Chapter 931
Cypross looked at the expressionless face of Leotychides, suspecting that the latter's last question was deliberate. His main purpose of coming here was to help the people of Katanai repel the Carthage cavalry that was wreaking havoc on the Catania Plains. He coughed dryly, and quickly thought of a new topic. "We haven't received any news for a few days. What's the situation in the south of the Catania Plains now?"
Leotychides's interest was piqued at the mention of military affairs. Of course, the premise was that Cypross, as the viceroy, was qualified to know the whole situation of the war, and Leotychides also needed to explain his next strategy to him in order to gain his support. So, he gestured for Cypross to sit down.
Then, Leotizides pointed at the map and said, "In the past two days, the scouts we sent out have either gone missing or returned with injuries. There is no new information at all. The Carthaginian cavalry is not only destroying the Catania Plains, they are also blocking our communication with the southern side of the Catania Plains. We don't know the current situation of the Seventh Legion, nor do we know the situation of Paragonia, let alone Leontini. The only thing we know is that Taunis is surrounded by Syracuse, but the Syracuse army is not attacking with full force … This is the report that the Sicilian fleet makes every day. I believe you already know about it. But other than this …"
Other than this … "Leotychides pointed at Paragonia, Hena, Leontini, and the new Catania barracks not far to the north on the map. He then drew a large circle on the west and south of Catania, covering almost half of the Catania Plains." This large area has been completely covered by the Carthage cavalry. We don't know the situation of the 7th Legion and their allies in the south, and we don't know the position and movement of the enemy's main army. So, under such circumstances, if we send our troops out of the city to attack the Carthage cavalry, we might run into Carthage's main army not long after we leave the city. "
In the end, Leotychides returned to the previous question, but Cypross did not mind. Leotychides's words had made him feel the seriousness of the war. He asked worriedly, "So, according to your judgment, what could the Carthage army be doing now?"
Staring at the map, Leotychides said with self-reproach and confidence, "Although I … have neglected the fact that the huge Carthage cavalry will cover the entire battlefield, making it difficult for us to communicate with each other, and causing some of the previous plans to be unable to be implemented, I can still guess the movements of the Carthage army. They are either attacking Paragonia or Leontini, because they only have these two choices.
If they take down Paragonia, not only can the Carthage army open up the flat road from Camanlina to the Catania Plains, which will facilitate the transportation of their rations and supplies, but they can also support the other Carthage army that is surrounding Hena. After all, Hena is not too far away from Paragonia. As long as they take down Hena, the entire southwest region of the Catania Plains will be completely under the control of the Carthage army, and their army will be able to march straight to our city without any worries.
And if the Carthage army attacks Leontini, as long as they take it, the Carthage army will either continue to the north, go around Lake Leontini, and attack our new barracks, or lead their army to the east, rendezvous with Syracuse, and attack Taunis. Once Taunis falls, their allied army will go straight to Catania. "
After listening to Leotychides's words, Cypross fell into deep thought with a solemn expression. He then asked with uncertainty, "From what you said, the Carthage army is most likely to choose to attack Paragonia?"
As expected of the most capable chief executive of Sicily. Even if he's not commanding a battle, he can still find the right answer through his excellent political sense … Leotychides nodded approvingly in his heart. "I think that although the Carthage army and Syracuse have now joined forces to fight against us, Diónia, they have been fighting each other for decades after all, so it's impossible for them to be very close to each other. If the Carthage army chooses to attack Leontini and Taunis, then they will have to rely on Syracuse to transport their rations. I don't think any commander of an army will be able to completely entrust the food transportation line that concerns the life and death of the army to an ally who was their mortal enemy a few years ago.
And after taking Paragonia, the rear of the Carthage army will be completely under their control. Not only will they be able to attack Katanae without worry, they can also attack Hena, Agilion, and Hebita, occupying the entire Sikaer Mountains. By then, they will not only be a threat to Katanae, but also Naxos and Siculi. The Carthage army will have a lot of options to choose from. "
Cypross was even more worried now. He asked anxiously, "Can Paragonia be defended?!"
Leotychides hesitated for a moment, then said with certainty, "Lord Cypross, you should know that a few months ago, before the Carthage army really joined the war, we had already used Paragonia as a fortress to defend against the Carthage army's attack. We have been continuously strengthening its defenses and building a large number of defensive facilities. That's why Paragonia has been blocking the attack of the Carthage army for several days, and the Carthage army has not even been able to break through the outer perimeter of Paragonia.
Originally, there were 2000 reserve soldiers in the town of Paragonia, and a few days ago, the seventh legion sent another 2000 soldiers to the town. For a small defensive fortress, this number of soldiers is more than enough. Even if the Carthage army were to attack from the north now, even if they send all their troops, it will not be possible to take it down in a short period of time. And what we need most now is to buy time. "
Cypross understood that Leotychides was referring to the kingdom's reinforcements that would arrive soon, but he still looked a little worried. "I don't know much about military affairs, and I don't know much about the current changes in the war. But if we just passively take a beating and hope that the Carthage army will do exactly what we want, I'm worried that there will be accidents!"
Leotychides raised his head and looked at Cypross. He said in a serious tone, "Lord Cypross, do you really think that I've just been sitting at home and doing nothing these few days?!"
Cypross could hear the dissatisfaction in Leotychides' words, but his expression did not change, and he did not respond.
Leotychides looked at him coldly for a while, and continued, "This time, the Carthage army greatly outnumbers us, and their combat power is not weak, and they are well-equipped. It is true that we can't fight them head-on, but this does not mean that the Carthage army has no weaknesses. Their biggest weakness is the transportation of food!
Even though the autumn harvest has just ended, and the Carthage army has received food from the city-states on the south coast, and may even receive assistance from Syracuse, it is still far from enough for an army of up to 100,000 soldiers. According to my deduction, the food supply in Sicily can probably only last the Carthage army for a month or two, and they will need more food from Carthage. But look … "
Leotychides' finger pointed at the Carthage city icon on the map, and then moved across the western sea to the west of Sicily, and then along the southern coastline to Paragonia. His tone was still cold, but his eyes were clearly brighter. "With such a long transportation route, the Carthage army cannot guarantee its safety. After the Carthage army's attack on Paragonia from the south was thwarted, I concluded that they were going to cross the mountains, so I contacted the Sikells and had them organize a group of warriors to infiltrate the mountains at the southern edge of the Catania Plains, and wait for an opportunity to ambush the Carthage's grain transportation team. But unfortunately … there are many Iberian natives in the Carthage army, and they are very good at fighting in the mountains, so the Sikells have not been able to achieve any results so far. But as long as the Sikells are active in that area, the Carthage army will never dare to let down their guard, and this will take up a lot of their energy.
Furthermore, the Sicilian fleet led by Sykerian is constantly patrolling the southern coast, and as soon as they discover the Carthage's grain transportation team, they can land at any time and send their infantry to attack. I have also discussed with Sykerian, and as long as he feels that it is feasible, I can send a few thousand soldiers under his command at any time, and they can board the Sicilian fleet to recapture any city on the southern coast, and even attack the Phoenician towns in the west of Sicily … The larger the Carthage army, the faster their army will collapse once the grain transportation line is cut off. "
At this point, Leotychides's eyes were like lightning, and he looked straight at Cypross. "So we do not have to fear the Carthage army's fierce attack. Even if the village is burned down, it can still be rebuilt. Even if the farmland is destroyed, the land is still there. As long as we hold Catania and wait for the right time, the Carthage army will expose their Achilles' heel, and when that time comes …" Leotychides's right hand chopped down forcefully.
After a while, Cypross smiled and said, "I'm relieved to hear that from you, Lord Prosoeus. Don't worry, I will find a way to appease the people. "
After Cypross left, Leotychides was still looking at the map, his eyes focused on the icon of Paragonia. There was a worry in his heart that he did not mention just now: how long could Paragonia last?!
At this time, the adjutant Tagrou came in and said, "My lord, Asitemis wants to see you."
Leotychides's face darkened. "I have told him many times that now is not the time for the cavalry to attack. Why does he not listen?"
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