Chapter 53 The Dionysian Military Conference (2)

This is not against my heart. The military training department's strict military training for the soldiers of the Eighth Legion in peacetime ensures that the soldiers can march quickly and attack the city quickly. The preparation of food and materials by the Quartermaster Department before the war gave the Eighth Army no worries. The collection of intelligence from the various tribes and towns of Sikel by the staff allows Prosus to know himself and his enemies, and be confident...

With Thormid as the lubricant, Davos didn't have to worry about the loss of several ministers in the military affairs department. How many days will it take for the Eighth Army to capture Enna?"

Felixius thought for a while and said: "Although Enna is located in the Sicilian mountains, it is considered a big city among the towns of the Sikelians, but it was not built on a mountain but in a flat mountain. Its walls are not The stone is made of wood, so the engineering battalion of the Eighth Corps only needs to make a dozen ballistas and siege towers, and it should be able to break through the city, I estimate... no more than six days."

"Six days!" Davos turned to Capps: "If this is the case, the war in Sicily will be over in about a month, and the Quartermaster Department will no longer need to organize personnel to transport baggage."

"Your Majesty, this is only the estimated time for the end of the battle. I am afraid that the Eighth Legion will be stationed in these occupied towns for a period of time to stabilize the situation, waiting for the Senate to elect the chief executive and the committee to appoint officials to take over, so the Eighth Legion It takes a long time to be stationed in the Siker region of Sicily, so the rations provided now are not enough." Capps reminded politely.

"Kappus, you are wrong. After the Eighth Legion and its affiliates annihilated the Tanikian tribe and other tribes that were hostile to Dionia, they ordered them to give up on the towns of Kepharoydion and Enna. We will occupy and support the Sikel tribe that is friendly to us." Davos slowly stated his preconceived idea: "We only occupy the two towns of Hera and Herbita, so that we can directly influence and strengthen Intercourse with the Sikelians."

In this way, the two towns of Hera and Herbita are close to Katanai and Naxos, and the Eighth Legion does not need to send too many troops to garrison, and there is not so much food consumption.

Capps breathed a sigh of relief after listening.

But Hiros asked, "Is Your Majesty asking the Eighth Legion to abandon Kepharoydion and Enna because he is worried about Carthage?"

Davos applauded Hiros' keen political sense in his heart. An excellent military minister must not only be proficient in the military, but also have a good political overall situation in order to control the development of the war, so he explained seriously: "That's right. , is really worried about Carthage. Although the Carthaginian messenger came to Turii yesterday and expressed to us the request of 'Carthage is willing to renew the covenant with us', we should not be too careless, although the Carthaginians Our attention is now mainly on Numibia and Iberia, but our rapid expansion in Sicily will also arouse their disgust and vigilance, thus affecting the relationship between the two countries! At this stage, we maintain a relationship with Carthage. Friendly, conducive to the stability of the southern part of the kingdom,

There are also great benefits to our maritime trade. Once the relationship with Carthage is deadlocked, the first people who will come to protest with me will probably be Mersis and Marigi. "

When Davos said this, several people showed different degrees of smiles.

"And the Sikaers are different from the fierce and hard-to-train Samonites. They are deeply influenced by Greek culture and are happy to associate with the Greeks, so as long as we continue to strengthen our influence on them, the Sikaers will eventually become A member of the kingdom, so there is no need for us to rush."

"Your Majesty is right! Having a bad relationship with Carthage will only affect our strategy of 'expansion to the north'." Thormed responded immediately.

"Yeah, the northern part of the kingdom is our focus." Davos took over the conversation and changed the subject: "How is the war in Downey going? Do you think the war can be ended before this year? ?"

"Your Majesty." The Minister of Military Affairs, Hiros, had already considered this, and he replied: "Commander Alexis has led the second, fourth, and fifth legions to the central city of Luthenia in Downey. Surrounded, he originally planned to attract the surrounding towns of Downey to send troops to rescue by sieging the city, and defeated these remaining forces of the Downeys in the field. But the Downeys did not come to the rescue, so Alexis decided to concentrate his efforts Breaking down the city of Luceria. Once the city of Luceria is broken, I am afraid that the fighting spirit of the Downey people will be completely gone, and there may even be a situation where they surrender one after another..." Hiros said here, hesitating for a while: "It's just— —”

"It's just that the city of Luceria has a thick wall. If Alexis wants to break through it, he must do his best to achieve his goal. In case of a critical moment in the siege, Donny's reinforcements arrive, not only will the siege be destroyed, but the siege will be destroyed. It may also lead to the collapse of the entire army." Davos said calmly and slowly: "So Alexis needs reinforcements."

"Yes, Your Majesty. Everything is under your control." Hiros replied sincerely.

Davos smiled slightly, looked around and said, "Dawney's war can't be dragged on for a long time. Which legion do you think is more suitable to send?"

"Second Legion, because most of the soldiers of this legion are located in Turii, it is easier to convene and it is relatively close to the battlefield." Caps suggested.

"The rugby final is currently being held. Some soldiers and team officers of the Second Corps are participating players. At this time, they are dispatched to the battlefield. There is too much movement. I am afraid that it will cause unnecessary panic among the citizens..." Hiros Express his concern.

"To say that the closest to the battlefield should be the Tenth Legion, which can be sent to support Downey's combat troops." Hieronymus spoke.

"But the Tenth Legion is the latest legion to be established. Almost all the soldiers of the Legion are composed of Puchetti. I'm afraid..." Tormide raised his objection.

"The Downeys are now citizens of Dionia." Davos reminded sternly, and turned to ask Hieronymus: "How is the training of the Tenth Legion? Can you fight to kill the enemy?"

"No problem, it's totally fine!" Military training chief Hironimus said succinctly.

"Since this is the case..." Davos touched his jaw, pondered for a while, and said decisively: "Sending the Ninth and Tenth Legions over is the easiest way to create a sense of belonging in the war. Back then, Bagule and the others were able to Do it, the current Ninth and Tenth Legions should also be able! With these two Legions, Alexis has enough troops to implement his plan, but this way, the demand for food will be great increase."

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty, our quarters will take care of this issue," Capps said immediately.

"Okay!" Davos nodded, and then said to Philisius, "I remember that the commander of the Tenth Legion was Melisanda?"

"Yes." Felixus replied softly.

"Your son is very talented in military affairs. I look forward to his performance on the Downey battlefield." Davos said with a smile.

Felixius had been silent before, just to avoid suspicion, and now he had to make his own claim.

"At the age when we were commanders of the legion in Melisanda, we were still mercenaries in Asia Minor. In order to feed our stomachs, we had to accept the employer's request to participate in some dangerous battles... If it weren't for your majesty, how could we be like this today? Life!" Tormide's sighed words resonated with several military bosses.

Davos smiled and didn't participate in this topic. He looked back at the wooden model of Lucenia City in the center of Downey's territory in the sandbox, reached out and pressed it, and said, "This is the place for today's military meeting. , it's still early, so I won't leave you here for lunch."

After Davos finished speaking, he found that the war room suddenly became quiet. Several people looked at me and I looked at you, and their expressions were a little strange.

"Anything else?" Davos asked hurriedly.

Finally, Hiros said: "Your Majesty, about Lord Antonios... We want to intercede for him!"

"Your Majesty, Laodyssian is a daring fellow who often goes to Antonios for help. You also know that Antonios is a man of love. Laodyssian helped him with all his might during the Southern Italian War, but he was his father-in-law. , Sometimes it is really impossible to refuse, this time he has been punished... I hope your majesty can give him a chance to change!" With Hiros's first speech, Felixius also took the opportunity to say earnestly.

Davos understood now. He glanced at the expectant faces and asked calmly, "Did Antonios ask you to say that?"

"How is this possible!" Thormid shouted hurriedly: "With Antonio's self-righteous temper, how could it be possible to beg us one by one! We thought he was a good comrade-in-arms who once fought side by side in Persia after all, that's why we —"

"I know about this." Davos said lightly.

For more than ten years, he has been in a high position, and he has been in the air and nourished his body all the year round. Davos's own power is increasing. Even if his demeanor is peaceful, Felixius and the others feel a lot of pressure, and they don't talk anymore.

At this moment, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in." Davos said, letting Hiros and the others who felt the pressure breathed a sigh of relief.

Court herald Aristiras entered the room and handed a papyrus scroll to Davos.

Davos read it and saw that several people next to him deliberately turned their eyes to other places to avoid suspicion. He smiled slightly and said, "Sparta has sent Udamidas to lead an advance force to the Kalkidic Peninsula."

"Who is Udamidas?" Felixius asked curiously.

"Brother of Phoebedas," replied Aristillas.