Chapter 868
Under Zantiparis's persuasion, the general of the Campanian Alliance listened to him and did not rush to attack. Instead, he followed the Dionysian Army and built a camp a mile southwest of Lora. The reason why Zantiparis set up the camp here was because it was close to the mountains, making it convenient to cut down trees and use them to build camps and siege weapons.
On the same day, Melisande, the commander of the Tenth Legion, under the instruction of the Ministry of Military Affairs, led the remaining four heavy infantry battalions out of Asculum and marched north to Aecae, where they met up with the Eleventh Legion, which only had six heavy infantry battalions left.
Capus, the acting commander of the Eleventh Legion, was appointed as the temporary commander of this army by the Ministry of Military Affairs. He was actively preparing for the next military action.
… …
"It's so noisy outside. What happened?" Stolo's wife, Cornia, asked the slave girl who had just entered the house.
"Mistress, they are all saying, 'Tustrom has surrendered to Diónia …'" The Sabine slave girl lowered her head, not daring to let her mistress see the irrepressible joy on her face. As Stolo and his wife were confined to their home these days, the slave girl was the one who went out to the square to collect food and gather information. She had learned from others that the status of slaves in the Kingdom of Diónia was much better than in Rome, and it was easier for them to gain freedom. Therefore, in her heart, of course, she hoped that Diónia would win this war and let Rome be completely under the rule of Diónia.
"Tustrom has surrendered?! How is that possible?! " Cornia found it hard to believe. In her memory, ever since the city of Alba Longa was destroyed by Rome, Tustrom, which also had a long history, had tried many times to occupy the Latin Sacred Mountain because it was next to Lake Alba Longa. It often claimed to be the "center of the Latin people". Therefore, she thought that this proud city-state would resist to the end for the glory of the Latin people. She did not expect that it would surrender without even fighting a battle.
Stolo sighed softly, "Ever since the Diónia conquered the city of Gabi, they killed all the warriors who resisted stubbornly and turned all the other captives into slaves. This cruel practice must have frightened the surrounding city-states. Rabicum, Pedum, Artena … have surrendered one after another. Even the powerful Tibur in the northern region has surrendered to the Diónia.
Now, tens of thousands of Diónia soldiers are approaching the city of Tustrom, and the hostages that Tustrom sent to Rome are now in the hands of the Diónia (these hostages once followed the Roman nobles to the Capitoline Mountain and were later sent down the mountain along with thousands of the nobles' families). How could they not surrender … "
After listening, Cornia whispered in a trembling voice, "So many Latin city-states have surrendered. Next … Next, will the Diónia attack Villette, Saturnicum, and Antium?! Can the Rome army led by Camillus and Titus … Can they … Can they repel them? "
Stolo was silent. Through this period of understanding, he knew that the attacks of the Diónia were always carefully planned. They were cunning, but they were also like a storm, swift and fierce! It was the same when they conquered the city of Rome! It was the same when they conquered Venus and Casrella! It was the same when they conquered Feydenae and Lomentum! It was even more so when they defeated the allied forces of Rome! It had only taken less than ten days to conquer the city of Gabi to the surrender of Tustrón. However, it had only been two months since the Diónia army landed on the coast of Latin, and they had already conquered more than half of the Latin region. Such a terrifying conquering ability did not give the Rome army a chance to rest and recuperate. Their morale was low, and their military strength was insufficient. Even with Camillus as the leader, could they really turn the tide?
After observing the progress of the war for so long, and after many sleepless nights, Stolo felt hopeless. He also discovered that the key to the Dionysian Army's rapid conquest of Latin was that they were completely different from the Celts. They had a strong ability to assimilate. Just listen to the cheers outside the house. The civilians of Rome had completely forgotten their origins and regarded themselves as members of the Kingdom of Diónia … Sigh! … …
Stolo's silence made Cornia understand. In fact, her observations over the past few days had also given her a vague answer. When her worries were confirmed, she no longer yelled and screamed. However, her hands could not help but rub the corner of her clothes tightly. Her brows were tightly knitted, and her expression kept changing.
Suddenly, she grabbed her husband's hand and said anxiously and fearfully, "Stolo … Why don't … You join the Diónia too?"
Stolo was shocked. Before he could answer, Cornia seemed to have been inspired. She grabbed his hand tightly and said anxiously, "Yes, join the Kingdom of Diónia! Only then can your father escape the danger of being defeated and captured! Only then can we persuade my father to come down the mountain and surrender! Only then can we persuade my sister and brother-in-law to surrender! Although we can't live in the city of Rome in the future, at least they … they won't be killed or become slaves … "
Stolo listened to his wife's worried narration and pleading. He could not help but hold her trembling body tightly in his arms. This time, he was really moved …
… …
Today, the reason why the people in Rome were so excited was not only because the Dionysian Army had won one victory after another, but also because they were more certain that the rule of Diónia in the Latin region was getting more and more stable. It was almost impossible for the nobles of Rome to restore their rule in Rome. Their newly obtained land and rights would never be taken away again.
Moreover, they also knew that the army that had been fighting outside for more than ten days was about to return to Rome. This included 6,000 Roman soldiers. Although it was a tough battle to attack Gabi City, there was only continuous marching and accepting surrender. The casualties of the soldiers were not high, but in this chaotic situation, the people of Rome hoped to see their loved ones alive and kicking in front of them.
When it was almost noon, nearly 30,000 Diónia soldiers led by Printos arrived in Rome. The King of Devers personally led the officials of Rome out of the city to welcome them. He announced, "In order to commend the soldiers for their contributions to the kingdom, we will hold a grand banquet for them at noon! And after the banquet, there will be a rugby league match! "
When the soldiers heard the news, the fatigue and running of the past few days suddenly disappeared without a trace. They burst into deafening cheers.
Since the founding of Dionysia, this was the first time a banquet was held during a war. Dyvers' main consideration was that this was the first time such a large number of Dionysian soldiers were away from home, and they had been fighting on foreign soil for such a long time. Hence, they must be given a chance to relax.
Now that the situation in the entire Latin region was gradually becoming clearer, and the order in Rome was becoming more stable, the Devers dared to make such a decision.
Over the past month or so, the Dionysian Army had captured cities one after another and forced the city-states to surrender. They had seized a large amount of food, livestock, and belongings. Of course, it was not a problem to prepare a banquet.
But in fact, there was no need to consume a large amount of grain. The chef of the Devers served as the chef of the entire banquet. The dishes carefully prepared for each soldier were quite rich: a pot of steaming mutton soup, a piece of fragrant fried beef, a grilled river fish smoked with herbs, a handful of washed cabbage that could be dipped in sauce, a small cup of cooked chickpeas, a handful of olives and nuts, a piece of baked honey bread, and of course, a bottle of watered wine …
In order to prepare for this grand banquet, more than 500 fat sheep and nearly 100 cows were slaughtered in the city of Rome. For the past two days, the soldiers stationed in the city had caught thousands of pounds of fish from the Tiber River with fishing nets …
The soldiers of each legion enjoyed the food in their barracks. The 6,000 reserve soldiers of Rome did not have their own barracks. After obtaining the consent of the Devers, Sextus led them to the Mars Square in the northeast of Rome for a meal.
The City Hall of Rome borrowed the kitchens of nearly a hundred civilian families on Mount Palatine and hired their chefs to prepare dishes under the guidance of the chef of the Devers. The logistical barracks of each legion sent their personnel one after another to Mount Palatine in order to collect the food.
The scene was very spectacular, stretching from Mount Palatine to all directions of the city.
The King of the Devers took Crotocatax to the barracks of each legion to participate in the celebration banquet under the escort of the guards. Every time he arrived at a barrack, he would walk among the soldiers with a glass of wine and talk to them cordially. At the same time, he would let Crotocatax replace him to toast the officers and soldiers who performed well to show encouragement.
It was not until this moment that all the legionnaires truly knew that the quiet young man who often stood behind the king, the young man who led the fierce attack at the last moment of the siege of Feydenae and Gabi, was not an officer of the palace guards, but the Prince of the Kingdom of Diónia!
The soldiers were surprised, but they also had a favorable impression of this gentle young man. One after another, they toasted him. Klotokatax didn't refuse any of the toasts. By the time he finished visiting each barracks, he was already swaying and talking drunkenly.
The Devers had to let the guards help him back to his room to rest.
Finally, the group of Devers arrived at the Mars Square. Sextus led the officers to welcome the arrival of the King of the Devers.
However, the Devers proposed to stay and dine with the civilian soldiers of Rome who had just joined the Kingdom of Diónia.
Not only the officers, but even Sextus, who was more familiar with the Devers, was surprised. Before he could find a reason to refuse, the Devers had walked straight to the soldiers and sat on the grass without hesitation.
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