Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece

Preta Kuba emphasized the tone and shouted loudly: "Combating Carthage's merchants by various means, restricting them to trade in Dionysia, and also violating the agreement, quietly trading with Sardinia by tricks! What makes us angry is that you even coveted our silver mine and repeatedly sent people to sneak into the Iberian peninsula to buy the silver nuggets we plan to sell to Tyre!

The people of Carthage are angry at these despicable acts of your Dionysians against Carthage, and we strongly urge our Senate to retaliate.But based on the long-term friendship between the two countries, the Senate sent me to protest to you, and requires you to ensure that the following points are met before the friendship between the two countries can continue to be maintained!"

The remarks of Preta Kuba made the entire veteran’s hall boiling. The veterans who had been accustomed to visiting foreign ambassadors for more than ten years were shocked by the arrogant attitude of the Carthaginians. .

The anger and screams of the Dionysian elders immediately flooded the entire venue.

Preta Kuba was not afraid at all. He turned around and faced the man in the back of the center of the venue. Although he was the first time to visit Turi, he knew who was the real person in this kingdom.

After receiving the information from Aristilas in the morning, Daphes was already mentally prepared, but he did not expect that the Carthage messenger would come so fast.

At this moment, he looked calm and said slowly: "Tell me, what requirements does Carthage have?"

As soon as he spoke, the meeting place was much quieter.

Pretacouba was amazed by the degree of control of the senate in Davos. At the same time, Davies' face was not angry and unhappy, and he gave him a profound sense of unpredictability. He settled down and said aloud again: " Carthage’s request was,

First, to compensate several Carthage merchants who were previously punished in Dionyssia, and allow Carthage merchants to sell grain in Dionyssia without any price restrictions.

Second, immediately stop any trade between your West Coast town and Sardinia and never sell any goods to it.

Third, Dionysia completely opens the domestic market to Carthage, allowing Carthage merchants to trade freely without any interference;

Fourth, any vessel in Dionysia must not cross, the sea area south of the Malta-Sorrus-Sardinia-Balearic Islands.

Fifth, it is forbidden to interfere in any actions of Carthage's ally Rome, and stop hostility with it...

After Pretacuba said these words, the meeting became silent.

Daphes let go of the hands that had just grasped the armrests of the wooden chair and looked at the elders who were shining with fire in his eyes. He took a deep breath and shouted, "The elders of Dionysia! The elites of the kingdom! For Cartha Can the base people's rudeness be accepted?"

"No!!!" An angry shout broke out in the venue, almost toppling the entire roof.

The guards standing outside the meeting place were also taken aback by the noise from the Great Council. They looked at each other and were all guessing what was going on.

At this moment, a soldier suddenly pointed at the square in front and said excitedly: "Quick! Quick look! Quick look! Rain... It's rain!"

Originally because of the eight months of drought, the dry and cracked ground on Victory Square now appeared dotted black dots, and these black dots are increasing rapidly.

Long queues in front of the Turi Fountain, ready to draw water, the people of Turiyi put down the clay pots in their hands and stretched out their hands to the sky. Then the incredible face turned into ecstasy: "It's raining! It finally rains!!! Thanks to Hades for the blessing, for bringing us rain!!!"

Just when they were ecstatic, the thunder sounded in the sky, the originally disgusting sunny sky suddenly darkened, and the gust suddenly blew.

The sparse raindrops quickly became dense, and in a few moments it became pouring rain...

When the captain of the guard rushed into the meeting place, Davis suddenly stood up from the wooden chair, looking down at the Carthage emissary in front, saying one by one: "This is the answer of our Dionysian Senate! "

Pretacuba had expected that Dionysia would have this response. He raised his head and said in a deep voice: "In this case, Carthage can only cancel the friendly agreement with Dionysia, and I want to remind you , Rome is an ally of Carthage, if you fight against Rome, Carthage will inevitably assist Rome in accordance with the covenant!"

Daveus raised his eyebrows, preparing to respond.

The excited voice of the captain of the guard rang in the meeting room: "Your Majesty! Masters! It's raining! It's raining in Turri!"

These veterans, who have always displayed a steady and wise presence in front of the people, couldn't hide the excitement in their hearts. They ignored the ongoing important meeting and immediately ran out of the venue.

Although it is still afternoon, Turri's sky has become dark.Even if there was an eave outside the main entrance of the deliberate hall, a strong gust of wind still brought in a large area of ​​rainwater, completely splashing the entire steps and platforms.

The thin Boltons of the veterans soon got wet by the wind and the rain, and the chill was straight through the heart, but the veterans did not realize that they were as cheering as the people, even as Amintas, Matonis, etc. Into the rain curtain, enjoying the scouring of heavy rain.

Just as the elders were ecstatic, a passionate voice rang next to their ears: "This is a sign! Hades' sign! When Syracuse invaded Dionysia, Hades made plans. Resurrection of the fountain, we defeated the powerful Syracuse! Today, in the face of the threat of Carthage, Pluto sent us the much-needed rain again. With his blessing, what else can we fear!" Cynus shouted.

His words inspired the elders, and even Cornelius, Lucias, and others who were worried about the war with Carthage have also increased their confidence.

Pretacouba disagreed.

At this time, the voice of Daveus rang in his ear: "In fact, I am very happy that Carthage cancelled the friendly agreement with us, and you are more welcome to wage war against Dionysia so that we can have a chance Revenge the Dionysia sailors and merchants who were burned to death by your brutal flames!"

Pretacouba turned his head to look at the serious Daphes, confidently proudly said: "Carthage is not what the current Dionysia can overcome!"

Davies sneered: "On the basis of the Carthage civic soldiers who were tortured around by the Numibian riots? Or is it the employment of the almost independent kingdom of Iberia occupied by your master, Marco? Bing gave you confidence?"

Pretacouba's complexion darkened: Did the Dionysians know so much about Carthage's inside story?!

After experiencing the excitement of rain, the elders returned to the venue.

Then there is the threat of war that may exist in Carthage, but none of the veterans have resolutely rejected the proposal of the Carthage messenger before regretting at this time.

The elders who can sit in this position are not fools. From the harsh conditions put forward by the envoys of Carthage, they have deeply felt the hostility of Carthage against Dionia.As one of the most powerful countries in the Western Mediterranean, Dionysia could not accept these humiliating conditions of peace talks and constrain his own development, nor could he stop the Walseys in order to fear the declaration of war by the Carthaginians. Rescue.In the case of a major war, this approach will only allow many Italian indigenous forces that may be the help of Dionysia away from Dionysia.Since the aid to Walsey cannot be canceled, it is imminent. If the Carthage messenger said just now was the intention of the Carthage senate, not just intimidation, the war with Carthage will soon come.

Therefore, the elders began to discuss with King Daveus how to prevent the war.

The first problem to be solved is the food problem.As long as there is sufficient food supply, the Kingdom of Dionia can assemble a sufficient number of soldiers to respond to any enemy invasion, so the Secretary of Agriculture Burcos is required to continue to observe the weather in the next few days. There are continuous rains in all parts of the country, so the Ministry of Agriculture should take action to allow the Dionysian people to replant some fast-growing crops in order to reduce the pressure on food, and at the same time make careful preparations for spring cultivation next year.

At the same time, the veterans also demanded that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs send envoys to Egypt to do their best to establish friendly relations with Egyptian pharaohs, hoping to receive food aid from this country with the reputation of being the "largest granary in the Mediterranean".

In addition, they also advised King Daphes: to postpone the negotiations with Cautini and avoid too hard-line attitudes that forced the Samonais to turn to the Carthage side in the war that may be coming.

They also suggested that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should send envoys to the various forces in the Western Mediterranean as much as possible to fight for them to stand on the side of Dionysia during the war.

The Greek city-states on the south of Sicily that are friendly to Dionia, such as Gera, Agrigento, Tindaris, etc., are the first targets of the Dionysian messenger to visit. Before the arrival of the Carthage Army, make them stand firmly with Dionysia, and provide a certain food supply for the Dionysia army, and reduce the logistical pressure of the Dionysia army.

Although, for more than a decade, Syracuse has suffered a lot of national power due to repeated civil strife, but the thin dead camel is bigger than a horse, it is still the largest Greek city-state on Sicily (except the Sicilian city of Dionysia ), even though it has been somewhat inconsistent with Dionia in recent years, and has few contacts, the elders still hope that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will send envoys to try to win Siracusa as much as possible, at least to keep it neutral.