When power fell into the hands of the Syracuse democrats again, Tyagenes, Falekus, Stasikos and others, who had learned the lessons of the past, did not come up with a strange government of twenty-five generals as before, but restored the traditional democracy of Syracuse, with ten generals, a council of hundreds, a citizens' assembly, and continued some of the policies and laws implemented during the reign of Herolis, while the war reparations to Dionya continued to be paid.

In the years since Syracuse's defeat at the hands of Dionia, the political situation has been in turmoil, draining the energy and enthusiasm of the populace and disappointing some elites with Syracuse's prospects, such as Ferosanus, who accepted the invitation of the Dionian Academy to teach in Turii, and wrote several letters to King Davos, asking him to reduce the war reparations he had demanded from Syracuse.

It wasn't until the eleventh year of the Dionian kingdom that Davers generously wrote off the war reparations.

The political situation in Syracuse has once again regained stability and is beginning to gradually regain its vitality. But in the midst of the turmoil, agriculture and trade in Syracuse were devastated, and many freedmen and merchants fled in favor of the thriving city of Katanai.

When the quiet people of Syracuse opened their eyes and looked out, they were shocked to find that the strength of Syracuse, which once dominated Sicily and threatened the western Mediterranean, was not as strong as Catanay, a city under the former enemy of the Kingdom of Ionia, and the allies who had surrounded Syracuse in the past, such as Kamanlina, Gera, Agrigento and many other city-states, had long since severed ties with Syracuse, and instead went to curry favor with Dionia......

The people of Syracuse cherish both the glory of the past and the Dionysia, the culprit of all this, and most of the tax revenue received by Syracuse each year is used to pay war reparations. So there is a strange phenomenon in Sicily: while all the Greek city-states of Sicily are making peace with the kingdom of Dionia, Syracuse is alienating this powerful neighbor from top to bottom. They refused every invitation to celebrate with Dionia, but repeatedly quarreled and clashed with Dionia's allies, Leotini and Taunis, over land on the border.

These performances of Syracuse were seen by Carthage, so this time the emissary sent by Carthage was tasked with the mission of "bringing Syracuse into the alliance against the Dionian kingdom".

……………………………………

In the Syracuse City Hall, the ten Syracuse generals looked a little solemn after the Carthaginian envoys walked out of the conference room.

"I don't understand, Dionya and Carthage have maintained friendly relations for more than ten years, why is there suddenly a war?!" Hiktas, the general from the port area, asked suspiciously. Compared with the people of Syracuse in other regions, the civilians of the port area still have a good impression of Dionia, because it was with the help of the Dioonians that the civilians of the port area finally organized themselves to resist the tyranny of Dionysius, thus forming a force to be reckoned with in the political arena of Syracuse.

"Don't you understand that! Carthage and Dionya were able to maintain friendly relations for more than a decade because they both needed time to regain their strength. In fact, not only Sicily, but also the entire Western Mediterranean cannot accommodate two powerful states, and they will inevitably go to war because of their conflicting interests. It used to be Carthage and us in Syracuse, but now it's just Dionia......" Paronisus said in a low voice, as if recalling Syracuse's old days. As an official who had served Dionysius, he escaped punishment after the rebellion because of the opposition of his sailors, who did not join the war to suppress the rebels. In the later war to overthrow the murderer Andermarcus, he fought bravely and made great achievements, won the recognition of the people, and was elected general several times.

"If there is a war between Dionya and Carthage, it will be a great opportunity for us in Syracuse! Over the years, since Dioonia occupied the cities of Catanay, Naxos and Sikuli in Sicily, the influence on us in Syracuse has been too great. Free people prefer to live in Catana and Naxos, merchant ships are more willing to trade in Cartana, and other city-states in Sicily are more willing to associate with them. "The chief general, Theagenis, was clearly in favor of cooperating with Carthage against Dionia.

"But will Carthage be able to defeat Dionia?" Kucias expressed concern, having experienced the war that had decided the Greek hegemony in the Western Mediterranean more than a decade earlier, and had heard and witnessed the landing of a Dionian legion in Sicily, and the defeat of an army of tens of thousands led by Macias.

"Yes, Dionia's army is too powerful! The year before, they had easily defeated the Sikerians and captured many of their towns, and now the Sikerians revolved around the Dioonians like dogs. Falekus, as a comrade-in-arms who had fought alongside the Dionian army to overthrow the rule of Dionysius, he was well aware of Dionia's strength, and he also did not support opposing Dionia: "We are not as strong as we used to be, we are surrounded by the cities of Dionya and its friendly allies, and if we declare war on Dionia, their army will be able to kill us immediately." The Dioonians may be hoping that we will break the agreement so that they can conquer the city of Syracuse and unify eastern Sicily! ”

There was silence in the conference room. Over the years, over time, the generals learned that Syracuse was able to exist independently because of the agreement between Carthage, Sparta, and Dionia.

At this time, Stasikos said in a deep voice: "Everyone, if we don't provoke Dionia, will Dionya let Syracuse go?" Once Carthage is defeated, is it possible for Syracuse to remain independent?! No! Like Catanay, Crotone, and Lokry, we will be forced to integrate into the kingdom of Dioonia and become an ordinary city, losing the long history and splendor of which we are proud! So, I think to help Carthage, that is, to help ourselves! ”

Stasikors' words moved the other generals.

"Ladies and gentlemen, you have only seen the power of Dionia, but Carthage is also very strong. During these years, the Carthaginians conquered Numibia in the interior of Africa and also conquered the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula, and they owned even more land than the Kingdom of Dionia. More than 10 years ago, Carthage was able to organize an army of 100,000 men when it was at war with us, and now it can be easily achieved! ”

Teagenis waved his arms in emotion, trying to convince the other generals: "Also, don't forget that Carthage's ally, Rome, which is about to go to war with Dionia, is also very powerful, it is the overlord of central Italy, and with strong heavy infantry, it is by no means so easy to deal with. Carthage and Rome joined hands, which was already difficult for Dionya to resist, not to mention that listening to the words of the Carthaginian envoy just now, they had other helpers...... Ionia has already fallen into the siege set by Carthage, and if we don't join it at this time, what are we waiting for! ”

The Syracuse people have had close military and trade ties with the west coast of Italy for decades, especially with the Campania League, and although the Campania League has fallen to Dionya in recent years, the reluctant Syracuse people have not reduced their attention there, so they know more about the situation in Rome.

"More than a decade ago, Dionysius also put Dionia under siege, and what happened? We all know that. Hiktath said lightly.

"But this time it's different!" Theagenis glared at him, trying to continue to persuade.

Hiktas said coldly: "It is true that this time is different, because compared with more than ten years ago, Dionia's territory has increased several times, and its strength has also increased several times. ”

Tyagenis was stunned when he heard this, and for a moment he didn't know what to say.

At this time, Falekus muttered, "I think this is done. Let's not promise the Carthaginians just yet, so that we don't blindly put Syracuse in danger. If, if Carthage did declare war on Dionya and had a great advantage, it would not be too late for us to join it. ”

"I agree." Kuchias immediately agreed: "This is the prudent way to do it!" ”

Soon, several other generals agreed, including Steisickos.

Teagenis nodded helplessly in the end, but he was very angry in his heart: he can be said to be the most powerless chief general in Syracuse for so many years. The other generals either participated in the rebellion against Dionysius that year, had a deep fighting friendship and gained a lot of supporters; Either there are representatives of special popular groups. After he escaped from Syracuse, his foundations in the city had already been swept away, and because he first provoked a rebellion against Herolis, after the successful return of Herolis, he was suppressed again, and the people who had finally gathered to support him left him.

The reason why Teagenis, who did not have the support of great power, was able to serve as chief general for two consecutive years was because the citizens of Syracuse needed a man of little strength but prestige to balance a group of powerful former friends of Herolis and avoid a dictatorship.

However, the stubborn and strong Tergenis has always believed that he is the one who can help Syracuse regain its glory.