"Yes, there are changes." Leotizides' tone was always flat and passionless: "Sickel's harassing forces have routed Carthage's besieging army of 40,000. ”

Thinking that he had misheard, Sipros asked in surprise, "Is this true?!" You're talking about the thousand poorly armed Sikyll light infantry?! ”

"I never tell lies in war." Leotizides stared at Hipplos with blazing eyes, but his tone remained calm: "I have decided to change the plan I specified before and lead the Eighth Legion to Minoa to meet the Carthaginians. ”

"Good! Sure enough, he is courageous, and he is worthy of being the commander that His Majesty fancies! Much better than that shit plan you made earlier! Voices of appreciation rang out outside the door, and Admiral Sekrian strode into the conference room.

Leotizides raised an eyebrow.

Cipros asked in surprise, "You want to lead the army directly to the battle with the Carthaginians?!" It's too risky! The Carthaginian army is more than 40,000 men, do you want to gather all the Dionian citizens in Sicily?! If the battle fails, the kingdom's territory in Sicily will be in danger! I think it's better for you to continue with your previous plan! ”

After all, according to the regulations, the governor Sipnos had the right to participate in military councils and raise objections, so Leotizides had to explain in detail: "The previous plan was based on the judgment that the Carthaginians would send an army of 80,000 to 100,000 men, but they did not expect that they only sent 60,000 men, and 20,000 of them went to the north coast. According to the information obtained before, half of the 40,000-strong Carthaginian army was composed of Numibians, who had been oppressed by Carthage, and their morale was not high, and the attack of only a thousand West Celts could force them to retreat, which also shows the incompetence of their commanders.

According to intelligence, the commander of Carthage, Monteadeno, was greedy for pleasure and did not like to be in battle in person, and did not like to be close to his soldiers, so he could not take full advantage of his large number of troops. Even if we have few troops, the combat effectiveness and morale of the Eighth Corps and its reserve units are far superior to those of the other side, and we can completely defeat them.

And we can't watch this Carthaginian army slowly conquer one of our allies after another with its large number of soldiers, and pinch the whole army through battles and victories, so as to improve the fighting spirit and combat effectiveness of the Carthaginians...... When the Carthaginian army conquered the south coast, it would be very difficult to fight them. ”

"You're right, the previous plan was to be completely passively beaten. I just arrived yesterday, and I heard about your previous plans, and I wanted to talk to you about it for a long time. Sekrian said in a prick that the commander said to his subordinates.

Although as a senator of the Senate, Secrean's seniority and kingdom position were indeed higher than those of Leotizides, but it still made Leotizides feel a little uncomfortable, but he thought that he would rely on the navy for future military operations, so he suppressed his emotions and said lightly: "I also say according to the "Dionian Military Law", 'All military plans must be formulated according to the actual situation. Now that the situation has changed, the plan I have made must change with it. ”

Like Cornerus, who loved to gain and lose, once he was convinced, he immediately asked dryly: "How many people are you going to take with you to war?" ”

"The entire Eighth Army Corps and the Fourth Cavalry Corps, as well as some reserve soldiers, are estimated to be about 15,000 people. The rest of the reserve soldiers were stationed in the main camp, and the allied forces of Leotini and Tounis were not drawn, and they also needed to guard against the Syracuses. ”

After Leotizides finished speaking, Sipros was surprised again: "Lord Prosous, is 15,000 too little?!" ”

"Not a little at all." Leotizides said confidently: "I will entrust Lord Creru of Hera to organize all the warriors of the Sikel people and take the mountain road to Minoa. And I led these 15,000 men by sea to the port of Camanlina, and marched west along the south coast, all the way to the ranks of the friendly city-states through which I passed, and by the time I reached Minoa, I estimate that the number of troops should be at least 30,000 men......"

"Hey, I was in a hurry, and I forgot that there were Kamanlina, Gera, and Agrigento...... These friendly city-states. Sipros revealed his shortcomings, but a reassuring smile appeared on his face: "Lord Prosious, you made the right decision!" Through this head-on battle with Carthage, we can show the city-states close to us that the kingdom protects them, and deepen our friendship with them through the battle! ……”

Leotizides did not think as much as Sipros thought, he only wanted to win, turned to Sekrian and said, "I hope that the troop convoy and the delivery of food and baggage will be protected by the fleet you lead, Lord Secorian!" ”

"This is the duty of our Navy!" Secrean replied briskly, and the next words revealed his true purpose: "I can just by protecting you, I can induce the Carthaginian fleet to fight a decisive battle with us!" ”

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When the news of the arrival of the Carthaginian army in Sicily and the beginning of its march on the Dionian territory reached Rome, the senators were so excited that the dictator Camillus decided that the time had come and immediately gave the order to "march on the Helnikians."

Soon, he marched out of Rome with an army of more than 40,000 Roman citizens and Latin allies, who had been assembled in the Plaza de Mars, and marched straight to the southeast.

The Helnihians are the ancient indigenous people of central Italy, who live mainly in the lowlands between the Helnihivi and Lepini mountains, a long hilly lowland area about 150 li long and about 20 li wide, with the Trerus River flowing in between. To the west and south of their area were the Wolsey people, who lived next to the Leipini hills, to the east by the Masi and Eque, who lived deep in the mountains, and to the north by some Latin city-states, mainly Priniste.

The Roman army passed through the Latin League of Gabii and camped outside the city of Ponirista at dusk.

When the Helnikians heard the news of the "coming Roman army", they were very alarmed and hurriedly sent people to ask for help from the Wolsey.

Early the next morning, the Roman army continued its march south, passing through Tolerium, a Latin ally, and soon came to Signia, a town bordering the Helnihians and Latins.

Helniki, a small city at the foot of the Lepini Mountains, is a small city with relatively difficult terrain and an important access point for the Helnihivian tribes who live in the Lepini Mountains.

Camillus immediately sent 5,000 men to surround the small city, began to make siege equipment, and once it was ready, began to siege the city.

At the same time, he crossed the Treps River with 35,000 men without stopping, and in the afternoon reached Anagnia, another important Helnihian town near Latin and on the east bank of the Trerus River, and surrounded it by 10,000 men.

He led the remaining 25,000 men, bypassing the city of Anagnia, and began to build a large camp a few miles to the south, facing the central town of the Helnihians, Ferentinum.

Earlier, the Helnikians had suffered a crushing defeat in the war with the Wolsians in the Roman Latin League, and it had not been long since their strength had not been restored at all, and where could they still organize enough warriors to rescue the besieged towns, they could only retreat in various towns to strengthen the city defenses, and at the same time look forward to the rescue of the Wolseys.

………………………………………

When the news reached Polyfnonam that "the territory of the Helnihians had been attacked by the Roman army", the top brass of the Wallsey League, who had just repelled the Romans, were still discussing how to retake Antium and Villitre...... Waiting for the towns captured by the Romans, they did not expect the Romans to start another war to the east of the Wolsey so soon.

Amintas, who had been invited to the meeting, was puzzled, and he asked in surprise: "The information that came back earlier said, 'Did the Romans garrison 10,000 men in Antium, Villitre, and Satnikum respectively?!'" How could the Romans have so many soldiers to attack the Helnikians?! ”

The consul of Polyfnum, Catemontalus, said helplessly: "The Romans do not have so many young and middle-aged citizens, but they still have many Latin allies, as well as many Etruscan city-states conquered by the Romans, and he is fully capable of starting another war in the event of war with our Volsi people!" That's what the Romans were terrible about! ”

I'm afraid the Romans are going to concentrate on fighting a big battle! But we Dionya...... Amintas thought of the First Legion that he had just replenished his troops, and sighed to himself: with the combat effectiveness of the Roman army, the First Legion, which was less than 10,000 people, was not enough to help the Helnikians repel the attack of the Romans!

Printors, who was next to him, saw Amintath's tangled expression and hurriedly asked, "Why don't you contact the Ekü and Masi to deal with the Romans together?!" I've heard that these two races are right next to the Helnikians, and I think that if the Helnikians were wiped out by the Romans, these two races, who were also at odds with Rome, would face the threat of the Romans! ”

Turlouse, the consul of Sersche, responded: "The Helnikians must have contacted the Eküe and the Masi, now the question is whether we should rescue the Helnikians?" ”

"Of course we have to go to the rescue!" Without hesitation, Catemontalus exclaimed: "Our cities of Fabrateria, Frusinum...... Just south of the Helnihician territory, if the Helnikians are wiped out, they will also be attacked by the Romans, and it is better to rescue the Helnikians now! ”