ancient greece mediterranean ruler

Chapter 435 Crotone's Choice

Dionysius not only freed them, but also gave them some gifts.

These Bruti and Lucanian fighters originally thought that the fate of being captured would be miserable, but they did not expect to receive such treatment, and thanked the gods for their blessings.

With gratitude to Dionysius, most of the warriors set out on their way back to the city of Asprostum. Only a few hesitated for a long time and decided to go west, not passing through Clapetia, but Climb the mountain trails between the Euphemia Plain and the Bruti Mountains, and return to your hometown...

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On this day, the fourth and fifth Dionian legions, which were defeated and retreated to Asprostum, suffered a total of more than 4000 casualties, more than half of which were lost during the retreat.

In particular, the first brigade of the Fifth Legion was completely wiped out, and there was no news about the commander of the Fifth Legion, Drax. Huge blow.

After all, Felicius, who blamed himself very much, was a veteran who was used to life and death and victory and defeat in the Persian campaign. After the failure of the battle, he immediately realized that the situation was extremely unfavorable to Dionia. He must cheer up and fight again as soon as possible. Establish an effective defense to prevent the Syracuse army from invading Dionia's territory and gain time for Davers to return with the main force.Therefore, in the city of Asprostum, he reorganized the fourth and fifth legions after the defeat, and personally served as the commander of the fifth legion.

Epithenes also put aside his pride at this moment, actively cooperated with Felixius in training soldiers, and discussed with the administrator Agcia on how to strengthen the city's defense.

At the same time, Felicius also sent a ballista unit and engineering battalion to Crotone to strengthen the defense of the Crotones, because the people of Syracuse had catapults, and if Crotone did not, they would Increase the difficulty of defending the city.According to the newly compiled "Dionia Military Law", the chapter on city defense specifically mentions the principle of "fighting ballistae with ballistae".Crotone, as an important ally on the southern border of Dionia, must not be occupied, otherwise the consequences will be disastrous, so Felicius no longer scruples the Ministry of Military Affairs' request that the ballistae cannot leak secrets.

In addition, Felicius also sent fast horses to recover the team that escorted more than 500 Lokri captives to Turui. He hoped to exchange these captives for Dionia, who was captured in the Syracuse army. Soldier.

The failure of this battle also made him more cautious, and he also sent an urgent message to the Turiyi Senate.Because he was worried that the people of Syracuse would bypass Crotone and go straight to Crimesa, a small city with a small population and relatively weak defense. He hoped that the Senate could send a new legion to station in Crimesa.In this way, the three cities of Asprostum, Crimesa, and Crotone are horns of each other and can support each other. Their defenses are thicker, more layered, and safer.

The defeated troops of Trina led by Sipulos did not follow the Dionians into Asprostum, but entered the city of Crotone.Because the city of Asprostum was small, it could not accommodate so many people living there for a long time.Moreover, the addition of Trina soldiers will also enhance Crotone's defense power. Crotone is too late to be happy and does not care about the little rations consumed by the Trina people.

You must know that the armies of Crotone and Trila belonged to brothers and sisters in this battle. They happened to be on the two wings of the coalition forces, and they were the direct targets of attacks and interceptions by the opposing reinforcements.The Trina people were jointly pursued by Campania mercenaries and Syracuse sailors, but less than 4000 people finally escaped.The Crotones, under the attack of the long reinforcements of Syracuse and the continuous pursuit of mercenary cavalry (the Numibian and Celtic cavalry were desperately intercepted by the First Battalion of the Fifth Legion, in order to vent their anger and atone for their sins) , some of the cavalry held back the Dionians, waiting for the infantry to come to encircle them, and the other part turned to the northeast to pursue the Xiliting and Crotone routs), and finally only more than 8000 people arrived in the city.

Both sides lost nearly more than half their citizens.

In addition to his grief, Cypros secretly rejoiced that he had made the correct decision in advance, allowing the people of Trina to evacuate to the Bruti area of ​​Dionia early, and he no longer needed to worry about their safety.

The people of Crotone, who experienced a disastrous defeat a few years ago, are once again in great grief. In addition to their grief, they are even more worried about setting foot on the land of Crotone for the army of Syracuse. Whether it can withstand the attack of this huge army.

The Crotone army plus Trina's defeated army, and less than 2000 Silitinians, totaled about 14000 people. In addition, the council urgently mobilized free people to join the war, and it was estimated that 2 people could defend the place. city, so Crotone's generals gained some confidence.

At the urgently convened and expanded meeting of thousands of people, when someone asked: Crotone has suffered heavy losses, should it consider a truce with the Syracuses, just like the truce with Dionia before, in order to restore strength.

This proposal was opposed by most people. Even Lysias, who was always accustomed to adapting to the situation and compromising, refuted it righteously. He said loudly: "Everyone, Syracuse is different from Dionia. The tyrant With such a huge advantage, Dionysius will never sign a relatively equal armistice agreement with us. He will definitely want to make our great Crotone his slave and make us pay a high amount of money. Tributes, making our citizens shed their blood in his conquests, and even changing our democracy into a dictatorship like Syracuse, just like he did in other Greek city-states in Sicily!…

Moreover, after Crotone became the so-called allied city-state of Syracuse, we would also face bullying from our mortal enemy Locle because Rodionisius married the sister of Demodocus, the chief general of Locle. , Locle was an accomplice of Syracuse in the invasion of Magna Graecia, and its status in the eyes of Dionysius was naturally much higher than that of Crotone.In this way, Lockre can use the power of Dionysius to humiliate us and even extort benefits belonging to Crotone!Citizens, facing such a very possible future, are you willing to surrender to Syracuse? ! "

"Fight to the death with Syracuse! Even if Crotone is destroyed, don't become the slave of Dionysius!..." The citizens shouted angrily, and finally reached an agreement on the issue of war and peace.

At this time, the envoy sent by Felicius came to the city of Crotone. He not only brought the ballista unit, but also the promise made by Felicius on behalf of the Dionysian Senate: Dionia will fight side by side with Crotone to resist the Syracuseans!If you have any difficulties in Crotone, you can ask Dionia, and Dionia will do its best to help solve it! "

Dionia's promise and its actual actions (bringing the Nupao team) moved the citizens of Crotone, which greatly eliminated the Crotone people's long-standing guard against Dionia.For the first time, the people of Crotone felt an unprecedented sense of security backed by a powerful ally.

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The messenger of Felicius galloped on the avenue non-stop, passed three horse changes at the roadside station, and took only half a day to bring the important battle report of "the failure of the coalition battle" to the Turui Senate, and soon Soon it spread throughout the city.

Although the people of Thurii were not as sad as the Dionian people of Asprostum and Krimisa, after all, most of the soldiers of the Fourth and Fifth Legions participating in the war came from the Bruti region, Aspustu Mu and Crimesa, but their shock was far greater than these three regions.Since the establishment of the new city of Turiyi, every time there is a war, they have received news of victory. They have been accustomed to victory and heard of defeat for the first time. Panic spread among the people...

On that day, many people went to the Temple of Hades to pray, hoping that Hades would protect the alliance and keep them safe.In the afternoon, even people from Amendolara and Bisignia came to the temple one after another...

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While the Senate was holding an emergency meeting to discuss countermeasures, in the Davos Mansion, Crystal was discussing with several of her business executives the possible impact of the failure of the coalition battle on the industries they owned.

"Madam, Syracuse should soon march on Crotone, and Asproustum will also become a battlefield, in order to ensure the safety of the bank. Should we...should we store it in Aspro From where will the gold and silver in Rustum Bank be temporarily evacuated?" the bank supervisor suggested cautiously.

"The bank in Asprostum must not be evacuated!" Kristoya said firmly: "You must understand that in the eyes of the people, Kristoya Bank is not my personal property, it is more On behalf of my husband, Archon Davos! In this critical situation, even the Archon’s property has to be evacuated, so do the citizens of Asprostum still have the confidence to hold on! Well! There! Not only cannot the bank be withdrawn, but it must open on time every day!
In addition, you must also ask the bank employees in that city to face every customer with a more confident smile. If the Asprostum City Hall is financially tight and needs money, even if there is no interest, it will Must lend it to them! "

The bank supervisor was stunned when he heard the last sentence, and then said helplessly: "Madam, I understand."

"How's the restaurant going?" Kristoya turned to another supervisor.

"Because of this war, there are now many more customers in various restaurants than before, especially the restaurants in the port of Turii. After the maritime trade route was cut off by the Syracuse fleet, it was a favorite place for idle sailors and workers. In addition to the arena, there are restaurants, so the restaurants there are full every day, and there are not enough seats. As a result, some small conflicts often occur. I have discussed it with the port patrol captain, and he will send more manpower to strengthen patrols in that area. .

　Thanks for the reward from Indulgence Tianya!Your support is my biggest motivation for writing! !

　　
　
(End of this chapter)