Chapter 26 Preparations for War

Further south, Cyrenaica on Libyan soil was also the object of Dionysian wooing. If Dionysus could form an alliance with it, it would involve Carthaginian energies east of Africa.

To the north of Dionia, ease tensions with the Samonites, strengthen military defenses with the Campania Confederacy, strengthen friendly ties with Fontane, and strengthen relations with Abenerum, Nacera (Nuceria), this is to prevent the destabilizing factor of Samona and protect the northern border of the kingdom of Dionia.

Further north, in the central part of Italy, in addition to Volsi, Dionia will send messengers to win over the Equi, Masi, Sabine... and many other races and forces that have conflicts with Rome, to unite To deal with Rome, to make up for the lack of Dionysian being unable to dispatch more troops due to the drought, and also to prepare for the future Dionysian invasion of central Italy.

The elders also did not forget northern Italy. Here are the two mortal enemies of Rome, the Etruscans who are being conquered and the Celts who have suffered disastrously before, and they demand that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also send envoys to these areas, especially northern Etruscans, in the hope that they will Be able to unite with the kingdom and attack Rome from the north, leaving it unconnected.

In the west of Dionia, several Greek colonial city-states on the Iberian peninsula, such as Sagunto (Zakynthos), Hermoros Kopin (), are Davos's suggestion that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs send envoys to contact city-state. In the eyes of the elders, the Iberian peninsula is too far away from Dionia, but Davos believes that there is a huge force established by the Carthaginian Margonid family in the south of Iberia, which will be a great influence to Dionia. Threats, so be prepared.

As for the east side, Sparta, who is estranged from Dionia, is maintaining a strong presence in mainland Greece. If it is known that Dionia, which it fears, is facing the threat of war, it may not only not Reaching out a helping hand and thinking of other things, but Davos is not too worried about it. Although he didn't know much about Greek history in his previous life, he also knew that it was impossible for Sparta to dominate the Greek mainland. Lasting, even if he travels through this era, the butterfly effect caused may have changed some of the history that should have happened, but Thebes and Athens will still be Sparta's number one enemy, after all, with Sparta's own strength and other The measures implemented determine that it cannot swallow Thebes, which is not much weaker than it, and will inevitably be counterattacked by Thebes. Therefore, Dionysus only set the goal of friendship on Egypt.

Of course, no matter how good the preparation is, it will ultimately depend on military victory. For military dispatch, the habit of the elders (absolutely trusting Davos' command ability) and certain taboos, they generally do not take the initiative. Ask about specific military plans and troop movements.

But in order to reassure the senators, Davos took the initiative to ask Hiros to give a detailed account of the next deployment of Dionia in response to the upcoming war at the Senate meeting:

On the northern front, the Ministry of Military Affairs is going to send a regiment to Wolsey first, in conjunction with other forces,

Repel the Roman attack. The III Corps remained stationed in the Campania Confederacy, while a general was dispatched to organize the reservists in the Lucania region to restore the defenses of the region. Strengthen the training of the newly-built Eleventh Corps, improve its combat effectiveness as soon as possible, and prevent the possible eastward invasion of the Samonais. Puchetti's 10th Corps was ready to go north quickly for reinforcements.

In the south, the Eighth Legion began to mobilize, ready to defend against a possible incoming Carthaginian army, and once the war began, it would grant its commander Prosus the power to expand the army. At the same time, the Seventh Legion in the Locri area is also ready at any time. Once the pressure on the battlefield in Sicily increases, it will be transported to Sicily to join the Eighth Legion.

In terms of the navy, once Carthage goes to war, Sekelian will lead the First Fleet, quickly go south, and join the Second Fleet stationed in Catane. The Carthaginian navy fought a decisive battle.

...

In fact, in this military plan initially drawn up, except for the Third Army and the Sixth Army, which is about to go to Wolsey, the other armies are only pre-prepared, not even assembled, because only in this way can reduce the Useless food consumption.

This is just a war plan, and everything has to be adjusted according to the development of the war situation.

Facing the imminent crisis of the great war, the elders of Dionia did not have unnecessary quarrels, and scrambled to offer suggestions and improve their plans to deal with the crisis. The meeting continued until dusk.

Davos returned to the mansion and had dinner. It was already evening, and the torrential rain before Turii had also turned into a drizzle.

Perhaps it has not been raining for a long time, Cristoia and Agnes asked the slaves to move the couch for rest to the porch outside the living room. While chatting, enjoying the rainy scenery, don't have a mood.

The children Eunice, Apox, Briantes, and Ivia rushed into the rain curtain excitedly, stepped on the puddles that covered their insteps, and fought a water fight.

After Davos had dinner, he also moved out of the couch and lay between the two of her.

"What are you talking about, so happy?" Davos asked casually.

Cristoia turned to his side and said to him: "Sister Agnes said that she can finally go home without seeing the frowning and disappointed people praying to Hera, who were screaming and dancing with joy in the temple. , my sister is not willing to drive them out..."

"Do the people also ask Hera for rain?" Davos asked slightly surprised.

"Not at first." Agnes, lying on her side, raised her head slightly, showing her smooth neck and frowning her slender eyebrows, said, "But maybe after they prayed to Hades, the drought never came. After relieving, they turned to Hera and prayed, I think they may have also prayed to Hercules, Apollo and other gods..."

"I can understand their feelings, this drought has lasted for more than eight months! If it wasn't for your majesty, you let the kingdom open the granary in time, use the national treasury, and let the city halls of each city sell cheap food to help the people, I still don't know. How many people will starve to death!" Cristoia sighed, looking at her husband with admiration in her eyes.

Agnes did the same.

Even Cristoia quietly stretched out her slender white left foot and placed it on the inside of Davos' left leg, rubbing it gently.

Davos had no intention to enjoy this tenderness at the moment, he said seriously: "Cristoia, although the drought is over, there is no grain harvest in southern Italy this year, so your bank still needs to continue lending. To the people, so that they can have money to buy grain and grain seeds in the next time, so that they can wait until next year's autumn harvest."

Since there was no response to the intimacy just now, Cristoia took the opportunity to express her dissatisfaction: "I still want to give them a loan?! I open a bank, not a charity! Do you know that many people are unable to buy food now? Banks in various cities are feeling the shortage of funds, and you are asking to expand the scope of loans! I am afraid that in a few months, our banks will be emptied! And by the end of next year, these people who borrow money You may not even be able to pay back!"

"Cristoia." Davos said in a deep voice, "Do you know who often benefits the most after a drought?"

"After such a terrible drought, will anyone still benefit?" Agnes wondered.

Of course, Cristoia is not Agnes who is unreasonable. After thinking for a while, she replied, "It's a businessman."

"To be precise, they are rich businessmen and nobles." Davos sighed lightly: "Whether it is a drought, a flood, a locust plague, an earthquake... The first thing that can't bear it is the farmers who depend on the sky for food, a disaster. Not only will it make them useless, but also make them quickly exhaust the little money left in the family. In order to survive, they can only borrow usury from these rich nobles and businessmen. You can use the land as a mortgage, even buy and sell your own children, and in the end even mortgage yourself and become a slave..."

"This is too miserable!" Agnes looked pitiful.

"That is in another city-state. There is our bank in the Kingdom of Dionia. Even if other rich people dare to lend usury, no one will borrow it." Cristoia said proudly.

"Yeah, in other city-states--" Davos said here, and suddenly sighed: the debt problem is very serious in many city-states in the Mediterranean. At that time, Athens was because of the debt and land problems that eventually led to popular riots, persecuting the Greeks. Risthenes realized the reformation of the original Athenian democracy. And he learned from the intelligence in the hands of Aristillas a few days ago that the conflict between the Roman nobles and the commoners in the north is now intensifying, and the focus is also on land and debt.

So, he said with a serious face: "Cristoia, since the bank has already helped them, let's help them to the end. We are the royal family of Dionia, and the whole kingdom belongs to us, we can't just watch it. Because the people of the kingdom could not afford food or seeds, they eventually borrowed usury from the merchants, annexed their land, and even became their slaves... This not only destroyed the stability of the kingdom, but also reduced our troops and taxes. , it will also make these rich people who have acquired a lot of land a hidden danger that is difficult to control! So your bank is not only used to make money, but also an important tool for our family to stabilize the kingdom, so that this throne can be passed on for a long time... "