Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece

In such a situation, the Athenians did not think that they could fight against the mighty Sparta by themselves and Thebes alone, and after urgent consultations between the executive committee of the generals and the council, Athens chose before the aggressive Spartan ombudsmen. compromised.

They immediately recalled the two Athenian generals who were fighting at Thebes, and convened a citizens' assembly to try them on the charge of they had important public functions in Athens, but they entered the city without the permission of the Athenian government. Thebes, fighting against the Spartans, putting Athens in a dangerous situation... an act of dereliction of duty and treason.

Although the vast majority of Athenian citizens supported the actions of these two generals in their hearts, they really did not want to go to war with the mighty Sparta at this time, so they voted in favor against their will and imposed the severest punishment on them—— Executed to appease the Spartans.

The Spartan Inspector was satisfied, and the Council of Elders was relieved after learning of Athens' actions. Now they only need to concentrate on dealing with the only enemy - Thebes.

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After the news of the fiasco of the Carthaginian army and the defeat of the Iberian navy reached Carthage, the people were shocked. What made Carthage's top leaders sad was the heavy losses of the Holy Corps. While crying over the deaths and injuries of their elite children, they were also very angry at the incompetence of the army commander Monte Adeno. He was sent back to Carthage to be judged by a court of hundreds and subjected to the cruel crucifixion of the cross in order to relieve their hatred (that is, nailing the criminal's hands and feet to a wooden cross with iron nails) , let it be exposed to the sun and bleed to death).

Amid the outrage, Hanno did not defend Monte Ardeno and let the Senate pass the resolution.

After the Carthaginian Senate passed this issue, they then began to discuss how to deal with the Dionian army that was advancing westward on the island of Sicily.

One of the new Sofites, Okridon, boldly proposed: Everyone, it seems now... Dionia's army and navy are powerful, and Carthage didn't make adequate preparations before, so she took the plunge. It was wrong to go to war with Dionysus, now can we first consider... make peace with Dionysus temporarily to save the captured Carthaginian citizens while preventing the depleted western Sicily from being destroyed by Dionysus The demi-humans are all occupied...

As soon as Okredon said this, there was an uproar in the Senate, and Pretakuba immediately stood up and retorted loudly: The war has only been going on for a month, and our Carthage is about to surrender?! I dare not I believe this absurd proposal came from the mouth of our elected, honorable Sophie! We Carthage are not a small state, we are the confederacy of all the Phoenician city-states in the Western Mediterranean! We control Sardinia, Cote The vast regions such as Sica, Numibia, and southern Iberia monopolize the precious metal trade in the entire Western Mediterranean.

The most powerful and richest country in the Western Mediterranean!

But you want us to surrender to Dionia, which was founded less than 20 years ago, what will the people of the areas we control, our affiliated city-states, and our allies think! They will think that Carthage is too powerful! They will leave us and even blow the horns of war to us, like the Numibians! Therefore, now that the war with Dionia has begun, we must fight until we are finally victorious!

Pretakuba's thought-provoking remarks touched many veterans.

At this time, Taipanlako stood up and said solemnly: I think Lord Okleton and every elder here want to let Carthage defeat Dionia, but the current situation is - Dai Onia's army is strong, they dispatched less troops than us, but they were able to make our army suffer a terrible defeat! Their navy also has an advantage! ... We must admit that Dionia is indeed stronger than us in military terms now , we are not ready to go to war with Dionia at this time, but because some people are inciting the people for their own interests, Carthage is in the difficult situation today! I think first of all It is necessary to investigate these war-makers and put them on trial, so as to ensure that the Senate will formulate laws in the future, and will not fall into chaos!  …”

As soon as Taipanlacco finished speaking, Pretakuba immediately retorted: Masters, is it really that our soldiers in Carthage are not brave enough, our army is not strong enough, and our navy is not good enough?! No! It's because our generals are not good! They are also fighting on Sicily, why the Iberian army led by Hasdruba can conquer Cerro Diham, while Monte Adeno has a heavy army, but is defeated in Minoan Under the city of Ya! I heard that after Monte Ardeno arrived in Liliba, he enjoyed wine every day, and searched for beautiful women everywhere. I never went to the military camp to learn about his troops and soldiers, and when he attacked the city of Minoa, he never How can such an incompetent commander inspire the fighting spirit of the soldiers! How can it be possible to formulate a correct battle plan to defeat the Dionysians!

So, it is absolutely correct to sentence Monte Ardeno to the cross! Monte Ardeno should be damned! The elders shouted angrily.

Immediately afterwards, many elders also responded by expressing their resentment towards him. Even Hanno was extremely dissatisfied with Monte Ardeno in his heart, and deeply hated that he had seen the wrong person, causing the entire political situation to be unfavorable to him.

In the midst of the noise, someone asked loudly: Pretakuba, since you said that Carthage lost to Dionysus because of the incompetence of the commander, who do you think can lead the Carthaginian army and defeat the The Dionians?!

Hanno immediately turned around and looked back, and found that the person who spoke was an elder of the Margonid faction. He couldn't help but scolded: Shameless!

Hearing Pretakuba immediately said loudly: Ladies and gentlemen, I think you have all heard of the Lusitania in the western part of the Iberian Peninsula and the Celts in the northern mountains—

Although most of the Carthaginian elders have not been to Iberia, in the past ten years, with Marco's conquest of southern Iberia, they have also learned a lot about the situation on the Iberian Peninsula. It is said that These two races are close relatives of the southern Iberians, but they are more savage than them, living by killing and taking pride in their death.

Pretakuba saw that the attention of many elders was attracted to him, and then said solemnly: These two Iberian natives have invaded the southern Iberian territory under the jurisdiction of the Governor Magog several times. He was repelled by his army. You must know that there are not only mercenaries in the Carthaginian army in Iberia, but also many Carthaginian citizens and Phoenician allies. Such a mixed army can defeat such a fierce enemy. , conquered such a large land for Carthage, why did the Carthaginian army, which had a more elite holy regiment and more soldiers, be defeated by the Dionysian army, which was less than ours?!

Pretakuba looked around the crowd and said loudly: That's because - only a lion-like commander can lead an army as brave as a lion; and a weak commander like a lamb, even if he gives him the most elite soldiers, he They can't show their bravery! It's obvious, my lords, who can lead the army like a lion in Carthage to win the victory over the Dionian war, it can only be the Iberian governor Marco!

Although many people knew that Pretakuba would eventually say the name Marco, when he said it, no one refuted it for a while, even his opponents had to admit that in the military In terms of talent and achievements, no one can compare to Marco.

For more than ten years, the Carthaginians have not always lived in a peaceful and peaceful life. They have actively conquered the inland areas of Numibia south of Carthage. The rebellion of the Mibians, but the various tribes of Numibia have been under the economic control, cultural infiltration, alienation and bribe of the Carthaginians for hundreds of years, and it is impossible to organize a unified alliance to fight against the Carthaginians. Therefore, the intensity of the war is always small, far from being compared with the difficulties encountered by Marco alone to conquer the unfamiliar southern Iberia, so it appeared on the battlefield of Numibia and performed well As soon as Monte Ardeno came to Sicily, he was beaten down by the Dionysians.

Unfortunately, most of the troops led by Marco are not Carthaginians and Phoenicians... Okleton said quietly, and he was talking about the issues that many elders were worried about before.

At this time, Pretakuba sneered: Don't Lord Margo want to have more Carthaginian citizens?! No! It's because we simply can't provide enough citizens to conquer the natives of Iberia! What's more , Now we are faced with the fact that the kingdom of Dionia can organize more than 100,000 civic troops at one time, can we in Carthage do it?! We can't do it! We even lost a few thousand Holy Legion soldiers All will be grieved, so what do we have to contend with Dionia? Only mercenaries and alien armies!

Everyone knows that Sparta has few citizens. For hundreds of years, they have relied on allied soldiers and foreign troops to fight to become the hegemon of Greece. They have never been worried that their foreign troops will cause chaos! And Persia, which battle did not lead to more foreign troops than soldiers of his own race? But because of this, Persia will build a powerful and prosperous kingdom! What's more, when Lord Himilko led the army to attack Syracuse more than ten years ago, there were also a large number of Numibians and Celts in the army! Why should we worry today about these alien armies that help us fight and maintain Carthage's prestige in the Western Mediterranean? ! Is it because our hearts have become fragile and unable to adapt to the strength of Carthage? ! !

Hanno balked at Pretakuba's final rhetorical question, certainly not because the Iberian army was largely mercenary and alien, but because those armies were not paid by the Carthaginian patriarchs. It is provided by the institutions under the academy and paid directly by the Margonid family with the wealth they have earned on the Iberian Peninsula. In this sense, the Iberian army is owned by the Margonid family. Private army, this is what Hanno is worried about! ()

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