Chapter 199 Assault on Mayaro
"A few years ago, there was thick smoke coming from the top of Mount Etna..." Laodisian saw that Antonios was fascinated, and was about to tell an interesting anecdote about the eruption of Mount Etna that he had seen with his own eyes, but when he heard Sekley An shouted: "Naxos, come and tell me where is the beach I'm going to land on?!"
"Okay! Okay!" Laodicien hurried to the bow.
Antonios was refreshed. This was the first time he independently led an army, and it was also the first time he landed across the sea. Whether he could defeat Syracuse, the performance of the army he led was very important, so he knew very well what he had on his shoulders. Heavy burden, nervous and excited in my heart: "Brothers, quickly put on your armor, pick up your shields and spears, we are about to land! Don't stop after landing, give me an immediate charge towards Naxos City! Capture it , our loved ones await the news of our victory! The time has come to honor the First Legion and yourselves! …”
Antonios loudly cheered the soldiers who were resting on the deck.
"Don't worry, Legion Commander. The brothers have been tired of staying on the ship for the past two days. They have long wanted to fight. How could a town with a wooden wall stop our attack!" Melisanda responded loudly.
Of course, it was no coincidence that Melisanda's team was assigned to take the flagship. It was a deliberate arrangement by Antonios. As a close comrade of Felixus, in general he did not mind giving some care to Felixius' adopted son.
"You kid, be careful not to fall into the sea when you land." Antonios smiled and patted him on the shoulder a few times.
The soldiers whistled, booed, and booed their young squad leader. Melisandre fell into the sea twice during the Crotone naval battle, and it has become a talking point for the soldiers before and after meals. Of course, this does not affect his subordinates' respect for the sub-captain, because Melisanda has always Fight bravely, lead the way, and share weal and woe with the soldiers.
At this moment, Melisanda glared at him: "Whoever dares to make a fuss, I won't let him play next time when we play rugby!"
Melisanda's threat made the soldiers boo even more.
For the jokes of the soldiers, Antonios shook his head helplessly, and once again turned his attention to the land.
At this moment, the bugle echoed in the convoy, and Cykrian's flagship took the lead in turning left, approaching the bay.
Ahead is a curved bay. White sandy beaches, azure blue waters, and dozens of fishing boats are fishing with nets on the calm sea.
The fleet rushed in so aggressively, breaking the tranquil scene here.
The fishermen saw the fast approaching behemoths - three-tiered oars,
Panicked, he wanted to steer the boat to avoid it, but it was too late. The bronze ramming horn on the bow easily smashed the fishing boat into two pieces like a knife cutting cheese...
It wasn't until approaching the beach that the sailors stopped paddling, and the warship washed up on the beach by inertia.
The soldiers immediately got on the pedals and quickly went down to the beach. Some impatient soldiers jumped to the bow of the ship, threw their shields and helmets on the beach, and jumped directly from the deck to the beach.
Soon, the empty sands were filled with heavily armed Dionian soldiers.
"The enemy is coming! The enemy is coming!..." The fishermen who were drying their nets on the beach and handling the fishing goods fled into the city in horror.
Before boarding the ship at Lijim port, Antonios had already summoned the officers of the First Army at all levels to hold a combat meeting. Therefore, after the soldiers of the First Fleet disembarked, they did not form a unified team at all. Under the guidance of the guides equipped on each warship, they quickly marched towards Naxos City.
Now Naxos is not actually a city, but a large village. This starts from six or seven years ago after Dionysius became the tyrant of Syracuse. In order to accumulate strength and counterattack the Carthaginians, he began a military operation to conquer the southeast corner and eastern and central parts of Sicily. Among them, Sicily The only plain on the island, the plain of Catania, has become the focus of his strategy, so the two most resolute city-states in this area to resist Syracuse - Catane and Naxos, he is in The most severe punishment was given after the fortress was broken. Destroy the entire city of Naxos, strip off the city walls, and demote all the captured Naxos people to slavery.
And Sikuli, another small city-state south of Naxos, only 25 miles away from Naxos, was rewarded for his early surrender of Syracuse, and Dionysius sent Naxos's The land was handed over to Sikuli to govern. The Sikkuri were naturally delighted that they had obtained the land of Naxos, which was larger and more fertile than their own, but the tragic fate of the Naxos also terrified the Sikkuri, who guessed Dionysus. Hughes' intention of destroying the city and scraping the wall, but did not dare to directly ask the tyrant, so they did not restore the old city of Naxos, but moved south to a place two miles away from the ruins, in Alcantara A town was built on the north bank of the river. In order not to make Dionysius unhappy, they did not build a stone city wall, but made a simple fence with wooden fences, and named the new town-Mei Yarrow (meaning "great").
The beach where the First Legion landed was part of what was once the port of Naxos, which has now disappeared. The soldiers went to the shore, and after running a few steps to the south, they could see a large area near the sea where weeds were overgrown and rocks were piled up.
Laodyssian stared there blankly, tears streaming down: That was his former home - Naxos City!
"Laodisian, don't stop! Run! We still need you to show us the way!" Melisander urged in front of him.
Laodyssian followed quickly. Although he is over middle-aged, he still insists on exercising, practicing fighting and fighting, hoping to return to his homeland one day, so he thinks that his physical strength is good, but after running with the Dionian soldiers for a while, he starts to feel a little uncomfortable. On the speed of the Dionian advance.
You must know that these soldiers are fully armed and marching fast. Such physical strength and speed are really scary. No wonder the Syracuses can't beat them! The amazed Laodician did not know that in the military training of the Dionian Legionnaires every five days, one of the items was the armed rapid march, which was different from the "armed long-distance running" in the Olympia Games. Only wearing a helmet, holding a round shield, and competing naked, and Dionysian's armed rapid march is really fully armed, so if the Dionysian can participate in the Olympia Games, in the "armed long-distance running" project, Can definitely compete with the Spartans who always win the championship.
"...That...that's Meyaro..." Laodician pointed to the faint outline of the town in the distance, panting.
"Okay, you will follow later." Melisanda didn't have time to wait for him, and ordered the soldiers to move quickly in that direction.
Although Antonios didn't say it clearly, the various divisions naturally competed according to the Legion's tradition: who will reach the enemy town first? ! Who will attack the enemy town first? !
Therefore, the First Corps is divided into teams, not like a hasty march, but a competitive game, spread out with a wide front, and quickly run to the South Pole, from first to last, uneven.
The leader is a team of hundreds of people who can maintain a relatively complete formation while running fast.
"Damn, which team is that?" Melisanda looked at the leader diagonally ahead unwillingly, and scolded.
"Captain, it seems to be the first company of the fourth brigade." A soldier replied.
"It's the company of the 'Mad Men'." Melisanda curled her lips.
"Mad" is the nickname of Leotidides, because he is known for his intensive training and high demands on his soldiers. Of course, his company often wins in military competitions.
"Brothers, speed up, we can't fall behind!" Melisanda shouted not to be outdone.
Wherever the First Legion passed, the people of Meyaro fled in panic, but the soldiers did not stab them with spears, but drove them towards Meyaro.
Although there was only one wooden wall in the town of Meyaro, a moat was dug outside the town due to its proximity to the Alcantara River. Only the east and north gates were connected to the outside by a suspension bridge. The Sikuli people in Meyaro Town have just received an urgent report from the merchant ship: a fleet of hundreds of warships is coming from the north, and the sail pattern seems to belong to the Dionysian Alliance.
The Siculians were shocked. They had just received the news that the "Dionians defeated Syracuse in the battle". In a blink of an eye, the fleet of Dionia appeared on the east coast of Sicily. The Dionysian fleet, which defeated the Syracuse Navy not long ago, came with goodwill, but they had not had time to discuss the countermeasures. Some people had fled from the sea and shouted in panic: "The enemy will kill you. Here! The enemy is coming! …”
Terrified by the speed of the Dionian attack, the Sikuly hurriedly gathered some citizens to defend against the enemy.
At this time, more and more people fled to the town, causing congestion on the suspension bridge and the north gate.
Serofenice, a self-proclaimed freedman, had been employed a few months ago by a Sikuli citizen to help his employer cultivate the fields. It was noon now, but he who should have appeared in the fields outside the town, appeared in the town and stopped a citizen who had fled into the town: "This uncle, what happened?"
"There are... enemies... there are enemies... they came from the sea, you quickly pick up your weapons and go... go..." the man said in shock.
Serofenes interrupted him: "The enemy?! What kind of enemy?!"
There was fear in the eyes of the people: "Black! It's all black! It's like a devil drilling out of hell!"
Serofannis blinked and looked back at a group of Sikuli citizens who didn't even have time to wear helmets and breastplates.