Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece - Chapter 913

[Chapter 260 Katanai Military Conference (3)]

“When the meeting is over, I’ll send someone to do this.” Cypros agreed very simply, letting Cykrian express his thanks.

Cypros

looked at Leotides and said in a deep voice, “We don’t need to worry too much about the problems at sea now, but on land, how can we deal with the attack of the Carthaginian army?”

Des did not hesitate, pointed to the map on the table, and slowly said the plan he had already thought up: “Now that Carthage and Syracuse are colluding, all the friendly city-states on the south coast have been occupied by them, and it will not be long before , the Carthaginian army can meet in the southeast corner and attack our southern border and the two allies of Leotine and Taunis.

This time the Carthaginians have not yet moved to attack the north coast. For a period of time, they will not attack the north coast for a while, which will spread their forces, and the terrain on the north coast is narrow, which is not conducive to the deployment of troops. It will take a lot of time for the Carthaginians to attack. As long as we have enough troops in Mile, we can keep the Carthaginians out of the territory for a long time. What I am most worried about is the central part of Sicily-”

Column Otisides pointed to the icon of Enna City on the map with his right hand, and said solemnly: “There are many races in the Carthaginian army from Iberia who are good at mountain combat, plus there are the Tanikian tribes who are familiar with the terrain. Lead the way, the Sikelians are not opponents at all, so Kepharoition was occupied by them, and now they are still besieging Enna, I decided not to reinforce Enna, and retreated with the Sikel tribe who were willing to follow us— -”

“You want to give up Enna?!” Cypros was shocked and solemnly reminded: “There are more than half of the Sikel tribe gathered there, I am afraid most of them are reluctant to leave their homes.”

Cyproth said these words It must be more euphemistic. In fact, he is very clear in his heart that once the Dionysian army no longer reinforces Enna, the Sikel tribe there may all fall to Carthage under the threat of the Carthaginians. This is because ten What Dionia has done with the Sikels over the years has been different from what it has done with Samonay.

As for the Samonites, Dionia maintains an ostensible alliance with this mountain race, but in fact, through trade, culture, and even religion, co-opts and assimilates various Samonite tribes, especially in Abenerum And the Nakonia region, so the Samonai tribe alliance and the priesthood panic, and finally took the initiative to provoke a war. This is actually what Davos hopes, because the expansion to the north is the kingdom of Dionia. As for Carthage to the south of the Kingdom of Dionysus, in Davos’ original strategic conception,

Dionia

did not want to be hostile to it for the time being before occupying the entire Italian peninsula, and “keep peace with Carthage. ” became the first priority, so the kingdom twice signed a peace agreement with Carthage.

So for the Sikers located between the two countries, although they have formed an alliance with Dionia, considering the attitude of the Carthaginians, Dionia’s Sicilian territory is more used to win over by means of trade. The Sikelians, while less aggressive, avoided provoking the Sikelians to cause conflict and gave Carthage a pretext.

However, after the riots of the Tanikian tribe were quelled, the “Carthaginian secret support for the Tanikian tribe” was also exposed, and Davos changed his previous practice and began to strengthen his control over the Sikelians. Merge the two Sikel towns of Hena and Herbita into the kingdom, thereby cutting the Sikel area into two parts.

The eastern area, dominated by Agilion and Kentripa, is adjacent to the Sicilian territory, so it has become a key area for Dionia to win over and assimilate. Basically, this area is close to Dionia and has friendly relations with tribes .

In the western region headed by Enna and Kepharoytion, some of the Sikele tribes had less contact with Dionia, and

some tribes were punished by Dionia for participating in the rebellion of the Tanikian tribe. , and a small number of tribes moved from the eastern region to Enna on their own initiative within the past two years, because their leaders could not bear Dionia’s increasing control over the eastern region.

Dionia did not let the western region of Sikelle go, but coordinated and resolved conflicts between the tribes as the leader of the alliance, restrained them with trade and aid, and used their warriors to participate in the war. way to control them.

Some time ago, the Sikel forces that assisted the Eighth Army and participated in the battle were mainly from tribes in the western region.

Apparently, Dionia took a step-by-step approach of encroachment, concentrating first on assimilating and absorbing the Sikel tribes in the eastern region, and then turning to the west.

I just didn’t expect that the war with Carthage would break out so quickly after only a few years, and the assimilation of the eastern region had just had some effect at this time.

“I agree with Lord Prosous, and the decision to give up Enna is correct.” Breru also stood up at this time, leaned over and stared at the map, and said, “Look, Enna is in the center of Sicily, a distance from Kai Faroition is closer, farther from our sphere of influence. After the Carthaginians took Kefaroition, Agrigento, and Gera, the town was too prominent and was already in the Encircled by the Carthaginians.

If we send less reinforcements, it will not work. Enna will still be easily captured by the Carthaginians. If we send more reinforcements, the defenses of other places will be weakened. Strength, the Carthaginians can bypass Enna and attack other towns with empty defenses, for example, send an army north from Gera to attack Hena directly… So, just a little bit, withdraw all the troops and tighten our fists !” After Brelu finished speaking, he looked at Leotizides.

Leotizides did not look at him, but said to Cypros: “The next battle will be fierce, and the safety of the Sicilian territory is related to the safety of the territory of Sicily. Any small mistake will lead to a big defeat. Today , with the Carthaginian dominance, I doubt whether the Sikel tribes in the western region are still loyal to the kingdom, and if we support En, they suddenly rebel—”

Cypros was silent for a moment, Sighing: “Okay, I agree with you, give up Enna, and withdraw to the eastern region with the tribe that is willing to follow us. So, what’s the next step?”

Leotizides said to Breru at this time.

: “Master Brelu, how about your 7th Corps responsible for defending the southern defense line?”

“You mean the line from Paragonia to Taunis?” The reason why Brelu was able to say so quickly was that Because his legion is now stationed right in the newly constructed barracks near Lake Leotine, just north of Leotine, there is some knowledge of it.

“Yes.” Leotizides nodded and continued: “The Eighth Legion will be stationed in Agilion and will be responsible for defending the western line of defense from Hena to Herbita.”

Breru looked carefully again. Looking at the map, he found that the western defense zone is basically the towns and settlements of Sikel. He immediately thought: he is new here, he is completely unfamiliar with the race of Sikel, and he has no prestige among them, so it is difficult to deter them. In case of any trouble… and the southern defense line is basically within the Catania Plain, and the two allies are Greek city-states, which have been attached to Dionia for more than ten years, and the battle will be more convenient.

He pretended to ponder, and then said: “I basically agree with your defense plan, Lord Prosus, but from the current situation, the southern line of defense may become the focus of the Carthaginian army’s attack, and the seventh legion has only more than 8,000 people. , the troops are a bit lacking.”

“Not only the southern defense line, but the two towns of Hena and Agilion may also become the focus of the Carthaginian attack.” Leotizides clicked on the map and said: ” The entire territory of Sicily can at least add 20,000 citizens to fight, and if any loss is too great, it will be replenished immediately.”

“I’ll remind you.” Cypros interjected: “It will be more than ten days. , UU reading www.sonicmtl.com is the autumn harvest! I hope that you will not recruit other citizens before this, so as to ensure that there is enough labor in the territory to complete the harvest of farmland in the shortest possible time, let us in the future There will be enough rations for the war.”

“I don’t think we will recruit any more soldiers in a short time. If the Carthaginians want to attack us, I think it will take at least 10 days. There are troops who will hold out until the autumn harvest, but be careful that Carthaginian cavalry rush into the plain of Catania and cause damage to our farmland and villages…”

After Leotizides finished speaking, Brelu said seriously: “I don’t have any problems, our 7th Legion will hold the southern line of defense!”

“I have a problem.” Cekerian exclaimed: “What happened to Syracuse?! Is it already certain that they are the same Carthage colluded and participated in the war against our Dionia?!”

“Syracuse does have connections with Carthage, but it’s still uncertain whether they want to declare war on us Dionia.” Cypros said cautiously: “I once sent messengers to Syrah. The Council of Cuza questioned, and it can be judged from the answer of their chief general, Theagenis, that Syracuse wanted to take advantage of our war with Carthage to make a profit for himself, but he did not want to be completely with us for the time being. Tear the face, become the accomplice of the Carthaginians, and fight on the front line, so it is best for us not to take the initiative to provoke the Syracuses now, as long as we take precautions against them, and first focus on defending against the Carthaginians.”

Both Leotizides and Brerou nodded, saying: This is a safe bet.

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