Volume 6: The Meeting of Two Heroes, Chapter 67: The Syracusan Army Approaches

"Although from now it seems that Carthage can't make any moves, don't let your guard down! And also... Gela, Leontini, Camarina, Acragas... if you detect any signs of uprising in these subject cities, have Masias send troops immediately to suppress them!" Dionysius instructed in a deep voice.

"Understood, my lord." Philistos nodded with focused attention.

Dionysius stared at him for a moment, then stepped forward and gave him a firm embrace: "I entrust everything here to you, my friend!"

Philistos was about to respond when he heard Dionysius whisper coldly in his ear: "These are exceptional times. As soon as you detect any disturbance within the city, arrest and behead the offenders immediately to intimidate those traitors who dare to disrupt this great expedition. Understood?!"

Dionysius's icy words sent a chill through Philistos.

At that moment, Dionysius happened to see Herollis not far behind Philistos talking to someone else, and added in a low voice: "And one more thing—don't trust Herollis too much. While I'm away, don't let him get involved in any city-state affairs!"

"Uh... understood, my lord." Philistos was taken aback, then replied.

Dionysius, Phoebidas, and their party boarded a trireme.

Dionysius waved complacently to the crowd on the dock: "Gentlemen, you will soon receive news of my victory! Next year, I will bring to Syracuse a Magna Graecia whose wealth and territory are no less than the island of Sicily!"

With that, he fastened a purple cloak and took from an attendant a golden helmet decorated with colorful plumes. Donning it, he looked even more valiant and imposing.

"Set sail!" Amid the cheers of his officials, he gave the order.

...

That day, almost every merchant ship sailing through the Strait of Messina witnessed this unprecedented spectacle: tens of thousands of warships, merchant ships, and passenger ships sailed north in an immense fleet, its length stretching from the southeastern corner of Sicily to the toe of the Apennine Peninsula, nearly cutting off the eastern route of the Strait of Messina...

Every ship's sail bore the striking pattern of "three legs," so that no vessel dared to cross this seemingly endless fleet, lest it be mistaken for an intruder and sunk.

Many experienced ship captains immediately sensed that something big was about to happen. They turned back or took detours, hurrying to their own city-states to relay this startling news.

Henipolis's messenger quickly returned to Laüs and conveyed to Achradamas the order: "The Daonia army needs to pass through the port of Laüs to reach Pyxous."

Upon learning that Davos had suddenly changed his marching route, Achradamas was quite anxious. He promptly agreed and devoted himself fully to handling the matter.

Thus, by the time the Daonia army arrived at Laüs, the several hundred temporarily requisitioned merchant ships and the Laüs troops joining the campaign were largely ready.

"Lord Davos, welcome to Laüs!" Achradamas led the important officials of Laüs to greet him at the city gate.

Davos, seated on his horse, saw Achradamas leading a group of people bowing to him. He couldn't help feeling an illusion: Achradamas was the true master of this city, while the young man beside him...

He glanced at Henipolis, suppressed this odd thought, then dismounted, removed his helmet, and handed it to a nearby guard: "Lord Achradamas, thank you for the assistance you have provided to Daonia!" He returned the greeting earnestly.

"This is Laüs's duty as an allied state!" The man in his forties replied humbly, head lowered.

Henipolis shouted from his horse: "Uncle, this time I'm going to set out with Lord Davos to campaign against Potentia!"

Achradamas looked up at him, a complex expression flashing in his eyes: "I have no objection to that, but you must go and discuss it with your mother."

"I know, I'll go talk to her now." Henipolis immediately spurred his horse into the city.

Then Davos said: "Henipolis is still a child, lacking experience in state affairs. He has caused quite a stir in Laüs recently. Thanks to you, Laüs has been able to remain stable!"

"Henipolis is not much younger than you, my lord, but look at him..." Achradamas blurted out impulsively upon hearing this. When Davos looked at him with slight surprise, he realized his tone was too strong and quickly changed to a complaint: "Alas, Heni has been a willful child since he was young! But managing a city-state is not about doing whatever you want! Lately, the officials have been somewhat resentful of him!..."

"He is still young. He needs time to be tempered before he gradually becomes familiar with city-state affairs. That is why your help as his uncle is very important! Of course, during this campaign, I will also give him some guidance." On the surface, Davos was comforting Achradamas, but his words revealed support and protection for Henipolis.

Achradamus could naturally read between the lines. He felt a pang of disappointment, and the thought he had been suppressing began to loosen.

"Lord Davos, I heard that tens of thousands of Samnites have invaded Potentia. Will it be difficult to drive them back?" Achradamas suddenly asked.

Davos glanced at him and said: "Whenever an allied state is in trouble, no matter how difficult, Daonia will give its full support! Besides, for Daonia, repelling the Samnites is only a matter of time."

"Yes, yes." Achradamas forced a smile and said repeatedly: "Lord Davos, you are a renowned general who has won a hundred battles."

Davos smiled, turned to see that the troops were ready, and asked: "May we enter the city now?"

"Of course." Achradamas hurriedly said: "Six hundred cargo ships are already waiting at the port. Uh... Lord Davos, you have had a hard march. I have prepared a banquet at my home to celebrate your arrival. Please stay for a meal before you leave; there is plenty of time."

"Lord Achradamas, thank you for the invitation! But the war situation is urgent. Let me attend your banquet when I return victorious. Then you must prepare even more lavish food, because not only me, but also several legion commanders will be attending." Davos declined jokingly.

"Then I will await your early return in victory!" Achradamas said with a forced smile. In truth, he had no intention of hosting a banquet; he just felt inexplicably nervous standing before Davos and said it offhand.

The bugle began to sound, and the war drums beat rhythmically. The Daonia army began to enter the city. At the very front was a standard-bearer in gleaming armor, holding high a large banner. In the center of the banner was a Bident wrapped in black hair, surrounded by multicolored gems. This was the flag representing the Daonia City-State League.

Following were the cavalry. Since the Bruttii region had been incorporated into the Daonia Alliance, the number of Daonia cavalry had greatly increased, and the cavalry unit had been expanded to 2,000 men, officially promoted from a cavalry battalion to an army corps. Although the mountainous terrain of Potentia was not favorable for cavalry, and although it was said that the Samnites had few horsemen, Davos still brought a thousand horsemen, led by the cavalry legion commander Laedes.

The leading cavalrymen raised the "Pegasus" war banner, and the cavalry behind formed three ranks. Each wore a black leather helmet and black leather armor, held a spear in the right hand and a black "raindrop-shaped" leather shield in the left. They entered the city in fairly orderly formation.

After them came the First Army Corps...

Although Daonian troops had entered Laüs before during the conquest of the Bruttii, now years later, when the legionaries—uniform in equipment and attire—appeared before the people of Laüs, they were greatly shocked. The entire army was almost pitch black. Even the shields, on which Greeks loved to express their free spirit, were uniformly painted with the "Bident" pattern. Uniform, orderly, and disciplined, combined with their vast numbers and high morale, as this Daonian army paraded along the main road of Laüs, nobles, officials, commoners, and slaves alike were stunned and terrified, including Achradamas, who was accompanying Davos.

He soon excused himself hastily on the pretext of "making arrangements for Henipolis's expedition," then hid on the roof of his mansion and watched the Daonian army march toward the port with a complex expression. During that long time, one question kept running through his mind: With the Daonian army so powerful, could Syracuse really defeat it?

Only after enduring until the Daonian army had entirely left the city did he breathe a slight sigh of relief.

The news of the Syracusan army's invasion first reached Rhegium, causing not only panic among the city's populace but also chaos in the City Hall's Council.

"Lord Atillikrus, what shall we do? The Syracusans are coming!"

"According to the ship captains who brought the news, the Syracusan fleet covers the entire sea! Oh, how terrifying! It is estimated that the number of troops transported is no less than 100,000!"

"Lord Atillikrus, you must immediately request reinforcements from the Dionian League and the South Italy Alliance! Otherwise, once the Syracusans land in Magna Graecia, our Rhegium will be finished!"

Just then, a guard rushed in to report: "My lords, urgent report from the harbor lighthouse: a fleet of about eighty warships has set out from Messina and is heading for our port!"

This new information was like pouring oil on a fire, causing an uproar in the City Hall: "Right, Lord Atillikrus, our fleet! Where is our fleet?! I told you long ago not to hand over our warships to Daonia, but you wouldn't listen! Look at the situation now!"