Chapter 1043
Cloto Catax scratched his head with his hand and showed a rare childish expression. "He said that I did a good job, but I need to be careful … because Father has also replied to me."
Asistes laughed heartily and said, "You guys came to me in a hurry just now. I didn't even have time to eat dinner. Since today is the first day of the new year, you can accompany me for dinner. Then, we can discuss how to hold the fishing competition tomorrow while we eat. I have decided that you will be responsible for organizing this matter."
"Me?" Cloto Catax was a little surprised.
"You don't have confidence?" Asistes looked at him with a faint smile.
"No problem!" Cloto Catax immediately responded.
… …
The two new negotiation conditions from Diónia shocked Oceledon. He did not dare to continue the negotiations. He said that the matter needed to be discussed and decided by the Senate. Without a moment's delay, he returned to Carthage by boat. However, he did not immediately report the matter to the Senate. Instead, he first reported it to Hanno.
That night, Taipanlak and several other important Hanoverian senators arrived at Hanno's mansion one after another.
When Oceledon repeated the situation of his negotiation with the Diónia in Sicily, everyone's face became solemn.
"Lord Hanno, the Diónia have put forward such harsh negotiation conditions. This is a provocation to us. We must not agree to it! If the Diónia force us, we will stop the negotiations! " The first to speak was Drevica. He was the most active supporter of Hanno's "inland expansion policy". Of course, he had also received a friendly gift from Hanno, allowing his family to occupy a large piece of land near Theveste (a town in Eastern Numibia, inland south of Carthage).
"If we don't negotiate, then the people of Diónia can continue to destroy our remaining troops in Sicily and occupy the entire western part of Sicily for themselves. Then, they can regroup their troops, land in Afrika, and attack us, Carthage … It's not that we want to negotiate, but the enemy is strong and we're weak. The situation is grim, and we have no choice but to negotiate!" Samos sighed with a gloomy expression. He was the Hanoverian who was the most proficient in military affairs after Monte Adler. Now, he led thousands of Carthage militia and was stationed in Eastern Numibia, suppressing rebellions and stabilizing order. This time, he was specially called back, which showed how much Hanno valued him.
"The Diónia want Corsica, Sardinia, and western Sicily! Now you want southern Iberia, and you want us to return the land of Numibia! If we all agree, will we be able to satisfy the people of Diónia? No, our weakness will only fuel their greed. Not only will they add new conditions for negotiation, but they will even send an army to land in Afrika and threaten us, Carthage! Since the situation is so bad, why don't we be more forceful? Instead, it will make the people of Diónia wary! "Drevica retorted.
Hanno listened to the debate between the two and did not express his opinion. He turned his head and asked, "Tepanlaco, what's your opinion?"
Tepanlaco pondered and said, "The key issue now is that we first have to determine if the people of Diónia really want to negotiate with us. If they do, then we will try our best to negotiate with them, hoping to finally get a truce agreement that is not bad for us. If not, then we have to prepare for war with all our might, and prepare to defend against the invasion of the Dionysian Army in Afrika! "
After listening, Hanno looked at Okridon again. "You and the people of Diónia have been negotiating for a while. Based on your judgment, do the people of Diónia want to negotiate? Or do they not want to negotiate? "
This question carried a lot of weight, and Okridon did not answer immediately. He pondered for a while before saying, "During the time I was negotiating with the people of Diónia, I only met their king once at the very beginning. His attitude towards me was still considered friendly. After that, I asked to meet him several times, but I was rejected. I think it was not because his anger towards Carthage was growing, but because he wanted to negotiate with Carthage. He was worried that under my request, he would rashly make a decision and interfere with the plan of the negotiators of Diónia.
Secondly, I deliberately provoked the negotiators of Diónia several times, and even threatened to stop the negotiations, and let the people of Carthage prepare for war with Diónia with all their might! ' However, when I appeared in the negotiation room the next day, the negotiators of Diónia were still waiting there. Although they were mocking us, they still allowed the negotiations to continue. According to my observation, the negotiators of Diónia were a very arrogant person, but the fact that they were able to endure it showed that they were looking forward to the negotiations.
However, it was understandable that the people of Diónia wanted to gain more from the negotiations, just as we wanted to give less in the negotiations. Therefore, during the negotiations, we were all watching the development of the war. Unfortunately, Brother Margo failed, and the people of Diónia had a greater advantage. Of course, they wanted to gain more.
Moreover, from my conversation with the negotiators of Diónia, I found out that the people of Diónia did not pay a great price to defeat the army led by Brother Margo this time. I have carefully observed the soldiers of Diónia, and all of them were arrogant. They did not look tired at all. "
The faces of the people in the room changed.
After a while, Tepanlaco reluctantly said, "… Maybe they deliberately put on a show for you, and then put pressure on you."
"Stupid Brother Margo! He is the sinner of Carthage! "Drevica scolded angrily.
Hanno, who was usually at loggerheads with the Magonid Family in the Senate, did not reprimand Brother Margo. Instead, he sighed worriedly and said, "Drevica, what you said before was right. The greed of the people of Diónia can be changed. Perhaps the previous king of Diónia did have the intention to negotiate, but as the difference in strength between the two sides grows, it is inevitable that they will have other ideas! Looking at the current situation, we must admit that the people of Diónia have an absolute advantage in both the navy and the land. We must first find a way to strengthen the military of Carthage City, and dispel the idea of Diónia annihilating us! Samos, do you have any suggestions for this? "
Samos hesitated and did not answer for a while.
"Look at the situation now. If you have something to say, just say it!" Hanno was getting impatient.
"Sir Hanno, then I will say it." Samos decided to go all out and said directly, "The army of Sicily has suffered a crushing defeat, and the entire sea is completely sealed by the navy of Diónia. The remaining troops on the island have no hope of escaping, and will eventually surrender to the people of Diónia. Now that the people of Diónia have put forward such harsh conditions for negotiation, they will not release the captives before an agreement is reached. Once the people of Diónia solve the problem of Sicily and land in Africa, they will launch an attack on Carthage City. How many soldiers can we organize to defend Carthage City? How much food do we have to ensure that Carthage City can last longer under the siege of the Dionysian Army? How much foreign aid do we have to help us when Carthage is in danger? … "
Samos's question made the faces of several people in the room change drastically.
As this year's Sophie, Okridon coughed a few times and reluctantly said in a comforting manner, "The young and strong citizens of Carthage suffered a lot of casualties after they first landed in Sicily with Montenegro. Since then, Margo has forced us to recruit more than 10,000 public militias. They are now trapped in Sicily. At the same time, there are nearly 8,000 citizens stationed in Numibia under your command.
If the city wants to forcibly recruit more, I am afraid that we can only organize more than 4,000 people at most, including the elderly and young people. (Although Carthage is the most prosperous city-state in the Western Mediterranean and seems to have a large population, in fact, there are not many real citizens. Most of them are slaves, especially the Numibians. The Phoenicians are only a small race in the entire Mediterranean. So for hundreds of years, although they are more civilized and technologically advanced than the Greeks, they have basically been at a disadvantage in the migratory conflicts in the Western Mediterranean. This is the main reason.)
Due to the blockade of the Dionysian fleet, most of the military rations we have collected from Numibia and the allies for the Sicilian army have not been delivered. It is enough for the people of our city to eat for more than three months. Don't forget that the people also have food in their homes. It will not be a problem to hold on for half a year under the siege of the Diónia!
As for the foreign aid you mentioned … The entire Phoenician city-state of Afrika is the help of our Carthage. The Dionysian Army will not be able to move an inch on this land. "
Okridon's comfort obviously did not work. Samos still looked solemn and said in a deep voice, "Although the city of Carthage has lagoons and hills as barriers, 4,000 people are not enough to resist the attack of the Diónia. We should transfer the 8,000 soldiers stationed in Numibia to strengthen the city's defense.
In addition, I do not agree with what Sir Okridon just said about the Phoenician allies being our help. I think the Phoenician allies in Afrika will be our burden. Most of their young and middle-aged citizens have been transferred to Sicily. Once the Dionysian Army really lands in Afrika, the Phoenician allies will not be able to protect themselves and may turn to us for help. When that time comes, should we send reinforcements?
If we send reinforcements, not only will it weaken our already weak defense, but it will also put the reinforcements in danger of being attacked by the Dionysian Army at any time. If we don't send them, will the Phoenician allies still trust us? Maybe they will directly turn to the Diónia! And — "
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