Chapter 683
Further south, Cyrenaica, on the land of Libya, was also a target of Diónia. If Diónia could establish an alliance with it, then it would divert Carthage's attention in the east of the continent of Afrika.
In the north of Diónia, to ease the tense relationship with the Sammonae, strengthen the military defense with the Campanian Alliance, strengthen the friendly relations with Vrentani, and strengthen the friendly exchanges with Abenilum and Nuceria. This was to prevent the Sammonae, which was an unstable factor, and to protect the northern border of the Kingdom of Diónia.
Further north, in the center of Italy, in addition to Wolsey, Diónia would also send envoys to win over the Aqui, the Marsi, the Sabines, and many other races and forces that had conflicts with Rome to unite against Rome. This would make up for the shortage of troops that Diónia could not send out due to the drought, and at the same time, it would also prepare for Diónia to enter the center of Italy in the future.
The senators also did not forget the north of Italy. There were two archenemies of Rome, the Etruscans who were being conquered and the Celts who had previously suffered a crushing defeat. They asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to also send envoys to these areas, especially the northern part of Etrusca, hoping that they could unite with the kingdom and attack Rome from the north, so that both sides could not look after each other.
In the west of Dionysia, there were several Greek colonial city-states on the Iberian Peninsula, such as Zakynthos and Hemoroskopeion, which Dyvers had proposed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs send an emissary to contact, were the city-states that Dyvers had proposed. In the eyes of the senators, the Iberian Peninsula was too far away from Diónia, but the Devers believed that there was a huge force established by the Carthage Magonid family in the southern part of Iberia, which would be a threat to Diónia, so they had to prepare in advance.
As for the east, Sparta, which was far from Diónia, was maintaining a strong position in Greece. If it knew that Diónia, which it feared, was facing the threat of war, not only would it not lend a helping hand, but it would also have other ideas. But the Devers was not too worried about this. Although he did not know much about Greek history in his previous life, he also knew that Sparta's domination of Greece could not last long. Even if he had transmigrated to this era, the butterfly effect caused by it may have changed some of the history that should have happened, but the Thebes and Athens would still be Sparta's number one enemy. After all, Sparta's own strength and the measures it implemented determined that it could not annex the Thebes, which were not much weaker than it, and would inevitably suffer a backlash from the Thebes. Therefore, Dionysia only focused on Egypt as a friendly target.
Of course, no matter how good the preparation was, it ultimately depended on military victory. As for the military deployment, the senators had developed a long-term habit (absolute trust in the Devers's leadership) and some taboos, so they generally did not take the initiative to ask about specific military plans and troop deployments.
But in order to reassure the senators, the Devers still took the initiative to let Hilos give a detailed account of Diónia's deployment in response to the upcoming war at the Senate meeting:
On the northern front, the Ministry of Military Affairs was ready to send a legion to Wolsey to unite with other forces to repel the attack of the Rome. Legio III was still stationed in the territory of the Campania Alliance, and at the same time, a general was sent to organize the reserve soldiers in Lucania Municipality to restore the defense of this area. Strengthen the training of the newly established 11th Legion, improve its combat effectiveness as soon as possible, and prevent the possible invasion of the Samonians. Pucchetti's 10th Legion was on standby, ready to quickly reinforce the north at any time.
In the south, the 8th Legion began to mobilize, ready to defend against the possible attack of Carthage's army at any time. Once the war started, its commander, Prososus, would be given the authority to expand the army. At the same time, the 7th Legion in the Locri area was also ready at any time. Once the pressure on the battlefield in Sicily increased, it would be transported to Sicily and rendezvous with the 8th Legion.
On the naval side, once Carthage started the war, Secorian would quickly lead the First Fleet to the south and rendezvous with the Second Fleet stationed in Catanai. While ensuring the security of the southern waters of Diónia, they would also look for opportunities to fight the Carthage Navy.
…
In fact, in the preliminary military plan, except for Legio III and Legio VI, which was about to go to Wolsey, the other troops were still in preparation. They were not even assembled, because this was the only way to reduce unnecessary food consumption.
This was only a war plan, and everything had to be adjusted according to the development of the war.
In the face of the huge war crisis that was about to come, the elders of Diónia did not argue pointlessly. They scrambled to offer suggestions and improve the plan to deal with the crisis. The meeting lasted until dusk.
The Devers returned to the mansion and had dinner. It was already evening, and the heavy downpour of Turií had turned into a drizzle.
Perhaps it had been a long time since they had seen rain, so Cristoya and Aegnis asked the slaves to move their sleeping mattresses to the porch outside the living room. The two of them lay down and chatted through the thin curtain of rain while enjoying the rain. It was a different kind of atmosphere.
The children, Eunice, Apox, Briantes, and Avril, excitedly rushed into the curtain of rain, stepping on the puddles that reached their feet, and started a water fight.
After dinner, the Devers also moved their mattresses out and lay down between the two of them.
"What are you talking about? Why are you so happy?" the Devers asked casually.
"Sister Aegnis said that she finally doesn't have to see the people who prayed to Hera go back in disappointment. They are so happy that they are jumping and screaming in the temple, and my sister can't bear to chase them out …" Krystoya turned her body sideways and said to him, "Sister Aegnis said that she doesn't have to see the people who prayed to Hera anymore.
"The people also prayed to Hera for rain?" the Devers asked, slightly surprised.
"Not at first." Aegnis lay on her side and slightly raised her head, revealing her smooth neck. She frowned slightly and said, "But maybe after they prayed to Hades, the drought didn't get any relief, so they turned to Hera. I think they may have prayed to Heracles, Apollo, and other gods …"
"I can understand their feelings. This drought has lasted for more than eight months! If Your Majesty didn't let the kingdom open the granaries in time, use the treasury, and let the city halls sell food at fair prices to help the people, who knows how many people would have starved to death! " Cristoya said with a sigh, looking at her husband with eyes that flowed with admiration.
Aegnis was the same.
Cristoya even quietly stretched out her slender white left foot and placed it on the inside of the Devers's left leg, gently rubbing it.
The Devers was in no mood to enjoy such tender affection at the moment. He said seriously, "Cristoya, although the drought has ended, there hasn't been a single grain of grain harvested in the south this year. So your bank still needs to continue lending to the people so that they can have the money to buy grain and seeds in the coming time, so that they can last until next year's autumn harvest."
As she didn't get a response from her intimate actions just now, Cristoya took the opportunity to express her dissatisfaction, "We still have to give them loans?! I'm running a bank, not a charity! Don't you know that there are already many people who can't afford to buy grain and are constantly borrowing from us? The banks in every city are feeling strapped for funds, and you still want to expand the scope of loans! I'm afraid that in a few months, our bank will be emptied! And by the end of next year, these people who borrow money may not even be able to repay the money! "
"Cristoya," the Devers said in a low voice, "Do you know who usually benefits the most after a drought?"
"After such a terrible drought, there are still people who benefit?" Aegnis was puzzled.
Cristoya obviously wasn't Aegnis who didn't understand the ways of the world. She thought for a moment, then replied, "Merchants."
"More accurately, wealthy merchants and nobles." The Devers sighed lightly, "Whether it's a drought, flood, locust plague, or earthquake … The first to be unable to bear it are the farmers who rely on the weather. Not only will a disaster cause them to lose a grain of grain, it can also make them quickly exhaust the little money left in their families. In order to survive, they can only borrow from these wealthy nobles and merchants at usury. In the end, when they can't repay the money, they can only use their land as collateral, and even sell their own children. In the end, they even mortgage themselves and become slaves … "
"That's too tragic!" Aegnis' face was full of pity.
"That's in other city-states. In the Kingdom of Diónia, we have our bank. Even if other rich people dare to lend usury, no one will borrow from them," Cristoya said proudly.
"Yes, in other city-states …" At this point, the Devers suddenly sighed. The problem of debt was very serious in many city-states in the Mediterranean. Back then, it was because of debt and land that the people of Athens finally rebelled, forcing Christian to implement the reform of the original democratic system of government in Athens. A few days ago, he had learned from Aristiras that the conflict between the nobles and the commoners in the north of Rome had intensified, and the focus was also on land and debt.
Thus, he said with a serious face, "Cristoya, since the bank has already helped them, let's help them to the very end. We're the royal family of Diónia, and the whole kingdom belongs to us. We can't just watch as the people of the kingdom can't afford to buy food and seeds. In the end, they have to borrow usury from the merchants, allowing them to annex their land, and even become their slaves … This will not only destroy the stability of the kingdom, but also reduce our source of soldiers and taxes. It will also make these rich people who have annexed large amounts of land a hidden danger that will be difficult to control! So, your bank isn't just used to make money, it's also an important tool for our family to stabilize the kingdom, so that the throne can be passed down for a long time … "
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