Chapter 428
Seeing this, Sesta quickly advised, "Lord Bagylipi, you don't have to worry too much. Felicius is the commander of the southern front recognized and appointed by Lord Devers. He is also a veteran general who has been through many battles. Also, he is an honest man. His analysis of the battle should not be exaggerating. We have a high chance of winning the battle! The report sent by the wise Lord Ancitanos also agrees with Felicius' analysis. We don't have to worry too much … The local council election may be delayed for a while. After we chase away the people of Syracuse, it will still be held. "
"Yes, yes, you are right."
The two comforted each other and walked up the steps of the Senate Hall.
At this time, Sesta saw Petaru coming up from the other side. He walked quickly into the hall as if he did not see Sesta.
Of course, Sesta did not have the habit of greeting unfamiliar people warmly. Instead, Bagylipi sighed. "It seems that Petaru still has some opinions about your investigation of him. He will be fine after a while."
Sesta said coldly, "I am only doing my duty. Whether others are happy or not has nothing to do with me."
Hearing this, Bagylipi could only keep quiet.
… …
"Lords, the warships of Syracuse have cut off the sea trade routes of Diónia. Whether it's heading to the Eastern Mediterranean or the other regions of the Western Mediterranean, our Alliance's merchant ships have already been captured and detained by the Syracuse navy. The merchant ships from other cities that came to trade with our Alliance have also been forcefully expelled. Now, there are almost no merchant ships entering the port of Tulij. Due to its remote location, the ports of the other cities have stopped operating, except for the port of Picossis that can still operate normally.
Due to the war, the soldiers at the frontlines have to consume a large amount of supplies every day. If this situation continues, we will not be able to obtain supplies through sea trade. I am afraid that the grain supply of the entire Alliance will become tight! I suggest that the Senate take measures to remind the people to save food and forcefully control the consumption of food. For example, temporarily closing the restaurants and reducing the people's three meals a day to two meals a day … "When Marigi finished speaking, the senators were in an uproar.
"Is the situation really that bad?" Kornelos asked nervously.
"Yes, the grain consumption has exceeded our expectations!" Agriculture Officer Bagylipi added, "Although we do have food reserves, we have already transported two granaries to supply food to the five corps in the north and south for the first time. According to the statistics of the Ministry of Military Affairs, this food can only last for ten days. As you all know, we've only built six granaries in the Alliance's territory in the past few years. If the war continues for another two months, I'm afraid that the grain reserves will run out! "
All the elders present became nervous.
Cunogorata immediately got up and said, "The sea is blocked, we can buy from Tarantum by land."
Mersis shook her head and said, "Marigi and I had thought of this idea a long time ago. We also sent public officials to Tarantum to discuss it, but the Tarantum Senate said that they were also short on food and had no surplus to sell."
"Damn Tarantum! They've forgotten who helped them chase away the Messappi. How ungrateful! We should take the alliance agreement and question them properly! "Scombras, the current chief executive of Amendola, cursed out loud when he heard that.
"Cough … now is not the time to settle accounts with Tarantum. Syracuse and Samonai are already difficult for us to deal with. Moreover, our relationship with Tarantum has not been harmonious for the past two years. If we push Tarantum too far and it really does what the Devers are worried about … we'll be in trouble!" Kornelos said worriedly.
"What is our fleet doing now?! The Alliance spends so much money on building warships every year. Now is the time when we need our navy! "Tritodermos asked loudly.
"The Navy Commander, Sykerian, is doing his best to reorganize the warships from the various alliances. At the same time, he is training the new tactics proposed by the Devers with the new corps," Hieronymus replied.
"The new tactics designed by the Devers?!" Tritodermos was excited. "Can they defeat the Syracuse navy?!"
"The Turií military port is tightly sealed every day. Outsiders are not allowed to enter. I'm not sure about their training," Hieronymus replied and kept quiet.
"It seems that we can't count on the navy for the time being … I hope that the Southern Italian Coalition led by Sir Felicius can stop the attack of Syracuse." Although Scombras was nearing 60 years of age, his personality was more radical. However, he still held a cautious attitude towards the upcoming battle in the south. It was obvious that the others were also worried about their own gains and losses. After all, the Southern Alliance Army was not the entire Dionysian army. Felicius's leadership ability naturally could not be compared to Consul Davus's in the hearts of the elders.
"Do you have the latest news? Has the Devers led the army to fight the Samonians? "Cydorum asked.
"The news I received was from yesterday. 'The Devers have led the army to Elia'. Today's battle report has not been delivered yet."
The answer of the rotating chairman, Cunogorata, disappointed the elders. Someone sighed. "Our battle report is still too slow."
"It's already very fast! You should know that Lucania City is all mountainous. Based on the previous speed, I'm afraid it would take more than four to five days to reach there. Now, it's much shorter. "Heraclid, who had just joined the Senate and did not usually speak much, retorted.
"My Lords!" Cunogorata reminded loudly. "Although according to the analysis of the battle report, our coalition has a high chance of defeating the people of Syracuse, we have to be prepared for the worst. We must once again strictly order Lord Agathia of Aspuztum and Asistes of Kenapetitia to make full preparations to defend the city according to the decision we discussed yesterday. In case … the battle fails, we must do everything possible to stop the enemy outside the territory of Diónia! At the same time, we must also prepare to assist Tarantum. Only then can we hold the line of defense from Kenapetitia to Aspuztum to Tarantum and delay the enemy until the return of the army led by the Devers! "
"Lord Cunogorata is right. We must have a backup plan!"
"The coalition led by Lord Felicius has more troops than the enemy, and with our army as the main force, we should be able to repel the enemy."
"Have the cavalry scouts been sent out? Let them report back every half an hour about the battle situation of the Turís in Sirityn! "
…
The Senate expressed their opinions one after another, but they all felt a sense of nervousness and worry in their hearts.
… …
After the meeting ended, the senators did not disperse. They sat in the hall and chatted in twos and threes. They wanted to wait for news from the southern battlefield so that they could make a quick decision. So they even let their servants bring lunch to the Senate at noon.
Cunogorata walked straight to a corner of the hall, where Plesinas and Marigi were whispering something.
When they saw Cunogorata coming over, the two immediately stopped talking.
"Lord Plesinas, I heard that something abnormal has happened in the Temple of Hades these days," Cunogorata said in a low voice.
"Oh, what abnormal situation? Why haven't I heard about it? "Plesinas looked confused.
"Handwriting that suddenly appeared and disappeared, and the sound of the statue from time to time …" Cunogorata said word by word, his eyes fixed on Plesinas.
Plesinas suddenly understood, "Lord Cunogorata, you are talking about this. This is not an abnormal phenomenon, this is a miracle of the Hades! Something like this had happened before, but it was happening more frequently recently. This shows that the Hades is protecting our alliance! "Plesinas looked pious.
Seeing his expression, Cunogorata wanted to say something several times but stopped himself. Finally, he warned sternly, "Now is the moment of crisis for the alliance. We need to ensure the stability of the political situation in the alliance and work together to deal with the powerful enemy! As the chief executive of the Turís, I do not want there to be any major turmoil in the city! I believe that Lord Devers also does not want to see a big mess in the city! "
Seeing Cunogorata's dignified expression, Plesinas was stunned.
Marigi, who was next to him, immediately interrupted, "Lord Cunogorata, I am very curious, what do you mean by 'handwriting that suddenly appeared and disappeared'?"
Cunogorata looked at him warily and said, "You can ask Plesinas." After saying that, he turned and left. The rumor about "with my blood as king, protect the peace of the alliance" had gradually spread. It was said that it had spread to Amendola, Abyssinia, and Castellón, which made Cunogorata very uneasy. What he wanted to know now was: Did Plesinas make this decision on his own? Or was it the idea of the Devers? If it was the latter, then what should he do?
"He sensed it." Plesinas looked at Cunogorata leaving and said to Marigi.
"Anyone with a brain can sense it." Marigi shrugged disdainfully, "But what can they do if they know? Just now, Cunogorata did not even dare to say 'what is that handwriting'. When it really happens, I am afraid that he will be the first to raise his hand to show his approval. Don't worry, Cunogorata is a smart man! "Marigi's words made Plesinas feel relieved.
"Actually, I hope that today's battle will fail …" Marigi's voice became softer, but it shocked Plesinas again.
"Lord Devers has led the citizens of the alliance to victory in every battle, which is why we have such a large territory today! But the people have already forgotten the taste of defeat, so they do not know the value of victory … "Marigi said faintly …
… …
Compared to the desolation of the city of Turís, in the early morning of the same day, the clouds of war were thick in the territory of Sirium …
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