ancient greece mediterranean ruler

Chapter 762 Capture of Selinus and March to Latium

Would the Carthaginians agree?Before, you firmly rejected their request to redeem the captured Carthage Holy Legion soldiers!Muklu only dared to say that this doubt was buried in his heart without speaking out.

"We still have to capture Selinus as soon as possible!" Leotizides whispered, whether from the strategic perspective of attacking western Sicily or from the perspective of facilitating the transportation of food and baggage... even from the perspective of safer From the perspective of a place to hold so many prisoners, capturing Selinus is a top priority.

Muklu hurriedly reminded: "Legion Commander, the soldiers were very tired after working all night last night. They no longer have the energy to attack the city today. Moreover, yesterday the Carthaginians also transported thousands of soldiers into Selin. Noos, their defenses have been strengthened. And—"

"And we have lost the Sicilian fleet and can no longer block the port. The Carthaginians can send reinforcements from the sea at any time!" Leotizides took over the conversation and said solemnly. This was his biggest concern: Dai The disappearance of the Oonian army's advantage on the Sicilian sea will add a lot of difficulties to the land attack, because the farther the army attacks westward, the closer it will be to Carthage, and the opponent's reinforcements from the sea will be stronger, and the fleet will be lost. The Dionian army has no way to stop them. It can only hope that after the news of the "Destruction of the Sicilian Fleet" is transmitted back to Thurii, His Majesty can send the Third Fleet or the Fourth Fleet to regain Sicily's maritime superiority.

Just when Leotizides was thinking sadly, the guard came in and reported: "The captain of Diocasis' company, who was patrolling the seaside, asked to see him and said he had an urgent military report."

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"You mean there are 42 of our trireme warships in the port of Serinus?!" Even Leotizides, who always looked indifferent, couldn't help but be very moved when he heard the news.

"Yes, Commander." Diocasis also said with excitement: "When the storm came, the Second Squadron of the First Fleet was attacking Carthage ships outside the port of Selinlus. Squadron commander Stefankas urgently led the surrounding warships to break into the port of Selinus, successfully landed and occupied the southwest corner of the port. They originally planned to send out a clipper last night after the storm subsided. He came to inform us, but the wreckage of the ship caused by the storm blocked the port, making it dangerous to sail at night, so it was not until this morning that we took the risk of opening a channel from the port and sent a clipper to report the news."

In fact, the harbor of Selinus was like the harbors of other Greek city-states. It had breakwaters and water gates at the entrance, which could be blocked with iron chains, and towers were built on the breakwaters to attack enemy ships.But yesterday when the Carthaginian fleet entered the port, they panicked and blocked the water gates, making it impossible for the Selinians to seal the port. Coupled with the storm, the port personnel just wanted to go home quickly to escape, resulting in the port's defense being lax, thus Let the Dionian warship easily break into the port and land smoothly.

Leotizides quickly calmed down his emotional fluctuations and asked calmly: "How many people do they have now? Can they withstand the enemy's attack?"

“According to the messenger, the squadron commander Stefankas was very confident in this, because 42 of the 30 warships entering the port were crow warships, so they had about 1200 fully armed fleet infantry, and Nearly 7000 sailors, they rammed and sank many Carthaginian troop transports, robbed the Carthaginian grain transport fleet after landing, and even stripped off the armor and weapons of many drowned Carthaginian soldiers, thus obtaining They purchased more than 400 sets of heavy infantry equipment and more than 30 bows and arrows. They also asked some sailors to sharpen one end of the wooden paddle and use it as an extended wooden gun. Their warships also controlled the sea in the port... The messenger said, Nor did the Carthaginians attack them when he left the harbor..."

"After our several sieges, the number of Selinus defenders is probably less than 2000. Even if there are reinforcements this time, it will not exceed 5000. If the Carthaginians attack with all their strength, they will be in the port. The navy caused a lot of trouble, but it seems that the Carthage garrison generals did not have the courage and were worried that we would take advantage of the situation to attack the city, so they did not take immediate action..." After listening to Diocasis's story, Leotizides analyzed Then he said, he had realized that this was an excellent opportunity, and asked Muklu with a slightly excited tone: "What time is it now?"

"About 8 o'clock in the morning."

"Muklu, you immediately notify the Eighth Army and the reserve soldiers to go into the tents and rest. I only give them four hours of sleep and recovery time. They must wake up at noon. After lunch, start the siege immediately!" Ortizides gave the order decisively.

"Yes, legion commander, I will convey it immediately."

"Diocasis, go and call the messenger in. I want to ask for more details." Leotizides said. Out of caution, he first wanted to personally confirm the authenticity of the news, and secondly, he wanted to go further. Learn more about the enemy and friendly situations in the city.

At noon, Leotizides led an army to attack the city.

Contact had been made, and the remnants of the Sicilian fleet at the port responded immediately and launched an attack from the port towards the city.

The Carthage garrison faced a flanking attack from two sides and was in a difficult situation.

The battle continued until the afternoon, when Milephio led a small number of cavalry to escape from the south gate, and the garrison of Selinus opened the door and surrendered.

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The southwestern part of Latham in March is really a rainy season. The mist and drizzle in the early morning are the most annoying weather for the sentinels at the top of the city. It can't make people lean against the wall to sleep more, and it's a bit wet and cold The temperature made the sentry who just had breakfast feel hungry again. The serious character and strict military law of the Romans prevented them from leaving their posts easily. They could only slowly patrol the city of Antium while praying. Time passes quickly, let the next group of comrades come and take turns.

"What is this sound?" a sentry suddenly asked nervously.

Another sentry immediately listened.

"Clatter! Crash! Crash!..." The slight and continuous sound was different from the sound of the tide on the seashore, and had a metallic texture.

The sentry's expression changed: there were troops outside the city, and there were a lot of them.

Is it an enemy? !The sentry looked up and saw drizzle pouring outside the empty city, and no one could be seen.

The defender of Antium was Paulus Valerius Potitus. Not long ago, he was the military officer on duty in Rome. However, after Camillus was appointed dictator, the six Roman governors Military and political officials naturally resigned.Because Paulus was always cautious and prudent in his work, the Senate appointed him as the garrison of the newly captured town of Antium, hoping that he could securely guard the southwestern border and coast between Rome and the Latin allies to ensure Rome's defense against Hernicia. The complete conquest of man.

The sentry's report quickly attracted his attention, and he immediately sent a team of scouts out of the city to investigate.

Soon, this group of reconnaissance cavalry fled back in embarrassment, because not long after they left the city, they were attacked by many black-helmeted and black-armored cavalry, and the entire army was almost annihilated.

It's Dionian!Paulus became nervous: Are they planning to attack Antium? !

He immediately summoned the troops in the city and began to deploy defenses in preparation for resisting the Dionian attack.

Roman soldiers stood all over the city, staring nervously at the outside of the city.

This station lasted for more than an hour. The mist dissipated, the drizzle stopped, and the sky was bright. However, the Dionian army was not seen outside the city, and even the previous "crash, clatter" sound disappeared.

Paulus was puzzled, and he decided to send out scouts again to find out the enemy's movements.

As a result, the scouts sent out were intercepted and killed again. According to the claims of the scouts who escaped, there were Dionian cavalry cruising in all directions one mile away from Antium City. They could not break through their interception at all. The movement of Mingdaionian troops.

Paulus was confused and nervous. He did not dare to send troops out of the city before he understood the movements of the Dionian army. After all, the Roman army was still attacking the Hernicians in the east, and the Latium area was empty of troops. His mission was to defend Antium and block the enemy's attack from the south together with the defenders of Vilitre and Satnicum.

While Paulus stood still, the Saturnicum garrison to the north encountered the same situation, and they also responded in the same way.In order to ensure the safety of the territory and the Latin allies, the Roman Senate dispatched cautious and prudent generals to the two newly occupied towns, so that they did not dare to send troops immediately and took the initiative to launch a tentative attack. The movement of the Dionian army.

In fact, the Dionia First Corps, Third Corps, First Cavalry Corps, and part of the Second Cavalry Corps formed a large force of nearly 20000 people, lined up in an eight-way column, and the Cavalry Corps guarded the two wings of the marching column. follow.In the early morning, they set off from Setia's barracks and marched northward. In the morning, they had already reached the border between Latium and Wolsey.

Amyntas ordered two cavalry legions to block the exit routes from Antium and Satnicum, and rob and kill the scout cavalry to ensure that his main force could pass through the middle area between Antium and Satnicum. Pass quickly and stealthily, then continue to the northwest.

Adrea, located not far north of Antium, is an ancient Latin city-state and one of the few seaside towns among the Latin city-states.It has a close relationship with Rome. Camillus was dissatisfied with the judgment of the Roman Senate 20 years ago and lived in seclusion in Adi.More than ten years ago, the Celts captured Rome and plundered the Latin area. It was with the support of the citizens of Adi that Camillus first raised the banner of resistance and finally regained Rome. Later, Rome and Adi were also established. build a stronger alliance.

(End of this chapter)