Volume 5: The Hegemon of Southern Italy, Chapter 80: The Mesapian Coalition's Plot

Heraclea and Metapontum had both sent troops to participate in the previous siege of Brundisium, so the two magistrates and Eumachus also had painful lessons from that experience.

Davos agreed with this, although he vaguely felt something was off, he couldn't clearly identify it at the moment. Because no trace of the enemy had been found in the direction of Ugentum, at least ruling out the possibility of the Messapian-Peucetii Allied Forces launching another pincer attack.

To pursue the enemy, the entire army quickly mobilized. The baggage train was left entirely inside Manduria, and along with it, three thousand Mandurian defenders were taken away, bringing the total strength of the Tarentum army to thirteen thousand, with the entire army numbering over thirty thousand.

The whole army marched north in pursuit at the same marching order as the previous day but at an accelerated pace. After traveling ten li, they received another report from the scouts: the Messapian-Peucetii Allied Forces had entered the mountains to the north.

With such a massive army, why would they bypass Brundisium ahead and instead plunge into the mountains?! Davos was puzzled. Beside him, Eumachus, after a moment of contemplation, looked astonished.

"They might be heading for the Anle'ern Hills!" said Daiomelas, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, speaking tensely.

Listening to the two of them, Davos learned that between this east-west coastal corridor, the terrain wasn't entirely covered with thorns, dense thickets, and rugged, difficult mountains. There was a stretch of hilly terrain among the mountains. The path wasn't too hard to traverse, and through it, one could reach the eastern part of Tarentum. In earlier times, the Messapians often emerged from there to raid and harass the Tarentines. Later, as the Tarentines grew stronger, they built defensive camps and watchtowers near the exit of the hills, strengthening their reconnaissance. This caused the Messapians, exhausted from crossing the hills, to be frequently repelled by the Tarentines who were waiting at their ease. Later still, influenced by the Greeks, the Messapians gradually became more civilized and were no longer accustomed to mountain warfare. Moreover, with the establishment of Manduria, which provided a more convenient base for attacking Tarentum, the Messapians had not used the Anle'ern Hills to invade Tarentine territory for decades.

"So... that defensive camp there has been abandoned?!" Davos immediately realized this.

"Uh..." Eumachus was still weighing his words, but Daiomelas spoke up: "The camp hasn't been abandoned, but after Archytas's army was completely annihilated, the Messapian-Peucetii Allied Forces launched a major offensive. Most of the citizens outside the city had already taken refuge inside, and of course the soldiers in the camp withdrew as well. Therefore, the Messapians can easily enter our lands, destroy our fields about to be harvested, burn our villages, and slaughter the people who haven't yet left! We must hurry to catch up, stop them, and repel them!"

Daiomelas was excited, and Eumachus also looked worried, but Davos remained unmoved. He paced back and forth, his mind racing quickly.

"What are you hesitating about! If we don't act now, we won't be able to catch up!" Diomilas urged loudly.

"Why pursue them!" Davos stopped, his expression serious as he reminded, "Don't forget what you said before: 'If the enemy retreats, we immediately attack Brundisium, forcing the Messapians to have no choice but to engage us in a decisive battle.'"

Diomilas was momentarily speechless. Eumachus quickly explained, "The situation is different now. The Messapian army will storm into our Tarentine territory, causing widespread destruction. This will panic the people, and they might even attack the city of Tarentum!"

"Although the Messapian-Peucetii forces are numerous, the city of Tarentum is not easily taken, whereas Brundisium can be captured easily." Davos pointed ahead and said earnestly, "Heavy infantry chasing infantry—it's very hard to catch up. Rather than passively chasing the Messapian-Peucetii Allied Forces and being led around by the nose, it's better to take the initiative and capture Brundisium. If they still don't come, we'll continue north and attack Igrathia! I don't believe they won't come out for a decisive battle!"

Eumachus bit his lip, unable to decide for a moment. Diomilas still stubbornly shook his head: "No! The enemy is not destroying your Daonian land, so of course you don't care! But this is our Tarentine land. I would rather delay capturing Brundisium to drive them out of Tarentum first."

Hearing this, Davos got angry: "How can you blame me for this! During the discussion, you yourselves didn't mark it on the map, nor did you explain it. And there's that damned Anle'ern Hills that can pass through the mountains! I don't want you to go because you said the roads there are complicated and the terrain unfamiliar. What if the enemy has set an ambush there—"

As he spoke, a jolt of realization hit Davos, and he seized that fleeting inspiration: "I understand! I understand! It's because of the cavalry! Earlier you said that the Messapian cavalry intercepted and killed Tarentine scouts on a large scale, causing great losses to your cavalry. But this time, from the start of our campaign until now, we haven't suffered any attacks from Messapian cavalry. Why? Did all the Messapian cavalry catch the plague and die?"

Davos confidently looked around at everyone and emphasized, "No! The Messapians want us to know where their army is going. They want us to follow, because they must have set an ambush in the Anle'ern Hills! So we must not take the Anle'ern Hills, and we must not sacrifice the only army that can save Tarentum there!"

This speech moved Eumachus and left Diomilas silent.

"I agree with Lord Davos's opinion! We should attack Brundisium!" Triphyas said loudly.

"I also agree." Tudeples nodded in approval.

The clear表态 of the two army commanders allowed Davos's proposal to pass.

Diomilas mounted his horse reluctantly, his face full of resentment.

"Lord Diomilas!" Davos called out loudly, "Please remember that Daonia came to help Tarentum, not to be humiliated! As the magistrate of Daonia and elected Supreme Commander of this expedition, if there is any more disrespect toward the commanding general or disobedience to orders, then I see no reason for this alliance to continue!"

Davos's words were forceful, and the surrounding area fell into a deathly silence. Even Triphyas and Tudeples were startled by the toughness of this seemingly gentle young magistrate.

Eumachus had to clear his throat and said, "Lord Diomilas was also worried because—"

Davos waved his hand to cut him off and said coldly, "Why is the Daonian army always victorious? Because of discipline and obedience! With an army of over thirty thousand people, if there is no unified command, if orders are not obeyed, it will surely fall into chaos! Since we already know it will lead to defeat, why bother to march out at all!"

Under Davos's pressure and the gaze of everyone, Diomilas's face flushed red. Under the intangible pressure, he finally squeezed out a word: "I understand."

...

In the Anle'ern Hills, Trellemoni, King of the Peucetii, and the magistrates of the Messapian city-states were eagerly waiting. However, the news brought back by the scouts dashed their enthusiasm.

"What did you say?! The Greeks didn't come this way but continued east... Brundisium, their target is Brundisium!" Trellemoni exclaimed in shock. He cared more about that coastal city than the Messapians did. For the Messapian magistrates, Brundisium was merely an ally, but for Trellemoni, it was newly acquired territory and a source of wealth.

"Don't worry, King of the Peucetii." Pasimelus, magistrate of Udie, advised, "Our cavalry went to notify Brundisium yesterday. I believe the residents will have temporarily evacuated before the Greeks arrive. Even if the Greeks enter the city, they'll gain nothing. If they dare to resettle in Brundisium, we wouldn't mind acquiring another batch of Greek slaves when we recapture it! I think we should wait a bit longer. Let the cavalry make the fires burning the villages in Tarentine territory even fiercer! I don't believe the Tarentines, upon hearing this news, can still ignore it and continue eastward!"

Pasimelus's words calmed Trellemoni. He thought for a moment and said fiercely, "Kill some of the Greeks captured at Brundisium and throw the corpses on the road ahead. Let's see how the Greeks react!"

"Report! ... More than a dozen plumes of thick smoke have risen from the direction of the Anle'ern Hills, blackening the entire sky. On the road, there are many corpses of Tarentine civilians, including women and children..."

"I only need you to monitor the enemy's movements and observe whether the enemy comes out of the hills!" Davos harshly interrupted the scout's report. "Go back and tell your captain: next time, send a Daonian cavalryman back to report the situation!"

The Tarentine scout rode off angrily.

Davos only glanced at the silent Eumachus beside him and reminded him once more, "The Messapians are luring us to the Anle'ern Hills. We must not go!"

Eumachus frowned but remained silent.

Davos said no more. He turned and quietly told the herald Tolmides, "Notify the officers in the front ranks to speed up the march and get away from that dangerous place as soon as possible."

The mercenaries led by Xanthiparis, having repeatedly distinguished themselves in battle, had all been converted into preparatory citizens. The Military Affairs Officer Philistos had assigned them all to the undermanned First and Second Army Corps. Xanthiparis served as the acting fifth lochagos of the Sixth Battalion, First Army Corps. For a preparatory citizen, this position was rather high, but most of the officers and generals in the army were veterans of the Persian Expedition. They actually felt Xanthiparis's position was too low, after all, he had been one of the five leaders back then. So once he became a full citizen, his rank would likely rise rapidly.

As for Tolmides, he had earned the reputation of "First Herald" while serving in the mercenary army. He was adept at handling relationships with all parties, promptly and accurately conveying the leaders' orders, and could make even the most stubborn officers accept and execute them, earning the deep trust of the leaders.