Chapter 454
At the start of the war, Castellón had offered to send troops to participate in the battle, but was politely rejected by the Diónia Senate. Because Diónia's forces were strong enough, and Castellón's soldiers were too few, it would affect the overall command of the army. Therefore, they only accepted Castellón's warships and rations. Now that Diónia's forces were stretched thin, they had no choice but to ask for help from Caslort. No matter how small a mosquito's leg was, it was still meat.
"If Syracuse doesn't launch an all-out attack on us, our forces in Turií are enough." Capus comforted them. "There are still 500 cavalrymen in Turií. Syracuse's naval fleet can't be deployed for the time being, so we can transfer some sailors to serve as light infantry. Of course, it's better if we can get some heavy infantry from Castellón to strengthen the army! … "
Cunogorata stepped forward and solemnly bowed to Capus. He said in a low voice, "Lord Capus, the safety of Turií is in your hands."
As soon as Cunogorata's voice trailed off, Cornelos and the other senators also bowed to Capus. This was the first time the traditional senators bowed so solemnly to the mercenary Capus. He immediately felt the pressure. He returned a powerful military salute and strode out of the hall.
The worried senators looked at each other, and finally, they all looked at the empty seat in the center of the hall in the front row. Before this, they were still troubled by the fact that Devers had become king. Now, this emotion had disappeared without a trace. There was only one thought in their minds: Devers, when will you come back to save Diónia?!
… …
The commander of the Syracuse navy, Leptinus, had no plans to land on the coast of Turií and attack Turií. He knew very well that Turií was not Triene. It had enough manpower, and his sailors with simple equipment could not take down the city with its high, thick walls and tight defenses. He also did not intend to send his warships into the River Crati because Syracuse did not occupy one side of the river, and Turií had iron chains blocking the river. Once his warships were blocked and trapped in the river, they could easily be burned to ashes by the enemy's fire arrows.
Leptinus, of course, was reluctant to place his ship and his experienced crew in such danger, and he sent only a handful of them to raid the outskirts of Turii, in order to force the Daenian fleet, which was concealed in the Crati River, to come out and fight.
Compared to Leptinus' cautiousness, the mercenaries of Syracuse were very arrogant, and had no inhibitions. Although Crimissa had called for the people to hide in the city due to the threat of the enemy's army, there were still a few who did not move in time and were slaughtered by the foreign cavalry. The Celts used their spears to carry the heads of the Diónia citizens that they had cut off. There were even women and children among them. The Legio VI soldiers stationed at the top of the city wall were furious, but they could not attack due to military orders …
The governor of Crimissa, Plotsilaus, was restless in the city hall. When he saw the Legio VI commander Olivers, he quickly went up to him. "Lord Olivers, you're finally back!"
Olivers, who had just finished inspecting the defenses of the port, saw Plotsilaus's anxious face. He could not help but smile in a relaxed manner. "Is the enemy attacking us?" Of course, that was impossible. He had just finished his inspection, how could he not know?
"Look at the situation, and you're still in the mood to joke!" Plotsilaus said anxiously.
"What happened?!" Olivers stopped smiling and asked seriously.
"The families of the people that you've imprisoned have come to the city hall to cause trouble again. This time, they've gathered more than a hundred people. They even threatened to set up tents in front of the city hall and stay there for a long time if you don't release their loved ones!" Plotsilaus said worriedly. If the people were to cause trouble, his reputation as the governor would be tarnished, and he would become the biggest joke in the Senate.
"How dare they!" Olivers sneered. Previously, when he led the Legio VI to Crimissa, they were blocked by a group of protesters outside the city gate. He was the one who detained them on the grounds of attacking the army and conspiring to rebel, allowing the army to enter the city.
These few days, he was busy setting up the defenses of the city. He did not know when some rumors started to spread in the city. "With so many soldiers of the Legio VI stationed in the city, it will only consume our limited food and water reserves. When the people of Syracuse surround the city, the first ones to starve to death will be us, the people of Crimissa …"
"Right now, the people of Syracuse are burning our fields and slaughtering our loved ones outside the city. The soldiers of the Legio VI should go out of the city to chase them away and protect our loved ones and property, instead of hiding in the city like timid mice … "
…
Olivers ignored these rumors and improved the city's defenses according to the established procedures. After learning that the families of the detainees had gathered people to cause trouble in front of the city hall, he still remained calm. This was because after he entered the city, the people that Aristiras' intelligence department had placed in Crimissa had secretly found him. Only then did he know that the spies of Syracuse frequently entered and left Crimissa, colluding with some of the citizens of Crimissa, causing the situation in the city to be so chaotic.
At this moment, he said in a deep voice, "Sir Plotsilaus, the woman who tried to assassinate Sir Devers is from Crimissa. Sir Devers is merciful, and for the sake of the stability of the Alliance, he did not expand the investigation further. However, from the looks of it today, the problem in Crimissa is very serious. Even with military control, the situation in the city is still chaotic these few days. I'm afraid that there are spies of Syracuse inciting trouble. If we don't take strict measures, once the enemy attacks, we will be defending at the top of the city wall, and there will be trouble in the city. This city will be in danger! "
Plotsilaus's expression suddenly changed, and he asked, "What are you going to do?"
"Of course I'm going to find him. Anyone who colludes with the enemy and causes trouble will be put on trial and executed!" Olivers' face was full of murderous intent, and his palm was like a blade as he swung it down forcefully.
Plotsilaus was shocked, and he became hesitant again. "This is too harsh, they are all citizens of the Alliance!"
Olivers glanced at him, and there was some disdain in his heart. This young Senator of Amendolara had always supported the Devers in the Senate, and he was usually quite active in his statements. However, when it came to taking charge and handling political affairs, he was overcautious and hesitant. Therefore, when Scombras was the chief executive of Crimissa, the political situation here was relatively stable. When it was his turn, not only did an assassination occur, the situation almost went out of control …
"Master Plotsey, you have been a judge before, so you should know that our 'Military Law of Diónia' states that 'those who flee before the battle are serious rebels will be beheaded', and the 'Law of Diónia' also states that 'the highest punishment for traitors is death.' This is a time of war, these people who colluded with our enemies and tried to destroy our defense in Crimissa, and even betrayed the citizens of the Alliance, shouldn't they be sentenced to death! "Olivers shouted sternly.
Master Plotsey thought for a moment, and reluctantly said, "Alright, I agree with you. However, I hope that you can show the people solid evidence before you execute them. "
'That's easy.' Olivers thought to himself. He immediately agreed. After leaving the city hall, he quickly found personnel from the intelligence department. After their identification, he led the soldiers to search the houses of more than ten suspicious citizens (all former citizens of Crimissa), found a large number of silver coins of four Drachmas, letters, and even caught two Syracuse spies hiding in their homes.
Plotsilaus had nothing to say anymore.
Olivers faced the people of the city in the square, showed the evidence of more than ten citizens who had colluded with the enemy, and executed them on the spot. He also arrested and imprisoned the families of the troublemakers. Suddenly, the chaotic situation in Crimissa was greatly changed. Under Olivers' command, the people began to throw themselves into the city's defense …
… …
In the past, Ribazot, the chief slave of the Devers' residence, used to show the difference in status and demeanor between him and the ordinary slaves in the front yard with an unhurried pace. However, today, his legs spun as fast as a wheel. In the blink of an eye, he rushed from the gate to the front yard and arrived at the door of the backyard.
"Boom! Boom! Boom! " He couldn't hold back his excitement and knocked on the door with all his might.
The door was abruptly opened. Asuna, who was watering the plants, was holding a vase filled with water in one hand and pulling the door open with the other. When she saw it was Ribazo, her long, shapely eyebrows furrowed and she bluntly scolded, "Uncle Ribazo, you're still a supervisor! Don't you know that Madam needs to rest well after giving birth? You knocked so loudly that everyone on the hill could hear it! If you wake little Eunice up and make her cry, Madam will blame you. Let's see what you can do then! "
"I'm sorry, Asuna, I was too excited! Because … because Sir Devers … Our master is going to be the king! "Ribazot said excitedly.
"Really?!" Asuna covered her face in shock. The vase fell to the ground and broke into a few pieces, but she didn't even notice it.
"The elders announced it in front of more than a thousand people in the square. How can it be fake!" As soon as Ribazot's voice fell, Asuna screamed and jumped. She ran to the back like a madwoman with joy.
"Young people are really not mature enough!" Ribazot muttered a few words. He bent down and picked up the fragments of the vase. He showed a regretful expression, "What a pity, a good vase of Athens."
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