Chapter 80 The Conspiracy of the Maple Coalition

Both Heraclea and Metapontum had sent troops to take part in the last siege of Brindisi, so both the consuls and Eumacas had a hard lesson as well.

Davos agreed with this. Although he vaguely felt that something was wrong, he couldn't say what it was. Because no trace of the enemy was found in the direction of Uzentum, at least the possibility of another attack by the Maple coalition forces was ruled out.

In order to catch up with the enemy, the whole army moved quickly. The baggage team remained in the city of Manduria, and 3,000 Manduria defenders were also taken away, bringing the total number of Tarantum's army to 13,000. There are more than 30,000 troops.

The whole army accelerated to the north in the marching order of yesterday, and after ten miles, they received a report from the reconnaissance cavalry: the Maple coalition had entered the mountains to the north.

Such a huge army did not go to Brindisi in front, but got into the mountains instead? ! Davos was a little puzzled. On the other hand, Yuma Cass, who was beside him, pondered for a while, with a look of astonishment on his face.

"They may have to go to the Anlern Hills!" said Diomelas nervously when he heard the news.

Only after listening to the two of them did Davos know that between the east and west coast corridors are not all thorny, wooded and rugged mountains, but there is a hilly area between the mountains. Too difficult to walk, you can go through it to the east of Tarantum. In the early days, the Mesapi people often sped out from there to harass the Tarantum people. Later, the Tarantum people became stronger, and they built defensive camps and sentries near the exit of the hills to strengthen the reconnaissance. Weary Messapies are often repulsed by lounging Tarantums. Later, under the influence of the Greeks, the Mesapi people gradually became civilized and were not used to mountain warfare. Coupled with the establishment of Manduria, they had a more convenient base for attacking Tarantum. Over the years, the Mesapis have never used the Allen Hills to break into Tarantum territory.

"That means... the defensive camp there has been abandoned?!" Davos immediately realized this.

"Uh..." Eumacas was still considering the language, and Dionysus had already said: "The camp has not been abandoned, it's just that after Archita's army was completely wiped out, the Mesapi-Puchetti coalition attacked aggressively. , most of the people outside the city have already hid in the city, and of course the soldiers in the camp have also withdrawn, so the Mesapis can easily enter our land, destroy the fields we are about to harvest, burn our villages, and kill those who have not left. People! We must catch up and stop them! Push them back!"

Diomilas was excited, Eumacas was also worried, but Davos was unmoved, he paced back and forth, his brain was thinking fast.

"What are you still hesitating about! If we don't act, we won't be able to catch up!" Diomilas urged loudly.

"Why are you chasing them!" Davos stopped and reminded with a serious look: "Don't forget what you said before, 'If the enemy retreats, we will immediately attack Brindisi and persecute the Mesapis Had to fight us.'"

Diomilas was at a loss for words, and Eumacas quickly explained: "The situation is different now, the army of Messapi will rush into our territory of Tarantum and cause great destruction, which will cause panic among the people, and may even attack. Tarantum City!"

"Although the number of Maple coalition forces is large, Tarantum City is not easy to capture, but Brindisi can be easily obtained." Davos pointed to the front, and said earnestly: "The heavy infantry chases the infantry, wants to chase after the infantry. It's very difficult. Instead of passively chasing the Maple coalition and being led by their noses in circles, it is better to take the initiative to attack and take Brindisi. If they don't come, we will continue to attack Igratia north! I don't believe it, they won't come to fight!"

Eumacas bit his lip, unable to make up his mind for a moment. Diomilas still shook his head stubbornly: "No! It's not your Dionia's land that the enemy wants to destroy, of course you don't feel bad! But that's our Tarantum land, I'd rather attack Brindi later. West,

Also drive them out of Tarantom first. "

Hearing this, Davos was also angry: "Can you blame me! When you were negotiating, you didn't mark it on the map, and you didn't explain it. There is also a damn what Anlern hills can pass through the mountains! I You are not allowed to go there because you said that the roads there are complicated and the terrain is unfamiliar, in case the enemy sets an ambush there—"

Speaking of this, Davos's mind jolted and caught the flash of inspiration: "I understand! I understand! Because of the cavalry! You said before that the Messapi cavalry slaughtered Tarantum. Your cavalry suffered great losses. But this time, we have not been attacked by Messapi cavalry until now. Why? Did all Messapi cavalry suffer from the plague and died?”

Davos looked around confidently and said in a serious tone: "No! The Mesapis want us to know the whereabouts of their army, they want us to follow, because they must have set up an ambush in the Anlern Hills! So we Can't walk through the Anren Hills and bury the only army that can save Tarantum there!"

Eumacas was moved by these words, and Diomilas was silent.

"I agree with Lord Davos! Let's attack Brindisi!" Triphias exclaimed.

"I agree too." Tudpres nodded in agreement.

The clear statement of the two army commanders made Davers' proposal passed.

Diomilas jumped on his horse unwillingly.

"Lord Diomilas!" Davos shouted: "Remember that Dionysus is here to help Tarantum, not to be humiliated! As Dionysian's Archon, At the same time, he was elected as the commander-in-chief of this expedition. If there is another bad phenomenon of disrespecting the commander-in-chief and disobeying orders, I don’t think the coalition army needs to exist!”

Davos's words were loud, and the surroundings suddenly fell into a dead silence. Even Triphias and Tudpres were shocked by the toughness of this seemingly gentle young consul.

Eumacas had to cough a few times and said, "Lord Diomilas is also worried about—"

Davos waved his hand to interrupt him and said coldly, "Why is the Dionysian army always winning and undefeated? It's because of discipline and obedience! If the army of more than 30,000 people does not have a unified command, if it does not obey the order, it will surely be defeated. It's a mess! Since I knew it would be a failure, why go out again!"

Under the coercion of Davos, and under the gazes of everyone, Diomilas' face flushed red, and under invisible pressure, he finally squeezed out a sentence: "Got it."

………………

The Anlern Hills, the Puchetti King Tremoney and the city-state consuls of Messapi were looking forward to it, but the news of the spies' report dampened their enthusiasm.

"What did you say?! The Greeks didn't come this way, but continued to the east... Brindisi, their target is Brindisi!" Trimoni exclaimed, he was more than Messapien I care more about the seaside city, because to the consuls of Messapi, Brindisi was nothing but an ally, while to Tremonis, it was part of his newly acquired territory, part of his wealth. source.

"Don't worry, King Puchetti." Pachymerus, the consul of Udière, advised: "Our cavalry went to inform Brindisi yesterday that the inhabitants had left temporarily before the Greeks got there. Well, even if the Greeks get into the city, they won't get anything, if they dare to move to Brindisi again, we don't mind getting another batch of Greek slaves when we take it back! I think we should wait a little longer and let the cavalry Make the fire that burns the villages in Tarantum's territory stronger! I don't believe that the Tarantum people can continue to go east regardless of this news!"

Pachymerus' words calmed Tremoney, he thought for a while, and said viciously: "Kill some of the Greeks captured in Brindisi, throw the corpses on the road, and see how the Greeks react. !"

………………

"Report! ... More than a dozen thick smoke rose from the Anlern Hills, and the entire sky was blackened. There were many corpses of Tarantum people along the way, including women and children..."

"I just need you to monitor the enemy's movements and see if the enemy has come out of the hills!" Davos bluntly interrupted the scout cavalry: "Go back and tell your captain, and send a Dionian cavalry back to report the situation next time. !"

Tarantum scout rode away in a hurry.

Davos only looked at Eumacas, who was silent beside him, and reminded again: "The Mesapi people are tempting us to go to the Anlern Hills, we can't go!"

Eumacas frowned and remained silent.

Davos didn't say more, he turned around, and whispered to the herald Thormid: "Notify the commander in the front row, speed up the march, and get away from that dangerous place as soon as possible."

The mercenaries led by Zantiparis have all become reserve citizens due to their repeated military exploits. The military officer Felixius put them all into the vacant First and Second Corps, and Zantiparis served as the acting captain of the Fifth Regiment of the Sixth Brigade of the First Corps. For a reserve citizen, this position is on the high side, but most of the officers and generals in the army were members of the Persian Expeditionary Force. They felt that the position of Zantiparis was low. After all, he was one of the five leaders. one. Therefore, once he becomes a full-fledged citizen, his position may be promoted rapidly.

And Thormed used to have the reputation of "first herald" in the mercenary army. He could handle the relationship with all parties, convey the orders of the leaders in a timely and accurate manner, and make even the stubborn team officer accept it. And execution, won the trust of the leaders.