ancient greece mediterranean ruler

Chapter 722 Leotizides changes plan
"Yes, there have been changes." Leotizides' tone was always flat and lacked passion: "Sikel's harassing troops defeated Carthage's [-] siege army."

Sipulos thought he heard wrongly and asked in surprise: "Is this true?! Are you talking about the one thousand poorly equipped Sikel light infantry?!"

"I never tell lies in war." Leotizides looked at Hippolos with sharp eyes, but his tone remained calm: "I decided to change the previously designated plan and lead the Eighth Army to Minoa to attack Carthaginian.”

"Okay! You are indeed courageous. He is worthy of His Majesty's favored commander! It's much better than the bullshit plan you made before!" Appreciative voices sounded outside the door, and Navy Commander Sekerian strode into the conference room. .

Leotizides raised an eyebrow.

Sipulos asked in surprise: "You want to lead the army to fight the Carthaginians directly?! This is too risky! The Carthaginian army has more than 4 people. Do you want to bring all the Dai soldiers in Sicily? Have all the citizens of Onia gathered together?! If the battle fails, all the kingdom’s territories in Sicily will be in danger! I think it’s safer for you to continue implementing your previous plan!”

After all, according to regulations, Governor Cypnos had the right to participate in military meetings and raise objections, so Leotizides had to explain in detail: "The previous plan was based on the judgment that the Carthaginians would send eight to 10 However, they did not expect that they only sent 6 people, and 2 of them went to the north coast. Judging from the intelligence obtained previously, half of the 4 Carthaginian army was composed of Composed of Numibians who were oppressed by Carthage, their morale was not high. An attack by just a thousand Celts could force them to retreat, which also shows that their commanders were not capable.

According to intelligence, Monte Adeno, the commander-in-chief of Carthage, was greedy for enjoyment and did not like to visit the battlefield in person and did not like to be close to the soldiers. Therefore, he could not give full play to the advantage of having more troops.Even though we have fewer troops, the combat effectiveness and morale of the Eighth Corps and its reserve forces are far superior to those of the opponent, and we can completely defeat them.

And we cannot watch this Carthaginian army rely on its large number of soldiers to slowly conquer our allies one after another, unite the entire army through battles and victories, and enhance the fighting spirit and combat effectiveness of the Carthaginians... Wait until the Carthaginians The Taigian army has captured the south coast, and it will be very difficult to fight them again. "

"Your idea is right. The previous plan was completely passive. I just arrived yesterday and heard about your previous plan. I have long wanted to talk to you about it." Sekerian said to his subordinates as a superior. He said in a sharp tone.

Although as a senator of the Senate, Seclian's qualifications and royal position were indeed higher than that of Leotizides, it still made Leotizides feel a little uncomfortable, but he then thought about his future military career. The operation also relied on the navy, so he suppressed his emotions and said lightly: "I am also basing this on what is said in the "Dionysian Military Law", 'All military plans must be formulated based on the actual situation.' Since the situation Things have changed, and certainly the plans I made have to change with them.”

Sipulos was not like Cornelus, who was worried about gains and losses. Once he was convinced, he immediately asked simply: "How many people are you going to take with you to fight?"

"The entire Eighth Army and the Fourth Cavalry Army, as well as some reserve soldiers, are estimated to be around 15000 people. Other reserve soldiers are stationed in the camp. If the allies of Leotini and Taunis are not mobilized, they still need Watch out for the Syracuse."

After Leotizides finished speaking, Sipulos was surprised again: "Lord Proseus, are 15000 people too few?!"

"Nothing less." Leotizides said confidently: "I will entrust Master Kereru of Hera to organize all the warriors of the Sikel people and walk the mountain road to Minoa. And I will lead this group 15000 soldiers disembarked at the port of Camanlina by sea, marched westward along the south coast, and incorporated the armies of friendly city-states along the way into the team. By the time they arrived in Minoa, I estimate that the army The number should be at least 3..."

"Hey, in my anxiety just now, I forgot that there are friendly city-states such as Camanlina, Gela, Agrigento..." Sipulos revealed his shortcomings, but showed a relieved smile on his face: "Lord Proseus, you made the right decision! Through this head-on battle with Carthage, you can show the city-states close to us that the kingdom protects them, and deepen our friendship with them through fighting. !..."

Leotizides did not think as much as Sipulos thought. He just wanted to win. He turned to Sekolian and said: "I hope that the troop transport fleet and the transportation of food and baggage can be met by your wishes, Lord Sekolian." Lead the fleet to protect!”

"This is the duty of our navy!" Seclian replied readily, and his next words revealed his true purpose: "I can just protect you to induce the Carthaginian fleet to engage in a decisive battle with us!"

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The news that "the Carthaginian army landed in Sicily and began to march towards the Dionysian territory" reached Rome, which excited the senators. The dictator Camillus believed that the time had come, and immediately issued an order to "attack the Hernicians." March" order.

Soon, he led an army of more than 4 Roman citizen soldiers and Latin Allied soldiers who had been summoned in the Forum of Mars, left the city of Rome and marched directly to the southeast.

The Herniki people are an ancient indigenous people in central Italy. They mainly live in the lowlands between the Herniki Mountains and the Lepini Mountains (Lepini), which is about 150 miles long and only about 20 miles wide. A strip of hilly lowland area with the Trerus River flowing in the middle.To the west and south of their living area are the Volscians close to the Lepini Mountains, to the east are the Masi and Aequi people who live deep in the mountains, and to the north are some Latin city-states, mainly Puri. Nist.

The Roman army passed through the Latin League city of Gabii and camped outside Puniriste at dusk.

When the Hernicians heard the news that "the Roman army was coming", they were very panicked and hurriedly sent people to ask for help from the Volscians.

In the early morning of the next day, the Roman army continued to march south, passing through the Latin ally Tolerium, and soon came to Signia, a town adjacent to the Hernicians and Latins. .

This is a small city Herniki located at the foot of Lepini Mountain. It has a small population but a relatively dangerous terrain. Moreover, it is an important passage for the Herniki tribe living in Lepini Mountain to get out of the mountain.

Camillus immediately sent 5000 men to surround the small city and began to make siege equipment. Once ready, he began to attack the city.

At the same time, he led 35000 people across the Treps River without stopping, and in the afternoon arrived at Anagnia, another important town of the Herniki people on the east bank of the Trepus River, close to the Latin region. Anagnia), and 1 people surrounded it.

And he led the remaining 25000 people, and after bypassing the city of Anagnia, he began to build a large camp a few miles south of it, facing the central town of the Herniki - Ferentinum (Ferentinum). Watching with eager eyes.

Previously, the Herniki people suffered a disastrous defeat in a joint attack with the Volscians on the Roman Latin Allies. Not long after that, their strength has not been restored at all. How can they still organize enough soldiers to rescue the besieged people? The besieged towns could only huddle in each town, reinforce the city defenses, and at the same time look forward to the Volscian rescue.

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When the news that "the territory of the Hernicians was attacked by the Roman army" reached Pollevnum, the senior leaders of the Volscian League who were originally gathered here were very nervous. They had just repelled the Romans and were still there. Discussing how to recapture Antium, Vilitre, and other towns captured by the Romans, we did not expect that the Romans would launch another war to the east of the Volscians so quickly.

Amintas, who was invited to participate in the meeting, was puzzled, and he asked in surprise: "The information sent back earlier said, 'The Romans stationed 1 year in Antium, Vilitre, and Saturnicum respectively. Thousands of people?! How can the Romans have so many soldiers to attack the Helnicians?!"

Catamontaros, the consul of Polevenum, said helplessly: "The Romans did not have so many young and middle-aged citizens, but they still had many Latin allies and many Etruscan city-states that were conquered by Rome. , he is fully capable of launching another war at war with us Volscians! This is what is scary about the Romans!"

I'm afraid the Romans are going to concentrate all their efforts on fighting a big war!But our Dionia... Amyntas thought of the First Legion that he had just replenished, and sighed secretly: With the combat effectiveness of the Roman army, the First Legion with less than [-] people is not enough to help the Herniki people. Defeat the Roman attack!
Printors, who was next to him, saw Amyntas' troubled expression and asked hurriedly: "Why don't you contact the Aequi and Massi to deal with the Romans?! I heard that these two races are right next to each other. Regarding the Herniki, I hope that the Herniki will be wiped out by the Romans, and these two races that are also at odds with Rome will also face the threat of the Romans!"

Tullus, consul of Selshe, responded: "The Herniki people must have contacted the Aequi and Masi people. The question now is, should we rescue the Herniki people?"

"Of course we have to go to the rescue!" Catamontaros said loudly without hesitation: "Our cities of Fabrateria and Frusinum... are among the Herniki. In the south of the territory, if the Herniki are wiped out, they will also be attacked by the Romans later. It is better to rescue the Herniki now than to rescue them then!"

(End of this chapter)