Chapter 946
"Without Agilion as a barrier, Prosos won't be able to take it back. The Sikells are being pressured by Carthage's army, and they don't know that reinforcements are coming. Moreover, the Carthage are adept at fighting in the mountains … Faced with such a predicament, it's hard to predict what the Sikells will do." Tolmid said with a serious expression, "However, if the Sikaer tribe that lives on the western edge of the Sicily territory surrenders to the Carthaginians, it will definitely cause a lot of trouble for our Sicily territory!
Devers slammed his hand on the wooden table and said in a deep voice, "I've decided to have the entire army disembark on Catanai and repel Carthage's army head-on!"
"Your Majesty, when we were discussing at Saturnicum, didn't you plan to have the army disembark on the western border of Sicily, which is defenseless, and cut off the retreat route of the Carthage's army?" Matonis asked.
"Yes, I've proposed such a plan before. However, the premise of implementing this plan is that the Carthage have lost their naval power, and they won't be able to threaten our landing fleet." Devers pointed at Sicily on the map on the wooden table and explained calmly, "However, the situation has changed now. The Carthage's new fleet has already been put into use, and we don't know how many warships are being built in the shipyards of the Phoenicians … I believe that everyone still remembers the situation when we disembarked on Latin America. The number of warships carrying our legions is so large that it's impossible to hide from the Carthage's eyes and ears, and it's impossible to launch a surprise attack. When the time comes, the Carthage will mobilize all their naval power to stop us from disembarking.
Everything went smoothly when we disembarked on Latin America, and it took us almost half a day. However, if we disembark on the western border of Sicily, the Carthage will try their best to stop us from disembarking. After all, that area is under the Carthage's control, and it's more advantageous for them to fight. Even if we can gather the Sicilian Fleet and the Third Fleet together, we might not be able to gain any advantage … And even if we manage to land in the end, such a large army will require a large amount of food, and we will still have to rely on sea transportation for food supplies. This will be another big problem! "
Devers looked around at the crowd. Seeing that they did not refute but were deep in thought, he said loudly, "Also, the territory of Sicily is being destroyed and threatened by Carthage's army. The people are eagerly waiting for us to go and rescue them. If we disregard their safety and would rather take a huge risk to land in the west of Sicily, what will they think? So, the most important thing now is to chase the Carthage people out of Sicily so that the people can quickly rebuild their homes! "
Hearing this, everyone felt that it made sense and nodded in support.
"Your Majesty, the plan to send the entire army to the west of Sicily has been canceled, but we can send one or two legions," Epitonis interjected.
Devers glanced at him and said, "This problem will not be discussed today. Three days ago, the Ministry of Military Affairs has informed the reserve soldiers of each city to gather at the military camp of Siletina. Your task in the next two days is to replenish them into your legions as soon as possible. Two days later, we will set off for Catanai. "
"What about the Rome soldiers who have surrendered?" Amyntas asked.
Devers had already thought about it and said, "Keep them in their respective teams, and each team will have one more Rome soldier. With the addition of the reserve soldiers, the proportion of Rome soldiers in the army will be diluted. I think this will be more conducive to the stability of the troops, and it will also be more beneficial for these Rome soldiers to integrate into the army … "
… …
"Lord Mara, look! Our soldiers have occupied the city wall! "The adjutant was so excited that he was dancing.
It was no wonder that he was so excited. Tens of thousands of Carthage soldiers besieged the seemingly small city of Paragonia. After more than half a month of attack, apart from many casualties, they had not made much progress. Now, they had finally gnawed this hard bone.
Mara, who had been gloomy these days, finally showed a smile. He said loudly, "Blow the bugle to attack. Let the soldiers seize the opportunity to continue to attack the city. Break the second wall of the Diónia and kill all the Diónia people in the city!"
"Yes!"
"Woo!" Margo listened to the loud bugle and watched as hundreds of soldiers swarmed into the city of Paragonia. The sounds of fighting from the city were getting weaker and weaker …
Mara clenched his fists. He was eager to break the inner city wall that had caused a lot of trouble for the besieging soldiers.
The Carthaginian soldiers who occupied the top of the city wall quickly rushed down from all directions. They roared as they rushed into the city, chasing after the fleeing enemies. They were extremely excited, but they rarely noticed that the water flowing in the ditches along the crisscrossing streets was not stinky sewage, but sticky tar. In the empty houses, a large amount of wheat grass that had just been harvested was piled up …
Standing on the inner city wall, the captain of the Seventh Legion of Diónia looked at the enemies that were rapidly approaching the city like a tide. He decisively ordered, "Close the gate!"
"Captain, there are still many brothers retreating to the inner city. They will arrive soon! Wait a little longer! Wait a little longer! "The commander of the Seventh Legion on the side pleaded anxiously.
Gritting his teeth, Teminides hardened his heart and said, "It's too late. Before they reach the city wall, the Carthage people will rush into the inner city! By then, everything we have worked hard to arrange will be in vain! "
At this point, he raised his voice and shouted, "Close the gate!"
After giving this order, he then raised his right arm and waved it down. "Fire arrows!"
More than a dozen arrows were shot into the ditch under the city wall, and immediately a circle of flames rose, and quickly spread out along the connected ditch …
"Captain, here!" The guard handed the wet linen to Teminides.
Teminides looked around at the soldiers who had already covered themselves with linen, took it, and covered his mouth and nose with it.
Not long after, the entire outer city had become a sea of fire. The Carthage soldiers who had been advancing aggressively now panicked and wanted to retreat, but the narrow streets and crowded crowds made it impossible for them to do so. So, as they pushed and shoved each other frantically, and even killed each other, flames and thick smoke shrouded them …
In the sea of fire in the outer city, shrill screams could be heard everywhere. Among these screams, there must be the Diónia soldiers who had not retreated into the inner city in time.
Teminides closed his eyes in pain, holding onto the battlements, and slowly knelt down, silently chanting in his heart, "O Great Hades! You are the protector of the Kingdom of Diónia, you are the just and strict ruler of the Underworld. I beg you to give a fair trial to these warriors who died for the kingdom, so that their souls can receive the protection they deserve … "
Not only was Teminides praying, but all the soldiers on the inner city wall were doing the same thing. Even though the solid wall blocked the fire from spreading, the rolling heatwaves were suffocating, but everyone remained kneeling, facing the burning sea of fire and praying devoutly …
The Carthage people who were watching the battle outside the city were originally cheering because they were about to break the city, but when they saw the fire rising from the city and quickly enveloping the whole city, they were all shocked. Soon, their shock turned into panic. "Oh my god! The Diónia people have gone crazy, they've set the whole town on fire! "
"Quick! Quickly withdraw the troops! "
"Look at the fire! It's too late! The soldiers are desperately rushing in to gain merit, blocking all the city gates. This is not something that can be withdrawn in a short time! "
…
Victory was so close, but it turned into despair in the blink of an eye. Margo suddenly felt suffocated, and he had nowhere to vent his anger. He immediately snatched a spear from a guard and threw it at a Numibian soldier who had just escaped from Fire City and was fleeing in this direction in a panic. The spear pierced his chest.
Margo looked around at the soldiers with a ferocious face and roared, "All of you, shut up!"
His entourage suddenly fell silent.
… …
In the evening, Pomilka walked into the tent of the Carthage barracks.
Margo, who had a face full of resentment and was unapproachable during the day, was now munching on the cooked lamb leg with a calm expression.
Seeing Pomilka come in, he picked up the half-eaten leg of lamb and said, "Agrigento's lamb is really delicious, would you like a piece?"
"Thank you, I've already had dinner." Pomilka pulled a wooden chair, sat opposite him, and asked softly, "Next … what's your plan?"
"What do you mean?" Margo looked at him and asked rhetorically.
"Lord Margo, the Diónia people have burned the entire outer city of Paragonia, and we have suffered heavy losses. According to the statistics that have just come in, nearly 2,000 soldiers have been burned to death, and more than 2,000 soldiers have been burned. Since we besieged Paragonia, the number of dead and injured soldiers has reached 7,000!" As Pomilka continued to state the facts, his originally calm tone became heavy, "We can't do anything to a small Paragonia, let alone the Diónia barracks, Leontini, and Catanai, which are larger and have more soldiers. We can't go on like this! Otherwise, when Diónia's reinforcements arrive, I'm afraid we won't have enough strength to fight them head-on! "
"What the hell are you trying to say?" Margo's face darkened, and he asked impatiently.
"I believe you have received news from Sardinia, 'a huge fleet of Diónia carrying soldiers from Latin to the south to Triene …' I'm afraid that the Diónia people have won the war with Rome, and their army is about to land in Sicily. Should we temporarily stop the attack on Catanai and fully prepare to fight the main force of Diónia?"
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