Chapter 92 Battle of Lamato River (1)

This area is not too flat, the ground is undulating, and there are small mounds and thorn bushes everywhere. On the west side is the Lamato River, and on the north side is the middle reaches of the Colache River, which flows from northwest to southeast.

Obviously, Felixius chose to set up the formation here, taking into account the strength of the Syracuse cavalry, and wanted to use the terrain to limit its play and detour to the greatest extent. At the same time, such terrain is undoubtedly more beneficial for the more adaptable and more flexible Dionian Legion infantry.

Dionysius of course saw the disadvantage of this terrain to his side, but he still led his army there.

More than 100,000 people from both sides gathered on this land of more than ten kilometers.

Dionysius narrowed his eyes and tried to look forward carefully. Even if his vision was blocked by the dust mist, the black costumes of the Dionysian legionnaires were particularly conspicuous, and they were directly opposite Dionysius. .

"The Dionysians are in the middle!" Dionysius was determined, because he also invested his most elite 15,000 soldiers in the middle. They were all mercenaries from Campania and mainland Greece. After many years of fighting in Sicily with him, most of the soldiers were granted citizenship by him, gained land, and became new citizens of Syracuse. This is the core force most loyal to him and his most reliable.

"In this way, according to the previous battles of the Dionians, their focus of attack is on their left flank!" Phoebe Das reminded: "I suggest that at least 20,000 soldiers should be placed on our right flank in order to block the enemy. attack!"

Dionysius did not answer immediately, he tilted his head and looked forward to the left.

What he saw was the shadowy figures in the dust and the fog, and the southern Italian coalition forces were still in formation. The noisy noise and commotion extended beyond the sight...

After a while, he gave the order: "Send all the Syracuse civic soldiers to the right flank!"

The messenger got the order and galloped eastward.

Dionysius turned to the Spartans and said in a deep voice, "Phoebedas, I have appointed you as the commander of the right wing. I hope you can lead the army to block the enemy's attack and buy time for victory. I hope you can accept it. !"

"This is my honor!" Phoebe Das readily accepted his fate, without any arrogant self-consciousness of "I am a Spartan, you have no right to appoint me", and was able to lead more than 20,000 soldiers to participate in this large-scale battle. The battle was the first time for Phoebe Das, and it was probably the last time, so the temptation for him was too great for him to refuse.

"Also, in times of difficulty, you have the right to order the Numidian and Celtic cavalry on the outside of the right flank.

' Dionysius said again.

Phoebe Das felt trusted, and he made a rare military salute to Dionysius.

"Astagrath," Dionysius continued.

"exist!"

"You lead the Sicilian city-state army to guard the left flank with the Hibernian army! Remember, I only need you to hold back the enemy, and I don't need you to be too aggressive, understand?!" For this brave man, Dio Nisius gave the order in a stern tone.

"Yes, my lord!" Astagras sighed inwardly.

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"Lord Commander, Trina's troops have reached the battlefield. Lord Cypros asked me to tell you that there are a total of 8,500 soldiers in Trila's troops!" The herald arrived on horseback and reported to Felixius.

8500 people! ! Felixius was taken aback by this number. Does this mean that there are only a few hundred soldiers left in Trina to defend the city. Because when discussing today's battle plan yesterday, Trina's representative once said that they can send up to 6,000 people to participate in the competition, but they did not expect an increase of 2,500 people today. Immediately, Felixius thought of the intentions of the Trina people: this is to prepare to devote all his strength to a battle!

Felixius was also very encouraged at the moment, and he said loudly: "You go and tell Lord Ashes, let him move all the Siridine army that was originally planned to be placed on the right flank to the left flank, and let the hammer head of the hammer change. be thicker!"

"Yes!" A messenger turned his head and resigned from Xiangdong.

"You go and tell Lord Cypros that Trina's troops are right next to the Dionian Legion, forming a formation on the right flank. The cavalry detoured and harassed!"

"Yes!" Another messenger ordered to go to Xichi.

Seeing the messengers disappearing into the fog, Felixius once again looked at the Dionian soldiers in front of him. Only by watching these well-trained legionnaires skillfully form teams and arrays could he feel at ease and dispel the doubts in his heart. Nervous and irritable.

After watching for a while, he suddenly felt something was wrong, and said: "Immediately notify the two legion commanders Drax and Epithenes, slow down the formation of the soldiers, and wait for the allied troops on both sides, don't pass by. Reveal our intentions early!"

"Yes!" The other two messengers rushed forward.

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"Felixius is too careful. With the strength of our legion, we don't need to play this kind of trick at all. Sound the horn of attack and just kill it!" Drakes received Felixius's order and was a little dissatisfied.

But he didn't dare to disobey the orders of his superiors, so he said to the adjutant: "Go and tell the team officers, let the brothers slow down and line up, don't get excited too early, slow down, save your energy and energy to charge Moment."

"Understood, Legion Commander!"

………………………………

"Oh, if it weren't for the reminder from Lord Felixius, I almost forgot about this! Adjutant, let the brothers slow down and wait for the Trina next to you. But, let's be honest, it's easier for them to hurry up. , If you want to slow down, how many years have we practiced like this... Haha..." Epithenis gave the order with a teasing.

The adjutant held back his laughter and said, "Understood, Legion Commander!"

………………………………

Hundreds of messenger cavalry galloped back and forth before and after the long formation on both sides, conveying orders. In the noisy and chaotic array, the team officers at all levels were also shouting loudly. Two huge phalanxes are slowly taking shape...

It took a long time for more than 100,000 people to form an array. The Syracuse people completed the formation faster than the South Italian coalition. After all, most of its troops came from the same city-state, and they often fought together. Unlike the southern Italian coalition not only from multiple city-states, but also the first. A cooperative battle.

At noon, the huge noise gradually quieted down, and the pervading dust gradually dissipated due to the stillness of the soldiers...

The soldiers in the front row of the phalanx on both sides have been able to clearly see the enemy several hundred meters away. In their eyes, the dense phalanx of the other side is like a thick steel city wall extending endlessly to both ends...

The midday sun in early winter was not scorching hot, but it shone on the soldiers' bright armor and weapons. Only when the eyes fell in front of the Dionysian phalanx, the distinctive and uniform equipment and clothing of the Dionysian legionnaires naturally attracted the attention of the soldiers of Syracuse, and also made them feel palpitations, because black always means unknown.

The sea breeze was blowing from the Squillace Bay, making the heavily armored soldiers feel a little cool after the tossing and sweating...

In the long array of both sides, the large and small military flags fluttered in the wind. The largest flag was erected behind Dionysius, not only painted with the traditional "three-legged" logo of Syracuse, but also of Dionysius. The real name is also embroidered on the flag. In comparison, Felixius, the commander of the Southern Italian Allied Forces, was a bit shabby. Due to the rush to take office, as the commander of the two legions, the Ministry of Military Affairs did not have time to specially make a statue of the military flag for him, and could only use the statue of the legion flag. , and simply add a larger flag.

Felixius didn't care about this. At this time, he was surprised to see that the military flag representing Dionysius in the opposite army formation was slowly moving forward. After a while, the military chess had moved to the front of the formation. And under the flag of the army are the generals with golden helmets and golden armors.

Such a gorgeous dress should be Dionysius himself, right? Felixius hesitated for a moment, and then rode forward.

When the two met in the middle of the battlefield, Dionysius looked at Felixus with sharp eyes, and Felixius responded with his eyes without showing weakness.

"Are you the commander-in-chief of the Southern Italian Allied Forces?"

"You are the tyrant of Syracuse, Dionysius?"

"I am Dionysius."

"I am the commander of the Dionysian army, Felixius, the commander of the southern Italian coalition this time!" Under Dionysius' silent gaze, Felixius subconsciously increased his volume.

"Felixius, it seems that your commander-in-chief's name, your subordinates do not agree." Dionysius turned to look at his sides, with a mocking smile on his face, only to see two things. There are cavalry on the side quickly galloping here.

"The big and small city-states in the South Italian Alliance are treated as equals, unlike the Greek city-states in Sicily!" Felixius responded with a reddish face, imitating the tone of his colleagues in the Dionian Senate during the debate.

Dionysius laughed: "In battle, shouldn't the army obey the orders of one person to ensure the unity of the whole army? I think your consul Davos should be very clear, didn't he tell you? "

Seeing that he was no match for Dionysius in terms of eloquence, Felixius simply remained silent and looked at him coldly.

Dionysius restrained his smile and showed a gloomy look: "You are right in one sentence, I alone have the final say in the Greek city-state of Sicily! And after this battle, I will also be alone in Greater Greece. Say it!"

"You won't know until after you've played it!" Felixius replied succinctly.