Chapter 240
The captain continued in a loud voice, "The engineers of the legion often tell us, 'Building flat roads can make it convenient for us to walk, digging ditches can take away sewage and garbage, keeping the city clean, and elevated water bridges can lead clear streams directly into the city, saving us the trouble of going back and forth to fetch water, so that we can continue to use water …'
Chief Executive Hilos also told us that Lord Devers said, 'All the facilities for the convenience of the people in Turín should be built in other cities of Diónia, so that every citizen of Diónia can enjoy a clean and convenient life, whether in Turín or in other cities! … '"
The captain's excited voice attracted the attention of some of the working soldiers. Fearing that it might cause some misunderstanding, Sisprotis did not say anything more. The captain also did not want to say anything more to this messenger of Crotone who looked down on the Lucanians.
Sisprotis moved forward in silence. He even saw some people who looked like scholars measuring something with instruments at the corner of the street (it was a right-angle measuring instrument, used to measure whether the building was vertical), and some people drew lines on the side of the road with lime powder, telling the soldiers where to dig ditches … Everyone looked very focused, which touched Sisprotis somewhat.
The Greeks could build solemn and magnificent temples, large-scale arenas, exquisite and sturdy theaters … They had the most advanced construction technology in the Mediterranean Sea in this era, but they would not apply it to the infrastructure to improve the lives of the people. The people were also used to the simple material life, devoting their energy to the political life, sports, competitions, and drama of the city-state … It seemed that only the people of Diónia invested a lot of manpower and material resources in the infrastructure that other Greek city-states were unwilling to do. Sisprotis had not been to the newly built Turín, but the Avenue of Diónia was quite famous in the whole of southern Italy. It seemed that even the barbarians of the Lucaria Mountains yearned for the way of life created by Diónia. There must be something attractive about it … Sisprotis thought to himself. Unknowingly, he arrived at the city hall of Asprousturm and saw Hilos, who had just taken office for less than two days, and Asistes, the temporary garrison officer.
After listening to Sisprotis' request, Hilos and the Asistes were a little surprised. They had just fought a bloody battle with the Crotone, and in the blink of an eye, they had become allies. The Crotone, who were once enemies, were now asking them for help …
Even though these two generals had been on the battlefield for a long time, it was still difficult for them to accept it emotionally.
Hilos said cautiously, "Helping Crotone defend Rockley means that Diónia will declare war on Rockley. This is not a decision we can make. We need the approval of the Diónia Senate."
"Of course we understand. Our other emissary has already boarded a speedboat and is rushing to Turií. However, Rockley's army has invaded our land, burning our villages and slaughtering our people … When the order from the Diónia Senate arrives, how many people in Crotone will lose their lives! How many houses will be burned down! " Sisprotis begged bitterly. As he spoke, tears streamed down his face, "Diónia has always kept its promises since its establishment. As an ally of Crotone, are we just going to watch the people of Crotone suffer and do nothing?!"
The two generals, who did not have much political experience, felt a little embarrassed. Asistes tried his best to persuade Sisprotis to leave, saying that the matter was of great importance and that they needed to discuss it. Asistes forced Sisprotis, who was wiping his tears, to leave.
When he returned to the hall, Hilos had regained his composure after some thought. "Asistes, I am ready to agree to the request of the Crotone emissary. I will send troops to the west bank of the Tachinadi River to prevent the Rockley people from entering the core area of Crotone."
"What?! You are going to start a war with Rockley without the permission of the Senate. Lord Devers will be very angry! " Asistes recalled how Sesta made a decision on his own in Neutum and caused him to be criticized by the Devers. He immediately shook his head like a rattle drum. "No! Definitely not! "
"Who said that we must start a war with the Rockley people just because we want to stop them? We can do this …" Hilos carefully stated his considerations.
After listening, Asistes carefully thought about it and showed some concern. "Isn't this too risky?! What if Rockley really attacks our troops regardless of everything? What should we do? "
"Asistes, you have to know that although the Diónia Alliance has only been established for less than a year, our reputation in Greece is very high. Not only because of our military victories, but also because Lord Devers has always led us to adhere to our beliefs! When we were very weak, we still didn't give up on our alliance with the Turís when we were facing the threat of the powerful Crotone. Now, our ally is begging us for help. If we don't help them when we can, then what will be the effect of the defense alliance treaty that we have just signed with Crotone?! What will the Crotone people think?! When we came here, Lord Devers and the Senate warned us to maintain a peaceful and friendly relationship with Crotone. Can it be done?! Will the other Greek city-states still believe that we, Diónia, can keep our promise? I know Lord Devers. In this situation, he will definitely send troops to protect Crotone without hesitation! If Rockley dares to attack, he will not hesitate to launch a counterattack! "
After Hilos finished his speech, the Asistes were moved. He defended himself in a low voice, "It's not that I don't agree to send troops. I just want to get Lord Devers's instructions first."
"This round trip will take more than a day. By the time the order arrives, the Rockley people might have already crossed the Tachinadi River and caused great damage to Crotone's outskirts. Since we want to help Crotone, we must appear when they need us the most!"
Hilos's expression was firm and his words were forceful. The Asistes were moved. "Alright, I agree to send troops. However, we must send a messenger to Turís urgently to inform them of our decision! "
"That's right!" Hilos nodded.
Sisprotis received a message from Hilos: Diónia will fulfill the covenant and send troops to help Crotone defend their territory. He was so excited that he repeatedly thanked Hilos and the Asistes.
As soon as Hilos made the decision to go to war, the entire Asistes began to move. 2500 Legio III soldiers were quickly gathered and led by the Asistes. They immediately set off to the south. Hilos only left 500 soldiers to guard the city.
… …
Rockley's thousand-strong assault team did not encounter any resistance. They successfully approached the Tachinadi River, leaving behind a trail of ruins. If it was a few hundred years ago in the Archaic Era, the war between cities was still considered warm. Both sides would agree on a time and place for the battle. Before the battle, there would even be duels between warriors. The victorious side rarely pursued the enemy. But now, the war between cities was very tragic. Many of the defeated side's cities were destroyed. Therefore, when the stronger side attacked, the weaker side could only hide in the city to defend. Therefore, the attacker was unwilling to attack the city by force. Instead, they chose to destroy the farmland, burn the villages, slaughter the people … and other atrocities to force the other side to come out and fight. This was a common thing. For example, during the Peloponnesus War, Sparta attacked Athens by land. Athens knew that they could not compete with Sparta on land, so they let the people hide inside the long walls of Athens, causing the Peloponnesus to trample Attica into a desolate wilderness.
These methods could also weaken the enemy's will to fight, just like what the Diónia soldiers did in the northern plains of Crotone and the Crotone soldiers in the Sebari Plains. The decades of hatred between Rockley and Crotone gave the Rockley people another purpose when they did these things — to vent their anger. Therefore, they were very thorough in their actions, which slowed down the speed of their march.
Hearing that the Tachinadi River was not far ahead, Rockley's soldiers could not wait to cross it immediately and rush into the heart of Crotone to burn, kill, and loot. When they excitedly rushed to the west bank of the Tachinadi River, they found that there was an army blocking their way.
Diopantos was the general leading the Rockley troops. He muttered in his heart, "Didn't the navy say that Crotone had sent out all their soldiers and the city was empty? Could it be that these are the newly recruited free people? "
He looked over and saw that the army in front of him was lined up neatly in a phalanx. Each of them was tall and straight, wearing helmets, breastplates, greaves, round shields, and bayonets. They were fully equipped with heavy infantry equipment. The entire phalanx was as silent as a mountain, and the oppressive aura they exuded made the people of Rockley, who had been talking and laughing loudly, fall silent.
"Look at that flag!" Someone pointed at a big red flag in the middle of the square formation and exclaimed.
The Rockley soldiers with good eyesight could see that there was a bronze statue of a person with wings and a sword at the top of the flag.
"It looks like the Grim Reaper," someone said with uncertainty.
The Grim Reaper?! Diopantos remembered that Metlos, who had just returned to Rockley a few days ago, told the council about what he saw in Diónia. He immediately realized that the unusual army in front of them was not from Crotone, but Dioria, who had forced Crotone to sue for peace not long ago. It was a mysterious city-state alliance that did not exist a year ago, but in the blink of an eye, it had become an influential force in Greece!
Diopantos immediately became nervous and hurriedly reorganized the scattered troops.
At this time, a small group of cavalry came from the opposite side and stopped about 50 meters away from the Rockley troops. The general in the middle, wearing a purple helmet, spoke loudly while the other cavalrymen acted as voice transmitters. "I am Asistes, the captain of the Legio III of the Diónia Alliance! Diónia and Crotone have signed an alliance defense treaty. According to the treaty, Diónia is responsible for the safety of Crotone's territory! Rockley people, Diónia has no intention of starting a war with you, but if you continue to stay in Crotone's territory, we will have no choice but to drive you away! "
There was a commotion in the Rockley troops.
Damn it! Diopantos cursed in his heart. The thing he was most worried about had finally happened.
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