Chapter 108 The Capture of Serinus and the March to Ladim

Would the Carthaginians agree? Before, you firmly refused their request to redeem the captured Carthaginian Holy Legion soldiers! Muklu only dared to say that this doubt was buried in his heart and did not speak out.

"I still have to capture Serinus as soon as possible!" Leotizides whispered, whether it was from the strategic point of attacking western Sicily, or from the point of view of facilitating the transportation of food and cargo... even if it was safer From the point of view of the place to hold so many prisoners, the capture of Serinus is a top priority.

Muklu hurriedly reminded: "Legion Commander, last night the soldiers were busy all night, and they were quite exhausted. Today they have no physical strength to attack the city. And yesterday, the Carthaginians also transported thousands of soldiers into Sellin. Nus, their defenses have been strengthened. And—"

"And we have lost the Sicilian fleet and can no longer block the port. The Carthaginians can send reinforcements from the sea at any time!" Leotizides took the conversation and said solemnly. This is what he is most worried about: Dai The disappearance of the advantage of the Onian army in the Sicilian sea will add a lot of difficulties to the land attack, because the further the army goes west, the closer to Carthage, and the stronger the reinforcements from the sea will be, and the loss of the fleet will be The Dionysian army had no way to stop them, and could only hope that after the news of the "Destruction of the Sicilian Fleet" came back to Turii, His Majesty could send the Third Fleet or the Fourth Fleet to regain Sicily's maritime superiority.

Just as Leotidides was frowning, the guards came in and reported, "The captain of the Diocassis company who is patrolling the sea has asked for an urgent military intelligence report."

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"You mean that there are 42 of our three-deck oars in the port of Serinus?!" Rao Shi Leotizides always looked indifferent, and he couldn't help but be moved when he heard the news.

"Yes, Lord Commander." Diocassis also said excitedly: "When the storm came, the Second Squadron of the First Fleet was attacking the ships of Carthage outside the port of Cerinlus. Team, the squadron commander Stefankas urgently led the surrounding warships into the port of Serinus, and went ashore smoothly, occupying the southwest corner of the port. They were going to send the clippers last night after the storm subsided. Came to inform us, but the wreckage from the storm blocked the port and made it dangerous for ships at night, so it was only this morning that I risked opening a passage from the port and sending fast boats to report."

In fact, the seaport of Serinus, like other Greek city-state seaports, had breakwaters and water gates at the entrance, which could be blocked with iron chains, and towers were built on the breakwaters to attack enemy ships. However, when the Carthaginian fleet entered the port yesterday, the water gate was blocked due to panic, so that the Serinus people could not close the port. In addition, the storm hit, the port personnel just wanted to go home quickly to escape, resulting in the port defense being lax. Let the Dionysian warship easily break into the port and go ashore smoothly.

Leotidides quickly calmed down his mood swings,

Calmly asked: "How many people do they have now? Can they resist the enemy's attack?"

"According to the courier, Squadron Commander Stefankas was very confident in this, because 30 of the 42 ships that entered the port were Raven ships, so they had about 1,200 heavily armed fleet infantry, and Nearly 7,000 sailors rammed and sank many Carthaginian troop transport ships, robbed Carthage's grain transport fleet after landing, and even took off the armor and weapons of many drowned Carthaginian soldiers, thus obtaining More than 400 sets of heavy infantry equipment and more than 30 bows and arrows, they also asked some sailors to sharpen one end of the wooden oars and use them as extended wooden guns, and their warships also controlled the sea in the port... From the messenger said, When he left the port, the Carthaginians did not attack them..."

"After our several sieges, the number of Serinus defenders is probably less than 2,000. Even if there are reinforcements this time, it will not exceed 5,000. If the Carthaginians attack with all their strength, they will be given to the port. The navy caused a lot of trouble, but it seems that the generals of the Carthaginian defenders have no courage, and are worried that we will take advantage of the situation to attack the city, but have not taken immediate action..." After listening to Diocassis's remarks, Leotidides analyzed He said that he had realized that this was an excellent opportunity, and asked Muklu with a slightly excited tone: "What time is it now?"

"About 8 in the morning."

"Mukru, you immediately inform the Eighth Army Corps and the reserve soldiers to rest in the tent. I only give them four hours of sleep and recovery time. They must wake up at noon, and immediately start the siege after lunch!" Ortizides gave the order decisively.

"Yes, Legion Commander, I will convey it immediately."

"Diocassis, go and call in the messenger, and I'll ask for more details." Leotidides said, out of prudence, he first had to personally confirm the authenticity of the news, and secondly wanted to go further Learn more about the enemy and allies in the city.

At noon, Leotidides led an army to attack the city.

Contact has been made, and the remnants of the Sicilian fleet at the port also responded immediately and launched an attack from the port to the city.

The Carthaginian defenders faced two sides and faced a difficult situation.

In the afternoon, Milefio led a small number of cavalry to escape through the south gate, and the Serinus defenders opened the door and surrendered.

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In March, the southwestern region of Latam is really a rainy season. The mist and drizzle in the early morning are the most annoying weather for the Sentinel at the top of the city. It can't make people sleep more against the wall, and it is a bit clammy and cold. The temperature made the sentinels who had just eaten breakfast quickly feel hungry again. The serious character and strict military law of the Romans prevented them from leaving their posts easily. They could only patrol the head of Antium slowly while praying. Time passed quickly, let the next group of comrades come and rotate quickly.

"Do you hear what this sound is?" a sentry suddenly asked nervously.

The other Sentinel immediately listened.

"Crash! Crash! Crash!..." The slight but continuous sound was different from the tide at the seaside, with a metallic texture.

The sentinel's face changed: there were troops outside the city, and there were a lot of them.

Is it the enemy? ! The sentinel looked up and saw the drizzle outside the empty city, and there was not a single person in sight.

The garrison of Antium was Paulus Valerius Portitus, who not long ago was the military officer on duty in Rome, but after Camillous was appointed dictator, the six Roman The military officers will naturally resign. Because Paulus has always been cautious and prudent, the senate appointed him as the defender of the newly occupied town of Antium, hoping that he could hold the southwestern border and coast between Rome and the Latin allies, so as to ensure that Rome would be able to defend Herniki. complete conquest of man.

The sentinel's report quickly caught his attention, and he immediately sent a team of scouts out of the city to investigate.

Soon, this team of scout cavalry fled back in embarrassment, because they were attacked by many black helmets and black armored cavalry not long after they left the city, and almost wiped out the entire army.

It's a Dionian! Paulus got nervous: are they going to attack Antium? !

He immediately called up the troops in the city and began to set up defenses to resist the attack of the Dionysians.

The Roman soldiers stood all over the city, staring nervously outside the city.

This station lasted for more than an hour, the mist dissipated, the drizzle stopped, and the sky was bright, but the Dionysian army was not seen outside the city, and even the previous sound of "wow, wow" disappeared.

Paulus was puzzled, and he decided to send out a scout again to find out the enemy's movements.

As a result, the scout cavalry sent out was intercepted again. According to the scout cavalry who fled back, they claimed that there were Dionia’s cavalry cruising in all directions within a mile of Antium City, and they could not break through its interception at all. Movement of Mindionian troops.

Paulus was confused and nervous. He did not dare to send an army out of the city until he understood the movements of the Dionysian army. After all, the Roman army was still attacking the Hernicians from the east, and the Latinum area was empty. The task is to defend Antium and stop the enemy's attack from the south together with the defenders of Villitre and Satnicum.

While Paulus stood still, the defenders of Satnicum to the north encountered the same situation, and they responded in the same way. In order to ensure the safety of the territory and the Latin allies, the Roman Senate dispatched cautious and prudent generals to the two newly occupied towns, so that they did not dare to send troops immediately, and took the initiative to launch a tentative attack, which might detect Movement of Dionian Army.

In fact, the 1st, 3rd, 1st Cavalry Corps, and some of the 2nd Cavalry Corps of Dionysian corps consisted of nearly 20,000 men, lined up in eight-way columns, with cavalry regiments guarding the flanks of the marching columns and no baggage follow. They set off from Setia's barracks in the early morning and marched north, reaching the border between Ladium and Wolsey in the morning.

Amyntas had the two cavalry corps block the passages of Antium and Satnicum respectively, and robbed the reconnaissance cavalry, so as to ensure that the main force of the cavalry was from the middle of Antium and Satnicum. Pass quickly and stealthily, then continue towards the northwest.

Adrea, located not far north of Antium, is an ancient Latin city-state and one of the few seaside towns in the Latin city-state. It has close ties to Rome, and Camelus, who was dissatisfied with the Roman Senate's verdict twenty years ago, went into seclusion in Adi. More than ten years ago, the Celts conquered Rome and looted the Latin region. Camillous first raised the banner of resistance with the support of the citizens of Adi, and finally regained Rome. Later, Rome and Adi also established. forge stronger alliances.