Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece

From their mouths, the defending soldiers learned that Antioum had been captured by the Dionysian army, and Satnikum became the only Roman town still in resistance, which caused fluctuations in the soldiers' hearts. .

It was under such circumstances that Quintus made his own claims, concealed Camillus, and despite the opposition of other generals, secretly led 4,000 soldiers out of the city in the dark, attempting an attack on the Dionysian camp, hoping to obtain a Victory boosts morale.

As a result, it didn't take long before they were out of the city, and they were discovered by a dark whistle placed by the mountain detection team outside the camp.

Daphes quickly mobilized the army to siege.

Quintus saw the situation badly, hurriedly ordered to retreat, and personally led the team to block the chase, and eventually killed the battlefield, nearly half of the troops he was killed or wounded or captured, the failure of this sneak attack caused a lot of morale to the Roman soldiers After a big blow, they began to say to Camillus, "...as long as we hold on, our turn will come..." These words that they had firmly believed in had shaken.

In the harvest of September, while the people of other city-states were delighted, the city of Sutnikum seemed lifeless. The sentries at the front of the city rarely patrolled back and forth, and more often leaned against the wall or leaned or sat. Thinking about things, even rarely talk to teammates.

In the streets of the city, filthy vomit and soldiers lying on the roadside in twos and threes can be seen everywhere. Outside the wounded barracks in the square, there are even more people. They ignore the pungent odor and the flying mosquitoes. Determined to see a doctor, their heartbreaking cough almost rang all over the square...

In the bedroom of the city's mansion, Camillus suddenly opened his eyes in a nightmare.

The uneasy confidant who stood in front of the bed immediately shouted with joy: "Master, you are awake!"

Camillus had a difficult flowing neck and looked around, his voice whispered hoarsely, "...water...water..."

The slave hurriedly picked up the already prepared jug, and then raised his head with one hand to feed him.

After drinking some water, Camillus felt better and asked in a low voice: "...How long have I slept this time?"

"Two...two days." The slave looked slightly frustrated.

Camillus heard the words, and his face was dull: he was sleeping longer and longer, and he seemed to feel that all the organs on his body were beginning to decay, which gave him a sense of urgency.

"Outside... what's going on outside?!" As soon as he spoke, he realized that he was confused. How could the slave know this, so he changed his mouth and said, "Where is Lucius?"

"Sir Lucius is sick." The slave shuddered.

Camillus was stunned, and his focus on the city of Satnikum was better than that of his son at the moment, so he asked, "Go and call Titus."

Titus temporarily took charge of the army on his behalf, so he often reported to him on the situation.

"Master Titus is also sick. He hasn't been here to see you for two days." The slave said anxiously, his face pale.

"Titus is also sick?!" Camillus was shocked again. After decades of war, he felt a little alert in his heart. He immediately asked: "Who...is sick?!"

"Master Lisinius! Master Servius! I heard there are a lot of soldiers! Master, will this... will this..." The expression on the slave's face was panic-stricken, his eyes showing Fear, but never dared to spit out that word.

Camillus' face was terrible, and he said in a deep voice: "Go immediately to the general who is not sick...cough...all!"

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"Do you suspect a plague?!" Camillus suddenly widened his turbid eyes when he heard the word spit out from Megius's mouth, and his dry throat uttered the loudest volume since he was awake, although there was a trace of doubt before, Still unwilling to believe that this is true.

"Master Dictator..." Merjius, who has been through the battlefield for a long time, was very worried. He shivered and said: "...in my decades of military service... I have also seen one or two plagues. ...And this time...this time is very similar to the previous one...also fever...headache...vomiting...diarrhea...weakness in the body...and the soldiers continue to have such symptoms..."

Camillus closed his eyes in pain. Generals such as Mejus and Oulus did not speak anymore, and they focused their helpless eyes on the old man who had completely lost his ability to move.

After a long time, Camillus slowly opened his eyes and stared at the roof, his face full of sorrow, he muttered: "Great Jupiter! ... you are going to give up... give up Rome ?!"

His words just fell, and all the generals in the room shed tears.

Camillus turned his head hard and looked at the generals in front of his bed with a terrible calm expression: "Surrender to Dionia..."

The generals headed by Olus and Mejus heard a tremor in their hearts and subconsciously expressed loud opposition: "Master dictator, we must not surrender! We can continue to fight..."

Camillus took a long sigh and said in a low voice: "While the plague has not spread throughout the city... surrender to Dionia... at least some people's lives can be saved... this is me... Camillus as the Roman dictator... the final order..." After finishing his words, he closed his eyes, and two lines of turbid tears slowly ran down the criss-crossing gullies on his face.

There was silence in the house.

After a moment, the generals walked out of the bedroom, thinking about their own concerns, and walked out of the mansion of the city silently.

"Do we really want to obey the dictator's orders and surrender to Dionia?!" the general finally couldn't help asking aloud.

"What else can we do if we don't surrender?! We are trapped in the city with nowhere to escape. Eventually we will only be infected with the plague, and our souls will not be able to get peace after death!" He raised his head, looked up at the sky, and questioned the gods who were usually worshipped aloud: "Jupiter, are you not the patron saint of Rome! Now Rome is about to perish, and where are you?"

Others listened, but no one stopped the blasphemous behavior of their colleagues.

At this moment, Olus suddenly said: "The plague can infect us Roman soldiers, and of course the Dionysians! We can take the opportunity of surrender to make the Diorians suffer from the plague, maybe this is Rome A turnaround!"

When Mejus and others were stunned, the eyes of the Dionysian army were all under the city. If they were also plagued by plague and most of the soldiers died, would they still be able to control the newly conquered area of ​​Latham?!

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Inside the large account of the Dionysian camp, Davers was looking at a report just sent from Campania, and soon a smile appeared on his face.

"Your Majesty, did Alexis send the good news?" Genipris asked softly, somewhat curiously.

"The chief of Pentney sent a messenger to Alexis and requested a truce for peace! And the Cautinis also sent a messenger to Zantiparis, expressing the same meaning." Dave Si took the letter lightly Patting his arms, his tone seemed brisk.

"No Karachenes?" asked Henripolis.

"Karachini is the most conservative and stubborn among the four major tribes of Samone, but his strength is also the weakest. This time their loss is not small. They think they are hiding in the mountains. We can't take them. Huh, don't forget Without the assistance of other tribes, other neighboring mountain races, such as the Masai and the Helnikians...will be willing to settle their old accounts with them." Davers smiled contemptuously: "By then , Karacheni will come to us on their own initiative."

With that said, he handed the report in his hand to Genipolis, and then asked Croto Catax, who was next to him, "Cruto, what do you think should be done with the two Kautini and Pentini? Samona tribe?"

Since Davis had spoken about his preliminary defeat and planning of the four major tribes of Samone last time, Crotocatax had also thought carefully these days. To teach, he said with some confidence: Father...The Samone people used to be our allies, but they tore up the covenant, provoke war, and wantonly looted the people of the kingdom and allies...so this time we must increase our The punishment and control of the Samonei race prevent them from rebelling again!

My suggestion is that the chiefs of Pentene and Kautini must go to Turui to be severely punished, and other tribal leaders must be punished accordingly, and the tribes must also take hostages.

As your father said before, the tribes of Pentene and Kautini must be fully vassals of the kingdom. The land of Kautini that we have now will be owned by the kingdom, and Kautini only retains Waltu The land north of the Nuo River serves as a buffer between the kingdom and the mountain races of Sidisini, Olongchi, etc. The new chief of Cautini must be selected from the original Naconian tribe.

We don’t have much land in Pentene now, but Pentene must cede the mountains adjacent to the Dawney area so that we can build cities there...

In addition, these two tribes must not restrict the priests of the kingdom to establish temples in the mountains, or restrict the trade between the people of the kingdom and the people of the Samonei..."

"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness Crotone spoke very comprehensively and considered very carefully!" Tolmed praised.

Daveus nodded with a smile: "It seems that after the last school entrance exam, these days you have been busy with me in Latham these days, and you have been thinking about how to deal with the problem of the Samone tribe. In this recommendation, you The issue has been completely considered from the perspective of the interests of the Kingdom. The plan given is more detailed, specific, and operable, very good!"