The area is not too flat, the ground is undulating, and small mounds and thorn bushes can be seen everywhere. On the west side is the Ramato River, while on the north side is the middle reaches of the Colache River, which flows from northwest to southeast.

Obviously, Felicius chose to deploy here because he took into account the strength of the Syracuse cavalry, and wanted to use the terrain to limit its play and detour to the greatest extent. At the same time, such terrain was undoubtedly more advantageous for the more adaptable and flexible infantry of the Ionian Legion.

Dionysius, of course, saw that the terrain was unfavorable to his side, but he still led his army there.

More than 100,000 people from both sides gathered on this land within a radius of more than ten miles, densely packed, like mountains and seas, stirring up dust and sand in the sky, and the noise shook the sky......

Dionysius squinted his eyes and tried to look forward, even if his vision was blocked by the dust and fog, the black outfits of the Dionian legionnaires were still very conspicuous, and they were directly opposite Dionysius.

"The Ionians are in the middle!" Dionysius was reassured, because he also invested his most elite 15,000 soldiers in the middle, all of them mercenaries from Campania and Greece proper, who had been with him on his conquests of Sicily for many years, and most of the soldiers had been granted citizenship by him, and had become the new citizens of Syracuse, the most loyal to him and his most trusted core force.

"In this way, according to the example of the Dionians, the center of their attack is on their left flank!" Phoebidas reminded: "I propose to place at least more than 20,000 soldiers on our right flank in order to block the enemy's attack!" ”

Dionysius did not answer immediately, he tilted his head and looked to the left front.

What he saw was the longing figures of the South and Italy forces in the dust and mist, still in formation, and the noisy noise and commotion extended out of sight......

A moment later, he gave the order: "Send all the Syracuse citizen soldiers to the right flank!" ”

The herald received the order and galloped eastward.

Dionysius turned to the Spartans and said in a deep voice: "Phoebidas, I appoint you as the commander of the army on the right flank, I hope you can lead the army to block the enemy's attack and buy time for victory, I hope you can accept it!" ”

"It's my pleasure!" Phoebidas gladly accepted his fate, without the arrogance of "I am a Spartan, you have no right to appoint me", and being able to lead more than 20,000 soldiers to participate in this large-scale battle was the first time for Phoebedas, and I am afraid it was the last, so the temptation for him was too great, and it was difficult for him to refuse.

"Also, in case of difficulty, you have the right to order the Numibian and Celtic cavalry on the outside of the right flank." Dionysius emphasized.

Feeling trusted, Phoebidas gave Dionysius a rare military salute.

"Astagras." Dionysius then shouted.

"In!"

"You lead the army of the city-state of Sicily to defend the left flank with the army of Hibernian! Remember, I just need you to hold off the enemy, I don't need you to be too aggressive, you know?! To this brave subordinate, Dionysius gave the order in a stern tone.

"Yes, sir!" Astargrass felt a pang in his heart.

…………………………………

"Your Excellency, Trina's forces have arrived on the battlefield. Sipras-sama, let me tell you, the Trila forces have arrived with 8,500 soldiers! "The herald arrived on horseback and reported to Phellisius.

8500 people!! Phellisius was taken aback when he heard this number, didn't it mean that there were only a few hundred soldiers left in the city of Trina to defend the city. Because when discussing today's battle plan yesterday, Trina's representative said that they could send up to 6,000 people to participate in the competition, but they didn't expect to add 2,500 more today. Immediately, Phellisius thought of the Trina people's intentions: this is to prepare for a battle with all their might!

Phellisius was also greatly encouraged at this moment, and he said loudly: "You go and tell Lord Athesias to move all the part of the Siritian army that was originally to be placed on the right flank to the left flank, so that the hammer head of the hammer will become thicker!" ”

"Yes!" A herald turned his horse's head and resigned east.

"Go and tell Lord Sipros that Trina's troops are next to the Dionian legions, and are arrayed on the right flank, and the distance between the far end of the phalanx and the Ramato River should not be too great to prevent the enemy's cavalry from attacking in a roundabout!"

"Yes!" Another herald was given the order to gallop westward.

Seeing the herald disappear into the dust and mist, Phellisius once again looked at the Ionian soldiers in front of him, and only by watching these well-trained legionnaires skillfully form and line up can he feel at ease and dispel the tension and irritability in his heart.

After looking at it for a while, he suddenly felt that something was wrong, and said: "Immediately go and inform the two legion commanders Dracos and Epitenis, slow down the formation of the soldiers, wait for the alliance troops on both sides, and don't expose our intentions too early!" ”

"Yes!" The other two heralds galloped forward.

………………………………

"Philicus is also too careful, with the strength of our legion, there is no need to play such a little trick at all. Blow the horn of attack and just kill it! "Dracos received orders from Pherisius and was a little dissatisfied.

But he did not dare to disobey the orders of his superiors, so he said to his adjutant: "Go and tell the officers to slow down the formation of the brothers, do not get excited too early, slow down, and save your strength and spirit until the moment of the charge." ”

"Understood, Legion Commander!"

…………………………………

"Oh, if it weren't for Master Phellisius's reminder, I would have almost forgotten that! Adjutant, hurry up and tell the brothers to slow down and wait for the Trina people next to you. But, to be honest, it's easy to get them up and down, how many years have we not practiced like this in order to slow down...... Haha..."Epitenis teased and gave the order.

The adjutant couldn't hold back a smile and said, "Understood, Legion Commander!" ”

…………………………………

Before and after the long array on both sides, hundreds of herald cavalry galloped back and forth, conveying orders. And in the noisy and chaotic array, the officers at all levels were also shouting loudly. Two huge phalanxes are slowly taking shape......

The time it took for more than 100,000 people to march in formation was quite long. The Syracuse people completed the formation faster than the southern Italian coalition army, after all, most of its troops came from the same city-state, and they often fought together, unlike the southern Italian coalition army, which not only came from multiple city-states, but also fought together for the first time.

By noon, the loud noise had fallen silent, and the dust and sand had dissipated by the stillness of the soldiers......

The soldiers at the front of the phalanx on both sides could clearly see the enemy hundreds of meters away, and in their eyes, the dense phalanx of the opposing side was like a thick steel wall extending endlessly to both ends......

The midday sun in early winter was not scorching, but the dazzling light shining on the soldiers' shiny armor and weapons made it impossible to look at them directly. It was only when the gaze fell in front of the Dionian phalanx that the distinctive and uniform uniform of the Dionian legionnaires naturally attracted the attention of the Syracuse soldiers, and also made them feel palpitations, because black always meant ominous.

The sea breeze blew from Squealice Bay, cooling the sweaty and sweaty soldiers who had just tossed and turned......

The large and small flags were displayed in the long array of the two sides, and the largest flag was erected behind Dionysius, not only painted with the traditional "three legs" of Syracuse, but also the real name of Dionysius was also greatly embroidered on the flag. In comparison, as the opponent, the commander of the South and Italy coalition forces, Felicius, was a little more shabby, due to the hasty time to take office, as the commander of the two legions, the Ministry of Military Affairs did not have time to make a special military flag statue for him, so he could only use the legion flag statue and simply match a larger flag.

Phellisius didn't care about this, he was watching in surprise as the flag representing Dionysius in the opposite formation was slowly moving forward, and after a while, the military chess had moved to the front of the formation, and the general with the golden helmet and golden armor was followed by the military flag.

Such a gorgeous dress should be Dionysius himself, right? Phellisius hesitated, and then rode forward.

The two met in the middle of the battlefield, and Dionysius looked at Phellisius with a sharp gaze, and Phellisius returned the favor with a clear look.

"You are the commander of the South and Italy coalition forces?"

"You are the tyrant of Syracuse, Dionysius?"

"I am Dionysius."

"I am the commander of the Dionian army, the commander of the South and Italy coalition forces this time, Pherisius!" Under the silent gaze of Dionysius, Phellisius subconsciously increased the volume.

"Phellisius, it seems that your subordinates do not agree with the name of your commander." Dionysius turned his head to look at his sides, a mocking smile on his face, and saw cavalry galloping towards him on both sides.

"The large and small city-states in the Southern Italian Alliance are treated equally, unlike the Greek city-states of Sicily!" Philicus' face was slightly red, and he shot back in the tone of his fellow Ionian senate during the debate.

Dionysius laughed: "In battle, shouldn't the army obey the orders of one person in order to ensure the unity of the whole army's actions?" I suppose your Archon Davers should know very well, didn't he tell you? ”

Filicius found that he was no match for Dionysius at all in terms of eloquence, so he simply remained silent and just looked at him coldly.

Dionysius restrained his smile and showed a sinister look: "You are right in one sentence, the Greek city-states of Sicily are in my own hands!" And after this battle, Greater Greece will also be up to me alone! ”

"That won't be known until you've been beaten!" Pherisius replied succinctly.