Chapter 113 Capture of Ostia

During the fierce siege battle, the Third Fleet led by Midorades sailed to the mouth of the Tiber River and approached the port of Ostia.

The Romans had already blocked the port of Ostia with iron chains, and the archers in the anti-wave towers tested rockets at warships approaching the port as a deterrent.

The Third Fleet bypassed the port, and then the warships stopped on the south bank of the Tiber River.

The city of Ostia is similar to a rectangle. The long side of the west side is along the coast, and there is a city wall. If Dionysian wants to attack from this direction, he can only go through the sea, which is too difficult, so the Dionysian army Concentrate on the east and south of the attack, while the short side of the north of Ostia is the port.

Why was Ostia not built along the banks of the Taipei River? Logically, this is more conducive to the life of the people in the city, whether it is to work in the fields or fetch water, it is very convenient, that is because there is a large lagoon next to the east of the port. Formed by the surge of the Bo River and overflowing its banks, this oval lake with a length of about 300 meters from north to south and more than 200 meters from east to west has long been a part of Ostia city, and even Ostians specialize in the lakeside of the city. Leave enough tidal flats so that when the Taipei River swells and connects to the lagoon, the houses will not be flooded.

Since the war with Dionia, although the senate has not been too worried about the safety of Ostia, it still obeyed the advice of the Carthaginians and built a not-so-good place in the lagoon closest to the banks of the Tiber. The long breakwater was mainly to prevent the Dionians from pushing the warships across the river bank of only a dozen meters, through the lagoon, and intruded into the urban area. This was just a precaution for the Carthaginians.

But this time, the Dionysian fleet really came, and their warships sailed east along the river bank. After bypassing the newly built breakwater, the warships stopped on the south bank of the Tepo River, and the infantry of the fleet descended. After getting off the ship, each person carried a large wooden board. Under the orders of the team officers, 2,800 infantrymen of the fleet assembled (there are 70 crow ships in the Third Fleet).

After advancing a few hundred meters, they came to the lake. They put wooden boards in the water, put helmets, wooden shields, leather armor and daggers on them. They were only wearing leather armor and leather sandals. On both sides of the plank, the whole body floats on the water, relying on the legs for oars, and keeps hitting the water to move forward. Armed swimming across a lake less than a mile is an easy task for fleet infantry proficient in water and rigorously trained in this area.

When some people in the city of Ostia found that the lagoon they usually used for drinking and swimming was full of enemies, and they quickly swam towards the city, they shouted in horror, hoping that the defending soldiers could stop them from going ashore.

But the vanguard of the fleet's infantry had already landed, and they quickly put on their helmets and picked up their wooden shields and short swords. The slippery and muddy tidal flats are more difficult to walk, but it is not difficult for these fleet infantrymen who are mostly fishermen who have been playing on the seaside and river banks since childhood.

Not only did they move freely, but they gradually formed formations as they progressed.

By the time the defending generals got the news, the fleet infantry had basically gone ashore, and the city was already in chaos.

Although the onslaught of the Diorian army made the defense of the city head tight, the Roman generals had to squeeze a little force to the city to block the advance of the fleet's infantry and avoid being attacked by both sides. But in fact, this is just drinking poison to quench thirst.

The reconnaissance cavalry, who had been observing the movements of the defenders, quickly reported the changes in the enemy at the top of the city to King Davos. He did not hesitate to let the recharged Fourth Army join the siege team immediately, which became a pressure. The last straw for a dead camel.

At dusk, the Dionian army captured Ostia.

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At the same time, the rapid sound of horses' hooves broke through the city of Rome, which had just been quiet at dusk, and the messenger shouted all the way on the horse: "Emergency military situation! Emergency military situation!..." so that the people on the street could avoid it in advance. , to avoid accidental injury.

This naturally caused confusion and panic among many Roman people: "What happened?! Could it be that Camelus was defeated?!"

"Don't talk nonsense, how could Camillous fail! I think our army must have captured the city of Ferentirum!"

"If it is a victory, the messenger just now announced it to us, so there is no need to rush to the Senate in such a hurry."

...

Just as the Romans were talking, the messenger rode across the square and pushed open the gates of the Senate.

At this time, the Roman elders were preparing to leave the venue and go home to rest, and they were shocked when they suddenly heard the news that "the army of Dionia is coming from the sea and is about to land on the coast of Latium".

These days, their main business in the Senate is to listen to the progress of the Roman army's war against the Herniki, and just as they were eager to receive news of the final victory, they did not expect to hear Dionys first. The demihumans attacked them.

Aren't the Dionians now fighting Carthage in Sicily? ! Aren't they just defending against the Samonites? ! ... The first reaction of many Roman elders upon hearing this news was disbelief.

Compared with the shock of most of the elders, Portitus still seemed a little calm, and he asked loudly: "Where is the Dionysian army landing, are you sure?"

The messenger replied: "General Paulus has a decent reconnaissance cavalry to follow along the coast, and I believe there will be news soon."

Portitus pondered and said to himself: "Adi? Impossible, it is too close to Antium, our army can easily disrupt the landing of the Dionians... The coast of Lavigne, it is possible, There aren't many civic soldiers in this small town at all..."

Before he could finish speaking, Abinius had already shouted: "Ostia is not far from Lavinium!"

"Ostia! The target of Dionia's attack is most likely Ostia!!..." There was an exclamation in the venue. The elders of Rome were not people with money and bread, and most of them were elders before they became elders. They have all participated in many city-state affairs and foreign wars. Of course, they can realize how much the loss of Ostia is to Rome, and how much help Ostia is to the Dionysians.

"There are 3,000 defenders in Ostia, and Paulus, Megios, and Panthius will definitely gather their troops and rush to stop them when they find an abnormality. The situation should not be so bad." Lucreti Uz comforted everyone.

"The previous battle has told us that the Dionysian soldiers are very strong in combat, and according to the report of the messenger, the number of troops that the Dionysians are about to land on is probably more than the number of soldiers we sent to the Volsey border. More, plus the 10,000 Dionysian reinforcements who were originally in Wolsey also rushed to assist them in landing, we must be prepared for the worst, Paulus and the others may not be able to prevent the other party from landing, and Austrian Sitia is likely to be attacked by the opponent!" The cautious Portitus reminded loudly.

"Even if they can land smoothly, they can't capture Ostia in such a short time, we still have a chance!" Apuleus said loudly.

His words were immediately echoed by many elders. Yes, they not only misjudged the situation, but the Dionians boldly led their army to attack from the sea again, bypassing the towns heavily defended by Rome, and raiding their defenses in the empty hinterland, letting them set the southwest defense strategy. They have all turned into useless efforts, and of course they do not want Dionia to capture Ostia again, which will make their regrets in their hearts unbearable.

"I am afraid that the army led by Paulus and the others is already at war with Dionia. I believe we will get the news tonight about the situation." The voice said, "All we have to do now is to immediately send someone to inform Camillous!"

"I don't agree with your opinion. It is dark outside now, it is difficult to ride a horse in the dark night, and the terrain of the Tulleros Valley is uneven, not to mention the remnants of the Herniki people roaming in the wild, this time to send If someone went to inform Camillous, it is very likely that he would have lost his life before he saw him. Losing his life is a small matter, if it fell into the hands of the Herniki and their allies, and let them know about Dionia The news of the massive invasion of the people will greatly boost their morale and cause trouble for Camelus to lead his army to retreat in the future." Publius Cornelius Scipio immediately objected.

Many elders thought he was right.

At this time, a voice resounded loudly in the venue: "No matter how difficult it is, someone must be sent to inform Camillous tonight, and let him lead the army back as soon as possible!" Portitus said in a firm tone, and he looked around the venue. Everyone in the room looked very solemn: "You seniors and newcomers, I just thought of a very serious problem. In my decades of career, war has always been as unpredictable as the temperament of the gods. When you think the situation will When it's bad, things get even worse! We have to take into account the possibility that the Dionian army will attack our city of Rome in a big way tomorrow!"

There was an uproar in the venue again.

Even if the Dionians risked bypassing the Roman defenses on land and raided the colonial city of Ostia, did they have the guts to go deep into the interior of the Latium region alone? ! Under the circumstance of being surrounded by enemies, brazenly attacking the city of Rome? ! ! Although many elders were shocked by Portitus' speculation, they were completely skeptical: First of all, an Ostia would cost them a lot of time!