Back at the hotel, Helipolis, who was still excited, followed Ansitanos into the room, and couldn't help asking, "Teacher, was that Syracuse spy Hermis assigned by Dionysius, or was he sent by his opponents?" ”

"What, you're confused?" Ansitanos laughed.

"Originally, I was very firm that Dionysius was the one behind it, but I heard Felistus' arguments...... "Henipolis scratched his head.

"I can only say that Felistos's play is so good that he deceived you. A person of Philistos's status, I am afraid that there are several clerks under him, and the handwriting is of course different, not to mention that he has already taken precautions, and even the signature is written by someone else, Polyxis has never had anything to do with him before, and it is normal to be kept in the dark. Ansitanos smiled contemptuously: "In fact, their performance is not perfect, if you look closely, you will see that the minister on the opposite side named Jerolis looks a little unnatural when he defends Felistos, obviously they are not fully communicating......"

"Oh, I see!" Henipolis recalled the scene at that time, suddenly realized, and then said angrily: "But teacher, why didn't you expose him on the spot?!" ”

"Why debunk?" Ansitanos smiled: "Felistos and several other guests put on such a strenuous performance, which just shows that they have scruples about Dionya and dare not fall out with us, which is a good thing. Now it's up to Dionysius to sign the covenant we propose......"

……………………………

The next day, Ansitanos met Dionysius himself.

In a large, but not ornate, even rudimentary palace, the tall and handsome Dionysius (one of the reasons why Democrates, the hero of Syracuse's resistance to the Athenian army, had married his daughter to him) met with Ansitanos.

As the rumored ruthless master of Sicily, he warmly welcomed the arrival of the Dionian envoys, and apologized for not being able to meet them in time, saying: "I have learned from Felistos that Dionya wants to sign an alliance with us in Syracuse, and this is a very good thing! You must know that Syracuse has suffered a lot of losses in the treasury, food and population, and is in urgent need of recuperation, and I am very grateful that Dionya can lend a helping hand at this moment! I will send Felistos as a representative to discuss the alliance with you in detail, and I hope that Syracuse and Dionya will be able to come into friendly contact and set an example for the other Greek city-states in the Western Mediterranean! ”

The meeting was short, and soon Ansitanos left Ortiguia with some doubts and joy.

Felistus, who had sent away the Dionian envoys and returned, asked Dionysius in the same confusion: "My lord, are you really ready to form an alliance with Dionia?" ”

"Filly." Dionysius affectionately called the nickname of his important minister, and said in a deep voice: "At the banquet at your house last night, as an envoy of Ionia, there was a good saying, 'Carthage, though they have suffered a heavy blow, they are powerful in Africa, and now they are exploring the Iberian Peninsula, and I have heard that they have also sent a fleet to sail west, through the Pillars of Hercules, to explore our unknown land...... The next time Carthage makes a comeback, it will certainly be even more powerful than this one. Syracuse, on the other hand, is confined to this tiny island of Sicily, and its territory will not increase much unless it expands outward! ”

Felistos had discussed this issue with Dionysius several times, and of course he knew where Dionysius' expansion was aimed, but he reminded with concern: "It's just that Dionya's power is not weak, and it basically unites the other city-states and natives of southern Italy." ”

"You're right." Dionysius nodded cautiously: "With your help, I sat in the position of this plenipotentiary general, and I already had the idea of conquering Great Greece in the future, so I married Doris (the daughter of a nobleman in Lockley). But I never imagined that in just a few years, a Dionian alliance would rise in Greater Greece! ”

Dionysius' face showed annoyance, and he gritted his teeth and said, "Maybe that Davers really got Hades's favor, but so what! Although the Western Mediterranean is large, it can only accommodate one Greek overlord! ”

"It's just that we just finished the war with Carthage and still need to rest...... Is it a temporary reprieve for a while? Felistos reminded in a whisper.

"It can't be delayed any longer!" Felistos shook his head: "The Dionian Union is indeed growing rapidly, and it increases by one point every year that passes. I have studied Dionya carefully, and I have to say that the young man named Davers has a good way of dealing with the natives, and we still learn some of the methods we have against the Sikers. At the current rate of their rise, the Samonai people north of Dionia may not be able to stop their expansion, and their power will continue to spread north until they own all of Italy, and what will we do in Syracuse then? Become an affiliate of them?! Dionysius' eyes showed a cold light, clenched his fists, waved heavily, and said in a firm and tough tone: "We must concentrate all our efforts to destroy them while their strength is not strong and their internal instability is still unstable!" ”

"Is there any talk about the alliance with Dionia?" Felistos asked again.

"Talk, why not! A treaty of friendship for mutual non-aggression can be signed, which is just the right time for them to relax their vigilance. As for the League—well, Syracuse has never been in the habit of signing equal covenants with other Greek city-states! Dionysius said coldly.

He apparently forgot that there was also Sparta. Felistus, of course, would not be stupid enough to correct his mistake, and he nodded and said, "I see." ”

"And ...... Negotiations with Carthage need to be accelerated...... Uh......" Dionysius paced back and forth, deliberated back and forth, and finally he made up his mind: "We can give them back the lands west of Selinus and Panomus (west of Sorus), but they must pay a large war reparations, open the grain market to us, and provide us with a cheap wheat trade, and at the same time sign a peace treaty for a longer period...... This is the price they paid for breaking the agreement and starting a war again (in fact, this time it was Dionysius who started it). That's roughly what it means, you bring someone to talk, and you have to talk about it as soon as possible! ”

Felistos nodded in understanding.

"Alright, that's all." Dionysius motioned for Felistus to carry out these instructions at once.

Felistos hesitated for a moment and said, "Uh...... My lord...... As for Hermis, the Dionian emissaries said they could return him to us, you see......"

"What do we want him to come back for! What to do with when you come back?! Dionysius's face sank, and with anger, he said: "Look at his cowardice at the public trial of Turiy, it makes me feel sick!" Tell them that Syracuse respects the laws of Dionia, and since this man has committed a crime in Turii, we support him being punished by Dionian law! ”

Felistos sighed secretly and walked out of the main hall, he remembered Ansitanos, who had a good conversation last night because of a common hobby, a sense of guilt came to his heart, he looked up at the sea in the distance, and said apologetically in his heart: Ansitanos, I'm sorry! I'm all doing this for Syracuse......

……………………………

While Ansitanos was negotiating with Felistos, in Turiyi, Davers met Secrean in his home study.

"Lord Archon!" As soon as Sekrian met, he gave a solemn military salute.

"Segrean, our hero! I've told you many times that this is not a training ground, so you don't have to be so formal. Davers looked at the young naval commander, who had been trained for several years to make his flamboyant face a little more steady, nodded secretly, smiled and gestured: "Sit down!" Sit down and talk about things! ”

Sekrian sat facing Davers.

"This time Enanilus was sentenced, what impact will it have on the sailors of the Navy?" Davers didn't say anything more, but asked bluntly.

"Basically no impact." Sekrian immediately replied: "The soldiers all know about Enanilus's crimes through the public trial, and Enanilus rarely participates in training and rarely leads the soldiers in person, so everyone trains as usual, and there is nothing abnormal. However, we have a concern, whether the new three-decker oared warship to be built this year will be launched on time? ”

"There's no need to worry about that. Enanilus did not implicate his family or the shipyard in breaking the law, and the Senate had already sent someone to appease them, and they had given assurances. The Senate's plan for the navy, the amount of water launched by five three-deck mortar warships every year will not only remain unchanged, but will only increase in the future, not decrease! Davers made a promise to him.

"That's great!" Sekrian excitedly suggested: "The Senate has made the right decision!" Although we now have 30 three-layer oared ships, we need to at least double the number of ships to protect the east and west coasts. ”

Davers nodded, ran his hand over his chin, and began to think about something.

Sekrian felt a little nervous thinking that the request he had just made embarrassed the archons who appreciated him.

At this time, Davers spoke: "If you count the warships of the Dionian Alliance city-states such as Metapontum, Heraclia and Ligem, as well as the warships of the Southern Italian Alliance such as Crotone and Siritin, what do you think of our naval strength?" ”