Chapter 725: Theonias Response

Arpenst was the first to agree, "His Majesty is right. In addition, our military's food consumption is smaller since we are fighting against the Samnites in the Dauni region!"

"But Your Majesty...the war report says the Samnties attacked all three of our cities with no less than ten thousand men each. Judging by this, the Samnites have likely concentrated most of the four major tribes' troops, which Kapus and the Eleventh Legion cannot defend against alone, so we must send them additional reinforcements." Hielos offered his advice and concern.

"Although the Samnites are a lot, most of them are light infantry and wouldn't pose a real threat to the Eleventh Legion in a frontal clash!" said Hieronymus to relieve them.

"Don't underestimate the Samnites!" Philesius reminded, "The Ministry of Military has received reports that the Hirpini's attempted to purchase armour from our weapons merchants. Though they were unsuccessful, this shows that Hirpini's great chieftain Lesguk, who had fought against us, is well aware of the Samnite warriors' shortcomings and is looking for a change. So once they are allowed to get in touch with the Carthaginians..."

When they heard this, everyone felt nervous again.

After some thought, Davos said, "The Eleventh Legion alone isn't enough... So we will appoint Alexius as the commander of eastern Theonia. He will command the Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh Legions, as well as the Second Cavalry Legion and the reserve soldiers of these legions, in the war against the Samnites. However, warn him not to take all the troops to the Dauni region since we need to leave enough to guard against some enemies that may exist in the east and those planning to destabilise Peuceti, Messapi and Dauni..."

Although Alexius and Prosous were regional commanders, Alexius could command much more troops than Prosous without the officials of the Ministry of Military objecting. Besides Alexius being their old comrade, Prosous' qualifications and achievements couldn't compare to Alexius. In addition, the Dauni region was closer to the core area of the kingdom, so an enemy invasion here had a more significant psychological impact on the people. Finally, it is indeed more convenient for the logistics supply.

But Davos' last sentence surprised them again, causing Philesius to ask, "Your Majesty, do we have any new enemy in the kingdom?!"

The more politically sensitive Hielos asked more directly, "Your Majesty, is the enemy you refer to Sparta?"

As soon as Hielos uttered 'Sparta', the faces of Philesius, Hieronymus and Tolmides turned pale.

Davos, however, remained calm as he looked at them. Then he half-jokingly said, with a hint of dissatisfaction, "You are all veterans who have defeated countless powerful enemies me. So how could you be scared just by hearing the enemy is Sparta?!"

"Your Majesty, we...are not afraid, just a little surprised." Philesius quickly explained.

"What's there to be surprised about?" Davos then slightly reprimanded them, "In the first place, we all know that circumstances only forced Sparta to sign a friendship agreement with us. With Sparta's domineering attitude, how could they allow other powers to share the hegemony of Greece with them? I am afraid they secretly regarded Theonia as their enemy long ago. Otherwise, they wouldn't have taken in some Messapians and Peucetians refugees. Now that we are at war with several powers, I fear the Spartans have begun to think their time has come...

Remember, the Ministry of Military isn't just an ordinary department of the kingdom, as it commands our entire army to deal with the threats the kingdom faces now and in the future. Therefore, as senior officials of this department, you should analyse the kingdoms and forces in the Mediterranean from a higher perspective, not only to deal with the present but also to predict and prepare for the future!..."

Although Davos' words were a little tactful, they still embarrassed some of the people here. As a result, there was a moment of silence in the conference room.

Davos then raised a question, "If Sparta wanted to intervene in this war, what would they do? And how should we deal with it? I want you all to go back and think and discuss this carefully and then write a plan for me."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The five then left.

Davos walked over to the map, pointed at the symbol of Rome with his finger, glanced at the Hernici territory, where a large army might now be stationed, then at the towns that had just become Roman colonies in the southwest of Latium, and finally back to Rome...

After pondering for a long time, a bold plan was brewing in his mind...

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

News of the Samnite invasion of the Dauni soon spread through Thurii, but no one was particularly alarmed. After all, the Theonian army had defeated the Samnites in the thrilling South-Italian War more than ten years ago. So they were confident that their brave and numerous legions would be enough to repel them and that their lives would continue as usual.

On the contrary, the merchants could smell business opportunities in this, whether it was the Ministry of Commerce's purchasing war materials, transportation, weapon maintenance, or even selling spoils and prisoners...all of which were highly profitable.

But in an emergency Senate meeting, the statesmen from the Dauni region urgently pleaded to King Davos to take immediate military action to save the Daunians suffering from war. Not only do they want the Samnites, who have broken their treaty and invaded so brazenly, repelled, but also to teach them a harsh lesson!

The statesmen of both Peuceti and Garaguso supported the proposal of the statesmen of Dauni. After all, Garaguso bordered the Samnites in the mountains to the north, as was Peuceti, whose city of Venusia to the north had been invaded and even conquered by the Samnites several times in the past.

Davos was happy to see such a situation happen since the strong foreign enemy had forced these newly joined regions to share a common hatred, bridging some contradictions between them more quickly and accelerating their integration.

Then the statesmen's worries dissipated with Davos announcing the Ministry of Military had appointed Alexius as the commander of the east, responsible for commanding the Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh Legions and the Second Cavalry Legion to encircle and suppress the Samnites. Since, in the minds of many statesmen, Alexius was a famous Theonian general second only to Davos. In addition, he was the one to conquer the Dauni region in the past, so he should be more familiar with the situation there.

After calming the feelings of the statesmen, Davos proposed that Antonios, the praetor of Lucera, be appointed war governor of the Dauni region. He would control all the towns and cities in the Dauni region and assist Alexius in dealing with the Samnites' invasion.

The statesmen had no objections either. After Antonios fell from grace by the Ladician case a few years earlier, he had done an excellent job as praetor of Lucera, the former capital of the Dauni, keeping the place organised and harmonious. Since he was also the hero of the conquest of eastern Sicily in the South Italian War, his collaboration with Alexius would make a powerful combination, giving the statesmen more confidence in defeating the Samnites.

In addition, Ansitanos suggested sending envoys to Frentani, asking them how they felt about the Samnite invasion of Theonia to assess their position and decide whether or not the kingdom should consider them an enemy.

Given the current state of the war, the Samnites shouldn't be able to attack and conquer Gerunum without the cooperation of the Frentani.

Even Androlis suggests sending the Fourth Fleet to increase patrols along the Frentani coast. And as soon as they find any suspicious ships docked in the ports of the various Frentanian cities and towns, they should sink them immediately. (They feared the Carthaginians would transport war supplies such as armour and food to the Samnites, who had no ports).

And all their proposals were accepted.

In contrast to the landing of the Carthaginian army in Sicily, the reaction of the statesmen to the Samnite invasion was more intense, unanimous and cautious, perhaps because the Dauni region was so close to Thurii that it could easily spill over into the rest of the surrounding area. But with Sicily far to the south and separated by a strait, the statesmen's worries had long since dissipated due to their long preparations and slow marches since the declaration, even though Carthage was stronger. Of course, this also had something to do with the fact that the Ladician case had led to the fall of many Sicilian statesmen, leaving only a few in the Senate.

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

At night, the moonlight was like water flooding Cheiristoya's bedroom through the window.

Davos only got home late in the night after a busy day. After a quick supper and a wash, he entered Cheiristoya's room and fell onto the soft bed.

Having lived with Davos for nearly twenty years, Cheiristoya knew the Samnites' invasion of the Dauni region had exhausted her husband today. Usually, she would have let him sleep so that he would be refreshed and ready to face the heavy workload of the kingdom. But today, she had to shake the drowsy Davos awake, "Your Majesty, don't go to sleep yet. I still have something for you to decide."

"What is it that has you up so late?!" Davos opened his tired eyes, his face somewhat unhappy.

In the eyes of outsiders, the serious King Davos rarely gets angry. But at home, emotions such as these were already the worst possible expression he could make.