Chapter 246 Retreat and Attack

Sekelian was taken aback: "Are you going to give up Serinus?!"

"Selinus, of course, can't give up, otherwise the 100,000 army of Carthage can easily pass here and march eastward, and you have also lost a naval base that can stand in western Sicily, and the threat to the western coast of Sicily will also be It will be greatly reduced." Leotidides explained patiently: "However, our main force has always stayed in the city of Serinus, so that the Carthaginians can confidently and boldly attack the places where our defense is empty. Also not possible. My plan was to leave a few thousand soldiers to defend the city of Serinus, and I led more than 10,000 soldiers with the Eighth Army as the main force, and sailed to Gera to join the armies of the friendly countries and defeat the attacking Agger. The Carthaginian army of Rigento, to remove its threat to my Dionian lands and our friendly city-states."

"With only a few thousand soldiers to defend Serinus, can we defend the attack of the Carthaginian army?" Sekelian was a little worried.

"We have been strengthening the city's defenses during this time, and there should be no problem holding it for more than a month. By then, the battle situation may change." Leotizides said calmly.

After hearing this, Sekelian pondered for a while before making up his mind: "Since you have decided to implement this plan, as a military force that is also defending the security of the Sicilian territory, our Sicilian fleet can guarantee you two things.

First, our fleet will do its best to cooperate with the defenders of Serinus to defend the city, such as intercepting Carthaginian grain ships, sending fleet infantry to harass the rear of the Carthaginian army, even at the most dangerous time. , send fleet infantry to assist you in defending the city; secondly, I can guarantee that if Serinus is breached, our navy will do its best to let the remaining defenders evacuate safely and return to Catania. "

Leotidides was a little moved, and even his voice fluctuated: "Thank you very much!"

"If you want to thank me, quickly defeat the Carthaginian army that attacked Agrigento." Sekelian replied with his head raised.

After sending Sekelian away, Leotidides stood at the entrance of the hall for a while, Mukru said with a smile: "It is said that Lord Sekelian is arrogant and difficult to speak, but it seems that he is actually Makes sense."

Leotidides didn't answer the words, went back to his seat again, picked up the map and took a closer look.

Muklu secretly laughed: Compared with the famous Sekelian in the navy, the commander in front of him is even more difficult to contact.

Mukru knew that Leotidides could spend most of the day just by looking at the map, so he hurriedly called the servants to bring breakfast to the hall.

Leotizides quickly finished his breakfast, and then asked Mukru to arrange reinforcements for Agrigento.

As soon as Mukru walked out of the hall, he met Sekelian who was walking quickly.

"Lord Sekelian, you are—"

"Just received the report from the Clippers, and the Carthaginians have occupied Agrigento!" Sekelian said with a solemn expression and walked into the hall.

"Agrigento has fallen?!" Leotizides suddenly stood up.

"The Carthaginians not only captured Agrigento, but also slaughtered the entire city. Only a small number of Agrigento people fled to Econom by boat." Sekelian said in a serious tone: "You The plan to send reinforcements cannot be implemented."

Although this sudden news disrupted Leotidides' plan and did not make him too flustered, he pondered for a while, and then said: "Please continue to carry out the troop transport plan,

But the destination was changed to Gera. "

After the Carthaginian army occupied Agrigento, the city-state to the east was Econom, but the town was completely defenseless, next to it was Gera, and to the west was Mino Ya, why just reinforce Jera instead of Minoa? Cykrian still understood this, because after the siege of Serinus by the Carthaginian army, Leotizides considered that Minoa also faced the threat of the Carthaginians (Selinus and Mi Germay between Noahs is just a small town without a city wall, and there is no army stationed at all), so it has not been allowed to send reinforcements, and now the defense force in its city can support at least a period of time.

Thinking of this, he asked solemnly: "Send reinforcements to Jera, are you still going to continue with the next plan?"

Leotidides did not hesitate: "As long as the Carthaginian army in Agrigento continues to attack Econom or Gera, we must rush to fight it, this is our only chance!"

Sekelian stared at the expressionless Leotidides, he suddenly admired the man's decisiveness in the face of adversity, and felt that he was similar to him in some respects, he coughed, stood up, and said : "Okay, when you are about to lead an army to attack, please notify the Sicilian fleet to escort you."

After Sekelian left, Leotizides turned his head to Mukru and said in a deep voice: "Immediately send a messenger to Catane, and have Cypros apply to the Ministry of Military Affairs to transfer the 7th Army to Sicily."

"Ah?" Mukru was a little surprised. Through this period of contact, he knew that Leotizides was a proud commander. If it wasn't for a critical moment, he would not have asked the Seventh Legion for help, and now Has the time of crisis come?

Leotides didn't seem to realize that his words stirred up waves in the adjutant's heart, and he still explained with a blank expression: "The Carthaginian army that occupied Agrigento did not only attack Econom or Miriam. Noah's two options, they can also go directly north into the mountains again, meet the army there, capture Enna, then move eastward, break through the defenses of Hena and Hebita, and invade the Catania Plain... "

After being analyzed by Leotidides, Mukru felt nervous, he thought about it, and said: "If the Carthaginian army does not go to the south coast, but directly opens up to the central mountainous area, is it too risky? "

"It's a bit of an adventure, but we also have to take precautions." Leotizides pointed to the map and said: "Now our main force is in Serinus, and there are only a few thousand soldiers in the Catania Plain. They We must also guard against Syracuse in the south, and there is no spare capacity to support the Sikeles. To be honest, in my heart, the Sikels are far more important than these Greek city-states on the south coast. Once the Carthaginians occupied this area The area, from Naxos to the ally Leotine, will be under the threat of the Carthaginian army, and it is difficult for us to prevent them from invading, so in order to ensure the safety of the Sicilian territory, ensure The people can harvest food smoothly during the autumn harvest, and we can allow our Eighth Army to fight the Carthaginian army without any scruples, but we can only let the Seventh Army go south and sit in the plains of Catania.”

"I understand, I'll arrange it right away!" Mukuru replied.

……………………………………

In the large tent of the central army in the Carthaginian camp, after listening to the envoy returning from Serinus City, Margo frowned and said, "The crew can be exchanged, but the soldiers can't."

""My lord, but the Dionysians have captured nearly ten thousand Phoenicians, far more than the number of Dionian sailors we have captured, so they asked us to take the captured Greek soldiers as well—"

"Are you my messenger or the Dionian messenger! Put these soldiers back and strengthen the Dionian army, am I a fool! I don't agree with this one, you go back and talk to them again. "

When the messenger saw that Marco was angry, he could only claim it.

Watching the messenger withdrew from the tent, Marco sat on the chair panting heavily, and after calming down a little, he said to the adjutant next to him, "Go and tell him that I agree to this agreement and immediately arrange for the exchange of prisoners. "

"Sir, didn't you just say—"

"Go and execute, isn't it 2,000 Greek soldiers, give them to them! I want to see how the Dionians resist the attack of my 100,000 army!"

"Lord Marco, what makes you so angry?" The tent opened and Pomirka walked in.

"Of course it's the Phoenicians from the motherland!" Margo stared at him and said sarcastically, "In the case of an advantage, he was actually repelled by the Dionysian fleet, and such a waste wasted. Great opportunity, these people are idiots!"

"This naval battle is indeed very regrettable. The fleet of the mother country obviously underestimated the Dionysians, but after this battle, the Dionysian fleet may not be able to harass the western seas for the time being. We Carthage and the surrounding allies can breathe a sigh of relief! Based on this, we should also be grateful for coming here to help our mother country fleet!" Pomirka reminded him with a smile: "Not to mention our mother country. They brought more than just the fleet, they also promised to continue to provide us with gold, silver and supplies to help us finally defeat the Dionysians!"

Marco snorted. It was because he thought of this that he changed his mind. Otherwise, these people protesting to the Carthage Senate every day would only affect his prestige.

"You asked me to come, what's the matter?" Pomirka asked again with a smile.

"Oh, that's right." Marco finally remembered, motioned Pomirka to sit down first, and then said solemnly: "Although the Phoenician fleet was repelled by the Dionysian fleet, they still managed to stop Dai. The Onian's plan to reinforce Agrigento in time...Although I haven't received the news yet, I believe that Hasdrubal led more than 20,000 soldiers and will be able to quickly capture the weak Agri Zhento City. Now that the situation is favorable for us, our huge army should not all gather under the city of Serinus, but should seize this favorable opportunity and continue to expand the victory, so I hope that you will lead the army to go Attack Minoa!"

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