The council had already taken action. General Gorkis led 1,000 soldiers along the coast and was constantly on guard against enemy ships. However, Castellón did not have many people in the city. They could not completely monitor the coast. The cunning Castellón sailors would often sneak into Diónia's territory from both sides of Castellón's territory. It was impossible for them to guard against them.
Today, Amicles and a few other generals and council members were still holding an emergency meeting to discuss how to solve the Syracuse navy's attack once and for all.
"Ask for help from Diónia's players!" One of the councilors said loudly.
"Ask for help?! Diónia can't even protect themselves now. Have you forgotten? They even wanted to recruit our sailors! "Another councilor said in dissatisfaction.
Just as everyone was discussing the matter, but there was nothing they could do, the guard pushed the door open in panic. "Sirs, there's a passenger ship outside the port. It says that it's a messenger from Syracuse. It brings a letter from General Dionysius of Syracuse, requesting for a … friendly … friendly meeting with us."
As an ally of Diónia, according to the treaty, Castellón was not allowed to carry out foreign affairs activities with other city-states. Especially during wartime, they were not allowed to have one-on-one meetings with enemy countries.
However, when the guard finished speaking, there was a strange silence in the hall. No one shouted angrily, "Chase the people of Syracuse out!"
Everyone looked at each other with a complicated expression.
After a moment of silence, a councilor said carefully, "I think … it's okay … to meet them …"
Coughs and gulps could be heard in the hall, but no one spoke loudly.
Chief General Amicles, who was the center of attention, had a gloomy expression on his face.
At this moment, the door of the hall was pushed open again.
The guard rushed in and shouted excitedly, "The Consul Devers of Diónia is back!"
… …
On the first morning of the twelfth month, while the Crotone was still raining and Syracuse was still troubled over their campsite, the sun was shining brightly in Turín. The citizens had swept away their worries and gathered expectantly outside the northern gate of Turín. The procession extended towards the west, including Cunogorata, Cornelus, and a bunch of Senate elders.
It was not because the weather was good and everyone was in a good mood that they gathered outside the city. It was because the Archon of the Diónia Alliance, the military commander who led them to continuous victories, and the descendant of Hades who was favored by Hades — the Devers were about to return. Everyone was looking forward to their return in excitement!
At this moment, a scout galloped over from the west and shouted, "Sir Devers is leading the first and second corps. They are still three miles away from here. They will be here soon!"
As soon as this was said, the citizens of Diónia began to get excited. Many of them could not help but follow the scout to the west, hoping to see the returning Archons and their loved ones as soon as possible.
When the sun in the east had left the temptation of the sea and began to shine, the rumbling of footsteps came from the west. The first thing that appeared in the eyes of the people was the bright red flag of the Alliance. It was the only red flag in the Alliance. On the flag was an eye-catching pattern of "black hair entwined with a double thigh". Next, a military flag appeared in the eyes of the people, but on top of the flag was a huge golden statue of Hades. On the black flag were eye-catching golden words: Devers.
The two flags, one red and one black, were particularly dazzling under the sun.
The people began to get excited, and the oncoming troops began to play the vigorous and passionate "Victory March" …
Following the flag were 300 Archon Guards, followed by the Archon Devers. Usually, when marching, the Devers would be in the middle of the formation, so that they could understand the situation of the entire army in time. However, after knowing the actions of the citizens of Diónia in advance, in order to ensure that the army would not be hindered, he chose to walk at the front of the formation.
The people surged over like a tide, and the patrolling soldiers could not stop them at all. The guards immediately formed a barrier and protected Dyvers, while the people surrounded him in the middle. Everyone raised their hands, as if only by touching his body would they be able to comfort their hearts that had been filled with fear during this period of time.
"Sir Devers, you're finally back. We've been waiting for you for so long!"
"Sir Devers, do you know that? The situation of the Alliance has been terrible while you were away! "
"Do you know?! We lost to Syracuse in the battle, and we lost thousands of people! "
"Sir Devers, the damned Tarantum betrayed the Alliance, attacked our allies, and plundered our land. They destroyed the farmlands of Amendola!"
"Sir Devers, we took care of the Bruti so much, but they betrayed us at our most difficult time! Please think of a way to punish these rebellious Brutians! "
"Sir Devers, I'm from Crimissa. The foreign cavalry hired by Syracuse burned our villages and slaughtered the citizens who could not hide in the city. They are a group of man-eating beasts! When will you chase them away and give Crimissa peace and tranquility! "
"Sir Devers, I live on the south bank of the Krati River. These few days, Syracuse's fleet often landed on the coast and raided our villages. Our village is too close to the coast, so it was plundered by Syracuse. Many of my neighbors died in the hands of the enemy … You must avenge us! "
… …
The cries were filled with sincerity, like a crying child's joy at the return of a loving mother. The cries were filled with anticipation, like a child in trouble seeking help from a strict father …
As the Devers listened, his expression became heavier. Tears welled up in his eyes as he said emotionally, "People of Diónia, my brothers and sisters, follow me to the square! I will give you an answer when we reach the square! "
After the people heard this, they reminded each other to "stop making noise" and shouted in unison, "Go to the square! Follow Sir Devers to the square! … "
Thousands of people quietened down. They no longer blocked the roads, but followed the army into the city …
This is our Consul! Seeing this, Cunogorata was filled with emotion. After all, the elders had been working hard for the alliance every day, but when they encountered real difficulties, the first person they thought of and looked forward to was still the young Consul in front of them! And the Devers was the only one who could calm the anxiety and anger in the hearts of the people. All the elders were overshadowed by his dazzling brilliance! From this, it seemed that it was only natural for him to be king …
Cunogorata watched the Devers approach with mixed feelings.
"Sir Cunogorata, Sir Cornelus … You have worked hard all this time!" The Devers sat on their horses and sincerely thanked the elders.
"Sir Consul, thank you for defeating the Samonians. We have been looking forward to your return!" Cunogorata and the other elders respectfully returned the gesture.
Under such circumstances, it was not convenient for both sides to say more, so they followed the Consul into the city together.
Although the Devers led the two legions to victory, it was still a time of war, and the alliance was in a precarious situation. The Senate did not hold a triumphal ceremony for them, and the Devers did not apply for it. But when they passed through the first triumphal arch, the soldiers held their heads high and straightened their chests to the stirring music.
And the people gradually discovered the abnormality of the victorious army: there were more than a dozen carts in the middle of the army, loaded with spears, javelins, shields, and armor … The style was somewhat different from the Diónia army. Behind the carts, thousands of naked men were being escorted by the soldiers. Their appearance was also different from several races in the Diónia alliance …
It was only then that the people, who were anxious about the current predicament and hoped that the army could protect them, suddenly remembered that the army led by Lord Dyvers had defeated the Samonai in the north that even the Lucanians feared and had a large number of people!
So the anxiety of the people was temporarily relieved, and they began to cheer for the soldiers …
The Devers rode on horseback, his mind spinning quickly … In fact, last night, when the army walked out of the mountain pass, he learned everything that happened in Diónia from the people sent by Aristiras. Being elected as king by the people was something he had planned before he left with his team. The assassination made him realize that the safety of himself and his family was under serious threat. He needed to provide stronger protection for his family, and that was to separate himself from the people, to sanctify himself, and to become a royal family that was superior to the rest …
But the Devers did not expect things to go so smoothly and so fast, and all this was thanks to their mortal enemy, Syracuse. Yes, the Devers had paid enough attention to Dionysius, but they still underestimated the tyrant of Sicily. He had made a huge plan, causing the border of Diónia to be in a constant war, scattering the relatively strong forces of the Diónia alliance, while he led the army to attack fiercely, almost pushing Diónia to the brink of despair.
Whether it was to successfully sit on the throne or to save the people in danger, the Devers must quickly come up with a way to break the crisis created by Syracuse and give the people confidence!
In front of them was the Victory Square.
The Devers looked up at the stone pillar in the middle of the square that pointed straight to the sky. The Goddess of Victory on the top of the pillar was holding a sword, spreading her wings, and looking solemn.
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