“Cheers!!!” All the guests in the restaurant drank the wine of joy.

“Also, the Senate issued a notice—” The patrol member looked around and said solemnly, “Freedmen who have participated in Theonian military training can immediately register at the Square of Victory. The Ministry of Military Affairs wants to recruit two thousand freedmen to go to Besidiae to assist the legion in combat—”

“Why didn’t you say so earlier! Only two thousand spots; I’m afraid they’ll be snatched up in a moment!”

“Quick, let’s go! Quick!” Complaints rose in the restaurant instantly. After a flurry of activity, most of the diners in the house had run out.

Dicporis and Theos looked at each other in dismay.

***

At this moment, the Square of Victory was a sea of people.

The Ministry of Household Registration first had to confirm that the freedmen coming to register were indeed registered previously. Then the court staff investigated the files to confirm they had no record of violating laws and discipline during their residence in Theonia. Next, the training camp officers of the Ministry of Military Affairs selected freedmen who were physically strong, relatively young, and had performed earnestly in past training. Only after passing all these steps would the Ministry of Household Registration confirm again, make notes, and sign on their files. This was the basis for shortening the time for them to become preparatory citizens in the future.

Going through this set of procedures, there were hundreds of alliance public officials present alone. Various files piled up into small hills. To prevent accidents, thousands of legion reserve soldiers were even transferred, fully armed, to maintain order.

In fact, more than ten thousand freedmen came to the square, but they were basically able to abide by order. Not because they feared the soldiers glaring at them like tigers watching prey, but because they knew it didn’t matter even if they weren’t selected this time. In Theonia, there was no lack of opportunities to establish merit. For example: the temple under construction in Amendolara lacked labor and was recruiting freedmen; the construction of the Crimisa–Aprustum Avenue was also recruiting freedmen… For large-scale construction works like these, the Alliance only provided three meals a day and very little pay, but it could equally help freedmen achieve their wish of becoming Theonian preparatory citizens sooner.

However, if freedmen disturbed the public order of the Alliance and violated Theonian laws, their road to becoming Theonian citizens would become extremely difficult, and they might even be expelled from Theonia. Therefore, even if not selected, these freedmen at most cursed a few sentences under their breath and dared not have any extreme behavior. If someone thought there was unfairness in the selection process, they could also appeal to the notary office set up by the Board of Supervision on the other side of the square and request a review.

Standing outside the Great Council Hall of the Senate, looking at the bustling scene in the Square of Victory ahead, Philesius suddenly said, “Actually, I think it’s better to send soldiers from the legion reserve to Besidiae to assist the Second Legion. They have undergone strict training, the gap with legion soldiers is not big, and compared to these freedmen, they have more combat effectiveness and are more obedient to orders.”

Marigi beside him asked in return, “If you send all the citizen-soldiers out, Thurii will be empty. In case enemies come to sneak attack, or a big riot occurs, what should we do?”

Philesius was speechless for a moment, hesitatingly saying, “Surrounding Thurii are either cities of our own alliance or allies; where would a sneak attack come from?”

“We can sneak attack Besidiae; why can’t others sneak attack Thurii?” Marigi was sophistocating. In fact, what he thought in his heart was: Philesius is a complete idiot in politics besides being good at military affairs. Lord Davos leads the large army outside; there must be troops guarding the home. Now the members of the Senate are more complex than before. In case someone causes trouble, they can be suppressed immediately.

At this time, Mersis stood in the same trench as Marigi, but his explanation came from another angle.

“Send the reserve?! ” He screamed in a high voice, “Easier said than done! Philesius, you must know how much effort Davos and I spent to prepare military grain for this war! Not only are the silver coins in the treasury spent, but we also owe huge debts to the citizens. But this can only supply four legions to fight outside for four months. The military grain treatment of a reserve soldier is the same as that of a legion soldier; at least three jin [~1.5kg] of grain and two salted fish must be guaranteed a day. The rations for these freedmen are much simpler; just barely enough to fill their stomachs. Philesius, use your brain. Don’t just think about fighting all day long. Fighting without food, I think you will all starve to death!”

Mersis and Philesius were old acquaintances. Philesius understood this fatty’s character, so he didn’t take offense but humbly expressed acceptance.

Behind them, Antaoris was still shocked by the news of victory heard in the morning.

“Antaoris, didn’t you say Besidiae city occupied a geographical advantage and was almost impossible to capture? But how did the Lord Archon capture it so quickly?” Orikepos asked doubtfully.

“I don’t know either. The messenger who came back to report didn’t tell us the details of capturing Besidiae.” The thrilling scenes when walking the riverside path back then still emerged in Antaoris’s mind. He said helplessly, “Besidiae indeed possesses natural barriers and is difficult to conquer. But who told our Lord Archon to be the God’s Favored One of Hades? With the protection of the King of the Underworld, perhaps no difficulty can stump him. When he returns victorious, you can ask him in detail.”

“It seems the Lord Archon is indeed very formidable in commanding citizens in combat. Orikepos, why don’t we apply to him to join these legions of Theonia too?” Plaedes suggested.

“I’ve inquired long ago. The unique legion system created by the Lord Archon is very different from the ordinary city-state military system. Every promotion in military position has strict assessments. Even if people like you and me are Senators of the Senate, completely unfamiliar with the tactics and formation application of the Theonian legion, we must start training again from the recruit training camp…” Orikepos was quite indignant when he said this. Thinking that as a noble of Crimisa and now a Senator of the Theonian Senate, his status was honorable. According to that mercenary-turned-Philesius from the Ministry of Military Affairs, he actually had to sweat and train together with those poor freedmen. It was simply outrageous!

“Train then train; can’t we compare with those freedmen?!” Plaedes didn’t care at all.

Listening to the two arguing, Antaoris felt somewhat emotional: It seems not only he accepted the fact of becoming a Theonian citizen, but Plaedes and Orikepos did as well. Thinking about it, although he served as the Chief General of Crimisa for a few years, a small Bruttian tribe going down the mountain to loot could make him and the city’s people rack their brains. But in Theonia, sitting in the Senate and chatting could decide the life and death of the entire Bruttian race! It really echoed the old saying: “The higher you stand, the more scenery you see. Used to eating delicacies, naturally one can no longer look at hard coarse bread.”

On the other side of the platform, Kunogelata and Cornelius were discussing another issue.

“Occupying Besidiae, it seems the day we conquer Bruttium will come soon!” Cornelius had also watched Theonia go from weak to strong in these two years and couldn’t help sighing with emotion.

Kunogelata considered deeper issues: “Defeating the Bruttians is one thing, but how to deal with them is also a big problem!”

Cornelius thought for a moment and said uncertainly, “They should be governed according to the method of governing Lucanians!”

Kunogelata pondered for a while and said, “Bruttians are still somewhat different from Lucanians…” He stopped here and shook his head again: To what extent will the war proceed in the end? What agreement will be signed? It is still impossible to predict. Considering these now seems a bit too early. However, if the Bruttian region is conquered, Thurii will be thoroughly safe from now on!

***

On the island of Motya in Sicily, the war continued day after day in the same way. Motya mobilized all its people as soldiers. Despite heavy casualties, they still did not yield. The Syracusan attack advanced bit by bit. Despite paying a considerable price, they still failed to occupy the whole city.

As time went on, Dionysius‘s mood became increasingly irritable. He even executed two of his personal guards for trivial reasons.

Finally, he realized that storming Motya was not a good way. After accepting the proposal of the former mercenary leader Masias, he decided to organize a suicide squad to crawl quietly into the area defended by the Motyans in the dark night.

Fortunately, his adventure succeeded. The suicide squad opened the city gate, letting the large troop of Syracuse rush into the city. After a short and fierce battle, the resistance of the Motyans was finally crushed.

At this moment, the Greek soldiers didn’t want to loot spoils at all. The previous battles had killed and injured too many comrades; they only wanted revenge. Moreover, their memory of the atrocities of Carthaginian General Hannibal (not the Roman-era Hannibal; many generals named Hannibal appeared in different periods of Carthage; this one is also relatively famous, the patriarch of the Masiasnid family) in Himera ten years ago was still fresh. They decided to be as cruel and ruthless as the Carthaginians treated Greek cities, so the massacre began.

After the massacre lasted for a day, Dionysius finally stopped this behavior. Not because he was benevolent, but because he thought dead people were not as valuable as captives. So the victors turned the fun of slaughter to looting. They looted everything valuable in this Carthaginian city and sold all captives as slaves.

Dionysius left a team to guard this empty city full of corpses and left another team to continue besieging Segesta. He led the main army to return to Syracuse. At this time, the remaining Carthaginian forces in Sicily were only a few coastal cities in the northwest corner, such as Eryx, Solus, Panormus, etc. It was not that he didn’t want to completely clear the remaining Carthaginians on Sicily, but that the military grain he prepared for the large army was almost eaten up. Moreover, it was already October, and winter was coming. He decided to return to the city for the winter first and solve the problem of Segesta next spring.

The fall of Motya was a huge glory for Dionysius. This was a great victory that Greek city-states had never had in the history of Sicily. However, for the Carthaginians, it was the biggest blow. Losing Motya, the city of Carthage on the African continent would directly face the Greek forces of Sicily, and its security was seriously threatened.