Volume 6: The Meeting of Two Heroes, Chapter 111: The People's Appeal and Heni's Request

Just as Hieronymus launched his surprise attack on Petalus's tribe, the Senate convened early in the morning for a heated debate on how to handle the three senators who had defected.

First, Sedorum raised an objection: he argued that even if the three had fled back to Bruttium without reporting to the Senate, it could not be confirmed that they intended to defect.

This blatant attempt to defend them was immediately refuted by Scombrus, Tritodemos, Strombopoli, and others, but they truly had no evidence to prove that "the three Petalus men were traitors." In the end, the discussion devolved into a shouting match.

It was not until a messenger arrived from Cosentia, reporting the capture of Kaduruk and presenting the confessions of his men and slaves, that Sedorum's side had nothing left to say.

But by then, Scombrus, Tritodemos, and Strombopoli were truly furious from the argument, and they proposed sentencing the three to death, arguing with righteous indignation: "The Daonian Law stipulates that the maximum penalty for treason is death. At a time when the Daonia Alliance is in peril, Petalus, Kaduruk, and Bogam—as Daonian senators—failed to think of how to lead the people to defeat the enemy. Instead, they incited the people to rebel against the alliance, plunging the nation into great difficulty and bringing immense danger to the alliance. Such traitors must be executed to appease the people's anger and to deter those with treacherous intentions!"

The Senate passed the proposal to "execute Bogam, Petalus, and Kaduruk" by a large majority. Upon learning of this outcome, Bruttian senators like Sedorum and Bagiripi were disheartened, while Scombrus and Tritodemos began to view these Bruttian senators with suspicion.

In the critical moment when the Syracusan army was pressing in, the Daonian senators should have united to overcome the crisis. Instead, mutual distrust and rifts emerged. Kynogoratas and Cornelius saw this and grew anxious, but they had no better solution—they could only hope that Davos, the only one capable of resolving differences and unifying everyone's understanding, would return soon.

...

The news that "Bruttian senators led their tribes in rebellion" reached the people of Thurii, causing an uproar.

Just yesterday, the citizens had heard the bad news that "Tarentum's army is approaching Amendolara," and before their panic had subsided, today they received this devastating report. Since the war began, one piece of bad news after another had arrived, finally shattering the citizens' outward composure. They gathered in front of the Senate's Great Council Chamber, loudly protesting: they demanded that the Senate immediately take effective measures to repel the enemy and restore peace to Daonia.

But such demands were not so easily fulfilled. Just as Kynogoratas and the other senators were struggling to calm the citizens' anger, a messenger from Lucania arrived in time.

After reading the battle report he brought, Kynogoratas felt a surge of relief. He stood on the steps of the Senate building, raised the report high in his hand, and shouted excitedly to the clamoring crowd below: "This is a battle report from Potentia! Lord Davos has completely routed the Samnites with his army and is on his way back to Thurii!"

Instantly, the noise from below fell silent, only to erupt into deafening cheers.

"Hail Lord Davos!"

"Hail Daonia!"

"I told you long ago, the oracle of Hades made it clear: only Lord Davos can defeat the enemy and ensure Daonia's peace!"

"You're right! Lord Davos is a descendant of Hades, blessed by his protection!"

Amid the cathartic cheers of the crowd, a voice suddenly burst out: "Make Lord Davos king!"

Upon hearing this shout, the senators were all dumbfounded.

But the crowd's cries did not stop; instead, they merged into a thunderous chant that echoed in the senators' ears: "With my blood for the king, protect the alliance's peace!..."

While the people of Thurii were shouting for "Davos to be king," Davos himself was leading his army to the Lao River Fortress.

Yesterday evening, when he entered Nerulum, its chief magistrate Hemon had informed him: the South Italy Alliance had failed to block the Syracusan army's northward advance, was forced into a pitched battle at Scylletium, and suffered a disastrous defeat. Now, aside from Croton, Rhegium, and Tauriana, which remained independent, all other member city-states of the South Italian League had fallen...

Davos was greatly shocked by this news. He had not expected that under Dionysius's clever and flexible maneuvering, the Syracusan offensive would be so relentless—both fierce and insidious. He had left Thurii less than a month ago, and yet the situation south of Daonian territory had deteriorated so badly!

Dionysius was no simple opponent, and he himself had underestimated the enemy! Recognizing this, Davos blamed himself and declined Hemon's invitation to dinner that evening. He shut himself in his room, pondering what countermeasures Daonia should take next, to the point that he barely slept all night.

Early the next morning, he led his troops out again. After all, what Hemon had told him was the situation from two or three days ago. With Dionysius's ability and the Syracusan advantage, the war could tilt even further against Daonia. So he had to rush the main force back to Thurii as quickly as possible.

All along the way, he mentally simulated the battle situation, searching for the path to victory.

Only when he entered the Lao River Fortress did he pause briefly to rest.

He then called for Henipolis and asked with concern: "Heni, are you really sure you don't want to return, but instead follow me to Thurii?"

"Lord, I've already decided! Now that Daonia is facing danger, as an allied city, Laüs should extend a helping hand to help Daonia defeat its powerful enemy!" Henipolis declared with great fervor. "I will also send word to my uncle, Arobmas, to dispatch more soldiers to fight alongside the Daonian Army Corps!"

Hearing this, Davos narrowed his eyes. He knew there was another reason Henipolis was willing to go to Thurii: the young man was tired of the cage-like life in Laüs, where he could make no decisions on his own.

Davos pondered for a moment, then said, "Alright, you'll come with me. But there's no need to send more troops from Laüs. After all, Trina has fallen, and Laüs needs enough soldiers to garrison the city and prevent the Syracusans from launching a surprise attack on its port from the sea."

As long as Davos agreed to let him come along, Henipolis didn't really care whether additional troops were sent. He said happily, "Lord Davos, there's one more thing I want to ask your permission for."

"What is it?"

"I... could I serve as your wartime secretary on campaign? To help you write orders, gather information..." Henipolis asked in a low voice.

"Huh?" Davos looked at him in surprise. "How did you get that idea?" For a city-state's leader to serve as the secretary of another alliance's commander was quite degrading. Anyone unaware of the circumstances might think he was insulting an ally.

"Lord, you see... last time at Poseidonia, when you had me lead the troops to intercept the fleeing Samnites, seeing those fierce-looking Samnites charging at us, my legs were shaking... If not for Izam's help, I might have run away..." Henipolis did not hide his embarrassment. "So now I understand... I'm different from you, Lord. I don't have the talent for leading armies. I do enjoy reading and writing, but studying like Teacher Antistanos—poring over large amounts of material, spending lots of time thinking—that's too tedious for me.

"Staying by your side, I can not only help you but also learn in detail how you defeated the Samnites and how you will later defeat the Syracusans... Such a glorious process—I want to know it, and so do the people of Daonia—no, the people of all Magna Graecia! If I write it all down, it will certainly be very popular!..." Henipolis grew more excited as he spoke.

Davos looked at him with astonishment: this little fellow wanted to be a biographer!

Still, Henipolis's request intrigued him. From what he knew of his past life: when Alexander campaigned eastward, he had scholars follow him and write monographs about him; when Hannibal invaded Italy, scholars accompanied him, writing propaganda calling him the liberator of Italy; after Caesar crossed the Rubicon, scholars also followed, even penning the continuation of *The Spanish War*... So why shouldn't he have one?

Thinking this, Davos smiled. "Heni, I agree to let you serve as my wartime secretary—"

"Wonderful! Thank you, Lord!" Henipolis immediately jumped for joy at Davos's approval.

"Don't celebrate too soon. I have conditions. If you ever write a book about me, its content must be reviewed by me. And you can only publish it when I give you permission. Do you agree?!" Davos said seriously.

"Um, yes." Henipolis nodded repeatedly.

"And... if you serve as my secretary, who will manage your Laüs troops?"

"Eriandos. He's the one who usually manages the army." As Henipolis said this, an image formed in Davos's mind: Eriandos had been Avinogis's right-hand man, with considerable military ability. Throughout the march, he had led the Laüs troops in an orderly manner, setting camp and marching, and had shown loyalty to Henipolis.

Davos nodded in approval. "Alright. Go brief him, and report to me starting tomorrow. No sleeping in!"