Chapter 72
"The reason why Asikulodoax failed was because he led his army to attack Laos. Because he was unfamiliar with the terrain, he was ambushed by the enemy on the mountain path, resulting in a crushing defeat. If it was on the plains of Turín, how could the poorly equipped and loosely organized Lucanian Highlanders be a match for the Greek heavy infantry? Even if they were outnumbered, it wouldn't be a problem, "Cunogorata retorted.
"Felix, we can't afford to drag this war on. If we hide in the city and let the enemy trample on our farmlands and burn down our villages, fishing grounds, and mines, we have to hold a citizens' meeting every month to discuss whether to levy war taxes in order to pay the mercenaries' salaries and food. I don't think the citizens will agree to this! "Neonesis also stepped forward and said.
"Of course the citizens won't agree! Felix, the citizens elected you as their chief general because they believe that you have the ability to quickly turn the situation around, drive the Lucanians away, and ensure the safety of Turín. Just like you did when you first came to power, you immediately sent Bourcos out to recruit soldiers and sent messengers to Tarantum to ask for reinforcements. Now that reinforcements have arrived, you can no longer hesitate and watch as the citizens' properties are destroyed and the Turín's national treasury collapses. You have to make a decision as soon as possible and live up to the expectations of the citizens! "Polyxis, who had been silent all this while, also spoke.
Bourcos didn't expect Polyxis to join in the urging of Felix. Just as he was getting anxious, Cunogorata saw him retreating to a corner and thought of something. He asked the guards to escort Bourcos out of the City Hall with the excuse that "this is an important military meeting that involves the secrets of the state, and those who are not involved should leave".
Bourcos stood on the steps of the City Hall in a daze for a while. From a rational point of view, he felt that he should trust Felix's judgment. After all, compared to the other generals who had lived for a long time and did not have any battle experience, Felix, who was over 60 years old, had participated in the war against Tarantum when he was young. He had served as a platoon leader and then a captain of the heavy infantry, so he had more combat experience. However, from a sentimental point of view, he also hoped to defeat the terrifying Lucanians as quickly as possible. Every Tuliyi wanted these bandits to stay away from their land, and Dyvers's troops also gave him confidence.
Under the influence of this contradictory mentality, he subconsciously walked towards the port. After walking for a while, he stopped. Although the generals in the City Hall had accepted the agreement he had signed, he was afraid that he would be criticized for having frequent contact with the Devers' team. He sighed and turned around to go home.
… …
Of course, the Devers didn't know about the dispute that had taken place in the Turií City Hall. Even though he was surprised that Bourcos, who had promised him that he would rush over after reporting the situation to the Turií generals, did not show up, his main focus was on the construction of the camp.
In the past few days, all the soldiers worked hard together, and the Turií camp began to take shape. At this time, Bourcos sent four horses over, saying that he could borrow them for his use.
The Devers had already noticed that Bourcos and the Turií officials were deliberately distancing themselves from each other, but they didn't take it to heart. After all, when they passed by many Greek cities along the coast of the Yoke Galaxy, they treated the mercenaries the same way. This was the mercenaries' helplessness.
He asked Bourcos' subordinates to convey his gratitude to Bourcos, then asked Felicius to stay in the camp and handle military affairs. He brought Asistes, Ledes, and a trusted slave of Bourcos to act as a guide to ride around Turií to understand the terrain.
The flat and fertile plain of Sibari (called the Turi Plain by some of the Turi people) is already in the spring of April, and the grass is green and the birds are in the air.
Dyvers and his men were in a good mood as they galloped on their horses. What they saw were green farmlands and canals, as well as hard working slaves and farmers. The wide dirt road was muddy due to the frequent spring rain, and from time to time, they could see the slaves of the caravan pushing the wagons that were stuck in the mud with all their might …
A thought flashed through the Devers's mind. This was a common sight in the Greek cities of the Yoke Galaxy. The Greeks, who were good at business, didn't have much interest in building roads that could facilitate the flow of trade. Their energy seemed to be invested in maritime trade and ships. However, the people of Rome, who rose up after them, created the most complicated and advanced Mediterranean road network of this era.
After traveling along the Krati River for about 20 kilometers to the west, they saw a large city standing on the north bank of the river.
At this time, the guide said, "That's Turií! When choosing the location to build the city, the people of Athens found that the confluence of the Krati River and the Koseni River was a good place to build a city. Because the river here is wide and the water is gentle, they can build a dock and accommodate enough merchant ships. When they were preparing to build the city, they found a large natural fountain here. The locals called it the Turi, so they called the city Turií … "
"What an interesting story." The Devers replied perfunctorily and looked up. Because there were too many ships in the Krati River, they couldn't even see the other side clearly.
"It's better to rebuild it in the old city of Sybaris. Wouldn't it be better to build a port directly by the sea? "Asistes said, puzzled.
The Devers had already understood this from Burcos, so he didn't want to say more. He pointed to the front and said, "Let's go around the city."
Because Turií was built at the confluence of the two rivers, it was divided into three parts by the river: the south, the north, and the delta at the confluence of the two rivers. The main part of the city was in the north.
Devers and his group walked along the moat outside the walls of Turií for about a kilometer and finally reached the bank of the Koseni River. In their eyes, the walls of Turií were built with large blocks of rock, and the gaps between the rocks were tightly connected. The walls were at least ten meters high, and there was a five-meter wide moat twenty meters outside the walls. It was connected to the Krati River, so it must be very deep. All of this was enough to give any besiegers a headache. The three or four patrolling teams of sentries on the walls made them feel the approaching of war.
The young Asistes even jokingly waved at the sentries.
As they walked along the north bank of the Koseni River, they soon saw the pontoon bridge over the river. The Devers noticed that the delta between the two rivers was not flat, but hilly. According to the guide, the uneven and undulating hills actually prevented the river from swelling in spring, turning the land between the two rivers into a swamp.
After walking for about twenty kilometers, the terrain gradually rose, and the ground began to change from pure mud to sand. Fortunately, the riverbank was still relatively flat.
Daves and the others continued walking for a few more miles. The upper reaches of the Cosceny River turned from the north to the northwest, while a river rushed down from the north and joined the Cosceny River here.
"This is the Tino River, a tributary of the Koseni River. It's a river that the Turií hate," the guide said.
"Why?" The Asistes asked curiously.
"Because there are many hot springs upstream," the guide gave an irrelevant answer.
"Hot springs?!" The Devers became interested when they heard that.
They quickened their pace, but when they reached the place, they were all dumbfounded. The Tino River had become a small river a few meters wide. On the south bank of the river, there were indeed small hot pools, but countless small streams flowed out from the cracks in the rocks at the foot of the mountain, turning this area of rock and grass into a swamp.
"In spring, because the snow on the mountains melts, it turns into small streams and hot springs, and finally flows into the Tinuo River. If it's a rainy season, the Tinuo River will surge and overflow the riverbank, flowing back into the hot spring swamp on the south bank, and the north bank —" the guide pointed ahead. "— the big riverbank."
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