After listening to Antonios's words, Plegulus stepped forward with a military salute and replied loudly: "When the Fourth Cavalry Corps arrived at Asculom City, the Samoneites were attacking the city with all their might, so it was relatively easy to defeat them, and this should be attributed to Commander Alexis, who decisively let us march towards Ascullom, so that there will be such a fighter!" ”

"Look, this is your good subordinate." Antonios turned to Alexis and smiled.

Capuz also saluted Plegulus, who, of course, knew Plegulus as an important member of the Ministry of War.

Plegulus hurriedly returned the salute respectfully.

"I don't need to introduce this one." Alexis pointed to Melisanda and said.

"Melishanda, I don't even want to see you." Antonios put on a pained expression, spoke in astonishment, and then changed his words: "As soon as I see you, I realize." Now the kingdom is a world of young people, and we are all old! ”

"Uncle Antonios, you can't get old, Antedoris still needs you to raise you!" Melisanda immediately replied.

Antonios glared: "I'm just old, and I'm not dead!" ”

The crowd laughed, and the shadow of war created by the Samonai seemed to be washed away in their laughter.

The soldiers of the 10th Legion and the 4th Cavalry Regiment went directly to the Daoni barracks and stationed there, while Alexis, Antonios, Capus, Plegulus, and Melisanda went directly to the Luthenian City Hall to hold a military meeting.

"Now, how is the situation with the Eleventh Legion?" After everyone sat down, Alexis asked directly and straight to the point.

Kapus didn't care, and replied seriously: "Because the invasion of the Samonai was very sudden, the barracks were undergoing rotation training at that time, and there were only more than two thousand soldiers...... These days, there are constant reports of legionnaires coming, there are already more than 6,000 people, and since the cities of Ascurom and Vibingrum are besieged and Gruum is occupied, some soldiers are unable to arrive, and I have replaced them with reserve soldiers from the city of Luthenia.

At present, the 11th Army Corps has six heavy infantry brigades, one light infantry brigade, and one light armored brigade, with a total of 8,000 men, and its main combat units are fully staffed. As for whether or not to recruit reservists in the Douni area, it is up to you, the commander, to decide. ”

Alexis nodded in understanding, and then he asked, "How many troops are there in the invading Samonai now?" ”

"The Scouts have previously roughly reconnoitred the three Samonai armies besieging the cities of Ascurome, Vibinrum, and Gruum, and they all numbered more than 10,000 people, and counting some scattered tribal warriors, I estimate that there are probably more than 30,000 people. So far, however, we have not found any of the Cautini fighters......," Antonios said.

"It seems that the victory of the Third Army in Campania has caused a lot of losses to the Caustini tribe......" Alexis showed a relieved expression, and then he asked with concern, "What is the situation in the city of Gruum?" ”

"According to the report of the scouts, the Samonai there had withdrawn into the mountains yesterday, but ...... They have taken all the people of the city captive! Antonios said with some anger and some sadness, now that these towns are under his jurisdiction, he certainly has a duty to protect the lives of the people of Dauni.

"Retreated?" Alexis was slightly surprised, and he fell into thought......

At this time, Antonios said with a solemn expression: "Yesterday, when the Samonai people were evacuating, they also sent a messenger to demand that the thousands of Daoni captives they captured be exchanged for all the Caustini who were captured before! ”

"The Samonai people are dreaming! We must not accede to their arrogant demands, let those Kautini go back, command the strengthening of the Samonai army, and continue to plunder and kill our people! Melishanda interjected angrily.

Antonios frowned.

"Melishanda, it's not up to you to decide whether or not to agree to Samonai's emissary's request." Alexis looked at him and said seriously: "This matter is related to the lives and freedom of thousands of Dorni people, and only His Majesty can make the final decision!" ”

"Yes! I'm sorry! Melishanda bowed his head and confessed his mistake, he had just been quick to speak, and only after being reminded by Alexis that he realized that he was only concerned with the impact of the war, and did not consider the safety of the captured people, and the governor of the Douni region was sitting in front of him.

Antonios nodded at him, forgiving him for a while, and then said, "I have sent a messenger to Turii to report this matter to Your Majesty, and I believe that I will receive an answer in two days." ”

Alexis nodded, this matter was not something he could worry about, he looked at the map of the Douny area on the wooden table in the center of the conference room, and said slowly: "As soon as our reinforcements arrived, the Samonai began to retreat, it seems that they are afraid of us, but I don't think they will stop the attack on Dionya here......"

"I agree with you, the Samonai have been with us for so many years, they should know very well that they have broken the alliance and started war against us without authorization, even if they want to stop war against us at this moment, Your Majesty will never spare them! However, judging from the current situation, it seems that the Samonai do not want to engage in a head-on battle with us. Kapos also expressed his opinion.

"Now the Tenth Legion, the Eleventh Legion, and the Fourth Cavalry Legion are concentrated in the Daoni area, and the Ninth Legion will arrive in a day or two, and then we will have a strong force of more than 30,000 people, even if the Samonai people count the Kautini tribe may have more than 40,000 people, we can completely defeat them in a frontal battle, so there is no need to call up reserve soldiers for the time being. However, Samonai's army, which was mostly light infantry, moved swiftly, and was likely to avoid us and attack the eastern part of the Daoni region, so - Antonios. Alexis pondered for a while, and said, "I am going to have the reservists of the towns in the Downey region gather together and put them under the temporary command of the governor of the city to strengthen the defense of the towns. Once attacked by the Samonai, they will be able to hold out until our rescue arrives, so this may affect the spring sowing in the Dauni area! ”

"Don't worry about spring sowing, I will make appropriate arrangements." Antonios waved his hand and confidently promised.

"Plegulus, send your cavalry out, closely monitor the borders of the Dauni region, detect the enemy's movements, and report back immediately."

"Yes, Commander."

"Now let's wait for the arrival of the Ninth Legion while observing the movements of the Samonai and determine what they will do next......

As soon as Alexis finished speaking, Melisanda continued: "Lord Commander, I think that the reserves of the towns of Pucheti should also be gathered to strengthen the defenses of the towns, because ...... Because the Samonai people are likely to fear being surrounded by our heavy forces in the Dauni area, and turn to attack the empty area of Puchetti...... "Melisanda actually has his own selfish motives in saying this, because his 10th Army camp is in Puchetti, and most of the soldiers come from there, and he certainly does not want Puchetti to be attacked and affect the morale of his legionnaires.

Alexis was awakened by Melishanda's words, and he was about to answer, when he heard the young legionnaire who had been stationed in the Puchetti region for many years and was extremely familiar with the terrain continued: "...... In particular, the territory of Verrosa needs to be defended intensively, as it is adjacent to the Samonai Mountains and has a history of being conquered by the Samonehs before......"

Alexis quickly approached the map, his eyes fixed on the northwest corner of the Puchetti region, and the area that burst into the mountains.

………………………………………

Two days later, the Ninth Army led by Tegaltiros arrived in Luthenia and joined the main army.

At the same time came the Foreign Secretary, Ansitanos, who brought the will of King Davers and soon held talks with the envoys of Samonay who remained in the city of Luthenia.

Ansitanos said to the messenger of Samonai with a solemn expression: "His Majesty Davers is very concerned about the captured Dauni people, and he once said, 'The life of every Dionian is incomparably precious, and cannot be compared with the people of other Mediterranean city-states and nations', so he did not hesitate to agree to exchange all the Cautini captives for all the Daoni people who were plundered by you Samonai. If the Samonai believe in His Majesty's promise, release all the raided Dauni people at once, and Dionya will release all the Cautini captives in Campania! ”

Dionya Davers's reputation for keeping his promise is famous throughout Southern Italy, and how could the messenger of Samonai disagree with his promise.

However, Ansitanos, who received a clear response from the messenger, looked at him again and said with a serious expression: "Now that the agreement has been reached, Dionya will ensure that all the released Captives of Kautini are in good health, and I hope that the Samonai people will make the same promise to ensure that the captured Daoni people will not be harmed in any way!" ”

Samonai's envoy hesitated, knowing very well that these unruly warriors would beat and scold their captives, and would not suppress the exuberant energy of the women......

Therefore, he reluctantly said, "We ...... Every effort will be made to ensure the safety of the captives......"

Ansitanos stared at him with blazing eyes, and said sharply: "Before coming, His Majesty Davers once said, 'The lives of the people of Dionya are much more precious than those of the Samoneans!'" If one person is wounded, and we capture Samonai prisoners in the future, we will have to pay for it with a human life! If one person dies, three lives will be repaid! ’