Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece

"I was worried that Tarantum would not save Manduria first, but let us go to Brindisi first! Because Manduria is still safe at least now, but only two thousand soldiers are stationed and away Tarantum's Brindisi is much more dangerous!" Capps said worriedly.

"If that's the case, we absolutely can't agree!" Dracos looked at Daphes and said firmly.

"Adult, don't repel Manduria's enemies, go northward. Once Manduria is captured, the Mesapi can cut off our transportation line, and we will be in danger of being hit by both sides. So If it is possible to obtain the command of the coalition forces, if it is not possible, we must ensure the autonomy of our Dionysian army!" Felix also solemnly suggested.

Davers nodded in agreement.

…………………………

After Capps and Drax left, Daphes left Philius alone.

"How did the preparations for the troop's preparations go?"

"All the soldiers of the First and Second Legions have all returned to the city to stand by, but there are still many soldiers who have not replaced their new weapons and equipment." Felixius said, hesitant to see Davers, Busy also explained: "It is not that they are not actively replacing, but that Turiri and Amendolara only have a total of three weapon shops. They cannot complete the production of tens of thousands of new armor shields in a few months. Tanning cowhide alone is a very time-consuming process, and its number is so huge, if not because we have a large number of cattle and sheep grazed by the Lukanian citizens of Niutum and Grumentum , It will take several years just to raise cowhide..."

"Since this is the case, let's use the old equipment for this battle. Let the soldiers go to the weapon shop to temporarily change back to their original bronze helmets and bronze shields." Davies said with regret.Suddenly, he remembered something: "I heard that a Corinthian businessman had built a large weapons workshop in the handicraft zone of Amendolara. You can consider giving him a part of the order, but I don't know if he will accept the conditions of trade-in. ."

"That businessman is called Tios, and I have already talked to him, and he is very happy to accept it."

"Oh, this is a wise man, but unfortunately a foreigner." Daveus remembered the simple hydraulic forging hammer that the Institute of Mathematics had successfully developed, and was considering finding a suitable large business to cooperate with it as a way to save manpower. 2. A machine that improves the efficiency of forging copper and iron. Of course, Davis must put it in the hands of his own people in order to play a confidential role.

"In addition, I have contacted the port’s Civil Vessel Association (this is a non-union official shipping organization proposed by Davers and planned by Mariji. All Dionysian commercial and passenger ships have joined. The purpose is to maintain order in the port, prevent vicious competition, improve industry efficiency, and facilitate cost management). Polydorus also said that the ships of Tarantum will also come to the port to help transport, so that we can transfer two at a time. All the soldiers of the legion were transported to the port of Tarantum. Probably the day after tomorrow our army will be ready to go to Tarantum by boat." Felix continued with a little excitement.

"Phelius, how often does it take from the mobilization of citizens to the expedition in the usual Greek city-state war?"

Davies's question made Felixius stunned. He thought that Davies was to make a comparison, so he said: "From war mobilization, to selecting citizens, arranging family affairs, preparing weapons and food, preparing the army, It takes about three or four days to determine the team officer, and we only need two days at most."

"What if tens of thousands are dispatched?"

"Then the time may be longer, it is estimated to be six or seven days, but to us Dionysia--" Felixius hadn't finished speaking, and Davos waved his hand and said, "Then don't worry too much , Go out in five days."

Felixius thought he had heard it wrong, and Davos leaned forward, staring at Felixius, and said with a deep voice: "In the past, although Tarantum often fought Mesapi, he never looked like This time I completely disregarded the lives of the citizens and attacked Mesapi with all my strength. Do you know why?"

Philius is not a fool. Besides, after serving as a military officer, after more than a year of experience, both administrative experience and vision have improved a lot. He immediately replied: "It is because of us."

"Yes, we!" Daveus repeated a powerful sentence: "The rapid and powerful of our alliance has put pressure on Tarantum. The southern Italy is not too big, it can only tolerate the next overlord, and this overlord can only It’s Dionia! Now Hades has given us help and put Tarantum in a difficult position. We must seize this opportunity."

Davies sneered: "Abide by the covenant and help Tarantum to defeat the Maple Allied Forces can be done, but it is by no means helping Tarantum to eliminate his enemies and stabilize their new territory!"

Daveus acted calmly, even coldly, and his friendship with Aceta did not affect his decision on political affairs.

As a deputy of the army, Philius assisted Davers for more than two years and knew more about his chief than other generals. It was like deliberately delaying the attack that caused Amendola’s citizens to suffer heavy losses and deceived Cornelius to become himself. Lifelong consul, etc., this young consul is not as honest and honest as he showed, but perhaps because of this, he will lead the mercenary to the height of today, this is like him, Capus, Arab Mintas and others who know only war cannot do it.

Felix sighed softly and exhaled the enthusiasm that Davos had just faced with Polydorus and his now cold expression...

"I see, my lord," he said.

………………………

In the following days, Davos entrusted Avinuogis, the Laos governor who was still watching the game and tasting food in Turrii, to do everything possible to understand the situation of the Bruti to confirm the Trina Whether Pross is true.

For the rest of the time, he carefully read some of the information collected by Aristilas about Tarantum and Mesapi in the mansion.When he is free, he also accompanies his wife Christoya and half-year-old son Croto Katax.

Polidorus was in a state of anxiety day by day, and he went to Davis or Philius several times, and they were persuaded to dismiss them for justified reasons.It is true that there are more and more soldiers gathered in the city of Turiyi every day, and it takes a long time to mobilize tens of thousands of soldiers to go out, but the situation in Tarantum is getting worse every day and urgently needs Dionysia’s. Army rescue.

On the second day of the defeat of Aceta, the Clippers of Brindisi returned to Tarantum, informing the senate: Aceta died, and the Mep Allied Force threw his head into the city and used it outside the city. Thousands of Tarantum soldiers built a "corpse mountain", intimidating the defenders of Brindisi to surrender in the city, and the people in the city were very scared.The Mape Allied Forces have been waiting for a long time, and no replies have been made. The siege has already begun.

Brindisi urgently asked for help from Tarantum, claiming that the enemy is strong and the defenders are few, and that after the last capture of the city of Brindisi, the broken city wall has not been given sufficient time to be completely repaired. When it comes to reinforcements, I am afraid it will fall in two or three days.

When the Senate of Tarantum was urgently discussing "how to rescue Brindisi", there was news: the Mesapi army besieging Manduria disappeared!

The elders of the veteran's hospital headed by Yomakas and Diomeras did not feel relaxed when they heard the news. Although the Mesapi cavalry blocked them, it was impossible to detect the main destination of Mesapi, but everyone did not need to. I guess, I can probably guess: the Mesapi people may be the most likely to go east and meet with the Pucciti army. Brindisi is in danger!

Although Turri has already been rewarded, Dionia will send tens of thousands of soldiers to reinforce.But it was definitely impossible to arrive in a short time, but to ask Tarantum to send its own troops to reinforce from the land. In the face of the tens of thousands of Meipu coalition blockade, the senate felt that this was basically to die, so the final decision: from the sea. The soldiers reinforced Brindisi so that they could stick to the rescue of the coalition forces of the League of Tarantum and Dionia.

Tarantum sent 80 large and small warships, including 40 three-tier paddle warships, which is almost all the naval power of Tarantum, escorting a troop of troops with 4,000 soldiers to Brindisi .

After bypassing the "foot heels" of the Italian peninsula, the fleet was intercepted by the Mep United Fleet near the coast of Hodrum, Mesapi.

Puceti’s navy is not strong, and there is only one harbour city, Barium (now Barium), and it is good to make up six or seven warships.However, the Mesapi people are different. Most of its city-states are port cities. Igratia, Brindisi, Ugentum, Mesagne, Hodrum are all seaport cities, but they are the largest city-states. ——Udie is an inland city located in the center of the Mesapi region and was the capital of the Mesapi Kingdom.Therefore, the Mesapi’s navigation ability is not weak, and the maritime trade is more developed. Later, with the help of the Athenians, they can not only make three-layer paddle warships themselves, but also be able to skillfully use the advanced Greek naval warfare skills. The sea also caused a lot of trouble to the Tarantum, and this time, it was the largest naval battle between Tarantum and Mesapi. The Mesapi gathered all the warships of all city-states, totaling 58 ships, including 25 three-tier paddle warships, plus Puceti's six warships, a total of 64 warships.

One is anxious to reinforce, the other is desperate to intercept, and the two sides wage a fierce battle at sea...

Although Mesapi’s warships were few, they were offensively brave; although Tarantum had many ships, he had to take care of the troop-carrying fleet behind him, but instead attacked and shrank.