Volume 3: The First Croton War, Chapter 38: Threat

“So what?!” Melanthius glanced at him sideways, his face slightly flushed from drink, wearing an expression of defiance. “Where he and I come from is determined by fate, which naturally destined his downfall!”

He asked loudly again: “Thurii and Amendolara are allies. I heard that when my army approached Thurii, Amendolara promised to send reinforcements. Is that true?”

“It is true. The envoy from Amendolara said, ‘Just give them a few days to assemble their troops. Once their reinforcements arrive, Thurii will surely be defended!’” Antistanos replied, slightly emphasizing the original words of Amendolara. He watched Melanthius’s face grow even redder.

Melanthius turned to Timaras beside him: “Tomorrow, send someone to interrogate Amendolara: ‘Why make enemies of Croton? Demand that they immediately dissolve their alliance with Thurii and form one with us!’”

Timaras hesitated: “Amendolara is an ally of Tarentum!”

“Exactly! It can ally with Tarentum and also with Thurii. Why can’t it ally with us?!” Melanthius said forcefully.

“Very well.” Timaras agreed reluctantly.

Melanthius rotated his wine cup, eyes gleaming: *Davos, what will you do?*

…

The news of Croton’s capture of Thurii spread quickly through Magna Graecia, and Thurii became the focus of attention.

City-states like Tarentum, Locri, and Rhegium closely watched the developments. Even the Syracusans on Sicily, who were preparing troops and supplies for an attack on Carthage, turned their gaze this way. After all, Locri was an ally of Syracuse. Dionysius had even married Doris, the sister of Demodokas, the newly appointed chief general of Locri and a member of a prominent Locrian family. Locri and Croton were bitter enemies. Neither Locri nor Syracuse would welcome Croton’s rise in power, and this also tied into a longer-term strategic plan in Dionysius’ mind.

The Crotonian envoy arrived at Amendolara, bearing Melanthius’ command for Amendolara to submit. This tensed the political atmosphere in Amendolara.

The Senate meeting erupted into heated debate.

Cornelius, Raphias, and Strombopoli argued: Croton came on the back of a great victory and was powerful. Having just suffered the turmoil of war, Amendolara could not withstand them. To avoid further devastation of their territory, it was better to compromise temporarily and agree to Croton’s demands.

The more hardline Scombrus, Tritodemos, and Protesilaus proposed stalling for time first, asking Tarentum to pressure Croton, and deciding based on the situation.

The new citizen senators were almost all hardliners, already angered by the arrogant behavior of the Crotonian envoy since entering the city. They firmly declared: Amendolara must never bow to Croton’s threats. If Croton invaded, they would teach Croton a lesson!

After Croton’s army occupied Thurii, Davos had foreseen that this would happen. As a leader who had gained the trust of the mercenaries through military prestige, and who had become lifelong magistrate of Amendolara through military strength, he could not show any weakness or retreat, as that would shake his authority. So he spoke decisively: “Since Amendolara has already made a decision, we must stick to it to the end! We must not shake Tarentum’s trust in us! And we must not let the people of Magna Graecia think that Amendolara is a city-state that yields to power and forgets its principles for profit!”

Davos’ powerful words brought the Senate meeting to a close.

When the Crotonian envoy received Amendolara’s reply, he was stunned at first, then viciously threatened: “Aren’t you afraid of suffering the same fate as Thurii?!”

“You may try,” Davos replied coldly.

The envoy, returning in frustration, brought back Davos’ letter: “Respected commander of Croton, the people of Amendolara revere your victory. However, honoring covenants sworn in the name of the gods is a tradition passed down through centuries in Amendolara. We hope you understand!…”

After reading it, Melanthius laughed in anger and tore the letter and document into shreds: “This magistrate of Amendolara has some courage… Hah… A mere mercenary actually understands the value of keeping his word?!”

He paced back and forth in the hall a few times, then made up his mind: “It seems we must teach this disobedient little state a lesson! Timaras, gather eight thousand men. We’re going to Amendolara!”

Timaras urgently said: “But Tarentum—”

Melanthius waved his hand: “Relax. I won’t do anything reckless.”

Croton’s army marched out of the city and quickly headed north.

Amendolara’s scouts immediately reported back. The news spread among Amendolara’s citizens, and tension gripped them.

Cornelius, Raphias, and others once again advised Davos: Temporarily yield to Croton and join their alliance.

Davos retorted: “I have never been used to begging for peace under the threat of swords and spears!”

The new citizen senators were burning with battle fury, clamoring to mobilize the troops and deal a heavy blow to the arrogant Crotonians. Davos forcibly suppressed them.

He ordered: Everyone retreat inside the city and prepare for defense!

The officers, intimidated by his authority, reluctantly obeyed.

The Tarentum Senate was also closely monitoring the movements of Croton’s army. They received the news later than Amendolara, and the magistrates immediately held an emergency consultation with the senators.

The senators expressed: Croton, ignoring that Amendolara was an ally of Tarentum, had brazenly invaded—this was an affront to Tarentum! A formal protest must be made!

However, on the question of whether Tarentum should go to war if Croton engaged Amendolara, most were cautious, saying they would see how things developed. After all, Tarentum and Croton were both powerful states in Magna Graecia, each with a bloc of allies. A war between them would not be resolved in just a few battles.

Archytas voluntarily requested in the Senate to meet with Croton’s commander Melanthius, and was eventually approved. Another envoy was sent by ship to Croton—a short voyage, taking only half a day with a favorable wind.

While the Tarentum Senate was still debating, Melanthius had already led his army across the River Savichello. Two hours later, they reached the foot of the hill. He gazed up at Amendolara perched on the hill. The city walls were lined with fully armed soldiers. Under the direct sunlight from the east, they looked like a glowing wall, dazzling to the eyes. He couldn’t help but remark: “Amendolara’s soldiers look quite decent. If I had attacked in the morning, this sunlight alone would have given my men a hard time.”

He ordered the troops to form up in phalanx formation, the line stretching over a stade long. As they slowly approached the walls, they beat their round shields and shouted battle cries, shaking the heavens…

But under the strict orders of their officers, Amendolara’s soldiers stood silently on the walls, not uttering a sound.

Alcinus couldn’t help saying: “Squad leader, the Crotonians are too arrogant. We should at least roar back a couple of times to retaliate.”

Squad leader Kteippos cursed under his breath: “Shut up! This is the magistrate’s order. Do you want to violate military discipline?!”

Hearing this, Alcinus immediately stopped complaining.

“Just remember, as long as the Crotonians don’t attack, we just watch their show. If they dare to attack, heh heh…” Kteippos reminded.

“Understood!” Alcinus tightened his grip on his spear. Even though the enemy army below looked enormous, Alcinus almost hoped they would attack, so he could put his hard-earned training skills to use.

Seeing no reaction from Amendolara, Melanthius immediately halted the advance. He sent men to the foot of the walls to call out, demanding to see Davos. But again, there was no response from the walls.

Melanthius thought Davos was scared and didn’t dare face him directly. So he had some soldiers stand beneath the walls and shout insults:

“Davos is a coward, afraid to face Croton’s army!”

“Amendolara people don’t even dare breathe when they see Croton’s troops!”

The new recruits heard this, their faces turning red, and began to complain. Then the veterans scolded them: “Whether we’re cowards or not, you’ll only know after a fight. Talk is useless. As for the magistrate, when he led us to repeatedly defeat the Persians, these Crotonians were probably still enjoying the cheers of the crowd in the gymnasium.”

Truth be told, the veterans were also holding in their anger. But their experience had taught them to obey Davos’ commands and not waste energy on unnecessary things.

The Crotonian soldiers’ voices went hoarse from shouting, and still Amendolara did not respond.

Melanthius grew bored. Finally, he ordered: “Burn all these buildings down—a warning to Amendolara!”

The ever-silent Amendolara had humiliated and angered Melanthius. At his command, all the nearly completed warehouses and inns at the foot of Amendolara’s hill went up in roaring flames. Months of effort by the people of Amendolara were destroyed in an instant…

The towering fire reflected on the countless furious faces of the soldiers on the walls. Their eyes wide open, they glared as the Crotonians swaggered away…

The news reached the Senate, and the assembly erupted in anger.

Only Davos remained calm. He listened carefully to Asiastes, who had rushed back, recounting in detail how the Crotonian army had behaved before the city. From this, he inferred Melanthius’ character and psychology, corroborating what he already knew.

“Are the Crotonians trying to declare war on us?” Raphias exclaimed in shock.

“They invaded our territory and burned our buildings. That is already a declaration of war!” Philistos reminded.