Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece - Chapter 221

[Chapter 19 Peace Talk]

He looked around at the other three and said, “I have two news, one good and one bad. Which one do you want to hear first?”

“Listen to the bad news first. Look at ΔΔshuge WwんW. 『kan→shu→ge.la ‘ Drax said first.

“This morning, just after leaving the swamp, the food convoy returning to Turii was attacked by 300 sailors from Crotone. The free people who were guarding the baggage were temporarily unprepared, causing 50 casualties and the loss of the pack beasts. Quite a lot. Before our soldiers arrived, the enemy had fled back to the ship moored on the coast…” Davos read aloud.

“300 people?! The number of Crotones participating in the attack increases, and they are getting more and more courageous! I remember that our garrison is near the swamp!” Capps said in surprise.

“Perhaps it is because of this that the guards lose their vigilance.” Davers said with a serious expression: “We must learn the lesson of this time to ensure that we will not commit it again in the future!”

Capps and Drakes squeezed tightly. Fist, nod forcefully.

“It’s a shame that we don’t have a fleet, otherwise how could the Crotones easily attack our villages and kill our people on our territory!” Drax said angrily.

In this regard, everyone is very helpless. After all, Dionia is an emerging alliance. It has only been established for less than a year. The navy is not like the army. As long as there are people, weapons, and strict training, it can be sent to the battlefield in a few months.

To manufacture naval warships, especially the main warships, the three-tiered oar warships, even if the speed is accelerated, it will take at least three months to launch. It also requires nearly two hundred sailors and experienced helmsmen… and so on. After training, running-in, and skillful manipulation of warships, it will still take several months to form combat effectiveness.

Therefore, the navy is an expensive service that consumes both time, money, and manpower. Small city-states simply cannot afford it. With the current strength of the Dionysian Alliance, money and manpower are not a big problem. The most important thing is time. .

After this war with Crotone, Davos has secretly listed “establishing a navy” as the top priority for the next alliance development.

“Lord Davos, what is the good news?” Avinogis asked.

Davos smiled slightly: “Lochry has sent troops to attack Colonia! As you said, in such a situation, Crotone may consider negotiating with us again. If it still does not move– Davos’s voice suddenly became as cold as a cold wind: “I ordered Hieronymus to send troops to cross the Tachinadi River and destroy the farmland, villages, canals…etc outside the city of Crotone.” All facilities, forcing the Crotones to come to negotiate!”

… …

The next morning, Lycias and Thesprotis entered the central tent of Dionia.

Davos looked at them and

said with a smile: “Lord Lysias, I said we would meet again, but I didn’t expect it to come true so soon.”

Lysias ignored Davos’ teasing , said with a serious expression: “Lord Davos, the negotiation conditions you proposed last time, the Crotone Council agreed to give up Crimesa and hand it over to Dionia, and was willing to pay a certain amount of money. Money to bring about peace! As for the dissolution of the Crotone Alliance—”

Lycias paused, considering how to use language to better persuade Davos, but Hisprotis replied: “The discussion The meeting agreed in principle to dissolve the alliance, but now Lokri is attacking Coulonia. Based on the deep friendship between Coulonia and Crotone for hundreds of years, Crotone must give Coulonia assistance, and has the alliance leader. The identity of the lord will help Crotone to convene citizens, form an army, reinforce Corenia, and repel Lokri… After they have been repelled, we will… Disband… Thesprotis suddenly choked up. I can’t say it anymore. Crotone’s century-old hegemony in Greater Greece was established by the ancestors of the Crotones, who worked hard and fought hard and fought bloody battles. He

was not excited and could not control himself.

Lycias, who had originally complained that Thesprotis had given all his cards to the opponent as soon as he came up, was also full of sadness at the moment.

“Crotone doesn’t need to dissolve the alliance!

“The first sentence Davos said was beyond their expectations.

Davos looked at the surprised expressions of the two and continued: “Even, Dionia can immediately release the captive tens of thousands of Crotone citizens!”

Lycias and Hisprotis looked at each other , can’t believe his ears.

“But I have one condition.” Davos said slowly: “Dionia has not been in the habit of returning the things she got.” Lycias

responded quickly: “You mean… Sproustum?”

Davos smiled: “It’s not just this.”

He walked to the map and pointed at a place with his finger: “Our Dionysian army has already begun to build camp here. It

‘s over!”

Lycias stepped forward to look at it, and couldn’t help taking a deep breath: “Do you still want the land on the north bank of the Neto River?!”

“I don’t want it, but I want Dionia to conduct peace talks. , the conditions that must be met!” Davos said sternly: “Crotone is aggressive, launching two wars against Turii and the Dionysian Alliance, burning Turii, plundering wealth, and wanton. Massacre the people of Dionia. Driven by the goddess of nemesis, we fought back bravely. With the blessing of Hades, we have successfully won one victory after another. The confidence of the people of Dionia is high, they hate Don’t let Crotone suffer the pain of being burned again! If there is no rich loot, our people will never agree to negotiate with you! Many people have suggested that more than 10,000 prisoners should be sent to dig Mine, just like Syracuse dealt with Athens captives!”

Davos’s tone made the hair of Hisprotis stand on end, of course he knew what happened to the expedition soldiers who were captured in Athens back then, he said in a trembling voice : “Aspurustum plus the land on the north bank of the Neto River, these almost occupy the territory of one of the three roots of Crotone. If they are all given to Dioria, who originally lived on these lands, then What about the people of Docrotone?! It is impossible for the council to agree!”

“These two wars have cost Crotone and Asproustum the lives of no less than 20,000 citizens, and the land should have been abandoned a lot. Move the people to Crotone City and enrich the manpower. , the redistribution of labor-starved lands, which I think is just the right way to reorganize Crotone, while making peace with Dionia, and allowing returning Crotone citizens to form an army again to help test the Renya, repelling Lochry, this is a good thing to kill multiple birds with one stone!” Davos said in a deep voice.

There seemed to be some kind of temptation in his words, which made Thesprotis couldn’t help nodding his head. He looked at Lysias subconsciously, and Lysias shook his head slightly. Thesprotis opened his mouth, but did not speak. Then fell silent.

“Of course, you can also go back and discuss slowly. I’m not in a hurry. Maybe, in a few days, it will not be you, but Locley. As long as I can cooperate with Dionia, I think Locke will be standing in front of me. I don’t care how much Crotone’s land is divided.” Davers said slowly, with an indifferent expression.

Lycias and Thesprotis felt chills all over, and Thesprotis hurriedly said: “Dear Davos, all the land on the north bank of the Neto River is handed over to Dionia, this is indeed… …It’s really hard to get the council to agree, but some of the land…I think it can be allocated to you…how much, we can negotiate again. As for

Asprostum–” Davos listened When he got here, he interrupted him rudely: “Asprostum must be controlled by Dionia, this is not negotiable! To prevent Crotone from breaking his word again, tearing up the agreement, and starting a war!

” Sprotis stood awkwardly, not knowing what to say.

Lycias sighed deeply in his heart. The easy compromise, incompetence and weakness of Thesprotis made him speechless, but this was the choice of the council!

In fact, Lycias also understood: the war has been going on until now, and Crotone has been completely passive.

Even if he was confident that Dionia’s army would never be able to break through the strong city of Crotone, and even force Dionia to retreat in the end, so what!

Farmland, villages, and town facilities have been destroyed, and there is a lack of young and middle-aged citizens. It will be a long process for Crotone to restore its former prosperity.

But the severe situation did not allow Crotone to have the luxury of time, and the panicked people did not have the determination to fight to the end.

Therefore, compromise and concession in exchange for peace, reducing losses, and preparing for future revival became the best choice for the council.

Having figured this out, Lycias no longer hesitated: “Asprostom is the northern barrier of Crotone, and if it falls into the hands of the enemy, it will only make the people of Crotone more uneasy. I think even if the council agrees, the Citizens Assembly will oppose it!”

“So, you rejected Dionia’s terms of peace talks.” Davos looked at Lycias stiffly.

Thesprotis tugged at Lysias’s clothes anxiously, and Lysias said calmly: “The people of Crotone are against the enemy’s possession of Asprostum, but they are not necessarily against it. It’s occupied by allies.”

“Allies?!” Davos, who had been calm and steady in control of the negotiation rhythm, also seemed a little surprised.

“That’s right!” Lycias raised his head and said loudly, “As long as Dionia and Crotone form an alliance, then Asproustum and part of the land on the north bank of the Neto River will be handed over to Dai. Onia is not a big problem.”