Both Heraclia and Metapontum had sent troops to participate in the last siege of Brindisi, so both consuls and Umacus had learned the hard way.

Davers agreed, and although he vaguely felt that something was wrong, he could not tell what it was. Because no trace of the enemy was found in the direction of Ugentum, at least the possibility of another front and rear attack by the Meppu coalition army was ruled out.

In order to catch up with the enemy, the whole army moved quickly, and the baggage team remained in the city of Manduria, and at the same time took 3,000 Mandurian defenders, bringing the total number of Tarantum's army to 3,000 and the total number of troops to more than 30,000.

The whole army accelerated its pursuit to the north in the order of yesterday's march, and after ten miles, it received a report from the reconnaissance cavalry: the Maepu coalition army had entered the mountains to the north.

Such a huge army has Brindisi in front of it not to go, but to burrow into the mountains?! Davers was a little confused. Beside him, Eumakus pondered for a moment, his face shocked.

"They may have to go through the Ann Lane Hills!" Diomiras, who rushed to hear the news, said nervously.

Listening to the two of them, Davers realized that this east-west coast corridor was not all thorny, wooded, and rugged mountains, but that there was a hilly area between the mountains, and the road was not too difficult to walk, through which the eastern part of Tarantum could be reached. In the early days, the Mesapi often attacked the Tarantum from there, but as the Tarantum grew stronger, they built defensive camps and watchtowers near the exit of the hills, and strengthened their reconnaissance, so that the Mesapi, who were tired from crossing the hills, were often repulsed by the Tarantums, who were waiting for their work. Later, under the influence of the Greeks, the Mesapi people gradually became civilized and were no longer accustomed to mountain warfare, coupled with the establishment of Manduriya, it was more convenient to attack Tarantum's base, and the Mesapi people have never used the Ann Lane Hills to break into Tarantum territory in these decades.

That is to say...... The defensive camp there has been abandoned?! Davers realized it immediately.

"Uh......" Eumacus was still considering the language, and Dionyllas had already said, "The camp is not abandoned, but after Acheta's army was completely annihilated, the combined Mesapi-Puchetti army attacked, most of the people outside the city have taken refuge in the city, and the soldiers in the camp have of course withdrawn, so the Mesapi people can easily enter our land, destroy the fields we are about to harvest, burn our villages, and kill the people who have not yet left!" We must catch up and stop them immediately! Fight them off! ”

Diomiras looked agitated, and Eumarcus looked worried, but Davers was unmoved, pacing back and forth, his brain thinking quickly.

"What are you waiting for! If we don't act, we won't be able to catch up! Diomyras urged loudly.

"Why chase them!" Davers paused and reminded with a serious expression: "Don't forget what you said earlier, 'If the enemy retreats, we will attack Brindisi at once, forcing the Mesapi to have a decisive battle with us.'" ’”

Diomiras was momentarily speechless, and Eumacus hurriedly explained: "Now the situation is different, Mesapi's army will storm our territory in Tarantum and wreak havoc, which will cause panic among the people, and may even attack the city of Tarantum!" ”

"Although the number of Mappu coalition forces is large, Tarantum City is not easy to capture, but Brindisi can be easily obtained." Davers pointed ahead and said earnestly: "The heavy infantry is chasing the infantry, and it is difficult to catch up. Instead of passively chasing after the Mapp coalition and being led around by their noses, it is better to take the initiative to attack and take Brindisi. If they don't come yet, we will continue to attack Igratia to the north! I don't believe it, they don't come to fight! ”

Eumacus bit his lip, unable to make up his mind for a moment. Diomyras still stubbornly shook his head: "No! It is not your land that the enemy wants to destroy, and of course you are not distressed! But that's our land in Tarantum, and I'd rather capture Brindisi later than drive them out of Tarantom first. ”

As soon as he heard this, Davers also became angry: "Can you blame me for this!" When you deliberate, you don't mark it on the map yourself, and you don't explain it, and there's a damn hill of Ann Lane that can pass through the mountains! I won't let you go because you say the roads are complicated and the terrain is unfamiliar, in case the enemy sets up an ambush there—"

Speaking of this, Davers's brain was stirred, and he grabbed the flash of inspiration: "I see! I understand! Because of the cavalry! As you have said before, the Mesapi cavalry slaughtered Tarantum's scouts, causing great losses to your cavalry. But this time, we have not been attacked by the Mesapi cavalry, why? Did all the Mesapi cavalry get the plague and die? ”

Davers looked around confidently at everyone and said in an accentuated tone, "No! The Mesapi want us to know where their army is going, and they want us to follow, because they must have set up an ambush in the hills of Anne! So we can't go through the hills of Arenne, we can't bury the only army that can save Tarantum there! ”

These words moved Eumacus and silenced Theomillas.

"I agree with Master Davers! Let's attack Brindisi! Trifias exclaimed.

"I agree." Tud Pres also nodded in agreement.

The unequivocal position of the two army commanders allowed Davers's proposal to pass.

Deomilas threw himself on his horse with an unwilling expression.

"Lord Diomillus!" Davers shouted, "Remember that Dionya is here to help Tarantum, not to accept humiliation!" As the consul of Dionia, and at the same time elected as the commander-in-chief of this expedition, if there is any more bad phenomenon of disrespecting the commander and disobeying orders, I don't think there is any need for the coalition forces to exist! ”

Davers's words rang out, and there was a deathly silence around them, and even Trifias and Tud Pres were shocked by the toughness of the seemingly mild young consul.

Eumacus had to cough dryly, and said, "Lord Diomyras is also worried about-"

Davers waved his hand to interrupt him and said in a cold voice, "Why is the Dionian army so invincible? It's because of discipline and obedience! If there is no unified command for an army of more than 30,000 people, if you do not obey orders, you will definitely be in chaos! If you knew that it would be a failure, why bother to go on another expedition! ”

Under the coercion of Davers, under the gaze of everyone, Damiras's face turned red, and under the invisible pressure, he finally squeezed out a sentence: "Got it." ”

……………………

In the hills of Anne, King Teremoni of Puchetti and the consuls of the city-states of Mesapi were eagerly awaiting, but the news of the spies' return dampened their enthusiasm.

"What do you say?! The Greeks did not come this way, but continued to the east...... Brindisi, their goal is Brindisi! Trimoni exclaimed, he cared more about the seaside city than the Mesapi, for to the Archons of Mesapi Brindisi was but an ally, and to Tremoni it was his newfound territory, the source of his wealth.

"Don't worry, King Puchetti." The consul of Udière, Pahimelous, advised: "Our cavalry has already gone to inform Brindisi yesterday that the inhabitants have left for the time being before the Greeks arrive there, and that even if the Greeks enter the city, they will receive nothing, and if they dare to move to Brindisi again, we will not mind getting another batch of Greek slaves when we retake it!" I think we should wait a little longer and let the cavalry burn the villages in Tarantum territory even more! I don't believe that the people of Tarantum will be able to continue east regardless of this after hearing this news! ”

Pasimerus's words calmed down Tremoni, he thought for a moment, and said viciously: "Kill some of the Greeks captured in Brindisi, throw the corpses on the road, and see how the Greeks react!" ”

……………………

"Report! …… More than a dozen thick smoke rose from the hills of Anne, and the whole sky was blackened, and there were many corpses of the people of Tarantum along the way, including women and children......"

"I just need you to monitor the enemy's movements and see if the enemy has come out of the hills!" Davers stiffly interrupted the scout: "Go back and tell your captain that next time you send a Dionian cavalry back to report the situation!" ”

Detective Tarantum rode away in a rage.

Davers only looked at the silent Eumacus beside him, and reminded again: "The Mesapi are luring us to the hills of Anne, we can't go!" ”

Eumacus frowned and remained silent.

Davers said no more, he turned and whispered to the herald Thormid, "Inform the officers in the front to speed up the march and get away from that dangerous place as soon as possible." ”

The mercenaries led by Zantiparis have all been converted into reserve citizens because of their repeated military exploits. Sergeant Phellisius incorporated them all into the vacant First and Second Legions, and Zantiparis assumed the position of Acting Commander of the Fifth Wing of the Sixth Brigade of the First Legion. For a reserve citizen, this position was too high, but most of the officers and generals in the army were members of the Persian expeditionary force, and they felt that Zantiparis was a low position, after all, he was one of the five chiefs. So once he becomes a full citizen, I am afraid that his position will be quickly promoted.

Tolmid used to have the reputation of "the first herald" among mercenaries, he was able to handle the relationship with all parties, convey the orders of the leaders in a timely and accurate manner, and make even the most stubborn officers accept and carry out, which won the trust of the leaders.