Chapter 449
"Got it." Henepolis left happily.
The Devers watched him leave with a smile on his face. Henepolis had lived in the Devers's home for a few years. Although he had a lively personality, he was straightforward and not pretentious, which made him very popular with the Devers's family. The Devers also treated him like a younger brother. Therefore, he did not want Henepolis to know what was going to happen next.
The officer in charge of defending the Dara River Fortress was called in.
"I remember your name is Tagrou, right?" The Devers said pleasantly.
The captain, who was a little nervous, did not expect that the lifelong governor of Diónia and the commander of the army, the Devers, who was respected by the soldiers, still remembered his name when he saluted and reported to him when he first arrived at the Dara River Fortress more than ten days ago.
"Yes, commander!" he replied excitedly.
"I remember that you are from the Grumentum. Do you belong to a tribe or are you independent?" The Devers continued to ask and gestured for him to sit down.
"I am already independent. I only need to work hard for my family." Tagrou straightened his back and answered in fluent Greek. In the past year, there was a popular belief in Lucania City that the independent Lucanians were the real citizens of Diónia and had true freedom! In the last war, many tribes in Lucania City (except for Potentia and Galaguso) were destroyed and weakened. Therefore, the remaining tribes were weak and relied heavily on the Alliance. They could only listen to the people who asked to leave the tribe. They did not react as strongly as the leaders of the Bruti.
"It seems that you have a family. Do you have children? How is your life? "The Devers chatted with him.
Although this made Tagrou a little surprised, he felt a sense of familiarity. "Asenu bless me. I have two children, both boys, and they are very healthy! Sir Bagoule gave me five acres of land, but it is all mountainous and not suitable for growing wheat. The farmer advised me to plant apple trees, which I did. The trees had grown this year, and they said that they would bear fruit next year. Then, I would be able to sell the apples to the city. They also said that the apples in Turín were more expensive, but it would take a few days to reach Turín …
The year before last, I had taken a loan from the bank in the city and bought twenty lambs and two cows. Now, the number had doubled. In the summer, I sold six sheep and a cow to a restaurant in the city. Not only did I pay off my loan, but I also earned thirty drachmas. I've decided to buy some cows and sheep next year, and try to drive hundreds of cows and sheep up the mountain every day … Sir, I'm not afraid to laugh at you, but this is my dream. In the past, only the tribe had so many cows and sheep … "
"Haha, you have a great ambition!" Devers clapped his hands and laughed. Then he asked with concern, "You're on a mission in Fort Ra River. What about your family?"
"My wife is a capable woman. She can take care of the children and the fruit trees. I also took a loan from the bank to buy a Thracian slave to help me graze my cattle and sheep. When I'm busy, my neighbors will come over to help. Sir, a village has been built at the place where I live … "
Devers listened and said seriously, "Being stationed at Fort Ra River is far from the city and home. Not only is the daily life monotonous, but I can't go home to take care of my family for a long time … This is supposed to be the toughest mission for the registered freedmen and citizens who have undergone training. It's an important mission to shorten the probation period for them to become citizens. However, before the war breaks out, I suggested that they be replaced by real citizen soldiers. Do you have any complaints? "
"Sir … Hmm, to be honest, a little." Tagrou hesitated for a moment before he answered honestly.
"That's because you've received stricter training. You're citizens of Diónia. In times of danger, you'll defend this fort at all costs to ensure that your home is not trampled! Fort Ra River is the only land passage connecting Lucania and Turín. The space here is small, and the military can't spread out. Once it's occupied by the enemy, it'll cut off the connection between Lucania and Turín. That's dangerous! "Devers said seriously.
"Sir, you're saying … someone will attack this place?!" Tagrou's eyes widened in shock.
Fort Ra River was located in the hinterland of the Diónia Alliance. Other than inspecting the passing merchants and travelers and providing them with simple food and lodging, there was nothing else the Devers could do. There was once an elder who suggested to "dismantle Fort Ra River and turn it into a relay station" during a meeting, but it was rejected by the Devers in the end.
"During a war, there's always danger, and danger often comes from the dark … From now on, you must be vigilant. No merchants or travelers are allowed to stay or stay in or outside the fort. Also, no troops without a warrant from the Ministry of Military Affairs are allowed to enter or pass through Fort Ra River. Do you understand?!" Devers reminded him solemnly.
"Yes, Commander!" Tagrou stood up and bowed.
"Tagrou, you're not an official soldier yet, are you?"
"Sir, I'm just a reserve soldier. My tribe joined the Alliance too late, and there are too many Lucanians who signed up to join Legio III, "Tagrou said in a slightly dejected tone.
"I hope that after this war, I'll be able to see your name in the Legion of Legio III!" Devers encouraged him seriously. "Also, if the enemy attacks Fort Ra River, don't fight alone. Inform Sir Hemont in Neutum in time to get his help. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Sir!" Tagrou bowed again in excitement. Although he did not know where the enemy would come from, he was no longer depressed about being sent to the wilderness. He promised loudly, "Sir, don't worry, I'll defend Fort Ra River until the end of the war!"
Devers nodded. After Tagrou left, he got up and walked to the window facing south and looked out.
From here, he could not see the city of Laos, which was the estuary of the Ra River. Therefore, the Devers could only guess what Arobuma, who was not a consul, was doing at the moment.
Ever since Arobuma did not come to Fort Ra River to welcome the Dionysian Army, and the troops he sent to Henepolis were all loyal to Avinogis, the Devers received a secret report from the intelligence department in Neutum that "traces of Syracuse have been found in the city of Laos." The Devers had a bad feeling in his heart. With Diónia at a disadvantage and facing danger, what choice would the man who once went to the East alone, united with the Turií, and helped Avinogis recapture Laos in one fell swoop?
Although the Devers could only wait quietly, he brought Henepolis with him and was prepared for any eventuality.
… …
While the Devers led the army from Fort Ra River into the mountains and embarked on the return journey to Turií, Dionysius had already led 90,000 troops to the Tachinadi River. This army included more than 70,000 of Dionysius's Sicilian troops, as well as Rockley, Hibernian, and the Corunnian troops who had just joined Syracuse's side. They set up camp on both sides of the Tachinadi River.
The camp stretched for dozens of miles, and thousands of tents filled the southern Croton Plains and the lower reaches of the Tachinadi River. The engineers of Syracuse also commanded more than 4,000 Corunnian soldiers and Siletinian slaves to build a simple dock at the estuary of the Tachinadi River so that food and supplies could be transported by sea to the main camp. This provided greater convenience for logistics.
While the army was busy building the camp, Dionysius led the generals to Ciudad Crotone to inspect its defenses.
At this time, under the suggestion of the Diónia's ballista officer, Ciudad Crotone set up stables on both sides of the moat and began to set up traps. It was only because the army of Syracuse arrived too quickly that they could not complete it. This was already the second time in five years that Ciudad Crotone was besieged by an army. The citizens of Crotone were even more shocked than the last time. Looking west from the top of the city wall, they could see the endless white tents that blended with the skyline in the far west.
Lucias, Sisprotis, Ascamas, and all the members of Crotone's council and soldiers on the top of the city wall stared at the cruel tyrant of Sicily who was surrounded by hundreds of cavalrymen. Their eyes were filled with anger and fear.
Dionysius, however, treated the people on the top of the city wall as air. He looked around as if he was taking a leisurely stroll in the park, and exchanged views with the people around him from time to time.
"Look at the city walls inside Clotone. They're at least ten meters tall, and they're all made of large rocks. There's also a moat outside the city, and the entire city is so big. They have enough people to defend it. I think it'll be very difficult to take down this city!" Phobidus said without any misgivings, making his allies feel discouraged. To be honest, the people of Sparta were terrifying in field battles, but they did not have much success in sieging cities. In their previous wars, they had never taken down a big city, and they only had a few small cities. In the past Peloponnesus War, the war lasted for a few decades. The allied army led by Sparta was stationed outside the city of Athens for many years, trampling the Attica peninsula into ruins. However, they were never able to take down the city wall of Athens. Therefore, after they won the war, one of the first things they did was to let the people of Athens tear down the city wall.
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