ancient greece mediterranean ruler

Chapter 292 Lead by Example
The people who have long been nourished by Tarantum's prosperous trade and fertile land have felt the cruelty of the war. They no longer have the ambition to compete with Dionia, and they only hope that no more relatives will die in their homeland.

Under the strong request of the citizens, the Senate organized a hasty citizens' meeting. After fierce debate, it finally decided to use the victory of this battle to propose peace talks to the Messape people.

In order to prevent the obstruction of the militant consul Diomelas, the citizens' assembly also elected the next consul in advance. Umarchus was still elected, and Dixitimas once again served as consul. He was also responsible for sending envoys. Mesapi, completing the mission of peace talks.

As for Diomelas, the Tarentum people were not as radical as the Crotones and did not ask for his trial, but it was thought that his life would not be easy if he returned to Tarantum.

Dixitimas was on his way to the camp, and Davos was writing a reply to the Dionysian Senate: My Lords, after I led the army to Tarantum, I fought with 3 Mep in the mountains yesterday. The coalition forces fought a battle and won. Our soldiers suffered few casualties, but Tarantum suffered heavy casualties...

Judging from the results of the war during this period, Tarantum's decline is inevitable.Therefore, Triphias, the consul of Heraclea, took the initiative to express to me that he wanted to join the Dionysian Alliance, and Tude Pres, the consul of Metapontum, was also wavering.

Everyone, maybe you haven't realized that the Dionia Alliance is no longer the weak city-state that was subject to invasion by powerful countries in the past, but has become the most powerful force in southern Italy!Now that Dionia has become the overlord of South Italy and has attracted the attention of other city-states in South Italy, we must promptly change our past cautious and conservative style and show the courage of a strong alliance so that the city-states of South Italy can unite closely. Around Dionia, we protect the safety of Dionia, and Dionia also protects the peace and stability of all southern Italian Greek city-states and protects the life and safety of every Greek. This is our Dionia senator. The goal that the hospital must strive to achieve!
Sirus, as a Greek tribe living among foreigners, comes to us for help in times of crisis. This is the time to test us.Rejecting him will make our allies and waiting city-states doubtful; and accepting it will inspire the courage of city-states who are looking forward to Dionia, because Dionia is for a small person like Xilu. The tribe would not hesitate to go to war with Bruti and would lend a helping hand.So when other city-states are in danger, how can Dionia not help with all its strength!

In addition, even if the maintenance of the Xilu tribe leads to a war with the Bruti people, there is no need for us to regret it, because a war between Dionia and Bruti is inevitable!The reason why the Xilu tribe asked us for help is because Cosenza is uniting the Bruti tribes to form a more powerful and terrifying Bruti tribe alliance, just like the original Lucalia tribal alliance.We all know that the land in the Bruti region is barren and the production is not abundant. In the past, the Bruti people often crossed the mountains and plundered various Greek city-states to obtain supplies and people.Now that a unified Bruti tribe alliance is established, it will inevitably expand outward to achieve greater development of its race!

But look around Bruti, either surrounded by Dionia's territory or adjacent to our allies.Bruti is like a beast lying next to Deolia. Do we hope to tame it before he grows up?Or should we wait until it grows up and then fight it?The answer is undoubtedly the former!
……

Davos handed the written letter to Marij.

After sending him away, Tormid came in and told Daves in detail about the soldiers beating people he had investigated.

Davos didn't expect that the soldiers violated the military law because of his own reasons, and he was a little moved in his heart.
He whispered: "Olivers..." It was difficult to make a decision for the moment.

Tormid took the opportunity to persuade: "My lord, it was precisely because the Tarentum people insulted our soldiers at will... and you that Olivers and the others got angry and beat him. I think they were not wrong in this matter. and--"

Davos glanced up at him, and Tormid immediately shut up.

"Yeah, for me..." Davos sighed softly and made a decision in his heart: "Go and inform Capps and Dracos, let them leave half of their men to garrison the camp, and lead the rest of the soldiers to the center of the village. Assemble at the threshing floor and call the military judge."

"Sir!" Tormid heard this and wanted to persuade him again.

Davos waved his hand and did not allow him to say more: "Go and execute it."

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

"Brothers!" Davos stood on a haystack as tall as one person, facing thousands of Dionia soldiers, and said loudly: "You have worked tirelessly to fulfill Dionia's covenant with Tarantum. I came to this strange land, fought bravely, and defeated the fierce and cunning Messapians and Puchetis. I, the Senate, and all the people of Dionia, thank you!"

The soldiers puffed up their chests proudly.

Davos paused for a while, then continued: "But something bad happened during this process. Several of our brothers beat up a theater owner in Tarantum. At that time..."

The soldiers pricked up their ears and listened carefully. Although they were not allowed to move due to military regulations, their eyes were wandering around, trying to guess who did it.

"Although it was the other party who provoked first, Dionia's military law is not a display. If you hit someone, you will be punished." Daves shouted seriously: "Military judge!"

The military judge nearby said loudly: "According to the Dionian military law, during the war, soldiers who insult or beat allied people will be fined at least 20 military sticks depending on the severity of the case. But because of the other party's repeated provocations and vicious words, the soldiers present were forced to The soldiers took action in anger... After discussing with the commander-in-chief, I made a decision on punishment - each of the offending soldiers was given ten sticks!"

The soldiers were relieved. For those who often received military training, ten military sticks were a very light punishment.

"Olivers, come out," the military judge continued.

When Olivers walked to the queue, the soldiers had another small commotion. They did not expect that a battalion captain was involved in the matter.

Leotizides was also quite surprised. He didn't expect that the Dionians would punish the offending captain without hesitation just because they beat a citizen of an allied state in order to maintain military discipline!Because in his memory, the same disciplined Spartan army couldn't do it either. They were only strictly disciplined in combat, but usually on the land of the allies, the soldiers' actions were not strictly restrained, so they were rampant and domineering. The people have great grievances, such as Corinth, Megara, etc.At the beginning, Leotizides, as the son of Spartan king Akis, did not have much treatment as a prince. He also participated in many battles as a soldier, so he had a better understanding of the situation of the Spartan army.

Oliver calmly walked to the front of the queue. After hitting someone, he was already prepared to be punished.

After the military judge called the offending soldier's name, Olivers saw Davers on the haystack and turned his attention to him, and then heard him say loudly: "In addition, there is another person who will receive a military beating, and that is me!"

As soon as this remark came out, the whole army was in an uproar.

Senior generals such as Capos, Dracos, Antonios, Alexis, and Amyntas were all shocked when they heard this sentence. For a moment, they even forgot to restrain the soldiers. After Davos reminded them, they finally It was easy to restore order to the team.

"Why should I be punished?" Davers pointed at the offending soldier at the front of the queue and said loudly and sincerely: "Olivers, as the captain, doesn't he know that beating someone will violate military law?! Don't other brothers know that? Is it painful to be beaten with a military stick?! No, of course they know that no legionnaire is familiar with the Dionian military law. But why did the First Legion in Crotone, in Siliting, and in Coronia? None of our brothers had such a problem, but they made a mistake here in Tarantum across the bay?! Because the Tarantum people were mainly insulting me, and Olivers and others wanted to protect my position as the commander of this army. Prestige, so I took action in anger! As the governor of Dionia and your commander, I led you to aid Tarantum, but I did not win the respect of the Tarantum people for you, and actually let them despise us. , Insulting us! This is my dereliction of duty and my responsibility! So since you want to punish them, you must punish me first, otherwise-" Davos slapped his chest: "I don't feel comfortable here, and I can't forgive myself. , so don’t come to dissuade me! I will accept the punishment of the Ten Army Sticks together with these brothers! The execution will be supervised by Dracos, and no forgery is allowed!"

After Davos finished speaking, there was silence on the threshing floor.

Each soldier looked at their commander with an excited expression, their chests rising and falling sharply.

Olivers felt his eyes heat up, and tears flowed down his cheeks.He couldn't help waving his arms and shouting: "Our Davos wins!"

As soon as he took the lead, a huge sound covered the entire village, which was also mixed with praises of "Victory of Dioria!" and curses of "Damn Tarantum!"

Davos watched everything calmly, and he reminded the equally excited military judge: "Get ready for execution."

After saying that, he walked down the grain pile and stood next to Olivers.

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

As soon as Dixitimas arrived at the Tarantum military camp, he immediately summoned the citizen soldiers. First, he announced the resolution of the citizens' assembly, dismissed Diomelas from his position as consul, and asked the guards to "escort" him back to the city. Then talk to Uumachus about how to make peace with the Messapians.

　Thanks to the Walking Bolshevik Knight for the tip!Your support is my biggest motivation for writing! !

　　
　
(End of this chapter)