Chapter 202
"So, we don't have to worry about Crotone. What we should be worried about is whether Diónia will accept us occupying Crimissa and become their ally?" That was Creano's main concern.
"I don't know …" Timason thought about it, but he was not sure. "If it's another city-state, I'm afraid they won't accept this. After all, they're all Greeks, and they're wary of foreign mercenaries like us. However, Diónia is different. The Devers obtained their current position through this method. If we want to succeed, we have to take the risk! If we want to be safe, it's better to stay in Diónia's alliance! "
At that moment, Timason was cheering himself up. Creano, on the other hand, was worried about success. "I hope Agathia can convince the Devers!"
"If Crotone really sends reinforcements, we can pretend to be Diónia's army tomorrow to buy some time!" Timason clenched his teeth. He had already deceived Diónia once, so he did not care if it was a second time. He pointed at the chaotic street and said anxiously, "No matter what decision Diónia makes, whether Crotone sends reinforcements or not, we have to do what we have to do first. We have to take over the city as soon as possible, lock up the citizens of Crimissa, send scouts to the south, and have our brothers prepare for defense! We have to end this as soon as possible, or else we'll be worried! "
"Forcibly giving orders to stop looting and killing, or we'll be punished according to military law …" Creano smiled bitterly. "That's what the Devers do. They did it in Persia. We can't learn it … Also, more than two hundred of our brothers died during the siege, and many were injured as well. We have to let them vent their anger. Timason, don't provoke them. We have to take it slow … "
"To be honest, in Persia, we laughed at the Devers's actions, calling them fools … But today, I know we're the fools! "… I … can't help but admire the Devers. They always think about things in the long term … Once we settle down, we must properly enforce military discipline!!" Timasong sighed and made up his mind.
He immediately sent out messengers to look for the officers of the various teams and had them do their best to gather the troops. Meanwhile, he and Creano rushed to the Crimissa Citadel with their personal guards and sent people to the citadel to announce their surrender.
The Crimean's answer was, "Never!!!"
Thus, the two sides confronted each other until the afternoon.
Seeing that more and more enemies were surrounding the city and that they were preparing their siege weapons, the eyes of Crimissa's people became more and more desperate. They realized that the enemy's attack was imminent, and many of them began to cry. Their expressions were solemn and stirring. They were prepared to live and die with the Citadel.
At this moment, there was a commotion in the relatively quiet enemy camp.
… …
"Crotone's army is approaching the North Gate?! How is that possible?! "Kristiano felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He was so shocked that he didn't want to believe the news was true.
Toricos was both anxious and confused. "Our scouts are in the South … We didn't find any traces of Crotone's people in the South!"
"Leader, it's … it's true! Crotone's people are forming up outside the citadel. They're going to attack the citadel soon! "Timason, who was in charge of defending the North Gate, shouted anxiously.
Timason managed to maintain his composure. How could he not believe the words of his trusted aide? He thought for a moment and his expression changed. "Oh no! We've been careless. They might have come by boat just like us! "
"How … how many are there?" Kristiano asked anxiously. He hoped that the guard leader would give him a casual number.
"I'm afraid there are four to five thousand of them …" The guard leader's words shattered everyone's hope. Everyone focused their attention on Timason.
At this critical moment, Timason asked in return, "Brothers, should we retreat?"
"I … I …" Kristiano looked at the citadel in front of him. He struggled for a moment before shouting unwillingly, "We're not Crimissa's people! We can stop them with the citadel! As long as we hold on until tomorrow! As long as we hold on until tomorrow … Timason, you said that if we want to become Crimissa's master, we have to take the risk! Take the risk with our lives! Even if I die, I don't want to return to the Diónia Alliance and be a laughing stock! "
"Me too, it's just death, there's nothing to be afraid of! We can stop the Crotone with the citadel! "Toricos had a ferocious expression. He voiced out the thoughts of most of the officers and soldiers.
"That's right, we'll fight to the death against Crotone!" the others agreed.
Timason no longer hesitated. He stared at the soldiers and gave the order firmly, "Kristiano! Toricos! Gather the soldiers scattered in the citadel and bring them to the citadel! "
"Yes!"
"Paxax! Take two hundred men and guard the citadel! If Crimissa's people dare to come out, kill them all! "
"Leader, leave it to me, don't worry!"
"The rest of you, follow me to the North Gate. Let the Crotone have a taste of our strength! We won't let them take our citadel! "Timason clenched his fists and roared.
"Roar!" the mercenaries roared, trying to regain their morale.
… …
Timason was an excellent commander. Even though the surprise attack had failed prematurely, he was still able to command his troops calmly. He skillfully mobilized the enemy and broke through the Crimesa City in the shortest time possible. However, as a low-ranking soldier, his eyes were blinded by jealousy and competitiveness. He only saw a weak neutral city like Crimissa in Great Greece. He lacked the qualities of a politician to consider the relationship between the various cities in Great Greece, especially the attitude of Crotone toward their neighbor, Crimissa.
Before the rise of Diónia, Crotone did not pay much attention to Crimissa. One reason was because of the agreement with Athens, and the other was that Turií was not a threat to Crotone. However, after they lost to the Diónia Alliance, the situation changed drastically. Diónia took Neutum, Laos joined the Diónia Alliance, Diónia opened up the land trade route between the East and West Coasts, and so on. Diónia quickly became powerful and prosperous, causing Crotone to feel uneasy. They began to feel the threat of this new power in the North. As a buffer, Crimissa's strategic position became extremely important. Therefore, in the past six months, Crotone had been trying to win over Crimissa.
This was the reason why Crimissa first thought of asking Crotone for help when he heard that the enemy was attacking. At the same time, when Crotone heard that Crimissa was attacked by the enemy from the North, their first reaction was, "The Diónia has finally begun their attack!" Therefore, Crotone's council passed the proposal to send reinforcements almost immediately. At the same time, considering the possibility that the enemy was Diónia, since the messenger who requested for help said that there were "only two thousand enemies", they cautiously sent out ten thousand militia.
Just when Timason thought that the Crotone's reinforcements were all in the North, he sent almost all of his forces to defend the North as well as the East and West Coasts. Unexpectedly, another fleet entered the mouth of the Umbria River, broke into the almost empty port, and forcefully landed. Five thousand Crotone soldiers quickly occupied the South Gate and easily defeated the two hundred soldiers of Pasax. After joining up with the Crimeans in the Acropolis, they continued to attack the North.
Not only were the mercenaries outnumbered, but they were also in danger of being attacked from both the North and the South. Defeat was inevitable. After receiving the news that "a large number of Crotone soldiers broke into the Acropolis from the South", the mercenaries lost their will to fight. Timason and Creano were also helpless.
When the Crotone attacked from the South, the mercenaries only put up a little resistance before they scattered and fled.
Timason saw the fleeing mercenaries being slaughtered like cattle by the Crotone, just like what they did to Crimissa. The wrath of the Goddess of Vengeance fell on the mercenaries so quickly, and he was filled with despair.
"Timason, let's go! Let's fight our way to the North! "Creano shouted anxiously.
Timason shook his head. He looked to the North and smiled. 'Devers, I've lost this battle …'
Without hesitation, he pulled out his saber and slit his neck.
Creano did not have time to grieve. He led a few people out of the Acropolis with ropes, trying to escape during the chaos.
However, Crimissa hated them for killing and looting in the Acropolis, so they chased after them relentlessly. The Crotone wanted to do a good deed to the end, so they also chased after them. The mercenaries were surrounded, so other than a few who managed to escape, most of them were either killed or captured. Creano, Toricos, and the others finally surrendered, but they were beheaded by the furious Crimissa …
After interrogating the surrendered soldiers, Crotone and Crimissa found out that these ferocious enemies were mercenaries from Asia Minor and Ionia. They had once fought alongside the Consul and Devers of Diónia in Persia, and had lived in Diónia for more than two months. The attack on Crimissa was a premeditated and independent operation by these mercenaries.
Although it seemed like it had nothing to do with Diónia, the generals and council members of Crotone thought that they had found the best excuse. Unless Crotone was willing to maintain a long-term peace with Diónia, Diónia's rapid development would undoubtedly pose a great threat to Crotone. They could only launch a war while Diónia was still growing and destroy this new alliance!
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