Chapter 328

After calming his emotions, Davos asked again, “Capus, is the First Legion responsible for guarding the Bruttian prisoners tonight?”

“Yes.”

“While ensuring they don’t escape, try to make them as comfortable as possible.”

Capus hesitated for a moment before saying, “I will do my best.”

“You must understand, although they were enemies before, after this battle… well… it is certain that soon, the Bruttians will become our own people. To make this transition smoother and avoid increasing hatred, we must make an effort,” Davos explained patiently to Capus and the others. War had always been the continuation of politics, and Davos’s position dictated that he must look further ahead and consider things more comprehensively.

Triphias and Georgis exchanged glances. The continuous strengthening of the Theonian League should be a good thing for Heraclea and Castellum.

“In a while, I might send someone to help you appease these Bruttian prisoners. However, I’m not yet sure if he is willing to help,” Davos said thoughtfully, rubbing his chin.

Capus was curious about who Davos was referring to, but being steady, he didn’t ask.

“How is the situation at the medical camp?” Davos recalled another issue.

“There are too many wounded! Stesichordas and the others are so busy they haven’t had time to rest. Now Epitenes and the others have sent light infantry and freedmen to help the medical camp carry the wounded…” Antonios said worriedly.

“That means no one is attending to the Bruttian wounded?!” Davos widened his eyes, immediately realizing the severity of this problem. “Hmm… Antonios, go find Stesichordas immediately. Tell him it’s my order: no matter what, he must spare one or two doctors… At the same time, have the First Legion spare a thousand infantry to assist. Provide simple debridement, bandaging, and other trauma treatments for the Bruttian wounded first.”

“Understood.” Antonios turned and left quickly.

“Also… Tolmides, I’ll write two letters right away. Have a messenger take them and rush back to Thurii to give to Herpus and Mersis. I want them to send as many doctors and nurses as possible, and transport more medicinal herbs, medical supplies, and food…”

After the generals had left to complete their assigned tasks, Davos finally had time to face Triphias and Georgis alone. “Apologies, Lords! I didn’t expect so many matters to arise after the victory. I’ve kept you waiting.”

“It’s nothing,” Triphias praised earnestly. “Instead, it gave me a chance to witness the extraordinary management ability of the Theonian Archon! I really didn’t expect that there would be so many affairs to handle after a battle—medical treatment for the wounded, handling of prisoners, camp construction, arrangement of sentries… I truly learned a lot of military knowledge.”

Triphias spoke from the heart, and Georgis beside him felt the same. Indeed, in this era, battles between Greek city-states mostly occurred near allied territories, so logistical requirements weren’t high, and thus weren’t given much importance. Only powerful states like Athens, Sparta, and Syracuse, which needed to conduct long-term foreign campaigns, had higher requirements for military logistics. But even so, soldiers clamoring for pay and lacking food still occurred frequently. Davos felt that Theonia’s military logistics were still somewhat rough and imperfect, but in the eyes of Triphias and the others, the arrangements were already quite complex.

Therefore, Davos just smiled and said, “This battle’s victory is thanks to the full support of Heraclea and Castellum! With this victory, I believe the war with Bruttium will end soon. When that time comes, the clerks of our baggage train will carefully tally the spoils obtained and distribute them to you proportionally.”

Castellum had already cooperated with Theonia two or three times, so Georgis was very reassured about Theonia’s credit.

Heraclea was relatively wealthy, so Triphias wasn’t very interested in the spoils. Of course, getting some wouldn’t make the citizens’ trip in vain and would prevent complaints upon return. He was more concerned about another matter. “Lord Davos, I also have a request.”

“Please speak.”

“Could you have Theonian officers use your combat methods to help train the citizens of Heraclea?” Triphias asked somewhat embarrassedly, then explained, “Because during the battle, I found that Theonia’s combat methods are very different from ours in Heraclea and Castellum. This difference in combat greatly affects the coordination between various units, so…”

In fact, at the beginning of this battle, it was precisely those 3,000 Theonian reserve soldiers who withstood the Bruttian charge and played the role of a mainstay on the right wing in the subsequent fighting. If the reserves were like this, one could imagine the strength of the Theonian legions. This was the reason Triphias made up his mind to make the request.

Davos looked surprised on the surface but was overjoyed in his heart: Finally, an allied city-state has made such a request!

He asked with feigned hesitation, “Does the Senate of Heraclea agree to this practice?”

“I will make them agree!” Triphias said firmly.

“In that case, after the war with Bruttium ends, I will have Military Officer Philesius discuss training matters with you,” Davos said half-jokingly and half-seriously. “Lord Triphias, Theonian military training is very strict. You must prepare the citizens of Heraclea in advance.”

With Heraclea setting an example, Georgis, not wanting to fall behind, made the same request to Davos.

After sending off Triphias and Georgis, although Davos felt very tired, he couldn’t rest yet because there was one person he had to meet. “Go bring that Bruttian big shot captured by Ledes.”

***

Sedorum regretted not praying earnestly to the Goddess Amara before setting out. As a result, he unfortunately tripped and fell from his horse during the escape. Immediately after, his personal guard was scattered by the swarming rout. He struggled to get up from under his injured warhorse, but falling behind and wearing attire different from ordinary Bruttian warriors, he became a target for the pursuing Theonian cavalry.

After becoming a prisoner, he didn’t hide anything and directly stated his name.

Now, with his hands tied behind his back, he was being escorted forward by Theonian soldiers. From a distance, he saw a golden military standard erected on the grassy slope. Hundreds of soldiers stood neatly in two rows, and a man sat under the standard. That should be the Theonian Archon, Davos, Sedorum thought, his steps unconsciously quickening.

Coming closer, the two sized each other up face to face. Sedorum was surprised by Davos’s youth, while Davos was surprised by Sedorum’s age; as far as he knew, this Great Chief of Vergae was not yet fifty.

Davos spoke first, “Untie him.”

Sedorum rubbed his wrists, red from the ropes, and took another step forward.

Davos sat still.

Sedorum raised his white eyebrows. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll attack you?”

Davos smiled slightly. “You speak Greek; that saves me the trouble of finding an interpreter. I don’t like looking up at people, so you may sit down.”

His voice wasn’t loud, but it held an irresistible power.

Sedorum hesitated for a moment, then sat down reluctantly.

Behind Davos, Martius finally breathed a slight sigh of relief.

“To answer your question just now,” Davos said unhurriedly. “First, I have brave guards; you would find it hard to succeed. Second, even if you succeeded, the Bruttians’ predicament would not be solved. Instead, angry Theonian soldiers would bring unimaginable punishment upon the people of this land!”

Sedorum hmphed. “Are Theonians not already occupying our land, slaughtering our people, and looting our wealth?! If I could beat up the leader who started the war, at least it would give the Bruttians some temporary joy!”

“Are the Bruttians the victims?” Davos said righteously. “No! For decades, Bruttians have never stopped attacking and looting Greek city-states. Countless Greek families have been ruined by you! Now that we Greeks have finally come for revenge, you feel aggrieved instead? That is truly a joke!”

“You Greeks are outsiders who occupied our land. We… we naturally want to take it back!” Sedorum retorted, unwilling to show weakness.

“As far as I know, you Bruttians originally lived in central Italy. You migrated here only two hundred years ago, drove out the original inhabitants of this land, and settled down. Now you actually claim to be the masters of the land in Southern Italy. Is this ignorance? Or arrogance?” Davos sneered.

“You’re talking nonsense!” Sedorum shouted, somewhat flustered and exasperated.

“It seems you really don’t know. Fortunately, Greeks have writing and records. The scholars of Thurii have collected records from other city-states regarding major events that happened here over the centuries. If one day you go to Thurii city, you can see detailed historical records about the Bruttians.”

Davos had indeed consulted Anxitanos in detail about the Bruttians. Seeing Davos’s serious face, Sedorum seemed a bit deflated and said bluntly, “How do you plan to deal with us?”

“Do you mean the captured Bruttians, or your so-called Bruttian League?”

“Of course, us unfortunate captives,” Sedorum said, still trying to hold his ground. “Although we lost the battle, as long as Pianlun and the others defend the city with all their might, no matter how many soldiers you have, it will be difficult to breach the sturdy city of Consentia. Eventually, you will only run out of food and retreat.”

“Rest assured, we will breach Consentia city very easily!” Davos said confidently.