Chapter 761: After the Storm

Chapter 761: After the Storm

In the command tent, Litom greeted Phryntor as soon as he saw him. After all, he had helped him win the war in Campania.

“Okay, okay, we will catch up later. For now, we should discuss how to complete the task His Majesty has given us.” Amintas urged.

“What’s the current situation in Latium?” Litom was the first to ask since this was the basic trait expected of a Theonian legatus since there is no way to win a battle without understanding the surroundings and enemy situation.

Amintas pointed to the map and explained, “Since the Romans began attacking the Hernicans last month, they have conquered several towns in succession. They are currently besieging the central town of Ferentinum and have increased their troops from forty thousand to seventy thousand. According to the Volscians’ report, Ferentinum’s situation is now critical, and they can only hold on for a few more days. If this town falls, not only will the Hernicans be defeated, but the Volscians will also suffer huge losses as they had sent a number of their warriors to reinforce the Hernicans and are now trapped in Ferentinum, leaving the Volscian territory with no troops to defend it. They are all relying on our First Legion to help them defend it.”

Litom stared at the map for a while before pointing to the north of Volscian territory and asked, “Since the Roman army is all focused on attacking the Hernicans, they shouldn’t have enough defence.”

“You’re right. Rome had drawn their Latin allies to attack the Hernicans, leaving almost no army stationed there. However, look here, here, and here. Each has ten thousand Roman troops stationed,” Amintas pointed at the map three times.

Litom examined it closely and saw that the names of these places were Velitrae, Satricum and Antium, which happened to block the Volscians’ northwestern path into Latium.

After a quick computation, he asked in surprise, “How could the Romans form such a huge army?!”

“From what the Volscians said, Rome hasn’t only enlisted all of its young and abled citizens this time but also got all of its Latin and Etruscan allies to provide a lot of reinforcements. They have done all they could to fight this war, which is why His Majesty would lead a massive army and deal with the Romans first!” Phryntor said.

“But with these three cities blocking the way, a day or two wouldn’t be enough to take one of them. I fear His Majesty’s offensive plan would be delayed.” Litom said anxiously, pointing at the map.

“You are so stupid!” Amintas bluntly reproaches, “There is no need for us to go and attack them. We only need to bypass them and reach the coastal area of Latium to protect His Majesty’s army landing on the coast.”

Litom, distracted by a trivial problem, slapped his head and smiled awkwardly. After pondering for a moment, he said, “If we follow this plan, we can only let the soldiers carry rations and leave the auxiliary troops in the camp so that we can march quickly. And if the enemy comes to intercept us, we can also fight back quickly. But if we do this… our camp and even the whole Volscian territory will be left open to the Romans!”

Phryntor laughed and said, “Don’t worry about that! Once our army has landed, the whole of Latium will nervously be on guard against our attack! So where would they get the idea to invade Volsci? Besides, we can arrange for those left behind to go to Circeii and take a transport fleet to the new lands occupied by the army.”

Without any more worries, Litom asked loudly, “So when will we act?!”

“All we have to do is wait for His Majesty’s army to arrive by ship in Latium. But before that, we need to speak with Volsci’s high officials and get them to help us with our attack.”

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

Bomilcar, the acting supreme commander of Carthage, was shocked when the news of how the storm disrupted the Naval Battle of Selinus and annihilated the warships from both sides spread all over western Sicily the following day. He then quickly sent messengers to bring back the news to Carthage and instructed the coastal city-states to search the coasts carefully, rescue the survivors, and send them to Lilybaeum.

Meanwhile, outside Selinus on the overcrowded Theonian camp, not only were the tents packed with survivors but also struggling and moaning sailors lying in the passages and open spaces outside the tents. The outside of the camp was also densely packed with discoloured bodies and those not yet confirmed dead or unconscious. The physicians and nurses had been treating them for more than ten hours already and were still busy, with even the more than twenty thousand Theonian legionaries and their allied soldiers also doing their best to assist the medical camp in saving their fellow Theonian and naval comrades.

In the command tent, Leotychides, who had been busy until now and hadn’t slept all night, sat on his chair as he listened to his adjutant’s report.

“My Lord, from last night until now, our soldiers have found a total of about one hundred and fifty bodies on the coast, with about one hundred thousand rescued. It includes more than sixty-one thousand five hundred Theonians and twenty-nine thousand three hundred and seventy-nine confirmed deceased Theonian sailors…” Muklu, holding the record slate, read each set of figures with his heart beating wildly, for behind these huge numbers lay the disappearance of countless once-living citizens and the painful cry of a family…

After listening to his adjutant’s report, Leotychides remained expressionless and didn’t seem to react too much. He quickly asked, “What is the total number of our people in the fleet in Sicily?”

Muklu thought briefly and said without certainty, “Based on the last time they came to Minoa to collect rations, they might have around 110,000 to 120,000…”

After a few calculations, Leotychides said, “So we have at most thirty thousand sailors we haven’t found yet.”

“They may have drifted to the Carthaginian-controlled coast or the shore of our allies, requiring us to contact Minoa, Agrigento and other southern coastal city-states in the next few days to understand the detailed situation,” Muklu said.

Leotychides simply nodded and sighed, “The navy has taken in too many young and able citizens of the kingdom, and this storm has cost us tens of thousands of lives. It’s enough to build five or six legions!”

Muklu added, “My lord, we have also captured nearly forty thousand Carthaginians and Phoenicians. If it were a normal battle, we would have to fight many battles to take so many prisoners.”

Upon hearing this, Leotychides frowned slightly and gazed sharply at Muklu without blinking until Muklu bowed his head. Then he asked slowly, “Have you found Seclian and Fulalios?”

“…I haven’t received any news yet…” Muklu said gloomily.

“Keep sending people to search, and don’t give up. We’ll leave it to Seraphinus to send spies to the Carthaginian city-states in the west to gather information,” Leotychides said. He then paused for a moment, his expression changing slightly, and continued, “I’ve heard that Seclian was a skilled swimmer and even swam across the raging Crati River in his youth, so he shouldn’t have drowned so easily in the sea.”

“Yes, My Lord.”

“Is there anything else for you to report?”

“Er… the medical camp wanted to remind us that there are now too many corpses inside and outside the camp. If we left alone for too long, these corpses would rot, easily leading to an epidemic.”

“Then, once you are sure they are dead, take them all to be cremated and have the sailors take the deceased’s ashes back to the fleet base at Catania or Taranto. As for the Carthaginians, bury them on the spot,” Leotychides said. Then after remembering something else, he stressed, “This matter must be settled immediately so that these living sailors can return to their bases as soon as possible and stop wasting our food. But the marines must stay and fight with us.”

Leotychides had long coveted the infantry of the Theonian fleet, especially since he had seen their military training in Catania, which could be considered as good as the regular soldiers of the Eighth Legion. So he took advantage of the fleet’s destruction and the absence of Seclian and Fulalios to recruit them into his own ranks to strengthen the Eighth Legion.

Before Muklu could respond, Leotychides emphasised, “And…draw ten thousand young and strong sailors from the navy and equip them with spears to temporarily serve as our light infantry.”

Muklu was surprised but politely reminded, “Commander, without the Ministry of Military’s permission, it is already illegal for you to transfer the marines. If we were also to reorganise the sailors, I am afraid the navy would be dissatisfied with this.”

Leotychides disagreed, saying, “We are deep in Carthage’s sphere of influence. Not only have we stretched the supply line, but the enemy is ready to counterattack at any time. Unfortunately, all of the fleet’s warships were gone and could no longer protect our coast. Now that we are fighting alone, we could be in trouble if we don’t reinforce our ranks. Besides, the navy can’t function without ships, so it’s better to temporarily put the idle sailors and marine under my command. As this is a special time, I believe His Majesty and the Ministry of War will understand my approach.”

As adjutant, Muklu could only remind him. But since Leotychides insisted on it, he could only carry it out. Then he immediately changed the subject, “My lord, what shall we do with the forty thousand Carthaginian prisoners?”

“Keep the captives here for now. We would deal with them as we have done in the past.” Leotychides pondered and said, “The Carthaginians must have our sailors there as well, so we can exchange it with them when the time comes.”