Aditya Ruba looked at Marco with an excited expression, but his heart was not touched at all: Carthage's hegemony in Sicily? I think it's your Magonides hegemony in Sicily!

In fact, the Carthaginians inherited the ethnic identity of the Phoenicians, preferring trade to armed aggression. For hundreds of years, the Carthaginians colonized and traded in Sicily, mostly in peace with the Greeks, except for very few conflicts. It wasn't until more than 80 years ago that the tyrant of Syracuse, Dillon, attacked Himera, forcing the tyrant of Himera, Tirirus, to ask for help from Hamilka, the patriarch of the House of Magonides of Carthage.

Angered by the injustice of his maternal family in Syracuse (Hamilcar's mother was a Syracuse), Hamilcar organized a Sicilian expedition out of his own pocket without the unanimous consent of the Senate, only to be defeated by Dillon in Himera and Hamilcar was killed in battle, so the Magonides made it their mission to defeat Syracuse, and dragged the Carthaginian people into the water, and the Carthaginians and Syracuse fought for decades......

Now that the Magonides had lost their absolute rule in Carthage, they wanted to encourage the populace to plunge into the endless Sicilian Wars...... Aditya Ruba, who knew something inside, scoffed at this, coughed a few times, and said coldly: "You need people to fight. The first two wars against Syracuse waged by your brother and you have left Carthage with so many citizens that they are not willing or able to join a new war! ”

Aditya Ruba's words were directed at Margo's sore feet, which made him blush slightly, and said with some annoyance: "There is no need for citizens to participate in the war, as long as there are enough mercenaries, I can lead the army to attack the city of Syracuse!" ”

Aditya Ruba laughed and said, "Master Margo, you said it easily, enough mercenaries?!" It would take enough gold and silver to pay their salaries! Now that your mercenaries have strained the Carthaginian treasury and want to recruit more soldiers, not only will the Senate not agree, but the people will also oppose it, because it means taxing. And too many mercenaries are also a cause for concern, Margo-sama, as you said, 'If you don't pay enough on time, those mercenaries can riot.'" ’”

Margo was speechless for a while, and after a while, he gritted his teeth unwillingly and said: "Even if I don't increase my troops, just use the existing army in Sicily, I will definitely be able to regain the city-state and land I lost at the beginning!" Please also ask Lord Adiyaruba to tell the Senate and reconsider this matter! ”

Aditya Ruba flatly refused: "Master Margo, don't you know the current state of Carthage! Carthage needs to be restored to prosperity, the people want to be able to live in peace, and no one is willing to sacrifice their lives for the sake of the land and for inexplicable reasons that have nothing to do with them! We have managed to make peace with Syracuse, and now you want us to tear up the peace with them and resume the war, which will not only anger the Syracuses, but also the Dionians, who have just established some contact with us, and Carthage will not make such a reckless decision! ”

Margo was enraged by his words: "Adiaruba, I used to think that you were a little hard, and you had your own independent opinions and opinions in the Senate, but now it seems that you are no different from those guys who are attached to Hanno, do you know what the people call them!" ”

In the face of Margo's offense, Aditya Ruba held back his anger and said in a deep voice: "My opinion has always been based on the interests of Carthage, and I will not consider who is in favor and who is against, but is this decision made by you, Lord Margo, really for Carthage?!" I would like to remind you that the Senate, given that this is a sensitive time, will send a senator to serve as the Inspector of Sicily, so that those mercenaries do not listen to the command and only cause some surprises! ……”

At this meeting, the two parted unhappily.

As Adiyaroba left the Doge's mansion, he could still hear Margo's roar inside, and he finally made up his mind to agree to Hanno's private offer to send an emissary to make an agreement with Dionia as soon as possible.

On the way to the port, he kept encountering mercenaries with different accents and dresses, which made him frown: there was no need for the Sicilian military defense zone to exist, and why should war be necessary for peace and benefits that could be obtained through negotiations......

……………………………………

At night, the harbor of Siliting was silent, except for the gentle sound of the tide lapping against the pier.

A full moon in the sky dispelled the darkness between heaven and earth with a soft silver light, and also brought some safety to the night navigation.

Dionysius and Phoebidas quietly arrived at the docks, and Reptines had prepared their ships for them.

Dionysius patted Fasipesas on the shoulder with a rare gesture of affection, and said solemnly: "Fasipes, don't send it anymore, lest the soldiers find out about the abnormality." During this time, all the troops here will be handed over to you, and I will bring reinforcements as soon as possible! ”

The heavy task that Dionysius gave to Fasipezas made him feel very stressed, and after only half a day, his forehead was a little more wrinkled, but at this time he could no longer tell his distress, so he could only send his blessings: "My lord, may Apollo bless you with a smooth return to Syracuse!" ”

"Don't forget, for the time being, hide the news of my departure from the soldiers to avoid chaos in the troops!" Dionysius reminded again.

Fasipassas nodded in understanding.

Seeing Fasipesas turn away, Dionysius quickly retracted his gaze and said to Reptines beside him: "What about the blockade of the port by the Dioonians now?" ”

"According to the lighthouse's sentinels, there are only three or four Dionian clippers outside the harbor, and it is impossible for them to block such a wide sea surface at night, and with the ship-handling skills of Laktirus, they can easily break through their barriers!"

After listening to Reptines's words of confidence, Dionysius relaxed a little, he looked at this brother of his own, usually his mediocrity and incompetence often made him angry and helpless, but his loyalty and meticulous execution of orders reassured him, so he sent several other brothers to other city-states as tyrants, and left this one alone...... Looking at this honest brother at this moment, he no longer complained in his heart, but family affection, he whispered: "Pay close attention to the movements in the city, and once you find that the situation is wrong, immediately rush out of the port with the fleet and return to Syracuse!" ”

"Ahh Reptines was so shocked that he almost cried out.

Dionysius glared at him fiercely, squeezed his hand vigorously, and whispered again: "Remember! ”

Reptines nodded vigilantly: "Yes!" Be! ”

Dionysius ignored him and, with the help of his guards, jumped onto the rocking clipper.

"All done?" Phoebeidas was already on the ship, and asked meaningfully.

Dionysius nodded.

"Will you ever come back?" Phoebe Das's questions are always so straightforward.

Dionysius' face changed slightly, he ignored Phoebeidas, but said to Laktirus, who was in the stern: "Open the ship!" ”

Raktyrus immediately told the sailors to untie the ropes and raise the sails. Although the east wind was blowing on the sea, not the south wind, it was not a problem for the experienced Laktirus, who skillfully steered the rudder and the clipper sailed like an arrow out of the harbor.

Dionysius couldn't help but look back, only to see Reptines still standing on the dock and waving.

Dionysius' expression was gloomy: he did not want to return to Siritin, defeat Dionia, and regain his prestige for him and Syracuse. But judging from the current indications, the difficulties encountered after this trip back to Syracuse were by no means just a few thousand Ionian troops, and in the midst of all possible difficulties, it was the most important thing to ensure that his power in Syracuse was secured! Without power, you and your family will die without a place to bury!

Dionysius was very aware of this, and in order to achieve this goal, everything else could be discarded!

………………………………

The Syracuse coalition surrounded the 1st Dionian Army and the exiles, and was about to crush the landing force in one fell swoop, but the news of the rebellion of the allies caused the Syracuse coalition to retreat. The 1st Dionian Army took the opportunity to counterattack, causing the Syracuse coalition to turn from a retreat to a major rout.

Masias led the cavalry all the way south for more than 20 miles, into the vast plain of Catania, only then did he stop fleeing, began to send out cavalry, gathered in all directions, and gathered more than 4,000 people until dusk.

At this time, the scout reported that the city of Katanai in front had sent troops to attack and capture the rout.

For the sake of safety, Masias had to lead the remnants of the defeated army to the west.

They passed through several villages. In fact, the villages were originally owned by the Katanai mercenais, but the slaves attacked their former owners and followed the successful rebel into the city of Katanai, taking with them the food stored in the villages.

Except for seeing the corpses in one place, the routs did not scavenge much food to eat, and although the Katana mercenaries in the team looked angry, they could not even protect themselves at the moment, and they could only cry secretly.

The demoralized routs staggered through the night with hunger and exhaustion, and finally found a village on the southwestern edge of Katana's territory untouched by the riots.

Faced with so many soldiers, the villagers panicked.