"General Sekrian really wants to do that!" Vlalios immediately responded.

"The soldiers rested for a full day yesterday, and today they have been staying on the ship, and their physical strength and spirit are quite full. But look at the present-" Shilos pointed to the dense troop carriers waiting on the dock, and said with some anxiety: "More than 6,000 soldiers have come ashore, I don't know when it will be!" And I've been the governor of Cosenza, so I know how big the city is, and just helping to resettle the people who fled in Trina is probably filling the city. ”

"You don't have to worry about accommodation, I will do my best to arrange it! I really can't live there, so I can camp outside the city. Assistes said confidently.

"I know that outside of Knappetia is mountainous, and I might as well camp here on the plains ahead, and the soldiers will sleep better." Unmoved, Shilos continued: "And you have been monitoring Trina's movements, and Trina's enemies are probably keeping an eye on him as well. Our fleet has been outside the port for so long, will the enemy not know! They know of our coming, and even if Hibernian is attacked, they will strengthen the defense of Trina! Rather than this, it is better for me to lead the army to attack Trina first, attract the defenders of Hibernian to come to the rescue, and then lead the Lijim to attack the empty Hebernian, the probability of success is greater! ”

After saying this, the others were a little moved, in fact, Assistes and Flalios both understood that the reason why Sekrian designated that plan was actually some selfishness, wanting to let Dionia's army gain more achievements, but Shiros didn't care about the merits of the battle at the moment, but more about how to benefit the whole battle situation.

"Actually, whether it's attacking Trina or Hibernian, it's not the most important thing! The most important thing is -" Shiros looked at Assistes and said with a serious expression: "The army led by Your Majesty is now facing off against the army of Syracuse in Krotone, the sooner we attack the enemy's rear, the sooner we can trap the enemy in passivity, so that Your Majesty can gain the initiative, in order to better defeat the main force of Syracuse and win this war!" I've been delayed for a long time in Laos, and now we have to act as soon as possible! ”

Acestes was deeply moved by Shilos's heartfelt words, and immediately said: "I understand, Shiloh is an adult!" I will not prevent you from landing in Euphimia, I will organize men and carry food and grass for the troops, and immediately gather a thousand soldiers and set off by land to meet you in Opimia! ”

"Lord Shiros, I'm going to recruit the citizens of Trina now, they've been looking forward to this day for a long time!" Brommaras said excitedly.

"Lord Shiros, my warship is with you, and I want to get the news to General Sekrian as soon as possible!" Frarios also immediately said.

"Okay, let's see you in Trina!" Shilos solemnly gave a military salute.

"Alas, I originally prepared a banquet tonight, and I wanted to invite you to my house as a guest, and by the way, I met my wife and children, it seems that this time there is no chance!" Assistes sighed and gave a few words to a port official beside him, who hurried to the docks, commanded the ships, and combed the passage so that the troop carriers could leave the harbor without any problems.

"Lord Shiros, may Hades bless you with all the best of your journey!" After sending his sincere wishes, Assistes asked, "Lord Henipolis, would you like to be a guest at my house, and by the way, I can talk to you about how to be a good clerk of His Majesty?" ”

Henipolis was a little moved, and he turned his head to look at Shiros.

Shilos advised, "You should stay in Knappetia, and when Your Majesty has led his army into the plains of Opimia, it will not be too late to meet him." ”

Hennepolis hesitated for a moment, and finally said, "Lord Acistrius, thank you for the invitation!" I'm here with Lord Shiros, so let's go with him. ”

…………………………………

Yesterday, the people of Syracuse were attacked with rockets for most of the day, and Lucias and others led the citizens to be busy until the evening, tired and thirsty, and fell directly on the square outside the temple, and slept until dawn.

The rocket attack on Syracuse, which they were most worried about, did not come again, and looking down the hill from the acropolis, there was not a single shadow of the enemy.

In fact, yesterday, the Acropolis sent several emissaries to the Dionian camp asking for help were able to return safely, and they were already well aware of the intentions of the Syracuses, but this only slightly weakened the resentment of Lycis and other high-ranking officials of Crotone against Dionia for not helping them.

The spies soon returned to the Acropolis: not only was there no enemy visible inside the city, but even the camp in Syracuse outside the city had disappeared!

Lycias looked at Milon in surprise and surprise, and said in disbelief: "Could it be that the people of Syracuse have retreated?!" ”

"Very likely." Milon pondered and said, "If Syracuse's army were to attack the Dionian camp on the north bank of the Neto, their own camp would not be demolished. ”

"So we can leave the Acropolis!" Heathplotis said excitedly, licking his parched lips.

His words received an enthusiastic response from the others, who had not drunk water for most of the day, and everyone's throats were smoking.

Lucias couldn't make up her mind at the moment, and asked hesitantly, "Milon, what do you think?" ”

"As far as I know, Dionysius is an extremely cunning man, he may deliberately lure us out of the city, and then let his thousands of cavalry quickly come back, more than half of us are women, children and old people, once we get off the acropolis, it will be difficult to escape their pursuit!" Milon said worriedly.

"Is it because we are afraid that it is a trick of the people of Syracuse, that we will stay in the Acropolis and die of thirst?!" Sithiprotis asked loudly.

"Of course not." "We can send men to continue to investigate the movements of the Syracuse people to the south, and at the same time send messengers to ask the Dioonians on the north bank of the Neto River for protection, and we can also ask them to send a fleet to carry water to the port, and then transport the water to the Acropolis ......while there is no enemy in the city for the time being."

"Great idea, just do it!" Lycias immediately made a decision, and the others agreed.

Just then, a messenger sent by Davers arrived at the Acropolis.

The news that the Dionian army had crossed the river was heartening to the Crotone leadership, but Davers's speculation that "there could be a battle with the Syracusens" made them nervous.

"Although I was a little dissatisfied with the 'indifference' of the Dionians, I don't want them to come over when they did cross ......the river," said Lucias, with a solemn expression.

"yes." Milon also felt the same way, and he said in a contradictory mood: "According to the account of the envoy just now, the number of the Dionian army is about 55,000 people, and according to the siege of the Syracuse army that I have learned before, they probably have no less than 70,000 soldiers, a difference of more than 10,000 people!" If Dionya and Syracuse do fight here today, we must come to Dionia's aid with all our might! Otherwise......"

"It's a must! If Dionya is defeated, we will all become slaves of that Sicilian tyrant! Sipros arrived at the council of the top brass of Crotone at some point, and said in a loud voice: "We, the Trinas, have decided to rush to join the army of Dionya at once!" ”

The parliamentarians in Crotone looked at each other and then talked.

Eventually, Lucias exclaimed, "We, Crotone, will also send General Milon to lead most of the Crotone citizen soldiers to join Dionia's army!" ”

Milon squeezed out a smile: "I just took the citizen soldiers to ask for a glass of water!" ”

He wanted to relax the calm atmosphere of the room, but everyone looked nervous and no one laughed.

………………………………………

Just as Crotone had gathered more than 4,000 soldiers and Sipros led nearly 900 men of Trina to descend the mountain, Dionia's army had reached the front of the former camp in Syracuse.

Dionysius relied on his strong army, in addition to building a relatively tight defense on the side facing Aspraustum, the camp on this side of the core area of Crotone was only set up with earthen ramparts, wooden fences, and no trenches were dug, and he even hoped that the Crotone would attack the camp out of the city, just in time to inflict heavy damage on it. Therefore, when retreating, it was easy to tear down the earthen wall, and it did not greatly hinder the march of the Dionian army.

At this moment, Davers received a return from the scouts: the Syracuse army stopped retreating, quickly turned around and approached them, and the enemy cavalry began to attack, driving away Dionia's cavalry.

Dionysius is here! Davers was not too surprised by his prior speculation and preparations, and the more he thought about it, he gave the order: "The whole army retreats slowly, and at the same time beware of the attack of the enemy's cavalry!" Inform Ryders not to fight hard with the enemy's cavalry, but to withdraw first! ”

Despite his doubts, Tolmid rushed to issue the military order.

Since the Dionian army did not take the usual way of marching in columns after crossing the river, but lined up in a line, marching south together with a large wide frontage, and the troops of more than 50,000 people stretched seven or eight miles from west to east, in order to ensure the rapid transmission of military orders, Davers and Tolmid discussed a method, that is, to have two heralds every kilometer in the rear of the entire team, so as to ensure the fast and convenient transmission of orders between Davers and the various legions.

The Seventh Army was located at the far right end of the large force, adjacent to the Thachinadi River. After listening to the words of the herald, the corps commander Matonis expressed his incomprehension: "Why retreat?!" The enemy is coming, and retreating at this time will only lead to a drop in morale and confusion in formation! We should go up and fight the enemy! ……”