Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece - Chapter 492

[Chapter 159 The March of Dionia and the Negotiation of Syracuse]

When the Second Corps was about to arrive at the wooden bridge of the Lakoeli River, several scout cavalry sent out and rushed back from the front in a little panic: “Report the corps commander, the enemy’s cavalry was found ahead, and the number is approximately by-”

scout cavalry

Before he finished speaking, the figure of the enemy cavalry had already appeared on the other side of the Rakoeli River. They were dark skinned, with black hair scattered, wearing only thin short-sleeved linen clothes, holding javelins in their hands, bare feet, and some on horseback. There wasn’t even a cushion on the top, but the horses seemed vigorous and agile in their movements.

They have about a hundred cavalry, facing the huge army marching towards them, there is no fear, standing quietly by the river, looking at the other side… Amyntas can feel the eyes that they shoot. Some are cunning and sinister.

Is this the Numibian cavalry?

!

Amyntas recalled the description in the previous battle report and looked at them curiously. What rose in his heart was not fear, but excitement: “Let the light infantry brigade send 200 archers to guard the river, and the enemy cavalry on the opposite bank. Drive away. The other light infantry will follow the first group, wait for my order, and quickly cross the bridge!”

The second army moved quickly, the archers rushed to the river, and before they could fire their arrows, at Numi on the opposite bank The Biya cavalry immediately ran away, and the Second Corps easily crossed the wooden bridge.

Just when Amintas was considering whether to deploy the Second Corps in detachment form, the two-line “two” formation with fish scales, cooperated with the Seventh Corps to push forward, and swam around like flies. When the enemy cavalry drove away, the messenger arrived with Davos’ order: Leave those cavalry alone, continue marching on the road, and arrive at Crimea before dusk!

Amyntas had to give up the attempt and marched in columns again.

At first, the Numibian cavalry rushed over from time to time on both sides of the avenue, screamed a few times, and threw a round of javelins, but after being shot down by the light infantrymen with bows and arrows, they became much more cautious.

After lingering like this for a while, suddenly there were enemy cavalry ahead, shouting something, and then these cavalry began to retreat.

Soon, these “ugly-looking” Numibians were no longer in the sight of the soldiers of the Second Legion.

The soldiers did not know what happened, and Amyntas could vaguely guess the reason: it might be that the Dionysian fleet, which had gone on the expedition, won another naval battle, and these mercenaries were worried that the Dionysian fleet had taken control of Crotone. In the nearby sea, the pontoon bridge built on the Neto River will be broken by warships, and the Neto River will be blocked, then these mercenary cavalry raging in the Dionysian territory will not be able to return to the Syracuse camp and will be isolated outside. An abandoned son will surely be strangled by the anger of the soldiers.

………………………………

It is true that when the Numibian cavalry and the Celtic cavalry on the northern plains of Croton fled the Neto River in embarrassment, there were already Dionys. Asian warships appeared at the mouth of the river.

The Numibians reported what they had found to Dionysius.

“Dionysian reinforcements are coming? So fast?!” Fasipesas was surprised. The troops had just broken through Crotone City yesterday, and today the Dionias came in a hurry.

“How many?” asked Astagras urgently.

Akirita stretched out three fingers: “About 30,000 people.”

“30,000…” Astagras estimated earnestly: “There are about 10,000 Dionys in Asporustum. Asian soldiers, there are about 10,000 soldiers in the city of Crimea… In this way, after Dionia came to Crotone’s territory, more than 50,000 soldiers will be gathered, which is not small. Number!”

“Don’t forget to count the heavy infantry on the Dionysian warship.” Fasipesas reminded Astagras: “Dionysian has at least 60,000 troops!

” The soldiers on the Onia warship fought with our soldiers for a long time, and there are not many of them left.” Astagoras retorted.

“You have to admit that the Dionysians were able to capture so many of our warships, which means that the losses of their soldiers were not too great.” Fasipesas insisted on his opinion.

Phoebe Das silently listened to the two Syracuse generals arguing about the number of troops, and a trace of envy rose in his heart: Syracuse and Dionia, the two powerful forces in the Western Mediterranean, were at war. The number of soldiers dispatched was often more than 50,000, which was beyond the reach of Sparta and its allies.

At this time, another Numibian beside Akirita said a few words aloud in Numibian.

Fasipezas immediately stopped arguing with his colleagues, and asked curiously, “What did he say?” Achillita

replied: “My men said, ‘Some of the enemy wear black armor, and some of them wear black armor. You have the same armor, and some people don’t wear armor at all, and they don’t have weapons.”

It turned out that among the reinforcements led by Davos: the soldiers of the Second Legion were all official citizens, wearing standard black helmets and black armor. , lances, long shields, daggers, javelins; the soldiers of the Seventh Legion are mostly reserve citizens and registered freemen, and they do not have enough money to buy Dionian standard equipment, so their weapons and equipment are very messy until After annihilating and capturing the soldiers of Tarantum, all the soldiers of the Seventh Legion were able to change into the heavy infantry equipment plucked from the soldiers of Tarantum, Corinthian helmets, linen breastplates, round shields, greaves, lances, Sabre, the rear baggage team also loaded thousands of heavy infantry equipment also from Tarantum prisoners, which was going to be replaced by the Sixth Legion stationed in Crimea; and for the spear brigade, In order not to reveal the secret, let the Syracuses know in advance and take precautions. After all, the four-meter-long spear is too dazzling, so they marched empty-handed, and the spears were transported to the port of Crimea by cargo ships. The inside is unloaded, so it will give the Numibian such an illusion.

“I’ll just say, how can Dionia have so many civic soldiers! It turns out that they recruited all the free people, but they are unable to equip them with all weapons, even if there are more people, it is useless!” Tagores glanced at Fasipesas and laughed.

Fasipesas didn’t quarrel with him anymore, and the expression on his face was much more relaxed. As an opponent, of course he also hoped that the Dionysian army was as weak as possible.

“Bless Apollo, Dionysian’s reinforcements came just in time!” At this time, Dionysius, who had been thinking about it, spoke.

Since witnessing the navy’s fiasco, he has been sullen. His men thought he was angry at the navy’s defeat, but he was worried about the fate of this huge army, because he thought of a key issue.

Even if the Syracuse army continued to go north to conquer Crimissa, Castellon, and even the city of Turinan, the strong offensive pressure made the Dionians not dare to divide their troops into their fleet for the time being. The weak rear of the Zara army landed, but as long as the Dionysians burned the wooden bridge over the wide Krati River, the Syracuse army, which had lost its naval superiority, could not cross the Krati River and attack the Dionys. The heart of the Asian Union – the northern city of Turiyi, and once the army stops at the Krati River, Dionia, who has slowed down, may send a fleet to attack the rear of the Syracuse army while sticking to the Great River Defense Line. It will inevitably make the Syracuse army exhausted and even defeated in the end.

Thinking of this possibility, Dionysius broke out in a cold sweat, and he started to retreat in his heart: simply… let Phoebe Das go to Turii to make peace?

In the tent, Dionysius had glanced at the straight-backed, taciturn Spartan several times. For Sparta, he hoped that Syracuse would quickly end the war and help them vigorously. , to help them quickly defeat the anti-Spartan alliance, he was very clear in his heart, but he would never do it.

If the Spartans were still needed to support him when he first became a tyrant, now he is fully fledged and does not need a powerful ally to dictate his actions.

Conversely, the war-torn Spartans would lower their arrogant heads to benefit Syracuse.

At this moment, Dionysius didn’t mind taking advantage of Sparta’s eagerness to achieve his goals.

What kind of negotiation conditions are proposed?

As far as the current occupied area is used as the sphere of influence of both sides to implement a truce, will the young man from Dionia accept it?

Or go back to Sirius and give Crotone to Dionia?

Although the treasury was exhausted, Dionysius was really unwilling to lead such a huge army and failed to occupy a city in Dionia.

But as a ruler who is very good at weighing interests and losses, he could not completely drive out the forces of Carthage in Sicily when Carthage was defeated and Syracuse had an absolute advantage in Sicily. Naturally It is also possible to temporarily swallow this unwillingness.

And this expedition, occupied so many great Greek city-states, almost controlled the southern part of Great Greece, prevented the expansion of Dionysian forces to the south, and the strength of Syracuse has been greatly increased, In fact, the purpose of Dionysius’ expedition has been realized halfway.

As long as you go back, strengthen the navy, and after the treasury is full, attack Great Greece again, I believe that Dionia will be destroyed!

However, just when he wanted to retreat and wanted to stop the war with Dionia through the Spartans, he heard the news that the Dionysian army was coming to help. After listening to the comments of his men, he changed again. Got an idea: Although the Syracuse navy failed, the staggering number of the army was victorious and morale was high, and they were all experienced civic soldiers and mercenaries. By comparison, if you can completely defeat the Dionysians in a battle, you can turn the tide of the battle and make Dionia pay a greater price!