ancient greece mediterranean ruler

Chapter 502 The Invisible Contest
Davos's heart moved again.

"Olivers, I think the situation you mentioned is impossible. Calculate the time, unless Xiros can conquer Laos in one day, immediately take a boat to Knapetia, and then quickly attack Trina. Launch an attack... We are all battle-hardened people, is such a situation possible?!" Antonios expressed serious doubts about Olivers' speculation.

"Even if it's impossible, we should have a decisive battle with the Syracuseans here as soon as possible to create opportunities for Hilos to attack the enemy's rear!" Amyntas took the opportunity to say.

"If we rush into a battle here, if we lose...what's the point of taking back Trina from Hilos!" Capps reminded.

"How could our army be defeated!" Amyntas roared.

……

The army commanders in the big tent argued fiercely.

In addition to Alexis, the commander of the Third Army who is far away in the Lucania region, and Helos, the former commander of the Legion who is still in Laos, all the commanders of the Dioria Army and the First Army Antonio are gathered in this big tent. Amintas, Commander of the Second Army, Epithenes, Commander of the Fourth Army, Felicius, Acting Commander of the Fifth Army, Olivers, Commander of the Sixth Army, Matonis, Commander of the Seventh Army, Commander of the Spear Battalion Officer Capps (former legion chief), and former legion chief Hieronymus who hurriedly arrived yesterday evening with 5000 Lucanian reserve soldiers, it can be said that the big tent is full of generals.

If in the past, these senior generals with rich war experience had the support of strong combat legions and a rigorous Dionysian military system, they would often argue about how to attack when facing the enemy.But today, except for the taciturn Hieronymus, everyone held their own opinions, and some even ignored the fighting friendship in the past and went to the point of swearing. This just shows that they are afraid of the Syracuse army across the river. After all, this It is an army with nearly 1 more soldiers than the Dionian army. It has also experienced countless battles and has a powerful commander.They knew very well that this was not an army that could be defeated easily.

At the same time, the legion commanders were arguing endlessly, and because Davos never expressed his opinion, it was not that he was being reserved, but that he had not made up his mind, so he did not stop the fierce debate among the legion commanders, hoping that this The collision of ideas can help him clarify some ideas.Although the Dionian fleet already has an absolute advantage in the battle between the two armies, he is not arrogant enough to think that the same is true for the army.For such a war that is related to the rise and fall of each country and the life and death of the people, even if he has made a lot of careful preparations, he still needs to be calm and cautious.

At this time, the guard captain Martius came in and reported: "Your Majesty, several envoys from Crotone and Trina are coming from the other side."

The legion commanders stopped arguing and looked at Davos.

Davos pondered for a moment and asked a key question: "Although the city of Crotone was burned, the cavalry of Syracuse was still cruising on the other side. How did they get here?"

"I heard from the team officer who accompanied them that it seemed that the Syracuseans did not intercept them," Martius said.

"Your Majesty, this is obviously a Syracuse conspiracy!" Antonios reminded loudly.

"Is it a conspiracy? Are we not going to save our allies?!" Amintas asked loudly.

Davos glanced at the two of them and asked his guard captain: "Have you ever asked them what they came for?"

"Of course I'm here to ask for help." Martius showed a trace of disdain, but then felt that it was disrespectful to the allies, and said with a straight face: "Oh, they also said that there is not much water in the acropolis, and they can't last a few days. .”

Davos nodded, lost in thought.

Everyone's eyes followed Davos's pace, but no one spoke, so as not to disturb Davos's thinking.

After a while, Davos stopped and looked at Martius: "Go out and tell the envoys to go back. I will not see them."

Everyone was stunned.

Felicius just shouted: "Your Majesty——"

Davos waved his hand and said firmly: "I have made a decision, don't say any more!"

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

"Have all the captured Crotones given their account?" Dionysius asked when he saw Astagras coming in.

"Sir, they all said that Davos drove them away without even receiving them."

"Didn't see them at all?! Are you sure they are telling the truth?" Dionysius was a little suspicious.

"Of course, I can be sure. Several Crotones among them were so frightened by my torture instruments that they urinated. They didn't dare to lie." Astagras grinned and said confidently.

Dionysius thought for a while and sneered and said: "Put them all back and let the Crotones in the Acropolis know how much they expected the Dionians to fear us Syracuse." Zha, I dare not cross the river to rescue them!"

"Yes, sir." Astagras turned around and left the tent.

"It seems that the Dionians will not fight with us. Sir, what should we do next?" Fasipesas asked worriedly.

Dionysius did not answer immediately, but turned to look at the silent man in the corner of the military tent: "Phoebidas, what do you think the new king of Dionia wants to do?"

"How can I guess what cunning people like you are thinking?" Phoebus said bluntly and sarcastically: "According to our Spartan approach, we either attack or retreat, and we will not hesitate too much. .”

Dionysius did not show displeasure at Phoebus's ridicule. He turned to look at the intelligence officer Androsthenes: "How is the situation with Bruti?"

"Sir, since the elder Sedorum of Dionia took office as the administrator of Cosenza, he used bloody methods to suppress the tribes that wanted to rebel. He also summoned the leaders of the tribes and tortured and killed Petalu in front of them. With Bergam, no one from Bruti's tribe dares to come out to express their dissatisfaction with Dionia. For this reason, my men have not found any good method for the time being..."

At the end, Androsthenes' voice became weaker and weaker. The recent performance of the Magna Graecia intelligence department he led was really unsatisfactory: first, the sudden military control after the Sixth Army entered Crimesa, which made him lose a lot of money. With few capable manpower, he also cut off the news of Crimesa; then Thurii's comprehensive martial law prevented him from knowing any situation in the central area of ​​​​Dionysia; when the naval battle failed, he was also attacked by Dionysia. Nisius's rebuke, now even Bruti, the only one who can understand the situation, and his men can no longer play any role...

"I'm asking you about the mobilization of the Dionysian army in the Bruti region!" Dionysius glared at him and asked impatiently.

Androsthenes was still sweating coldly, and said hurriedly: "Since the Dionian senator named Hilorimus recruited 5000 Lucanian warriors and went to Thurii; another senator, Hilos, led After more than 2000 people rushed to Laos, there were no more troop mobilizations in the Bruti region, and Bruti's troop supply seemed to have been exhausted."

"Where is Laos?" This is what Dionysius is most concerned about.
"Due to the tight blockade of the entire mountain road by the Vig people, our people are unable to detect the battle situation in Laos, and there is no news from the spies in Laos city..."

As soon as Androsthenes finished speaking, Fasipesas said: "Sir, Laos is also a big city on the west coast of Magna Greece. Arobmas has been in charge of Laos for many years. Dionia I’m afraid it’s not that easy for people to capture the city of Laos.”

Although Dionysius did not answer, he agreed with this view in his heart.In this way, at least he does not have to worry about the rear problems for the time being, so he does not need to consider the issue of withdrawing the army to Xiliting for the time being.

Dionysius knew very well: giving up Crotone, which he had won with great sacrifice, and retreating to Silitium would not only greatly dampen the morale of the soldiers and cause dissatisfaction among the generals, but also mean that Scylla Kuza gave up the offensive since the landing and took a defensive stance, allowing the Dionians to take the initiative in the war. As time goes by, this will only make the situation of the Syracuse army in Magna Graecia even worse. Oops, so Dionia must be forced to fight again as soon as possible!

"Fasipesas, you immediately lead 2000 people to fire rockets and firelights at the Crotone Acropolis on the hill with belly bows and ballistas!" Dionysius gave an order, and the generals and ministers in the tent all stunned.

"Sir, there is a temple of Apollo in the Acropolis!" Damocles reminded loudly.

"I think Apollo would never allow Hades to occupy Thurii for a long time, so he blessed us to capture Crotone in a short time, and allowed us to burn the city of Crotone. Now of course he He won't care too much about our slight offense to his temple..." Dionysius sneered in his heart, but on the surface he patiently enlightened them: "Besides, I don't intend to burn the acropolis, but just want Cro The Thoni panicked and drained their water, forcing them to call Dionia again."

Dionysius's order was quickly implemented, and dozens of ballistae and abdominal bows were carried to the foot of the hill by thousands of Syracuse soldiers and began to shoot fireballs and rockets into the Acropolis.

In order to save water, the horrified people of Crotone carried the earth to put out the fire, which also caused many people to be burned.

With the intentional indulgence of the people of Syracuse, they once again sent envoys to Dionia for help and successfully crossed the Neto River, but Davos's answer was still: "Missing!"

(End of this chapter)