Chapter 261 Marco Threatens Syracuse

Only Secrian is still complaining: "Just take precautions?! It's easy to say, the route from Catane to western Sicily will be frequently used by our fleet in the future, whether our warships go to the western seas Patrols, cruising, or our fleet transporting cargo and soldiers to Serinus all go through Syracuse. Their fleet is like a lurking poisonous snake that may attack us at any time. How can our fleet guard against it? ?!"

Cypros' expression became serious, and he said solemnly: "Your Sicilian fleet needs the support of materials and personnel, as long as I can do it, I will do my best to do it for you! But those who control the waters of Sicily and protect the territory Coastal safety is the duty of your fleet, and you are praised by His Majesty as the 'great naval hero of the Kingdom of Dionia', this should be something you consider, but you ask me, a layman!"

Secrian was speechless.

Cypros looked at Brelu again, and the expression on his face became calm again: "Sir Brelu, on behalf of the people of the Sicilian territory, I thank you very much for leading the Seventh Legion to reinforce us. I believe you will be able to cooperate with Prosow. Lord Si united and cooperated to successfully complete the task assigned by His Majesty! Make a brilliant contribution!"

Cypros said this more cleverly, he considered Brelu's age, qualifications, and status in the kingdom (Braylu is a patriarch and one of the representatives of the Brutians, far from Leo who has no power background. Tizides can compare), so there is no mention that Breru should follow the command of the Sicilian commander Leotizides. He believes that Breru, who has been in the legion for more than ten years, is reluctant. It will be done in accordance with military law, because since the establishment of Dionia, there has never been a case of a high-ranking general not obeying orders.

"Don't worry, our seventh legion is here to fight in Katanai, and I will act in strict accordance with military law!" Brelu said very bluntly.

Leotidides nodded when he heard this.

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After Hasdruba occupied Gera, he did not continue to lead his team eastward, because he might encounter Syracuse people further forward. He vaguely remembered that the Carthaginian Senate once sent messengers to have a relationship with Syracuse. After several secret talks, without knowing the details, he didn't know how to deal with the relationship with Syracuse, so he simply stayed in Gera, waiting for Marco to lead the army to arrive, and at the same time divided a part of the troops and headed north Participate in the siege of Enna.

After the Carthaginian army led by Pomircar captured Minoa, they also stayed in place to rest.

After receiving the news that "the army under his command has captured Minoa, Agrigento, and Gera" and "Syracuse has recovered Camerina and Pachinus", he was very happy. Because this means that the Carthaginian army can smoothly pass through the south coast and directly attack the Sicilian territory of Dionia.

However, he was also distressed, because Serinus had not been captured. Because the Serinus defenders not only fought stubbornly, but also responded well. They repulsed the strong attacks of the Carthaginian army several times, forcing Margo to let the army rest in order to restore the low morale.

Judging from the current battle situation, it is unlikely that Marco's existing 40,000 complex troops will be able to capture Serinus in a short period of time. From a safe point of view, Serinus should be captured first, and then march eastward. But in that case, it will delay a lot of time, not only will the Dionian army, which has suffered successive defeats, gain precious rest time, but also will have variables over time. What's more important is the promise he made in the Senate to "capture the whole island of Sicily in one year", so we must hurry up!

Margo thought about it,

A decision was finally made: 5,000 Phoenician infantry and 1,000 Lumibian cavalry were left, and 5,000 Sicilian allied soldiers were stationed in the camp by Imisere, the lord of Lilibe, and continued to besiege Serinnu. He himself led nearly 40,000 troops along the south coast and marched east.

Not only were slaves and freedmen accompanying, but also a large number of people from Mazara, Eryx, Segsta... and other city-states. They were not only responsible for transporting food and baggage to the entire Carthaginian army, but also for the purpose of Survival, because the Dionian army had massively harvested and destroyed the farmland of these city-states (except Palermos and Solus on the north coast) during their time at Serinus, putting them at risk of famine.

Margo announced to them that as long as they transported baggage for the Carthaginian army, they would be allowed to harvest the farmland of the Greek city-states and villages of Minoa, Agrigento, and Gera along the way according to their performance, as a future one. Years of home grain reserves, so they will actively participate.

Margo solved the problem of the army's ration and transportation, but it also made the entire marching team too bloated and slow to move, and it took two days to reach Minoa.

After meeting with Pomirka's army, move on.

When they reached Agrigento, there was good news: Hasdrubal captured Enna, where most of the Sikel tribe chose to surrender.

Not long after Margo was happy, he received another piece of bad news: the Dionysians attacked his freight convoy.

It turned out that the Carthaginian army was too large, and Marco was in a hurry to hurry. The entire team was more than 20 miles long on the south coast, and the baggage transport team fell at the end of the team. As a result, the Dionysian Sicilian fleet was in Minoa. Landing on the beach between Agrigento and Agrigento, the landing fleet infantry attacked the team, killing and injuring many laborers and Phoenicians, and burning a lot of food and baggage. The base army's losses will be even greater.

This forced Margo to slow down the march and send troops to protect the baggage.

After 10 days, the Carthaginian army finally reached Gera.

After resting for a day, Margo led an army of nearly 100,000 troops and continued to march eastwards, eventually besieging Camanlina.

The people of Syracuse who learned the news were shocked and hurriedly sent an envoy to see Marco and said to him: Syracuse has been allied with Carthage, and Carmenlina is now an ally of Syracuse. , it has no hostility to Carthage and will allow the Carthaginian army to pass smoothly, hopefully not attacking it.

Marco disagreed with the envoy's request, he said proudly: "As the military commander of Carthage, I don't know when Syracuse became an ally of Carthage! If the people of Syracuse really want to do this, Ask your general to come here and talk to me in person!"

The envoy of Syracuse brought this back to the council. After hearing this, the generals and deputies shouted. Many people thought: This is the Carthaginian crossing the river and withdrawing the bridge, wanting to break the contract, and preparing to take this opportunity to attack Lower Syracuse.

Others took the opportunity to accuse the chief general Theagenis, saying that he thought he had made a profit for Syracuse, but he angered the Carthaginians. Now that the Carthaginian army has approached Syracuse, if Theagenis must take full responsibility for causing the war.

Theagenis argued that Marco had been in Iberia before, and he may not have been aware of the secret diplomatic contacts between Carthage and Syracuse, and he was willing to personally go to negotiate with Marco to eliminate the relationship misunderstanding.

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On the second day, Theagenis rushed to Camerina, and before he entered the territory of Camerina, he had already seen the Carthaginian camp: countless tents connected, one camp connected A camp, covering an area of ​​not knowing how many miles, if it weren't for countless strong soldiers of different looks walking in it, I would have thought that I had entered a vast city in a trance.

The more he looked at Theargenis, the more frightened he became. Under the guidance of the Carthaginian guards, he walked for a full hour before arriving at Marco's tent.

As Theargenes had expected, after he saluted Marco and said his name, the burly-looking Carthaginian commander did not show enough courtesy and enthusiasm, but said lightly: "Look at Come, you Syracuse people take this matter very seriously, and you actually sent the chief general to talk about it, which will save us some time, and after the agreement is reached, it can be implemented immediately."

"Syracuse and Carthage have already reached a friendly agreement, and General Marco probably doesn't know much about it," Theargenis explained.

"No, I know very well. Someone in the Senate told me." Marco raised his eyebrows and looked directly at Tai Argenis: "You said that you always have a vague attitude in negotiations, although you will never join Dio. Dia, attacking Carthage, but not willing to lead the army to attack Dionia, only willing to provide material assistance, allowing us to camp on the territory of Syracuse, to ensure our safe passage through Syracuse and the territories of its allies..."

"That's right, this is what you agreed and signed by the envoys of Carthage." Before Te Agenis could finish speaking, he heard Marco roar: "This is a bullshit agreement! Did you see the army outside! We don’t need Syracuse to provide the supplies, we can grab it! As for allowing us to pass through Syracuse safely, that’s a joke, even if you don’t allow it, my huge army can pass safely!”

"But that would mean war! War with Syracuse! Carthage, while fighting Dionia, had to guard against attacks from our Syracuse army from the flank and rear, which would undoubtedly slow you down. The progress of the capture of Katanai enabled the Dionian reinforcements from Greater Greece to arrive in time." Theagenis replied calmly.

Margo sneered twice: "If this is the case, will you Syracuse become an ally of Dionia?"

Theagenis hesitated: "If Carthage regards Syracuse as an enemy, we...of course we will."