Volume 5: The Hegemon of Southern Italy, Chapter 105: After Taking the City

Drakos wasn't particularly fond of flattery, but that didn't mean he couldn't use it—especially since Davos had given him prior instructions, or else he wouldn't have dared make such promises. Even so, his words were still too blunt, stirring both melancholy and joy in Bagiripi: melancholy because Besidia, and even the Bruttii as a whole, might not survive as an independent power; joy because he now had hope of becoming a member of the Daonian Senate. From what he knew, several Lucanian chiefs already sat in that Senate, seemingly winning many rights for the Lucanians within Daonia. If that was the case, a new chapter for Besidia might still be worth looking forward to…

"And my vote too!" Adrianx added his goodwill.

Bagiripi, grateful, resolved to cooperate well with the Daonians here, to secure a better future for his tribe and for Besidia.

The Besidians had once built a fortress in the mountain pass to the west, designed to defend against Cosentia. They had constructed it within a narrow section of the pass for easy defense. But the Second Army Corps built their fort not just for defense, but for offense. So Adpigis led the soldiers to the mouth of the pass, ahead of which the plateau gradually opened up. Although the pass was wider here—undoubtedly increasing the workload—for soldiers who spent an hour in every military drill building camps and fortifications, it had become second nature.

Engineers surveyed the terrain and drew up plans for the fort.

The soldiers quickly split into teams: those responsible for felling trees, for leveling the ground, for assembling basic defensive structures like watchtowers and palisades, and those digging trenches and laying various traps—sharpened stakes, flesh hooks, and the like—in zones before the fort.

...

When Drakos learned that Adrianx had taken Besidia, he immediately sent a guard back to report the news.

After a grueling march, the guard reached a Thurian sentry post not far from the intersection of a riverside path, where a messenger was already waiting.

Upon receiving news of the victory, the messenger immediately mounted a horse and galloped south along the main road, passing through Castron, Crimissa, Asperustum, Scylletium, and finally reaching Trina... By a relay system, swapping horses and riders, riding day and night without pause, it took a day and a half to finally deliver the news to Heilos, commander of the Fourth Army Corps.

Overjoyed, Heilos did not forget to send another messenger. This one took a fast ship from Trina's port, sailing north to Laüs.

This was already the twelfth day of the war. Davos was at Avinogis's residence, enjoying his generous hospitality.

They were just discussing Avinogis's son's performance in Thurii. "Magistrate Antistanos has praised Henipolis several times before me, saying he has a great talent for historical research!"

Hearing Davos's words, Avinogis was both pleased and somewhat worried. "I would of course be happy for him to become a historian, but Henipolis is my only son. I hope he can one day succeed me." Avinogis's words carried a hint of probing.

Davos seemed completely unaware and answered without hesitation. "Rest assured, being a historian and becoming a magistrate are not in conflict. Moreover, by studying the rise and fall of many city-states in detail, Henipolis will know even better how to lead the people of Laüs and make the city more peaceful and prosperous."

"Well said, my lord!" Avinogis raised his cup in delight. "I toast to you—thank you for taking care of my child over this past year!"

Davos smiled and lifted his cup in return.

Just then, a guard reported that Capus, a Daonian legion commander, had urgent business to see him.

"Quick, ask him in!" Avinogis feigned displeasure at Davos. "This Capus—I've invited him several times, but he never came. Now that you're here, we must make him drink a few cups!"

As soon as Capus stepped into the hall, he announced excitedly, "Commander, the Second Army Corps has taken Besidia!"

"What?! Avinogis was stunned.

"Excellent! Drakos did well!" Davos, clearly prepared for the news, downed his cup of wine in one gulp and stood up. "The brothers of the First Army Corps have been putting up with a lot! Tell them to perk up—we're heading back to Thurii immediately, then on to Besidia. The real battle is about to begin!"

"Yes!" the equally excited Capus answered loudly.

"Have you sent someone to inform Sestas?"

"Already sent."

"Good. Sestas, Hieronymus, Bacule—they can put their plan into action now! Whether it succeeds depends on whether the other side plays along."

Capus turned and left. Avinogis did not stop him; he was still lost in the shocking news.

"Lord Avinogis," Davos said, turning to him. "I will take the First Army Corps and the other units out of Laüs and return to Thurii. I hope you can lead the warriors of Laüs to keep up the attack on Vegium, to prevent the Vegaeans from sending troops to save Besidia. Also, please assist Sestas and his men with their plan."

"Rest assured—Daonia's affairs are Laüs's affairs. I will do my utmost!" Avinogis spoke with the solemnity of a soldier vowing to his general.

Watching Davos's retreating back, Avinogis let out a long breath. Earlier, when he had seen Davos use allied troops and some reserve soldiers to pretend to be the Second Army Corps, he had wondered: where was the real Second Army Corps? He never dreamed that in less than ten days, the Second Army Corps would have captured the strategically formidable city of Besidia! Davos... what a terrifying man! Fortunately, Laüs was Daonia's ally.

Avinogis had no interest in learning the details of how the Second Army Corps took Besidia. He only knew that Besidia had fallen, the Bruttian's defeat was sealed, and southern Italy would become Daonian territory.

That thought left him slightly melancholic.

When Besidia fell, a very few Bruttian escapees fled to Cosentia.

Since Piallen was leading the army at Vegium, only the High Priest Philotaurus was in the inner city. Upon hearing the news, he was so shocked that his wooden staff fell to the ground, nearly tripping him. Word that Besidia had been taken by the Greeks spread quickly through the city, causing panic among the people.

While sending messengers to Clampetia and Vegium, Cosentia also dispatched scouts to monitor enemy movements in Besidia.

The distances from Cosentia to Clampetia and from Cosentia to Vegium were roughly equal, but the terrain to Clampetia was downhill, so the messenger arrived earlier.

At that time, Pangaelus, the Great Chief of Clampetia, was feasting Nikurus and Bogam. They had just thwarted a Daonian plot: the Daonians had tried to use an even more remote mountain path to circle around to a position far behind Clampetia, but the ever-vigilant Bruttians spotted them. Before the main force could arrive, the Daonians fled in haste.

"These Greeks are all cowards, only good for sneak attacks—afraid to meet me in a real fight! This war is boring!" Nikurus complained loudly as he drank. "This Daonian general is a complete fool! He already tried once before to sneak through a small path past Clampetia, and we caught him; now he tries again? Do they think we're all idiots?!"

Bogam laughed. "Maybe it's not that his brain is defective—he's got no other choice. On the second day after this so-called Second Army Corps arrived, they attacked us but retreated before even reaching the walls. I saw from the walls that they took quite a few casualties."

"These Greeks have good weapons and gear, but they're too afraid to die! At this rate, we could hold out not just two months, but a year—no problem!" Pangaelus raised his cup and declared loudly, his confidence soaring.

"So Sedorum says the Daonian army is strong, their magistrate is a great commander... I say it's all bullshit! He's a coward too!" Nikurus belched and pounded the wooden table with his fist. "Why don't we take advantage of the low Daonian morale and raid their camp!"

"That's... too dangerous! What if..." Bogam was worried.

"What's there to fear!" Nikurus glared, cutting him off. "We have over seven thousand warriors; the enemy has at most ten thousand, and they're all cowards. Rout them, and we won't have to sit here and defend anymore!"

Pangaelus was tempted. Although Bogam and Nikurus had brought some rations, part of the supplies still had to come from Clampetia, and their presence caused trouble for the townspeople. Most of Pangaelus's daily energy was spent resolving disputes and conflicts.

He was about to say more when the gate guard burst in.

"Clatter!" A cup hit the floor, spilling wine everywhere.

"What did you say?! Besidia has been taken by the Daonians?!" Nikurus rushed over, grabbed the messenger, his face red, reeking of wine, and cursed, "Don't talk nonsense! Don't talk nonsense! Besidia couldn't have been taken by the Daonians! Impossible! If you keep lying, I'll cut out your tongue and feed it to the dogs!..."

"It's true, Great Chiefs! I have a letter from the High Priest for you! Help!" The messenger struggled and cried out. Pangaelus and Bogam, though equally shocked, had to first stop Nikurus's brutal behavior. They stepped in, pulled Nikurus away, and finally separated the two.

"Yes, this is the High Priest's seal!" Bogam quickly scanned the letter handed over by the messenger.