Chapter 28: Going North

Davos watched him: through intelligence, he knew that Ionis was a businessman supported by Sostatus and a distributor under the Chamber of Commerce he formed, so his expression and performance were not disguise.

So, he said lightly: "I can no longer protest to the Carthaginians, because they have torn up the friendly agreement with our kingdom."

"What?!" Sostatus widened his eyes and asked anxiously, "Your Majesty, why did the Carthaginians do this?!"

"On the surface, they are protesting that our merchants have harmed their monopoly trade interests, and that they must abide by the covenant and help their allies, the Romans, forbid us from interfering in the affairs of central Italy." Davos said calmly: "From Fundamentally, Carthage wants to take this opportunity to give Dionia a blow to prevent the rapid expansion of the kingdom's strength and affect the survival of Carthage."

Sostatus was stunned after hearing this, and asked with a trembling voice, "That is to say...that means we Dionia and Carthage...may there be a war?!"

Davers nodded: "Probably."

Sostatus stood up abruptly, rubbing his hands vigorously, mumbling something in his mouth, and looking very excited.

"Do you feel sorry? Because your caravan is likely to no longer be able to trade with the Carthaginians." Davos asked curiously when he saw his strange behavior.

"No, Your Majesty!" Sostatus clenched his right fist excitedly and said loudly, "That's great! I've been looking forward to this day! The Carthaginians have monopolized the relationship with other Phoenician city-states. Trade, monopoly of metal smelting and trade in the Western Mediterranean, and control of Africa, Sardinia, Corsica, southern Iberia, let us not interfere! We should have used force to break this monopoly and seize all these come over!"

Davos thought that Sostatus was afraid of the coming of war, but he did not expect that he would rejoice at the possibility of war.

Or underestimate the greed of businessmen! Davos touched his chin with his hand and asked, "If there is a war, the mighty Carthage and the not-weak Rome, Sostatus, aren't you afraid of our Dionia? Will you be defeated?"

"Your Majesty!" Sostatus sat down again and said confidently: "Over the years, I have been to many places for trade, and I have never seen any country or city-state stronger than our Dionia! Not to mention, Your Majesty! With you, Dionia will not fail!"

"You are very confident in me!" Davos smiled, and then said solemnly: "However, the reason why the Carthaginians dared to tear up the agreement and support Rome at this time is not without reason, because the drought has made us short of food. no food,

We can't send troops to fight, we can only be beaten passively! Under such circumstances, no matter how powerful the commander is, it is impossible to win the battle! "

After listening to this, Sostatus fell into thought, and after a while, he made up his mind and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, I am willing to send a fleet to Egypt or the Eoke Star Sea in the Eastern Mediterranean to buy a large amount of food, free of charge. Donate to the kingdom and support the army! I am also willing to call on other businessmen in the kingdom to take the same action as me! But I hope..." Sostatus did not finish his words, but looked forward with anticipation. Davers.

Davos was overjoyed in his heart, and he understood the unfinished meaning of his words. For a businessman like Sostatus who dared to give up before the trend was clear, he did not think it was greed, but appreciated this kind of business. With courage, he immediately made a promise: "Dionia will never forget these merchants who dared to donate wealth and lend a helping hand when the kingdom was in crisis. After victory, they will all receive the rewards they need!"

Sostatus gave a satisfied smile.

………………………………

Two days later.

When his wife Lida saw Amyntas who was in a hurry to go out, she hurriedly said, "Amyntas, you haven't had your porridge yet!".

"It's too late!" Amyntas stood on the porch, looked up at the brightening sky, took a big bite of the bread in his hand, and turned back and shouted into the house: "Stifros, hurry up. a little!"

"Father, don't worry. It's useless for you to go so early. Your Majesty, the elders, and the soldiers of the First Legion probably haven't arrived yet." Steveros, who was sitting at the dining table, persuaded him.

"I am the commander of the expedition, and I have to set an example for the whole army. Hurry up, or I will beat you up!" Amyntas said impatiently.

Stephros stood up helplessly, this was his adoptive father's usual style, he was used to it.

"Dad, don't forget to bring me the booty when you come back!" a teenager sitting at the dining table reminded loudly.

Another younger child also shouted: "Dad, brother, when I grow up, I will also fight with you and kill bad people!"

To them, Amintas' attitude was much better. He grinned and said with a smile: "Krokas, how can I forget what Dad said! When I come back, I will bring you a cart of loot!"

"Filkas, listen to your mother's words at home. When you grow up, your father will definitely take you to battle to kill the enemy!"

………………………………

In a mansion on the outskirts of Turiinan City, Patroclus had finished his breakfast and had a good time with Cynthia. When the sky was already bright, he stood up reluctantly and said, "Cynthia, I should go. It's gone!"

Although Cynthia was extremely reluctant, she was not an ordinary woman after all. After she stepped forward and gave Patroclus an affectionate hug, she said with concern, "Be safe and go home early!"

Patroclus smiled confidently: "Don't worry, our First Army will destroy the enemy as soon as possible and go home as soon as possible! I also want to see the birth of the child with my own eyes!"

Patroclus stroked his wife's already bulging belly with a gentle expression: "You have to take care of yourself while I'm away!"

"Well." Cynthia nodded gently.

"I'm leaving!" Patroclus said loudly, more like reminding himself.

"Oh! Don't forget to wear the helmet that my brother gave you, you will be blessed by Hades!" Cynthia reminded loudly, "Davos is a descendant of Hades" This is no longer a rumor, but a The fact that the kingdom is firm has penetrated into the hearts of every citizen, even the royal family. Cynthia is also convinced of it, so she believes that Davos's parent and child, who also has the blood of Hades, Clotokatax Helmets presented by himself must carry the blessing of Hades.

"How could I have forgotten! That's a helmet from a descendant of Hades and a future king!" Patroclus laughed, it was indeed a good helmet, but the silver surface was too conspicuous, he painted it black.

Cynthia leaned against the courtyard gate, with a lot of nostalgia in her heart, and watched her husband go away with the slaves who were carrying his armor and weapons with worry. At this moment, she deeply realized that Cristoia and Ego were in the past. The mood of the two mothers of Niss every time they watched their father go to war...

………………………………

Gathering for an expedition in drizzly weather is not a good weather for the army because it affects the march. But these days of drizzle made the people and soldiers of Dionia rejoice. It meant that the miserable drought had finally passed, so the First Legion and the people who came to see them off were left to their own devices. The drizzle wets the cheeks, and the face is more relaxed.

Davos didn't say anything more in the face of Armintas in uniform, and encouraged him with his usual words: "Amintas, I am waiting for the news of your victory!"

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty!" Amyntas confidently gave Davos a military salute, then turned to face more than 9,000 soldiers (including the First Cavalry Corps), and waved his right arm vigorously: "The First Corps and the First Corps Brothers of the cavalry!"

"Wan Sheng!!!"

"Wan Sheng!!!"

"Wan Sheng!!!"

The roars of the soldiers resounded through the plains of Sybari.

Davos stood upright and listened to this grand shout with awe, but was excited about it: The morale of the First Legion is in full swing! ...May this first battle with the Romans be won!

"Go!" Amintas ordered.

The bugle blew.

Soldiers clad in shovels, weapons and armor slung over their shoulders lined up in long lines and marched toward the port.

Wolsey is to the north, why go to the port? Because the soldiers at the mountain pass fortress in the west of Turiyi reported: Because of the continuous rain in the past few days, not only the mountain roads were slippery, but also silt and trees fell from time to time in the mountains, blocking the roads.

Therefore, the Ministry of Military Affairs decided: let the expedition troops no longer go to the mountains in the west, but take a boat to Silitin, then to Trina, and then take a boat north to Wolsey, maybe the time spent on the whole journey will not be long. Shorter.

Davos watched the soldiers march towards the port in a dignified manner, and the expression on his face gradually turned solemn. He knew: this may be the beginning of a grand war...

……………………………………

Tapirus was very aggrieved. They were trapped in the hotel for eight or nine days in a row. The people of Rome blocked the door every day to protest and scold. The Roman soldiers stood guard at the door, saying that they were protecting their safety, but in fact they were restricting their going out. And for so long, not a single Roman official came to inform them of the progress of the discussions on whether the Roman Senate should stop the war with the Volsci.

By this time, Tapirus had understood: the Romans were clearly delaying, and they had no intention of stopping the war at all.

This despicable way of teasing the Dionysian messengers and ignoring the dignity of the Dionysian kingdom made him very angry.

( = )