ancient greece mediterranean ruler

Chapter 1012 Mago’s Determination

Moreover, the defensive measures of the Dionia defenders did not stop there. They collected linens from the residences in the city, sewed them into long sections, and then set up wooden poles at both ends of the walkway at the head of the city to prop up the linen. Sections of linen canopy were formed.In this way, most of the arrows, javelins, and flying stones that were shot at the city head were blocked by it and lost their lethality, which effectively protected the defenders at the city head.

In addition, the Dionia defenders also set up many wooden frames at the top of the city, with copper cans filled with water hanging from them. After boiling them with firewood, they poured them directly under the city. The boiling water contained feces and urine, which was poured on the siege troops. On Carthage soldiers, it caused skin ulcers that could not heal, and was very vicious.

Stone bullets flew through the air from time to time, causing a sensation no matter where they landed; arrows and flying stones continued to crisscross the air, like dark clouds hanging over the city.The Dionysian soldiers defended the city and refused to retreat; the Carthaginian soldiers were like a tide, constantly attacking the city...

In fact, the battle is not only taking place on the ground. In the past few days, Mago has asked soldiers with miner backgrounds to dig several new tunnels underground. He also asked them to continue digging into the city and learned the lessons from the last time. There were heavily armed soldiers behind them. After the tunnel was discovered by the Dionians, the two sides also fought more fiercely in the tunnel...

The siege lasted from morning to dusk, and the intensity of the Carthaginian army's attack never diminished, especially after the Phenounian infantry was sent. They attacked the city several times, but were eventually defeated by the Dionians. The reinforcements were repulsed.

When night fell, the Carthaginian army finally sounded the bugle call to retreat.

Although Okriton had participated in battles when he was young, he had never experienced a battle with such a large number of participants and such a grand and fierce battle scene. He stood on the inner wall and looked at the countless fallen corpses and wounded soldiers under the city in front. , I couldn't calm down for a long time.

Not long after, when he saw Mago in the tent of the Carthage camp, the military commander who had just finished commanding the siege was devouring dinner.

Seeing Okriton come in, Mago's eyes suddenly became sharp. He put down the bread in his hand and asked directly: "Octriton, how was your negotiation going?"

Okriton was not surprised that Mago knew about the negotiations, because as the head of the Magonides family, someone would take the risk and come to Sicily to report to him everything that happened in the Senate.He was surprised that Mago didn't seem angry that the Senate wanted peace.

But when he thought about it carefully, he understood: Lilibi fell, sea routes were cut off, and the food supply for the 10-strong army became increasingly difficult. Even the always tough Mago had to bow his head in front of reality? !

For Okriton, he's happy to see this happen because it means there's something to talk about.

"One of the conditions proposed by the Dionians for reaching a peace agreement is that the army led by you, Lord Mago, surrenders to them!" Okriton said word for word.

Mago's eyes suddenly became sharp, but then he restrained his light and said firmly: "The Senate will never agree to such ridiculous conditions!"

"Not only this, the Dionysians also asked Carthage to cede Corsica, Sardinia and the entire island of Sicily!" Okriton emphasized and continued.

"Dionia wants to destroy my Carthage!" There was a little flame burning in Mago's eyes, but his expression became solemn: "It seems that the Dionia people don't want peace talks at all!"

"I don't think so." Okriton said slowly: "Just like the conditions for peace talks given by the Senate, the Dionians gave such harsh conditions at the beginning of the talks, but it was just Of course we can continue to bargain with them when they are asking for prices, but now our record is so poor that I cannot get a good bargaining chip..."

Mago raised his head and looked directly at Okriton.

Okriton met Mago's sharp gaze calmly, his face was as cold as frost, and he said in a cold tone: "Is there something wrong with what I said?! If it weren't for Mago, you led the army to a great defeat from the east. Returning, and losing Palermos and Lilibi one after another, causing the entire war situation to become so bad and bad, the Senate would not choose peace talks in such a humiliating way!——"

"When did I suffer a big defeat in the east?!" Mago slapped the table with an angry palm. The bowls and pots on the table jingled and food was scattered on the floor: "I led the army to retreat from the east. That was Because of the shortage of military rations, the fundamental reason is not because our navy is not good enough. We have lost control of the Sicilian waters, which has seriously threatened the army's maritime transportation lines. This is all the work of the Annobas you recommended. Good thing! The fleet he led has been defeated again and again, almost consuming all our Carthaginian warships. However, the army under my command has not suffered any major losses so far, but it has become passive because it is trapped in rations!" Mago! The last words he couldn't help but uttered expressed his helplessness and sadness.

But Okriton obviously did not sympathize with him, but said coldly: "Lord Mago, in order to fulfill your original request to send troops, the Senate worked hard and almost took away the resources of the allies of Carthage and Phoenicia. All young and middle-aged citizens have gathered an army of 10 for you. This has caused a gap in Africa's defense and cannot resist the attack of the Dionian fleet!

In order to ensure the food supply for the army led by you, the Senate also collected almost all the surplus food from the homes of all the people in Africa, resulting in an empty treasury!Jia Taiji has put in so much sacrifice and effort, not just for you to be satisfied that the army has not suffered major losses, but to just blame the reason for the failure on the navy, even if you win a few more victories, let the Dionians feel Due to the pressure, Dionia did not dare to send the navy to harass the land of Africa. Even now during the peace talks, they will not put forward such harsh conditions! "

Mago was speechless for a moment, but after a while he regained his proud demeanor: "In a few days, you will receive news of victory!"

Okcreton was taken aback, then understood, and said uncertainly: "You are talking about Serinus? I watched the siege battle today. How many soldiers did we die in battle? 3000? Or 5000? "

Mago said confidently: "We have lost a lot of people, but the Dionian casualties will not be low. The most important thing is that we built the earth wall to the edge of the trench, and then attack Selinus , our soldiers can directly pass through the city wall and fight head-on with the Dionians.

If the Dionians do not increase their troops, we can seize the city of Selinus with the absolute advantage of our troops; and if they increase their troops, then this place will become a continuous bleeding wound for Dionians!By then, the negotiation conditions they proposed would have to be significantly modified! "

Although the two were political enemies, now that Carthage was facing a major crisis, Occleton hoped for the first time that what Mago said would come true, so he said seriously: "The Senate is eagerly waiting I hope you won’t keep us waiting too long for the news of your victory!”

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Late at night, Selinus's clipper entered the port of Minoa. Davos was woken up by Martius in his sleep. After reading the battle report written by Amyntas, he was completely sleepless and had no idea what would happen next. Thormids and Printors who came over said: "The Carthaginian army has been attacking the city of Selinus for several days. The defenders of Selinus suffered a lot of casualties. Even Amyntas was a little unable to withstand it. Stay here and write to ask for help."

Tormid took the battle report with some surprise. After reading it, he handed it to Printors. Then he thought about it and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, now Carthage's military commander Mago has gathered all his troops in the city. Outside the city of Linus, all efforts were concentrated to attack the city. Amyntas had no more than ten thousand soldiers. Even if he tried his best to resist the attack of the Carthaginian army for a long time, the casualties would be heavy. You know, the soldiers of the First Legion The vast majority are from Thurii, which has replenished its troops twice during this war, and the people of Thurii have made huge sacrifices..."

Hearing these words, Davos was moved and remained silent.

Tormid carefully observed the expression on Davos's face and suggested softly: "I remember that when Your Majesty was in Latium, in view of the Roman army's fierce attack on the city of Ostia, which caused a lot of casualties to our army, so Decisively ordered to abandon the city of Ostia and burn it. As a result, the Roman army suffered huge casualties and gained nothing, thus damaging their morale. Now that we have occupied Lilibi, we can completely replace the port of Selinus. If necessary, can we consider taking the same approach and abandoning Selinus when necessary?"

When Davos heard this suggestion, his heart moved. He tapped his fingers on the table and fell into thinking. After a while, he raised his head and looked at the other staff officer: "Printors, what's your opinion?"

Seeing that the eyes of several other people were focused on him, Printors thought for a moment and said: "I agree with Sir Tormid's suggestion, but it is best not to give up Selinus City prematurely, because your Majesty, you are now The strategy adopted was to adopt a defensive posture on land and lure the Carthaginian army to take the initiative to attack, thereby continuously killing and injuring the Carthaginian soldiers and weakening their morale... allowing the Carthaginians to capture Selinus prematurely, even if It is a ruin, which will also improve their morale. At the same time, it will also save the Carthaginians more time to attack Lilibi..."

After listening to this, Davos pondered for a while, and suddenly showed a helpless smile: "Now I regret sending Amyntas to defend Selinus. When I was in Latium, I ordered him to abandon Ostia. Sicily...I want him to give up Selinus again. Even if he obeys the order in the end, with his fighting style of always moving forward bravely and never retreating, I am afraid he will always be worried about it."

(End of this chapter)