Chapter 217
Just as the Dionysian Army arrived at the city of Crimissa, the news that the Crotone army had lost the battle and suffered heavy casualties. Only 5,000 of them managed to escape back to Crimissa reached Ciudad Crotone, shocking the entire city.
The first defeat was due to Melantius' carelessness and the shameless sneak attack of the Amendorians. This time, Crotone had built a much stronger army than the last, and they had Chief General Myron, whom they trusted and was equally experienced and reliable, as the commander-in-chief. They thought they could redeem themselves, but the news that came back was even more depressing. The Crotone army suffered another crushing defeat, and more than 20,000 of them did not escape. Did they die in battle? Or were they captured? So far, there was no news.
This time, every citizen's family in Crotone was worried about the life and death of their loved ones. At the same time, their pent-up anger erupted under the guidance of Diónia's spies. The citizens gathered and protested at the city hall, urging for an immediate citizens' meeting.
Faced with the angry citizens who barged into the hall, the council was forced to respond to the citizens' demands, and the citizens' meeting was hastily held.
At the meeting, the citizens angrily criticized the incompetence of the council's generals and councilors, which caused the Crotone army to lose again and again, putting the city in danger. They proposed to remove Chief General Myron from his position and bring him back to the city for trial. At the same time, they immediately started peace talks with Diónia and ransomed the captured public militia.
The proposal was passed with the support of the majority of citizens.
At this time, a messenger sent by Myron rushed back to Crotone, bringing a request that "Diónia's army has surrounded Crimea, Myron requests reinforcements."
This news immediately sent the citizens' meeting into a panic. As long as one was not an idiot, everyone understood that once Diónia seized Crimissa, they could smoothly enter the Crotone Plains, destroy their farmlands, burn their villages, and advance directly to Ciudad Crotone. If the battle were to turn out this way, it would mean that the Crotone Plains would be invaded by enemies from the north after the invasion of Sybaris a hundred years ago. The peaceful lives of the people of Crotone Plains for the past hundred years would be broken. This was unacceptable to the people.
'Reinforce Crimissa and defend the city of Crimissa' became the consensus of Crotone's citizens, but all of the young citizens in the city had basically been transferred away. If they wanted to send more soldiers, they could only relax the military service age of 18 to 50 and recruit free citizens at the same time. Fortunately, they were only defending the city. As long as they knew how to shoot arrows and throw javelins, it would be fine. This was precisely what the free people and sailors were good at, so it was not a problem to gather a considerable number of reinforcements. But the generals were a problem, because all the citizens who could fight and could fight were in Myron's army, including Myron himself.
The citizens debated for a long time and finally reached an agreement. They elected a few candidates, but the ones who were chosen refused to take up their posts. When the people criticized them, they argued, "Even people like Myron and Philadelphus, who are good at fighting, have failed. How can people like us, who rarely go to the battlefield, command an army that lacks citizen soldiers to resist the attack of the Diónia? It's not that we don't want to take responsibility and fulfill our obligations as citizens, but we are worried that we can't be competent for this important position and let our city suffer another disaster! "
After they finished speaking, the citizens' assembly of thousands of people suddenly fell into a dead silence. The people of Crotone, who were good at fighting, were in a predicament where they had no generals to use.
At this time, Lucias stood up and said in a deep voice, "Citizens, you all know that Myron and I often have disputes because of some issues, and our relationship is not good. But I also have to respect Myron's contribution to the city. He has led the army to repel the invasion of the Alliance by the Bruti many times, and twice forced Rockley to withdraw from the territory of Corunya. This is also an important reason why you have elected him as the chief general so many times! To be honest, his military talent has always made me very jealous. But now he has failed. Myron, who has always won more than he lost, and is steady in doing things, has actually suffered a crushing defeat in the battle that decides the fate of the city. Do you believe that he was careless and treated this important battle as a game?! "
Nicias' words made the impatient citizens fall into deep thought.
"Of course not, this can only mean that the military talent of the Consul Devers of Diónia is stronger! Yes, at this point, this is a fact that any person of Crotone has to admit and face bravely! " Nicias sighed and said loudly again, "After the defeat half a year ago, I think you all should understand this person, the Devers. Since he led the mercenaries to Turií, he has won all the battles that he personally commanded, and several times, he won with fewer troops. That's why there is today's Diónia Alliance! Now, is there a citizen of Crotone who is more capable than Myron, who is more capable of fighting against the Consul Devers of Diónia?! "
Although the pale citizens whispered and whispered to each other, no one stood up to recommend or recommend themselves.
"If there isn't, why not let Myron continue to lead the army! I believe that Myron, who has already suffered a defeat, will definitely learn from this, and for the sake of Crotone, and for himself, defend Crimissa with all his might! Citizens, Crotone is facing its biggest crisis in a hundred years! I hope that you can put aside your likes and dislikes for others, and out of the public will, elect the right person to defend our city!!! "Nicias shouted.
His words were obviously effective. In a new round of elections in the Citizen Assembly, Myron became the Commander-in-Chief with a small majority of votes, but his position as Chief General was stripped, and he would have to be interrogated after the war ended.
Having obtained a satisfactory result, Nicias' expression was not relaxed, because he knew that he would soon meet with the Devers again as an emissary. In just a few days, the whole situation had been reversed. Nicias still remembered what the Devers had said when he left Turií, and now it had come true.
Early the next morning, the Dionysian Army did not attack, but continued to improve the camp. Not only did they set up traps in front of the camp, but some soldiers had also begun to build wooden bridges over the Umbria River to protect the construction camp.
Myron witnessed all this from the city wall, and he was surprised: the Devers who had been cunning with their troops could actually calm down and continue to build the camp. Were they really going to besiege him?
He hesitated again and again, but in the end, he did not dare to send the few troops he had to attack.
In the afternoon, Myron was finally relieved. The 5,000 reinforcements of Crotone were transported to the city of Crimissa through the fleet, making the number of troops in the city more than 10,000.
At the port, he also saw Nicias disembarking with the soldiers, and his expression changed. "The Council really sent you for peace talks?"
"No, Myron." Nicias' negative answer made Myron breathe a sigh of relief, and he immediately said, "The Citizen's Assembly sent me for peace talks."
At the mention of the Citizen's Assembly, Myron's expression became even uglier. He said solemnly, "I don't think … the people of Diónia, who have the upper hand, will agree to a truce and peace talks at this time. Even if they agree, the conditions they put forward must be very harsh! "
"You're right, but the people of Crotone are eager to know the safety of their loved ones. I have no choice but to come. However, it is also necessary to try to understand the demands of the people of Diónia first. "Nicias shrugged helplessly.
Hearing Nicias' words, Myron's face twitched. He coughed a few times and said in a low voice, "I heard that at the Citizen's Assembly … it was your speech … that saved me from being escorted back to my country now …"
"In fact, like the other people, I can't wait for you to be put on trial and vent the anger of those who died in this battle! But Crotone urgently needs you now, for the sake of the city, and for your own sake. I hope you can win a few battles in the next battle and lay a good foundation for future peace talks! " Nicias' sincere words made Myron feel ashamed. He did not speak but just clenched his fists.
Then Nicias, accompanied by Myron, went to the top of the city wall. He held the battlements and looked forward. Not far below the city was the camp of Diónia. From east to west, there was a continuous line of tents. Not only were they neatly arranged, one camp after another, but there were also trenches, mud walls, fences, sentry towers … and so on.
Even Nicias, who did not know much about military affairs, could feel the tight security of the Diónia camp from the top of the city wall.
Myron saw that Nicias' expression was solemn, so he said, "I think these Diónia people are really not like the Greeks. We Greeks like to fight, but we don't like to do these dirty and tiring jobs after the battle. But as soon as the Diónia people arrived here, they kept digging holes and building nests like rats. It only took them a little more than a day to build this big camp. They even caused me to suffer when I sent hundreds of soldiers to attack them last night! Now they are still building a bridge over the river. They must want to build a camp on the south bank as well to completely besiege Crimissa. "
Myron paused for a moment and said loudly, "Now that we have this batch of reinforcements, I want to teach the arrogant Diónia a lesson!"
… …
The troops who were ordered to cross the river to the south bank to protect the construction camp and build the bridge were the Second and Third Brigades of the First Legion. The commander was Martonis. This was Martonis's active request to the Devers. In the last battle, he was the commander of the reserve team and almost did not get to fight. This time, he wanted to perform well.
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