“If the Messapian-Peucetian coalition dares to retreat, we will go and destroy Brindisi! I don’t believe these natives can just ignore it!” Diomilas shouted fiercely.

Davos glanced at him with slight surprise. This was indeed a good idea!

He noticed Diomilas used the word “destroy.” Obviously, this seemingly ill-tempered Taranto Archon wisely realized that even if Taranto retook Brindisi, with the city-state’s current strength, they could not hold it. Instead, it would only increase casualties. Furthermore, having changed hands multiple times, Brindisi’s defenses shouldn’t be strong. If the coalition didn’t intervene, destroying it would likely be easy. But could the Messapians, who had spent so much effort to retake Brindisi, accept that? Diomilas’s idea undoubtedly hit the Messapians where it hurt.

For Davos, Taranto’s strength had already been severely damaged. If the Messapians and Peucetians were allowed to continue rampaging and expanding, this Greek region in eastern southern Italy would be in big trouble. With Theonia’s growing power, Davos, who already viewed southern Italy as Theonia’s backyard, certainly did not wish to see this terrible situation arise. Therefore, leading 14,000 soldiers to Taranto was not for tourism; his goal aligned with the Taranto Senate’s thinking—to defeat the Messapian-Peucetian coalition! moreover, the numbers on both sides were comparable. Davos firmly believed that with the capability of the Theonian legions, the final victory would belong to Theonia! So he finally said, “I agree with Lord Diomilas’s proposal. Theonia is willing to reinforce Manduria.”

Now it was Diomilas’s turn to look at Davos in surprise.

“That’s great! Since everyone’s opinion has reached a consensus, when the sun is in the middle of the sky, we will set out together!” Eumachus took the opportunity to say.

“Time is tight,” Triphias complained.

“Wait a moment!” Diomilas stood up, looked at everyone, and said loudly, “There is a saying circulating in Taranto port: ‘No matter how many sailors a ship has, they must obey the command of the helmsman to reach the destination smoothly.’ By the same reasoning, our massive army must also have a commander-in-chief so that everyone listens to his command and confusion doesn’t occur during battle.”

“Diomilas speaks correctly. The Messapian-Peucetian coalition has strong combat power. We must unite and obey orders to fight; only then is victory possible. Therefore, electing a coalition commander-in-chief to command all our armies is very necessary!” Eumachus immediately chimed in. “Of course, all plans and orders are not decided by this commander-in-chief alone. They still need to be discussed jointly by everyone and executed only after agreement, unless it is an emergency.”

Eumachus looked at Davos; these words were obviously meant for him. “The lords present are all commanders from their respective city-state armies. I suggest everyone elect the person you think is most suitable. You may include yourself. The person with the most votes will serve as commander-in-chief.”

“Who is the commander of the Taranto expeditionary army?” Davos asked.

“It is the Taranto Archon, Diomilas.” Eumachus took the chance to praise his colleague lavishly. “His military ability is even stronger than Achilita. He has led armies to fight the Messapians many times in the past, which is why he was elected Archon by the Taranto citizens this year. previously, he captured Manduria and Brindisi together with Achilita. He is very familiar with the region where we will fight. I believe he can lead the coalition to victory!” After finishing his praise for Diomilas, he naturally understood another layer of meaning in Davos’s question and hurriedly clarified, “I will not participate in the voting but will act as the arbiter of this election.”

The two Taranto Archons answered in harmony. It sounded fair, but in reality, they had already shown their determination to win the position of commander-in-chief. Voting to decide?! Davos sneered internally. Heraclea and Metapontum are both vassal city-states of your Taranto. Aside from my own vote, it’s impossible for me to win!

Davos had already made up his mind. Even if Taranto won command of the entire army, no one but himself would command his troops. Reasonable orders could be considered; unreasonable ones would be ignored. But in this way, the army, which was already a patchwork of multiple city-states, would become even more like a tray of loose sand. Encountering such a large-scale battle, it would be very difficult to achieve victory. So he decided to contend for it: “I think using this method to decide the commander-in-chief is not quite appropriate. War is a very cruel thing; thousands or tens of thousands may die or be injured in a single battle. An excellent general can minimize the casualties of his own soldiers as much as possible and achieve the greatest victory at a smaller cost. Therefore, the choice of commander-in-chief should depend on the candidate’s ability and past combat achievements.

“There is another point that must be considered: we are a joint army of multiple city-states. Although everyone says they will obey commands, when it comes to battle, they will more or less consider their own city-state’s army a bit more; this is unavoidable. Therefore, the more soldiers who can completely obey the commander-in-chief, the better the battle can be conducted smoothly!” Davos scanned the crowd and emphasized, “Based on the above considerations, I believe I am the most suitable commander-in-chief!”

As soon as Davos finished speaking, Diomilas jumped up and shouted, “How much battle experience does a beardless brat like you have?! Huh! Actually wanting to be supreme commander! Impossible! The soldiers of the Theonian army are as young and stupid as you. How can they compare with the Taranto citizen-soldiers who fight the vicious Messapians all year round!”

Facing Diomilas’s insults, Davos calmly spat out a sentence: “As a commander, one must have a cool head to deal with complex battlefield situations. On this point alone, you are unqualified!”

Diomilas was enraged again and wanted to curse loudly.

At this moment, Eumachus stood up to stop him. In his heart, he also felt Davos was the most suitable candidate for supreme commander. However, out of political considerations, the Senators of Taranto required him to strive for this position with all his might. Because the war with Messapia had already greatly damaged Taranto’s vitality, if they lost command in the subsequent battles, what would Heraclea and Metapontum think? How would other Magna Graecia city-states view it? Would they think Taranto’s strength was failing and it could only rely on Theonia?! The proud Tarantines could not afford to lose this face.

“Lord Davos has proposed another suggestion. Since we are a coalition army, the armies of each city-state should be equal. To save time, I think we should just let the lords vote to decide: should we adopt Lord Davos’s suggestion or my previous suggestion? Let’s vote now!” Eumachus had a smile on his face, but his words were decisive and cunning, trapping Davos with his own words.

At this moment, the meeting room fell into a brief silence.

“I agree with Eumachus’s proposal!” Diomilas said first.

Davos opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing.

Eumachus was secretly delighted: Davos didn’t object. Diomilas becoming supreme commander is finally set.

“I agree with Lord Davos’s proposal!” A voice suddenly interrupted the calm in the room and shattered Eumachus’s fantasy.

The two Taranto commanders and Davos looked at the speaker almost simultaneously.

Triphias?! How could it be Triphias?!! Eumachus looked incredulous.

“Triphias, say that again! Who do you support?!!” Diomilas wanted to believe he had misheard and demanded Triphias make his choice again, but his tone was extremely rude.

Triphias was also quite nervous. He avoided Diomilas’s aggressive gaze, turned to look at the equally surprised Davos, and forced a smile.

Davos’s heart stirred: Taranto is starting to decline. Could it be that Heraclea, for its own safety, is starting to cling to Theonia’s leg?

Actually, Davos only guessed one of the reasons. More importantly, the Heraclean Archon Triphias had sensed that the union of the two fierce tribes, Messapia and Peucetia, would make the defense of the territory even more difficult for the damaged Taranto. Previously, the people in Heraclea had complained greatly about the casualties of the Heraclean citizen-soldiers who went on expedition with the Taranto army, and such situations would only increase in the future. To change this situation, the only way was to jump off the sinking ship of Taranto. Theonia, which was closer to Heraclea, was undoubtedly a better shelter.

Davos naturally couldn’t think of all that at once, but Heraclea’s proactive defection made him overjoyed. Long-standing friendship and treaties are never as reliable as interests and strength! Davos sighed with emotion in his heart, smiled, and nodded to Triphias.

“Theonian Archon Davos has never failed in any battle he has participated in commanding. He is a famous general who awes southern Italy! I firmly support him as commander-in-chief!” Triphias’s tone became firmer.

“I recommend myself as commander-in-chief!” Davos followed immediately. Originally, he had no hope for this rule of voting, but he didn’t expect Triphias to give him a big surprise.

Now the situation was 1:2 with Diomilas vs Davos and Triphias).

Eumachus hadn’t expected the situation to turn out like this. Worse than who served as commander-in-chief was Heraclea’s attitude toward the Taranto alliance. His mind was in turmoil, and he could hardly conceal his inner emotions, looking at Triphias with eyes full of resentment.

Diomilas was more concerned about this election. He turned his gaze to Tudepris: With his vote of support, the vote count between myself and that young man will be 2:2. As the arbiter, Eumachus will find a way to help me get command of the army.

Thinking this, he saw Tudepris slowly lower his head under everyone’s gaze.