Everyone's hearts sank.

"Syracuse really deserves our vigilance!" Sipros said with a solemn expression, and the others also changed their faces: Carthage was enough for them, plus a not weak Syracuse...... The original agreement with Sparta and Carthage, which allowed Syracuse to survive the defeat of the South Italian War, has now become a fishbone stuck in the throat of the Sicilian territory of the Kingdom of Dionia.

"As long as Syracuse dares to declare war on us, destroy it!" Creru said hatefully.

"That will have to wait until the victory over the Carthaginian army." Leotizides said in a deep voice: "With our existing forces in Sicily, we cannot engage in a full-scale battle with two enemies at the same time!" ”

Milon stared at the map and asked thoughtfully, "General Prosous...... It seems that you already see Syracuse as an enemy, what kind of plans do you have in case you face the combined forces of Carthage and Syracuse in the future? ”

Carthage and Syracuse are feuds, is it possible for them to form an alliance?! Some looked surprised.

Leotizides did not pay attention to the looks of the crowd, but looked at the map with the same concentration, and then said what he had conceived: "My plan is ...... Concentrate most of the troops in the vicinity of Lake Galermo (north of Leotini and on the southern edge of the Catania plain), and place Paragoria—"

Leotizides' stick pointed to a small village on the southwestern edge of the Catania Plain, and continued: "The area south of the Catania Plain is mostly a series of mountains four or five hundred meters above sea level, with abundant trees, which are not easy for large troops, and the only way to go diagonally south from Palagonia to Gera is a relatively easy journey.

I decided to transform Palagonia into a fortified defensive camp with enough soldiers to prevent the Carthaginian army from breaking through into the Catanian plain from here. ”

"General Prosious." Tauness's chief general, Tirias, interjected worriedly: "If Syracuse forms an alliance with Carthage, it is likely that Carthage's army will attack Katanai through the city of Syracuse and attack Taunis from the coastline!" ”

"It's quite possible." Leotizides nodded and said, "So I have set up my camp to the north of Leotinius, less than 40 miles from Tonnis and from Paragoria, and once the enemy is discovered, our reinforcements will arrive within a few hours." At the same time, if the Carthaginians want to climb over the mountains and attack Leotthenes, I can also send reinforcements nearby. ”

Leotizides' words reassured the generals of Leotinius and Tounis.

But Milon was not satisfied, and he reminded loudly: "It is impossible to repel the Carthaginian army by defense alone, and it is likely that something will go wrong in the end!" Milon learned a profound lesson from this, and during the Second Crotone War, he wanted to use Crimesa to block Dionia's army, but he did not expect to be led by Davers to bypass Crimesa, capture Asprustum, and attack under Crotone.

"Mistress Milon, don't forget the Sikaires." Leotizides drew a circle in the center of the map of Sicily with a stick, and said unhurriedly: "The people of Sikel live in this mountainous area, and they are good at harassment and sneak attacks. More than ten years ago, when Dionysius led his army to attack the northern coast of Sicily, the Sichaelians were responsible for harassing the rear of the Carthaginians, causing great trouble for the Carthaginians. And now that the Sichaelians are under our control, we can organize thousands, if not tens of thousands, of Sichael's warriors, divided into several teams, to lurk in the mountains not far from the coastline, to harass the Carthaginians, and can also attack their logistical supplies.

And the more the Carthaginians attack to the east, the longer their battle line will be, and the whole rear will be under the attack of the Western Kelis, as long as we can hold on to Paragoria, Leotinius, and Toannis for a long time, and the Carthaginians will be unable to attack for a long time, and the rear will be constantly attacked, there will be fighters in our favor. At that time, it will be the best time for my troops to strike! ”

The confidence on Leotizides' face diluted the chief executives' concerns.

However, Milon still persistently asked: "What if the Carthaginians did not take the land route but the sea route, and landed directly in the great port of Syracuse?" ”

Apparently, in this regard, Leotizides also thought about it in advance, and he said meaningfully: "This question should be answered by the Navy." ”

Flarios, the commander of the Dionian Third Fleet who was present at the meeting, immediately said: "Rest assured, my lords, if the Carthaginians dare to land in the port of Syracuse or other coasts in eastern Sicily, our fleet will send all their soldiers to the sea to feed the fish!" Moreover, by order of His Majesty, while the First Legion was heading for Wolsey, the First Fleet under Lord Sekrian was to be ready to go south to join our Third Fleet, and in a few days they would be at Catanay. By that time, we will have more than 500 warships, large and small, and we will even force the Carthaginian fleet to dare not cruise on the south coast of Sicily! ”

"Since our navy is so strong, why not just stop the Carthaginian army from landing in Sicily?" Apirosia, the governor of Sikuli, asked expectantly.

Apirosia was the patriarch of a large clan in the city of Oudière in the Mesapi region, and when the Meppu coalition was defeated and the Dionian army was preparing to attack Udière, he was the first to lead the crowd to surrender, so he was valued by Davers and eventually entered the Senate. Since Udière was not a coastal city, he was not very familiar with naval warfare.

"First of all, we have no way of knowing on what day or when the Carthaginian army will land in Sicily, and it will take at least six or seven hours to sail from Catana to the western tip of Sicily, and by the time our fleet arrives, perhaps the Carthaginian landing will be over." Flarios patiently explained, "In addition, Carthage's navy is also very strong, they have at least 400 three-layer oars, and it is rumored that they have built five-slayer oars...... Also, to rush to the western end of Sicily to prevent the Carthaginians from landing, which is too close to the city of Carthage, and whose ships from its port can arrive in time for reinforcements, and then our fleet will be under siege......"

Flarios' words caused Apparosia to touch his lips with a little embarrassment, and also made several other like-minded executives silence their minds.

At this point, Sipros interjected, "I want to ...... With these friendly city-states on the south coast, let's not make relations so stiff. When they come to ask for help, we will tell them of the difficulties we are facing, apologize to them, and allow them to retreat to our territory while the Carthaginian army is overwhelmed. When their towns are surrounded by the Carthaginians and cannot be resisted, we can also send a fleet to rescue the people there......"

Felicios' eyes lit up: "It's a good idea, you can do it!" With a way back, I believe that these Greek city-states will not easily surrender to the Carthaginians, and it also buys us more time! ”

Leotizides did not speak, apparently acquiescing.

Amycles protested loudly: "Your eyes are only on the south coast, and the Carthaginians are likely to attack from the north coast, and don't forget the lesson of the destruction of the old city of Messina!" Now the city of Messina has few villains, and it can't stop the Carthaginians from attacking! ”

"I certainly won't forget the North Coast." Leotizides glanced at him proudly and pointed at the map with a stick: "Remember the small city that Ligem helped the exiles of Catana and Naxos to build on the Milai Peninsula that was destroyed by the Syracuses? I've decided to use the discarded stones and wood there to rebuild a small fortress with thousands of soldiers. Once the Carthaginians sent an army to attack the north coast, the fortress would take advantage of the narrow terrain to hold off the Carthaginian army for at least six or seven days, by which time reinforcements would arrive. ”

Speaking of this, he looked at Felicius: "If Sicily's forces are tight, I hope that the War Department will send the Seventh Army to Messina (the headquarters of the Seventh Army is near Lochry). ”

"I guess that's perfectly fine." Felicius immediately made a promise: "Your Majesty has discussed with the Ministry of Military Affairs, as long as the war situation requires, not only the Seventh Legion, but also the Sixth Legion and the Fifth Legion may be urgently sent to Sicily." ”

"And the unified command of these legions?" Leotizides then asked again.

"When the army arrives in Sicily, of course, it will be under your unified command." Felicius replied without hesitation, apparently having received Davers' consent beforehand.

Leotizides was satisfied, and he looked at Vlarios again: "I don't think the navy will allow the Carthaginian fleet to bypass the Millaean peninsula and land near Messina." ”

"Of course! The northern and southern coastlines of Sicily near the east will be under the protection of our ships! They are absolutely safe! Vlaños said firmly.

"Then I'm relieved!" Amicles breathed a sigh of relief, he was a man who liked stability, so he had been leading the people of Castel to follow the powerful Dionia, and when Dionia defeated Syracuse in one fell swoop and occupied most of the land in southern Italy, Laos and Trina took the initiative to merge into the Dionian Kingdom One after another, and he was also touched by the fact that he quickly persuaded the members of the council to hold a citizens' assembly and a referendum to join the Dionian Kingdom. He was able to stay in the privileged position of Administrator of Messina for four years, and this was the reward of Davers and the Senate for his past contributions.

Calm returned to the venue.