Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece

The soldiers handed out shields and spears to the freedmen and slaves who returned, and a small group of ten, led by a citizen soldier, returned to the Dionysian camp. If anyone refused to fight or flee, the soldiers would seize them and execute them on the spot to deter the greedy for life.

In front of these improvised ranks were nearly 20,000 Syracuse soldiers and siege machines in motion. They were arranged in an extremely loose formation, carrying a ten-meter-long ladder, pushing various cumbersome siege machines, and walking on the muddy ground that had just been leveled by freemen and slaves. Since many of them lost their armor and shields in the previous battle, everyone's equipment is relatively simple now, almost the same as the free people in the rear. The arrows that they didn't worry about at first have now become the most troublesome long-range weapons for them. . Fortunately, the rain of arrows was mostly blocked by the towers, arrow-blocking vehicles, and siege vehicles at the front of the queue.

It seems that the astonishing stone bullets whistled and fell from time to time, and the sand splashed everywhere, but the soldiers of Syracuse were not as panicked as the free people. After all, they saw too many ballistas attacking them, but everyone was praying Apollo Bless you, don't be the unlucky person hit by a stone bullet.

With a loud noise of Bang!, an arrow-blocking vehicle was hit by a stone bullet and disintegrated immediately. The broken wood chips also injured several slaves who were pushing the vehicle, scaring the soldiers behind to subconsciously stay away from the siege equipment. Those who are most worried about ballista attacks are these big guys!

The Dionysian light infantry heard the sound of rumbling coming from the front on the wooden wall, and the sound was getting louder and louder, as if the spring thunder was about to release lightning, they were all nervous, and the speed of the bow and arrow was faster, Every time they heard a scream, their hearts were relieved.

Soon, indistinct objects and figures appeared in the white fog ahead. When more than a dozen towers higher than the camp’s wooden walls emerged from the thick fog and appeared in front of the trenches, the Dionian soldiers were all overwhelmed. Nervous about these behemoths.

Defense! The heavy infantry quickly put their long shields on top of their heads, forming a shield formation.

I heard the continuous crisp sound of dangdang..., which was the sound of the javelin thrown from the tower colliding with the central metal horn of the long shield. There were also very few javelins pierced through the long shield, causing damage to the legionnaires. harm. Apparently, the Syracuses knew that archers were little threat to Dionia's heavy infantry, so the top of the tower was full of javelins.

The light infantry who hid behind the Dionian heavy infantry also immediately returned arrows and javelins to the tower eight or nine meters away from the wooden wall.

The Syracuses at the top of the tower rely on the protection of the wooden fence. Even if the arrow falls, new light infantry will soon enter through the entrance at the rear of the tower and climb to the top through wooden ladders to replace them.

Relying on the suppression of the tower's long-range firepower, the Syracuse soldiers braved the arrows and javelins they shot, rushed to the front of the trench, and put the ten-meter-long ladder on the wooden wall.

Due to the rigor with which the Dionian Legionnaires built their camps,

The trenches they dug were four meters wide and three meters deep. There were pickets all over the trench. The other side of the trench was built directly with an earth barrier. After the earth was rammed, a wooden wall was built on the earth barrier. The upper wooden wall is nearly five meters high. The soldiers of Syracuse could not stand under the wooden wall at all, and could only stand directly opposite the trench and use the extended ladder to attack the city with ants.

The increased length of the ladder reduces the inclination of the wooden wall, which not only makes the body of the siege soldier more likely to be exposed to the attack of the opponent, but also the ladder is more likely to sway, and it is easy to fall into the trench and be hit by the picket. Pierce the body. But the Syracuse soldiers were not afraid, built a wooden ladder, and climbed to the wall one after another.

While the towers and ladders were attracting the attention of the Dionysian defenders, hundreds of freemen, carrying sacks full of soil, rushed towards the trench in front of the camp gate. Some people fell down with arrows in the middle, but more people successfully threw the sacks into the trench.

The 11,000 men of Dionia's Fourth Army and Seventh Army were stationed at the Dionysian Middle Army Camp, all of whom rushed to the east wooden wall for defense. Since the walkway inside the wooden wall was not wide, the archers retreated under the wooden wall or on the outpost, continued to snipe the towers outside the camp, and concentrated on long-range attacks on the Syracuse soldiers who came after them.

On the wooden wall, a mixed force of heavy infantry and javelinmen threw javelins at the enemy in front of the trench or on the ladder, and used shield and spear to knock down the enemy who tried to climb the wall. At the same time, it also protected the javelin attack on the tower.

When the thick fog gradually dissipated, the sun rose in the sky, and the offensive and defensive battle of the Dionysian Middle Army camp entered a white-hot...

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At the same time, the gate to the main city of Syracuse on the island of Ortigia in Sicily opened, and the carriage that Hiparinus was riding and his entourage filed out.

Ortigia Island was originally the earliest colonial settlement of the Syracuse people. It was not until Dillon became the tyrant that the people of the surrounding city-states were relocated to Syracuse and reclaimed the inland area connected to Ortigia Island. , while vigorously developing maritime trade. Since then, Syracuse has gradually become the most powerful of the Greek city-states in Sicily. When Dionysius was the tyrant, he not only further moved more Greek populations to Syracuse, but also nearly overthrew his rule because of two riots, and nearly endangered his life, in order to protect himself For the safety of his life, he forcibly removed the original inhabitants of Ortigia, making the peninsula a residence and a fortress for his family, supporters, and mercenaries loyal to him. The people of Syracuse jokingly said that Ortigia is the Acropolis of Dionysius.

Philistos and Hyparinus, loyal subordinates of Dionysius, also lived on Ortigia, of course, but the city hall of the entire city-state was off the island, south of the Temple of Apollo. Next to the square, so every day if there is no special situation, Philistos will rush to the city hall very early to handle government affairs, and return to the palace on Ortigia Island in the afternoon to report the situation to Dionysius.

As the intelligence chief, although he has a position in the city hall, in fact, he usually works in his own mansion on Ortigia Island, because it is more secretive. It was only during the time when Dionysius left Syracuse that in order to understand the situation in the city more conveniently and quickly, and to monitor these officials in the City Hall nearby, he went to the City Hall to work every day.

After Hiparinus and his entourage left Ortigia, they had to pass through an isthmus 500 meters long and 300 meters wide to enter the vast inner city of Syracuse. In the middle of this isthmus, there is also a small fortress, with hundreds of mercenaries stationed, and the city wall blocking Ortigia Island is a corner of each other. Dionysius has tried his best for his own safety. But the existence of this fort also makes this passage that is not too wide narrower.

The carriage that Hiparinus was riding in suddenly stopped at the exit of the isthmus. There was a noise outside in his ears. He hurriedly stuck his head out and looked out: I saw dozens of men fighting at the entrance of the isthmus. During the fight, many people watched the fun and even cheered, blocking the front.

Go and see what's going on? Hyparinus said hurriedly.

Soon, his subordinates rushed back to report: My lord, I heard that today is because citizens are going to gather in the square to form reinforcements from Great Greece. Some citizens here responded to the mobilization of the city-state and were about to go to the square, but others thought they were doing this. It will only allow... let this war continue without end, so I prevent them from going, and as a result, both sides...

Hiparinus looked irritably at the dusty front, and cursed: What the hell is Philistos doing?! Why don't you send patrols to drive these people away!

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Philistos usually goes to the city hall early in the morning, and even earlier today, because gathering citizens in the market and forming an army is a major event for the city-state, especially Syracuse is now in a special period , but also to maintain order in the city to ensure that this matter can be successfully completed, so he will check the preparations in detail before the citizens gather in the square to avoid mistakes.

What makes Philistos happy is that: on the way to the city hall, he saw many citizens marching towards the square one after another. It seems that the mobilization work of Herolis these two days is still fruitful, Dionysius. Sir Si's request should be fulfilled smoothly!

Just when he came to the city hall with gratitude to Haroris, he got bad news: What did you say?! Haroris was beaten on the way to the city hall?!

Yes, my lord. I heard that several citizens were afraid of going out, and they resented Lord Haroris for persuading citizens to participate in the mobilization of the square war this time, so they attacked him.

Where is the other person? How is the injury now?! Felistosky asked hurriedly.

I heard that he was hit hard on the head, collapsed to the ground, and was carried back to the house by his family. The patrol team has rushed to arrest the perpetrators.

When Philistos heard this, he couldn't sit still. In his opinion: he himself is responsible for the injury of Haroris. If it wasn't for the difficult task he assigned to Haroris, let Haroris do his best to complete it, and Haroris would also No resentment from these disaffected citizens of Dionysius. Moreover, the task of forming an expedition army in the square today is very important, and there are certain risks. If Harolis can assist by the side, things will be much easier.

Therefore, both public and private, he must visit.

So, while it was still early, he quickly arranged some simple affairs for his men to complete, and then brought 20 guards and hurried to the mansion of Haroris.