The legionnaires were somewhat unfazed by Crotone's misery, but Davers knew that he would not allow the Syracuse to take the initiative and take the liberty of crossing the Neto River with his army, just in time for Dionysius's calculations. What's more important is time, as Antonios said, it will take time for Shilos to capture Laos and then lead the army to attack the rear of Syracuse, so he needs to delay time now, until Shiros's army successfully attacks Trina, and then it will be time for Dionya to take the initiative in the war!

However, Davers's vision was not so easy to achieve. The people of Syracuse have been firing rockets at the Acropolis of Crotone, and the people of Crotone have been constantly fighting the fires, sending emissaries to the Dionian military camp again and again.

After being ruthlessly rejected by Davers many times, some of the messengers wept bitterly in front of the tent: "Save the people of Crotone!" We're running out of water and everyone is drinking pee, but what about the kids?! My child is only two years old! I'd rather trade my life for him to live, please save us! ……”

Some messengers scolded: "Davers, everyone says that you are a famous general in Great Greece, and I think you are a coward!" Are your hearts made of iron, O Dionians?! Seeing allies a few miles away struggling in the fire, they are reluctant to lend a hand!

"Whew! What Ionians have always kept their promises, that's all a lie! You liars, even if tens of thousands of our people in Crotone are smoked and burned to death, they will curse you in hell! ”

……

All the Dionian soldiers who heard them crying and scolding all bowed their heads in shame, and even the commanders of the legions such as Filicus and Antonios also asked Davers for his life several times, which can be imagined that the pressure in Davers's heart was great. He sat alone in the big tent, his hands clutching the armrests of the wooden chair, although he had not said a word, but his heart was gradually loosening. After all, how could Davers be indifferent to watching tens of thousands of living lives being burned to death because of his connections!

Fortunately, it was already evening, and considering that it was impossible for the Dionian army to cross the river at night, the Syracuse people also stopped attacking the Acropolis of Crotone.

Davers didn't sleep well that night, and he knew that if he had escaped today, the murderous and cunning Dionysius would continue to force him to fight in this way tomorrow, so what would he do? …… What is the situation on Shiros's side? There has been no news for so long, although the avenue has been built, but the transmission of news across the mountains is still slow!

………………………………

Lycias and Milon have no easier time, not only to help the injured and reassure them, but also to consider the growing shortage of water.

If it weren't for the persuasion of Milon, who was well-versed in military affairs, for his "ruthlessness" to the Dioonians and Davers, Lucias would have scolded him a long time ago, and even thought in his heart: What if ...... I really can't hold on, just like the people of Syracuse...... Surrender......

At the Syracuse barracks, Dionysius was distraught, and Davers's patience made him waver: would the Dionians rather watch their allies die than lend a hand?! …… Perhaps, Davers really did not dare to engage in a head-on land battle with us. If this continues for a long time, it will not be good for us in Syracuse, can we really only retreat......

That night, Dionysius could not sleep until he heard a commotion outside the tent.

When intelligence officer Adrostini broke into the tent, he just rolled over from the bed and sat up: "What's going on?!" How did you become the captain of the guards! Just let people in! ”

He shouted angrily at the captain of the guard who followed him, but Androstini next to him was terrified when he heard it, he hurriedly knelt down to plead guilty, and said tremblingly: "Great ...... My lord...... Urgent intelligence from Trina, the Dionians have captured Laos! ”

"What?! The Dionians captured Laos so quickly! Is this news true?! Dionysius' face changed dramatically, and he asked in a loud voice.

"It should be certain that one of our spies who ambushed Laos, risking being pursued by the Dionians, secretly rowed to Trina in a small boat! It is reported that it was the Dioonians who instigated the revolt of the poor civilians of Laos, and attacked from inside and outside, so that the city of Laos was breached. Androstini had stabilized his mood at the moment and explained seriously.

"So the Dionians of Laos will soon be heading south?!" Dionysius muttered anxiously.

"My lord, perhaps...... Perhaps we should retreat......" Androstinian whispered boldly.

"Retreat?!" Dionysius looked at him suddenly, and the cold light in his eyes made Androsthenes fall to his knees again in fright.

Dionysius glared at him, and gradually a strange smile appeared on his face: "You are right, we should indeed retreat!" ”

After saying that, he turned to the captain of the guard and gave an order: "Immediately notify Fasipesas, Astagras, Ashirita, Phoebidas...... Wait for someone to come to the big tent to discuss! ”

Androstini breathed a sigh of relief and sat down on the floor, only to realize that his back was already wet with cold sweat.

……………………………………

The next morning, the Croton Plains area was shrouded in light fog, adding a chill to the otherwise warm seaside area.

Davers got up early in the morning for breakfast, and as usual, bread, wheat porridge, and beef jerky, no different from ordinary soldiers, except for an extra sea fish, which was the fishing harvest of the sailors of the Dionian fleet stationed at the mouth of the Neto River yesterday, which brought Davers a lot, and he mostly forwarded it to the convoy to share.

Although the breakfast was good, Davers didn't have much of an appetite.

At this moment, Maltius accompanied Izzam into the Great Tent.

"Your Majesty, my men have good news! The enemy is dismantling the camp and starting to retreat! ”

Davers was a little surprised to hear the news that Izzam had brought.

"My men infiltrated the vicinity of the enemy camp and heard the panicked whispers of the Syracuse people saying 'Trina is under attack by our Dionian army......,'" Izzam explained further excitedly.

"Has Lord Shiros already captured Laos? Why haven't we been rewarded? Markius was puzzled when he heard the news, so he interjected.

"It certainly doesn't take the same amount of time to get here through the mountains to the west as it does to take a boat to Knappetia and then to Trina." Izzam explained to him, and then he said excitedly, "Your Majesty, we—"

Before Izzam finished his excited words, Maltius also shouted excitedly: "Your Majesty! ”

Looking at the longing in their eyes, Davers knew what they were trying to express. Even the usually taciturn and cautious captain of the guard, Maltius, is still like this, not to mention the other soldiers, the morale of the army is like this, it is really the trend of the times, Davers exhaled lightly, and said loudly: "Martius, you go and call Tormid and ask him to inform all the legion commanders, huh...... And Midorades came to the Great Tent to convene a military council! ”

"Yes!"

"Izzam, order your soldiers to continue to monitor the enemy's movements, and report to me as soon as they confirm that the enemy has retreated and crossed the Thachinadi River!"

"Yes!"

The two of them finished the military salute vigorously, and left quickly with their legs.

After giving the order, Davers himself was relieved and became much more relaxed. He turned and sat down, grabbed the bread and took a bite, now he felt a little hungry.

…………………………………

"Midorades."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Unite all the engineering battalions of the legions, put them under your command for the time being, and immediately erect four pontoon bridges over the Neto River, and the necessary boats must be provided by you, and you must meet the requirements of the engineering battalion as soon as possible, without any prevarication!"

"Understood!"

"Also, in the lower reaches of the Neto, you are to lead all the warships to ferry the legionnaires that you have previously set out to cross the river. After the whole army has crossed the river, you are to lead the fleet around the coast between Crotone and Siritin, and monitor the movements of the Syracuse army, which is at your discretion. ”

"Yes!"

"Ryders!"

"In!"

"Your cavalry regiment will be the first to cross the river, and I want you to withdraw them all, and go south to detect the enemy's retreat, and report back at any time. However, you must not engage in battle with the enemy, especially if you encounter mercenary cavalry! ”

"Yes, Your Majesty." Ryders was a little frustrated in his heart, he knew that Davers was a little uneasy about the combat effectiveness of the cavalry, although he was unwilling in his heart, he had to admit that those alien cavalry were indeed stronger than his subordinates, and he secretly clenched his fists.

"Commanders and commanders of the army, come here, take another look at the place where your legion and troops are going to cross the river, and make a final confirmation! I ask you to organize your soldiers, cross the Neto River as quickly as possible, and then quickly regroup the formation, can you do it?! ”

"Yes!" The legionnaires replied in unison, and then huddled in front of the map to peruse the marks that Davers had made with his pen on the Neto River.

"Your Majesty, how do these arrangements you have made seem to be arrangements for battle, rather than as if you are going to pursue the retreating enemy?!" Amintas looked at it and couldn't help but ask.

Not only him, but other corps commanders had similar doubts: all the legions lined up along the river and crossed the river at the same time. After crossing the river, their own columns were quickly formed, and the position of each corps seemed to have special considerations. Also, the cavalry was not sent out to pursue, but only to reconnoitre......

Davers glanced at them with a deep gaze and said in a deep voice: "There is no need to rush to pursue the enemy, as long as the Syracuse retreats and we follow the enemy, there will always be times when such a large army will be chaotic." And I am afraid that the enemy will retreat and then return, knowing that Theolytius, the commander of the army of Syracuse, is a cunning man, and I would rather be cautious than rash, especially now that we have the initiative in the whole war! ”

………………………………

By noon, the fog had dissipated under the continuous rays of the sun.

Through the cooperation of the engineering battalion and the legionnaires, four pontoon bridges have been erected in the middle reaches of the Neto River. Downstream, hundreds of warships, large and small, docked at intervals on the north shore.