Chapter 444
Although Olivers was not an elder, he had a lively personality and was good at making friends. He had been in contact with Protesilaus during the Armendolara era, so the two of them were quite familiar with each other. This time, when the war was about to strike, the two of them felt closer to each other.
"Welcome, Commander Olivers! The arrival of you and the soldiers has put the people of the city at ease! "Plotsilaus said sincerely.
"Sir Protesilaus, Legio VI has been ordered to defend against Crimissa. We still need your full support to defend against the despicable Syracuse!" Olivers said sincerely.
"Supporting you to defend against Crimissa is the most important task for me and my subordinates. Tonight, I've prepared a banquet for you at my mansion. We'll talk while we eat, and at the same time, get to know the officials of Crimissa … "Protesilaus saw that Olivers's attitude was gentle and relaxed. After all, it was his first time working with the army.
"There's no need for a banquet. There's a military law that I can't violate. However, I'm very willing to discuss with you in detail how to defend against Crimissa … "Olivers said as he looked at the city of Crimissa in front of him. This was the first time he had come to this city on the southern border of Diónia since the Second Crotone War. It seemed that Scombras and Protesilaus had not been idle during their tenure. Not only had the city walls been thickened, but they had also been raised by at least two meters (at the beginning, it was mainly to defend against the Crotone Empire).
"I've set up your camp in the square. The supplies for Legio VI should be provided by the Turií Ministry of Military Affairs, but the Crimissa City Hall will try their best to provide you with some fresh meat, fish, vegetables … to improve your diet … "Plotsilaus introduced some of the preparations made by Crimissa to Olivers as he led Olivers into the city.
Olivers listened attentively. He could tell that Plotsilaus had made sufficient preparations for the arrival of Legio VI, and he was satisfied with it.
But just as he passed through the city gate, he heard a loud noise coming from the front.
"We can't let these soldiers enter the city, they will only bring war! Bring death! "
"Get out, Turií! The people of Crimissa do not welcome you. Get out! "
"You executioners, return the lives of our loved ones!"
…
Upon hearing this, Olivers's expression changed. He turned around and asked, "Sir Plotsilaus, what's going on?!"
Plotsilaus's expression changed as well, and he was about to explain.
At this moment, the captain of the first battalion that entered the city hurried over and said anxiously, "Sir, there are a lot of Crimissa citizens blocking the streets in front, preventing us from entering the city!"
"It's these guys again!" Plotsilaus looked annoyed. He sighed and said, "Previously, the Polyxis case and the assassination of His Majesty involved many Crimissa citizens, and some of them were severely punished by the Alliance. Ever since Syracuse invaded Greece and defeated the Allied Forces in Siletina, some of the citizens' families have been protesting in front of the City Hall these past two days, asking for the release of their loved ones … But I didn't expect that they would dare to stop the army from entering the city! "
Compared to Plotsilaus's worries, Olivers, who had been on the battlefield for many years, was much more decisive and vigilant. He reminded Plotsilaus loudly, "We should immediately send the army to arrest these people!"
"How can we do that! They are the citizens of Crimissa! " Plotsilaus shook his head repeatedly.
"At a time when the Alliance is facing a crisis, they actually dare to stop the army from entering the city. This is an act of treason, and they must be severely punished! And for this to happen at this time, I suspect that the enemy must be behind this! " Crimissa is about to face the attack of the Syracuse army. If there is such chaos in the city, it will bring disaster to us! So, I suggest that the city of Crimissa be under military control! "
"Military control?!" Plotsilaus looked at Olivers in surprise.
Olivers had a serious expression on his face. "If we don't strictly control it, when the Syracuse army arrives, these undisciplined and hateful Crimissa people will quietly open the city gates when we are not paying attention, let them in, and make us all slaves of Dionysius!"
These words reminded Plotsilaus of the miserable days when he was imprisoned by the Lucanians in Amendolara. He could not help but shiver, and then said hesitantly, "Okay … Okay, but I hope that the people of Crimissa will not be harmed …"
After getting Plotsilaus's approval, Olivers immediately issued an order. The first large group quickly surrounded the troublemakers of Crimissa. No matter how much they cried, they were detained.
Legio VI was able to enter the city smoothly.
Soon, the City Hall issued an announcement: The entire city was under military control, and the port and city gates were prohibited from entering and exiting at will. The residents outside the city were also called to temporarily move into the city to prepare for the upcoming war.
… …
The emergency on the northeast border of Diónia not only shocked the people of Amendolara, but also alerted the Turís. The footsteps of war were approaching the core of Diónia, awakening the painful memories of the war that destroyed their homes a few years ago. Now that the enemy was more numerous and stronger, it seemed that Diónia could only defend and could not fight back. Such a situation made the people of Diónia worried. While they were looking forward to the return of the Consul Devers as soon as possible, the "Oracle" about Hades also took root in the hearts of the people.
That night, there was a hurried knock on the door of the Devers's intelligence officer, Aristiras, in the East City (near the port in the city, near the Grand Arena of Diónia, a famous entertainment area in Turín).
The vigilant Aristiras had already put on his clothes and got up before his slave rushed to open the door.
The person who came was Tratus. As soon as he saw Aristiras, he hurriedly said, "Sir, our men saw the senators of the Senate, Petaru, Cadurc, and Burgam, quietly leaving the city in the evening with their entourages!"
Aristiras was shocked and asked in a low voice, "Didn't the city guards stop them?"
"Sheriff Martonis went to Heraclea. The other party was a senator, and they left from the East, West, and North Gates respectively, so it did not arouse too much suspicion. The city guards did not have anyone to back them up, how would they dare to stop them! "Tratus said helplessly.
After the Devers left with their troops, as the war continued and intensified, the current political structure of Diónia revealed many shortcomings.
Although there was a proposal in the Senate to impose martial law on the whole of Turín during the war to prevent accidents, it was not passed, because some people believed that this would interfere with the citizens' freedom too much. After all, the war was still far away from Turín, so there was no need to make the atmosphere so tense.
Although the Polyxis case caused the Devers to give more power to the Censor to strengthen the management of the senators, and at the same time to "set up the Protector of the People" to supervise from the bottom up, this was still the beginning of the implementation. Even if some of the senators did not have any real power, their status was very high. Once the Devers were gone, no one would dare to control them.
Aristiras did not think too much about it. The reason why he was nervous was because after the assassination, the Devers invested more money and manpower into the intelligence department that they were in charge of, and requested that the cities of Diónia be monitored more closely. After the war broke out, he even asked his men to cooperate with the security officers of the cities to ensure the stability of the cities and prevent accidents.
The three Bruti senators, Petaru, Cadurk, and Burgam, had some complaints about some of the bills of Diónia. They were also involved in the Polyxis case and supported Polyxis' proposal. Although nothing happened in the end, it made Aristiras pay close attention to them.
During the period after the war broke out, the three of them met in private several times, which made Aristiras even more vigilant. Unfortunately, at the critical moment, the sudden invasion of Tarantum led to the departure of Martonis, which caught Aristiras off guard. After all, the intelligence department that he led was only a private organization of the Devers. It did not have any public power, and it was impossible for it to stop the high-ranking senators of Diónia from leaving …
Thinking of this, Aristiras asked further, "Are you sure they went to the Bruti region?"
The only glimmer of hope in his heart was quickly shattered by Tratus' words, "The man I sent saw them crossing the wooden bridge of Abyssinia with his own eyes."
But Tratus' next words made him feel slightly relieved, "But after they left the city, I immediately sent someone on horseback to Ciudad Abyssinia. Once he confirmed the route of Petaru and the others, he would immediately ride to Cosenza and inform Lord Hilos first."
Aristiras did not care about the decision of his right-hand man. What he cared about was whether this long-distance message could be successful. Although there was a road from Turií to Abyssinia, and then to Cosenza, it was definitely a dangerous move to ride a horse in the dark, galloping across the highlands and mountains.
"Who did you send?" Aristiras asked with concern.
"Adepigis."
"Oh, that clever guy." Aristiras was slightly relieved.
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