Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece

Just when the Dionysian army arrived in the city of Crimea, the news spread to Crotone that the battle of the Crotone army failed, the whole army suffered heavy casualties, and only more than 5,000 people fled back to Crimea. The city suddenly shocked the whole city.

To say that the failure of the first battle was caused by the negligence of Melantheus and the shameless sneak attack of the Amendolaras, this time Crotone formed a much stronger army than the last time, and they trusted and fought the same way The experienced and stable chief general, Miron, as the head coach, was full of humiliation, but the news that came back was even more depressing. The Crotone army was defeated again, and more than 20,000 people did not escape. Did they die? Or captured? No news so far.

This time, every citizen's family in Crotone was worried about the life and death of their relatives and wept. At the same time, the backlog of anger also erupted under the guidance of the Dionysian spy. The people gathered and protested at the city hall. There is a strong demand for an immediate citizens' assembly.

In the face of the angry people who broke into the venue, the council was forced to respond to the demands of the people, and the citizens' assembly was hurriedly convened immediately.

At the assembly, the people angrily criticized the incompetence of these generals and members of the council, which led to the defeat of the Crotone army, which had a clear advantage, and put the city-state at risk. They proposed: remove the post of chief general of Miron and escort him back to the city for trial. At the same time, immediately start peace talks with Dionia to redeem the captured civic soldiers.

The proposal was successfully passed with the support of the general public.

At this moment, the messenger sent by Miron rushed back to Crotone with the request that The Dionysian army surrounds Crimea, Miron asks for reinforcements.

This news immediately caused the Citizens Assembly to panic. As long as they were not fools, everyone understood that once Dionia captured the Crimea, they could enter the Croton Plains smoothly, destroy their farmland, and burn their villages. , approaching the city of Crotone. If the war situation really evolves into this, it is that after the invasion of Cybalis a hundred years ago, the Croton Plain was invaded by the enemy from the north again, and the peaceful life of the people of Crotone in this plain for a hundred years will be broken. It is unacceptable to the people.

Reinforce Crimesa and stick to the city of Crimea has become the consensus of the citizens of Crotone, but the young and middle-aged citizens of the whole city have basically been recruited. Years of military service while recruiting freemen. Fortunately, it is only for defending the city, as long as you can shoot arrows and throw javelins. This is what freemen and sailors are good at, so it is not a problem to put together a considerable number of reinforcements. But the generals became a problem, because all citizens who could fight and could fight were in Miron's army, including Miron himself.

The citizens debated for a long time, and finally reached an agreement. Several candidates were selected, but the selected person refused to take office. When the people accused them, they justified: Even good warriors like Milon and Philadelphia have been defeated, how could someone like us who seldom go to the battlefield command an army that lacks civic soldiers to resist Theo The attack of the Nians? It is not that we do not want to take responsibility for the fulfillment of our civic duty, but we are concerned that we will not be able to fill this vital position and cause our city-state to suffer again!

After they finished speaking, the citizens' assembly of several thousand people suddenly fell into dead silence, and the Crotones, who were good at fighting, were in an embarrassing situation where they had no generals to use.

At this time, Lysias stood up and said in a deep voice: Citizens, you all know that Miron and I often have disputes over some issues, and our relationship is not good. But I also have to respect Miron's actions towards the city-state. Contribution. He led troops many times to repel the invasion of the allied city-states by the Brutians, and twice forced Lokri to withdraw from the territory of Corenia, which is an important reason why you have elected him as the chief general many times! To be honest, his military talent has always made me jealous. But now he has failed. Miron, who has always won more and lost less, and worked steadily, suffered a disastrous defeat in the battle that decided the fate of the city-state.

Do you believe he was negligent and treated this important battle as a game? !

The words of Nicias left the impatient citizens musing.

Of course not, this only shows that the military ability of Dionia's consul, Davos, is stronger! Yes, by now, this is something that any Crotone has to admit and must face bravely. Fact! Nicias sighed and said loudly again: After the failure half a year ago, I think you should all know about Davos. After he led the mercenary army to Turiyi, he personally commanded He has won all the battles of Citizen of Onia Archon Davos?!

Although the pale citizens whispered and whispered in the audience, no one stood up to recommend or recommend themselves.

Since there is no, why not let Miron continue to lead the army! I believe Miron, who has suffered a defeat, will definitely learn a lesson from it, and desperately defend Crimea for Crotone and himself! Citizens, Ke Rotone is facing the biggest crisis in a century! I hope you can put aside your likes and dislikes towards others, and out of public interest, choose the right person to defend our city-state!!! Lycias shouted.

His words obviously played a role. In the new round of elections at the Citizens Assembly, Miron became the head coach with a small majority of votes, but his position as chief general was stripped away, and he had to be tried when the war was over.

After getting a satisfactory result, Lycias's expression was not relieved, because he knew that he would soon meet Davos again as a messenger. In just a few days, the whole situation has turned. Lycias remembered what Davos had said when he left Turii, and now it has come true.

In the early morning of the second day, the Dionysian army also did not attack, but continued to improve the camp. Not only did they set traps in front of the camp, but some soldiers in the protection engineering battalion had begun to erect wooden bridges over the Umbria River.

Miron witnessed all this on the city wall, and was amazed: Davos, who was cunning with his troops before, was able to sink his heart and continue to build the camp. Is he really planning to besiege himself?

He hesitated again and again, but still did not dare to send the few troops in his hand to harass him.

In the afternoon, Miron was relieved. Crotone's 5,000 reinforcements were transported to the city of Crimea by fleet, making the city more than 10,000 troops.

At the port, he also saw Lysias who disembarked with the soldiers, and his expression couldn't help changing: Did the council really send you to negotiate?

No, Miron. Lycias's negative answer made Miron just relieved, and he immediately said: I was sent by the Citizens Assembly to conduct peace talks.

Speaking of the Citizens Assembly, Miron's expression became even more ugly, and he said solemnly, I don't think... the dominant Dionians will agree to a truce and peace talks at this time. Even if they agree, the conditions they put forward It must be very harsh!

You're right, but the people of Crotone desperately need to know the safety of their loved ones. I can't think of it. However, it is necessary to try to understand the requirements of the Dionians first. Lycias shrugged helplessly.

Hearing Lycias' words, Miron's face twitched, he coughed a few times, and said in a low voice, I heard that at the Citizens Assembly...it was your speech...it saved me from being escorted back to my country now... …”

In fact, I, like other people, wish you could be tried, and let out a sigh of anger for those citizens who died in this battle! But Crotone needs you urgently now, for the sake of the city-state and the For yourself, I hope you can win a few battles in the next battles and lay a good foundation for future peace talks! Lycias's earnest remarks made Miron feel ashamed, he didn't say anything, just pinched Fist clenched.

Then Lycias, accompanied by Miron, went to the top of the city, holding the battlements in his hand, and looked forward: not far from the city was Dionia's camp. A camp follows a camp, and the trenches, earth walls, fences, outposts, etc. are all available.

Even Lycias, who did not know much about military affairs, could feel the strong defense of Camp Dionia when he stood on the city wall.

Seeing Lycias' serious expression, Miron said, I don't think these Dionians are really like the Greeks. We Greeks like to fight, but we don't like to do these dirty and tiring jobs after fighting. But as soon as the Dionians got here, they kept digging holes and nesting like mice, and it took me just over a day to build the current camp, which led me to send hundreds of soldiers last night. They suffered a loss when they attacked them! Now that they are still building bridges on the river, they definitely want to build a camp on the south bank and completely besiege Crimea.

Miron paused and said loudly: Now with this group of reinforcements, I will teach the arrogant Dionysians a lesson!

……………………

The troops who were ordered to cross the river to the south bank protection engineering battalion to build the bridge were the second and third corps of the first army, and Matonis was in charge. This is what Matonis actively requested from Davos. In the last battle, he was the commander of the reserve team. He hardly got any battles, and he was full of energy. This time he has to perform well.

When he led the troops to the surveyed bridge repair site on the south bank, he immediately used a brigade to guard and a brigade to dig trenches, and took turns to work until the trenches were dug and the earth bases were built, and no enemy was seen.