Chapter 284
After all, the Diónia barracks were close to the city of Tarantum and far from the battlefield, so there was no need to build a complex and strong structure. Therefore, when the Devers attended the combat meeting the next day, the entire barracks was in a state of rest. According to the military law, during non-war times, one person from each squad in the barracks could be given leave to go out and must return before sunset.
Now that they were in a state of semi-war, it was uncertain when the army would go to the battlefield. Therefore, Antonios, who was also the military affairs officer, issued an order: all soldiers who went out could only wander around the barracks and must return when they heard the bugle.
The soldiers were not idle in the barracks. Most of them were keen on some confrontational games, which were organized by the upper echelons of the army, such as tug-of-war, rugby, football … and so on. The soldiers enjoyed it. However, there was one rule that prohibited gambling. Once found, they would be punished by military law.
A few soldiers were given leave to go out to see the famous city of Tarantum in the south. After all, most of them were not merchants or rich people. They had to work in the fields all year round and had no time to travel to Tarantum, which was only separated by a bay. However, since the rules forbade them from entering Tarantum, they could only stroll in the market in front of the barracks.
Therefore, the vendors in Tarantum began to shout with all their might.
"Come and see! It's the skin of a hippopotamus, a divine object from Egypt! Look at how thick it is! Cut it twice with a knife … Look, there's no trace at all! If it's made into leather armor, it's light and strong, and you don't have to worry about getting hurt in battle! "
"Brother, have you seen this kind of straight sword? Look, it's double-edged, and it's very sharp! … It doesn't matter, try it … Isn't it a little heavy?! This is the short sword used by the indigenous people of the Iberian Peninsula. I heard that the Carthage people had not been able to conquer the Illyrian Peninsula because of this weapon! "
…
Because of the need to earn soldiers' money, the small market was mostly filled with vendors selling weapons, followed by food.
"Try this date from Libya. Don't be fooled by its small size, it's very sweet, much sweeter than figs!"
"Ostrich meat salted by the Bedouins! Those who haven't tried it, come and try it! … What is an ostrich? Uh, let me tell you, it's the biggest bird I've ever seen. It's as big as a horse, but it can't fly. It can only run, and it runs faster than a horse in the desert! "
…
It should be said that as a famous trading city-state in Great Greece, Tarantum's goods were richer and more diverse than Turií, which could be seen in this temporary market.
The soldiers strolled around with great interest. They weren't just strolling around without buying anything. As citizens and prospective citizens of Dioria, the land they were given time and time again was enough for them to have enough food and clothing. After that, they would sell their surplus grains and livestock at the market, earning them extra pocket money. In addition to the spoils of war that they would receive after every victory, their pockets were quite full.
Olivers was also one of the personnel who had applied for leave. He temporarily handed over the military affairs to his adjutant and wandered around the temporary market to relax.
At this time, he stood in front of a stall selling metal accessories. He picked up a palm-sized gold accessory and carefully examined it.
"This is the statue of the Egyptian god Horus. It was carved by a famous master sculptor from the Memphis Temple. Look, how intricately carved it is! Wear it, and you will be blessed by Horus! "The merchant strongly recommended it to him.
Olivers shook his head gently, put down the item, and said regretfully, "It's not bad, but unfortunately, I believe in Hades."
"Occasionally worship other gods, and Hades won't blame you. They are in charge of completely different fields …" The Greeks' attitude towards the gods was close but not infatuated with them. They believed in many gods, and they would sing whatever song they went to. When they went to sea, they would worship the god of the sea, when they fought, they would worship the god of war, when they did business, they would worship Hermes, and when they competed, they would worship Apollo. That was why the merchant persuaded him.
However, Olivers still shook his head and left the stall.
The merchant was so angry that he cursed behind him, "The people of Diónia are all stubborn!"
If it was in the past, Olivers would definitely turn around and argue with the merchant. But now, he felt that his identity was different, and he didn't care.
As he walked forward, he saw a few big tents in front of him. In front of the tents stood a few beautiful women. A fat merchant shouted, "The cheapest price! The most comfortable enjoyment! You only need to pay five drachmas, and you can be happy with the most beautiful girl in Tarantum … "
Olivers frowned. Since the incident on the way to Persia, he, who had always been a playboy, changed his ways. Now, as long as someone mentioned the word "prostitute", he would feel disgusted.
He turned to walk back, but Timiaz took a fancy to him. He rushed over and grabbed him, shouting anxiously, "Don't go, seven drachmas and two girls, what do you think? I'm losing a lot of money! "
Without saying a word, Olivers waved his left hand that was grabbed. Timiaz took a few steps back and sat on the ground.
The theater owner of Tarantum spent a long time trying to make a deal, but he couldn't. He finally got angry, stood up, and cursed, "Damn Diónia! A bunch of country bumpkins! Don't know how to enjoy happiness! What military rules! I've never heard of it in the Tarantum army. It's just something your lowly consul came up with to make it convenient to rule you! He wants you to have no freedom, no democracy, and obediently obey his orders! If you don't know how to resist, you're only fit to be ruled by a dictator and obey his orders like slaves! … "
Olivers listened, and he was furious. He strode over.
The other soldiers on the side heard this, and they were all indignant. Not only did this fat man insult them, but he also insulted their great commander!
In the blink of an eye, Timias was completely surrounded.
He looked at the angry faces in horror and shouted in a sharp voice, "What do you want to do?! This is Tarantum! — — "
Before he could finish, Olivers said, "Beat him up!" First, he punched him directly in the fat face …
The Tarantum people in the market heard the screams of the crowd surrounded by the Diónia soldiers, but no one dared to come forward to stop them.
"Woo! Woo! Woo! " … "The bugle sounded at the right time.
"It's the assembly call!" The soldiers exclaimed.
All the soldiers in the temporary market put down what they were doing almost at the same time and quickly ran back to the barracks. In the blink of an eye, there was no longer a Diónia person in the market.
The Diónia soldiers returned to the barracks quickly, as if the previous bustle was just a dream. Only the theater owner lying on the ground was still moaning …
When the camp gate opened again, it was the heavily armed army that came out. They lined up from the east, north, and south gates at the same time, which sped up the pace of leaving the camp.
The merchants of Tarantum saw the Diónia soldiers who were joking in the market before, and they also looked relaxed at the moment, but this casual attitude didn't affect their orderly march and speed.
The two legions left the barracks, and the camp was not unguarded. There were also some soldiers from the supply camp and more than a thousand Diónia freedmen as reserves. They were the legion's complement, usually serving as guards and odd-job workers in the supply camp, and they also had to participate in battles at critical times. Therefore, the tasks of the reserve soldiers were also complicated and arduous, but countless freedmen would fight to join in every expedition because it allowed the freedmen to accumulate merits and shorten the time to become a probationary citizen.
In fact, a legion of Diónia, in addition to the seven battalions of soldiers responsible for combat, there were also medical camps, engineering camps, supply camps, and reconnaissance teams … The true number of people was far more than 7,000. If they were marching within the borders of Dionia, Dyvers would try his best to arrange for the army to march in columns. Even though such columns would stretch the length of the army, the flat and sturdy road system would actually speed up the march. However, the suburbs of Tarantum, the richest city in Southern Italy, were all dirt roads. The effect was the same wherever they walked, as long as they didn't step on the farmland. Therefore, the Devers simply divided the army into four columns, each column had five columns, and they advanced in a straight line.
Along the way, dust was flying, and the noise was loud.
Many Tarantum citizens were watching from the side of the road. Facing the mighty Diónia army, the people of Tarantum had mixed feelings, but when the city was in crisis, such a large number of reinforcements gave them a sense of security.
Not long after, the Dionysian Army arrived outside the city of Tarantum.
When Umarcas was notified, he was shocked by the speed of the Dionysian Army's assembly. After all, the militia of Tarantum was still gathering in the square.
Although Diomiras was also a little shocked, he still retorted, "The Diónia soldiers are in the barracks, and they can set off as soon as the horn is blown. Unlike us, we have to notify every city and every street …"
Umarcas had no choice but to rush out of the city and apologize to the Devers. He asked the Dionysian Army to wait outside the city for a while. At the same time, he invited the Devers to enter the city and go to his mansion to drink some wine and rest for a while. After all, it was noon in early autumn, and the sun was still very hot.
The Devers tactfully declined Umarcas's good intentions. How could he leave his suffering subordinates and enjoy comfort alone?
Not long after, Trifias led a thousand Heraclea soldiers out of the city and met up with the Dionysian Army.
After a while, two thousand Metapontum soldiers led by Tudepres also arrived.
More than an hour later, the city gate of Tarantum opened again, and the noise of people poured out …
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