Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece

Heparinus believed that the rebels such as Herolis were now powerful, and the courtiers such as Philistos loyal to Dionysius did not know where to go, so they chose conservative measures.

In fact, at this time, the Siracusa riot troops in the city were retreating under the fierce attack of the mercenaries.

Herolis is a good organizer and instigator, but he is not a good general. He did not take decisive measures to reorganize the command and organization system of this new army, and divided troops to bypass the streets and encircle the enemy. Instead, he spearheaded the battle from the beginning. As a result, the civic soldiers were chaotically organized. The wounds and deaths of their companions made the fierce image of Dionysius mercenaries left in their hearts again for many years.

Unfortunately, Hiparinus at this time was too cautious and wanted to protect his daughter and grandson first, so he missed the opportunity to send mercenaries on the island to defeat the citizen army.

There were a small number of nobles and citizens who supported Dionysius in the city, but they were imprisoned because of Philistos. No one came out and took the lead to organize them to assist the mercenaries to fight, resulting in the occupation of a thousand mercenaries in the city. The upper hand, but lack of subsequent support, can not completely defeat the other party.

Just when Herolis led the civic soldiers to support, the Dionysian agent who had been closely watching the movements in the city immediately notified the poor and free people in the port area. They quickly organized a team and never had mercenaries. Entering the Puskamen in front of the guarded Epipole Heights, quickly passed through the Epipole Heights, rushed to the main city, and circulated behind the mercenaries to launch the attack.

The mercenaries were beaten back and forth, and the formation was in chaos. After a hard battle, most of them were annihilated, and a very small part fled to the island of Ortigia.

Herolis did not continue to catch up, he was now aware of the problems with his army, and this kind of ills almost destroyed the resistance he led.So he ordered the troops to stop the offensive, and with the assistance of other leaders of the incident, appointed a team officer of all levels for this huge team of more than 14,000 people composed of citizens, the poor and free people, and let his friends, Kuzias, a Democrat with rich combat experience, served as his assistant, rectified the army, and negotiated an attack plan.

Kuzias suggested to him: The walls and fortresses of Ortijia are tall and strong, which is not easy to capture.In the case where Masias may lead the army back at any time, the troops should not attack the island with all their strength, but should send troops to control the gates and walls of Syracuse, and at the same time eliminate the power supporting Dionysius in the city and unite The people of the whole city are fighting against the mercenaries of Dionysius...

Herolis and others agreed to Kuzias's proposal, and sent him to lead a team to the isthmus of Ortijia, and urgently built a wall to completely block Ortijia in Syracuse. Outside the city, then Herolis began the squad in the city.

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At the time of the riots, the Dionysian spies hidden in the port had sent people to take a fast boat, departed from the big port, sailed straight north, and arrived in Katana after more than two hours.

In the port of Kataney, there is the secret probe of Dionysia in charge of Sicily-Antrapolis, he did not personally go to Syracuse to participate in the riots, and even ordered his men not to enter the tin during the riots In the urban area of ​​Rakuza, so as not to create a bad association with the people of Syracuse.

But in Kataney, Antrapolis did not have these scruples, because most of the city's rulers, mercenaries, were recruited by Massias to Meyaro, and the city's defense was empty.Antrapolis even blatantly summoned freemen and slaves in the port, calling on them to overthrow the rule of the mercenaries of outsiders.

Dionysius destroyed Katana and gave the land to some mercenaries who helped him fight.These soldiers have been fighting, killing and killing all the year round, they don't know how to cook fields, and Catania has a vast land. They can't be busy just because of them, so they can only rely on slaves and free people.The slaves were mainly from the citizens of the city-states that Dionysius captured when he conquered the east coast of Sicily. The mercenaries themselves often sent troops to the western mountains to capture the exiles and the Sikels and work for themselves as slaves.Many of the free people are former citizens of the city-states of the East Coast, but they have just lost their homes.Therefore, the mercenaries of Katana ruled this large group of people far more than them, slaves and freemen who hated them, only because of the powerful force of Syracuse and the brutality of mercenaries, they repeatedly crushed the resistance of the slaves and forced They had to choose obedience.

As an exile in Katanay, Antrapolis returned to his hometown a few years later. It was like a fish. There are many slaves and freemen here who are familiar with him and can even call his name. The port opened up, with the help of former compatriots, he formed his own team, and sent personnel to neighboring city-states such as Syracuse, Leotini, Sicully, Taunis to spread rumors, find alliances, and wait opportunity.

Now the opportunity comes.The large Syracuse army suffered heavy damage in Greater Greece, and almost all of the troops of Syracuse and its southeastern allies were transferred to the Dionysian army that encircled and landed. The reason why Anterapolis did not immediately launch a riot was The Katane people have urged him several times for fear of alerting Dionysius supporters in the city of Syracuse.

Now that the news of the riots in Syracuse came, Anderapolis immediately announced: Operation begins!

The Katane people erupted in cheers, and they assembled their troops to attack the city of Katane.

At the same time, the Katana slaves in the city were also organized to launch a fierce attack on the mercenaries above the city to collect blood debts for the dead relatives.

There were not many mercenaries left behind, and they were suddenly beaten back and forth, and quickly defeated.

Antrapolis led the uprising team to occupy the city of Katane. He did not participate in the victory celebration of his former compatriots, but immediately sent people to ride to the three city-states of Leotini, Taunis and Siculi, telling the lurking The news of the people there "Sirruzza, Katane has rioted and succeeded" encouraged their confidence and urged them to take immediate action.

Antrapolis believed that these three city-states had yielded under the mighty force of Syracuse, and were also puppets supported by Dionysius, which established a tyrannical regime, heavy tribute, and tax pressure. Among the people, their resentment towards Syracuse is conceivable. Only one flame will surely be ignited, and the news of the successful riots in Syracuse and Katana will undoubtedly inspire their confidence and Fighting spirit.As long as the riots of these three city-states are also successful, the army led by Masias will be difficult to return to Syracuse.

To this end, Antrapolis sent another person to take a fast boat and quickly went north to the port of Mello, informing the head of the First Army Anthonyos "the successful riots in Syracuse and Katana", so as to make him psychological ready.

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In the early morning of this day, there was heavy fog in the Siliting, but there was only mist in Meyaro.

Marcias has already received a return from the reconnaissance ride: more than 5,000 reinforcements from the south coast city state of Jera and Kamalina are coming.

Therefore, the cautious Marcias did not continue to bombard with ballistas on the south bank of the Alcantara River, nor did he lead the army to cross the river to attack directly, but led its more than 12,000 soldiers and more than 50 ballistas in these The packmen went west along the river bank, crossing the Alcantara River from the flat area away from Meyaro Town, close to Mount Etna, and letting the First Army in the section near Meyaro Town The traps are set in vain.

Antonios did not send an army to intercept the other side of the river, because the mercenaries of Tauromenian also rushed out of the nest in time. In order to avoid being hit back and forth, Antonios chose to continue to shrink in the tattered town of Meyaro, even he Two hundred soldiers from the temporary checkpoints that were built in the north the day before yesterday were also recalled and sent to the western mountains to inform the exiles not to go east temporarily.

Marcias's army and Tauromenian mercenaries easily met, with a strength of 13,000.

Mathias still chose a stable tactic, and placed the remaining ballistas in front of the array to continue firing stone bombs at the west of Meyaro, while waiting for the arrival of reinforcements.

For a time, the air shrapnel roared, and the town roared continuously.

In order to avoid being accidentally injured by scattered gravel and wood chips, the soldiers of Dionysia and the exiles in the town had to retreat and retreat to the east.

Marcias calmly asked the soldiers to clear the traps and obstacles of the Dionysians outside the town of Meyaro.

The soldiers of the First Army felt very suffocated.Since the establishment of the First Army, it has won many battles and won the most. It is a hero hailed and yearned by the people of Dionysia. He has experienced such a battle. In addition to avoiding ballistas, he has continuously retreated.

As a result, the soldiers began to protest to the team officers, demanding that they rush out of the town and engage in confrontation with the enemy.

Not only were the soldiers protesting, but the exiles were also dissatisfied. They were trapped in the town with their wives and children, but there were no rivers to the west, so the ballista can be pushed completely in front of the town. In this way, the entire Mello The town is within the range of the ballista.

When everyone's protests and dissatisfaction were transferred to Anton Rios through team officers and exiled leaders, he could imagine the pressure on him.

"Master Legion, we can no longer be passively beaten like this! We must kill and destroy their ballistas!" Tigtinos suggested loudly.

"Kill it out! That's exactly the enemy's trick!" Trotilas immediately opposed: "What we have now is not 8000 legionnaires, but a team of 5000 legionnaires and more than 3000 exiles. Fighting on the plains is very easy to be surrounded by more enemies than ours! These exiles will not be like us, even if they are surrounded, they can continue to fight heroically!"