Chapter 210
Just as the Devers had predicted, the Crotone's army crossed the river at this point, and the Dionysian Army, who had been lying in ambush, was waiting for them. The Dionysian Army, with a large number of new recruits, had the geographical advantage, and used novel tactics to inflict significant damage to the Greek army of Crotone, who were famous for their bravery, and gained the upper hand for a while.
The Devers were known for their ability to annihilate the enemy when they were in Persia, using clever tactics, and having few casualties. However, at that time, Tormid was the commander of the entire army, and he was also responsible for the coordination of the entire mercenary army. The Devers' barracks had always been under the strictest management, so he could only see bits and pieces of their military capabilities. When he arrived in Turín, he heard of the Devers's many military successes, and he was already itching to do so. This time, Tormid, as the commander of the Devers (because he was still a freeman), participated in the entire military operation. He witnessed the Devers stand up for the others, and came up with military plans that he had never seen before. He also commanded all the departments of the Alliance to work around this plan. He had the elderly and women wear armor and walk around the port to confuse the enemy's fleet. He had meticulous arrangements during the night march, and even new recruits and freedmen who had never had any experience before could successfully reach Castellón. The army enforced strict discipline and sealed off the city of Castellón to prevent any news from leaking out. He sent Y 'zam's mountain scouts across the river to scout the enemy's movements, and at the same time, sent out cavalry to intercept the enemy's scouts, so that the enemy would not know what was happening on the other side of the Trionto River. Before the sun rose, he led his army to the place quietly, and set up bait (referring to the four thousand soldiers) on the riverbank in front, and at the same time, hid the traces of the main army. He deliberately stationed more than a thousand men between the Trionto River and the downstream riverbank, so that the Crotone would not dare to take the risk of casualties, and so they chose to take the safer middle section of the river.
Throughout the entire military operation, the Devers' strategy was fully displayed: deception, rapid marching, reconnaissance and anti-reconnaissance, ambush, bait … The perfect combination, and finally successfully mobilized the enemy, achieved their goal, and also broadened Tormid's horizons. In this era, most of the wars between city-states were fought in a place that both sides could accept. Or when one side was strong, the other side would defend tenaciously until reinforcements arrived. The generals of both sides would focus on the tactical application of the battle (which was what Sparta was best at). Unlike the Devers, who made a plan based on the situation at the beginning and made a series of complicated and delicate actions around the plan to achieve their own goals, it was as if the bloody battle was carved into a delicate and beautiful piece of art similar to the pottery vases of Athens. Just like the Devers themselves said, "War is related to the survival of the city-state. We must be careful and think carefully before we take action."
This was why the Devers were able to become the Archons of a powerful Alliance, while Timason died in a small city. Tormid's imagination ran wild.
"Tormid, go to the east and inform Zantiparis, Epitenis, Cspit, and Ledes that the enemy will soon cross the river. Tell them to get ready and act according to the plan," the Devers ordered.
"Yes, sir!" Tormid mounted his horse and rode east. Although the tactics adopted in the east would be even more unimaginable, he already had confidence in the Devers.
… …
Philadelphus was shocked when he heard from Euthydemus that Myron had led his army to cross the river, encountered the army of Dionia, and was in a bitter battle. The fact that Diónia had ambushed nearly 20,000 soldiers on the opposite bank of the Trionto River was completely beyond his expectations!
Would there be an ambush here as well? He looked at the more than 1,000 light infantry of Diónia stationed on the opposite bank and could not help but think. He had hoped that Myron would come to help him after crossing the river to drive away the enemy on the other side and reduce the number of casualties. But now, he had to lead his troops to help Myron. The situation was critical and he did not have time to think too much.
The stretch of the river here could not accommodate more than 6,000 soldiers crossing the river at the same time. He quickly divided his troops into three parts, the front, the middle, and the back. More than 3,000 heavy infantry were at the front. With their strong defense, they could successfully reach the opposite bank and disperse the enemy's arrows and javelins while reducing the number of casualties. They were followed by 500 cavalrymen who could chase after the enemy's light infantry and defeat them. Finally, there were nearly 3,000 light infantry.
After withstanding the long-range attacks of Diónia and suffering some casualties, the Crotone heavy infantry climbed the river bank. There was no need for them to chase after the light infantry of Diónia, who had long escaped. Philadelphus led his army across the river smoothly.
"General, do you want to chase after them?" Arisosis, the captain of the cavalrymen, asked.
Philadelphus shook his head and said cautiously, "Now we have to rush to help Myron. Your cavalrymen just need to guard the periphery of the column. Do not attack rashly."
Philadelphus had just led his troops to turn around and march westward. Not long after, a loud bugle came from the north.
Philadelphus' heart tightened. There was indeed an ambush!
At this time, Arisosis also quickly rushed over and said with a slightly strange expression on his face, "General, there is an enemy force coming towards us from the north. There are about 6,000 to 7,000 of them, all archers, slingers, and light shield soldiers. There are also a few hundred cavalrymen."
Philadelphus was stunned. "No heavy infantry?"
"No!" Arisosis nodded with certainty.
Although Philadelphus was a little confused, he was obviously relieved. He decisively gave the order, "All troops, form up to the north!" Since the incoming Dionysian Army did not have heavy infantry and lacked the ability to fight head-on, Philadelphus did not mind defeating them first to reduce the harassment.
"Arisosis, how many cavalrymen does the enemy have?"
"More than 400 cavalrymen."
"Fortunately, we have twice as many cavalrymen as they do." Philadelphus was even more relaxed. He said, "Arisosis, when fighting with light infantry, your cavalrymen are especially important. I need you to lead the cavalrymen to defeat the enemy's cavalrymen. Try not to pursue them, but to attack the enemy's flank, understand?"
"Understood!" Arisosis turned his horse and left.
The Diónia army was moving very fast. Not long after, they appeared in Philadelphus' field of vision. When he roughly saw the enemy's appearance, he could not help but be shocked. The enemy's light infantry was too light. Whether it was the archers or the javelin soldiers, all of them were wearing thin linen clothes. Even the cavalry was wearing armor, while the rest were wearing thin clothes. It was extremely shabby.
'Are these all free people recruited from the port of Turín?' Philadelphus could not help but smile. 'Myron's guess was right. Diónia's citizens were scarce, and they were short of soldiers. I only need to use light armor and cavalrymen to defeat them!'
The Diónia army stopped about 500 meters away and began to regroup.
"I think the people of Crotone will be very surprised to see us. They must think that we are only here to attack them, but they will never think that we let them cross the river with the intention of annihilating them here," Tormid said with a sigh.
"This battle will prove to the Greeks that light infantry is just as important as heavy infantry. With the right strategy, light infantry can easily defeat heavy infantry!" Epicthenis said confidently.
"The key is whether Ledes and Zantiparis can annihilate the enemy's cavalry first." Tormid was still a little worried.
"Don't worry, that is the meticulously designed plan of our Lord Devers, the Chosen of Hades! He is the Chosen of Hades! " Cspit had a look of admiration on his face. "Even you and I did not expect this, let alone the enemy. They will definitely fall for it!" While he was talking, Epicthenis had already jumped off his horse and walked into the formation. He ordered the soldiers to widen the gap between them, making the formation more loose, making it easier for them to throw and run.
Cspit also rushed to the right and gave the same order. On the left, Ledes' cavalry formation was also loose. Just like that, the left, middle, and right formations of the entire Diónia army were like fermented bread. The area they occupied, both horizontally and vertically, had almost doubled.
For Philadelphus, this was the first time he had encountered such a situation. He hesitated for a while, and finally decided to make his formation thinner. However, the arrangement between the soldiers was still as dense as usual. He felt that although heavy infantry and light infantry had no projectile ability, as close-range troops with strong impact and combat power, a dense formation was their magic weapon to defeat the enemy. At this moment, Philadelphus' mind was frozen by traditional inertia. As a result, the length of the entire Crotone formation was only the same as the length of the Diónia army on the opposite side. This caused the Diónia army to vaguely surround the Crotone army in a semicircle.
However, Philadelphus was not worried. He knew that the difference in numbers between the two sides was not big. As long as the Crotone soldiers came into contact with the enemy, victory would come. His biggest guarantee of confidence came from the fact that he had twice as many cavalry as the enemy. Because the opponent's formation was too long, to make it easier to face them, he ordered Alisosis' cavalry to separate from the middle and directly face the enemy cavalry.
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