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Chapter 632

He could not help but sigh. The people of Diónia had completely turned the Taranto Bay into their inner lake. The cities and towns of Diónia in the bay were closely connected through short-distance shipping.

What he did not know was that there was another reason why the Taranto Bay was so prosperous and lively. The problem of pirates that the merchants of other cities in the Mediterranean were most worried about did not exist here at all. The warships belonging to the First Fleet in the Castellón and Tarantum military ports patrolled the bay every day, maintaining order in the bay and ensuring the safety of the ships.

… …

Just as Chalissos was comparing the busy scene in the bay with the port of Piereves in Athens, Cunogorata's second son, Decaocrate, received an urgent notice from the Ministry of Military Affairs and the approval of Commander Alexis. He rode madly from Downey, changing horses several times at the courier stations along the way, and finally arrived at the military port of Tarantum at dusk.

The military port of Tarantum was the garrison of the main force of the First Fleet of Diónia. When Tarantum was forced to become a free city of Diónia, the Navy Commander Thekelian requested the opening of a new military port on the grounds that "the Dionysian fleet was growing larger and larger (because they had obtained too many warships in the Southern Italian War) and Turií military port could no longer accommodate it". He suggested that the military port should be located in the main port of Tarantum, because it was indeed a good natural port.

Devers readily agreed. Of course, the issue he considered was not only military convenience. Not only could the Navy monitor and deter the previously capricious city-state nearby, but Tarantum, as an old maritime power, had a large number of skilled and experienced sailors and fishermen. They would be an excellent source of soldiers for the Navy. By training them and letting them accept the culture and political ideas of Diónia, they could in turn influence the people of Tarantum.

In the face of Diónia's request, Tarantum reluctantly agreed to hand over the western part of the port to the Navy of Diónia. After all, it had been abandoned for a long time.

As the navy moved in, the land west of the port to the east of Metapontum gradually came under the ownership of the First Fleet. The people of Tarantum had suffered heavy casualties in the Southern Italian War, and there were not enough people to take care of the land near the border. Coupled with the clever pressure from the Devers, this part of the land was allocated to the sailors of the First Fleet stationed there, including a large number of civilian sailors of Tarantum who joined the First Fleet.

Currently, there were 150 three-decker oar warships and other warships of various sizes in the military port, totaling about 230 warships. Including the 50 three-decker oar warships and other warships in the military port of Castellón, the First Fleet had more than 350 warships, firmly suppressing the other three fleets and becoming the strongest fleet in the Diónia Navy.

However, even if the number of ships of the First Fleet was large, there was still enough space in the military port of Tarantum to build a dry dock to accommodate more warships, which showed how large the military port was. Moreover, the sea in the port was also wide enough for some small-scale training to be held directly in the port. This had also become a scene in the port, and people of Tarantum often stopped by the shore to watch.

After Dicarocrat showed Alexis's letter of identification to the guard, he was allowed to enter. However, the waiting time at the military port was a little long.

There was clearly an empty clipper at the dock next to it, so why did he have to wait here?! Dicarocrat was a little annoyed.

It was only when he boarded the ship that someone came out of the cabin and explained to him, "I'm really sorry! A batch of supplies has just been transferred from the military port of Castellón to be urgently transported to Downey. The personnel in the military port are busy with this matter, so it took up some of your time. "

"Transporting supplies to the frontline is an important matter for the Kingdom. Mine is just a small matter." As soon as Dicarocrat saw that it was him, he immediately understood why the ship was late. He hurriedly said respectfully, "And Sir Cecelian, you came personally to see me off. I really don't know how to express my gratitude!"

Cecelian was once the commander of the Diónia Navy. During the Southern Italian War, he led the fleet to defeat the Syracuse Navy that dominated the Western Mediterranean Sea three times. Thus, he controlled the seas at the eastern end of Greece and Sicily. He played a key role in Diónia's final defeat of Syracuse. He was a hero worshipped by the people of Diónia.

After the war, as the territory of Diónia expanded, the fleet that had become huge was divided into four by the Devers. The First Fleet was stationed in Tarantum to protect the maritime safety of the Taranto Bay. The Second Fleet was stationed in the Catania Plains to protect the maritime safety of Diónia in Sicily. The Third Fleet was stationed in Triene to protect the maritime rights of Diónia in the Tyrrhenian Sea. The Fourth Fleet was based in Brindisi to protect the Kingdom of Diónia's territories in the Adriatic Sea.

However, the Devers did not appoint Cecelian as the commander of the Diónia Navy. Instead, he was appointed as the commander of the First Fleet. Although the strength of the First Fleet had long surpassed that of the Diónia Navy, it was still a demotion to be demoted from the commander of the First Fleet. However, at the same time, the Devers proposed to the Senate that Cecelian be elected as the elder statesman of Diónia. This was a great promotion for Cecelian's political status. He also became the second young statesman under the age of 30 after Henepolis. Moreover, after the navy was disbanded, the Devers also removed the position of the commander of the Navy. Therefore, Cecelian did not have much of a complaint.

Cecelian went to Tarantum and stayed there for ten years. Except for important matters, he rarely returned to Turií to attend the usual Senate meetings. The young hero of the past was now middle-aged and had lost his youthful arrogance. At this time, he said to Dicarocrat with a gentle expression, "I'm also going to attend your father's funeral. I can go with you."

Dicarocrat's heart ached at the mention of his deceased father. It was the regret of his life that he could not be by his father's side before his death.

"How's the progress of the battle in Downey?" Cecelian asked casually.

"It's going well. We've taken down the cities of Herdonia and Askurum. Our army is approaching the central city of Downey, Lucenia. We're preparing to besiege it. Judging from the current situation, the other Downey Tribe and towns don't seem to be sending reinforcements to Lucenia City. I reckon that this war will end before the end of the year, "Dicarocrat said excitedly as he talked about the war he had participated in.

Hearing this good news, Cecelian sighed, "It's still better to command the army on land!" After the Southern Italian War, the Kingdom of Diónia was not always peaceful. The three wars it launched to conquer Meshapi, Puchetti, and Downey were not small. However, these wars took place near Diónia, and the enemy's fleet was too weak. There was no need for the First Fleet to defend the core waters of Diónia. As a result, Cecelian could not participate in the battlefield for the past ten years. How could he not feel regretful?

… …

When Dicarocrat arrived at his home in Turií, his elder brother Sostatus and his family had already prepared for the funeral.

As Cunogorata's wife had died young, his eldest daughter and two daughters-in-law followed the Greek custom of hundreds of years. They washed his body, smeared it with perfume, and dressed him in luxurious clothes. Sostatus also built a large wooden shed in front of his house. He placed Cunogorata's body on a bed covered with herbs, and placed a silver coin in his mouth so that his soul could pay for the ferry fare.

After the mourning hall and coffin were set up, it was time for Diónia's unique funeral custom to begin. The Scepter Priest of the Temple of Hades, Plesinas, led a group of priests, priests, and saintesses to the mourning hall and began to sing a hymn, praying for him to enter Elysium as soon as possible. Usually, only the priests or priests of Hades would attend funerals. Since Cunogorata's identity and status were different, there was no need for the Devers to instruct him. Plesinas personally brought the main staff of the main temple of Hades.

The next day, Cunogorata's immediate family, including his son-in-law Hilos, wore black veils and solemnly guarded the coffin. Even his daughter and daughters-in-law had cut their hair in accordance with the custom to express their grief.

Early in the morning, the Devers brought Cristoya, Aegnis, Cynthia, Cloto Catax, and the other children to the mourning hall. They laid a wreath of pomegranate leaves for Cunogorata's body, and led the family to solemnly pay their respects and sing the hymn of Hades. After comforting Cunogorata's relatives, the Devers and his family walked out of the mourning hall. They washed their hands and faces with a few large jars of clean water placed outside the hall before leaving.

After the King and Devers left, the number of people who came to pay their respects increased.