Chapter 49 Tarantum Naval Port

He could not help but sigh in his heart: The Dionysians have completely turned the Gulf of Taranto into their inner lake, and the Dionian towns in this bay are connected by short distances by sea, making each other more connected. tight.

What he didn't know was that there was another reason why the Gulf of Taranto was so prosperous and lively: the piracy problem that the sea traders of other Mediterranean city-states were most worried about did not exist here at all. The warships belonging to the First Fleet patrol the bay every day to maintain order in the bay and ensure the safety of the ships.

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Just as Kerethorps was comparing the bustling scene in the bay with the port he had seen in the Athens port of Pieras, Kunogolata's second son, Deca Okrate, was receiving the After the emergency notification of , and with the approval of Commander Alexis, he ran from Downey on horseback, changing horses several times in the post station along the road, and finally arrived at Tarantum Naval Port at dusk.

The naval port of Tarantum was the garrison of the main force of the Dionysian First Fleet. After Tarantum was forced to become a free city of Dionia, Admiral Cykrian once stated that "The Dionysian fleet is getting bigger and bigger (because too many warships have been acquired in the South Italian War)," On the grounds that the Liyi military port can no longer be accommodated, he requested to open a new military port, and suggested that the military port should preferably be located in the large port of Tarantum, because it is indeed a natural port.

Davos readily agreed. Of course, the issue he considered was not only military convenience. The presence of the navy could not only monitor and deter this city-state that was volatile in the past, but also Tarantum, as an old-fashioned maritime trade power, had a lot of ship-handling skills. Skilled and experienced sailors and fishermen, they will be an excellent source for the navy, and by training them in Dionia's cultural and political ideals, they can in turn influence the people of Tarantum.

In the face of Dionia's request, Tarantum reluctantly agreed to hand over the western part of the Great Harbor to the Dionysian Navy, which had been abandoned for a long time after all.

With the passage of time when the navy was stationed, the land from the west of the Grand Port to the east of Metapontum was gradually assigned to the First Fleet. The Tarantums suffered heavy casualties in the South-Italian War, and there were not enough manpower to take care of this land near the border. In addition to Davos' clever pressure, this part of the land was allocated to the First Fleet stationed here. sailors, including the civilian sailors of Tarantum who joined the First Fleet in large numbers.

Today, there are 150 triple oars and other warships in this military port, a total of about 230 warships, and 50 triple oars and other warships in Castellon Port, the First Fleet With more than 350 warships, it stabilized the other three fleets and became the most powerful fleet in the Dionysian Navy.

But even if the number of ships in the First Fleet is large, there is still enough space in the Tarantum Naval Port to build a dry dock and accommodate more warships, which shows the large area of ​​the military port. And the sea in the big port is wide enough,

Usually some small-scale trainings are even held directly in Dagang, which has become a scene in Dagang, and Tarantum people often stop by the shore to watch.

After Deckard handed Alexis' proof letter to the guards at the military post, he was granted entry, but it took a long time to wait for the ship at the military port pier.

There are still vacant clippers at the pier next to it, so why wait here? ! Deckard Ocratte was a little annoyed.

Until he got on the ship, someone came out of the cabin and explained to him: "I'm so sorry! Just now, a batch of supplies was transferred from Castellon Military Port to be urgently transported to Downey, and the personnel in the military port were busy doing this. , so it took some time for you."

"Delivering supplies to the front line is a major matter for the kingdom, and this is just a trivial matter for me." When Deckard Ocrat saw him, he immediately understood why the ship was late, and said hurriedly and respectfully: "Also, Sir Sekelian, you have come to personally Sending each other, I really don't know how to express my thanks!"

In the South Italian War, he led his fleet to defeat the Syracuse navy, which dominated the western Mediterranean at that time, and thus controlled the seas of Great Greece and the eastern end of Sicily, for Dionysus. Ya played a pivotal role in defeating Syracuse in the end, and was a hero worshipped by the people of Dionia.

After the war, with the expansion of Dionia's territory, the already huge fleet was divided into four by Davos: the first fleet was based in Tarantum to defend the maritime security of the Gulf of Taranto; the second fleet Settled in the plains of Catania to protect the maritime security of Dionysian cities in Sicily; the Third Fleet was stationed in Trina to protect the maritime rights and interests of the Kingdom of Dionia in the Tyrrhenian Sea; the Fourth Fleet was based in Brindisi As a base, defend the territory of the Kingdom of Dionia in the direction of the Adriatic Sea.

Davos did not let Cykrian take up the position of commander of the Dionysian Navy again, but let him assume the position of the commander of the First Fleet, although the strength of the First Fleet had already surpassed that of the Dionysian Navy. But it's still a demotion from Admiral to First Fleet Commander. However, at the same time, Davos proposed to the Senate and elected Cykrian to become the Dionysian senator. This was a great improvement for Cykrian's political status. The second young veteran under the age of 30. Moreover, after the navy was dismantled, Davos also cancelled the position of commander of the navy, and Cykrian did not have much complaints.

Sekelian went to Tarantum for ten years. Except for important matters, he rarely returned to Turii to participate in the usual senate meetings. The young hero of that year has now entered middle age, and he is also very young. The arrogance of youth. At this time, he said to Deckard Ocratte with a gentle expression: "I am also going to attend your father's funeral, just to be with you."

When it comes to his deceased father, Deca Okrate feels a pain in his heart. It is a regret in his life that he could not accompany his father before his death.

"How's the battle in Downey going?" Sekelian asked casually.

"It's relatively smooth. We have captured Hedonia and Askurum, and the army has approached Lucena, the central town of the Dauni people, and is preparing to besiege this town. From the current situation Look, the other Downey tribes and towns have no sign of reinforcing Lucena City, and it is estimated that this war will end a few years ago." Talking about the war he participated in, Deca Okrate was a little excited and contented .

Hearing the good news, Sekelian sighed instead: "It's better to command the army to fight on land!" After the Southern Italian War, the kingdom of Dionia was not always a peaceful scene. The conquest of Meshapi, The three wars between Puchetti and Downey were not small, but these wars were near Dionia, and the other side's fleet was too weak, and there was no need to defend the first fleet in the core waters of Dionia. How could he have no regrets in his heart that Sekelian had not been able to fight again in the past ten years.

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By the time Deca Okrat felt that Turui was at home, his brother Sostatus and his family had already made preparations for the funeral.

Since Kunogolata's wife died young, it was his eldest daughter and two daughters-in-law who washed his body, smeared it with fragrance, and put on gorgeous clothes according to the Greek custom formed over hundreds of years. In addition, Sostatus also built a large wooden shed in front of his house, and placed Kunogolata's body on a bed covered with herbs in the wooden shed, and then placed it in his mouth. Place a silver coin so that his soul can pay Chiron's ferry fare.

And when the mourning hall and coffin were all laid out, it was the turn of Dionia's unique funeral customs: the scepter priest Plessinas of the Temple of Hades led a group of priests, priests, and saints to the mourning hall Before, start singing carols silently for him, praying that he can enter Elysee Paradise smoothly as soon as possible. Usually only Hades priests or priests attend funerals. After all, Kunogolata has different identities and statuses. Without Davos' instructions, Plessinas personally brought the main temple of Hades. team.

The next day, Kunogolata's immediate family, including his son-in-law Hiros, all wore black veils and stood in front of the coffin with a solemn expression. Even his daughter and daughter-in-law cut their hair short as custom to express their condolences.

Early in the morning, Davos arrived at the mourning hall with his two wives, Crystoia, Agnes, and six children, including Cynthia and Clotokatax, to pay tribute to Kunogolata's body. A wreath made of pomegranate branches and leaves, and led the family to salute it solemnly and sing the Hades hymn. After comforting several relatives of Kunogolata, the Davos family walked out of the mourning hall, washed their hands and faces with clean water in large tanks outside the mourning hall, and then left.

Since King Davos left, the number of people who came to pay homage began to increase.

At first it was the elders. There are Ancitanos, Burkes... these old friends of Turii with deep friendship; there are Cornerus, Terry Todemus, Raphias, Protesilaus, Stromboli ...these elders who worked hard together and laid the foundation of Dionia together; there are Capus, Felixius, Amyntas, etc. Although they are dissatisfied with him for always advocating peace and opposing war, they admire him. He was able to get along with the ex-mercenary elders who were human; there were Sedorum, Vespa, Hermon...the elders of different races who had been with him for more than ten years and received a lot of care from him; there were Antaoris, Sip Loss, Lysias... and other elders who have been appreciated and supported by him; there are also many elders who entered the Senate after the South Italian War.