Chapter 864
"Lescok, this is what you call a damned plan to lure the enemy! 5000 … 5000 brave Samonese warriors are gone just like that! And my best friend Usibik … Usibik! … "
Segovani cursed, but his eyes suddenly turned red. Usibik was about the same age as him, and the two tribes' territories were adjacent. They had played together since childhood and established a deep friendship. So after the death of the previous chief of Kaultini, Usibik gave up competing for the position of chief and fully supported him, allowing him to defeat Quinduc and become the new Kaultini chief. After he was captured, it was Usibik who united with the other chiefs to resist the pressure of Quinduc to re-elect a chief, took the initiative to cooperate with the chiefs of the other tribes, and finally rescued him …
Segovani was anxious, easily angered, and vengeful, making it difficult for people to get close to him. He had few friends, but he had a deep friendship with Usibik for decades. At this moment, hearing the news of his death, he immediately lost control of his emotions.
"Lescok, don't blame Segovani for scolding you. You and Gherni have been enemies for more than ten years, but you didn't raise your vigilance against him and didn't discover the signs of the Abenilum's rebellion in time. You really have to bear a lot of responsibility for this failure! " The Pentenilum chief Barthani also spoke out. At first, he had concerns about going to war with Diónia, but he was persuaded by Lescok. As a result, the allied forces had been defeated one after another, and the Pentenilum had suffered heavy losses. His dissatisfaction with Lescok was also increasing.
"Well, since it has already happened, what's the use of blaming each other now! That damned traitor once solemnly swore in front of the high priest, but he still betrayed the entire Samonese Alliance. This is the first time in the history of our race. Who could have thought of it! Although the plan to lure the enemy was proposed by Lescok, it was decided by us together. At that time, no one warned us to be careful of the Abenilum and the people of Potentia. We all ignored it … "The Caraceni chief Controok sighed. As the oldest of the four chiefs, although he had a fiery temper, he knew that it was more important to ensure the unity of the entire tribal alliance in times of crisis.
"Now that the Diónia allied forces have entered the mountains, and it is a large army, our homeland is under serious threat. next, we must take immediate action to stop the enemy's further invasion and protect our territory and people!" Controok reminded very solemnly.
"In this way, we must stop the siege of Naples, which is a pity." Although the Caraceni chief Bardani said so, there was not a trace of regret on his face. These days, the Samonese allied forces had ravaged most of the city-states of the Campalia Alliance, but they could not do anything to the high and thick city walls of Naples. They had attacked several times and lost some soldiers, but there was no hope of breaking through the defense of the city walls.
The Samonese allied forces' ability to attack the city was lackluster. If it were not for the plan to lure the enemy earlier, the army would have long withdrawn. Now that the plan to lure the enemy had been destroyed, the other three had no objection to it.
"But, where are we going to withdraw the army to face the enemy? A day ago, the people of Diónia were still near Aquilonia, and there is no update about them now. We are only 200 miles away from Aquilonia. By the time we lead the army to Aquilonia, who knows where the people of Diónia will have run to. "Bardani raised an important question.
"Lescok, what do you suggest?" Kontruk asked. After all, the Diónia allied forces were operating in the territory of Hilpini, and Lescok should be more familiar with the situation there.
When he heard the news that "the army left in the mountains had been defeated", Lescok was first shocked, then ashamed, and then afraid … So, when Segovani and Bardani criticized him, he was still thinking hard about how to deal with this crisis. Although he was a little angry, he did not show it. As Kontruk said, he needed the entire tribal alliance to work together to drive away the Diónia allied forces that were wreaking havoc in Hilpini's territory. He glanced at Segovani, who was still grieving, and thought to himself: I did not notice anything unusual in Abenilum, but you occupied Narconia, which has a closer relationship with Abenilum, and planted many trusted followers in its territory, but you also did not notice anything unusual in the Abenilum army.
Of course, he would not say these words.
"We should retreat the army to Beneventum! It's not that I'm being selfish, but because Abenilum, which is very close to Beneventum, has betrayed Samonet. This way, the allied forces organized by the Diónia can smoothly pass through Abenilum and attack Beneventum! Once they occupy Beneventum, Cal 'utim will also be under great threat. "
At this point, Lescok looked at Segovani. He firmly believed that even if the great leader of Kaoutim mourned the death of his best friend, he should understand how great the threat of losing Beneventum would be to Kaoutim. After all, the two towns were adjacent, only a dozen miles apart, and Kaoutim was located on a small plain in the mountains. The terrain was not dangerous, so he believed that Segovani would eventually support him.
"What if the Diónia does not attack Beneventum, but continues to attack north after conquering Aquilonia?" Bardani immediately raised his concerns because he was worried that the heavy defense of Beneventum would leave the eastern mountain defenseless. If the Diónia army went all the way north, it would threaten the territories of Pentney and Caraceni.
Therefore, Contstick also expressed his concern.
Lescok shook his head and said, "The Diónia allied forces will not do that, because our army is not only stationed in Beneventum, but can also attack Abenilum. Occupying Abenilum will not only ensure the safety of Kaoutim's territory, but also continue to threaten Potentia through it. I'm afraid this is what the Diónia are worried about."
"Lescok is right. I agree to retreat to Beneventum!" Segovani expressed his support loudly, completely without the grief and indignation he had when he scolded Lescok earlier.
The leaders of the two most powerful tribes in the alliance had reached an agreement. Contstick and Bardani actually did not have much choice. Besides, both of them also felt that Lescok made sense.
Just as the four of them were discussing the retreat, Bardani could not help but say, "Actually, we … can consider a truce with Diónia …"
The three of them were shocked when they heard this. Since the war with Diónia began, the Samonai tribal alliance had suffered successive defeats and heavy losses. Many tribal leaders were quite resentful, and even their own confidence in the war was shaken.
However, Lescok was the first to speak against it. "We tore up the covenant, declared war on Diónia, invaded the Downey region, and plundered the Campania Alliance. These are serious violations of the Diónia's taboo. The tough king of Diónia will never negotiate with us. He can't wait to completely eliminate us who keep causing trouble for him, so we can only continue to fight until there is a turning point."
Lescok understood that if the Samonai Alliance really surrendered to Diónia, he would be the first victim because Gherni, who had already turned to Diónia, would never spare him, so his attitude was very firm.
"Turning point? What turning point? "Bardani asked with a slightly gloomy expression.
"Defeat the Diónia in the next battle! Or wait for Diónia to be defeated on other battlefields! " Segovani took over the conversation. He also knew in his heart that if the Samonai Alliance really wanted to stop the war with Diónia, he would not have a good time because he was the one who started the war. He also lured and killed Quinduc, who was supported by Diónia, and killed and arrested so many Naconians who believed in Hades.
But he would not say this out loud. Instead, he found a more adequate reason. "Bardani, don't be silly! Think about the last Tarantum that tore up the covenant and fought with Diónia! After the Southern Italian War, they surrendered to Diónia and became a free city. As a result, their territory was greatly divided, and they could not have their own army. The citizens of the entire city were kept in captivity like cattle and sheep. Do you want our Samonai Alliance to become the second Tarantum?! Even if we want to negotiate, we have to create more trouble for Diónia and force them to take the initiative to negotiate. Only then can we obtain a more equal position in the negotiations and formulate a peace treaty that is more beneficial to us! "
"Negotiate?! Hmph, we are the descendants of Savone. We must not yield to any force! As long as the independence of the alliance cannot be guaranteed, we will fight to the end, even if it means death! " Contruc was the oldest, but his fighting spirit was the strongest. He shouted to Bardani in the tone of an elder, "Show your courage. Your father's soul lingering in the Shrine of Savone is still waiting for you to wash away his shame!"
Faced with the strong opposition of the three leaders, Bardani laughed and said, "You are right. The alliance can only fight with Diónia to the end. Only then will there be a way out …"
Late at night, a messenger from Beneventum arrived at the Samonai camp, bringing the news that there was a large army in the territory of Abenilum. This increased the urgency of the four leaders to immediately withdraw the army to Beneventum.
… …
At the same time, a clipper from Enona sailed into the port of Naples under the guidance of the light of the lighthouse.
Not long after, the candles in the Naples council hall were lit. The high-ranking officials of Naples, the high-ranking officials of the alliance who had come to seek refuge, and the reinforcements of the alliance arrived one after another.
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