Chapter 411
When the trumpeters blew their high-pitched whistles, and the Sparta soldiers sang their praises to the ancient heroes and charged at them in unison, these Greek city-state soldiers would often have a mental breakdown. They would turn around and flee before the battle started, unwilling to take the risk of fighting against Sparta. The Spartans relied on the terrifying atmosphere and bloody massacres that they created on the battlefield through the unity of their army to intimidate the other city-states in Greece for hundreds of years.
Syracuse's large army did not make Phoebidas feel uneasy in the past. But the Dionysian Army's tenacious obedience and uniform triggered fear in his heart. He seemed to see another Sparta army. Although they wore black instead of red, they had much more soldiers than Sparta …
The Mediterranean Sea only needs one Sparta! Phoebidas thought intensely.
… …
Legio III led by Alexis had just arrived at Picossis. The Devers did not even have time to exchange pleasantries with him. Instead, they directly told him about their battle plan. After getting his approval, they immediately ordered him to lead Legio III north to attack Poseidonia.
The coastal area from Picossis to Poseidonia was not as flat as the southern coast from Turií to Crotone, and then to Rockley. It was mostly mountains, hilly areas, and the ground was rugged and uneven.
The Legio III had to pass through Elia on their arduous march.
As a city-state of the Diónia Alliance, the chief general of Elia, Canios, did not hesitate when he received the news. He personally gathered 1500 public militia and then joined the ranks of Legio III. After all, after the Samonai occupied Poseidonia, Elia was directly under the fierce Samonai army. The people of Elia hoped that Diónia could repel the wolves from the north and restore peace to Elia.
Half a day after Legio III left, the Devers led the First and Second Legions north.
Picossis's chief executive, Antares, was not idle either. He had to help prepare the supplies for the 30,000 soldiers. The food consumption of such a large army must be astonishing. Picossis alone could not satisfy them. Fortunately, Diónia had built a granary in the Grumentum, which could temporarily meet the needs of such a large number of people for a short period of time. If the battle dragged on, they would have to use Cosenza's granary. This was also the reason why the Devers had to speed up their operation. Antares also had to prepare carts and manpower to transport the rations and supplies to the Devers' frontline camp under the command and leadership of the army's logistics camp. This was supposed to be a complicated task that required a lot of manpower, but under the operation of the experienced logistics camp, with the help of the capable Antares, and with the active cooperation of the Grumentum Administrator Bagoule, everything went smoothly.
… …
In the afternoon, after the Legio III rendezvoused with the Elia army, they turned to the northeast and prepared to go around the wide mountain range on the northern coast of Elia. Poseidonia was just north of the mountain range.
Halfway through the journey, the Third Legion stopped and began to build a camp.
They made a lot of noise and were easily discovered by the spies of the Samonai.
"What did you say?! The Diónia appeared south of the Stella Mountains and set up camp on the banks of the Alento River?! " The Pentene leader, Pichini, who was in the mansion of the Duke of Poseidonia and was eating delicacies, was shocked.
"Yes, leader. They have more than 10,000 people! And we quietly approached their camp and found that they raised a flag with the words' Legio III 'written on it! "The scout's anxious words were mixed with a hint of pride.
"Diónia's Legio III! Shouldn't they be in the Grumentum?! Why are they here?! " Pichini had lost his appetite. He threw the mutton in his hand that he had just eaten a few mouthfuls on the table. He lowered his head and wiped the grease off his mouth on his already dirty leather robe.
"I think the Diónia must have heard that Poseidonia has been conquered by us. That's why they came in a hurry to take it back," the other leader, Mobke, guessed.
"Diónia sent 10,000 people, and we only have 3,000 soldiers! And they came so quickly. The parts of Poseidonia that were destroyed by our ballistae have not been repaired yet. How can we defend against their attack?! "Pichini paced back and forth in the room in frustration.
"So we have to send people to Potentia immediately and ask for help from the leader!" Mobke reminded.
"Of course! And … immediately inform the soldiers. No matter how late they work tonight, they have to repair the holes in the wall! "Pichini slammed his fist on the wooden table.
… …
At dusk, Alexis sent out all the members of the reconnaissance team to chase away and kill the Samonai spies in the surrounding area.
At night, the Devers led an army of 20,000 and quietly entered the city of Elia. The Elysians, who had been informed by Alexis in advance, had already vacated the place for the Dionysian Army to stay.
… …
On the same day, in Locley, Syracuse's army finally assembled. The report from the cavalry surprised Dionysius and the others. In just a day and a half, the Diónia camp had already begun to take shape.
This news made him even more determined to carry out his new plan: to divide the army into two parts. The 20,000 soldiers under the command of the Fasipesas would join forces with the 10,000 soldiers in Locley. A total of 40,000 soldiers would attempt to attack the Diónia camp in order to contain them. As for himself, he would personally lead more than 50,000 soldiers through the ancient road between the mountains to the west coast of Greece, then turn north …
In order to prevent dragging down the speed of the march, Dionysius's army did not bring a large number of supplies. Instead, he let the ships in Locley carry a full load of supplies and set off from the port. They went south around the Strait of Messina, then along the west coast of Greece, heading north to accompany the army on land.
… …
When the people of Lijim saw the continuous stream of Syracuse ships sailing across the sea in the distance, one could imagine the fear in their hearts. Some even shouted in panic, "The Syracuse people are coming! They are going to land!! … "
Later, it turned out to be a false alarm, but it did cause a lot of panic in the people of Lijim. There were even many members of the council who requested that the troops in Taurina be transferred back to defend against the landing attack of the Syracuse people.
Attilius had no idea what to do at the moment, so he immediately sent messengers to Taurina.
Fedun, who was in Taurina, first received a report from the scouts: they found that the Syracuse army had passed through the ancient road between the mountains and was advancing towards Medma. As the vanguard, the cavalry had passed through the city of Medma and were still moving forward.
Then, there was another urgent report from the port lighthouse: they found that the Syracuse fleet, consisting of thousands of cargo ships, had passed through Taurina and were sailing north.
An hour later, a merchant ship from Lijim that hurried into the port of Taurina from the north reported that the Syracuse fleet did not enter Medma but continued north.
"It seems that Syracuse is preparing to attack Triene from the north. We are safe for now." The general in charge of the army in Taurina, Krylotas, heaved a sigh of relief.
However, Fedun's expression did not relax. He said with a gloomy expression, "If the Southern Alliance in the north is defeated, it is only a matter of time before Lijim and Taurina are attacked."
"Then it depends on whether our alliance can withstand the attack of Syracuse, or even defeat them …" Krylotas' thoughts were evoked by Fedun's words. He said with some hope, but then he seemed to feel that the hope was a little slim. He sighed and said, "Unfortunately, the Consul Devers of Diónia led his main force to defend against the Samonians! If he can lead his troops back in time, the alliance's chances of winning will increase by a lot! "
"So we can't let the Syracuse people attack so easily!" Fedun said loudly with a serious expression.
Krylotas was shocked.
… …
In the afternoon, the messengers from Lijim arrived at Taurina and sternly requested Fedun to lead his troops back.
Fedun deliberately stalled for time while urgently sending his men back to Lijim.
By dusk, Fedun was still unable to gather his soldiers. In the end, he used the reason that it was "too dark to march" to postpone it until the next day.
Early the next morning, Attilius, who discovered that the Syracuse fleet had already left Taurina and did not attack Lijim, cancelled the order to recall his troops at the request of Fedun's men.
His men quickly returned to Taurina with his urgent letter, and only then did they stop the pointless march of Lijim's troops. But that was for another time.
… …
On this day, in order to speed up the march of the huge mixed army of Syracuse, Dionysius thought of many ways. The most effective one was to send someone to each army to announce that whoever arrived in Hibernian first would be allowed to enter the enemy's city first after conquering the enemy's city, and the last army to arrive would not have the right to share the spoils of war.
Dionysius's troops weren't as disciplined as the Dionysian Army. Because of the large number of mercenaries, in order to maintain high morale, his troops often burned, killed, and looted after conquering the city. It was like this in Motia, and it was the same in Catanai and Naxos in the Greek city-states of Sicily. In fact, the destruction that Syracuse caused to the Greek city-states of Sicily was no less than that of Carthage. This was also the reason why the Greeks of Sicily feared and hated Dionysius at the same time.
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