as Joseph and I work together, I believe we can make Egyptian paper for Pharaoh in a few days."

The old man known as Joseph wore a strange hat and a plain robe, but the edges were decorated with gorgeous blue edges, tassels and gold bells.Seeing Pharaoh's inquiring eyes, he smiled and nodded.

Pharaoh was relieved, and then remembered something and asked old Joseph and Manetho:

"The 'Philosopher's Stone' I mentioned to you two before. I wonder if there has been any progress recently?"

The two looked at each other, and then Old Joseph slowly spoke in jerky Greek:

"Pharaoh, the Philosopher's Stone is the highest achievement envisioned by alchemy. But now, even after thousands of years of accumulation by the sages of the past generations, alchemy has only opened the corner of a huge curtain. I am afraid that we will not be able to witness this in our lifetime. Miracle."

Ptolemy listened and stroked the wrinkles on his face, showing an expression of disappointment that could not be concealed.

A girl's voice suddenly sounded next to her, and her clear voice rebuked the Pharaoh mercilessly:

"You are lucky enough to be a pharaoh and a scholar. Instead of leaving your name for the ages with your benevolent policies and knowledge, do you want to use the illusory Philosopher's Stone to extend your life all day long?"