Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece

And Matonis was concerned about other issues. He looked at the west for a while, and said with a frown: It took so long for Tarantum's army to gather! I also saw that there are quite a few of Tarantum's soldiers. I am afraid that people have just grown up, how much combat effectiveness can such an army have!

Don't have any expectations of them, it's up to us. The only thing these squeamish Tarantums do when they go to the battlefield is to clean up the battlefield and collect the spoils for us after we have defeated the enemy. Olivers said contemptuously.

Olivers, don't take the enemy too lightly! Lord Davos said that the Mesapis are not only brave in battle, but also tough and tough to deal with. We must attach great importance to it, we must unite the Tarantum people, and do our best to defeat them. They! Giorgris reminded him.

Giogris was the captain of the Third Legion, but according to the new regiment regulations: the First and Second Legions, whether officers or soldiers, should be composed of Turii, citizens of Amendolara, reserve citizens and live here as much as possible. The free people of the 3rd Legion were composed of the people of Grummentum and Niutum; This is mainly to facilitate the management, training, mobilization, and expedition of the army, and to improve combat efficiency. Of course, it is also easy to lead to the emergence of various legions and local hilltopism, but Davos considers: At least in the early days of the alliance, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The above shortcomings can be solved in the future by increasing the mobility of team officers. Geogris still lived in Amendolara and did not move elsewhere, so he was transferred from the Third Army to the First Army, and still served as the captain.

Olivers has always been used to bullying Geogris, and he wanted to refute when he was not convinced. Alexis said: Geogris is right, this war is different from the past, and it involves cooperating with other city-states to fight. , especially Tarantum, we must not only attach great importance, but also carefully handle the relationship with the Tarantum army. Otherwise, at the critical moment of the battle, if the allies do not fully support us, bad luck will befall us. You must know that Turiyi is separated by a bay from here, and it will be difficult for us to go back then...

Alexis is a veteran brigade captain, Olivers can't say anything, and the other brigade captains agree with Alexis' words.

Amyntas patted Olivers on the shoulder and said loudly: To be honest, I don't like these tarantums like women! But for the sake of victory, we can only bear it for the time being and wait until we defeat Mesa. Leatherman, I'd love to see if the Tarantums say thank you to us!

When he finished, he laughed, and Olivers laughed too.

Okay, everyone, hurry back to your brigade, Tarantum's army has also come out, and we should set off as a whole team! Captain Capps reminded everyone.

Not long after the huge escorting process left the city gate, the women were hesitant to continue their journey, because on the ground in front of them were sitting and lying densely packed with Dionian soldiers, they were talking loudly, laughing and talking rudely. , many people also topless, making conservative Tarantum women feel shy.

The Tarantum soldiers were also a little dissatisfied because of this, pointing at the resting Dionysians and saying some strange things in their mouths.

Sure enough, it's a rude country bumpkin! Diomilas didn't see the appearance of Dionia's army when he first arrived, and now he also expressed his dissatisfaction when seeing this situation: Where is Davos? Let him Assemble his army quickly! Diomilas underlined the word army heavily to show his disdain.

It should be there. Eumacas pointed to the largest and most dazzling flag among the dozen or so flags erected in front of him, guessing.

The flag is very fancy! Diomilas snorted, and followed Eumacas on horseback.

Like the people around him, Davos took off his armor, wearing only a linen lining, and sat casually on the mud floor, talking to the soldiers.

Guard Captain Martius first saw the Tarantum Archon who came,

After whispering a few times in Davos' ear, Davos turned around unhurriedly.

Lord Davos, when are we leaving? Eumacas asked before Diomelas.

Davos glanced at Diomelas, who had a hesitant expression on his face, and said lightly, It's time to set off. The soldiers stayed in the sun for more than an hour, and they were almost dried out.

Diomilas heard that this was Davos' veiled criticism that it was the slowness of Tarantum's army that caused the Dionysian soldiers to be so sloppy, and he couldn't help coughing a few times.

Blow the trumpet and gather! Davers no longer bothered about this issue, and gave the order decisively.

As soon as the bugle sounded, the soldiers resting in various postures immediately moved quickly and helped each other wear armor; while the officers at all levels began to greet the soldiers under their subordinates to return to the team, and the flag bearers were also waving their flags and shouting. The name of the team indicates the direction for the soldiers.

For a while there was dust and noise, but it soon returned to quiet.

What appeared in front of Diomilas was no longer a group of soldiers from the east and the west sitting together chatting, sleeping, and messing up, but a column of infantry soldiers who were fully armed and arranged in neat rows...

Diomilas took a deep breath. As a general Tarantum who had experienced many battles, he knew in his heart: To do this means that the army has strict training and strong discipline.

Looking back at Tarantum again: the soldiers and the people were mixed together, still hugging and saying goodbye to each other, and even some soldiers were still weeping and crying, and there was no sign that they were about to go out to kill the enemy.

Diomilas couldn't hang his face anymore, he turned his horse's head and hurried back without saying a word...

At this time, Triphias and Tudpres also rushed over.

Davos, who was already in uniform, said seriously: Before we set off, we need to discuss the order of the march.

He glanced at the crowd: My suggestion is that Dionia's army goes first, Heraclea and Metapontum go in the middle, and Tarantum goes last.

Eumacas understood Davos' intention as soon as he heard it: once the enemy attacked, the Dionysian army stood at the front to block, giving the troops behind time to react and prepare.

There was no selfishness in this suggestion, Eumacas nodded in agreement, and Triphias and Tudpres had no objection. Their army was the weakest, and they were guarded in the middle.

According to what you said last time, the terrain from here to Manduria is flat. I am going to divide the army into five columns, widening the distance between the columns and the columns, and marching side by side, so as to facilitate the sudden attack of the enemy and shorten the Time to get to Manduria, and having the baggage in the middle is good for protection, Davos continued.

Yumachus hesitated for a moment. Don't look at Davos's lightheartedness. If he didn't go through this kind of training, he might get mixed up in the columns while walking.

I have to discuss this matter with Diomelas before deciding. He said cautiously.

The other two have no opinion. They have few soldiers and are easy to manage.

For the reconnaissance cavalry sent out, I suggest that Dionia and Tarantom's cavalry be mixed. Not knowing the enemy's situation at all times means that the commander has no eyes and ears, so although I heard that the Messapi cavalry is powerful , Davos still asked Ryders to bring 200 cavalry over by boat. As a traverser who has an understanding of ancient military history, the cavalry is one of the troops that Davos wants to cultivate. Therefore, even if there is a loss, it is worthwhile to let the Dionysian cavalry understand their own gap and work hard for it. . At the same time, he also brought Izam's mountain reconnaissance team to understand and familiarize himself with the terrain and mountains of this land for future use.

Since the start of the war in Tarantum, due to the heavy losses of the cavalry, some nobles have even refused to join the army. Yumachus could not ask for this proposal.

When he went back to convey some of Davos's suggestions to Diomelas, Diomelas thought for a moment and replied: What Dionia can do, of course Tarantum can do it too. !

After the Dita coalition was rectified, it began to set off.

In fact, the Maple coalition, knowing that the Greek army was going, quickly retreated and retreated to a camp two miles south of Manduria. Therefore, without any battle, even the reconnaissance cavalry was not lost, and the Dita coalition entered the city of Manduria smoothly at dusk.

The rendezvous with the defenders boosted the morale of the soldiers, especially the Tarantum. At the same time, the increase in strength made the commanders negotiate slightly, and decided to take a night's rest, and the next day went straight to the Maple coalition. The only thing that caused them a headache was that the small city of Manduria was crowded with nearly 30,000 people, and it seemed a bit crowded. How to arrange the soldiers' accommodation was a troublesome thing.

The next day, at dawn, Solikos led a mixed cavalry squad to the Maple coalition camp to scout the situation, but found that the camp was empty.

Solikos immediately sent people to report the news, and at the same time, under the guidance of the Tarantum cavalry, the cavalry squad was divided into two groups. All the way to the south, in the direction of Ugentum; all the way to the east, in the direction of Brindisi, continue to search for enemy traces.

Davos and the others learned the news and realized that the enemy was about to escape, so they assembled the army immediately. In the process, the cavalry came to report again and found the trail of the enemy army in the east.

The first reaction of the commanders was: the Maple coalition was going to retreat to Brindisi.

We can't let them retreat to Brindisi, then we will be forced to attack the city, and the casualties of the soldiers will be very serious! We have to catch up with them and fight them on the spot! Diomilas eagerly shouted that he still had a fresh memory of the tragic attack on Brindisi before.