Chapter 624
"The Kingdom's Ministry of Finance has sent a letter, asking us to transport the grain paid by the people of Naxos as land tax to Katanai. It's said that we want to replace the old grain in the granary, but why do we have to send the newly harvested grain to the barracks? The granary is in Katanai, more than ten miles away from here. Isn't it because you have evidence of Laodisian colluding with the Sikells? We are going to use force against the Sikells! "
Galadmos' words shocked Diocasis. With a slightly unfriendly expression, he asked in a low voice, "You know, this time, the Eighth Legion announced to the public that they were going to conduct a military training in advance for the gathering of citizen soldiers into the military camp. How did you know?!"
"I was the first to discover this incident. Besides, the commotion caused by your search of Laodisian's mansion in Naxos was too big. Some rumors have already spread. Besides, the number of people here —" Galadmos pointed to the surroundings, "is far more than the number of people in a military training. It's more like the entire legion has gathered here. I'm a mathematical researcher, so I'm more sensitive to this. "
"The Turií's trial of these Sicilian senators has not yet begun, but the Senate must be angry at the Sikells who bribed and used the senators. They have not officially declared war, so you better keep it a secret!" Diocasis warned in a low voice.
Galadmos nodded knowingly, then asked curiously, "Which brigade are you in?"
Diocassis's expression suddenly became a little awkward. Under Garrard's questioning, he hesitantly put down his hand that was pressing on his left chest. Then, Garrard Moss saw the pattern of a scale drawn on the linen breastplate on his chest.
"You are a military judge!" Galadmos said in surprise.
Suddenly, the surrounding soldiers stopped in their tracks and looked over.
"Damn you, Galadmos!" Diocasis cursed in a low voice, a little flustered and exasperated, "Do you want me to be hated by the soldiers?"
"A military judge has always been feared by the soldiers, and this position is indeed very suitable for you." Galadmos shrugged and added, "The inspector of Naxos is indeed suitable to be the military judge of the Eighth Legion!"
"No, this is not suitable at all! I used to be the first company commander of the first legion! "Diocasis said angrily.
"Why did he become a military judge in Sicily?" Galadmos was also a little puzzled.
"It must be those old fogeys from the Ministry of Military Affairs!" Diokasis gritted his teeth and said, "That's why I'm going to the main tent to look for the Legion Commander and ask him to transfer me back to my original position!"
"Find … Legion Commander Prososus?! He is not an easy man to talk to! "Galadmos reminded him.
Diocasis felt a headache coming on as he thought about how tough Legion Commander Prososus was in the past. However, he still said firmly, "No matter what, I have to try!"
"Don't be disappointed even if Army Commander Prososus doesn't agree." Galadmos held back his laughter and comforted him with a serious expression, "The military judge actually suits you quite well."
"You better hope that I can convince Legion Commander Prososus, or else —" Diocasis straightened his chest and threatened in a low voice with a smile on his face, "All of you, stop right now. I want to search these grains and see if there are any illegal items hidden inside!"
"You are indeed suitable to be a military judge!" Galadmos laughed without showing any signs of weakness.
… …
The "main tent" that Diocasis mentioned was actually not a real tent, but a brick and stone building – the legion headquarters.
The Eighth Legion Commander Leotychides was sitting on a wooden chair, staring motionlessly at the "wooden map of Sicily" hanging on the wall.
The legion's adjutant hurriedly walked to the door, but he did not go in directly. Instead, he asked the guard next to him, "How is it inside?"
The guard immediately complained, "He has been sitting there motionlessly for most of the day. He hasn't even eaten breakfast in the morning. I have already heated it up twice."
The aide-de-camp patted him on the shoulder to comfort him, and then walked in quietly.
He coughed twice, but Leotychides did not respond.
He called out softly, but Leotychides still did not respond.
He had to shout, "Legion Commander!"
Leotychides finally turned around, looked at him, and said coldly, "Stefos, what's the matter?"
Stefos felt that Leotychides seemed to be a little angry, so he quickly said, "As per your request, I have invited Sir Cypross."
Leotychides's expression softened a little. "Let him in."
"Legion Commander!" Stefos had to remind him tactfully, "Sir Cypross is the Senator of Diónia whom His Majesty trusts, and the chief executive of Katanai. We cannot be too negligent!" Stefos thought to himself, 'You are just a new legion commander, and you are not even a Senator. You should at least go out to greet him as a sign of respect.'
Unexpectedly, Leotychides looked up at him with a cold gaze. "I want to discuss important matters of the kingdom with Sir Cypross. If I make too much noise, it will only attract the attention of the Sikere people."
"Legion Commander Prosopus is right!" Hearty laughter came from the door. "That's why I came here quietly."
"Sir Cypross!" Stefos hurried to greet him.
Cypross nodded at him with a smile and walked into the room, as if he did not care about Leotychides's slight.
Leotychides also stood up and nodded at Cypross.
"Sir Prososus, please tell us what shocking decision you have made." Having spent a few years with Leotychides in Katanai, although they did not have much contact, Cypross knew the character of the highest military commander of Sicily. He said as he pulled a chair over and sat down.
Leotychides did not beat around the bush. He walked to the map on the wall and said in a deep voice, "I have decided to lead the Eighth Legion to the west tomorrow, bypass Mount Etna, and enter Argyrion."
Stefos, who was standing by, was astonished to hear this.
Cypross, on the other hand, remained calm. He asked softly, "Why the rush? The Senate has not yet passed a resolution to declare war on Tanique, and Argyrion is a friendly town with Diónia. It is our ally! "
"I believe Sir Cypross has already seen the intelligence that Xenophanes sent into the hinterland of the Sikere people to gather." Leotychides tapped on the wooden planks on the wall. "The Tanique tribe has completely taken control of Kafaroidian, the westernmost town of the Sikere people, a few years ago. They later acquired the land of Enna, and control the two important towns of Hena and Hebita. Most of the Sikere tribes to the west of Argyrion, Morgantina, and Kenturipa are under the rule of the Tanique leader, Acoris —"
Leotychides extended his left hand and covered the center of the mainland of Sicily. He said solemnly, "I believe that after His Majesty the Devers and the Senate have seen this intelligence, they will never allow a powerful Sikere force to emerge in the most important western part of Diónia, the Catania Plains. The order for the Eighth Legion to wage war against them will probably arrive not tomorrow, but the day after.
But when that time comes, I'm afraid that Tanique will be ready to defend himself. Fighting in the mountainous interior of Sicily is disadvantageous to us. We are unfamiliar with the terrain, and the Sikaels are skilled in guerrilla warfare. In the past, they used this tactic to assist Dionysius, and gave Carthage and Margo a lot of trouble. Once the war starts, I'm afraid that our army will be ambushed by the Sikere people even when marching and camping in the mountains. This will definitely prolong the war, and it will be very disadvantageous to Diónia, because we are still fighting another war against the Downey people in the south!
According to Xenophanes' intelligence, there are even some tribes in Argyrion who support Tanique. The situation is getting more urgent, so I purposely announced that we are going to conduct military training, but I gathered all the soldiers of the Eighth Legion and rushed to Argyrion before the Tanique tribe could react. We will completely stabilize this important town of the Sikere people, and at the same time, intimidate the other Sikere tribes so that they will not side with Tanique. And then — "
Leotychides pointed to a town not far to the southwest of Argyrion, and said in a serious tone, "We will first take down Hena City, which has the weakest defense, and give the other Sikere tribes the confidence to rise up against Tanique, who is bent on unifying Sikere …"
Stefos was excited when he heard this, but at the same time, he looked at Cypross worriedly. Would Chief Administrator Katanai agree to such a bold plan? Even if Cypross did not agree, he believed that Leotychides would still carry out the plan, but the Eighth Legion would undoubtedly be in big trouble and difficulties!
Cypross laughed. "I've always said that you, Prososus, don't like to talk, but I didn't expect you to be able to move people with your words!"
Leotychides did not seem to find Cypross's words funny, and remained expressionless, but he understood what Cypross was trying to say. "You agree?!"
Leotychides was focused on military affairs, and usually did not pay much attention to the higher-ups of the Kingdom of Diónia, nor did he visit them often. Otherwise, he would have known that Cypross was a smart, flexible, and daring elder who broke the rules. In the past, under his urging, Triene fully supported Diónia of the Southern Alliance. After the Southern War, he was the one who persuaded the people of Triene to let Triene become the first Greek city-state to take the initiative to join the Kingdom of Diónia (not counting Laos). Now, when he was the chief administrator of Carthage, under the pretense of friendly relations with the city-states of Diónia, he had actually gone against the agreement between the Kingdom of Diónia and the Kingdom of Diónia. He had strengthened relations with the Greek city-states on the south coast of Sicily, such as Gela, Camanlina, Paccinus, Agrigento, and so on. Although they did not form an alliance with the Kingdom of Diónia on the surface, they had actually sided with the Kingdom of Diónia. That was why these city-states had sent delegations to attend Turií's Hades celebrations.
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