Chapter 357: The Battle of Carthage (3)

For a time, many Carthaginian people changed from spectators to participants in this war, which aroused the attention of all the people on the coast to this war.

The Third Fleet pursued the Carthaginian fleet very closely, which made Midorades satisfied, he knew something about the Carthaginian port, its military port was located inside the commercial port, the two ports were combined, separated by a water gate in the middle, and the outer commercial port also had a water gate, its width could not allow so many warships to pour in at the same time, the Carthaginian fleet had to slow down in order to enter the port, which gave the Third Fleet a great opportunity to hit them hard.

"General, the Carthaginian fleet is not turning, they are continuing to retreat east!" The watchman's shout did not surprise Midorades, for he had already turned his head to see that his ship was passing through the port of Carthage, indicating that the commander of the Carthaginian fleet also realized the great risk of withdrawing into the port of Carthage at this time, so he abandoned the entry and continued to escape.

Midorades sank his face, and he suddenly thought: if the Carthaginian fleet continues to retreat like this, the previous efforts of the Third Fleet are likely to be in vain, because the coast of Africa to the east is mostly Carthaginian's allies, and the Carthaginian fleet may find an opportunity to hide in the ports of the allies at any time, and the Third Fleet will not be able to pursue it to the end, and at dusk, it will have to return to the base, because the exhausted crew will need to replenish a lot of food and water......

"Damn Sekrian, what the hell are you doing now!!" The more Midorades thought about it, the more angry he became, and he couldn't help but curse.

At this moment, the lookout overhead exclaimed: "Carthaginian warship!" Dozens of Carthaginian warships have rushed out of the harbor! ”

Midorides was taken aback, and instantly understood that the Carthaginian fleet was not trying to retreat at all, but to lure the Third Fleet to the front of the harbor and in turn to flank the Third Fleet.

At this critical moment, he did not have time to regret that he had lost his vigilance because of his meritorious service, and he did not have time to think about how the Carthaginian fleet could have so many more ships (the fact is that after the surprise naval battle near Erlux, the shipyards of the Carthaginian and Phoenician allies did their best to process and rush to replenish dozens of new ships), and he decisively gave the order: "Immediately blow the trumpet and defend in a circle!" ”

At this time, many Dionian warships already knew that there were enemy ships attacking in the rear, and the crew did not panic too much, and immediately began to arrange the formation in an orderly manner after seeing the flag issued by the flagship, because whether it was for Midorades or the Third Fleet, such a similar situation was not unheard of in the naval battle of Sardinia, and the situation at that time was even more dangerous, both the captain and the crew had experience, fortunately Midorades was cautious, so that the entire fleet basically maintained the formation, So it's easier to convert to a circle.

When the Carthaginian ships in the harbor attacked, Morbar then ordered the Carthaginian fleet to attack.

The retreating Carthaginian ships turned their bows and charged the Dionian ships instead.

The Dionian Third Fleet was in a dangerous situation of being caught between two sides.

Since this battle took place in front of the port, the Carthaginian senators on the breakwater city could see more clearly, they could see that the Dionian fleet was trying to retreat, trying to shrink into a ball, and the premeditated Carthaginian fleet attacked rapidly, like maggots attached to the bones, so that the Dionian warships were tired to deal with, and even some of the enemy ships that fell at the end were caught up by the Carthaginian warships and soon entangled. Then they were rammed by another Carthaginian warship that arrived later (in fact, these Dionian Raven ships voluntarily sacrificed themselves to block the attack in order to ensure that the entire fleet could be smoothly arrayed......

Now, the Carthaginian fleet not only had the upper hand in the number of ships, but also took the initiative on the battlefield, and since it was fighting at home, the morale of the crews was not weaker than that of the other side.

The Dionian fleet, despite its stubborn resistance, was already completely encircled.

The senators were all worried and smiling, and even Esyaruba exclaimed, "It is worthy of Morbar, it seems that he will win another naval battle!" And the results are far better than the last time! ”

"Yes, with this victory, the Dioonians will no longer dare to be so rampant in peace talks." Tepanrako responded immediately.

"With this victory, there are still peace talks?! We can increase our support for Morbar and allow the Carthaginian navy to regain its superiority at sea! Pretakuba retorted excitedly.

"Let's face it, even if we wipe out this fleet of Dionia, there are still many more ships in Dionya than we are, and peace talks are the best option!" Ocleton then retorted.

……

The two sides began to debate again on the city walls.

"Ladies and gentlemen, don't rejoice too soon, this Dionian fleet is not so easy to defeat!" Anobus said with a sudden sneer.

"The man who almost wiped out our fleet must be jealous of Morbar's exploits and do not want to see the navy win." A Margonid patriarch shouted ridicule, causing many people to be angry.

"It seems that the punishment for you last time was too light, and the Senate should restart your interrogation!" Another patriarch looked at him viciously and suggested loudly, but he received a response from many people, and Anobas was so frightened that he did not dare to speak again.

"When did the Senate become so timid and unable to listen to different opinions?!" At this point, Hanno stood up and expressed his support for Anobas: "We are at a complete disadvantage in this war against Dionia, not because some of us are arrogant and think that we can easily defeat Dionia, and arrogantly declare, 'Within a year, drive the Dioonians out of Sicily!'" 'The result?! We have lost Corsica, Sardinia, even Sicily is difficult to keep, and now the Dioonians are attacking our doorstep! It's time to listen to different opinions and sober up some of us hot-headed! Annobas, tell me, what's wrong with the situation?! ”

Hanno looked around at the crowd with a majestic expression, and out of awe of this powerful man, no one said anything to refute it, and even Pretakuba fell silent because of his grievances.

Anobas coughed lightly and said softly: "Although Lord Morbar used a strataghm to fool the Dionian fleet, he failed to make it chaotic through the rapid attack of the front and rear, this is because the Dionian warships on the periphery did not care that they would be hit and sunk, and they desperately blocked them, and their fighting spirit was very tenacious!" Anobasa couldn't help but sigh, he couldn't help but think of the naval battle in Sardinia, in fact, his plan was relatively successful at that time, in the face of the dilemma of being flanked in front and rear, and the number of warships was small, the fleet of other city-states had already been defeated, but the Dionian fleet fought a bloody way, and turned defeat into victory, and its fighting spirit was so tenacious that it palpitated.

"You see—now our ships are not continuing to charge, but are circling to the sides, which means that the Dionian fleet has formed a circle so that our ships do not dare to storm its formation—"

"So what? The Dionian fleet has already been surrounded by us, and we are not attacking in order to reduce casualties, and the Dioonians are not attacking, is it in order to wait until the evening to facilitate the escape? Pretakuba's remarks drew laughter from a handful of senators.

"Everyone knows that the crews of warships are consumed greatly because of the long hours of rowing and fighting, and they need to replenish them in time, but the battlefield is in Carthage, and it is impossible for the Dionian fleet to be fed and rested, and its base is even more than a hundred miles away. At night, surrounded by the Carthaginian fleet, would the exhausted Dionian crew still be able to row the ship back? I'm afraid I'll have to tie my hands and catch it. Another Magonidian patriarch added.

"We all know that for the Dionian fleet to stay here is only to die, and the Dioonians cannot be unaware! I remember...... In the naval battle of Sardinia, which I commanded, it seemed that this fleet was also surrounded by us, and as a result they attacked bravely and desperately, and finally ...... Not only broke out of the encirclement...... And they have defeated us......" Anobas looked pained and worried when he recounted this most reluctant recall: "And this time, they have put on a defensive posture without any hurry, as if they have relied on something, which cannot but arouse our vigilance!" ”

What to be wary of? Reinforcements for the Dionian fleet?! …… Hanno's heart moved.

Before Anobus could reply, there was a sudden sound of "Bell!" from the harbor lighthouse not far in front of them. Clang! Clang! The bells.

"Why is this lighthouse bell still ringing?!" Some of the elders subconsciously complained loudly, because when the Dionian fleet appeared in the sea near the harbor before, it kept ringing.

"I'm afraid there's a new enemy!" Anobus was the first to react, looking nervously at the sea ahead.

Everyone was amazed.

At this time, the tower keeper leaned out of the stone window at the top of the lighthouse and shouted downward: "There is another fleet ahead, and there are many black warships!" ”

Another Dionian fleet!! …… When the patriarchs heard the news, their faces immediately changed dramatically, and they shouted in horror: "Quick! Hurry up and inform Morbar! Let him withdraw the fleet to the harbor! ……”

The soldiers at the head of the city quickly gathered together and shouted in unison towards the outside of the port: "Withdraw quickly, the enemy's reinforcements are coming!" Enemy reinforcements are coming!! ……”

The two sides of the battle were in front of the harbor, and the nearby warship crews could faintly hear the bells of the lighthouse and the shouts of the sentinels.

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