Volume 5: The Hegemon of Southern Italy, Chapter 99: Prelude to War (Part 1)

"As long as we can defeat Cosentia, we are willing to do anything!" Hegesistus said, his face glowing with resolve.

The news that Daonia had declared war on the Bruttians spread quickly throughout Magna Graecia. Castron immediately sent people to inform the Daonia Senate that they were willing to send a thousand light and heavy infantry and fifty cavalry to participate in the battle.

Laüs also sent people to actively indicate they would send 3,000 light and heavy infantry to join the fight.

Even Heraclea, which had only recently joined the Daonia Alliance, was not to be outdone: they were willing to send 500 infantry and a hundred cavalry to participate.

Davos gladly accepted. Although the numbers and combat effectiveness of these troops could not compare with Daonia's four Army Corps, the participation of allied states demonstrated the unity of the Daonia Alliance. Moreover, through fighting side by side, they could deepen friendships with allied city-states and gradually influence and assimilate their military systems.

Tarentum's Senate, although they had learned in advance of the conflict between Daonia and the Bruttians (due to a leak by Tolmides), had mixed feelings when news of the war's outbreak arrived: if Daonia won, the gap between Tarentum and Daonia would only grow larger; but if Daonia suffered heavy losses, the Messapians and Peucetii, who had just signed a treaty, might have new ideas. And Tarentum's manpower and resources were now all invested in restoring their war-ravaged territory, making them truly unable to assist Daonia. Yet, not long ago, Daonia had just fulfilled its alliance obligations and saved Tarentum from crisis, so Tarentum had to make some gesture.

Thus, the Tarentine Senate sent an envoy, Polydorus, to Thurii, politely asking Davos: "Is there anything Tarentum can help you with?"

Davos naturally saw Polydorus's embarrassment. He immediately expressed gratitude for Tarentum's concern and replied equally politely: "Daonia does not need Tarentum's help for now."

But Davos's politeness conveyed confidence, causing Polydorus to breathe a sigh of relief while also feeling a slight sense of guilt.

The people of Croton also had mixed feelings; most even hoped that Daonia's war would end in disastrous defeat. But since Scylletium, Trina, and Caulonia had all sent envoys, Croton naturally had to show its support, after all, they were all part of the South Italy Alliance.

The Daonia Senate, however, politely declined their hope to join the battle, citing that these city-states had just experienced war and still needed to guard against Locri. At the same time, they made their own request: they hoped that these cities could provide some military provisions and allow Daonia's army to pass through their territory, launching an attack on the Bruttians from the Trina side.

The envoys of Croton and other city-states immediately agreed.

The Scylletium envoy even boasted that his city was willing to supply provisions for the Daonia army attacking from the Trina side free of charge until the war ended.

The Trina envoy, who had spoken little during the meeting, actually understood in his heart: the Daonia Senate had long ago reached a secret agreement with Sipros to jointly attack Clampetia. Coming along with the other envoys this time was merely a cover.

"Father, it seems the Vergaean was right—Daonia really has declared war on the Bruttians! We—" Genanet said excitedly.

Sicinag laughed coldly and interrupted his son: "We what? ... Also declare war on Daonia?! We have a grudge against the Daonians, but don't forget—hasn't that old bastard Sedorum also slaughtered our people?! If it weren't for Elea, that Vergaean envoy would never have left Pyxous!" Sicinag said hatefully.

Since losing Grumentum, Daonia's influence had entered the central region of Lucania, and those independent Lucanian small tribes, like flies to shit, had successively defected to Daonia. Although Daonia had not yet taken further action in Grumentum, it had already put pressure on the Pyxous people. Even though the Pyxous envoy went to Thurii and brought back the Daonian magistrate's peace promise, how could the always cunning Sicinag easily believe that thin piece of papyrus!

Especially when news came that the Eleans had announced their joining of the Daonia Alliance, it caused a huge uproar in Pyxous like a great bell and drum. This meant that not only would the Pyxous people no longer dare to regard Elea as a fat piece of meat to be plundered every year, but also the city of Pyxous was now surrounded front and back by Daonia and its allies. They believed Potentia also felt the danger. So when the Bruttian envoy arrived, through his mediation, the two Lucanian tribal towns, which had only recently become enemies, finally decided to unite for survival and jointly resist Daonia.

"We can't be impatient now; we have to wait patiently!" Sicinag said to his son.

"Wait until when?"

"Until both Daonia and the Bruttians are exhausted from fighting! Until Potentia makes the first move!" Sicinag's narrow eyes gleamed coldly.

In the council hall of Cosentia, the Great Chiefs of the Bruttian Tribal Alliance were urgently discussing the information brought back by their scouts.

"Yesterday, Davos led what they call the First Army Corps and Second Army Corps out of Thurii and headed west. It seems they plan to pass through the mountains to Laüs... And at Asperustum... well, the Fourth Army Corps has also begun moving south... Gentlemen, the Daonian attack is coming!" Piallen said solemnly.

"Good timing! We have made thorough preparations. Let these arrogant Daonians taste the might of us Bruttians!" Nikurus waved his fist excitedly.

"It seems the focus of Daonia's attack is on Vergae! Because their magistrate Davos personally leads the First and Second Army Corps, plus the Third Army Corps from Nerulum, and the troops from Laüs, the number of soldiers he commands could be as high as 20,000! Although Vergae has fortified its defenses and built several defensive camps on the mountain paths... the number of warriors is at most 4,000. I'm afraid it will be difficult to withstand the attack of so many Daonian soldiers!" Sedorum looked at the others and said gloomily.

"Sedorum, you coward! The war hasn't even started yet, and you're already afraid!" Nikurus taunted.

"It's only natural that a full-scale Daonian attack on Vergae cannot be withstood by Vergae alone. Similarly, the Daonian Fourth Army Corps is heading south, certainly to attack north from Trina. With Trina's troops, the total number of soldiers will probably exceed ten thousand. The warriors of Clampetia number only two thousand; only with your reinforcements can Clampetia be held!" Pangaelus defended both Sedorum and, even more, himself.

Sedorum nodded gratefully to him.

"Now Bruttii is a unified tribal alliance. But just after unification, we encounter a powerful enemy. This is a test from the goddess Amara and the god Brutus! Under the protection of the gods, we must unite closely and defeat the enemy in order to forge the future glory of us Bruttians!" High Priest Philotaurus said solemnly. The Bruttians claimed to be descendants of Brutus, and Brutus was the son of the mighty god Heracles and the Bruttian queen Valentia, a legendary ancient hero of Bruttii, a demigod, and the patron deity of the Bruttian tribe.

"The High Priest is right!" Piallen looked around and said: "I will lead ten thousand Cosentia warriors together with Petalus to reinforce Vergae!"

Ten thousand warriors was nearly all of Cosentia's forces, so Sedorum hastily bowed and said with immense gratitude: "Thank you, Great Chief, for your full support!"

"This is what I should do. We are now comrades in the same alliance. If Vergae cannot be held, can Cosentia be safe?! If Cosentia is occupied, what future would Besidia and Ambarnia have?!" Piallen said this as if comforting Sedorum, but in fact it was a reminder to Bogam and Nikurus.

"Ambarnia has only a narrow river valley in the southeast leading to Asperustum. The Daonians would not dare to attack from there, because once discovered, our warriors need not even fight; just by standing on the valley tops and throwing stones down, they can inflict heavy casualties. Therefore, I am willing to lead 3,000 warriors to reinforce Clampetia!" Bogam stated immediately.

Nikurus, not wanting to be outdone, said loudly: "The situation in Besidia is similar to Ambarnia—with high mountains as a barrier and a great river blocking the way, the Daonians simply cannot enter my territory. I am willing to take two thousand warriors to help Pangaelus repel those Daonians!"

Pangaelus also expressed gratitude to the two Great Chiefs.

"By Brutus above, this is how it should be, this is how it should be! As long as we Bruttians unite and cooperate, no matter how many Greeks there are, they cannot defeat us!" Philotaurus chanted the god's name softly and praised repeatedly with great relief.

"Although Ambarnia and Besidia hold geographical advantages, you must be constantly vigilant to prevent Daonian sneak attacks! You should know that the Daonian magistrate is a very cunning man. Croton was twice defeated by his tricks, and Nerulum and Grumentum were also lost to his surprise attacks!" Piallen solemnly warned the two Great Chiefs, hoping they would take this seriously and strengthen their defenses.

"Rest assured, we have set up watch posts on every mountaintop in the river valley. The moment the Daonians move, we will know." Bogam said earnestly.

"The riverside path from Thurii to Besidia has long been blocked by the solid defensive camps built by us Besidians. If the Daonians dare to attack, they will only be annihilated by us!" Nikurus said with a face full of confidence.