ancient greece mediterranean ruler

Chapter 569 Dilemma
"After the riot started, no one saw him. According to the information reported by my spies, he was probably imprisoned by Herolis." Hyparinus said.

"Damn Herolis! I should have chopped off his head and hung his body on the city wall to warn those with evil intentions! This time I will kill his whole family and find the temple priest to curse his soul. Fall into the River Styx forever!..." Dionysius cursed loudly to vent his anger and annoyance: Without Philistus, it would be like cutting off one of his arms, leaving many of his None of the plans could be implemented, because he returned to Syracuse quietly and did not intend to appear in public to avoid being criticized by the people. Many things could only be carried out by Philistus.Now that Philistus is gone, who can he rely on? !
"Herolis is outside and controls an army of tens of thousands of people. If you have the ability, defeat him and kill him! What's the use of just shouting here!" Hipparinus said coldly.Among these people now, he is the only one who dares to embarrass Dionysius in person. Philistus will sometimes make criticisms, but he will never be as mean and unpleasant as him, just because he is not only Dionysius Si's father-in-law was also a staunch supporter of Dionysius. When Dionysius was in the most difficult time, he spent all his family wealth to support Dionysius' campaign for office and bribed a large number of citizens for him. Only then was he elected as the general of Syracuse, leading the citizens to fight against the Carthaginian army, thus embarking on the path of a dictator.

Dionysius stared at Hyparinus, his chest rising and falling sharply, as if he was about to vent his anger at any time, and Callidemus took a few steps back in fright.But Dionysius finally endured it. He snorted heavily, turned his gaze to Megicolis, and asked in a deep voice: "How is the defense of Ortygia Island?"

"Sir, the rebels once attacked the city wall of the isthmus, but suffered heavy casualties and failed to attack the city. They did not attack here again. Instead, they built a new wall at the exit of the isthmus to block us. Outside the city limits.”

"Have you ever tried to lead an attack on the Isthmus?"

Megicolis said nothing and turned to Hyparinus.

"It was I who told the mercenaries of Megicolis not to attack!" Hipparinus said without hesitation: "The situation was dangerous and very chaotic. The first thing I wanted to ensure was that the people of Ortigia Island Safety!"

Dionysius didn't get angry this time. He was silent for a while and said loudly: "Well... Lord Hyparinus, you did the right thing! Megykolis, thank you very much for your efforts and the mercenaries' efforts to hold on. Ortygia Island, let us still have a place to live!”

"Sir, it is the duty of our mercenaries to guard Ortigia Island!"

"Is Mathias alive or dead now?" Dionysius asked again about the whereabouts of another right-hand man.

"According to the information reported by the spies, he led the defeated troops and fled back to the villages and towns established by former mercenary citizens outside the city. However, Herolis did not give him a chance to rest and immediately sent tens of thousands of troops to attack that land. The former mercenaries and their families launched an attack, but Mathias was unable to defeat him and led his men to retreat to the western mountains." Hyparinus said expressionlessly.

"As long as you don't die..." Dionysius couldn't think about contacting Mathias for the time being. His mind turned to another question: "Where is our fleet?"

"The sailors in the port participated in the rebellion. They imprisoned Paronissus and took the warships for themselves. They also joined forces with the rebels in Herolis and defeated the thousand men guarding the city gate. Mercenaries, and are also responsible for clearing out the mercenaries outside the city... However, these sailors had some quarrels with the rebels in the city."

"What quarrel?!" Dionysius's heart moved.

"Listening to the spies' reports, it is said that the sailors at the port hope to obtain all the land of the former mercenary citizens, and hope to obtain more political rights, but they are opposed by Herolis and the others..."

Dionysius wrote down this incident and asked another question that he was most concerned about: "Where is the Dionysian army now?"

"They once went to Taunis, assisted the rebels, and controlled the whole city, and then they seemed to have gone north again. Now all the passages between Syracuse and the north are blocked, and it is impossible to know the situation there in detail." Hipparenu Si said.

The Dionians are quite cautious!When Dionysius thought of this, he felt a little anxious. After all, tens of thousands of Syracuse people were left by him in Xiliting to block the main force of Dionia for him. If he could not fight in Dionysia, Before the people solve the problem of Xiliting, he can retake the city of Syracuse. Once the main force of Dionysia goes on a cross-sea expedition, he will be in danger!
"Where are those city-states on the south coast? Have you asked them for help?!" Dionysius asked urgently. This is the place where he is most likely to get reinforcements and where his hope lies.

"When great riots broke out in our city-states such as Syracuse, Catanai, Leotini, and Taunis, there were also quite a lot of commotions in various city-states on the south coast. Lord Callidemus once risked his life We went to Gela, Agrigento... to ask for help, but were refused,” Hyparinus said.

"Sir, these city-states said, 'In order to help you attack Magna Graecia, they have sent many soldiers. In order to repel the Dionians who landed in Sicily, they have sent many young and middle-aged citizens, but most of them have not been seen. Come back, now that the people in the city-state are rioting and the political situation is unstable, it is impossible for them to send reinforcements.'" Karidemus said helplessly.

"Even Kamanlina refused to send troops?!"

Facing Dionysius' cannibalistic eyes, Callidemus nodded tremblingly: "Yes...yes..."

"Damn it!" Dionysius yelled: It's understandable in other city-states. The tyrant of Carmanlina was his brother Reptin, who was supported by him personally. He actually also treated Syracuse. I turned a blind eye to the incident. Did this idiot think that he would be fine if I fell? !

Dionysius was angry at his short-sightedness, but he felt a sense of powerlessness in his heart: the entire Syracuse was in rebellion, he lost many citizen soldiers and the support of sailors, and even the allies ignored him Can the two thousand mercenaries regain their former throne of power?
Dionysius was a little confused. He felt like a big fish stranded on the beach. He had no strength but couldn't exert any effort. He was in danger of drying up and dying at any time.

At this time, Callidemus asked out of nowhere: "Sir, I wonder what the situation is like with the troops on the expedition to Magna Graecia?"

Dionysius stared straight at him with wide eyes.

The people around him knew very well that Dionysius had become a deserter, so no one who was rational mentioned it, but Callidemus mentioned the most taboo thing about Dionysius.

"I...I...I mean if the army in Magna Graecia can return, we can retake...take back..." Under Dionysius's cold gaze, Callidemus' teeth chattered. .

"What you said makes sense." Dionysius was expressionless, and his tone was calm: "In this case, I will send you to Siritium to negotiate with the new king of Dionia, and I authorize you to You can agree to any request, as long as you can bring the soldiers back safely as soon as possible, you'd better set off now!"

"Ah! Me?! Now?! -" Callidemus was so frightened that he wanted to avoid the patrol of Syracuse rebel warships, break through the blockade of the Dionian fleet, and reach the Silitium... ...This is risking your life!
But Dionysius no longer allowed him to argue, and asked Megycoris and the guards to take him to Captain Lactinus.

Although Dionysius did not think that the shrewd King of Dionia would make such a mistake, in his heart, he still held a trace of luck. After all, Siliting had thousands of elite former mercenary soldiers. As long as he can return, he can easily retake Syracuse!

"I've been on the boat for two days and I'm a little tired. I'm going to rest for a while. I have to keep my return secret-" Dionysius covered his head with his hand and warned the people around him tiredly: "Not only It is kept secret from the rebels in the city, and also from the island of Ortygia, because the rebels have captured most of the officials in the city hall, and their families on the island are worried!"

"Have a good rest. Tomachi and the children also need you to comfort them. They have been frightened these days!" Hyparinus sighed.

Dionysius turned around and looked at Phoebidas, who had been silent: "You come with me, I have something to discuss with you."

"Okay!" Phoebus replied simply.

On the way to the palace, Dionysius said frankly: "You already know the situation in Syracuse and even the situation in Sicily as a whole. To be honest, the situation this time is more dangerous than the last time. Those rebels are likely to have colluded with the Dionians, otherwise there would not have been riots on the entire east coast of Sicily on the same day, and they happened to happen at the most critical moment, what do you think?"

"It's very possible." Phoebidas squeezed out a word with an indifferent expression.

Note:
Historically, Dionysius ultimately chose Dionysius the Younger, his son from Locle beauty Doris, as the heir to the tyrant of Syracuse, rather than his daughter from Hyparinus. The possible reasons for the two sons born to Aristomache are: on the one hand, these two sons are indeed mediocre in talent and bad conduct; on the other hand, they are also motivated by the desire for the Hyparinus family to monopolize the government. Worry, but also possibly out of revenge for the insults Hyparinus had insulted him over the years.When he named his successor, Hyparinus had already died.

　Thanks to Vanishing Maple, Heroes of Elfasil, and Yi Sword 68 for the rewards!Your support is my biggest motivation for writing! !

　　
　
(End of this chapter)