Chapter 680
The Devers' words shocked everyone present. They did not expect the king to have such a huge appetite. Compared to the lenient policy he adopted for the Samonai people after their defeat more than a decade ago, the request this time was much harsher.
"Your Majesty, I'm afraid the Kautini people will not agree to your request!" Cornelus reminded.
"Negotiation is negotiation. We will propose some difficult conditions, and according to Kautini's response, we will gradually reduce them until both parties are satisfied. However, the bottom line is that Lola must be controlled by us, and the position of Kautini's great leader must be re-elected. We cannot allow a person who has violated the covenant multiple times and hates Diónia to remain in this position! "the Devers said firmly.
"Your Majesty, with Kautini's current strength, it will not be difficult to achieve this condition," the Foreign Affairs Minister Ancetanos said confidently.
"However, the crushing defeat of the Kautini people and our next request will probably raise the vigilance of the other Samonai races. They have been dissatisfied with us before, and I'm afraid that there will be new trouble this time," Lucias reminded worriedly.
"I agree with the decision made by Your Majesty! Even without this incident, the Samonai people's dissatisfaction with us, the people of Diónia, has always existed. As far as I know, the Samonai people have always regarded the 'crushing defeat to Diónia and submission to us' as a humiliation, and have always held a grudge against us. We will seize every opportunity to weaken them, so that even if the Samonai people hate us, they will not have the strength to retaliate against us! "Antares said loudly.
Lucius glanced at Antalys with slight dissatisfaction. This newly promoted rotating chairman had been very active recently, and it seemed like he was catching up from behind.
The Devers, on the other hand, gave him a look of approval. He felt that it was the right decision to choose Antares as the rotating president. Compared to Cunogorata, Antares' ability to handle internal affairs was not weak, and he was proactive. More importantly, he took the initiative to cooperate with the Devers, so that some of the Devers' decisions and proposals could be implemented through the Senate more smoothly. This was better than the dead Cunogorata.
"Your Majesty, the condition you proposed is really great!" The Minister of Military Affairs, Hilos, was not blindly praising. From the perspective of military strategy, he said sincerely, "If we can get Lola and Sassella, then we can connect with the Cautini town of Nasera, which is friendly with us in the south of Campania, and the Abenilum region of the Hilpini tribe that is close to us. At the same time, with the support of our ally, the Campania Alliance nearby, and our territories of Enona, Poseidonia, and Kopsa not far to the south, we can completely seal the Samonai people in the mountains and restrict their invasion and expansion."
The Devers were happy that Hilos could see through their intentions. He coughed and further reminded, "Not only do we have to restrict the Samonai people, but we also have to further accelerate the conquest and assimilation of them. The Samonai people trapped in the mountains, because of the barren land and lack of food, will either come out to rob or trade with us, which will give us more opportunities. In addition, we have to strengthen the military forces in the Downey region to prevent the angry Samonai people from advancing eastward and raiding our newly conquered territory … Oh yes, how is the preparation of the 11th Legion?
"With the strong support of Sir Antonios, our military camp near Luceria has not only been built, but we have also conducted several rounds of military training …"
After listening to Hilos' report, the Devers tapped his hand on the back of the chair. It seemed that Antonios had gotten over the influence of Laodisian's case. In the past two years, not only had he stabilized the situation in Luceria, the central town of Downey, but he had also actively cooperated with the Ministry of Military Affairs …
He pondered for a moment and said, "Now the candidate for the commander of the 11th Legion has not been confirmed. The Ministry of Military Affairs wants to warn the military trainers in the Downey barracks to pay attention to strengthening the security of the western mountains to prevent the Samonai people from attacking. Once there is a real enemy situation, Antonios can temporarily command the 11th Legion.
At the same time, you have to tell Melisande that he is the commander of the 10th Legion in the Puchetti region. Once there is an abnormal military situation, immediately rush to the Downey region. "
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After getting a clear answer from Hilos, the Devers turned to look at Ancitanos again. "How is the roping in of the Frentani going?"
The Furentani lived in the low-lying mountains north of the Dawni region, close to the Adriatic coast. Although they claimed to be a branch of the Samnai, they were not very aggressive and their numbers were not very large. Although the Samonai people did not recognize this race, they rarely invaded them. Of course, this might also have something to do with their land being too barren.
"Ever since the Frentani signed a friendly agreement with us, they are no longer as nervous as they were at the beginning. They know that we, the Diónia, have always kept our promises …" While Ancitanos was speaking, Minister of Commerce Marigi interrupted, "Your Majesty, the market we have set up at the Tifernus River (the boundary river between Frentani and Downey) is very lively now. Every day, there are Frentani tribes of all sizes bringing mountain products, ores, wood … to exchange for grain, olive oil, pottery, and other goods. They are not as cautious and barbaric as the Samonai people used to trade with us …"
The Devers nodded and suddenly remembered something. He asked Hilos, "I remember that a few months ago, the Frentani people once asked us if we could send a fleet to patrol their coast to drive away the ferocious pirates. How is it going?"
"Your Majesty, the Fourth Fleet has specially sent a few warships to patrol the coast for them. There have been several battles with pirates who attempted to go ashore to rob them. For this reason, Miltias (this is the naval commander of the Fourth Fleet) wrote a letter to the Ministry of Military Affairs, requesting to increase the number of warships … "Hilos replied.
"I remember this. Two months ago, I approved a document from the Ministry of Military Affairs, 'Adding five three-oared warships to the Fourth Fleet'." The Devers tapped the table with his fingers and muttered, "The Frentani people are now far more dependent on us than they are on the Samonai people. If we really have a war with the Samonai people in the future, I believe that the Frentani people will eventually stand on our side!"
After saying that, the Devers changed the topic. "Alright, everyone. Although the negotiations with the Samonai people have not yet begun, we still have to make preparations in advance. Once we really obtain the three cities of Lola, Sassela, and Capsa, we can move people there as soon as possible, quickly occupying and stabilizing the eastern part of the Campania Plains. "
The Minister of Household Registration, Raffias, immediately reminded, "Your Majesty, in the past few years, the registered probationary citizens and freedmen have been successively assigned to the Apulia region (the Apulia region includes Meshapi, Puchetti, and Downey). Now, there is a lot of empty land in the Downey region, but there is not enough new population to fill it, so it has to be designated as public land for the kingdom. Unless the freedmen who have just moved to Diónia are sent to Campania … "
The Devers frowned. In the early days of Diónia's development, they had to adopt such an extreme method due to the urgency of the situation. But now, they no longer wanted to use such a method to lower the quality of the entire people and increase the difficulty of governance.
At this time, Vesba interrupted, "Your Majesty, there is enough new population in the kingdom. They can move to Campania."
Raffias looked at him in surprise. "Where are these people you mentioned?"
The Devers reacted. "You mean … the children in the tribes?"
"Over the years, except for the old, the sick, and the disabled, the young and the strong of the tribes have gradually become independent. If it were not for the slaves, it would be difficult for those tribes to even graze …" Vesba lamented the decline of the tribes in Lucania, but he also knew that this was the general trend. "After more than ten years, most of the children in the tribes have now become adults. Their desire for independence, to establish a family, and to own a piece of land is stronger than the tribal warriors in the past. Moreover, most of them are reserve soldiers of Legio III. After settling in Campania, they can directly become the main force to stabilize that area and defend against the Samonians."
The Devers were overjoyed. In this way, not only would the population problem of moving to Campania be solved, but the problem of the remaining tribes would also be solved. As the king, he considered more and turned to look at Sedorum. "The situation that Vesba mentioned should also exist in the tribes of Bruti, right?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. But it should not be as many as in Lucania. " Sedorum pondered and replied, "During the Southern Italian War, there was a rebellion in the Bruti region. In the end, many tribes were completely dismantled and destroyed …"
"Then I'll have to trouble the two sirs to go to Lucania and Bruti respectively to count the young people of the tribes who are willing to settle in Campania, and finally report to Raffias. Once the negotiations with Kaultini are completed, arrange for them to go immediately. " When the Devers finished speaking, they were also relieved. At first, the tribes of Lucania and Bruti were kept because Diónia was not strong enough, so they compromised. Later, when they conquered Mesapi and Puchetti, they were much more brutal. From the beginning, they completely broke up the tribes. Although it caused more turmoil, it also made these two areas completely free of tribal problems.
Now, the Devers saw the hope of completely solving the tribes of Lucania and Bruti.
"Your Majesty, should Legio III wait until the negotiations with the Samonians are over before leaving?" Hilos asked.
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