Chapter 635
"Renew the covenant for another ten years?! It is said that Diónia is about to occupy the Apulia region of Italy. Give it another ten years, and I'm afraid the entire Italian peninsula will belong to Diónia! " Pretacuba stood up and warned loudly, "Everyone, we have to understand that there are only two powerful countries in the Western Mediterranean – Carthage and Diónia. Making Diónia stronger is not good for Carthage!"
"Is Apulia as big as Numibia?! Occupy the entire Italian peninsula? " Ecridon sneered. "Not to mention our ally Rome in central Italy, and the fierce Celts in the north, even if Diónia can occupy the entire Italian peninsula in the future, we have already completely occupied Numibia. I'm afraid we have also completely controlled Mauritania and Nubia. Is a small Italian peninsula as big as Numibia and Mauritania?! "
Just as the two sides were arguing endlessly, Ediaruba stood up.
The leader of the neutral faction was highly respected. The noise in the hall quieted down a lot. He then said in a sincere and heartfelt tone, "Everyone, don't forget the purpose for which our Carthage City was established. Hundreds of years ago, our ancestors came to the Western Mediterranean, not to occupy more land, nor to fight for hegemony in the Mediterranean, but for trade, to obtain the resources of gold, silver, and other metal minerals in Iberia and Sardinia to meet the needs of our mother state. Today, the trade between Carthage and other Phoenician city-states in the Western Mediterranean is far more than just those minerals, but sea trade has become the nature of every Carthage person. It is the reason why Carthage city continues to grow, and why our mother state Tyre and Sidon can live more freely under the rule of Persia.
War is the natural enemy of trade. It will consume our resources, take away our customers, and make the market depressed … What benefits did the series of wars in Sicily bring to Carthage over the past decade? No benefits, only death and decline! If everyone here has forgotten the tragic past of more than a decade ago, please go to the cemetery outside the city, and you will know how much the people hate war! Peace. Carthage needed peace. Only with peace could Carthage prosper! Therefore, I suggest that we continue to form an alliance with Diónia. This way, Carthage will continue to own the trade market in the Western Mediterranean Sea, and Carthage will develop even faster! … "
Ediyaruba's impassioned speech was echoed by many elders.
Hanno applauded, but he didn't think much of it. Unlike the concept of "developing sea trade and living in peace with Diónia" advocated by Ediaruba, he was actually wary of Diónia. Diónia's extensive alliances in Sicily and its northward expansion in the Italian peninsula all showed the ambition of this Greek kingdom. In fact, in order to slow down the expansion of Diónia, the Senate's agreement to support Tanik and increase their support for Rome were all secretly pushed by him.
It was just that Carthage's rule in Numibia was not yet stable, and the Senate's intention to attack Mauritania during this period was also proposed by him many times. He hoped to gain more land and manpower, so that the influence of the Senate of Carthage could cover the land on the Iberian Peninsula controlled by the Magonid family, both at sea and on land. When the internal troubles were resolved and the army was strong, he was happy to compete with Diónia to wash away the nickname of "coward" that Magonid slandered him and push the prestige of the Hanno family in Carthage and even in the Western Mediterranean to a new height.
At this moment, taking the opportunity of Ediyaruba's speech, he immediately expressed his support.
With the push of the Hanoverian and neutral elders, the Tanik tribe was abandoned, and the renewal of the alliance between Carthage and Diónia was put on the agenda.
… …
A few days later, in the Royal Palace of Turií, in the war room next to the King's office, the Devers and several ministers of the Ministry of Military Affairs were discussing the recent war.
These military ministers were:
The Minister of Military Affairs, Hilos. He was responsible for managing and coordinating the various departments under the Ministry of Military Affairs. At the same time, he had the right to assess and recommend soldiers and team officers for promotion.
The Military Training Chief Hieronymus under the Ministry of Military Affairs (a few years ago, the Devers had proposed several times to transfer him to the position of chief executive of a city, but he refused). The taciturn former mercenary leader had been in this position for more than ten years and had made great contributions to the military construction of the Kingdom of Diónia.
The Military Supplies Chief Capus under the Ministry of Military Affairs. He took up this position again four years ago. The current two wars in Diónia were able to proceed smoothly because of his full support.
The General Staff Department under the Ministry of Military Affairs, Felicius.
The General Staff Department was a new department ordered by the Devers six years ago. Its role was to collect intelligence on the surrounding forces, make strategic plans for the expansion of the Kingdom of Diónia, carry out specific war deductions, and provide effective advice to the King. At the same time, it was also a school to train young officers in strategic thinking. In today's ten corps, the adjutants of the corps commanders were basically trained in the General Staff Department.
Since the war in Southern Italy, Felicius had been criticized in the Senate and the Ministry of Military Affairs. Many people thought that he had made some command mistakes in the Battle of the Ramato River, which led to the heavy losses of the Fourth and Fifth Legions, and even Drakos' tragic death.
Dyvers had no choice but to transfer him to this new department. This was to protect him and allow him to utilize his rich experience. At the same time, it was to avoid his lack of charisma and his inability to become an outstanding commander.
In addition, there was also Tormid in the room. He was also in the General Staff Department, serving as the Deputy General Staff to assist Felicius. However, he was more active, often going to the other Ministry of Military Affairs to learn about military training, military supplies, and the specific situation of the various legions, providing detailed data for the General Staff Department to formulate combat plans.
At the same time, Tormid also served as the King of Devers's herald on the battlefield, and he often came to the palace to report to the Devers. Therefore, although he was not a senior member, no one in the Ministry of Military Affairs dared to underestimate him.
In the center of the war room was a huge sand table, showing the mountains, rivers, plains, and hills of Sicily and Southern Italy. A few years ago, the most outstanding craftsmen of Diónia, organized by the Devers, took more than half a year to create such a three-dimensional and relatively accurate sand table map using clay, sand, and stones, according to the detailed map provided by the Ministry of Military Affairs. Back then, when the officials of the Ministry of Military Affairs saw it for the first time, they exclaimed, "This is another amazing work of the King of Devers!"
This military sand table was regarded as the Kingdom's treasure by the Ministry of Military Affairs, and only the important ministers of the Kingdom could see it.
"Your Majesty, the battle report for Sicily just arrived this morning. After Prososus occupied Herna, he took advantage of the time before the Sikaer rebels arrived to repair the city's defenses." Felicius pointed at the model of Herna's town on the sand table with a long wooden stick and continued, "After another rebel town was quickly conquered, the Tanik leader, Arconis, must have gathered tens of thousands of soldiers to attack Herna, and they must have been panicking. They only attacked Herna with full force for a day, then stopped, but stayed in their camp for two days.
Felicius pointed at the model of Herbita's town on the sand table with a long wooden stick and continued, "After another rebel town was quickly conquered, Arconis, the leader of the Tanian army, must have felt a sense of panic. They only attacked Herbita for one day before stopping. However, they stayed in their camp for two days. The Sicilian rebel army began to retreat to Enna, and in the process, some tribes left Arconis's army and ran to Agilion, asking to surrender … In the battle report, Prososus said that he is ready to attack Enna while the Sikaer rebel army is unstable.
"The Sicilian rebel army began to retreat to Enna, and in the process, some tribes left Arconis's army and ran to Agilion, asking to surrender … In the battle report, Prososus said that he is ready to take advantage of the Sikaer rebel army's unstable morale to immediately lead the army to attack Enna. Perhaps as I speak, the Eighth Legion has already begun to attack Enna. "
The Devers stared at the city of Enna in the center of Sicily and thought for a moment. He then looked up and asked, "What do you think?"
"I was originally worried that Prososus, the commander of this attack on the Sikaers, would not be able to bear the heavy responsibility. I did not expect his performance to be so outstanding! Your Majesty, you have the best foresight! "Hilos was the first to praise.
Capus also praised, "That's right, this Prososus is indeed amazing! Before the Senate's declaration of war reached Katanai, he decisively led the army to attack Henna, completely out of the enemy's expectations. Then, he used Henna to attract the enemy's troops and led the main force to attack Hebita. The successive victories have caused the enemy to panic, and the other Sikere tribes have also been intimidated. Aconis's forces are constantly dwindling, while the 8th legion's forces are constantly increasing. Aconis no longer has the advantage of numbers and terrain, and there's no longer any suspense in this war. It'll probably be over soon. "
"Decisive, swift, mobilizing the enemy, and attacking the enemy's weak points … Prososus has fully utilized the military principles of the Diónia Military Law. He is indeed an excellent commander! We are all old! " Felicius let out a long sigh. He could not help but think of the war ten years ago that he could not bear to look back on.
When Hieronymus heard this, his eyes suddenly brightened, but he did not speak.
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