ancient greece mediterranean ruler

Chapter 136 The outbreak of war
After urgent consultations with the council, the panicked generals decided to send envoys to plead guilty to Crotone and were willing to make all compensation.

When the news reached Amendolara, Davos and the senators were shocked: after all, the city-state envoy represented the city-state itself, and killing the envoy was taboo because it might mean war.

Amendolara immediately canceled his plans to participate in the Isthmian Games and began to monitor the situation closely.

"Father, it's better now! The Turii people will be punished by the gods!" Saustatus ran into the backyard excitedly.

Kunogolata, who was lying on the couch, basking in the sun and recuperating from his injuries, was not as excited as his eldest son. The former chief general of Thurii looked sad and lamented: "I told you so! I told you so. Passing Neances will harm Thurii!..."

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When Thurii's envoy rushed to Crotone, Crotone's generals had actually received the news through merchant ships. They listened to the envoy's words indifferently and responded to Thurii's "willingness to make any compensation." " He dismissed the words and only said: "We can go to Turiyi and get it ourselves, and we can get as much as we want!"

Crotone has tolerated Turui for a long time.Since defeating Sybaris a hundred years ago, Crotone's strength has been thriving and it has become an important power in Greater Greece.However, due to the strong strength of Athens, Turui had to be allowed to build a city. This is undoubtedly a great shame for Crotone, who is used to running amok on the "soles" of southern Italy.And after this incident happened, it happened that the new and old accounts were settled together, which could also make up for the emptiness of the national treasury, killing two birds with one stone.

On the same day, the Crotone National Assembly successfully passed a resolution declaring war on Thurii and launched war mobilization among citizens.On the morning of the third day, seven thousand strong citizens and soldiers were summoned.Asprostum and Siliting also sent [-] citizen soldiers to join them.Because Trina had just experienced a war and was directly facing the Brutians, he only sent thirty cavalry.Colonia also expressed its intention to join the war, but Crotone politely refused, because to the south of Colonia is the League of Locri. Locri and Crotone have long been at odds with each other, and Colonia is an important alliance south of Crotone. Barrier, there can be no mistakes.

Four days later, after sacrifices were made at the Temple of Apollo in Crotone and the divination was auspicious, Melantheus, one of the ten generals, led a mighty army of [-] towards the city.

War finally broke out between Crotone and Thurii.

After receiving the news that Crotone's army was marching towards Thurii, Neances was extremely anxious. At the reminder of his colleagues, he proposed to the council and urgently convened a citizens' assembly.

At the meeting, he gave a generous speech, firstly telling the failure of the peace attempt made by the Turui Council, and then explained the reply theory of the Crotone people, which immediately aroused the indignation of many citizens.But when they heard Crotone's [-]-strong army attacking, there was a long silence in the venue.You must know that although the number of troops attacked by Crotone this time is smaller than that of the Lucanian tribal coalition forces, this is a real Greek heavy infantry unit, and the citizen soldiers of Crotone have always been strong in combat effectiveness in Greater Greece. famous.

At this time Oripheus, the owner of the vineyard, shouted: "We should send messengers again to ask Crotone for peace and grant them any demands."

"Their request is just for more money and supplies, but the key is that our treasury has reached its bottom!" General Polyxes stood up and said: "We can't get more money unless we ask the citizens Imposition of additional special war taxes.”

As soon as the tax was announced, the venue fell into silence again.

In the end, the war-torn citizens who were already afraid of war made a compromise. They reluctantly stated that in order to prevent Thurii from suffering another war, they agreed to the city hall's tax collection requirements, but they were afraid that even this would not satisfy Crow. The appetites of the Thone people.

"We have to try first." Plessinas raised his arms and shouted: "You can earn back your money if you lose it, but it's too late to regret after losing your loved ones!"

The proposal was approved, and Neonsis was temporarily relieved.

"Why don't you go to Tarantum and ask it to help us make peace with Crotone?! Since Tarantum advocated the establishment of the Magna Graecia Defense Alliance, it must not want a war between city-states!" Another person stood He stood up and said: "And with Tarantum's strong strength, Crotone will definitely be wary, and a truce is more likely!"

"This is a good idea, Enanylus!" Neonsis praised. As the owner of the largest shipyard in Thurii, Enanylus is a person who cannot be easily offended, so Neonsis nodded repeatedly. : "Thank you for reminding me, we will send people to Tarantum for help immediately!"

"Even if there is a possibility of armistice, we must have the intention of failure! What should we do if Crotone insists on fighting?!" Another person stood up and said.

Neonsis saw that it was Ancitanos who was speaking. Although the relationship between the two had become tense because of the Kunogorata incident, he had to admit that his suggestion made sense.So Neonsis asked: "Dear Ansitanos, do you have any good suggestions?"

"First of all, let our citizens arm themselves. Crotone has a large number of people. We cannot fight it head-on outside the city. Then the tall city walls will help us resist their attack and weaken their morale..."

Ansitanos' words were recognized by many citizens: "Yes, the city of Thurii is well-defended. The Lucanians were unable to defeat us twice under the city. The same goes for Crotone!"

Ansitanos continued: "Secondly... Amendolara is our ally. Everyone knows the combat effectiveness of their soldiers. We should ask them for assistance!"

When Amendolara was mentioned, Neonsis felt as uncomfortable as eating a fly, but all the participants agreed: "Ancitanos is right! You should go to them for help. With them, We can rest assured!"

"I have long said that it is not worth quarreling with Amendolara over a few slaves. I'm afraid it won't be so easy to ask for help now!"

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After hearing these words, Neonsis's face turned green and white for a while, and he was so embarrassed that he forced himself to work hard and said: "This is a good proposal. Burx, please go and make a trip."

Burks, who has always been mild-tempered, immediately refused: "I am not capable, so let Plessinas, who is capable, go."

When Plessinas heard this, he lowered his head and said nothing. He knew that if he went, not only would he fail to seek help, but he might also be severely beaten.

It's no wonder that Burkos didn't cooperate. He had urged the city hall to fulfill its promise and grant freedom to the slaves.The town hall ignored his proposals, which eventually led to slave revolts and some of the slaves fleeing to Amendolara.At this time, Burks, as a general, based on his understanding of Daves, believed that Amendolara would definitely reject Turri's request. It would be better to fulfill the promise readily and grant freedom to the slaves, which would also achieve the goal of making good friends with Amendolara. Lara's purpose.

Neunces and other generals not only rejected his suggestion, but also believed that with his relationship with Davos, it would be difficult to lose face and ask Amendolara for slaves, so they sent the tough-minded Plesina Sri Lanka.What Burkos just said was one of the original words that Neansis said when he rejected his mission to Amendolara. Now, Burkos has returned it intact. You can imagine Neonsis's face. What a wonderful expression.

At this moment, even if Neonsis secretly hated Burkes, he could not help but politely ask: "Burx, this is a matter of Turui's life and death! No one else can complete this task except you! I hope you can go to Go to Amendolara and ask Davos to send troops for assistance!"

Burkos let out a bad breath, and simply nodded in agreement amidst the citizens' requests.

"Amendolara is a small city. We shouldn't be able to send too many reinforcements. The key is to rely on ourselves." Ansitanos continued: "I suggest mobilizing free people to participate in the war and promise to grant them citizenship. Of course we We have made a promise before, but it was not fulfilled. This time, in order to win their trust, as long as they agree to participate in the war, we will immediately grant citizenship rights!"

One of Ancitanos’s suggestions made Neonsis feel more uncomfortable than the other. Not to mention him, the citizens attending the meeting based on their personal interests hardly agreed. In the end, Ancitanos received the answer: " Reconsideration……"

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Just as Thurii held a citizens' meeting, Crotone's army arrived outside the city of Crimesa after a long march.

Crimesa, this town was originally a colonial city of Sybaris. After the fall of Sybaris, it switched to the Crotone League.After Athens rebuilt Thurii, the agreement reached with Crotone specifically mentioned that Castellon and Crimesa must remain neutral.

Now in front of Crotone's army, Krimisa opened the door to welcome them without hesitation, and took the initiative to send 1000 people to join Crotone's army.

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"Melancius of Crotone, 45 years old this year, won the Olympic wrestling championship twice and the Isthmian wrestling championship once when he was young. He has participated in many battles with Lokri and Bruti , had two independent command operations and won the victory... He fought bravely and often took the lead in the charge, but he was not liked by the soldiers, because he always liked to attribute the victory to himself after the victory... I heard that he was tall and handsome , and lived a luxurious life, very popular with women in Crotone. For this reason, the men were jealous of him and deliberately did not vote for him, causing him to lose the general election many times. His friends often advised him not to pay too much attention to grooming , to be more low-key', but he said, 'Apollo gave him a strong body and a smart brain. If no one is jealous, it will not be able to bring out his excellence!'

　When the war begins, he needs the support of his brothers so that Davos can muster the courage to fight to the end!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)