Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece
chapter-425

The area north of the Syracusan camp has uneven ground and small mounds where many thorns can be seen everywhere. The west is the Allaro river, while the north is the middle reaches of the Corace river flowing from northwest to southeast.

Hence Philesius chose this place to form up as he had considered the strength of the Syracusan cavalry and wanted to use the terrain to limit their strength and flanking ability to the maximum. At the same time, such terrain is undoubtedly more favourable to the more adaptable and flexible infantry of the Theonian legion.

However, Dionysius still led his army even after knowing the disadvantage of this terrain.

More than a hundred thousand men from both sides gathered on this land with a radius of more than a dozen kilometres, densely packed, stirring up the dust and sand, and the noise shook the sky…

Dionysius squinted his eyes and strained to look forward. Although the dust and sand obstructed his vision, the Theonian legionaries, who were across from his, stood out with their black attire.

“The Theonians are in the centre!” After seeing them, Dionysius' decision became firmer, for he had likewise invested his most elite 115,000 soldiers in the centre. They are all mercenaries from Campania and Greece that had fought together with him in Sicily for many years, even going so far as giving citizenship and land to most of the soldiers, becoming new citizens of Syracuse. They are his most loyal and reliable army.

“From the previous battle examples of the Theonians, their focus of attack is on their left flank!” Phidias cautioned, “So I suggest that at least 20,000 soldiers be deployed on our right flank to block the enemy's attack!”

Dionysius, however, did not immediately answer. He tilted his head and looked towards the left of the Theonian.

What he saw was the army of the South Italian Alliance, which was still forming up in the dust…

A moment later, he gave an order, “Send all the Syracusan citizens to the right!”

After getting the order, the herald galloped eastward.

Dionysius turned to look at the Spartan and said, “Phidias, I appoint you as the right flank’s commander. I hope you can lead the army to block the enemies' attack and win time for our victory. I hope you can accept it!”

“It's my honour!” Phidias gladly accepted the order, without even a trace of his “I am a Spartan, you do not have the right to order me” arrogance. After all, leading more than 20,000 soldiers to participate in such a large-scale battle is too tempting for Phidias to refuse.

“Furthermore, if you are having difficulties, you have the right to order the Numidian and Celtic cavalries that are on the outside of the right flank.” Said Dionysius with emphasis.

Feeling his trust, Phidias gave Dionysius a rare military salute.

“Astagoras.” Dionysius continued.

“Yes!”

“You lead the army of the Sicilian city-states to guard the left flank together with the army of Hipponion! Remember, you just need to hold the enemy down and do not be too aggressive, understood?!” For this brave man, Dionysius ordered with a serious tone.

“Yes, milord!” Answered Astagoras, feeling awe.

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

“Commander, the Terinian troops have reached the battlefield. Lord Siprus asked me to tell you that they have sent 8,500 soldiers!” The herald rode on his horse to report to Philesius.

‘8,500 soldiers!!’ Philesius was surprised at this figure as it would mean that there are only a few hundred soldiers left in Terina to defend the city. Yesterday, the representative of Terina said that they could only send up to 6,000 men to participate when they were discussing the battle plan, but unexpectedly, they added 2,500 more men today. Philesius immediately thought of Terina's intention, ‘They are prepared to go all out in this battle!’

At this moment, Philesius was also encouraged. So he shouted, “Go and tell Lord Asesias to move all the Scylletian troops that are on the right to go to the left so as to make the hammer’s head thicker!”

“Roger!” A herald turned his horse around and rode eastward.

“Tell Lord Siprus to arrange the Terinian troops on the right, next to the Theonian legion. And their distance between the Allaro River should not be too large to prevent the enemy cavalries from harassing and flanking us!”

“Yes!” Another herald galloped to the west.

Seeing the heralds disappearing in the dust, Philesius looked at the Theonian soldiers in front of him. Only by watching these well-trained Theonian legionaries could Philesius feel at ease, dispelling the tension and irritability he is feeling.

After watching for a while, he suddenly felt something was wrong, so he hurriedly said, “Immediately inform the two legatus – Drakos and Epiphanes to slow down the soldiers and wait for the army of our allies on both flanks. Don't expose our plans too early!”

“Roger!” The two other heralds galloped forward.

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

“Philesius is too cautious. With the strength of our army, there is no need to play such a small trick! We can just blow the horn and attack them head-on!” Said Drakos, who was dissatisfied with Philesius' order.

Still, he didn't dare to disobey the orders of his superior, so he said to his adjutant, “Go and tell the officers to slow down our brother's marching. Don't get excited too early and slow down. Save their strength and morale till the moment of charge!!”

“Understood, legatus!”

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

“Oh, if it weren't for Lord Philesius' reminder, I would have forgotten about it! Adjutant, have our brothers slow down and wait for the Terinians. But to be honest, it would be easier if they were to hurry up instead because if we want to slow down, it would be harder as we haven't practised it for many years… Hahaha…” Epiphanes teased as he gave the orders.

The adjutant held back his smile and said, “Understood, legatus!”

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

Hundreds of heralds galloped back and forth between the front and rear of the long formation on both sides to convey orders. In the noisy and chaotic formation, the officers at all ranks are also shouting as two huge phalanxes slowly take shape…

It took quite a long time for a hundred thousand soldiers to get into formation. Naturally, the Syracusans completed their formation faster than the army of the South Italian Alliance. After all, most of their troops came from the same city-state and often fought together, unlike the army of the South Italian Alliance, who had not only come from different city-states, but this is also the first time they cooperated.

The huge noise gradually quieted down at noon, and the scattered dust slowly dissipated due to the soldier's inactivity…

The soldiers at the front of the phalanx formation of both sides could clearly see their enemies hundreds of metres away. In their eyes, the dense phalanx formation of the other side is like a thick steel wall extending endlessly to both ends…

In early winter, the midday sun was not hot, but the dazzling light shining on the soldier's armour and weapons made the people unable to look at it directly. And when the Syracusan soldier’s sight falls in front of the Theonian phalanx, the unique and unified equipment and clothing of the Theonian legionaries had naturally attracted their gaze, making their hearts palpitate because the black always means uncertainty.

The sea breeze blowing from the gulf made the heavy-armoured soldiers, who had just moved around and were sweating, feel a bit cold…

In the long formation of both sides, the large and small military banners fluttered in the wind, with the most prominent banner was erected behind Dionysius. His banner was not only painted with the traditional “Three Leg” symbol of Syracuse, but the name of Dionysius was also embroidered. In comparison, Philesius’s banner – the South Italian Alliance's army commander, was a little shabby. Due to his short time in his position as the commander of the two legions, the Ministry of Military Affairs had no time to make a special military banner and statue for him, so he could only use the legion's banner and simply made it larger.

Philesius, however, didn't care about it. At this time, Philesius was surprised to see the opposite army's formation that represents Dionysius' banner was slowly moving forward. After a while, something moved to the front of the formation, followed by a strategos wearing a golden helmet and armour.

‘Having such magnificent equipment means that he should be Dionysius?’ Philesius hesitated for a while and then rode forward.

The two then met in the middle of the battlefield. Dionysius then stared at Philesius, and Philesius responded without showing weakness.

“Are you the commander of the South Italian Alliance's army?”

“Are you the tyrant of Syracuse, Dionysius?”

“Precisely, I am Dionysius!”

“I am Philesius – the commander of the Theonian army and the South Italian Alliance's army!” Under Dionysius' silent gaze, Philesius subconsciously made his voice louder.

“Philesius, it seems that your men don't agree with you being their commander.” Dionysius turned to look at Philesius' side, with a mocking smile on his face. Then he saw cavalries coming here quickly from both east and west.

“In the South Italian Alliance's, whether they are big or small city-states, they are all equal unlike the Greek city-states in Sicily!” Philesius, with a reddish face, retorted in the same tone as his fellow Theonian statesmen during a debate in the Senate.

Dionysius then laughed, “In combat, shouldn't an army obey the orders of one person in order to ensure the unity of the whole army? I think your archon Davos knew this very well, but did he not tell you?”

Noticing that he was no match for Dionysius in eloquence, Philesius simply remained silent as he looked at him coldly.

Dionysius restrained his smile and showed a gloomy expression, “However, there is one thing that you are right, I have the final say in the Greek city-states in Sicily! And after this battle, I will also have the final say in Magna Graecia!”

“We won’t know that until after we battle!” Philesius simply replied.