Chapter 68
"It's over! Our port is going to be blocked, Lijim is over!!"
"Atili Cruz, you must immediately let Dionia send a fleet to drive out the Messina!!"
"Send messengers immediately to make peace with Dionysius! Dionysius' enemy is Dionysius, not us! As long as we offer him gold and silver, he will accept Lijim!"
...
"Enough! You all give me peace!!" Atili Cruz roared, making everyone stunned.
"The Syracuses are still at sea, so panic like this! If you wait for them to land, don't you want to surrender immediately! Look at you, you are not even an ordinary citizen soldier! Dionysius had already I just want to occupy Lijim, so that he can monopolize the Strait of Messina and obtain huge wealth. He will not agree to our peace talks! If anyone talks about betraying the interests of the city-state, I will let the guards send him to the sea to feed the fish! ..." Atili Cruz scolded angrily, not only scared the person who said he wanted to "reconcile" just now to bow his head, but also made everyone else look ashamed.
Then, he turned his gaze to the only man in the city hall who didn't shout or panic, and asked with a serious expression, "Findun, what advice do you have in the face of this terrible situation?"
Feidun, known as the least Lijim citizen, is tough, serious and decisive. When he was elected general for the first time, he did not listen to anyone's dissuasion and intercession, and strictly investigated tax evasion in the port. As a result, he offended a large number of Lijim businessmen, and Lijim was a city-state with developed commerce and trade. The members of the council made up of people interfered with it, and Feidun has not been elected to the general and council since then. It was not until last year, when Syracuse's troops had reached the other side of the strait, that the panicked people of Lijim remembered this daring citizen again, so he was elected as a general again.
At this moment, he said solemnly: "Syracuse's army landed in Locle, although it is not too far from Lijim, but the Montalto Mountains (the southernmost point of the Apennine Mountains, the highest peak is nearly 2000 meters) is very difficult. Overpassed. If Syracuse wants to attack us, the only way to reach Locle is by taking the rugged mountain road along the coast, so as long as we send troops to hold the mountain pass, no amount of Syracuse soldiers can make a difference..."
Atili Cruz said excitedly: "You think the same as me!"
Phoebe didn't care that the chief general put gold on his face with his own ideas, but continued: "Of course, we have to be careful that the Syracuses go west from Locle through the famous road that connects the east and west coasts. The ancient road, reach Maedema, and then go south to attack Taurina, so as to open up the channel to attack Lijim!"
"This is indeed a very worrying issue!" After Feidun's words, Atili Cruz's confused thoughts were sorted out.
His brows were furrowed together, and after a moment of contemplation, he said loudly: "We must remind Taurina to strengthen its defenses and be alert to the enemy that may come from the north! And we must also send troops to reinforce Taurina, otherwise it Even with the Maro River as a barrier, it is difficult to resist the attack of the Syracuse army!"
The people who were flustered before are now nodding their heads in agreement.
Atili Cruz ignored them, but asked in a hurried and humbly tone: "Findun, what else do we need to consider?"
"With the outbreak of this war, it is inevitable that our trade channel will be cut off. Ladies and gentlemen, don't worry about your own trade." Feidun said seriously: "Even if our original warships stay here, they are not tin. The opponent of the Rakuza fleet. It's better to leave it to Dionia, at least they can make up a relatively powerful fleet and cause some trouble for the Syracuse people..."
Feidun's words made some people look ashamed.
"You're so right! That's why I gave the warship to the Dionians!" Atili Cruz took over immediately.
Someone retorted with dissatisfaction: "The Syracuses are not fools. They may use their fleets to bypass the coastal path and land near Lijim!"
Feidun shook his head and said: "We all know that the coastline near the Strait of Messina is mostly cliffs with dense reefs, and there are very few good beaches and bays, and we still occupy the two best places (referring to the Lijim city and the port, they are separated). So we just went to garrison the remaining beaches. I believe that no matter how strong the army of Syracuse is, it will not dare to risk it in front of our defensive battle formation. Huge sacrifice landed."
Feidun's words dissipated a lot of panic in everyone's hearts, and Atili Cruz took advantage of the situation to say, "Now I propose that Feidun be the commander of Lijim's army."
Almost no one objected.
Feidun accepted the appointment solemnly, and then said to the chief general: "Lord Artilicruz, while we strengthen our defense, we must immediately ask Dionia for help! If Syracuse and Locri attacked Tao with all their strength. Rena, even if the soldiers of our two cities are combined, it will be difficult to resist!"
"Don't worry." Atili Cruz had already figured out his joints at the moment, he forced a smile, and said: "The news of the Siracusa landing in Locri is believed by Dionia, Crotone, and Sirius. These city-states will soon know that the army of the South-Italian Alliance will be formed soon, how can the Syracuses dare to deal with us with all their strength when faced with a war?!"
"That's right! That's right!..." The others also responded.
"Of course, we also have to get in touch with Dionia quickly, tell them our current situation, and discuss with them the next move... Considering that there are already enemy fleets cruising in the eastern seas of Great Greece, we must immediately Send envoys to take a fast boat, go to the west coast to the port of Knapetia, and go to Turii..." Atili Cruz made a decision.
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The astonishing news of "Syracuse's army landing in Locri" quickly spread throughout Great Greece. The reaction of the people of Dionia was much calmer than that of the people of other city-states. Those who had not yet suffered defeat firmly believed in their legion, their The senate, especially the consul who believed in their magic.
Kunogolata and Cornerus met on their way to the Senate.
"The worst thing has finally happened. The Syracuses really came. I heard that the number of troops led by Dionysius is no less than 100,000!" Cornerus said as he walked with a melancholy expression.
"So we must immediately let Hieronymus form two new legions!" Kunogolata's mood was not much better than that of Cornerus: "Felixius and Ancitanos should have already Now that you know the news, I hope they can urge Crotone, Cilitin... these allies to organize the allies quickly!"
"When the big storm comes, everyone is on the same boat, and no one can escape. I believe that this time Crotone and Sirius will not hesitate any more." Cornelus is more convinced of this.
"Yeah, now we can only rely on them for the time being!" Kunogorata sighed. At the moment of crisis, he realized that whether it was the people of Dionia, the Senate or himself, they were quite equal to the young consul. Reliance: "Where is Lord Davos? Did he already know the news of the attack of the Syracuse army?"
"Yesterday, there was an urgent report from the north. Lord Davos led the army to the Dara River fortress, and was going to Laos, and took a boat to Pikosis... From the La River fortress to Turii, the messenger will also need to hurry up. One day, it is believed that now he has reached Picocis, is with Antaeus, and will soon know the news of the 'Syracuse's invasion of Greater Greece'," Cornerus said.
The elders of the Senate are paying close attention to Davos's movements. Kunogolata forgot to inquire about Davos because he was so dizzy that he was assisting Sekelian to build a military port these days.
"I hope he can repel the Samonais as soon as possible! Come back as soon as possible!" Kunogorata said expectantly.
At this time, the two of them were about to cross the Victory Square, and a group of children were playing in the square, and some young people were practicing running around the square (mainly the Turii Arena and other venues were occupied by the public for ball games, As a result, the venues in the rapidly expanding Turiyi city are not enough for people to use for fitness and sports training), some elderly people rely on steps or memorial pillars, lie on the ground to bask in the sun, and some people are holding books just copied from the library. Read the book slowly...
There is a temporary wooden platform in the center of the square. The teachers of the Mathematics Academy are popularizing simple arithmetic knowledge to the public, so many people come to watch, listen, and learn (this practice was done by the two Pida when they were in Amendolara. Good habits formed by the disciples of Goras and persisted because Mentortik Els, the dean of the School of Mathematics, always believed that it was the best way to expand the influence of their college and attract good students).
And since Lycias became the dean of the Faculty of Letters, he was not to be outdone. Every day, he sent teachers to Victory Square to stand in front of the bill board under the steps of the Senate, to read the contents of the newly promulgated bill to the public and explain some The application of common grammar, pointing out some rhetorical errors in the proclamation (which made the scribes in the senate for fear of making mistakes), and by the way, the legal provisions of Dionia, as well as the debating skills, naturally attracted a lot of attention. People listen and learn.
In such a lively square, vendors are naturally indispensable, although there is a regulation by the Turii City Hall: vendors are not allowed to set up their stalls in the square. But this is not difficult for shrewd Greek businessmen. They carry wooden blue and push wooden carts with snacks, fruits, syrups, etc. in the square. Today, when the Kuza army came, the liveliness of the square has not been reduced by half.