Antaoris nodded to him, then scanned the people present. Their gazes toward him carried wariness and scrutiny, lowering his expectations for the success of this mission even further.
Antaoris secretly encouraged himself, mobilizing his emotions as quickly as possible to make his words more powerful: “Great Chiefs of Bruttium, as the leader of the South Italian Greek City-State Alliance (here, he obviously exaggerated Theonia’s prosperous status somewhat), Theonia has the responsibility to maintain peace among the Greek city-states in southern Italy and protect the lives and property of the Greeks. Theonia has been doing exactly this for more than half a year. A few months ago, Theonia mediated the war between Croton and Locri. A few days ago, at the request of an ally, we sent troops to aid Taranto and resist the aggression of the Messapians and Peucetians against Taranto…”
Speaking up to here, Antaoris saw the expressions of the people become solemn.
“Siro—a tribe composed of Greeks—has always lived peacefully and quietly in these mountains, always getting along friendly with surrounding tribes. But now their survival is threatened. Your newly formed Tribal League threatens this weak tribe, which has never harmed any Bruttian, to leave the home they have lived in for decades immediately and go to Cosenza to accept your incorporation. They had no choice but to ask Theonia for help. To protect the safety of the lives and property of the South Italian Greeks, the Theonian Senate reached a consensus and sent me here, hoping that the Bruttian Tribal League will stop threatening the Siro tribe and restore their peaceful and quiet life!”
After Antaoris finished speaking righteously, the people present did not seem very surprised. They looked at each other. When everyone discussed the reason for the Theonian envoy’s mission to Bruttium yesterday, someone had really guessed it right: The Theonians came for Siro.
And the person who guessed right was Pangeru, the Great Chief of Clampetia . The settlement of the Siro tribe was not far north of the city of Clampetia. At this moment, he stood up angrily: “Arrogant Theonian! Siro lives on Bruttian land; their food and clothing are produced from this land. They are a Bruttian tribe. This is an internal affair of Bruttium and has nothing to do with you Greeks! If you are only here for this matter, you can roll back! Bruttium does not welcome you, and likes forces outside the mountains interfering in Bruttian affairs even less!”
Antaoris sneered: “The Bruttium region is habitually called this mountain area only because a large number of Bruttian tribes gathered here. In fact, this mountain area is neither a country nor under the jurisdiction of a city-state; therefore, there is no unified territory and border! Everyone knows that Siro is a tribe composed of Greeks. They have lived on this land for a hundred years and have the right to continue surviving independently here!”
Nycou, the Great Chief of Besidiae, had an explosive temper like his son Kanaru. He immediately cursed loudly and roared, “What right do Theonians have to dictate on our Bruttian land! Originally, we planned to deal with the Siro tribe issue in a few days. Now that you say this, I decide to send a large army to destroy it this afternoon!”
“If Theonia can grant independent survival rights to Crimisa, Aprustum, and Nerulum, then it’s not a big problem for us to let Siro go,” Bergum, the Great Chief of Ambania, also mocked, unwilling to show weakness.
Antaoris stood quietly, turning a deaf ear to their curses.
At this time, Sedorum asked loudly, “If we refuse your Theonian request, what will happen?”
The cursing in the hall suddenly diminished a lot.
“I am only ordered to tell you the Senate’s request. If you do not accept it, the Theonian Senate needs to discuss before making the next decision.” Antaoris remained calm, but his tone was becoming heavier. “However, Theonia has always kept its promises. Even if the price is great, it will not let its allies be bullied. Previous examples have explained everything. As I said just now, my Theonian Archon, Lord Davos, in order to fulfill the alliance treaty with Taranto, led 15,000 soldiers and is fighting the Messapians invading our ally on Taranto’s land. Just as I was about to set off for Cosenza, a battle report came: Lord Davos led the army to defeat the 30,000-strong Messapian-Peucetian coalition in the mountains. The coalition suffered countless casualties and was forced to sign a peace treaty with Taranto. Soon, Lord Davos will lead the victorious army back to Thurii to hold a triumph!”
Threat! This was a naked threat! Everyone looked at each other. Great Chief Nycou stomped his feet and cursed even more, threatening that he was not afraid of going to war with Theonia.
“Quiet! Quiet!” The Bruttian High Priest Philotaru stood up to maintain order in the hall.
“Theonian, we Bruttian warriors are not afraid of war!” Pianlun, sitting in the center, spoke up. “But Bruttium and Theonia are neighbors. Once a conflict occurs, it will permanently destroy the relationship between the two races, leading to constant war. To avoid the possible sacrifice of countless people’s lives because of the Siro tribe matter, Bruttium is willing to make concessions. We will not punish Siro for violating orders but let them leave Bruttium safely.”
“What are you saying, Pianlun! Bruttium will never yield to Theonia!” Nycou immediately expressed dissatisfaction.
“What about the land? The land where Siro has lived for generations is just snatched away by you like this?!” Antaoris reacted quickly and asked in return.
Pianlun glanced at Nycou. Although Nycou’s face was still indignant, he said no more.
High Priest Philotaru warned Antaoris solemnly, “Not turning the Siro people into slaves is already the greatest kindness of our Bruttian Tribal League. Theonians, do not be too greedy!”
Antaoris shook his head and said firmly, “But the order given to me by the Senate is: ‘Siro’s right to independent survival in Bruttium must be guaranteed!'”
A gleam flashed in Pianlun’s eyes and disappeared instantly. His tone became indifferent: “In that case, wait for us to discuss and make a decision.”
“Moreover, we don’t understand the current situation of the Siro tribe. We also need to send people to investigate before making a judgment,” Sedorum hurriedly interjected.
***
After the guards sent Antaoris away, the discussion in the council hall became more intense.
“Theonia bullies us too much! Saying they protect the Greeks of southern Italy—I think they just don’t want to see us Bruttians unite, so they deliberately create trouble for us!” Pangeru said angrily.
High Priest Philotaru nodded and encouraged everyone: “So we Bruttians must unite more closely so that we don’t fear Greeks and Lucanians!”
“Why don’t we give these annoying Theonians a—” Nycou waved his hand, making a beheading gesture.
“That won’t do!” Sedorum hurriedly persuaded. “Both Greeks and Lucanians have rules for treating envoys well, even during war. As Bruttium is becoming a powerful alliance, we should abide by these generally recognized norms to better deal with them. What’s more, killing Theonian envoys will only enrage Theonians, and war will be unavoidable.”
“What is Theonia! My clansmen and I are not afraid of them at all!” Nycou said without showing weakness.
“Of course we are not afraid of Theonia! But once war breaks out, our great cause of unifying Bruttium will be seriously affected!” Pianlun said solemnly.
“I think it’s better to imprison them for a few days. After we deal with Siro, release them. At that time, even if they want to defend Siro, the Siro tribe will no longer exist, and they will have to accept this fact,” Bergum proposed.
Inspired by this, Sedorum had a brainwave and said, “Gentlemen, I think this is a good idea. We can modify it slightly…”
After Sedorum finished explaining his idea, everyone else thought it was a good method. Only Nycou was dismissive and said impatiently, “Why make it so complicated? As if we Bruttians are afraid of Theonians!”
Pianlun ignored him and reminded cautiously, “I think Elder Sedorum’s suggestion can be implemented. However, we must also be prepared. In case the Theonians do not accept our practice, then we must be prepared to deal with the possible coming war!”
After a brief silence in the hall, Nycou spoke first: “I admit Theonia is stronger than us, but as long as they dare to enter the Bruttian mountains, I guarantee they will come but never return! Because no one is more familiar with the mountains and plateaus here than we are. Amara (the Goddess of Snow Mountains and Plateaus worshipped by Bruttians) has protected us Bruttians living here quietly for hundreds of years and will continue to protect us Bruttians!”
Nycou’s words lifted everyone’s spirits.
High Priest Philotaru said, “In addition, we also need to find allies to jointly fight against Theonia to reduce the pressure of facing Theonia alone.”
Allies? The Bruttian region is already surrounded by Theonia and its allies; where to find allies? While everyone was pondering hard, Sedorum suddenly shouted excitedly, “Lucanians! We can go to the Lucanians! After Theonia captured Grumentum, it has threatened the territorial security of Pyxous and Potentia. If they don’t want to be the next Grumentum, they should be willing to ally with us.”
Pianlun’s eyes lit up. The reason he hadn’t thought of the Lucanians was that two years ago, Lucanians were still the enemies Bruttians feared most. When Vergae surrendered to the Lucanian Tribal League and the situation in the Bruttian region was most critical, Pianlun had even considered migrating his tribe south. For this reason, he led the Cosenza army combined with Clampetia to attack Terina in the south, fighting a fierce battle with the Croton Alliance. But in just two short years, the once tyrannical Lucanians had fallen to this state. This could not fail to alert Pianlun.
“Great Chief Sedorum is a good friend of the Lucanians; no wonder only you could think of Lucania. So to discuss the alliance with the Lucanians, it is best for you to go and talk,” Nycou mocked loudly, disregarding the fact that Sedorum was an elder of the Bruttian League just like him.