Chapter 260 The Military Conference of Katanai (3)

"When the meeting is over, I'll send someone to do this." Cypros agreed very simply, letting Cykrian express his thanks.

Cypros looked at Leotides and said in a deep voice, "We don't need to worry too much about the problems at sea now, but on land, how can we deal with the attack of the Carthaginian army?"

Leotidides did not hesitate, pointed to the map on the table, and slowly said the plan he had already thought up: "Now Carthage and Syracuse have colluded, and all the friendly city-states on the south coast have been occupied by them. , It won't be long before the armies of Carthage meet in the southeast corner and attack our southern border and the two allies of Leotine and Taunis.

This time the Carthaginians have not yet attacked the north coast. I think they will not attack the north coast for the time being. This will disperse their forces, and the terrain of the north coast is narrow, which is not conducive to the strength of the troops. Expand, although the city-states there are smaller than the city-states on the south coast, it will take a lot of time for the Carthaginians to capture them one by one. As long as we have enough troops in Mile, we can take Carthage for a long time. People stay out of the territory. What worries me most is the middle of Sicily—"

Leotizides pointed his right hand at the icon of Enna City on the map, and said in a deep voice: "There are many races in the Carthaginian army from Iberia who are good at mountain combat, and there are Tanikans who are familiar with the terrain. The tribe led the way, the Sikelians were not opponents at all, so Kepharoition was occupied by them, and now they are still besieging Enna, I decided not to reinforce Enna, and retreated with the Sikel tribe who were willing to follow us —"

"You want to give up Enna?!" Cypros was shocked and solemnly reminded: "There are more than half of the Sikel tribe gathered there, I am afraid most of them are reluctant to leave their homes."

Cypros's words were rather euphemistic. In fact, he knew very well that once the Dionysian army stopped reinforcing Enna, all the Sikel tribes there would fall to Carthia under the threat of the Carthaginians. Key, it's because Dionia has done something different to the Sikeles than it has done to Samonay for more than a decade.

As for the Samonites, Dionia maintains an ostensible alliance with this mountain race, but in fact, through trade, culture, and even religion, co-opts and assimilates various Samonite tribes, especially in Abenerum And the Nakonia region, so the Samonai tribe alliance and the priesthood panic, and finally took the initiative to provoke a war. This is actually what Davos hopes, because the expansion to the north is the kingdom of Dionia. strategic focus;

As for Carthage to the south of the Kingdom of Dionia, in Davos' original strategic conception, Dionia did not want to be hostile to it for the time being before occupying the entire Italian peninsula, and "keeping peace with Carthage" became First priority, so the kingdom twice signed a peace agreement with Carthage. So for the Sikers who are located between the two countries, although they have formed an alliance with Dionia, considering the attitude of the Carthaginians, Dionia's Sicilian territory is more used to win over by means of trade. The Sikelians, while less aggressive, avoided provoking the Sikelians to cause conflict and gave Carthage a pretext.

However, after the riots of the Tanikian tribe were quelled, the "Carthaginian secret support for the Tanikian tribe" was also exposed, and Davos changed his previous practice and began to strengthen his control over the Sikelians. Merge the two Sikel towns of Hena and Herbita into the kingdom, thereby cutting the Sikel area into two parts. The eastern area, dominated by Agilion and Kentripa, is adjacent to the Sicilian territory, so it has become a key area for Dionia to win over and assimilate. The area is basically a tribe that has close and friendly relations with Dionia. . However, part of the Sikel tribe in the western region, headed by Enna and Kepharoition, had less contact with Dionia.

Some tribes were punished by Dionia for participating in the rebellion of the Tanikian tribe, and a small number of tribes moved from the eastern region to Enna within the past two years, because their leaders could not bear Dai. Onia's growing control over the eastern region.

Dionia did not let the western region of Sikelle go, but coordinated and resolved conflicts between the tribes as the leader of the alliance, restrained them with trade and aid, and used their warriors to participate in the war. way to control them. Some time ago, the Sikel forces that assisted the Eighth Army and participated in the battle were mainly from tribes in the western region.

Apparently, Dionia took a step-by-step approach of encroachment, concentrating first on assimilating and absorbing the Sikel tribes in the eastern region, and then turning to the west. I just didn't expect that the war with Carthage would break out so quickly after only a few years, and the assimilation of the eastern region had just had some effect at this time.

"I agree with Lord Prosous, and the decision to give up Enna is correct." Breru also stood up at this time, leaned over and stared at the map, and said, "Look, Enna is in the center of Sicily, a distance from Kai Faroition is closer, farther from our sphere of influence. After the Carthaginians took Kefaroition, Agrigento, and Gera, the town was too prominent and was already in the surrounded by the Carthaginians.

We sent less reinforcements, and it would not have any effect, and Enna would still be easily captured by the Carthaginians. And if we send more reinforcements, it will weaken the defenses of other places. The Carthaginians can bypass Enna and attack other towns with empty defenses. For example, send troops north from Gera to attack Hena directly... So , just a little bit, withdraw all the troops and tighten our fists! ' Breru said, looking at Leotidides.

Leotidides did not look at him, but said to Cypros: "The next battle will be fierce, and the safety of the Sicilian territory is related to the safety of the territory of Sicily. Any small mistake will lead to a big defeat. Today , with the Carthaginian dominance, I doubt whether the Sikel tribes in the western region are still loyal to the kingdom, and if we support Enshi, they suddenly rebel—"

Cypros was silent for a moment and sighed: "Okay, I agree with you, give up Enna, and withdraw to the eastern region with the tribe willing to follow us. So, what's the next step?"

At this time, Leotidides said to Brelu: "Lord Brelu, how about your 7th Corps responsible for defending the southern line of defense?"

"You mean the line from Paragonia to Taunis?" Brerou said so quickly because his legion was now stationed at Lake Leotine, just north of Leotine. New barracks nearby, so got some idea about there.

"Yes." Leotizides nodded and continued: "The Eighth Legion will be stationed in Agilion and will be responsible for defending the western line of defense from Hena to Herbita."

Brelu looked at the map carefully again, and found that the western defense zone was basically the towns and settlements of Sikel. He immediately thought: he is new here, he is completely unfamiliar with the race of Sikel, and he has no prestige among them. It's hard to deter them, in case something goes wrong... And the southern defense line is basically within the Catania Plain, and the two allies are Greek city-states, which have been attached to Dionia for more than ten years. would be more convenient.

He pretended to ponder, and then said: "I basically agree with your defense plan, Lord Prosous, but judging from the current situation, the southern defense line may become the focus of the Carthaginian army's attack, and the seventh legion has only more than 8,000 people. , the troops are somewhat insufficient."

"Not only the southern defense line, but the two towns of Hena and Agilion may also be the focus of the Carthaginian attack." Leotizides clicked on the map and said, "The entire territory of Sicily can at least be An additional 20,000 citizens will be deployed to fight, and if any loss is too great, it will be replenished immediately."

"Let me remind you." Cypros interjected: "In ten days, it will be the autumn harvest! I hope that you will not recruit other citizens before this, so as to ensure that there is enough labor in the territory, and the shortest possible time. The harvesting of the farmland will be completed within time, so that we will have enough rations for future wars."

"I don't think any more soldiers will be recruited in a short period of time. If the Carthaginians want to attack us, I think it will take at least 10 days. We can use our existing troops to support the autumn harvest, but be careful. The Carthaginian cavalry broke into the plains of Catania, wreaking havoc on our fields and villages..."

After Leotizides finished speaking, Brelu said seriously: "I have no problem, our Seventh Corps will stick to the southern line of defense!"

"I have a question." Cecilean exclaimed: "What happened to Syracuse?! Is it already certain that they colluded with Carthage and participated in the war against our Dionia?!"

"Syracuse does have connections with Carthage, but it's still uncertain whether they want to declare war on us Dionia." Cypros said cautiously: "I once sent messengers to Syra. The Council of Cuza questioned, and it can be judged from the answer of their chief general, Te Argenis, that Syracuse wanted to take advantage of our war with Carthage to make a profit for himself, but he did not want to be completely with us for the time being. Tear the face, become the accomplice of the Carthaginians, and fight on the front line, so it is best for us not to provoke the Syracuses now, as long as we take precautions against them, and focus on defending the Carthaginians first."

Both Leotizides and Brerou nodded, saying: This is a safe bet.

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