Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece Chapter 338: Palermos surrendered

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While soldiers were building camps outside Palermos, engineers and carpenters were assembling and constructing siege equipment.

When Leotizides piled the bodies of Lusitania fighters outside Palermos and asked him to surrender, the Palermos urgently called a citizens' assembly for discussion.

But when Leotizides saw that the Palermos hadn’t given a clear answer all morning, he immediately launched an offensive. Tens of thousands of heavily armed Legionnaires lined up in front of the city, pushing all kinds of things. This kind of siege equipment started the siege.

The Palermos people hurriedly organized and went up to the city to resist. The battle lasted for more than four hours from the afternoon until dusk. The Dionian army did not attack the city with all its strength, but was just a trial of force. Therefore, the casualties were not large, and the retreat was calm.

For the Palermos, the four-hour defensive battle was like a nightmare: the Dionians attacked the city’s defenders from a long range on the towering mobile towers; archers and javelins Under the cover of the archery vehicle, they approached the city directly and covered the city with arrow rain; the stone bullets fired by the ballista continued to fall into the city, smashing houses and injuring the people; the iron arrows fired from the abdominal bow could make the city head The death of the defenders was terrible...not to mention, every time the Dionian heavy infantry who used the ladder and ant to attack the city ascended to the city’s head, the Palermos defenders had to pay more casualties in order to fight It's rushed down.

So when the Dionian army retreated, the Palermos were not pleased with the victory. Their casualties exceeded a thousand, of which the young and middle-aged citizen soldiers who were the main defenders of the city suffered more than half of the casualties.

The sea was blocked by the Dionian fleet, and the land was surrounded again. Carthage’s reinforcements were also wiped out. Their own defense forces were weak. The Palermos had lost their confidence in defending the city. They were soon at night. The citizens' assembly was urgently called, and a resolution was quickly passed: surrender to the Dionian army!

All the citizens present deceived themselves and thought: This is only a temporary surrender, to protect Palermos, just like the Syracuse army attacked the west more than 20 years ago, they surrendered to Dionysius. After the Carthage army regained its advantage, they could return to the Siphonian family with Carthage as the center.

So early in the morning of the second day, the Palermos envoy went to the Dionian barracks and formally proposed to Leotizides: Palermos is willing to surrender!

When Leotizides discussed the attack on Palermos with Cipros, Zanteparis, and Midolades, of course, he also discussed "what to do if Palermos surrendered" problem.

In this war, up to now, Dionian’s basic approach to the captured Phoenician towns is "to demote the people in the town to slaves, and the entire town is completely merged into Dionian. The “kingdom” approach is the same for Alenia, Tharos, and Serinus. The only difference is Saint Ibene.

After the Ninth Army captured Saint Ibene, Stromboli personally pacified the captured Saint Ibene, and made a promise: as long as they do their best to smelt and forge precious metals for the kingdom, when the war is over, not only Give them freedom and support them to apply to become citizens of the Kingdom of Dionian.

Sipoulos, who has rich political and administrative experience, believes that Palermos is different from the Phoenician city-states on Sardinia and Corsica. It is not controlled by Carthage, but is only an ally of Carthage. , Is an independent city-state, such as Sicily and Phoenician city-states on the African continent. For its surrender, of course its disposal is different from the Phoenician towns on the two small islands.

Cipoulos proposed that Palermos should be included in the Dionian League, so that both parties can accept it, so as to achieve a very tense situation on the front line where the forces of Dionian and Carthage gather today. The purpose of quickly surrendering the opponent's power, saving time, and weakening the opponent's strength, but also set an example for other Phoenician city-states to avoid future deadly battles.

His proposal was approved by three high-ranking generals, so when the Palermos envoy came to discuss the surrender, Leottizides proposed to "let Palermos into the League of Dionia". This is indeed a surprise to the Palermos.

Also, Leotizides also proposed: In this war, Palermos will not be recruited for food and grass, and Palermos citizens will be recruited less, but the Palermos must find opportunities Persuade the Palermos citizen soldiers in the Carthage army to return.

The Palermos messenger agreed, but then Leottizides made another request that made him hesitate: The Dionian army must be stationed in Palamos!

The messenger raised objections to this, but Leotizides was firm, because the Dionian army needed Palermos as the forward base of the Seventh and Eighth Army and its port as the third fleet's Station, so army stationing is a necessary condition. If the Palermos cannot agree, then the surrender will not be achieved, and the Dionian army will immediately launch an offensive to capture Palermos and completely control it.

Faced with the strength of Leotizides, the Palermos messenger flinched.

Of course, Leotizides also made a promise in the name of Hades: The Dionian army will move into Palermos, and will never interfere in Palermos’ internal affairs, and will not violate Palermos’ laws. , Do not occupy houses, do not harass the people...

The Palermos messenger brought Leotizides’ negotiation conditions back to the city. The Citizens’ Assembly had no objection to “Let Palermos be an ally of the Kingdom of Dionian”, but in the “Let’s There was a fierce debate on the issue of the entry of the Dionian army into Palermos.

But at this time, the Dionian army once again Chen Bing in front of Palermos, murderous, threatening: Palermos must make a decision within half an hour, or they will attack the city.

Man is a knife and I am a fish. The Palermos reluctantly agreed to surrender under the pressure, and hope that the Dionia can keep their promise.

Leotizides let Zantiparis lead the 7th Army to garrison the camp, guard the Carthage army south of the mountain, and lead the 8th Army into Palermos.

As soon as the army entered the city, it quickly took over the defense of the entire city wall and the entry and exit of the city gate, and took over the management of the port. The army of more than 8,000 people lived in two places: one in the city square and the other in the port.

The Palermos people hid in their houses and watched nervously at the Dionian soldiers who were lined up and entered the city proudly. Although the reputation of the Dionians in keeping their promises was well-known in the Western Mediterranean, But Palermos is now like a woman who has taken off all her clothes. Even in the face of a brawny man with a gentle look, she will tremble with fear.

But what they feared did not happen. The Dionian soldiers focused on setting up tents, building new camps, and taking over the main points of the city... There was no looting and tyrannical incident. Ten years of military training has made Dionian citizens accustomed to obedience to military laws, not to mention that their legionnaires are notoriously harsh. How could they have been ruined for a small indulgence after just gaining a military exploit? I have a great future in Dionia.

Even if there are a handful of Catanes complaining: "The Carthage army destroyed their homes and destroyed the Catania Plain before, we should not treat these Phoenicians as accomplices so leniently!"

The team officers would comfort them: "There are no Palermos among these Phoenicians who are accomplices. They did not follow the Carthaginian army to the east, but stayed in Serinus. In the camp outside the city. (Of course, this is what the Palermos messenger said, and Leotizides is willing to believe his words at this time), it can be seen that Palermos and our Dionia No hatred..."

The good performance of the Dionian soldiers in the city gradually eliminated the fear of the Palermos people. Gradually, some people tried to get out of their homes and met Dionian soldiers on the street. What happened? It didn’t happen, and even Dionian soldiers smiled at them, which also allowed more people to let go of their guards and take to the streets... Throughout the day, Palermos remained calm, Dai The Onia soldiers and the Palermos people did not interfere with each other and went their own way.

In the evening, Leotizides, who lived in the square camp, was awakened by the team officer stationed in the port and learned that the Carthaginians had brought reinforcements by sea and wanted to enter the port.

Leotizides immediately had an idea. He sent people to call several senior city-states in Palermos, asking them to provide help and lure reinforcements into the port.

These high-level city-states may have regretted surrendering too early when they got the news, but now it’s done. The people of the city are under the control of the Dionian army. They have to listen to it, but when they learn about the reinforcements When the vast majority of soldiers are composed of citizens of their own city-state, their actions become much more proactive.

So when the reinforcements boarded the dock and were surrounded by the Eighth Army, they hurried forward to persuade them to surrender.

Reinforcement soldiers certainly have no more options.

The fleet transporting the reinforcements found it fooled and immediately wanted to flee the port, but the Dionians who were stationed in the port had closed the water gate and pulled up the sea chain. The entire fleet became a turtle in the urn.

Not only did they gain 4,000 soldiers in vain, but they also captured a Carthage fleet. The Eighth Army was a fruitful night.

However, after questioning the Palermos reinforcements and interrogating the Carthage crew, Leontizides suddenly came up with a very bold and crazy idea in his mind. He immediately issued the order: All The city is under martial law and no one is allowed to go out.

Then they sent people to call Zantiparis outside the city and the hero who conquered Syracuse, the commander of the half-mountain reconnaissance brigade, Tagtus. The three of them kept discussing in the big tent inside the city. At dawn, the Carthage crew were repeatedly interrogated during the period.