Chapter 873
Segovani was annoyed, but he had to follow the decision.
Ever since Alexis learned that the main force of the Samonai army was stationed in Beneventum, she no longer sent troops to Beneventum. She also withdrew the ballista team, but the improvement and reinforcement of the entire camp continued.
Although the intensity of the Samonai's attacks on the allied army camp was increasing, the improved camp provided enough protection for the soldiers. The warriors of Potentia and Abenilum, who had not fought for more than ten years, also gained a lot of experience from the successful defense, and their responses were getting better and better.
Amidst the incessant sounds of battle, the camp of the allied Dionians dug deep trenches, built thick earthen ramparts, sturdy wooden fences, towering sentry towers, and set up densely-packed abatis and traps …
The warriors sent by the Samonai Allied Army to attack the grain route were idle because Alexis had stored enough food in the camp in advance.
… …
The next day, bad news came to the city of Beneventum, Aequum, was besieged by the Dionysian Army.
Aequum, a town of Hilpini, was located in the east of Beneventum, on the edge of the eastern mountains of Samonai, not far from the Downey area. It was neither located on the top of a mountain like Aquilonia, which was easy to defend and difficult to attack, nor was it like Beneventum, which had a large population. Half of the small population had been recruited by the allied tribal forces, and the Dionysian Army that surrounded it was said to have nearly ten thousand people.
The four leaders knew that if there were no reinforcements, Aequum would fall very soon.
But when Leescock saw Segovani sneering at him, he remembered what he had said to him yesterday, so he did not mention the reinforcements at all. Instead, he thought about how to persuade the Aequum warriors in the army and appease the other tribal people who were wavering.
But Bardani said worriedly, "The Kingdom of Diónia has a large population and so many allies. They can gather much more soldiers than we can. Now they are using this advantage to increase their attack on us. Even if we gather all the warriors we have, there are less than twenty thousand people. Even if we defeat the enemy outside the city, it will not change the fact that we are in a disadvantageous situation!
Although we don't know how the war between Diónia and Carthage is going, it is obvious that Carthage does not have the advantage. Otherwise, the Diónia would not have invested so many troops into us. Our original hope of relying on the Carthage people seems to be in vain now. What should we do? " Bardani wanted to say "we might as well stop the war with Diónia and negotiate peace" several times, but in the end, he did not want to be scolded by that stubborn old man again.
Of course, the other three could hear the meaning of his words, but even Kontruc remained silent. The room was silent, and the four of them were thinking about their own things.
At night, Segovani, who was anxious about the current situation, received another request for help from Lola. The Campanian alliance of Diónia was in a hurry to attack the city. They had built earthen mountains that were higher than the city walls and many siege weapons that had never been seen before. They were a great threat to the defense of the city walls. If they could not get reinforcements immediately, Lola was in danger of being breached!
Segovani finally could not sit still. He immediately went to find Leescock and asked him to bring troops back to Lola immediately.
Of course, Leescock did not want Segovani to leave with his troops, because Kautini was now the strongest of the four major tribes. If they left, the entire alliance's strength would probably be reduced by half.
So, Leescock hurriedly advised, "The main forces of Diónia are here, and there will not be too many enemies attacking Lola. You only need to send one or two thousand reinforcements, and you can completely defend Lola. The most important thing for us now is to defeat the enemy outside the city! "
"Defeat? How?! "Segovani interrupted him coldly." Using that cowardly method of yours?! Our warriors have been guarding the mountain ridge for two days and have not seen a single pack beast transporting the supplies! Even if we really intercept the Diónia's supplies one day, I'm afraid that Kautini's towns on the Campanian Plains will be lost! "
At this moment, Leescock did not care about Segovani's mockery and directly advised, "If you are really in a hurry to return, why don't we discuss this and launch a fierce attack on Diónia's camp in two days? Defeat them first, and then return to help Lola together."
"Enough! Leescock, do you think I'm a fool like Kontruc and Bardani, who can be fooled by you as you please! " Segovani glared at him and scolded loudly. "We have sent warriors to attack the enemy's camp many times over the past two days, and many have died. I believe you know how difficult it is to attack the enemy's camp! Now, you want us to attack it by force. Do you want all my people to die?!
Leescock, you are a person who only knows how to play petty tricks and only knows how to talk glibly. You are hesitant and lack decisiveness and ruthlessness. More than ten years have passed, and you have not been able to kill Gherni and pacify the Abenilum. Instead, you have made them a great threat to us! We have launched a war against Diónia, and most of the operations we carried out were based on your suggestions. Until now, we have lost more than half of our warriors, and we have yet to achieve a single victory!
Two days ago, the Diónia camp was not as troublesome as it is now. If we had followed my suggestion and launched a fierce attack, we would have had a greater harvest, but you dissuaded us. Now, when the Diónia have completely repaired the camp, you want us to attack … Leescock, I have seen through you. You are not fit to be the great leader of Hilpini, nor are you fit to be the commander of the army. You are just a pitiful worm who was defeated by the Diónia more than ten years ago and has always been afraid of them! "
Segovani exposed his scars, and Leescock was both embarrassed and angry. A wave of anger rushed to his brain, and he suddenly pounced over, pressing down on Segovani's hand with one hand and strangling Segovani's neck with the other.
Segovani struggled with all his might, but he could not break free. His expression changed, and he shouted hoarsely, "Leescock … What are you trying to do?!"
"What do you think I'm trying to do?!" Leescock approached him with a sinister expression. "You say I am not fit to be the great leader, but are you?! Look at your thin and weak body. Are you worthy of being called a valiant Samonese warrior?! No wonder the great leader Kaultini and his people had always wanted Quinduc to be the great leader! If not for you secretly messing around and slandering his reputation, how could you have become the great leader?! And what did you do after you became the great leader?! You tore up the alliance with the Diónia, invaded the Campania Alliance many times, and triggered a war with the Diónia. Not only did you suffer a crushing defeat, but you also became a captive! … …
You say I am not fit to be the great leader, but are you? You say I am not suitable to lead troops into battle. If not for me, you bastard would still be imprisoned by the Diónia. Not only are you not grateful, but you even insult your benefactor. Have you thrown away the Samonese tradition of repaying kindness?! You say I can't do anything to Gherney, but is it your credit to get rid of Quinduc?! That was my suggestion and the cooperation of the great leaders. Otherwise, with your stupid brain, what can you think of to get rid of him?! "
"What are you two doing!" Kontruk, who had rushed over after hearing the news, walked into the room and saw the two people entangled together. He shouted, "As the great leader of the tribe, instead of thinking about how to defeat our enemy, you are in the mood to beat and scold here. Aren't you afraid of being seen as a joke by your people?!"
Lescok took the opportunity to let go of his hands and took a few steps back. His face was immediately full of apology. He explained loudly, "We had an argument just now because of some things. I was too impulsive. I apologize, Segovani, I hope you can forgive me!"
Segovani rubbed his neck, which was red from being strangled, and stared coldly at Lescok. "Forgive?! Only if you die! "
After saying this, he turned and walked out.
Kontruk frowned and said with dissatisfaction, "Segovani, some small disputes should not affect our unity, otherwise …"
"Shut up, old man!" Segovani rudely interrupted Kontruk's lecture. "The three of you can unite yourselves. I'm leaving. I'll leave with my tribal warriors tomorrow morning. I'd like to see how long Benventum can hold out!" He strode out of the room.
"What … What the hell happened?!" It was rare for Kontruk to be insulted to his face, and his old face turned red.
Lescok's expression was also ugly, but he did not answer.
Bardani, who had just arrived at the door, heard the conversation of the three and quietly turned to leave.
… …
That night, Segovani refused to see anyone and kept his word. Despite the repeated dissuasion of Lescok and Kontruk, he led Kautini's 8,000 warriors out of Benventum the next morning.
Just as the two great chiefs looked at the empty Kautini camp in the city and complained that Segovani was narrow-minded and ignored the overall situation, bad news came from the city again: Great Leader Bardani had gathered more than 4,000 Pentenid warriors and was going to leave the city through the north gate and return to his territory.
Lescok was shocked. Kautini's army had already left, and if the Pentenid army left as well, the Samonai coalition would fall apart. There would be less than 7,000 warriors left in the city, and facing more than 20,000 enemies outside the city, they would be at a complete disadvantage!
So he hurriedly ran to the north of the city, wanting to dissuade Bardani.
Kontruk was originally following closely behind, but not long after, he slowed down because he suddenly felt that it might be a good thing for Bardani to lead the army away. As long as he blocked the enemy invasion from the east and defended Pentenid's territory, Karaceni, who was north of Pentenid, would naturally be safe.
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