For distant cities, there was no way,
but for nearby cities, they tried to have the stationed soldiers protect the people and move them to Troy.
In ancient Greece, a small city's population was often less than a few thousand, some cities even had only a few hundred people…
The ancestors of the Trojans once traveled with a lot of treasures and livestock, deciding where to establish their nation wherever the cattle lay down, people of this era built cities quite whimsically.
So these surrounding cities, rather than being cities, were not the grand wonders with large populations seen in later times.
With only a few hundred or a few thousand people residing there, if they acted quickly enough, and were supported by Troy's soldiers, it might actually succeed…
Regardless, leaving them outside to face the 160,000-strong Greek coalition that could arrive at any moment, where even a spit from each person could drown their small hills, other cities did not have the strong walls of Troy, nor divine protection…
In short, migrating might lead to death on the way, but not migrating would inevitably lead to death or even enslavement…
[You successfully persuaded Hector, a day quickly passed,
after the Greek coalition failed to capture Troy, they temporarily retreated to the coast to rest and discuss strategies.
At this moment, the Greeks were unaware of your plan.
When midnight struck, you and Hector donned armor and, under the cover of night, led a small force out of Troy unnoticed.
However, when other small groups left to deliver messages to nearby cities, the Greek scouts discovered them but did not act rashly.
They only watched from a distance,
and the scouts reported Troy's strange movements to the leaders of the coalition—Odysseus and others.
This made Agamemnon and many Greek kings wary, thinking you were planning a night raid, they strengthened nighttime patrols and defenses.
Due to the night cover and the scouts not daring to get too close,
they did not realize that many of the small groups were heading in directions opposite to the Greek base.
When the Greeks realized the numbers were off and that these small groups posed no threat to the Greek forces, Odysseus personally led a team to intercept a small group.
The Greeks discovered your plan.
They were quite shaken… believing that if the people of other cities joined with Troy,
Troy would become even harder to conquer.
To eliminate Troy's 'reinforcements' and reduce Troy's living strength, under Odysseus' orders, the Greeks began moving according to their original plan,
The Greek army started advancing towards the cities around Troy.
However—
Just as the powerful heroes led by Achilles left with their troops, within Troy, already informed by Hector,
Paris, having waited for this moment, saw the Greeks dividing their forces and led Troy's soldiers in a surprise attack on the Greek rear camp.
The unprepared Greeks suffered over a thousand casualties.
Odysseus himself was nearly shot by Paris…
By the time the Greeks realized what was happening and angrily wanted to turn back to deal with this Trojan army, taking advantage of the night, the Trojans, who were very familiar with the local terrain, did not engage in prolonged battle,
they struck quickly and then retreated back into the safety of Troy.
Odysseus, furious, led his army in pursuit again, but after four unsuccessful attempts to besiege the city,
Seeing the unfavorable situation, he immediately calmed down and retreated with his soldiers to the coast.
After this raid, the Greek coalition did not dare to divide their forces again, but thinking Hector was still in the city, with his defensive tactics, they found it difficult to capture Troy even without dividing their forces, and even more so after doing so.
Unable to capture the city of Troy, Odysseus and his men were thus held in check outside the city.]
At this moment—inside Troy, the hero Paris was celebrating this victory with his brothers, drinking,
"Hahaha! As expected of my brother Hector, those Greeks never expected us to launch a surprise attack…
It's a pity, if not for my brother's orders,
I would have liked to kill a few more Greeks, if only I could have shot through the heads of Odysseus and Menelaus."
Paris, at the head of the celebration banquet, was extremely excited and satisfied,
After all, having been suppressed by the Greeks for so long, he finally managed a counterattack and even achieved a small victory; how could he not be happy?!
When the Greeks sent Odysseus and Menelaus for negotiations,
Paris, who considered Helen and the treasures taken from the Spartan king as his achievements and symbols of his glory, absolutely would not allow these thieves to covet his wealth.
Those were gifts from the goddess...
For enemies eyeing his treasures, Paris would never show mercy if given the chance.
Unfortunately, he almost managed to shoot the coalition's military commander, Odysseus, this time.
Next time, there might not be such a good opportunity for a surprise attack.
"Following Hector's plan is safer... Paris, although we succeeded in this ambush, the Greeks outnumber us many times over.
Once they realize what's happening, if we get entangled in battle, we will be in danger." One of Paris's brothers spoke up at the banquet.
"Of course, I know...
It's just a pity, next time—!"
When Brother Hector returns, he will surely lead us to drive those Greeks back to Greece once and for all." Paris raised his wine cup, a smile on his face, as if he could already see the future, the dawn of victory belonging to Troy.
Given this, a bit of celebration now wouldn't hurt.
Paris had a blind respect and admiration for his invincible brother,
He did not believe the Greeks could defeat his brother Hector, not Agamemnon, not Odysseus, and certainly not Menelaus, the Spartan king he had cuckolded.
None of them were heroes skilled in battlefield combat,
Ajax might have an unparalleled shield, but he was only good at defense.
The only possible threat might be that rumored demigod, Achilles.
But his brother was invincible, he would never lose.
His father had tried to kill him as a child because of a prophecy; his mother's weakness had led her to abandon him instead of resisting…
Although they later accepted Paris, in his heart, he had no feelings for his parents.
The only person he truly respected was Hector…
As the great prince of Troy, most likely to inherit the throne, yet showing no defense against Paris, whose return might threaten his inheritance…
Instead, Hector was full of care, always standing at the forefront of the battlefield to protect Paris.
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