"Having lost the barrier of Agilion, Prosous was unable to retake it, and the Sichaelians were persecuted by the Carthaginian army, and they did not know that reinforcements were coming, and the Carthaginians were very good at fighting in the mountains...... Faced with such a predicament, it is difficult to guess what choice the Sikail people will make. Tolmide said with a solemn expression: "However, if these Sichael tribes living on the western edge of the Sicilian territory surrender to the Carthaginians, it will definitely cause great trouble to our Sicilian territory!" ”

Davers slammed his hand on the wooden table and said in a deep voice: "I have decided to let the whole army land in Katanai and repel the great army of Carthage from the front!" ”

"Your Majesty, when you were discussing at the camp of Satnikum before, didn't you plan to let your army land in the defense-empty western part of Sicily and cut off the Carthaginian army's return route?" Mattonis questioned.

"Yes, I once proposed such a plan, but the implementation of this plan was only possible if the Carthaginians lost their sea power and could not pose a threat to our landing fleet." Davers pointed to Sicily on the wooden table and explained in a calm tone: "But now the situation has changed, the new fleet of the Carthaginians has been commissioned, and it is unknown how many ships are being built in the shipyards of its and the Phoenician allies...... I am sure you still remember the situation when we landed in Latium, the number of ships loaded with our legions was so large that it was impossible to hide from the eyes and ears of the Carthaginians, and it was impossible to achieve the purpose of a surprise attack, and the Carthaginians would do their best to mobilize all their sea forces to prevent us from landing.

Everything went smoothly at Latin before, and it took us almost half a day, and if we landed in western Sicily, with the Carthaginians desperately obstructing it, I am afraid that it would take a long time to complete the landing, which after all was under the control of the Carthaginians, and it was more conducive to their war. Even if we can bring together the Sicilian Fleet and the 3rd Fleet, we will not necessarily take advantage of it...... And even if the final landing is completed, such a huge army will need huge food consumption, and the next food supply may have to rely on sea transportation, which will be a big problem! ”

Davers looked around at the crowd, and saw that they did not refute, but fell into thought, and said in a loud voice: "Moreover, the territory of Sicily is being destroyed and threatened by the Carthaginian army, and the people are eager for us to come to their rescue, and if we put their safety at risk, we would rather take great risks and land in western Sicily, what will they think!" Therefore, it is imperative to drive the Carthaginians out of Sicilian territory so that the people can quickly rebuild their homes! ”

When everyone heard this, they felt justified and nodded in support.

At this time, Epitenis interjected: "Your Majesty, the plan for the entire army to land in western Sicily has been cancelled, but one or two legions can be allowed to land." ”

Davers glanced at him and said, "This issue will not be discussed today. Three days ago, the Ministry of War had told the reservists of the cities to assemble at the barracks in Siriting, and your task in the next two days was to replenish them into your regiments as soon as possible, so that the army could be re-reorganized. Two days later, we will depart for Catanay. ”

"What about the Roman soldiers who surrendered?" Amintath asked.

Davers had already thought about it, and said: "Keep them in their respective teams, and each squad will have an extra Roman formation." With the addition of reservists, the number of Roman soldiers in the army will be diluted, and I think this is more conducive to the stability of the ranks and the acceleration of the integration of these Romans......"

……………………………………

"Margo-sama, look! Our soldiers have taken the city! The adjutant danced with excitement.

It's no wonder that he behaved like this, tens of thousands of Carthaginian soldiers besieged this seemingly small city of Palagonia, and after more than half a month of attacking, in addition to killing and wounding many soldiers, he has not been able to make great progress, and now he has finally gnawed off this hard bone.

Margo, who had been gloomy all these days, finally smiled, and he said loudly: "the trumpet of attack, let the soldiers seize the opportunity, continue to attack the city, break through the second wall of the Dionians, and destroy all the Dionians in the city!" ”

"Yes!"

"Woo! ......" Marco listened to the sound of the trumpets and watched as hundreds of soldiers rushed into the city of Palagonia, but the sound of fighting from inside the city became weaker and weaker......

Margo clenched his fists, desperate to break through the inner walls that had caused a lot of trouble for the besieging soldiers in one fell swoop.

The Carthaginian soldiers who had taken the city rushed down the city walls from all directions, roaring and rushing into the city, chasing the fleeing enemy, but in their exuberance they seldom noticed that the ditches that crisscrossed the streets were not foul-smelling sewage, but sticky asphalt, and empty dwellings were stacked with freshly harvested wheat straw......

Standing on the inner city wall, the captain of the Seventh Legion of Dionia, Temineids, looked at the enemy in the city who was rapidly approaching the city like a tide, and decisively gave the order: "Close the city gates!" ”

"Captain, there are quite a few brothers who are retreating towards the inner city, and they will be there soon! Wait a little longer! Wait a little longer! The officer of the Seventh Army on the side pleaded anxiously.

Temineides gritted his teeth and hardened his heart and said, "It's too late, before they reach the city, the Carthaginians will rush into the inner city!" At that point, everything we worked so hard to lay out was in vain! ”

Speaking of this, he raised his voice and shouted, "Close the gates!" ”

After giving this order, he then raised his right arm again and waved down vigorously: "Release the rocket!" ”

More than a dozen rockets shot into the trench beneath the city, immediately raising a circle of flames and quickly spreading out along the ditch connected to it......

"Captain, give!" The guards handed the soaked linen to Tamineides.

Temineides looked at the soldiers around him, who were already covered in linen, reached out and took it, covering his mouth and nose.

It didn't take long for the entire outer city to turn into a sea of fire, and the Carthaginian soldiers, who had been advancing aggressively, were now panicking and trying to retreat, but the narrow streets and crowded crowds made it impossible for them to do so, so as they frantically pushed each other and even fought, flames and smoke enveloped them......

In the sea of fire in the outer city, there were terrible screams everywhere, and among these cries must have been the Dionian soldiers who had not yet retreated into the inner city in time.

Temenides closed his eyes in pain, held on to the battlements, slowly knelt down, and silently chanted in his heart: "O great Hades! You are the protector of the kingdom of Dionia, you are the lord of the just and strict hell, and I beg you to grant a fair trial to these warriors who have died fighting for the kingdom, so that their souls can be sheltered......"

It was not only Taimenides who prayed, but all the soldiers at the head of the inner city were doing the same thing, and although the solid walls prevented the fire from spreading inward, the rolling heat was suffocating, but everyone remained motionless and knelt motionless, facing the burning sea of fire and prayed prayers of repentance......

The Carthaginians, who were fighting outside the city, were thundering with joy because they were about to break the city, but when they suddenly saw flames rise in the city, and soon enveloped the whole city, they were all amazed, and soon turned from shock to panic: "Oh my God! The Dionyans went crazy, they set the whole town on fire! ”

"Quick! Withdraw all the troops! ”

"Look at the fire! Too late! In order to make meritorious contributions, the soldiers rushed desperately in, blocking all the city gates, which could not be withdrawn in a short time! ”

……

Seeing that victory was coming, but in the blink of an eye it turned to despair, Margo felt so depressed that she had nowhere to vent her resentment, so she snatched her spear from the guards and threw it at a Numibian soldier who had just escaped from the city of fire and was fleeing in this direction, piercing his chest.

Brother Mar looked around at the soldiers around him with a hideous face, and roared angrily: "Shut up the fuck!" ”

The entourage was silent.

……………………………………

In the evening, Pomilka entered the tent of the Carthaginian barracks.

Margo, who was still resentful and unapproachable during the day, was now munching on the cooked leg of lamb with a calm expression.

Seeing Pomilka coming in, he picked up the half-eaten leg of lamb and said, "Agrigento's lamb is really delicious, do you want a piece?" ”

"Thanks, I've already had dinner." Pomilkala sat down in a wooden chair across from him and asked softly, "Next...... What are your plans? ”

"What do you mean?" Margo looked at him and asked rhetorically.

"Lord Margo, the Dioonians have burned the entire outer city of Palagonia, we have suffered heavy losses, according to the statistics just came, nearly 2,000 soldiers were burned to death, more than 2,000 soldiers were burned, and since we besieged Palagonia, the number of dead and wounded soldiers has been as high as 7,000!" As Pomilka continued to state the facts, his originally flat tone became heavy: "A little Palagonian has nothing to do with it, let alone the Ionian barracks, Leotini, and Catane, which are larger and have more soldiers than it, we can't fight like this anymore!" Otherwise, by the time Dionyan reinforcements arrive, we won't have enough strength to confront them head-on!" ”

"What the hell are you trying to say?" Margo asked impatiently, his face sank.

"I believe you have received news from Sardinia, 'Soldiers are being transported south from Latinum to Tri......na by a large Dionian fleet' fearing that the Dioonians have won the war with Rome and that their army is about to land in Sicily, should we not halt our assault on Catanay for the time being, in order to be fully prepared to fight the main Dionian army?"

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