Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece - Chapter 677

[Chapter 22 The Burning]

“But this time it’s hard for him to win again! Because we are in the war!” Hasdrubal said in dissatisfaction.

“Once Dionysus fights with us in Carthage, what should we do if…the Carthaginian army wins one after another?” Kisgo asked cautiously again.

“On the basis of the Carthaginian army supported by Hanno?!” Hasdrubal looked contemptuous: “They only know how to bully the weak Numibians, even if the Dionysians meet Drought, it is very likely that there will be enemies on all sides, but after all, a lion is a lion, and how can a wild dog be able to deal with it, it is up to us in the end!”

Hasdrubal raised his head with confidence.

If Marco encountered an enemy infringing on Carthage’s interests when he was still in Carthage, he would have actively requested to lead the army first, but after spending all these years on the Iberian Peninsula, his temperament has changed. After changing, he nodded without hesitation and said, “That’s it!”

Then, he looked around the three of them and solemnly instructed: “Haka, from now on, you need to stock up on more grains, build more weapons and equipment, and prepare everything carefully. Expedition matters.”

“Okay, uncle.”

“Hasdrubal, you have to recruit more soldiers and train the army!”

“Don’t worry, uncle, leave this to me.”

“Kisgow, you Step up to get in touch with the Celtic tribes in northern Iberia, sign a peace agreement with them, and hire their warriors to fight for us… Also, send envoys to our ally to the south, the Kingdom of Mauritania, and try to get them to send too. Reinforcement troops, join us on the expedition.”

“Yes, Lord Governor!”

…………………………………………

After the meeting, Marco returned to the backyard, and the excitement in his heart was still circling in his chest. go, and said to the servant, “Go and pour me a glass of wine.”

After a while, it was his daughter, Dido, who brought the wine. Dido, who was 21 years old, was extremely beautiful, like a fruit that was about to ripen. However, she was still unmarried, and she asked softly: ” Father, you have already made a decision?”

Marco knew what she was asking, because of Dido’s intelligence, Marco would not avoid her in important government affairs, and sometimes asked her to provide advice: “Yes, it has been decided! I believe that in less than half a year, we can return to Carthage to the cheers of the people, and your marriage can be settled by then!”

Since Dido is his only child,

Marco gave her to her in her marriage. A certain degree of autonomy, and this daughter of his has a high vision, and the Iberian region is indeed relatively backward, and there are no outstanding characters, and his daughter’s marriage has become a problem for him.

Dido didn’t answer him, but frowned and sighed: “We are doing well in Iberia, why do we have to go back to Carthage?!”

“Carthage is our root!” Marco said sternly: “Our ancestors have gone through untold hardships to build that city, how can we easily abandon it! Besides, Carthage has declined, and our days in Iberia will not be easy, so no matter what, we must keep it The prosperity of Carthage!”

“But… the kingdom of Dionia is not so easy to deal with! It is much stronger than the old Syracuse, and I am afraid of angering it, and finally brings us… Disaster!” Dido’s eyebrows had a lot of worry.

“Dionia is strong, but we are also strong in Carthage, not to mention that now is the best time to attack Dionia, don’t worry! Besides, fighting is a man’s business, so don’t worry about it. If you have free time, go and help Haka, he will be the busiest in the next time, and he needs someone to help him share some affairs, otherwise I am afraid that his body will not be able to support.” Marco said, raised his The wine glass, tasting the wine, obviously did not want to listen to Dido’s persuasion.

“Okay…” Dido sighed faintly.

………………………………

Two days later, Ionis and his crew were escorted into the city of Carthage.

The people of Carthage, who had received the news in advance, were dispatched almost all over the city, and the people of Carthage were angry when they saw the carload of stolen goods-silver bricks that followed these criminals.

You must know that about half of the citizens of Carthage are merchants or engaged in business-related occupations. In the past two years, the Dionysians used “tricks” to break Carthage’s commercial monopoly on Sardinia, and the previous paragraph Time’s expulsion of Carthaginian merchants in Dionia made them dissatisfied, and now seeing all this, their anger can be imagined.

“Damn thieves!! Despicable and shameless Dionians!! How dare you steal the wealth of our Carthage!! Can’t forgive them easily!!!…”

“Death to them!! Execute those who try to steal our wealth. Thief!! Let the Dionysians know how powerful we are in Carthage!!!…”

…

Hateful curses resounded throughout the city, and Aionis and the crew were like little trees in the wind, trembling with fear. shock.

Under the wave of protests and abuse of Dionia in the whole city, Pretakuba and several other elders proposed in the Senate that “these Dionia criminals should be tried publicly”. This time, Hanno did not go against the trend. Blocked, the proposal passed.

Soon, the court of 100 set up a battle in the square, and

Aionis dared to apply to the court, according to the agreement signed by Dionia and Carthage, to arrange for Dionia’s officials to be present to jointly hear this matter about him. The case was rejected.

Next, the mine owner who had sold his silver bullion became the plaintiff, accusing Ionis of secretly colluding with his miners and slave chiefs to resell the silver bullion without permission.

Another wretched Carthaginian slave he had never seen became a witness, regretting how he was bought by the Dionysians with a lot of money and betrayed his master, and this transaction happened more than once. .

The captain of the Huelva patrol ship and its sailors unanimously identified that it was from the merchant ships of Ionis that they found the silver nuggets and witnessed their transactions.

The evidence is so clear that the matter is clear at a glance: the Dionian merchant deliberately violated the agreement between the two parties and repeatedly stole and sold Carthage’s important material – silver.

Amid the roars of the Carthaginian people chanting “Death to this Dionysian!”, Aionis was sentenced to death along with his crew without even having a chance to plead throughout the interrogation process.

Ionis and the crew turned pale, and were pushed to the execution ground by the Carthaginian soldiers in a daze.

It was said to be the execution ground, but it was actually the temple of Baal Harmon, the protector of Carthage.

Barr Harmon is a main god revered by the Phoenicians. He controls the flame and is also called the Lord of the Furnace. It is no wonder that Carthage, whose main industry is metal processing and smelting, will worship him, and Human beings (mainly children) were sacrificed to him at certain ceremonies or at a special moment in order to obtain his blessing.

This time, sending the Dionysians to Mount Pilsa for sacrifice was the idea of Protacuba and other elders. They believed that if the proposal to support Rome was passed, it might happen with Dionia in the future. During the war, Baal Harmon would curse the enemy and give them the greatest blessing.

When Ionis and the others were escorted to the huge bronze statue of Baal Harmon, they saw a large pit full of flames under the bronze statue.

Standing on the edge of the pit, the hot wind blowing towards the face seems to be able to scorch people’s heads…

“Push them down!! Push them down!!…” The Carthaginian who followed behind shouted frantically.

“The Carthaginians want to burn us to death!!…” Amidst the sorrowful cries of the crew, Aionis recovered from his ignorance. He regretted his greed, and hated the shamelessness of the Carthaginians even more. Fierce, when death was unavoidable, he glared at the Carthaginians around him and roared sharply: “Despicable and shameless Carthaginians! Hades above, I Aionis curse you here, always One day, your homeland and your city will be burned to ashes by this fire!!”

After Ionis finished scolding, he sang the Hades hymn aloud.

The terrified crew members gradually calmed down when they heard the voice, and also sang loudly: “Just and strict Lord of the Underworld, I accept death without fear, and come to your temple full of longing…”

The Carthaginians were even more angry. When the priests had just finished their prayers, they couldn’t wait to push the Dionians into the fire pit, watching the “criminals” turn into burning people. , danced and screamed in the fire pit, the Carthaginians cheered, but Hades’ carols, though weak, continued: “Under your double fork, all sin will be hidden…”

… ………………………………

The news that the “Third Army defeated Kautini” came back to Turiyi, which really surprised Davos. His initial hope was the Third Army It can teach the Kautini people a lesson and shock the disobedient tribes of Samonay, but he did not expect to get such a big victory, so he had to reconsider: whether to change the rules against the Samonais. Strategy.

A day later, he once again held a meeting of department heads (including the five rotating presidents of the Senate) at the palace.

“The Kautini people violated the covenant and invaded the territory of the Campania Alliance without authorization, and must be severely punished! We accept Kautini’s negotiation and release the captured soldiers on the condition that, ‘In order to avoid Kautini’s In the future, when they invaded the territory of Dionia’s allied Campanians again, the Kautinis must hand over the three towns of Capua, Lola, and Sasella to Dionia for management; Segovani must To accept the trial of the Campanias, the chief Cautini must obtain the approval of Dionia for a new election…'”