Chapter 257

Theagenis responded confidently: "This huge war between Dionia and Carthage in Sicily has involved all the Sicilian city-states, can we Syracuse be an exception? ? No! Carthage's army has approached Gera, and Dionia's army is stationed at Leotine, we must make a choice, or we will be crushed by the forces of both sides.

However, we will not be true allies with the Carthaginians who have been our sworn enemies for decades, nor will we dare to challenge the Dionysians who have taken our hegemony, what we have to do here is In a fierce war, seize every favorable opportunity to regain Syracuse's former glory! "

Thee Argennes said and did so.

When Cypros of Catanai sent a messenger, he asked angrily at the council of Syracuse: "Your Syracuse fleet attacked Pachinus' fleet and led your troops to capture Carmenlina. Provocation to Dionia! This dangerous behavior must be stopped immediately, the troops should be withdrawn from Kamanlina, and Pachinus should be compensated and guaranteed not to make similar actions in the future, otherwise Dionia Will not sit idly by!"

Theagenis responded calmly: "Is your Dionia an alliance with Pachinus and Kamanlina? Of course not, you have no covenant with these two city-states, even an agreement. No, we have, and a full military alliance."

Kamanlina said, and also let someone take the covenant just signed, show it to the Dionysian messenger, and said slightly mockingly: "I am very grateful for Dionia's concern about what happened recently, but This is an internal matter between us and our allies, and we can resolve it through our own consultations, and we don’t need you, Dionia, an outsider to worry about it.”

The Dionysian messenger was speechless for a while, and after a while, he said angrily, "Syracuse is preparing to join forces with the Carthaginians?!"

"How could we Syracuse join forces with our mortal enemies, the Carthaginians!" Teagenes said with a serious expression: "We just want to protect ourselves on this war-torn Sicily island."

The Dionysian messenger understood, and he said coldly: "So you, Syracuse, are meant to be crows, stealing corpses after the beasts fight, but no matter how much carrion a crow eats, it will still be a crow. The peace and tranquility of Syracuse that Heroes and other heroes who resisted Dionysius' tyranny a few years ago exchanged blood for will not be lost in your hands!"

The dialogue between Theagenis and the Dionysian messenger at the council was circulated, and many people applauded their chief general for his toughness and wit when he spoke to the Dionysian messenger. There were also a few The people were apprehensive about the warnings given by the Dionysian messengers.

Just when the Dionysian messenger left the city of Syracuse, many Syracuses came to hear the news and abused and humiliated them to vent their dissatisfaction with Dionia.

Tai Argenis had expected this for a long time, and he didn't want to openly tear his face with Dionia for the time being, so he specially sent a patrol to escort him.

The Dionian messenger left Syracuse with a bruised face and ripped clothes, which he regarded as a great disgrace.

……………………………………

When Sekhnian led the fleet to Gera, Leotizides already knew that Camanlina and Pachinus belonged to Syracuse, which forced him to cancel the original plan, and at the same time, one after another unexpected changes occurred. It also shook his confidence in continuing to hold on to the south coast.

So, as soon as he saw Sekelian who had just arrived,

He said bluntly: "Camanlina and Pachinus have surrendered to Syracuse, and it is estimated that Minoa will not last long. Now we are completely at a disadvantage, but my army is scattered in Sellin. Nus and here will have no effect on the whole war situation, so I decided to withdraw all the troops in the city-state on the south coast. If the Minoans and Jera people are also willing to follow us, then we will return to Catania together with us. The Seventh Legion will reunite, re-strengthen our strength, and look for an opportunity to continue defending against the Carthaginians and even Syracuse."

Seekrian looked at Leotidides' serious expression, thought about it seriously, and said in a deep voice, "Everywhere else can be evacuated, but Serinus has to keep it!"

"The troops from other places have withdrawn, and Serinus has completely become an isolated city. How many days can Karsidis hold on?" Leotizides seemed to have no confidence in this.

Sekelian is very confident about this: "These days the Carthaginians have launched several sieges against Serinus, all of which have been repelled, and our defenders have not suffered too much loss. I think Karsidis He has the bearing of a general, not in a hurry or panic, and there are ways to defend the city, and Serinus should be able to defend it."

"Calsidis is of course very capable." Leotidides shook his head lightly: "It's a pity that his troops are too small. As soon as we leave, Serinus will become the focus of the Carthaginian attack, and it won't last long. of."

Sekelian said anxiously: "With the help of our navy, how could there be few soldiers under Karsidis! As long as he sticks to it for a few more days, after September, after the farmland in Catania is harvested, I will send the navy to the army. The crew members without warships in the base transported thousands or tens of thousands of people over. Although these crew members did not have the ability to fight directly with the Carthaginian soldiers, they could still assist in defending the city.

Serinus is so important! As long as it is still in our hands, our warships and crews will have a foothold in western Sicily, and the fleet can go to the western seas to hunt food with confidence, and their Carthaginian ships will not dare to easily South Coast transporting soldiers and baggage..."

Sekelian was about to speak, when Leotidides interrupted him and said simply: "Okay, just do as you said, let your Sicilian fleet provide reinforcements, hold on to Serinus, and the others. All city-states and armies are withdrawn from the south coast."

Sekelian was stunned for a moment, and immediately reacted: "Did you have this plan long ago, you want to lie to me to help you defend the city?!"

Leotidas said blankly: "Now I am going to persuade the generals of Gera to leave here and take refuge in Katanai, and the matter of persuading the Minoans must be handed over to you, Lord Cykrian. Now, Jera is guarded by our Eighth Legion here, and there is no major problem for the time being, but Minoa is already in jeopardy, I hope you can hurry up."

"Uh... I said, Prosous, you are not His Majesty Davos, what right do you have to assign me a task! This matter should be decided by the two of us after consultation..." Sekelian expressed loudly His own dissatisfaction, but Leotizides has already strode out of the hall...

A day later, under the escort of the Dionysian fleet, a convoy full of Minoans sailed eastward along the south coast. As they passed the waters off the southeastern corner of Sicily, Sekelian was both nervous and excited. All the clippers scattered out, and ordered the watchers of all the warships to open their eyes and carefully observe the abnormality on the sea.

But to his disappointment, the Syracuse fleet did not appear, and the entire fleet arrived at the port of Katanai smoothly.

At the same time, the city of Minoa was captured by the army led by Pomirka, and all the remaining Minoan citizens died in battle.

The Gerais also agreed to evacuate to Catania, not because of the persuasiveness of Leotizides, but because they thought the same as the Minoans: if they were surrounded by the Syracuses, their homeland would be difficult. The people of Li may also consider whether to surrender, but outside the city are the Carthaginians, as well as the indigenous people who look fierce and savage. The Agrigentos have been slaughtered, and the Gera people do not want to step into them. 's footsteps.

The Sicilian fleet quickly returned to the south coast from the naval base in Catania, guarding this large fleet, which not only carried food and luggage, but also 16,000 sailors. He came to cash in with Leoti. Zed's promise.

Originally, Cykrian was going to do this again after the autumn harvest, but after talking with Cypros, Cypros suggested to him: "After you all evacuate from the south coast, the Serinus defenders will inevitably face Greater offensive pressure, since this city is so important, don't delay, send the crew there as soon as possible, you don't have to worry about their farmland harvesting problem, I will help them solve it."

Cykrian accepts Cypros' suggestion.

The fleet arrived at Serinus smoothly.

Sekelian first unloaded the food and weapons in the fleet, and let 10,000 sailors stationed in the port, while managing and defending the port, and assisting the defense of Karsidis to make up for its defense strength. of insufficiency.

After a night's rest, he sent the remaining 6,000 sailors to the harbour with more than 30 simple repaired Phoenician warships (captured in the previous engagement with the Eastern Phoenician fleet from Persia) ), followed the Sicilian fleet, and the fleet, to Gera together.

According to the prior notice of the Clippers, Leotidides brought the soldiers of the 8th Legion, the cavalry of the 4th Cavalry Corps, a large number of people from Gera, and the people of Agrigento who had fled to Gera before. Ready, they waited in an orderly line at the various piers.

Therefore, as soon as the fleet entered the port and docked, everyone quickly boarded the ship in turn.

When the Carthaginian sentry informed Hasdrubal that "a large fleet has arrived at the port of Gera", he did not at first realize that the entire city of Gera was preparing to retreat, because after the victory of the battle , Several sieges of the Carthaginian army were unsuccessful, and even in the siege the day before yesterday, the Dionysian soldiers even stormed out of the city, which caught Hasdruba by surprise, leading to a fragile defeat for the siege force of Carthage. , It can be seen that the morale of the defenders in the city is very high, and Hasdrubal had to let the soldiers who were defeated in the past two days rest.