Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece Chapter 1010: Commencing Peace Negotiations

Most senators no longer believed they could win this war, including several members of the Magonid faction. Therefore, when the Hanno faction proposed negotiating for peace with Daionia, the Neutral Faction voiced their approval, and the Magonid faction remained silent.

But the Hanno faction did not stop there. Tepanco even proposed holding Mago accountable for the fall of Lilybaeum, calling for his removal as military commander. Although Mago had not lost Lilybaeum directly, his negligence as the supreme commander of the theater meant he had failed to protect his jurisdiction. His offenses naturally included the loss of Palermos as well.

Unsurprisingly, the senators of the Magonid faction refused to accept this, sparking another round of fierce debate between the two sides.

In truth, Hanno knew that under the current circumstances, forcing Mago to relinquish command of the army was impossible. Nearly half of the 100,000-strong force hailed from Iberia, and aside from Mago, likely no other Carthaginian general could command them. An official letter of reprimand from the Senate was inevitable, however, which would serve to strike a blow to Mago's prestige.

By the third day, the choice for the Carthaginian envoy to Daionia was finalized: Okriton, the same Senator who had first served as an envoy to Daionia over a decade ago and signed the peace treaty between the two nations. Yet, compared to the lighthearted mood he had carried during his past mission to Magna Graecia, Okriton's heart was heavy. Carthage was no longer a bystander to the war; they were participants, and quite possibly the losers. They were bound to be at a disadvantage in the negotiations, and the resulting terms would hardly favor them.

Anticipating this, Hanno had deliberately delayed passing the peace resolution during the first day's Senate session. Instead, after the meeting concluded, he widely spread the news throughout the city that Lilybaeum had fallen and the Carthaginian army had suffered another defeat. This incited panic among the citizens, leading them to gather and protest outside the Senate doors once again the following day.

Hanno stepped forward to pacify the crowd, publicly promising to do everything in his power to negotiate with Daionia, end the war, and restore peace!

Hanno had orchestrated such a convoluted process because he knew this situation differed from the last. With Carthage in a distinctly disadvantageous position, any resulting treaty was bound to be unfavorable. To prevent this from becoming a weapon for his political enemies in the future, he had to make the citizens believe that the Hanno faction was taking charge of the peace talks not out of cowardice, but as a crucial duty they were shouldering in a time of crisis to save the city-state.

Furthermore, he specifically instructed Okriton not to negotiate any Daionian terms on his own authority. He was to send them back to the Senate and wait for their decision before resuming talks. This way, the final terms would be a collective decision by the Carthaginian Senate, absolving any individual of sole responsibility.

Sailing north on a passenger ship, Okriton reminisced about how he used to visit Sicily once a year. In his memory, the shipping routes from Carthage to Sicily—whether heading to Lilybaeum, Eryx, or Mazara—had always bustled with endless streams of passing vessels. It was nothing like the present. The ship sailed for most of the day without catching sight of a single other vessel. This stark emptiness filled Okriton with deep sorrow and only hardened his resolve: he had to negotiate peace and restore the lively prosperity of these waters.

That afternoon, as the passenger ship approached the waters off Mazara, the vast expanse of blue sea and sky was finally broken by the silhouettes of numerous ships. This was the patrol squadron of the Daionian Sicilian Fleet.

Ever since occupying Lilybaeum, the Sicilian Fleet had relocated its base to the Military Port there, patrolling a daily route between Lilybaeum and Selinus. Meanwhile, the Third Fleet remained stationed in Palermos, patrolling the route between Palermos and Lilybaeum. With clearly divided responsibilities and significantly shortened routes, their blockade of the western Sicilian waters grew much tighter. They had even decided to keep the ports of Mazara and Eryx under surveillance deep into the night, entirely preventing the Carthaginians from using the cover of darkness to smuggle grain.

Because of this, it was not long after Okriton's ship entered the waters of western Sicily that it was spotted by the fast ships of the Sicilian Fleet.

Facing the rapidly approaching fleet, Okriton did not panic. He took the initiative to halt his ship and presented his credentials as a Carthaginian envoy to the approaching Daionian warships. Ultimately, he was granted an escort of two warships to Minoa.

Late that night, Okriton entered the Daionian camp at Minoa. Having already been notified, Henipolis had someone prepare an empty military tent and a simple dinner for him.

Okriton did not complain. He needed to rest thoroughly to ensure he had enough energy to meet the King of Daionia and handle the interrogations likely to come.

Early the next morning, a resounding bugle call jolted Okriton from his deep slumber. He hurriedly dressed and tried to step out of the tent to see what was happening, but the guards stationed at the entrance stopped him.

"Has something happened?" Okriton asked curiously in Greek as he watched squads of Daionian soldiers, wearing only their tunics, pour out of their tents and swiftly form up in the passageways.

The guard hesitated for a moment before answering, "They are gathering for morning drills."

Because the army had recently replenished its ranks with many recruits, along with newly surrendered soldiers of the Roman Aristocracy and the Roman Reserve Cohort, Davos seized every available moment for training after stationing the army in Minoa. This was to quickly integrate them, adapt them to Daionian tactics, and maximize their combat effectiveness. To accommodate this, he even expanded the ruins of the former Minoa city square, clearing it into a massive training ground.

The early morning was dedicated to physical conditioning and formation drills for squads and platoons. The rest of the morning focused on tactical training for each legion. After lunch at noon, they engaged in construction training—repairing the walls of Minoa, expanding the port, and building a smooth road connecting the port to the City of Minoa.

Consequently, the once-ruined City of Minoa transformed every single day during this period. Rubble was cleared away, the land was leveled anew, and the city walls were fully refurbished with the addition of watchtowers. The city gates and drawbridges were reinstalled, and defensive trenches were dug.

Because Okriton had arrived late at night, he had not been able to see clearly. Had he entered during the day, he might have suspected that the battle report Mago had previously sent to the Senate was a lie: Minoa had not been reduced to ruins at all; it was clearly a formidable fortress!

Heavy labor tempered the soldiers' willpower and physique while teaching them obedience and mutual cooperation. In the late afternoon, it was time for squad combat skills training, with a heavy emphasis on javelin throwing and sword-and-shield offensive techniques.

As dusk approached, the moment all the soldiers looked forward to the most arrived: rugby practice. Not only did it relax their minds and bodies, but it also built team spirit and deepened the bonds between the men.

Such immense daily physical exertion was supported by ample logistical backing. The Daionian soldiers ate three meals a day. Beyond an abundance of bread and Wheat Porridge, they were supplied with plenty of salted beef jerky, mutton soup, marine fish, and other meats to replenish their energy. There were even small amounts of vegetables and fruits to provide essential nutrients. Doctors and nurses from the field hospital ensured their health, while blacksmiths and carpenters from the Supply Camp maintained their armor and weapons. Behind these 100,000 soldiers lay the full, unreserved support and frugal sacrifices of the Kingdom of Daionia's two million citizens.

Thus, as Okriton walked toward the main tent, hearing the deafening shouts of drills from the distant training grounds, seeing the reborn walls of Minoa in the distance, and observing the tents and paths arranged as neatly as a chessboard right before him, his heart simply could not find peace.

"Your Majesty, the Carthaginian envoy requests an audience."

"Send him in."

Okriton entered the grand tent and saw the King of Daionia seated at the head, looking at him with a smile. His facial features had not changed much since their meeting over a decade ago, but his aura was markedly different. Back then, having just defeated the mighty army of Syracuse, he had been full of spirit, radiating a sharp, overwhelming confidence. Now, even though the Daionian army once again held the upper hand, this renowned monarch appeared much more approachable.

Okriton's mind raced with thoughts, but his movements showed no hesitation. He bowed respectfully and spoke in a clear, ringing voice, "Your esteemed Majesty, King Davos. The Carthaginian Senate has sent me as an envoy to call upon you, seeking to negotiate with Daionia regarding this war that never should have happened!"

"Okriton, it has been over ten years since we last met, hasn't it? I am very glad to see an old friend again! Compared to that aggressive Carthaginian envoy Pretasdrubal from before, we much prefer dealing with you!" Davos's smile widened as he spoke with a sigh of nostalgia.

Hearing this, Okriton felt a wave of relief and immediately said, "Your Majesty, this war should never have occurred! It has dragged on for so long, causing immense losses to both our nations. Trade has withered, farmlands lie desolate, and the casualties among the populace have been grievous. We Carthaginians realize things cannot continue this way. Therefore, I was dispatched here in hopes of negotiating a truce with Your Majesty. Let us restore peace between our two nations, resume trade, heal the wounds of war as quickly as possible, and work together to promote the prosperity of the western Mediterranean!"

"It was you Carthaginians who started the war, and now it is you Carthaginians demanding a truce! You are far too arrogant—starting a war when you please, and calling for peace when it suits you. But this is not some war game. It will not be that simple!" Henipolis interjected from the side, his tone dripping with mockery.

Okriton's heart tightened, but then he heard Davos say in a solemn tone, "You are right. To be able to hold peace talks and achieve a ceasefire is a good thing for the people of both nations! My military duties currently keep me occupied, leaving me no time to handle this personally. I will appoint Senator Henipolis as Daionia's lead negotiator to discuss the peace terms with you. I hope you two can cooperate well and ultimately reach a consensus to bring good news to both our peoples!"