Volume 5: The Hegemon of Southern Italy, Chapter 77: The Mesapian Coalition's Response

Daiomelas felt a hint of unease rising within him.

“I… I abstain…” Tudeples said reluctantly.

“What did you say?!” Diomilas exclaimed, knocking over his chair in his loss of composure.

“I abstain!” Tudeples’ repeated affirmation struck Eumachus like a thunderbolt, leaving him seeing spots before his eyes.

…

In the end, Davos was appointed Supreme Commander of the allied forces. He then invited Eumachus to serve as his adjutant, both to facilitate coordinated command and to give the Tarentines a graceful way out.

As soon as the meeting ended, Triphyas closely followed Davos, and the two left the room chatting and laughing, walking straight off.

Tudeples hesitated behind, but Daiomelas caught up to him and demanded, “Tudeples, what do you mean by this?! Are you planning to betray our alliance too?!”

Looking at Daiomelas’s flushed face, the magistrate of Metapontum sighed and said guiltily: “To the north of Metapontum, along the upper reaches of the Bradanus River, there is a city called Garagusus, a settlement of Lucanian tribes. As you know, we have had occasional conflicts with these Lucanians in the past, but they were minor issues. However, in the last two years, the conflicts have intensified. According to information we have received, the main reason is that the Lucanians in Garagusus are increasing in number, and the barren mountainous land there cannot support more people. It is said that some tribes are arguing for a southward migration to obtain more land. If they really move south, it will be a big problem for us in Metapontum!”

“If the Lucanians dare to invade Metapontum’s territory, Tarentum will certainly help you defeat these natives!” Diomilas blurted out.

“Given Tarentum’s current situation, are you prepared for a long-term war with the Lucanians?” Tudeples retorted.

Daiomelas was speechless. Now, with the two great enemies of the Messapians and Peucetii, Tarentum was already overwhelmed. To provoke the Lucanians as well—not to mention the Senate, any Tarentine citizen would think twice.

“I heard that when Daonia held the completion ceremony for the Temple of Hades, the Lucanians from Garagusus even went to Thurii to express their peaceful intentions toward Daonia. Therefore, Daonia, having occupied most of the Lucanian lands, has become the most important power there, and no Lucanian tribe dares to ignore it. I think if Daonia protests to Garagusus, the Lucanians there should consider it carefully… The people of Metapontum all hope to avoid war. Metapontum cannot both help you defend against the Messapians and face Lucanian incursions.” Tudeples tactfully expressed the sacrifices Metapontum had made for Tarentum. Then, with a hint of apology to Daiomelas, he said: “It’s just the position of Supreme Commander. Lord Davos is skilled in war, and your Tarentum urgently needs a victory—isn’t that perfect! Metapontum will always be Tarentum’s best ally!”

Tudeples knew he could not act as recklessly as Triphyas, after all, Heraclea was founded only thirty years ago, its relationship with Tarentum was not as strong or complex, and moreover, it was so close to Daonia’s territory. Metapontum was different; it had over two hundred years of friendship with Tarentum, and many citizens of the two states had close or distant familial ties—it was not something that could be broken off easily.

Watching Tudeples leave, Diomilas’s resentment was still hard to dispel.

Eumachus approached and comforted him: “Since Davos has become the Supreme Commander of the allied forces, when we fight the Messapians, he will have to let his army fight with full force, otherwise it would damage his reputation. Seeing it this way, perhaps it’s a good thing.”

Diomilas snorted but did not lose his temper again. He felt somewhat bewildered inside: He had been able to become a magistrate because Daonia’s rapid rise had stimulated the people of Tarentum, and his radical proposals had gained the people’s approval and passed in the Assembly. In Tarentum’s history, for the first time, a large-scale offensive was launched against the Messapians without regard for the lives of citizens. Yet unexpectedly, perhaps Tarentum’s aggressiveness had frightened its neighbors, causing two tribes that had always been in conflict and never united to join forces, leading Tarentum into its current predicament.

“Now the most important issue is that we must immediately convene the Senate! Inform the senators that the attitudes of Heraclea and Metapontum toward Tarentum have changed!” Eumachus said seriously.

Diomilas was startled, then became dejected: In just a few months, Tarentum’s position as a powerful state had faced a huge threat! How had it come to this? Could it be true, as that damned young man said, that war determines the rise and fall of a city-state? But why had Daonia, founded less than two years ago, never ceased waging war, yet only grown stronger?

Meanwhile, in the main tent of the Messapian-Peucetii Allied Forces camp outside Manduria, the magistrates of the Messapian city-states and King Trellemoni of the Peucetii were discussing the newly received information.

“Are you certain that Tarentum has received reinforcements of over ten thousand foreign soldiers?” Trellemoni asked gravely.

“This news was passed by our people who infiltrated the port of Tarentum. For this reason, Lord Timagoras even sent cavalry to risk scouting near the port of Tarentum, and indeed a huge military camp had been set up there. To be precise, it should be the reinforcements sent by Tarentum’s ally, Daonia.” said Pasimelus, the magistrate of Udie.

“Daonia? That’s a city-state alliance just established west of the Gulf of Taranto. I’ve heard their magistrate is a young man who has never lost a battle.” said Calminus, the magistrate of Ugentum. Ugentum was directly south of Tarentum, on the eastern coast of the Gulf of Taranto, so it knew more about Daonia on the western coast than the other Messapian city-states.

“Never lost a battle?! How many battles has this magistrate of Daonia participated in?! The military genius of Tarentum that the Greeks boasted about, Archytas, his head is still hanging on the gates of Brundisium!” Trellemoni said disdainfully. He glanced at Pasimelus, the leader of the Messapian city-states, then said more cautiously: “But that Daonia’s ten thousand reinforcements are a big problem. We have stormed Manduria for two days with no progress, and instead have lost many warriors. This damned city! You people built it too solidly back then! Now that Tarentum has reinforcements, they will surely reinforce Manduria. Their numbers will not be less than ours, and we are also exhausted from days of fighting. I suggest we retreat temporarily. After all, those Greek foreigners cannot stay long in Tarentum. Once they leave, we can come back and take Manduria—it’s not too late.”

“The king is right! Our warriors have been fighting continuously, suffering significant casualties, and food is almost exhausted. Manduria cannot be taken in a day or two. The enemy’s reinforcements are about to arrive. If we engage the enemy head-on at this time, we have no advantage. Retreat is the best option.” The generals behind Trellemoni voiced their support.

The Messapian magistrates exchanged glances. Indeed, Manduria was unlike Brundisium; its original establishment was as a forward base for the Messapians to defend against and attack Tarentum. Thus, though the city was small, its walls were high and solid. But the Messapian magistrates believed that the Peucetii did not want to continue fighting because they had already tasted the benefits of the alliance: after retaking Brundisium, the Messapians and Peucetii would jointly administer this most important port city on the toe of the Apennine Peninsula, and from then on the Peucetii could also enjoy the advantages of maritime trade. By using the difficulty of the siege as a pretext, they wanted to stop contributing—they wanted to renege!

Pasimelus did not accuse Trellemoni of wanting to break the agreement, but said calmly: “O King of the Peucetii, with your shrewdness, you should be able to see that if we retreat now, all the victory achievements we have gained before will be lost again! The Tarentines will not stop their offensive just because they saved Manduria. Brundisium will be their next target. Can the few defenders and the dilapidated walls of Brundisium withstand the Tarentine army? And once we retreat, it will be impossible to gather such a large united army in a short time! When that time comes, we can only watch helplessly as our kinsmen in Brundisium are slaughtered by the Greeks or become their slaves!”

Trellemoni was stunned: Just now, with his mindset of only taking advantage and not suffering losses, he had actually not considered this—over two thousand Peucetii had just relocated to Brundisium!

Seeing that he remained silent, Pasimelus continued: “Furthermore, we have made such great efforts and sacrificed so many warriors’ lives to inflict an unprecedented heavy blow on Tarentum. According to the information we received, now the adult male citizens of Tarentum are either dead or disabled. Most of those who can fight are young or elderly citizens. If in the coming battle we can inflict another heavy blow on Tarentum, they will be powerless to resist our offensive for a long time. Although it will be very difficult for us to capture the city of Tarentum, the land outside the city, especially in the west, will belong to us Messapians and Peucetii!”

Trellemoni was tempted. He rubbed his hands together, thought for a while, and then slowly said: “If we really want to continue fighting, we cannot engage in a pitched battle with Tarentum’s reinforcements. Ranged in formation, Greek heavy infantry are like rocks—too hard to crack!”

“You are a veteran commander who has experienced many battles. We will follow your advice on how to fight next.” Pasimelus lowered his stance and said humbly, which greatly satisfied Trellemoni.

His tone also softened: “My suggestion is to lure the Tarentines…”