Volume Three: The First Croton War, Chapter 36: Repaying Evil with Good

“Asi, you’ve gathered very comprehensive intelligence on Melanthus, the general of Croton. Well done!” Davos praised after listening.

Asiastes replied truthfully, “Mainly because he’s so famous in Croton. As soon as our men reached the port, they could hear stories about his deeds everywhere…”

Davos nodded. “It’s clear this Melanthus is a proud man. In a war that determines a city-state’s survival, why send him as supreme commander?”

Asiastes answered, “Perhaps because Melanthus has never lost a battle he’s fought. Besides, he fights fiercely and likes rapid offensives. Croton must want to settle things with Thurii quickly. They also sent Timaras, an older, more steady man, as his adjutant, hoping to keep Melanthus level-headed…”

“Hmm… your analysis makes sense!” Davos thought for a moment, then asked, “What are the characteristics of Croton’s citizen soldiers in battle?”

“The citizens of Croton are keen on physical training. They’ve produced many famous athletes. In every one of the four great games, Croton’s athletes win events, especially in wrestling, boxing, and discus. As a result, citizens of several city-states say that in battle, their citizen soldiers are strong, attack fiercely, and move quickly…”

Davos rubbed his chin. “That means their individual combat ability is strong. What about as a unit? Do they conduct regular military training?”

Asiastes laughed. “Sir, not every city-state trains as frequently or as intensely as Amendolara. The people of Croton spend far less time on the training field than on the athletic grounds!”

“So you’re dissatisfied with our training.” Davos smiled too.

“Not at all! I love training! Especially rugby!” Asiastes quickly defended himself.

“Isn’t rugby a sport?” Davos pressed.

After a burst of laughter, Asiastes asked, “Sir, if Croton goes to war with Thurii, will it affect us?”

“It’s impossible for it not to affect us!” Davos sighed. “A weak neighbor is always safer than a strong new one. At a critical moment, Amendolara might have no choice but to lend Thurii a hand. Those fools in Thurii keep doing stupid things. Looks like the plan to attack Lucania will have to be delayed again… Ah, truly, the world is unpredictable!”

…

Bourkos arrived in Amendolara and requested reinforcements from Davos.

In the Senate meeting, the senators argued fiercely. Overall, the old-citizen senators, like Cornelius and Raphias, opposed sending aid. They argued: Thurii brought Croton’s army upon themselves. Besides, Amendolara and Thurii were allies in name only—already effectively in a state of broken alliance. Amendolara had no need to offend a powerful city-state for the sake of a neighbor that constantly caused trouble. Moreover, Croton’s army appeared very strong; even if Thurii allied with Amendolara, the chances of repelling Croton were extremely slim.

New-citizen senators like Capus and Heilos believed: With Croton currently powerful, Amendolara should wait and see, making decisions based on how the situation develops.

Other new-citizen senators like Alexis and Antonios held a different view: They must protect Thurii to ensure the safety of Amendolara’s surroundings. Since Thurii’s walls were high and thick, Amendolara didn’t need to fight in the open field. They could help defend Thurii from within the city. If they could block Croton’s attack, within a month Croton would likely have to withdraw—after all, feeding ten thousand soldiers daily was no small expense.

Alexis and Antonios spoke with restraint, but Epithenis shouted without hesitation: “We’d rather have weak Thurii as our neighbor than powerful Croton! That would make us restless day and night—unless Amendolara joins Croton’s alliance. But are you all willing to do that?”

If Thurii’s envoy Bourkos had heard that, he would probably have been mortified. But at that moment, Burkes was waiting in the Senate’s side hall for the meeting’s final decision.

Epithenis’s words struck the assembled senators. But after so much discussion, the final decision still rested with Davos.

Davos looked around at everyone and said solemnly, “You’ve all analyzed the situation clearly enough, so I won’t repeat it. What I want to say is: we did sign an alliance treaty with Thurii. That is a sacred treaty sworn before the gods, in their name! Before, we mocked Thurii for breaking their word. Now, when greater danger comes, can we hold true to our commitment?”

Davos paused. Seeing some ashamed, others lost in thought, he raised his voice again: “Of course we can! We will prove to all the city-states of Magna Graecia that Amendolara, as an ancient city with a long history, will keep its commitments under any hardship and uphold the glory and traditions passed down from the ancient heroes—Heracles, Theseus, Achilles!”

When Davos found Bourkos and announced the Senate’s decision—“Amendolara has decided to honor the previous treaty and send reinforcements”—Bourkos’s eyes welled with tears.

Because the rivers north of Crimissa were flooded, with marshes and mudflats, Croton’s army slowed its march. After spending an entire day, they reached Castron. This city, which had once allied with Croton after Sybaris’s destruction, also offered no resistance. Instead, it opened its gates wide and welcomed Melanthus inside.

Inside Castron, he met with envoys from Thurii and Tarentum who had been waiting there.

Before the Thurii envoy could even finish his plea, Melanthus grew impatient and said, “Croton’s sword has been drawn from its sheath. It will not be returned until it tastes blood.”

He showed some respect to the Tarentum envoy, but countered, “If a city-state violates an agreement and also kills Tarentum’s envoy, what would Tarentum do? Would merely compensating with some property restore the dignity Tarentum has lost?”

The Tarentum envoy was momentarily speechless.

Melanthus looked at him with disdain and declared firmly, “Thus, Thurii must be punished!”

When night fell and the Tarentine general was about to retire, a guard hurried in: “General, two people outside wish to see you. They say they have important intelligence about Thurii… to trade.”

Important intelligence about Thurii? Melanthus grew interested. “Bring them in quickly!”

Under the guard’s escort, two men dressed as sailors entered Melanthus’s bedchamber timidly.

“Speak. What important intelligence do you have to trade with me?” Melanthus lay on his side, propping his head on one hand, looking down on them dismissively. “If it’s truly valuable, I’ll consider your request.”

The two exchanged glances. One took a breath and whispered, “Honorable general, I am a freeman of Thurii…”

As the sailor spoke, Melanthus’s eyes grew brighter. He sat up, his face alight with excitement…

Although Davos promised to send reinforcements, he did not immediately muster the troops and depart. After all, Thurii had come asking for help. If Amendolara rushed off to assist at once, the world would only laugh at Davos’s naivety.

His initial agreement was meant to stabilize Thurii’s military and civilian morale, to inspire the people of Thurii to fight Croton. He wanted to wait and see: first, to observe the battle conditions and learn about Croton’s army; second, sending reinforcements only when Thurii needed them most would minimize casualties among Amendolara’s soldiers, earn the gratitude of Thurii’s populace, and increase the chances of defeating Croton. After all, Amendolara was not far from Thurii—only half a day’s walk.

Amendolara’s response allowed Neonxis to breathe easier temporarily. At that moment, he was full of gratitude toward Amendolara and even felt a pang of regret for his earlier extreme actions. When the people of Thurii learned the news, their low spirits began to rise, and they praised Amendolara. But successive reports from the south tightened their hearts again: Croton’s army had reached Castron in just two days. Crimissa and Castron had offered no resistance, opening their gates willingly and even swelling Croton’s forces. Worse, Croton had refused peace overtures from Thurii and Tarentum…

One bad news after another made Neonxis tremble with fear. While cursing Croton, Crimissa, and Castron under his breath, he sent Burkes to Amendolara again to urge them to dispatch reinforcements quickly. At the same time, he ordered citizens to prepare their arms and strengthen defenses. He even began to consider whether, at this critical juncture, he should adopt Antistanos’s suggestion and mobilize the freemen to fight.

But on the following day, Croton’s army, camped outside Castron, did not advance further. Instead, they even sent men to recall Thurii’s envoy, indicating that peace negotiations could be discussed.

When the news reached Thurii, the generals and citizens relaxed their tense nerves, then eagerly awaited good tidings of a truce.

By afternoon, Melanthus declared that Thurii’s envoy had shown no sincerity by delaying agreement to Croton’s terms (in truth, Melanthus’s demands were too high, and he refused to yield). He broke off negotiations, expelled Thurii’s envoy, and immediately ordered his ready army to march on Thurii.

By the time Neonxis received word, Croton’s army was already at Thurii’s southern gate.