"What about Sirittin and Trina?" Kunogorata, who had an unsightly face, asked loudly.

"I think Syracuse will restore independence to these two city-states, after all, Syracuse is in Sicily, not in Greater Greece." Chrysops said without thinking.

"Independence?!" Scombras sneered twice: "Let Syracuse prop up a 'dictatorship of ten' governments like you Sparta did in the Greek city-states of Asia Minor?!" ”

Chrysops' face changed slightly.

At this time, Davers spoke: "Want to hear our conditions?" ”

"You say." Chrysops was slightly nervous.

"As long as Syracuse withdraws from Greater Greece—" Davers's words made Chrysopus happy, and he was about to answer, when he heard Davers say in an accentuated tone: "And let Messina, Catanay, Naxos, and Tauromegnan all become independent one by one, dissolve that Sicilian League, and above all must exile Dionysius, this is my condition, which cannot be changed!" If Syracuse agrees, we agree to an armistice! ”

Chrythops thought Davers was joking, but seeing that he was resolute, the others were all emotional after Davers said this.

There was silence in the conference hall for a while, and Chrysops looked disappointed: "The conditions you put forward are impossible for the people of Syracuse to accept. It seems that you Dionias intend to continue this costly war with countless casualties! ”

"This war was provoked by the Syracuses, Dionysius led an army to invade Great Greece, occupy the land of the Ionian allies, and kill the Great Greeks, just like a bad wolf breaking into our homeland, we have enough to eat and drink, and we want to leave safely, it's not so easy!" Davers stood up abruptly and said categorically, "I once promised the people, 'I will kill all the people of Syracuse who invaded Great Greece!'" For this reason, all our Dionian citizens have made up their minds to fight to the death against the people of Syracuse! Hades will protect us not only to annihilate the invading army of Syracuse but also to restore our allies! We also have to fight to Sicily, save the Greek city-states that are oppressed by Syracuse, and completely pull out the fangs and sharp teeth of this evil wolf, so that it will never be able to oppress any Greek city-state! ”

Davers's words shocked not only Chrysops, but also the senators present, who had heard Davers speak of his vision for the war for the first time.

"Davers." Callosopus was anxious and reminded him by name: "I can understand your eagerness for revenge, but Syracuse is not a wolf, but a lion!" If you miss this opportunity for peace, you are afraid that if you can't kill this lion, it will pounce on the house and bite everyone to death!"

There was obviously a threat in Clethorpes's words, but Davers only replied lightly: "Then you have to be completely beaten to know, who is the lion?" ”

Chrythops heard Davers' determination to fight Syracuse to the death, and tried to persuade him again.

Davers had already said loudly: "When you were in Persia, you fought side by side with me, and I should have treated you well when you came this time, but it is a pity...... It's a time of war, you and I are not friend or foe, I'm sorry, I can only let you go! When this war is over and you come back, we'll meet again! ”

Knowing that his mission had failed, Chrysopus said with a sigh of relief, "I'm afraid we won't have another chance to meet......

Davers smiled faintly: "I'm sure you'll come back!" ”

……………………………

After Cresopus left the barracks, he kept his expression serious and silent.

When he entered the port, got on the ship, and got out of the dock, without his instructions, the captain did not know where to go, and had to ask in a loud voice: "Christopus, shall we go to Siriting next?" ”

Chrysopus came back from his contemplation and said decisively, "No, go straight back to Sparta." ”

"Go back?!" The captain was puzzled, and he vaguely remembered that the Ombudsman's mission was to bring a truce between Dionia and Syracuse, and that he had just gone to Dionia.

"The Dioonians are arrogant, refusing to cease fighting, and trying to defeat the Syracuse, and I think this alliance of city-states that has not been established for a long time will soon perish!" The attendant mocked loudly.

"Perhaps, it seems that we Spartans will have to rely on ourselves during this time." As Chrysopes spoke, the face of Davers with a determined, confident expression that had appeared before the Battle of the Persian Gorge and before the Battle of the River Kentrite...... On many occasions at meetings where expeditionary forces were in trouble and military discussions were held, Davers used this look to persuade the leaders to take his advice and help the mercenaries out of their predicament. And this time, although Syracuse had a clear advantage on land, he was always uneasy in his heart......

Cresopus stood in the stern of the ship, watching the port of Turiyi fade away from his sight......

He knew in his heart that the humble young man who had come to him for advice and admiration was gone, and that Davos was now king of Dionia, and had become a sworn enemy of Syracuse, and of course an enemy of Sparta, his enemy......

…………………………………

Davers led the senators of the Senate to prepare rations, train the army, and replenish the legionnaires (the 1st and 2nd Legions also suffered some losses after these battles). Theoria's fleet was also busy recruiting sailors, training new ships, and training formations. The whole of Turriy took action.

To the south of Dionia, Syracuse launched a second major siege of Crotone.

While besieging the city, Dionysius left 10,000 men to defend the northwest of the camp against a possible surprise attack by the Dionian army of Asprarustum, and at the same time sent all the cavalry and mercenary cavalry of Syracuse to operate in the north of the Croton Plain, and even as far away as the swampy plain of Crimesa, firstly to observe the movements of Turiy in the north, and secondly, to harass Crimesa and prevent its garrison from sending troops to aid Crotone.

Although the pontoon bridge over the Neto River had been burned down, and the entire river was under the control of the Syracuse navy, it was impossible for the Dionian army to cross the river in a short time, but the cautious Dionysius still had to make extra preparations. In the sea outside the port of Crotone, Reptines was at the helm of more than 200 ships (including the detachment from Messina), and Dionysius ordered him to desperately hold off the reinforcements of the Dionian fleet to the city of Crotone.

When everything was ready, the trumpets sounded, the drums vibrate, and the continuous roar of stone projectiles fired by hundreds of ballistas hitting the city walls, more than 70,000 soldiers in Syracuse pushed more than a dozen large siege towers, dozens of siege engines, all kinds of large siege equipment, and countless long special ladders, approaching the city wall from the north, west, and south.

In addition, Dionysius ordered his army to escort and drive more than 4,000 non-Crotone captives, and while the Crotoneians were too busy preparing for an attack to look out for them, instead of building platforms for lookouts and long-range archery, as before, they urgently built a ramp from outside the moat to the top of the city.

The Crotone people also realized the urgency of the situation, and not only did all the soldiers go to the city, but the ballistae of Dionya were also on standby, and all the people who could wield their shields and spears were organized by Lucias, ready to reinforce at any time.

A large-scale, tragic siege battle began......

………………………………

At the Governor's Mansion in Asprarustum, Epitenis, who was the commander of the Fourth Legion, asked anxiously, "Philicius, are we really not going to help Crotone?!" The brothers of the Legion are holding back their anger and want to avenge Dracos and the dead brothers! According to the information reported by the spies, this time the Syracuse people are fully prepared, and almost the whole army is dispatched, without our help, I am afraid that the Crotone people will be quite difficult to deal with! ”

Phellisius pointed to the south unhurriedly and said, "Although the Syracuse people went to attack Crotone, Dionysius did not forget us, the road to the south leading to Crotone was sealed by their fortifications, and it was heavily guarded, do you want both of our legions to be lost there?" And we got orders! ”

Epitenis was speechless, pacing back and forth in the living room, and then said irritably, "I don't understand, Master Davers—"

Agacia, who was on the side, interrupted him and reminded, "It's Your Majesty Davers now!" ”

"All right, Your Majesty Davers." Epitenis shrugged his shoulders and looked disapproving, in his opinion, a life consul is not much different from a king: "Your Majesty Davers, why do you want the mountain scouts to send us an order to 'hold the city of Aspraustum and not rush to attack'!" Obviously, we have won the naval battle, and we can immediately let the fleet go south and repel the fleet of Syracuse again. In this way, our army will be able to build pontoon bridges over the Neto River and deter Syracuse from the north, so that they will not dare to attack Crotone with all their might! ”

"After a big battle, the average army has to rest for at least four or five days before they can take further action, and I think the same should be true for the fleet." Philicus defended Davers on the basis of his usual experience: "So our task now is to guard Asproustum, pacify the soldiers, and wait for His Majesty to come with his army and join him." Since even the Syracuse navy, which we thought was impossible to defeat, was defeated by the fleet led by His Majesty, it was even more impossible for the army of Syracuse to defeat the legions commanded by His Majesty! ”

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