Chapter 351 Marco's Determination

Moreover, the defensive measures of the Dionysian defenders did not stop there. They collected linen from the houses in the city, sewed them into long sections, and then set up wooden poles at both ends of the aisle at the head of the city to support the linen. Sections of the linen canopy were formed. As a result, most of the arrows, javelins, and flying stones shot towards the city head were blocked by it, and lost their lethality, which well protected the defenders at the city head.

In addition, the Dionysian defenders also set up a lot of wooden frames at the top of the city, with copper pots filled with water hanging on them. After boiling with firewood, they poured directly into the city. The boiling water contained excrement and urine, which was poured on the siege. On the Carthaginian soldiers, the skin festered and could not be healed, which was very sinister.

Stone bullets swept through the air from time to time, no matter where they landed, it caused a sensation; arrows and flying stones continued to crisscross the air, like dark clouds shrouded the city. The Dionian soldiers defended the city and did not retreat a step; the Carthaginian soldiers were like a tide, constantly pounding the city...

In fact, the battle is not only on the ground. In the past few days, Margo has let the soldiers from miners dig a few new tunnels underground, and also let them continue to dig into the city, and learned the lesson of the last time. There were heavily armed soldiers behind them, and after the tunnel was noticed by the Dionysians, the two sides fought even more fiercely in the tunnel...

The siege battle continued from morning to dusk, and the offensive intensity of the Carthaginian army continued unabated, especially after the Philippine infantry was dispatched. There were several times when the city was attacked, but in the end, all of them were defeated by the Dionysians. repelled by reinforcements.

When night fell, the Carthaginian army finally sounded the bugle to retreat.

Although Okredon also participated in battles when he was young, he had never experienced such a large number of people participating in the war and such a grand and fierce battle. He stood on the inner wall and looked at the countless fallen corpses and wounded soldiers under the city ahead. , The mood can not be calm for a long time.

Not long after, when he saw Marco in the large tent of the Carthaginian camp, the military commander who had just commanded the siege battle was gobbling down dinner.

Seeing Okriton coming in, Margo's eyes suddenly became sharp, he put down the bread in his hand, and asked bluntly: "Okriton, how are you going to negotiate?"

Okleton was not surprised that Margo would know about the negotiations, because as the head of Margonid's family, someone would take the risk and come to Sicily to report to him everything that happened in the Senate. He was surprised that Margo didn't seem to be angry that the senate wanted peace talks.

But after thinking about it carefully, he also understood: Lilibe was lost, the sea route was cut off, the food supply for the 100,000 army became more and more difficult, and even the always tough Marco had to bow his head in front of reality? !

For Okreton, he's happy to see that happen, which means there's something to negotiate.

"One of the conditions for the Dionians to reach a peace agreement is that the army you lead, Lord Margo, surrenders to them!" Okriton said word by word.

Marco's eyes suddenly became sharp, but then he restrained the light again, and said with certainty: "The Senate will never agree to such absurd conditions!"

"Not only this one, the Dionians also asked Carthage to cede Corsica, Sardinia, and the entire island of Sicily!" Okriton continued with a serious tone.

"Dionia is trying to destroy my Carthage!" There was a little flame burning in Margo's eyes,

But the expression became solemn: "It seems that the Dionysians do not want peace talks at all!"

"I don't think so." Okriton said slowly: "Just like the conditions for the peace talks given by the Senate, the Dionysians gave such harsh conditions at the beginning of the talks, but it was just that We can of course continue to bargain with them, but our record is so poor that I can’t get a good bargaining chip…”

Margo raised his head and looked directly at Okridon.

Okriton calmly met Marco's sharp eyes like a blade, his face was frosty, and he said coldly: "Is there something wrong with what I said?! If it wasn't for Marco, you led the army to defeat from the east. Going back, the loss of Palermos and Lilibis one after another made the whole war situation so bad and bad, and the Senate would not choose such a humiliating peace negotiation!—”

"When did I suffer a big defeat in the east?!" Margo slapped the table with an angry palm, the bowls and jars on the table rattled, and the food was scattered on the ground: "I led the army to retreat from the east, that was Because the supply of military rations is not enough, the fundamental reason is not because our navy is not good, losing control of the Sicilian waters, and the military's maritime transport lines are seriously threatened. This is what you recommended Annobas did. Good thing! The fleet he led has been defeated again and again, and almost all of our ships in Carthage have been exhausted, while the army under my command has not suffered major losses so far, but it has fallen into passive because of being trapped in military provisions!" Marco The last sentence he couldn't help saying expressed his helplessness and sadness.

But Okriton obviously didn't sympathize with him, but said coldly: "Lord Margo, in order to fulfill your original request to send troops, the Senate made great efforts and almost took time out of the allies of Carthage and Phoenicia. All the young and middle-aged citizens have gathered an army of 100,000 for you, which has led to a gap in the defense of Africa, unable to resist the harassment of the Dionysian fleet!

In order to ensure the food supply of the army you led, the Senate has also collected almost all the surplus food in the homes of all the people of Africa, resulting in an empty treasury! Jia Tai Chi has made such great sacrifices and efforts, not to let you be satisfied that the army has not suffered big losses, but to pass the reason of failure to the navy, even if you win a few more victories, let the Dionians feel Under the pressure, Dionia did not dare to send the navy to harass the land of Africa, and even in the current peace talks, they would not put forward such harsh conditions! "

Marco was at a loss for words, and after a while he regained his proud demeanor: "In a few days, you will receive news of victory!"

Okredon was stunned for a moment, then understood and said uncertainly: "You mean Serinus? I just watched the siege today. How many soldiers did we kill? 3,000? Or 5,000? "

Margo said confidently: "We have lost a lot of people, but the casualties of the Dionians will not be low. The most important thing is that we built the earth wall to the edge of the trench, and then attacked Serinus. , our soldiers can directly pass through the city walls and fight the Dionysians head-on.

If the Dionysians don't increase their troops, we can seize the city of Serinus with absolute superiority of troops; and if they increase their troops, then this place will become the bleeding wound of Dionia! By then, the negotiating conditions they proposed would have to be drastically revised! "

Although the two are political enemies, in the current situation where Carthage is facing a major crisis, for the first time Okredon hopes to see what Margo said can become reality, so he said sternly: "The Senate is eagerly waiting. With the news of your victory, I hope we don't make us wait too long!"

……………………………………

In the middle of the night, Serinus' clipper entered the port of Minoa, and Davos was woken up by Martius in his sleep. Thormid and Printos who came over said: "The Carthaginian army has been attacking the city of Serinus for days, and the defenders of Serinus suffered a lot of casualties, and even Amyntas was a little uncomfortable. Stop, write a letter to ask for help."

Thormid took the battle report in surprise. After reading it, he handed it to Plintos. He thought about it, and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, now Marco, the military commander of Carthage, has gathered all his troops in Cyprus. Outside the city of Linus, he concentrated on attacking the city with all his strength. Amintas had no more than 10,000 soldiers. Even if he tried his best to resist the attack of the Carthaginian army for a long time, the casualties would be heavy. You must know that the soldiers of the First Legion The vast majority are from Turii, which has been replenished twice in this war, and the people of Turii have made great sacrifices..."

Hearing these words, Davos was moved and remained silent.

Thormid carefully observed the expression on Davos' face and suggested softly: "I remember that when Your Majesty was in Latium, in view of the Roman army storming Ostia city and causing our army to pay a lot of casualties, so Decisively ordered to abandon the city of Ostia and burn it down, resulting in the Roman army's huge casualties and nothing, thus destroying their morale. Now that we have captured Lilibe, we can completely replace the port of Serinus. The role played, is it possible to consider taking the same method and abandoning Serinus when necessary?"

Hearing this suggestion, Davos moved in his heart, tapped his fingers on the table, and fell into thought. After a while, he raised his head and looked at another staff officer: "Printors, what's your opinion?"

Seeing that the eyes of several other people were focused on Printos, he thought about it and said, "I agree with Lord Tormid's suggestion, but it's best not to give up Serinus City too soon, because your Majesty you are now The strategy adopted is to take a defensive stance on the land and lure the Carthaginian army to take the initiative to attack, so as to continuously kill and wound the Carthaginian soldiers and kill their morale... Let the Carthaginians capture Serinus prematurely, even if Ruins will also improve their morale. At the same time, it will also save the Carthaginians more time for attacking Liliba..."

After listening to Davos, he pondered for a while, and suddenly showed a helpless smile: "I now regret sending Amyntas to defend Serinus. I ordered him to give up Ostia when I was in Latinum. Sicily...I want him to give up Serinus again, even if he finally obeys the order, with his fighting style of always going forward and never retreating, I am afraid he will always be haunted."

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