Chapter 165 Atili Cruise's Ambition

What does it mean to be with your help? ! It's as if you Ligiem participated in naval battles too! Sekely slandered in his heart, but did not show it on his face. After all, Atili Cruz was not only an important figure in the political arena of Lijim city-state, but also the father-in-law of King Davos.

Fortunately, Davos knew the character of his father-in-law, and before the fleet set off, he had already instructed Sekelian: "Dionia is very grateful to the ally Lijim for his great help, and we will return Lijim's money soon. Battleship!" Sekelian answered without hesitation. At present, there are hundreds of three-layer oared warships that have been captured in good or somewhat damaged parked in the Turiyi military port. Because there are not enough sailors, they can only be idle, and even because there are too many warships, the military port can no longer accommodate them. Transferred to the commercial port, Lijim asked for the return of the warship to help them solve some difficulties.

"Can the returned warships be fitted with the kind of 'wooden bridge' you just mentioned?" Atili Cruz asked again.

Seklian did not expect that Lijim's chief general would make such a request, and was stunned for a while. Don't look at the crow suspension bridge seems to be very simple, but he has heard His Majesty Davos say that it involves the use of advanced pulley knowledge and complex mechanical production, so a few suspension bridge operators can easily turn the base, and Raise and lower the drawbridge. Sekolian remembers that the scholar Mattikoris from Dionia Academy even proudly declared, 'No second Greek city-state except Dionia can make a crow bridge unless they have a deeper understanding of the pulleys. Research! ’.

"What? Can't you?!" Atili Cruz asked again, seeing that Sekelian didn't speak.

Seklian said simply: "I can't make the decision on this matter, only His Majesty Davos can make the decision. And we can defeat the Syracuse Navy, the Raven Suspension Bridge is only one reason, and more importantly, we are strong in Dionia. The corps of heavy infantry, especially in the second battle with the Syracuse Navy, the Syracuses also sent almost as many heavy infantry as ours on each warship, and the result was a disastrous defeat... …”

After speaking, Seklian said simply and bluntly: "Dionia and Lijim are allies. With us providing protection at sea, Lijim will not be harassed by the enemy from the sea, and then spend money and equipment. The navy is really unnecessary."

Hearing this, Atili Cruz immediately sank his face, looked directly at Sekelian, and said angrily: "Davs in the letter to me hopes that we Lijim can send troops to ride your fleet, in Greece Land and attack at Bernian or elsewhere in southern Greater Greece to attract and contain the Syracuse army and create the conditions for your land attack. But—"

Atili Cruz sank his face: "Before, in order to help you, we Lijim people took the initiative to attack Medema City, but suffered heavy losses, and we no longer have the strength to do such a risky action, please tell Davos, it is true I'm sorry! And since Dionia is already so powerful, she is fully capable of defeating the Syracuses on her own!"

finished,

He stood up: "I still have something to do, please take it easy."

Artili Cruz left the living room just like that, and left.

The guests looked at each other, and Sekelian felt even more embarrassed. What should have been a lively banquet ended up breaking up.

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In the evening, in the backyard of Atilicruz's mansion, Alcibiades criticized Atilicruz: "Father, your performance at the banquet today is too radical, leaving a mark for the visiting Dionysians. Very bad impression! If they go back to their hometown and spread the news everywhere, it will not only affect Agnes, but also affect our family's business at the Turii Shipyard!"

"Do you think I'm angry and angry because of that lowly Dionian?" Atili Cruz's anger at the banquet disappeared long ago, and he said to his son with deep meaning: " I made this for my king's son-in-law."

"Do it for Davos, what do you mean?" Alcibiades looked confused.

Artili Cruz is a little helpless: as Lijim's ancient immigrant family, it once ruled the city-state for decades, and his family has always held a pivotal position in Lijim's political arena. But his two children don't know what's going on, and they don't have the political talent handed down from the family at all. Daughter Agnes married Dionia's consul... Oh, she is now the king of Dionia, she is lucky to become a princess, and she is also the influential priest of the Temple of Hera in Turii, The status is respected, but she has been pure-minded since she was a child, and she is not the opponent of another shrewd and capable princess; while her son Alcibiades is shrewd, but he spends it all on business and is not interested in politics. He is now a general. It was Atili Cruz who forced him to do it.

Although Alcibiades has always been indifferent to political affairs, as the heir to Artilicruz's career, he is often whispering to him, hoping that one day he will wake up. This time is no exception: "Now that the Syracuses have lost the ocean, it will be difficult to regain them at least in a short period of time depending on the situation. As long as the Dionians deal with it properly, they will at least not lose this war. Then when the Syracuses After the Kuza people retreated to Sicily, the Dionian League, which did not suffer much loss in this war, will surely become the unshakable overlord of the Greater Greece region. We Lijim do not want to become its vassals, so we must issue our own. sound!"

"There is nothing wrong with being a vassal of Dionia." Alcibiades said disapprovingly: "Being a vassal will give you preferential trade. Dionia's territory is already so big now, according to As you said, it will be bigger in the future, and it will be more helpful to my family's trade! And my brother-in-law is still the ruler of this powerful country, will she make me suffer!"

Artilicruz did not expect this lazy son to have such an idea. He was a little angry for a while, but soon turned helpless, because he vaguely felt that in Lijim City, it was not only Alcibida who had such an idea. s one. Since Lijim and Dionia allied, it has not only been secured in terms of security, but also greatly benefited in commerce. Due to environmental reasons, there are more merchants and fewer farmers in Lijim, which makes Lijim smooth and smooth, and it is very likely that they will give up the independence of the city-state for their own interests. It seems that before the Dionysian Alliance, Lijim can also ignore Carthia. The racial conflict between the Greeks and the Greeks, and the alliance with Carthage, this is not only to fight against Syracuse, but also to attract the huge trade market of Carthage.

"Even if you become a vassal, you must become a powerful vassal, so that you can get Dionia's attention." Atili Cruz was suddenly a little discouraged, he sighed, and turned to remind his son: "You know Why do I insist on those ships that are unique to Dionia?"

"why?"

"Messina!" Atili Cruz glanced at him and said in a serious tone: "Once Dionysius is really defeated by Davos, Syracuse may be in chaos. At that time, he may There is no extra power to protect the newly built city-state across the strait. We can take it back and make it a sub-state under the control of Lijim! With the port of Messina, we can control the entire strait. Your business is doing great!"

Hearing this, Alcibiades was greatly moved, his eyes flashed, imagining the huge benefits brought by capturing Messina, but his expression soon returned to calm: "Father, Messina is so important, do you think I Didn't that shrewd brother-in-law see it! There is a saying among us Greek businessmen, 'Big profits mean big risks.' The reason my business is going so well is because I never do more than I can do Other things. And Ligim wants to get Messina, is he ready to take the risk?"

Artilicruz was stunned. After receiving the news of the consecutive victories of the Dionian fleet, he was overjoyed, and he was thinking about Messina. His desire blinded his reason for a while, and he almost forgot that Messina was a city. Syracuse, Carthage, and now there may be one more Dionysian who are staring at the pass of this strait.

After pondering for a long time, Artilicruz's face regained his energy, and he said with relief: "Alcibiades, I just found out now that you will become an excellent general!"

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The next day, Sekelian led the sailors to the port to board the ship.

Seklian originally thought that because of last night's banquet, the attitude of the people in Lijim would change. Unexpectedly, not only did the enthusiasm of the people remain the same, but Artili Cruz also came to see them off in person, with a more enthusiastic attitude than when he greeted them yesterday. Yesterday's discord didn't mention a word, and he actively expressed to Sekelian: Lijim is willing to perform the duties of an ally and make full cooperation for Dionia to defeat Syracuse. General Feidun there to discuss.

At the same time, Atili Cruz also asked Sekelian to bring a letter to Davos.

Although I don't understand why Atili Cruz's attitude suddenly changed, this is undoubtedly a good thing. Sequerian is in an exceptionally good mood, and the voice when he gives the order is especially loud: "Go to Messina!"

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In 715 BC, the Kumai colonists from Euboea in mainland Greece and the Karchis in north-central Greece jointly built a city on the lowland on the side of the strait, which is very close to Sicily and the Apennine Peninsula. The shape of the harbour resembles the scythes used by farmers to harvest grain, and the colonial city was named "Zanclair" (meaning scythe).