Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece Chapter 901: The Seventh Legions Arrival

Leotychides offered a rare smile and inquired, "What is the current state of the military camp today?"

Since seizing Selinus, Leotychides had shouldered the duty of governing the entire city, leaving him with little time or energy for military affairs. Consequently, he had entrusted the camp's management to Chaeris, a decision that had proven sound thus far, with no significant issues arising, despite having already relocated most of Selinus's populace to Catania.

"Everything is stable, my Lord. The loss of ships has not dampened the spirits of our soldiers. In fact, they are eager for another opportunity to raid the enemy camp and achieve further victories," Chaeris reported.

Leotychides lightly shook his head. "We've already tricked the Carthaginians once; repeating the same ruse will be difficult. Nevertheless, I am planning a major military operation..."

He paused, observing Chaeris, who stood rigidly, showing no particular eagerness.

While silently commending Chaeris, Leotychides maintained a neutral expression. "The Carthaginian forces have divided into four divisions. One is currently laying siege to Selinus, another is poised to attack Minoa, a third advances on Enna, and the final group targets Gela. Our predicament is perilous. If you were in my position, what course of action would you advocate?"

Senior officers like Chaeris typically received intelligence from scouts and reconnaissance vessels, giving him a clear understanding of the battlefield. After careful consideration, he responded, "Although the Carthaginian army vastly outnumbers us, we can leverage our naval superiority to engage them one by one, exploiting their dispersed formations."

"Engage them individually... Hmm..." Leotychides mused aloud, probing further, "Where do you propose our initial strike should be?"

"Gela," Chaeris declared without hesitation. "Reports suggest the Carthaginian contingent there is not substantial and operates in isolation. Moreover, their position is ideal for our assault, being deep within our territory and adjacent to the coast!"

Leotychides nodded in agreement. "Your thoughts align perfectly with mine. I shall lead the Eighth Legion and the Fourth Cavalry Legion aboard ships to Gela, aiming to neutralize that Carthaginian force swiftly. Upon my departure, I will place you in charge of this locale and command of the five thousand soldiers from the reserve legion."

Chaeris remained silent for a moment, a hint of hesitation clouding his expression, which caught Leotychides by surprise, knowing his subordinate well.

After a brief internal debate, Chaeris spoke with firm resolve, "My Lord Commander, five thousand soldiers are excessive. Three thousand will be sufficient. This will allow you a larger contingent to defeat the Carthaginian army. I am confident I can hold this position until your victorious return at the head of your forces!"

Leotychides appeared taken aback, remaining seated as he contemplated Chaeris. He then rose and approached him, placing a hand gently on his shoulder. "My objective in departing Selinus extends beyond confronting the Carthaginian army at Gela, so my return may not be immediate. Given Selinus's strategic importance, its defense must be paramount. That is why I assigned you such a substantial force. Do not concern yourself with potential outnumbered odds for me; reinforcements will be plentiful once we reach the eastern territories."

Upon hearing this, Chaeris quickly interjected, "Commander, I vow to defend Selinus to my last breath. Rest assured, as long as I stand, the city of Selinus will endure!"

Leotychides' expression flickered, prompting him to speak softly, "Should you find it impossible to maintain this defense, there is no need for martyrdom. The naval fleet awaits in the harbor; you and your soldiers can evacuate safely. This conflict is destined to be protracted, and future opportunities to reclaim Selinus will surely arise..."

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

As the fleet from Catania reached the port of Selinus, Leotychides commenced preparations for his army's embarkation, only to encounter a messenger dispatched from Minoa seeking urgent aid.

It transpired that upon Bomilcar's Carthaginian army reaching Minoa's territory and establishing their camp, they immediately commenced their assault on the city. Unlike Muntebaal, Bomilcar personally led the charge from the front lines, overseeing the attack. Under the disciplined command of the Iberian generals, the soldiers eschewed any laxity, launching relentless assaults that exerted considerable pressure on Minoa's defenders.

Regrettably, upon receiving this devastating news, Leotychides could offer only words of solace to the beleaguered Minoans, urging them to persevere while promising to lead his army to their rescue as swiftly as possible.

Escorted by the Theonian fleet, the ships bearing Leotychides' army successfully navigated into the port of Gela.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Simultaneously, Burim, the legatus of the Seventh Legion stationed at the Locri camp, received urgent orders from the Ministry of Military. The Seventh Legion was commanded to immediately depart for Catania!

“It’s finally our time to shine!” Burim, a lanky figure, sprang from his seat, exclaiming to his adjutant. “Dispatch someone at once to inform the praetor of Locri, that they may prepare for the expedition. Also… relay this news to the various brigades, and command them to recall any soldiers currently away!”

“Understood, Legatus!”

Before long, the military camp erupted with jubilant cheers, bringing a smile to Burim’s face.

Burim’s past included being the chieftain of the Bruttian tribe of Besidiae, which later integrated into Theonia. He transitioned from a tribal leader to a statesman, yet ultimately chose to serve in the Theonian legion instead of pursuing a political career like Baripiri. During the South Italian War, he held the position of senior centurion in the Fourth Legion. Fate intervened when he, alongside his legatus Drakos, was captured by Dionysius. Tragically, Drakos perished, but Burim, owing to his prior status as chieftain of the Bruttii, endured imprisonment before ultimately securing his rescue. As the sole high-ranking officer of the Theonian legion captured by the Syracusans in the South Italian War and surviving, he viewed this as an immense disgrace. This humiliation fueled his valor in subsequent conflicts, leading to his meritorious rise as the legatus of the Seventh Legion.

With all other legions already engaged in the ongoing war, and only the Seventh Legion left idle, Burim had persistently petitioned the Ministry of Military, lamenting the perceived injustice. However, not long ago, a message arrived from the Ministry of Military, warning of the Carthaginian army’s renewed landing in Sicily and urging preparations.

Consequently, Burim initiated the summoning of the Seventh Legion from surrounding towns and cities. Now, the Seventh Legion was fully equipped within the camp, its soldiers brimming with high morale, eager for action to vanquish the enemy and attain glory.

However, a swift response from the Locri city hall dampened Burim’s spirits. Due to an insufficient number of transport ships available to ferry the troops to the port of Locri, a delay of another day or two for preparations was unavoidable, much to Burim’s frustration.

Suddenly, his adjutant interjected, “If Locri lacks sufficient ships, do we not still have Rhegium?!”

Burim’s eyes lit up. In the past, the Seventh Legion drew its recruits from Locri, Hipponion, and Caulonia. However, last year, Rhegium and its subordinate city, Taurania, had fully merged into Theonia. These cities consequently became additional recruitment grounds for the Seventh Legion, a decision sanctioned by the Ministry of Military. Regrettably, the burgeoning relationship hadn't been fully formalized before the war erupted, preventing the Seventh Legion from notifying the training officers in Rhegium and Taurania to arrange for their citizens’ participation in rotational training at the Locri military camp. Nevertheless, despite the current absence of Rhegian soldiers in the Seventh Legion, Rhegium, a vital port city guarding the Strait of Messina, possessed an abundance of ships and could certainly provide the necessary transport for the troops.

Burim immediately commanded, “Dispatch a messenger to Rhegium without delay and request their assistance!”

The following day, Rhegium answered the Seventh Legion’s plea, and close to two hundred transport ships arrived at the port of Locri as dusk settled.

Early on the third day, Burim led over eight thousand men of the Seventh Legion from the military camp and into the city of Locri. The populace of Locri lined both sides of the streets, bidding farewell to their departing soldiers. In contrast to the citizens of other cities within the kingdom, the Locrians offered muted cheers, lacking excessive exuberance as they saw their troops off. Rather than thronging the streets and impeding the soldiers' march, they stood in an orderly fashion along the roadside, extending waves of their hands.

Although Locri had ceased its adherence to the severe laws enacted by Zaleucus after its integration into the Kingdom of Theonia a decade prior, the citizens of this city had long ingrained restraint and obedience into their very being. This ingrained discipline, in turn, meant that Locri, once an adversary of Theonia, presented virtually no challenges to King Davos and the Senate following its incorporation into the kingdom. Naturally, the Locrian citizens’ devotion to Persephone and their belief in the rule of law facilitated a seamless assimilation into the Kingdom of Theonia.

Before the army entered the port, they had already passed through Locri's extensive shipbuilding facilities. Along the shoreline, seven to eight enormous dry docks stood in a row, with numerous shipwrights diligently constructing triremes within their confines. Additionally, substantial piles of thick, felled tree trunks were arranged on the open sands surrounding the area. Every so often, teams of horse-drawn wagons would enter the workshops, transporting trees. In several temporary sheds, carpenters busily transformed the rough logs into straight, smooth ship boards. The people throughout the workshops were so engrossed in their tasks that merely a handful even noticed the Seventh Legion marching past.

This vibrant and orderly display of shipbuilding was not confined to Locri alone; it was occurring concurrently in all of Theonia's other capable coastal shipbuilding towns. These included Thurii, Crotone, Terina, Scylletium, Rhegium, Tarentium, Catania, and Naxos. The entirety of the kingdom of Theonia was dedicating all its resources to constructing more ships at the fastest possible pace, determined to uphold their naval dominance in the ongoing conflict with Carthage.

As morning broke, the fleet transported the soldiers of the Seventh Legion from Locri's port, setting course for Catania on Sicily's eastern coast.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Despite his eagerness upon receiving King Davos's command, Mithridates did not immediately launch his fleet to assault Corsica. His initial objective was Aleria. Unlike the minor outposts established by the Phoenicians throughout Corsica, Aleria presented itself as a prime target due to its status as the sole Phoenician settlement boasting small, fertile farmlands, a prosperous mining sector, and substantial port facilities.