ancient greece mediterranean ruler

Chapter 1021 The decisive battle with Selinus ([-])

In fact, just as Okriton feared, the harmonious atmosphere the last time the two met no longer existed. In this meeting, Mago not only refused the request to "stop attacking", but also rebuked loudly: At this time of national crisis, instead of uniting to defeat powerful enemies, the Hannonites tried to provoke civil strife and betray the interests of the city-state. This is simply treason!

The two quarreled, and Okriton left angrily.

Mago vented his anger, but he was not in a happy mood: the Numibians, the original main force in the siege, suffered too many casualties during this period, coupled with the suspicion and scrutiny of them by the generals and team officers in the past few days, now even if the generals No matter how much they coerce or induce, they basically fail to do their job.

Time was very important to Mago, and he was too anxious to get angry. He decided to let his trusted Iberian army serve as the main siege force.

Although during this period, the Dionian army has been stepping up the construction of defense facilities in Selinus City, but in a hurry, it is still unable to compare with the completely stone outer city wall. After two days of fierce fighting, at noon on the third day , good news came from the front: Lord Mago, General Hasdrubal has led his army to capture the inner city in the west!

In fact, there was no need for the messenger to make a report. Mago, who was standing at the top of the outer wall and paying attention to the battle situation, could clearly see the Iberian soldiers directly in front of him who were constantly ascending to the top of the city. He was so excited that he immediately ordered: "Tell Haas Drogba, don’t stop at the top of the city, continue to attack, capture the port as soon as possible, and seize the entire city!”

"Also remind General Hasdrubal to be careful of the Dionian counterattack!" Pomirka interjected from the side.

Mago glanced at him, and then waved to the orderer: That's it!Tell Hasdrubal to go quickly! "

"Master Margo, after capturing Selinus...you won't launch a new attack, will you?" Pomilka asked softly, worrying about gains and losses.

The excitement on Mago's face quickly disappeared. He snorted coldly and said sarcastically: "The Senate has already threatened me to stop delivering military rations to us. How can I still have the ability to start a new battle!"

Pomilka sighed and said with a worried look: "The military rations we have in reserve can only supply less than 10 days. If Carthage stops transporting military rations to us, then we will..."

Mago said calmly: "Our navy has been completely defeated. I heard that Dionia's warships have even been cruising in the waters of Carthage every day. It is impossible for Carthage to transport military supplies here. , what is the use of the Senate threatening us!
Besides, even if the Dionia fleet really lifted the blockade during the negotiations, would the Senate really dare not to supply us with food?You must know that there are not only Numibian and Iberian natives in this army, but also citizens from Carthage and Phoenician allies. If they starve to death, they are not afraid of arousing the anger of the Carthage people! "

Mago, who holds military power, is acting rogue, and the nursing home really can't do anything to him for the time being... Bomilka was speechless. He sighed: "Master Mago, if you do this, you will anger many senators. When you return to Carthage, Ji, I'm afraid I will be interrogated by the Senate..."

"I'm not afraid of their interrogation!" Margo said in a deep voice with anger on his face, "What I'm worried about is that some people will pin the name of the culprit who 'caused Carthage to be forced to hold peace talks' to me. Let the honor of the great Magonid family be sullied! I will never allow such a thing to happen!

Think about it, since we landed in Sicily, we have conquered Minoa, Agrigento, Econum, and Gela, won the battle of Gela, and invaded Dionia's territory in Sicily. , and even deterred the main army led by King Dionia from daring to fight us!On the contrary, Monte Adeno's army suffered a disastrous defeat in the Battle of Minoa, and the navy commanded by Annobas suffered repeated defeats...Who recommended them?!

Now, we have captured the heavily guarded city of Selinus. If the Senate insists on pinning the crime on you and me, the people will understand that the real sinner is not the one who has been winning victories for Carthage. We, but some incompetent and shameless elders! "

Having said this, Brother Marco took a breath and looked at the soldiers cheering for victory on the city in front. He hesitated and said: "Since Okriton said that the Dionians are very willing to engage in peace talks, we have won Selinus will strengthen their willingness to negotiate, and also allow Okriton to have more bargaining chips in the negotiations and pay less price..."

There was one of the greatest fears in Mago's heart that he didn't say: if the Dionians stopped the peace talks and continued to fight, his army would collapse due to lack of food.

But at this time, for him, who was already trapped in dual political and military dilemmas, in order to defend himself and the honor of his family, he did not have many options to choose from.

Pomilka obviously thought of this, so he was not completely moved by Mago's words. He said softly: "I hope things develop as you said..."

The two of them quickly fell into silence, each holding on to the battlements and looking ahead in silence.

I don’t know how long it took, the messenger rushed over: "Report to Mr. Mago, the Dionysians built a strong wall in front of the port, dug trenches, and set up a deer village, and there were more enemies on the city wall. Our attack Obstructed, General Hasdrubal asks you for instructions.”

Mago felt nervous and immediately asked: "What is Hasdrubal's own opinion?"

"The general believes that the soldiers are very tired after fighting fiercely and do not understand the enemy's defense situation. He hopes to allow the soldiers to retreat and rest until they are fully prepared tomorrow before attacking."

"Damn Dionians, how many walls have they built?" Mago, who was eagerly looking forward to victory, cursed out of control.

"This should be the last line of defense for the Dionians in Selinus." Bomirka comforted.

Time, time... Ma Ge was thinking silently in his heart. He originally wanted to end the battle as soon as possible, then stop the war against Dionia, let the armistice negotiations continue, and win a chance for the army, but things did not develop as he imagined so smoothly.

"Let Hasdrubal temporarily lead the troops to retreat..." Mago said angrily, and slapped the battlements with his palm.

At this moment, out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly noticed that black smoke seemed to be rising in the distance behind him on the right side. He immediately turned around and saw that there were not only flashes of fire to the northwest of the Carthage camp outside Selinus, but There was movement, black smoke billowing, and if you listened carefully, you could hear the sound of fighting.

"What happened there?!" Pomirka's exclamation could be heard beside him: "Send someone to check quickly!"

At this moment, the intuition honed on the Iberian battlefield over the past ten years made Ma Ge feel that the situation was not good, and he decisively issued an order to the adjutant: immediately send someone to notify Stikamo (the commander of the 6000 Carthaginian citizen soldiers) General, responsible for staying in the camp), there are changes in the northwest camp, let him lead the army to quell the chaos! ...and then send someone to inform Kisgo (at this moment, Kisgo is leading more than [-] Phoenician allied soldiers, as a reserve team for the siege, and is on standby in the city of Serinus), let him lead the troops immediately Return to camp and assist Stikamo! "

"Yes, sir!" The adjutant immediately went to arrange the messengers.

"Could it be that the Numibian cavalry rebelled?" Pomirka pointed to the place where the smoke was rising and said worriedly.In order to conquer the city of Selinus, the Carthaginian army built walls on both the north and south sides of the camp. At this time, it blocked Mago's sight and prevented them from seeing clearly the situation in the camp. But that direction was mainly The camp of the Numibian cavalry is located, so Pomirka would have this guess.

"...It's hard to say." Mago pondered, not daring to make a hasty judgment, because there were not only Numibian soldiers in that position, but also Lusitanian cavalry and a small number of Numibian infantry. And because the Dionysian army successfully raided Palermos and Lilibi one after another, it left a shadow in Mago's heart. At this time, he suddenly came up with a more terrifying guess: Could it be Dionysia? The army sneaked into the camp? !
He couldn't help but shuddered several times, and once again shouted loudly to his adjutant: "Run immediately to inform Hasdrubal, asking him to leave 1 people to defend the inner city he just captured, and lead other troops to return to the camp immediately. !”

As soon as Mago gave the order, he saw several scouts galloping from the camp to the city wall, shouting loudly: "Master Mago! Master Mago!!"

"What's the matter?!" Mago hurriedly poked his head out of the battlements.

"Lord Mago, the Numibian soldiers who went out to patrol the camp in the morning suddenly attacked the soldiers stationed at the west camp gate and occupied the camp gate when they returned to the camp. At the same time, a rebellion broke out in their camp. Those Numibians The Bia cavalry gathered together and not only burned their own camp, but also launched an attack on the nearby Carthaginian cavalry camp... After receiving the news, General Sticamo was gathering his troops to quell the chaos. He had not yet arrived to the west. camp, he received news that the Numibian camp to the east was unstable. Some Numibian soldiers were attacking their officers and plotting to launch a rebellion. General Stikamo believed that there were insufficient troops to quell the entire camp in time. There is turmoil and I hope you can send reinforcements."

"There must be some trouble caused by the Dionians. We have not cleaned up the spies in the Numibian army! There are also those rebellious Numibian cavalry. They must also have been tricked by the Dionians. Incited!" Pomirka said alertly at this moment, with regret in his expression.

In the previous reorganization of the entire Carthaginian army, some Numibian spies who had been released by the Dionians had been uncovered. If Mago hadn't been anxious to attack Selinus, Pomilka believed that there would be another A few days of consolidation can completely ensure the stability of the Numibian army.However, they both neglected the Numibian cavalry, and their previous reorganization and review were not strict, because when rumors about the Numibian army spread, the Numibian cavalry camp was quiet, and in addition The people of East and West Numibia are relatively independent and do not have much contact with each other. Therefore, both Mago and Pomirka had the illusion that the Numibian cavalry was trustworthy.

After Mago heard the cavalry's call for help from the city, he was relieved at first: the movement in the camp was not caused by the Dionian army's raid!
(End of this chapter)