Chapter 488
By the time Arobuma realized that something was wrong with the situation in the city, the rumors had already spread all over the city. There was only one meaning to the rumors: the former Consul Henepolis was a good man, and Arobuma was a tyrant who wanted to turn the citizens of Laos into slaves again!
Arobuma was furious. He ordered his men to arrest the person who spread the rumors and put the matter to rest as soon as possible.
But at this moment, the news that "Sarroux, the governor of Vigo City, is marching towards Laos" came. At the same time, the governor of Grumentum, Bagoule, arrived in Neutum with 3,000 reserve soldiers recruited from Lucania City.
Arobuma immediately tensed up.
… …
On the third day after the naval battle of Taranto, the ship of Sparta's emissary, Kelisthorpes, sailed into the bay of Taranto.
Before he set off, Kelisthorpes had carefully studied the situation of the war in Greece. He knew that the navy of Syracuse had sealed off the entire bay of Taranto, preventing the sails of the Diónia Alliance from entering the sea. Therefore, he was prepared to encounter a patrol ship of Syracuse, but he did not expect to encounter a patrol ship of Diónia. The sail of the patrol ship was painted with the image of "Flamboyant Black Hair Entwined with Two Thighs", which left a deep impression on him.
At this time, the patrol ship of Diónia was no longer a modified cargo ship or a 50-oared clipper. Instead, it was the real top warship of the city-states of Greece — a triple-hulled warship.
The patrol ship stopped Kelisthorpes' ship. After asking for the purpose of his visit and whereabouts, they ignored Kelisthorpes' protest and searched the ship to see if there were more armed men or weapons hidden in it.
At this time, Kelisthorpes asked loudly, "When I passed by here a few days ago, I saw many Syracuse warships cruising in the bay. Where did they go?"
Chalisthorpes' question was a little rude, and the captain on the side was nervous. The captain of the Dionia patrol ship looked at Chalisthorpes coldly. If it weren't for Chalisthorpes' identity as a Spartan emissary, he would have scolded him. He sneered and said, "Where did you go? Where else can they go? They either fell into the sea to feed the fishes, or they are imprisoned in Turií! "
When Kelisthorpes heard this, his eyes widened in shock. "You defeated the navy of Syracuse?!"
"You don't seem to believe it." The captain stood by the side of the ship and spat into the sea. "Two days ago, our king of Devers led us to defeat the navy of Syracuse. Their defeated soldiers fled back to Siletan, but it won't take long before we completely destroy them! When that time comes, this sea will belong to us Daonians! "
Kelissos was shocked. He did not expect that a naval battle that could change the course of the entire Greek War would take place while he was on his way out of Sparta! At the same time, he noticed something else that surprised him. "Did you just say that Dyvers became king?!"
The captain's face darkened. "Be careful, Sparta! The name you've mentioned is the King of the Diónia Alliance, the Son of Hades, the ever-victorious general of Greece, and the protector of the people of Diónia. Please show him enough respect and fear, or we'll seize your ship. You won't enjoy the treatment of a messenger, but will enter Turií as a criminal! "
Hearing the threat of the Diónia, Phoebidas would have flown into a rage. Kelisthorpes, on the other hand, was calm enough. He did not say a word, but his heart was raging like a storm …
On the way to Turií, Kelisthorpes and the crew and sailors of the Pytheas still found it hard to accept the news that the Dionysian fleet had defeated the navy of Syracuse. There was only one profession for the citizens of Sparta, which was a warrior. Therefore, the sailors of the Laconia Gulf were also held by the Pytheas, who were not citizens of Sparta. The people of Sparta would not allow Helots to serve as sailors because it meant unpredictable danger. However, when they were approaching Turií, they were surprised to see countless three-decker oar warships covering the sea. They seemed to be practicing formations. Shouts and bugles filled the entire sea …
Kelisthorpes and everyone on the passenger ship were shocked by the spectacular scene in front of them. Everyone had the same question in their mind: Are these the three-decker oar warships of Diónia? Didn't they just end the battle with the navy of Syracuse? Why do they still have so many warships? Did they also receive help from the people of Persia? … …
That was the truth. The Dionysian fleet originally had about 150 three-decker oar warships. After capturing more than 150 warships of Syracuse, and then capturing 35 three-decker oar warships of Tarantum, the navy of Diónia now had more than 330 three-decker oar warships.
These two days, Cykerian had been worried sick. He had to arrange for shipwrights to repair the warships damaged in the battle. At the same time, because of the addition of so many warships, Turií did not have so many sailors to equip. They had ships but no men, and no matter how many ships they had, it would be useless. He racked his brains and finally came up with a way to recruit sailors.
At this time, the crisis of Heraclea had been resolved, Metapontum had also been recovered, and Castellón had once again strengthened its confidence in following Diónia. After Cykerian received permission from the Devers, he sent people to the three allied nations to recruit sailors. Soon, more than 60 warships could be put to use.
However, these newly recruited sailors did not have the experience of sailing three-decker oar warships. So, for the past two days, Cykerian had been busy training the expanded fleet. As the secret weapon of the Dionysian fleet in the naval battle — the Raven Suspension Bridge — had been exposed, there was no need for him to hide it anymore. Instead, he let the entire fleet show its face in the bay.
So, when Kelisthorpes and the others saw many warships in the Dionysian fleet with a long "wooden board" erected on the foremast, they were all curious.
It seemed that Diónia had really defeated the Zhang Haijun of Syracuse! With a solemn expression, Kelisthorpes looked at the Dionic warships that were cleaving through the waves on the surface of the sea, pondering about the impact of this important news on his diplomatic mission to Tuliyi.
After much deliberation, he found that this victory increased the possibility of a truce between Diónia and Syracuse. This made him more spirited.
Sparta's passenger ships entered the mouth of the Krati River and were ordered to disembark at the port. This was because, ever since the military port of Turií was built on the banks of the Krati River, the port in Turií had been closed for the sake of secrecy. No ships were allowed to pass through the military port and reach Turií.
If Kelisthorpes had been to the port of Turií a few days ago, he would have been surprised by the bustle of the port today. Due to the blockade by the navy of Syracuse, the port of Turií had become very desolate. No merchant ships came and no merchant ships left. The large number of free people who relied on the port for survival had nothing to do. Most of them were later recruited as sailors in the fleet, labourers in the logistics and transportation department of the Ministry of Military Affairs, or assigned to the Ministry of Agriculture to help the families of citizens who lacked farm labor because their masters were away on expeditions. As a result, not only were there no merchant ships in the port, but even the labourers were almost drawn away. The entire port seemed to have been abandoned. Even after the naval victory, the Devers considered the impending military operation against Syracuse for the sake of secrecy. Despite Marigi's objection, they still insisted on continuing to blockade the port for the sake of secrecy until the next war with Syracuse.
But today, cargo ships sailed into the port again. A large number of labourers from the Ministry of Military Affairs entered the port and unloaded sacks of grain from the cargo ships. These were the free aid provided by the three allies of Castellón, Heraclea, and Metapontum after learning that Diónia was in a food crisis and was calling for donations.
Having experienced the Peloponnesus War, the Asia Minor War, and now the Corinth War, Chalisopus knew very well how damaging war was to trade. Moreover, the port of Turín was previously blockaded, but he did not expect the port of Turín to be so busy today. Surprised, he asked the Turín official who came to greet him.
After learning the truth, Chalisopus could not help but be a little surprised. The allies of Diónia spared no effort in supporting the disadvantaged Diónia just because of the naval victory?
Walking out of the port and through the somewhat empty market, Chalisopus and his entourage were about to enter the main road in a carriage.
Here, Chalisopus and his entourage saw a spectacular sight. The road and both sides of the road were occupied by countless Diónia citizens, old and young, men and women, carrying wooden chests, parcels, or leading beasts of burden. They were loaded with valuables as they marched majestically towards the city of Turín …
Chalisopus was very curious and asked the coachman.
"That's the citizens of Amendola going to the Victory Square to donate their valuables, so that our alliance can carry on this war to the end and defeat those evil Syracuse people! We Turín have all donated yesterday. I heard that the Bruti people are also donating, but not in the Victory Square of Turín, but in Cosenza … "
Looking at the proud expression of the coachman, and then looking at the people chatting and laughing on the main road, it was as if they were not going to abandon their valuables, but to attend an important gathering … Chalisopus could not help but think of the scene when the people of Sparta sent their loved ones off to the battlefield. The parting words began to echo in his heart: Return in victory, or be carried back by shields!
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