ancient greece mediterranean ruler

Chapter 273 Dionia’s interests come first
"I'm worried that Tarantum won't save Manduria first, but will let us rescue Brindisi first! Because Manduria is at least safe now, and there are only two thousand soldiers stationed far away. Brindisi in Tarentum is much more dangerous!" Capps said worriedly.

"If that's the case, we absolutely cannot agree!" Dracos said firmly, looking at Davos.

"My lord, if you don't repel Manduria's enemies and head north rashly, once Manduria is captured, the Messapians will be able to cut off our transportation lines, and we will be in danger of being attacked from both sides. So. , it would be best if we can obtain the command of the coalition forces. If not, we must also ensure the autonomy of our Dionysian army!" Felicius also solemnly suggested.

Davos nodded in agreement.

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After Capps and Drax left, Davos left Felicius alone.

"How are the preparations for the troops going out?"

"All the soldiers of the First and Second Legions have returned to the city and are on standby, but there are still many soldiers who have not replaced their weapons and equipment." Felicius said, seeing Daves's expression slightly hesitant, Busy explained: "It's not that they are not actively replacing, but there are only three weapons shops in Tuliyi and Amendolara. It is impossible for them to complete the production of tens of thousands of new armors and shields in a few months. , tanning cowhide alone is a very time-consuming process, and the quantity is so huge, if it were not for the large number of cattle and sheep grazed by the Lucanian citizens of Niutum and Grumentum. , it will take several years just to raise the cowhide..."

"In this case, let's use the old equipment for this battle. Let the soldiers go to the weapons shop to temporarily replace their original bronze helmets and shields." Davos said with a little regret.Suddenly, he remembered something: "I heard that a Corinthian businessman built a large weapons workshop in the handicraft area of ​​Amendolara. I can consider giving him part of the order, but I don't know if he is willing to accept the trade-in condition. .”

"The businessman's name is Theos. I have already talked to him and he is very willing to accept it."

"Oh, this is a smart man, but it's a pity that he is a foreigner." Davos remembered the simple hydraulic forging hammer that the Institute of Mathematics had successfully developed, and was considering finding a suitable big businessman to cooperate with it, as a method that can greatly save manpower. , a machine that improves the efficiency of forging copper and iron, of course Davos must put it in his own hands to use it, so that it can keep it confidential.

"In addition, I have contacted the Civilian Shipping Association of the port (this is a non-alliance official shipping organization newly established proposed by Daves and planned by Mariji. All merchant ships and passenger ships in Dionia have joined it. The purpose is to maintain port order, prevent vicious competition, improve industry efficiency, and facilitate cost management). Polydorus also said that Tarantum’s ships will also come to the port to help with transportation, so that we can transport two people at once. All the soldiers of this legion were transported to the port of Tarantum. Our army will probably be ready the day after tomorrow and take a boat to Tarantum." Felicius continued with a little excitement.

"Felicius, when a war breaks out in a typical Greek city-state, how many days does it take from the mobilization of citizens to the expedition?"

Felicius was stunned by Davos's question. He thought Davos was trying to make a comparison, so he said: "From war mobilization, to selecting citizens, arranging family affairs, preparing weapons, equipment and food, and organizing the army, It takes about three or four days to confirm the team officer, and we only need two days at most.”

"What if tens of thousands of people are dispatched?"

"Then the time may be longer, probably six or seven days, but for us Dionia-" Before Felicius finished speaking, Davos waved his hand and said, "Then don't be too anxious. , let’s set off again in five days.”

Felicius thought he had heard wrongly. Davos leaned forward, looked at Felicius, and said in a deep voice: "Although Tarantum often fought with Messapius in the past, it has never been like this." This time, you have no regard for the lives of citizens and are attacking Mesape with all your strength. Do you know why?"

Felicius was not a fool. Moreover, after more than a year of experience since he became a military officer, both his administrative experience and his horizons had improved a lot. He immediately replied: "It's because of us."

"Yes, us!" Davos repeated forcefully: "The rapid growth of our alliance has put pressure on Tarantum. Italy in the south is not too big. It can only accommodate one overlord, and this overlord can only It's Dionia! Now Hades has given us help and put Tarantum in trouble, we must seize this opportunity."

Davos showed a sneer: "You can abide by the covenant and help Tarantum repel the Maple coalition forces, but it is definitely not to help Tarantum destroy his enemies and stabilize their newly occupied territory!"

Davos behaved very calmly, even coldly, and his friendship with Archita did not affect his decision-making on political affairs.

As the deputy of the army, Felicius assisted Davos for more than two years. He knew his leader better than other generals. He deliberately delayed the attack, causing heavy losses to the citizens of Amendolara, and deceived Cornelus into letting himself become the leader. Life-long consul, etc. This young consul is not as upright and honest as he appears, but perhaps because of this, he will lead the mercenaries to the heights they are today. This is like him, Capos, A What Mintas and other rough men who only know how to fight cannot do it.

Felicius breathed out lightly, exhaling from his mind the enthusiasm and cold expression of Davos when he faced Polydorus just now...

"I understand, my lord," he said.

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In the following days, Davos asked the Laos consul Avinogis, who was still watching the game and tasting delicious food in Tulii, to try his best to understand the situation of the Bruti people in order to confirm that the Trina people were Is what Poulos said true?

The rest of the time, he spent the rest of the time in his mansion carefully reading some information about Tarantum and Messape collected by Aristiras.When he has free time, he also spends time with his wife Christia and their half-year-old son Crotoka Tax.

Polydorus's mood became more and more anxious day by day. He came to see Davos or Felicius several times, but they were persuaded to leave with legitimate reasons.It is true that more and more soldiers are gathering in Thurii City every day, and it does take a long time to mobilize tens of thousands of soldiers to go on an expedition, but the situation in Tarantum is getting worse day by day, and Dionia is in urgent need of help. Army rescue.

On the second day after Achita's defeat, Brindisi's fast boat returned to Tarantum and informed the Senate: Achita was killed in battle, and the Maple allied forces threw his head into the city and used it outside the city. Thousands of corpses of Tarantum soldiers formed a "mountain of corpses" to intimidate the defenders of Brindisi to surrender, and the people in the city were in panic.The Maple Allied Forces waited for a long time, but without receiving a reply, they began to attack the city.

Brindisi urgently requested help from Tarantum, claiming that the enemy had strong troops and few defenders, and since the city of Brindisi was captured last time, the dilapidated city walls had not been given enough time to fully repair. Without reinforcements, I'm afraid it will fall within two or three days.

When the Senate of Tarantum was urgently discussing "how to rescue Brindisi," another news came: the Messapian army that besieged Manduria disappeared!
The Senate senators headed by Umarchus and Diomelas did not feel relaxed when they heard the news. Although the Messapian cavalry blockade prevented them from detecting the whereabouts of the main Messapian force, there was no need for them to do so. Think about it, and you can roughly guess: The most likely way for the Messapians is to move eastward and join Pucetti's army. Brindisi is in danger!
Although Thurii has been rewarded, Dionia will send tens of thousands of soldiers for reinforcements.But it would definitely not be possible to arrive in a short time, but Tarantum himself had to send troops to reinforce from the land. Faced with the blockade of tens of thousands of Mepp coalition forces, the Senate felt that this was simply going to die, so they finally decided to transport it by sea. Soldiers reinforced Brindisi so that it could hold on until the rescue of the coalition forces of the Tarantum Alliance and Dionia.

Tarantum dispatched 40 large and small warships, including 80 triremes, which was almost all of Tarantum's naval force, to escort a troop transport fleet carrying 4000 soldiers to Brindisi .

After the fleet rounded the "heel" of the Italian peninsula, it was intercepted by the Mep United Fleet near the coast of Hodrum, a city-state in Messape.

Pucetti's navy was not strong. It only had one seaport city, Barium (today's Bari). It would be good to have six or seven warships.However, the Messapians are different. Most of its city-states are port cities. Igratia, Brindisi, Ugentum, Mesani, and Hodrum are all seaport cities. On the contrary, they are the largest city-states. ——Udiai is an inland city located in the center of the Messape region and was the former capital of the Messape Kingdom.Therefore, the Messapians' navigation ability was not weak, and their maritime trade was relatively developed. Later, with the help of the Athenians, they were not only able to build their own triremes, but were also able to skillfully use the advanced naval warfare skills of the Greeks. The sea also brought a lot of trouble to the Tarantum people, and this time, it was the largest naval battle that broke out between Tarantum and Messape. The Messape people gathered all the warships from all the city-states, a total of 58 ships, including 25 triremes, plus Pucetti's six warships, for a total of 64 warships.

One is anxious to reinforce, the other is desperate to intercept, and the two sides start a fierce battle at sea...

Although Messape had few warships, it attacked bravely; although Tarentum had many ships, it had to take into account the troop transport fleet behind it, so it was timid in attacking.

　Thank you Modai for the sorrowful parting, xjxzp123 for your reward!Your support is my biggest motivation for writing! !

　　
　
(End of this chapter)