Kunogorata's solemn expression relaxed a lot, he thought about it, and said: "I'm afraid that our war with Crotone can't be solved in three or two days, so how to solve the supply of military rations for tens of thousands of soldiers is a key issue that we should consider. ”

Mariji immediately answered: "I will go to the market now, suspend all wheat trade, and buy all flour and other food on the market at once, so as to prevent the merchants from maliciously speculating when they get the news of the outbreak of war, which will cause the grain to rise." I would also recommend going to Heraclia immediately to buy food as a reserve ......"

Davers nodded in agreement, and although Mersis was crying, he cooperated with Marigi to the treasury to collect the money.

At this time, Burcos stood up and said: "It is the season of wheat sowing, and most of the citizens go to war, which will seriously affect the agricultural harvest this year, and I propose to suspend mining, organize those thousands of city-state slaves, cultivate the land of the citizens, and at the same time give some preferential treatment to the freedmen of the alliance to help them too, so that our fields will not be short of labor." ”

"Burks, you're very thoughtful." Davos said solemnly: "Cornerus, Kunogorata, and-(Niutum is far away after all, under normal circumstances, Sesta sits in the city, and it is impossible to attend the Senate meetings every time)" His gaze moved to the back of the meeting: "Veesba, Hermon (Hermon has sent Grumentum many times, successfully signed a peace agreement with Sincinag, and repeatedly persuaded the small tribe of Lucaria to submit to the alliance, and his influence among the Lucanians is stronger than that of Veesba. Eventually, Bagule suggested to Davers, who proposed the Senate, and the senators voted to make him the third Lucaria senator, and that you consult with Burkos to come up with a workable plan as soon as possible to ensure that our grain cultivation and grazing would not be problematic due to the war. ”

"Okay." Several people replied.

"Pherisius, you immediately issue a war mobilization order to all cities in the Alliance! In addition, send someone to inform Laos and Castelon and ask them to provide reinforcements...... Oh...... And also...... Well...... Tell Casterón to strengthen the city's defenses and burn the pontoon bridge over the Trionto River! ”

Felicius paused for a moment, he wanted to say that the Trionto River had no bridge, and could be crossed, but out of trust and obedience to Davers, he immediately saluted and said, "I will send someone to do it at once." ”

"Plecinas." Davers said apologetically: "We had to suspend the construction of the temple and put all the revenue of the treasury into this war!" ”

"I understand, I approve!" Plesinus replied.

Davers nodded with satisfaction, looked around at the elders in the hall, clenched his fists, raised his right arm, and said loudly: "My lords, Crotone has destroyed the city on the plains of Xubari three times! After we defeated it, it must have been very jealous of Dionia! Why? Because it fears that Dionya will take revenge on it when it becomes stronger, and it will do everything it can to strangle the growing Theoria in its cradle, so this war is not something we can avoid if we want to! War has arrived, and we must unite to defeat Crotone's formidable enemy once again, to take the humiliation of the burning city, and to open up a wider world for the future of the Dionian Alliance! ”

"Go to war! War! If we can defeat Crotone once, we can defeat it a second time! The mercenary elders such as Capus, Antonios, and Amintas raised their arms and shouted.

"Fight the Crotone to the death!!" Amendora veterans such as Scombras and Proxilaus responded positively.

"Turii must never be destroyed again! We're going to fight Crotone with all our might! Some of the Turriy senators, such as Burks and Ansitanos, also expressed their support indignantly.

"We, the Lucanians, are also citizens of the Alliance, and will defend the Ionian Alliance with all our might!" The two Lucanian veterans, Wesba and Hermon, certainly supported Davers's decision.

In the excitement of "declaring war", the two administrators, Kunograta and Cornerus, who were still a little hesitant, also decisively stated that they would lead the officials and people in the cities under their jurisdiction to make all preparations for this war.

"Knock!! ...... "While Mariji led his men to the market to rush to buy food, the bell originally cast for the temple of Hades was temporarily placed in front of the main council hall because the temple was not built, and it was sounded for the first time today. Then the cavalry galloped out, towards Amendolara, towards Niutum, towards Laos, towards Castron!

The people heard the bells ringing throughout the city, and most of them were still at a loss.

At this time, the patrol members ran through the streets of the city, constantly shouting loudly: "Citizens, pay attention! Citizens, attention! The war has broken out! The war has broken out! Citizens who have participated in military training are invited to gather in the square immediately! Meet at the plaza now! ……”

In the vast plains of Xubari, the cavalry shouted the same words in every newly built village.

The war struck so suddenly, and it was natural for the people to be confused and panicked, but after six months of rigorous military training, the citizens and reserve citizens learned discipline and obedience, and they put down their household chores, stopped working, prayed to the idols enshrined in their homes, hugged their families and said goodbye, took all their weapons and rations, and gathered in Turiyi Victory Square from all sides......

Such an obvious move by the city of Turriy certainly fell into the eyes of Tratus, who wrote in a secret letter: Turriy issued a war mobilization order, they rushed to buy food in the market, and there was a riot in the port, but they were under their control, and the situation in other cities was not known for the time being.

On the way back from the port, Tratus sent a secret message, and saw the freedmen rushing to their humble shacks with sad faces, and a trace of apology rose in his heart: after more than half a year here, he had grown to like this vibrant city, he had ridden in a galloping horse-drawn carriage, eaten the weeping beef and mutton, and watched the wonderful and fierce rugby games...... He admits that life in Turiy is more interesting and humane than in Crotone, and that if he were not from Crotone, he would have been willing to live here for a few years and then strive to become a Dionian citizen, alas......

……………………

The passenger boat on which Lucias was traveling left the Corati River did not return directly to Crotone along the coastline, but went to Castelón first.

At this time, Castron was unaware of the outbreak of war between Dioonia and Crotone, and out of courtesy, they received Lycias.

When Lucias told them the news of "Crotone's war with the Dionian Alliance", the generals and council leaders of Castron were stunned.

Lycias threatened them, saying, "The 40,000-strong army gathered by Crotone is about to be slaughtered, and this is a huge army that Great Greece has never seen before!" Castron can only be saved if he breaks away from the Dionian League and joins Crotone's side, otherwise he can only be destroyed! ”

The Council of Castelon was hotly debated, and although they did fear Crotone's attack, the benefits to them since joining the Dionian League were too many: easy transportation, easy trade, much more revenue for the people and the treasury, and a higher status for the city-state. So far, Dionya has never discriminated against Castron, and has not really demanded a penny from him as the Covenant says, nor has he asked them to do anything against their will, but has invited them to participate in any important celebrations...... The people of Castelón have a growing affection for Dionia, and it is as if they have found the feeling of living happily and securely under the protection of Sybaris a hundred years ago.

In the end, Castelon reluctantly refused Lucias's request, and the chief general, Amicles, said tactfully: "According to the Covenant of the Dionian Alliance, we have no right to enter into any treaties and agreements with other city-states, so I'm sorry!" ……”

Lucias reluctantly left the port.

By this time, Dionia's cavalry had already arrived and told the Council of Castron that the Coalition was gathering troops, and soon up to 20,000 troops would arrive here to help defend Castron.

Amicles and the others were completely relieved, and they began to strengthen the city walls, raise food, burn pontoons, and close the harbor according to the instructions of Dionia......

The smoke that Lycias saw on the Trionto River from the boat made him understand Castron's determination, and at the same time he was surprised by the strength of Dionia's influence, and strengthened his determination to approve of Crotone's attack on Dionia.

The passenger ship he was on quickly moved south, passing through Crimesa, where the Crotone fleet, which had been waiting there, received the news of the "outbreak of war" from Lucias, and immediately stretched out its sails and sailed for the Dionian League......

At this time, Davers, at the urging of Kunogerata, sent Plecinas to Tarantum to ask the allies with forty three-sculled warships to provide Dionian assistance at sea and prevent the Crotone fleet from blockading the port of Turiy.

However, the Tarantum Senate, after a heated discussion with Theomillas, apologetically told Plesinas that Theonia's request had come too late, because after the New Year, the Mesapi had come to Tarantum to infest the territory again, and Theomillas had repelled them with his army. The Senate thought that Mesapi had to be taught a terrible lesson and defeat their arrogance, so Diomilas was once again ordered to lead a large army south to attack Mesapi's fortress - Manduria, and Tarantum's ships had also rushed to the Adriatic to harass Mesapi's hinterland and interfere with its reinforcements to Manduria, so they could not help Dionia, but Tarantum could provide Dionya with affordable food aid by going to Heraclia to buy it.

Note: Because of the reader's doubts, here is a description of the population of Greater Greece: according to several sources, the number of soldiers who invaded Lucania at that time was 10,000-15,000 in history, and the fact that Turij dared to keep such a large number of soldiers away from the city shows that there were many citizen soldiers in the city, so the author of one document speculates that the population of Turij at that time was at least 200,000 or more (all the numbers, not just citizens). Other information shows that when Tarantum was at its most prosperous, its population was about 300,000, and it was a big city that Great Greece was not weaker than Athens, and Tarantum was in the period when Acheta was consul, and entered the final glory, that is, about ten years after the time of writing, so the population of Tarantum at this time was probably not less than 250,000, so Crotone, which can be compared to it, has a huge geographical area, and the population is probably not less than this, and the city-states of Lockley and Ligem are smaller, and the number of people is definitely less than the above city-states, But they are influential states in Greater Greece, with a population of no less than 100,000. The combined population of these major Greek city-states was more than 1 million, and if you count the other large Greek city-states such as Trina in the Eufermian Plain and Metapontum, which are famous for their agriculture, the population of Greater Greece is probably more than 1.5 million.

Counting part of Lucania's population, it's normal for Dioonia to send 4-50,000 troops. Don't forget, Dionya is no more than any other city-state that has been established for a long time, it is a new union, and in terms of population, the freedmen from all over the world are naturally less old and more young and middle-aged. My estimate is that the population of Dionya is now around 250,000, but of course this is only a rough one, as the freedmen have been pouring in.