Chapter 730
Miltias was deep in thought after hearing this.
"One more thing. You'd better arrange a few fast ships at the port of Sipentum. If I need the Fourth Fleet's assistance, I'll be able to notify you immediately."
After hearing this, Miltias shouted in dissatisfaction, "Our 4th Fleet only has a hundred warships! To patrol such a long coastline, stop any hostile forces from attacking from the sea, and help you in battle … My warships and sailors are completely insufficient! "
"If the Fourth Fleet performs well in this war, I think the Ministry of Military Affairs will definitely consider increasing the size of the Fourth Fleet." Alexis could only encourage him in this way.
… …
Pruglus quickly assembled the Fourth Cavalry Legion. Alexis immediately led the two thousand cavalrymen out of Brindisi and quickly headed north into the Puchetti region.
In the evening, they finally arrived at the military camp near Sylvestre City.
When the commander of Legio IV, Melishanda, personally welcomed Alexis into the military camp, Alexis, who had been running around for a day without rest, was so tired that he was staggering. After all, he was over fifty years old and did not have the exuberant energy of a young man. However, he still asked with concern, "Has the Tenth Legion been assembled?"
"Our brothers are all in the military camp." The youngest commander said in a loud voice, "We're just waiting for the commander's order, and we'll immediately rush to the battlefield."
"Arrange the accommodation for the cavalry legion, and also arrange a place for me to sleep. Let me have a good sleep." Drowsiness overwhelmed her, and Alexis couldn't help but yawn, "Tomorrow … Early in the morning, we'll leave!"
The surrounding soldiers who heard this were all excited.
… …
Early in the morning the next day, the camp's bugle sounded.
The soldiers of the Tenth Legion and the Fourth Cavalry Legion did not wrap up their armor and weapons and carry them on their shoulders. Instead, they hurriedly put them on, walked out of the barracks, and rushed to the field.
In the camp's conference room, Alexis, Melishanda, and Pruglus urgently held a short military meeting.
"What's the situation like in the Downey area?" Alexis asked.
As the commander of the 10th Legion that was close to Downey, Melisande naturally knew the most about the situation. "According to the report from yesterday's scouts, the Sammonean army is still surrounding Askurum and Vibin-Rum," he replied immediately. "The enemy occupying Gruum has not left, but a small number of Sammonean soldiers have rushed into the hinterland of Downey to loot …" Melisande's eyes widened.
In fact, it had only been two days since the Samoyed invaded. It was impossible for the Samoyed to attack a new target so quickly.
Alexis then asked, "Where is the Eleventh Corps?"
"He's still guarding the barracks," Melisanda replied.
When they conquered the Downey area two years ago, Alexis was already familiar with the terrain there.
The central city of Downey, Lucenia, was not located in the center of the Downey area. Instead, it was more to the northwest, closer to the Sammonae Mountains. Moreover, there were no large cities to the west that acted as barriers. If the Sammonean attacked from the mountains, they could reach the city in half a day if they were fast enough. Therefore, after the Downey area was conquered and Antonios became the chief administrator of Lucenia, this chief administrator wrote a letter to the Devers suggesting that the barracks of the Downey area should be set up on the west side of Lucenia as a fortress to protect the safety of the city.
This suggestion was approved by the Devers.
Therefore, with Askurum, Vibin-Rum, and Gruum under attack, and Lucenia possibly under attack from three sides, it was the safest way to station the new Eleventh Corps in the barracks and wait for reinforcements.
Alexis pondered for a while and made a decision. "The Tenth Legion and the Fourth Cavalry Legion will cross the Orfanto River upstream and go directly to Askurum!"
"Yes!" Both Pleclus and Melissanda were excited.
"Commander, we don't know how many enemies there are in Askrom," Mattheus reminded him. "Commander, we don't know how many enemies there are in Askrom. Is there an ambush? Isn't it too risky to just rely on one legion and cavalry to attack? We need to be wary of the First Legion! "
"I believe in the combat power of the Tenth Legion and the Fourth Cavalry Legion! I also believe that the Sammonean people will not expect our reinforcements to attack them so soon. This will make them unprepared! " Alexis raised her head slightly and said confidently, "Even if Askurum really has a large Sammonean army that can surround us. As long as we can hold on, I believe that Capus, Antonios, and Tegettillos will definitely come to our rescue. We can defeat the main force of the Sammonean army in one fell swoop! "
Alexis had seen the battle report of the First Legion. He knew very well that although the forces and types of troops he was leading now were very similar to those of Amyntas who had rescued Wolsey not long ago, it was different from Amyntas who was fighting alone. He was fighting within the borders of his country!
He firmly believed that if there were any abnormalities, Capus, Antonios … these old comrades would definitely do their best to rescue him, even if he and Antonios had some small conflicts before.
… …
The ones who besieged Askurum were mainly the Pentney tribe. It should be said that their attack was very sudden. When they killed their way into Askurum's territory, the people of Askurum were still herding cattle and sheep or farming. They were completely unprepared.
Knowing that the Sammonean had invaded, many people panicked and ran into the city. The Sammonean warriors followed closely behind, trying to take the opportunity to rush into the city.
However, the governor of Askurum was Hesytus. This former leader of the Syron tribe had bravely resisted the oppression of the Bruti Alliance and started the war of Diónia to conquer the Bruti. Later, he helped Hilos participate in the Southern Italian War. For more than ten years, he served as the city governor of the Bruti region, the Mesapi region, and the Puchetti region. Until the year before last, he was transferred to the Downey region. It could be said that not only was his administrative experience rich, but he was also no stranger to military affairs.
A few months ago, he received a warning from the Ministry of Military Affairs: all towns in Downey were asked to strengthen their security, beware of the Sammonean attack!
He did not take it lightly. Not only did he mobilize the people to strengthen the city's defenses, but he also increased the number of patrols to strengthen the patrols at the top of the city. At the same time, every few days, citizens who had participated in military training would gather in the city square to practice formations and fighting for an hour or two. He also organized the citizens who had horses into a small team and took turns to patrol at the foot of the mountain in the west every day …
Dozens of days passed, and everything in the Sammonean mountains was as usual. There were no traces of war. Due to the repeated advice of his subordinates (after all, frequent military training was not conducive to the upcoming spring sowing), he slightly relaxed his guard and reduced the training. He did not expect that at this time, the Sammonean would attack.
The Askurum scouts who were patrolling outside the city quickly discovered the enemy. They shouted, "The Sammonean are attacking!" to inform the people in the villages that they passed by to evacuate while they rushed into the city.
When Hegesittus received the news, he did not panic too much. He ordered to close the city gates, pull up the drawbridge, and sound the alarm at the same time. He asked the young citizens who were still in the city to pick up their shields and spears and go up to the city to defend.
At the same time, he also asked the soldiers at the top of the city wall to shout at the people who were fleeing outside the city, advising them to escape to Hedorum in the east. The city gates of Askurum would never be opened under the enemy's attack!
It was because of these measures that when the Sammonean army, which was mainly made up of the Pentney soldiers, rushed to the city, they saw that the city of Askurum was already on guard.
Although there were not many citizens in the city who could fight due to the Sammonean's sudden attack, Askurum was still a large city in the Downey region with an eight-meter high city wall.
The Sammonean came rushing, but they did not bring any siege equipment. Bardani could only let tens of thousands of soldiers line up under the city wall and roar in unison, trying to intimidate the Askurum people into opening the city and surrendering.
How could Hegesittus be intimidated by such a formation?
Bardani had no choice but to set up camp outside the city.
In the next day or so, Bardani ordered the soldiers to cut down trees and make a large number of scaling ladders and black logs. He launched an attack on the city of Askurum, trying to use the advantage of numbers to take down this important city in the southwest of the Downey region. He wanted to restore the prestige of the Pentney tribe and his great leader.
Therefore, at the beginning, Bardani ordered the troops to launch a fierce attack.
The Sammonean soldiers carried scaling ladders and black logs, braving the danger of being hit by javelins and arrows, and attacked the city from the north, west, and south.
As the chief executive, Hegesittus personally went to the city wall and led the citizens to fight bravely.
The Sammonean attacks were like a tide. After one wave of setbacks, another wave of attacks came. The continuous attacks gradually made the Askurum militia, who were lacking in military strength, unable to resist.
In the afternoon, the Samonai army managed to reach the top of the west city wall several times. Hepcitus hurriedly gathered the few remaining reserve soldiers and finally managed to drive them off the city wall with great difficulty. Another soldier hurriedly rushed over from the south city wall. "Lord Hepcitus, the enemy has reached the top of the city wall. Inspector Copacas is requesting help from you!"
"How can I have any reinforcements here?!" With a bitter smile on his face, Hepcitus reached out his hand to wipe away the blood that was splashing on his face and blocking his sight. Looking at the militiamen beside him who were so tired that they could barely move, and hearing the deafening roars of the Samoan warriors, Hepcitus's timidity disappeared in a flash. Resolutely, he turned around and said to the adjutant, "Go to the city immediately and gather the old people to reinforce the southern city! Hold on! Tell Copacas to hold on! As long as we hold on today! Reinforcements will arrive tomorrow! "
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