Volume 6: The Meeting of Two Heroes, Chapter 63: The Samnites Attack

His question made Gailnis look up, and also piqued the interest of the other leaders in the hut.

Daonians! At that moment, just hearing that name filled Gailnis with hatred. He struggled to recall the scene: "...Most of their soldiers were heavy infantry, but their heavy infantry were quite different from the Greek heavy infantry we've seen before... Their helmets were very similar to ours, and they didn't carry round bronze shields, but long shields like ours..."

"Ah?!" The Samnite leaders were astonished.

"What's especially noteworthy is that their heavy infantry, like ours... can throw javelins!" Gailnis recalled the painful scene.

The leaders grew agitated: "Since when did the Greeks start learning our tactics?"

"The Daonians have never had contact with us, how could they have learned our tactics?"

...

As the leaders debated, Verranis asked with concern: "Then do Daonian heavy infantry have other equipment similar to ours?"

"No. Their chest armor is more protective—covering the arms, chest, back, groin, and thighs—and they also wear greaves on their shins..."

"So in face-to-face javelin throwing, we'd be at a disadvantage," worried Chief Lucerius of Capua.

"We have long shields. No matter how thick the armor, a javelin throw will still injure. On the other hand, Daonian heavy infantry are too heavily equipped and aren't suited for operations in the mountains," said Chief Lesguk of Beneventum, unconcerned.

"Chief Lesguk is right!" Quintuk, the leader of the Caudini warriors this time, said confidently: "We've fought many times with the Greeks of Campania. Their heavy infantry are clumsy and slow in the mountains, and can't catch us at all. Instead, they're not agile enough to dodge our javelins thrown from their flanks or rear. And we never easily fight Greeks on the plains."

"Chief Quintuk speaks from decades of experience dealing with Greek heavy infantry. The mountains are our Samnite territory. If the Daonians dare come in, we'll make sure they never leave!" Lucerius shouted in encouragement.

"Well said! Kill the Daonians! Let them taste the might of us Samnites!" many leaders echoed.

"But... the Daonians don't have only heavy infantry," Gailnis had to remind these overconfident leaders. "They also have archers, javelin throwers who wear no armor and carry no shields, and a type of light infantry armed with small shields and short swords. They move very quickly in the mountains—I suspect they might be Lucanians... And what should concern us more is that in the Daonian army, whether heavy infantry, archers, javelin throwers, or that light infantry, they cooperate very smoothly with each other. They've obviously undergone long-term training, which is distinctly different from the temporary citizen soldiers of those Greek city-states in Campania..."

After Gailnis finished, the leaders fell into thought.

Then Verranis said thoughtfully: "The Daonians arrived at Potentia so quickly, so this force must not be the main army from Thurii; it can't be too large. Since they have the guts to come, let them taste the power of Samnite warriors!"

His words lifted the leaders' spirits.

"Quintuk, you stay behind with 7,000 Caudini warriors to guard the camp. The rest of you leaders, bring all your warriors and join me in attacking the invading Daonians."

"Great Chief, you mean all Hirpini warriors?" Lesguk asked in surprise.

"Yes, 25,000 Hirpini warriors!" Verranis stated clearly.

"Isn't that too many?"

"I'd say it's too few. If Torek weren't leading his 18,000 Pentri warriors to attack Poseidonia, I'd have his Pentri army come with us," Verranis said boldly. "This time, I plan to swallow whole that Daonian force that dared to enter Potentia territory alone!"

"What if the Lucanians inside the city of Potentia suddenly sally out?" Lucerius asked with some worry.

"I'm afraid they won't come out," Quintuk looked at Verranis and smiled.

Verranis nodded and said: "The warriors inside Potentia are only about ten thousand. If they dare come out—hmph, Quintuk, don't rush to fight them off. Tangle with them, and I'll return with the army quickly, pincer them from front and back, and annihilate them!"

"Understood." Quintuk's eyes glinted coldly.

---

"Philistos, I'm glad you're finally back." Davos welcomed him warmly, stepping out of the reception room and grasping Philistos's hands, smiling: "I heard you did well in Cosentia. Those Bruttian chieftains and herders line up in front of your official residence every day, wanting to see you... Haha, after more than a year as Chief Magistrate, you must be reluctant to give it up, right?"

"Lord, don't make fun of me. Next time, no matter how much you urge me, I won't go to the Bruttian region to be any Chief Magistrate," Philistos shook his head with a bitter smile. "The people there don't trust judges at all. No matter how big the dispute, they come to me, the Chief Magistrate. If it weren't for the full assistance of Hegesistus (the former chief of the Siren tribe), I don't think I could have lasted three months in Cosentia."

"But you stayed in Cosentia for over a year, and several investigations by the Senate's Public Office Management Committee concluded that you did very well there. I believe serving as Chief Magistrate in other cities will be much easier for you," Davos praised him with a smile. "Come, let's talk inside."

Once they were seated, a slave served oxygala.

Philistos had no mind to drink; he immediately said to Davos: "Lord, this time you've proposed that I command the southern part of Daonia, leading the Fourth and Fifth Army Corps. That's fine. But to serve as the Supreme Commander of the entire South Italy Alliance army and command the allied operations, I find it very difficult! Can major city-states like Croton and Rhegium willingly obey my orders?!"

After listening, Davos earnestly advised: "Philistos, this task is indeed troublesome. But even so, you must do your utmost and do it well! You must understand that, although the South Italy Alliance agreement states that 'all city-states, big or small, are treated equally,' all allied states know that we Daonians are the leader of this alliance. If we don't take the role of Supreme Commander, if we don't organize and command, which other city-state would dare to lead? So don't hesitate. Boldly manage and command the alliance forces! I've already written letters to the Councils of Croton, Rhegium, and other allied states, asking them to cooperate fully. The messengers have been sent. In addition, the Senate has arranged for Lord Antistanos to serve as your diplomatic liaison officer, coordinating matters with the various city-states."

"Excellent!" With that reassurance, Philistos relaxed visibly, but continued: "Lord, you've asked us to establish defenses at Caulonia and Trina. But Syracuse hasn't declared war yet. Will Caulonia and Trina allow us to set up camps on their land in advance? And if Syracuse does declare war, their army might land quickly at Locri, but our allied forces come from different city-states. Just gathering them will take time, let alone marching to Caulonia and Trina to build camps. What if the camps aren't ready and the Syracusan army has already broken through Caulonia?"

"That is indeed a problem. Many unforeseen factors arise once war starts; no one can make an accurate prediction." Davos tapped the armrest with his fingers, pondered for a long time, and finally said: "Do your best to follow the original plan. If things become impossible, try to preserve our strength; don't rush into battle blindly. But there is one bottom line you must keep firmly in mind!"

Davos pressed his finger heavily on the table and said resolutely: "Hold Clampetia and Asperustum, and help the people of Croton hold the city of Croton! As long as this line of defense is not broken, we can keep the enemy out of our territory, gather strength, and wait for a counterattack!"

"Good, Lord. I will hold the southern territory and wait for your return!" Philistos promised, but he asked another question: "What if the Syracusans use their fleet to bypass Croton and land behind us?"

Davos was somewhat disappointed by Philistos's hesitation; he said impatiently: "Landing tens of thousands of soldiers on our soil isn't that easy. We have the two newly raised Army Corps, don't we? And this isn't your concern—it's Seclian's matter."

"Seclian, if war breaks out between Daonia and Syracuse, what preparations does the navy have?" Davos asked sternly.

Seclian replied confidently: "Lord, we hope to first concentrate all allied warships under our direct command... Ever since Rhegium voluntarily handed over its 35 triremes to our navy, Caulonia and Trina have also merged their fleets with us. Scylletium has agreed but hasn't acted yet. Only Croton is hesitating, but I think they'll agree soon... Then Daonia will possess a powerful fleet of nearly 200 ships of various sizes. I will fit all triremes with the Corvus..."