ancient greece mediterranean ruler

Chapter 173 Davers' Visit ([-])

"I understand. I will discuss this matter with Melsis tomorrow." Felicius nodded.

"Mersis is a stingy guy. He may just want to transfer more money to the treasury. You must stick to your principles." Davos said half-jokingly and half-seriously.

"I will take Amyntas and Matonis with me tomorrow." Felicius said seriously, and both of them laughed.

Taking advantage of the good atmosphere, Felicius carefully put forward his idea: "Sir, if you hold a public office, you will get a salary. But if you have served in the war for a long time and cannot go home, shouldn't you also be paid some salary?"

"Well, as a military affairs officer, you have begun to learn to benefit from your own department." Davos pointed at him and cursed with a smile.

Felicius also smiled and replied: "If not, the soldiers will blame me as a military officer for not fulfilling my duties during my tenure."

"Accordingly, it should be given. I remember someone said, 'The sailors in Athens set off two Obols a day, and the heavy infantry had four Obols a day...'" Davers recalled.

"Indeed, my lord."

Davos sighed: "But that's Athens. It is one of the richest city-states in the entire Mediterranean. It can afford to pay this salary. The Dionysian League can't do it now. There are less than 200 public servants, and the treasury can barely pay back. It can be paid. The number of soldiers on an expedition is either several thousand or tens of thousands. Even if the soldiers are one Obol per person per day, how much money they have to pay every day, you calculate! Just rebuilding Thurii and paying the salaries of public officials have already cost May Ersis can't bear it anymore, if you mention this again, he will probably fight you tooth and nail."

Davos smiled and said with certainty: "When the alliance has money in the future, don't worry, I will not let the soldiers who go on the expedition suffer!"

Although it was only a verbal promise from Davos, Felicius knew it in his heart.Not only because Davos has always kept his word, but Felicius has worked with Davos for a long time. He knows deeply that Davos is a man with great ambitions, and an army that cannot fight for a long time cannot achieve his goals. ambition.

"How is the military discipline of the troops in Niutum?" Davos asked again.

"Not bad, there was no conflict with the Lucanians in Niutum." Felicius smiled: "Of course, this is also related to the fact that you have to hold a victory ceremony for them, sir. They are afraid of violating military discipline. and was unable to attend the ceremony.”

"A soldier with a sense of honor will be a good citizen!" Davos sighed, and the comrades who might be coming soon and who had expedition to Persia together appeared in his mind, hoping that they would be accustomed to looting and unrestrained Don't cause too much trouble in the Dionia League.

Suppressing the worry that just emerged in his heart, he looked at Felicius: "Are you ready to be reviewed by the people?"

"I..." This gentle man who had spent half his life on the battlefield actually seemed a little nervous and shy.

"Hey, what's there to be nervous about? You're not the only one participating. Are you also accompanied by Drax, Epithenis, and Hieronymus? Show the people of the Alliance the power of our Dionysian general Image, let them know that only by fighting bravely for the alliance can they enjoy such a lofty honor!" Davos patted him on the shoulder and said solemnly.

Felicius understood the significance of this triumph to the army, so he became increasingly unable to relax.

Davos had no choice but to change the topic: "By the way, Bagule's fourth group will also participate in this triumphal ceremony, so the first group will have to go to Niutum to replace them for a few days."

Davers thought thoughtfully and said: "In the future, the soldiers of Bagule's Fourth Brigade will settle in Niutum. This way they can defend Niutum nearby, and we can also save military expenses... But the Fourth Brigade Their military quality is far from meeting our requirements, and instructors must be sent in rotation for rigorous training..."

As Davos spoke, seeing Felicius hesitate to speak, he asked doubtfully: "What, are you worried about the Fourth Brigade?"

"No, I'm not worried about the Fourth Brigade. Bagule is a good leader who knows right from wrong, and he will be the son-in-law of the Greeks. Most of his soldiers believe in him, and the sisters of these Lucanian soldiers are basically married Our citizens, so in our alliance, especially the Greek citizens of Amendolara have a very close relationship with their citizens of Lucalia. Therefore, since the expedition, the Fourth Brigade has been very proactive and cooperated with other brigades. The cooperation is also good!" Felicius praised: "I just want to ask your Excellency, Lahe Fortress needs soldiers to be stationed for a long time. How to solve this problem?" The Dionia Alliance does not have professional soldiers and it is impossible to let the citizen soldiers leave. My own life has been stationed there for a long time.

In Felicius's view, this is a problem, but Davos has already had a solution: "Let reserve citizens take turns to garrison, which is part of the assessment they must undergo to become official citizens of the alliance. At the same time, veterans are also allowed to serve as instructors. Go to Lahe Fortress to serve as a team officer, manage them, train them, and use Lahe Fortress as a military training base for the alliance. First, train reserve citizens to become qualified soldiers; second, train veterans to become qualified reserve officers. .Third, the Lahe Fortress can be stationed for a long time..."

Davos spoke eloquently, obviously after careful consideration: "The La River Fortress controls the main road from Thurii to Laos and to Lucania. I believe that this road will soon increase sharply due to the rapid increase of merchants. And get busy. Think about it, the caravan can reach the port of Laos on the west coast of the Apennine Peninsula directly by land instead of going through the Strait of Messina and being exploited by Messina and Lijim, and Laos It is still our alliance and has preferential tariffs, so it is very attractive to Greek businessmen. In addition, as long as we can stabilize the situation in Lucaria, then certain goods in Lucaria, such as Furs, cattle and sheep...etc. can also attract the attention of merchants. Therefore, we levy a very small proportion of customs duties at Lahe Fortress without dampening the enthusiasm of merchants, and can also allow the alliance to use the money to purchase garrison troops. It should be more than enough to supply food and pay a certain amount of living expenses for the soldiers who cannot work for two or three months..."

At the beginning, the business content that Davos talked about made Felicius dizzy. It wasn't until he mentioned the garrison troops at Lahe Fortress that Felicius understood that the food and salaries of the garrison troops could be collected through customs duties. The method was easily solved and I couldn't help but admire it.

"It takes about three days to get from Tuliyi to Niutum through the mountain road, right?" Davers suddenly asked.

"Yes, sir. When we set out before, we marched at a faster speed. Even so, it took three days. The normal marching speed would probably be about four days." Felicius replied.

"If there is another pack team to transport it, I'm afraid it will take more time." Daves tapped the back of the chair with his fingers and murmured to himself: "Therefore, the construction of Turiyi-Niutu must be completed as soon as possible. The road between Mu-Laos is on the agenda. It is best if three cities are built at the same time, so as to connect Thurii and Lucania, strengthen connections and enhance integration..."

...........................

Three days later, Davos proposed to go to Niutum.

Some senators wanted to dissuade him from going there at this time on the grounds that the political situation in Nieutum was not yet stable.

He replied firmly: "I went just to stabilize Niutum!" He finally convinced the Senate and the trip was possible.

The traveling team included Vespa, Scombras, Tritodemos and more than a dozen elders without official positions. They were escorted by the soldiers of the First Brigade. At the same time, the First Brigade also went to temporarily replace the garrison stationed there. Niutum's fourth cohort so that they could return for the triumphal ceremony.In addition, there are also the families of the soldiers of the Fourth Brigade and a few businessmen from the alliance.

Young Heraclides had recently been busy thinking about how to build a wooden bridge over the Craty River.I finally got some ideas, and I was about to start the construction test, but I was forcefully pulled by Davos and put into the traveling team, saying that he was asked to inspect how to build Turiyi-Niutum-Laos. Avenue.

Young Heraclid did not have the stubborn temper of his father, and Davos was too kind to him, so he had to temporarily put aside his work and reluctantly followed the team to Niutum.But once he gets into work, his level of concentration allows him to ignore the bad surroundings and the identities of other people.

"There are a lot of sharp rocks on the ground in this mountain, and they all need to be polished off. This will undoubtedly increase a lot of work and slow down road construction!"

"You see, there is a lot of floating soil on this mountain wall. Once it rains, it may be washed down and block the road. Therefore, it must be fixed with mortar, and the small trees growing on the cliff must also be cut down!"

"This section of the mountain road is too narrow. Even a pack truck cannot pass through it. It must be widened!... Well, I think we can burn this large protruding mountain wall with fire, and then pour cold water on it to make it explode. Open. But be careful, don't burn the forest!"

……

Davos and the senators surrounded little Heraclid like students, listening to him observe and analyze how to build roads in the mountains. Naturally, the entire team would not move too fast.

In the evening, the whole team could only sleep in the mountain road. The escort team and the First Brigade set up cordons and sentries.

For the family members of the Fourth Brigade, the mountains are their home. Returning to this familiar land after a year's absence, their breathing has become much easier.They naturally lay down on the floor and soon fell asleep.

Most of the soldiers in the first group had been on expeditions to Persia, so camping in the wild was the most common thing.

Businessmen run around here and there, willing to endure any hardship for the sake of profit.

　Thanks to the book friends for the reward for bringing down my great Qin Dynasty!

　　Going to the gym tonight, update early!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)