Volume 6: The Meeting of Two Heroes, Chapter 57: Enemy Movements in the North

Since Potentia joined the Daonia Alliance, its situation had greatly improved. The southern border, which they once had to guard, had become a secure rear area. Not only did trade begin with Grumentum and Pixis, but even the subordinate city of Poseidonia benefited, with its maritime trade with the South Italian city-states increasing year by year. The lives of the Potentian people improved, and the city’s treasury grew full. Whenever Puamot thought of these things, he felt gratified, convinced that joining the Daonia Alliance was the most correct decision he had ever made.

Of course, the frequent exchanges between Potentia and Daonia naturally brought some cultural influence. For instance, the Potentians had developed a fondness for the sport of rugby. As another example, while some Potentians still worshipped the Asinu Mountain God, they had also begun to pray to Daonia’s patron deity—the Lord of the Underworld, Hades. The Potentian priests had reported this to Puamot many times, and he felt quite helpless about it.

He understood: this was a spontaneous choice by his people. The Daonians had not deliberately guided them. But in their frequent contacts with their compatriots from Grumentum, the Potentians could not help feeling that the crude clay image of the Asinu Mountain God could not compare to the majestic bronze statue of the Greek Hades. They had also heard of the immense grandeur of the Temple of Hades in Thurii. How could they not feel awe and begin to shift their worship? Moreover, there were so many captivating stories about Hades (from the “Catechism of the Underworld God” compiled by Pleisinas and others—many of which were quite different from the original legends)…

Puamot felt that Daonia’s cultural influence on the Potentians was not a bad thing. He himself was enjoying the refined Daonian culture. Just now, for lunch, he had eaten a Daonian delicacy—mutton hot pot. He found it far more delicious than the roast mutton or boiled mutton he had eaten before. As a result, he had eaten too much. Now he was contentedly rubbing his full belly, about to take his hunting dog for a walk in the courtyard to aid digestion.

Just then, his servant came in to report: Chief Sasidat requested an audience.

“Let him in,” Puamot said, frowning. He felt a bit uneasy: Sasidat’s tribe was in northern Potentia, near Copsa on the Samnite border. It was the foremost defense line against the Samnites. Therefore, Sasidat rarely left his territory to come to the city of Potentia.

Could the Samnites be making a move? Puamot was worrying about this when Sasidat strode into the courtyard. As soon as he saw Puamot, he shouted urgently, “Great Chief! Something terrible! The Samnites are about to launch a major attack on our Potentia!”

“What?!” Puamot immediately tensed and asked quickly, “What happened?!”

“A few days ago, my tribesmen noticed many Samnites entering Copsa. The town became very lively. We thought they were holding some sort of sacrifice or celebration, but we stayed alert. In the past few days, tens of thousands of Samnites suddenly poured in from north of Copsa. They are fully armed and have set up several camps near Copsa… Great Chief, the situation is bad! Judging by the scale, the Samnites are probably going to attack our Potentia in force again!” Sasidat said anxiously.

“Tens of thousands? How many exactly?!” Puamot was flustered, but he tried to stay calm and get a clear picture.

“Well… at least twenty thousand! The Samnites have sealed off the area around Copsa. My scouts can’t get in!” Sasidat realized his own description was too vague, so he added, “But we saw that among the Samnite military banners, there weren’t just the flags of the Hirpini, but also those of the Pentri and the Caudini!”

Puamot was genuinely startled. “Are all four Samnite tribes gathering at Copsa?!”

“We haven’t spotted the banner of the Caraceni yet,” Sasidat said anxiously. “Great Chief, you must send a large army to support me immediately! I think the Samnites might launch an attack within the next few days. My few hundred warriors can’t hold them off!”

“In the past, dealing with just the Hirpini alone was already a great strain on Potentia! From what you say, at least three Samnite tribes have come now. Even if I send all my reinforcements, I couldn’t drive them back. Instead, the Samnites would use the opportunity to destroy our main force out in the field and weaken the strength defending the city of Potentia! Sigh…” Puamot’s brows were knitted with worry.

The Lucanians consisted of many tribes, which in turn formed several large tribal confederations: Potentia, Grumentum, Pyxous, Garagusus, and Nerulum. These confederations, for their own interests, had allied and fought each other, with constant conflicts, until the emergence of Daonia brought peace back to Lucania.

The Samnites were different from the Lucanians. The Samnites—a race occupying the mountainous regions of central Italy—though divided into four major tribes—Hirpini, Pentri, Caudini, and Caraceni—were not only fairly united within each tribe but also had good relations between tribes, with little infighting. Each tribe had a Great Chief, elected jointly by the various clans. Unless he aroused the anger of the people, he was rarely deposed mid-term, since only men of exceptional ability and character could win the recognition of the clans. He would serve as Great Chief until his death. Unlike the Lucanian Great Chiefs, the Samnite tribal Great Chiefs had far greater power. The clans of a tribe, whether living in the mountains or in the valleys, no matter how far apart, had to obey the Great Chief’s orders on important matters such as military affairs and diplomacy. In this respect, the four Samnite tribes were more like four kingdoms, rather than the Lucanian or Bruttian tribal confederations. It was because of this characteristic that this race, dwelling in the barren mountains, could inspire fear among the surrounding Latins, Greeks, and Lucanians.

Originally, Potentia only faced the Hirpini, the largest of the four Samnite tribes, which occupied the southern part of the Samnite highlands and bordered Potentia. Now two more tribes had arrived—how could Puamot not feel tense? He paced anxiously in the courtyard and finally made a decision: “Sasidat, go back immediately. Have your tribe make preparations. Quietly transport some supplies into the city first. If you detect a Samnite attack, do not risk resistance. Lead your people to retreat into the city… And I will immediately notify the other tribes to make similar preparations.”

“This… this… Great Chief, are we going to just abandon the land outside the city to those damned ‘mountain pheasants’ to trample? (Samnite warriors liked to stick mountain pheasant feathers on the tops and sides of their helmets to denote rank, hence the nickname.) Destroyed farmland, pastures, burned houses—that we can endure.” Sasidat’s tribe had often suffered Samnite raids before, and the whole tribe was used to a life of dodging and hiding, so he did not mind that. But he still said worriedly, “What if the city of Potentia is besieged by the Samnites for a long time? With so many people in the city, our food supplies won’t last long!”

“It won’t be long. The Daonian army will come to support us. Don’t forget, our Potentia is a member of the Daonia Alliance!” Never before had Puamot felt so fortunate about his earlier decision to join the Daonia Alliance.

“Right! Right! Daonia! Daonia will come to save us!” Sasidat nodded frantically, clearly full of confidence in this powerful ally to the south of Potentia. After all, in the more than three years since Potentia joined the Daonia Alliance, his tribal territory had never again suffered Samnite raids.

Watching Sasidat hurry away, Puamot’s expression turned even darker. He had already heard about Daonia declaring war on Locri. If Potentia asked Daonia for help at this time, would Daonia come in time?

…

Alexis walked into the City Hall of Grumentum, where Chief Magistrate Bacule was already waiting. “Legion Commander Alexis!” Bacule, wearing a tunic, gave a military salute.

“Lord Bacule!” Alexis, clad in his military uniform, raised his hand in the greeting gesture used by senators when meeting each other.

“Lord? Don’t tease me. I wish I could take off this robe right now, put on my armor, and serve as an officer under your command!” Bacule said with a wry, helpless smile.

Back then, Bacule had held both the positions of First Battalion Commander of the Third Army Corps and Chief Magistrate of Grumentum. But that was only a temporary measure to stabilize the Lucanian situation shortly after occupying the Grumentum region. Neither the Senate nor Davos would allow the highest administrative and highest military authority in a region (at that time, Third Army Corps Commander Hieronymus was in Thurii, so the First Battalion Commander was the highest military rank in Lucania) to be concentrated in one person. Therefore, after Daonia had secured Pixis and gained a dominant position in Lucania, the Senate proposed that Bacule should be relieved of one of his posts.

Considering that Grumentum was at the center of Lucania, and solidifying Daonia’s rule there would completely stabilize the entire region, Davos had temporarily removed Bacule from his military post. He had spent several days earnestly persuading him.

Now, Alexis caught the subtext of his words and immediately asked, “What? Is there a situation?”