Chapter 293: Envoy to Brutti (I)
After some discussion, they both agreed that they should first get Theonia’s support for the negotiation to succeed.
So they hurried to the Theonian camp, just in time to hear the thunderous cheer in the camp.
Both of them felt confused when the herald of Theonia, Tolmides, arrived with the orders from Davos to allow them to enter the camp.
“Are you in the middle of a drill?” Asked Umakas curiously.
Tolmides said with a look of respect, “Do you mean this cheering sound? That’s our commander, lord Davos, receiving punishment!”
“What did you say?!” Umakas thought that he had heard wrong.
Tolmides briefly explained the previous matter with seriousness, which caused Umakas and Disitimas to be taken aback, ‘The archon of Theonia punished not only the offending soldiers for beating up a Tarantine citizen but also himself?!’
Instead of feeling grateful, they felt more and more fear in their heart. ‘An archon of a union being punished for such a trifle matter’ was something they had never heard of in all Greek history they knew! Both of them had also served as an archon several times and commanded the city-state army countless times, so they naturally understood the importance of discipline in the military during wars. With such a strict requirement for military discipline, it is no wonder that the Theonian army could defeat the fierce Peucetians!
“Frightening Davos!…” Sighed Disitimas in a low voice.
Umakas happened to hear it and was stunned. He then understood the meaning of Disitimas’ words. In order to achieve his goal, Davos could even be cruel to himself! And through the contact with Davos during this period, Umakas deeply felt that it was not good for Taranto for Theonia to have such an archon for life…fortunately, the citizens of Taranto have finally reached an agreement on the peace negotiation. Otherwise, with the current state of mind of the Theonian soldiers, if they were to attack Messapi again, who knows what would have happened! ‘Damned Timias! Can’t these free-spirited Tarantines think more about the city-state before making trouble?!’
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When the two archons saw Davos, he was lying in the military tent and receive medical treatment. When Davos learned of their intention, although he was surprised, he immediately expressed his support.
After a discussion among themselves, in the early morning of the next day, the Taranto allied army pulled out of the camp and marched east.
On the way to Brindisi, the Messapi-Peuceti alliance blocked the way, and the two sides face each other.
After an hour’s confrontation, the Taranto allied troops had not sounded the salpinx. The Tarantines who cared about face expressed them in this way, and the shrewd Pasimeus soon understood the intention of the Greeks. After witnessing the tight formation and the high morale of the Theonian soldiers, Telemani’s words weighed even more in his heart.
Without further pretence, he sent Timogeras again.
And so, the negotiations between both sides began.
At dusk, Taranto, Messapi, and Peuceti reached a peace agreement. Both sides would immediately cease war, Taranto will return Manduria to Messapi, and the three sides return the prisoners and soldiers’ corpses, respectively. And Taranto, Messapi and Peuceti will not invade each other for ten years…
In addition, Taranto signed a trade agreement with Peuceti.
In fact, Taranto returning Mandura was a last resort. The Council of Taranto, after prior discussion, had finally agreed that with the alliance of Messapi and Peuceti, one Manduria alone would no longer be able to stop the Messapi’s invasion because they could invade from the wider east of Taranto together with the Peucetians. And due to the repeated defeats, the number of citizens in Taranto has sharply been reduced. If the citizens were to be moved to Manduria, Taranto’s strength will not only be weakened but also be easily besieged.
Before the negotiations, the two archons had made it clear to Davos that in order to thank Theonia for their selfless help, they are willing to hand over Manduria to Theonia for free. However, Davos is not a shortsighted man, and it was clear that this is Taranto’s attempt to drive Theonia in the fight against Messapi and Peuceti and shield Taranto from the wind and rain.
Davos naturally did not want to be taken advantage of, and with Theonia’s current strength, they are still not able to fight on both fronts, so he politely refused.
So Umakas and Disitimas could only take Mandura as a bargaining chip and moved Telemani with the trade agreement, which finally forced Pasimeus to give in and sign the ten-year peace agreement.
At the time of the signing of the agreement, Telemani made a small request to meet the archon of Theonia, Davos. However, Davos politely refused him on the grounds that he had not recovered from his wounds and was not in a position to meet people.
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At the same time as Taranto conducting peace negotiation, the statesmen of the Senate of Theonia had finally passed a resolution in support of the Siro tribe after reading Davos’ reply.
When discussing who to send to Consentia, Marigi immediately stood up and recommended Pollux while also praising his eloquence that would surely persuade the Bruttian tribal union to spare the Siro tribe.
After that, Mersis and Philesius vied with each other in praising Pollux, believing that he was the best choice to be sent.
The actions of the statesmen, who were former mercenary, have scared Pollux to death. He immediately felt that the followers of Davos are intentionally targeting him, so if he really went to Consentia, he fears that he will not be able to come back!
He was a man who would not easily take risks, so he stood up in a hurry and refused. Under the verbal siege of Marigi and the others, Pollux did not hesitate to degrade himself and had almost even begged for mercy.
Only after this did Marigi and the others stop teasing him. In the end, Androlis, a new member of the Senate and without any specific positions, volunteered to go.
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The Taranto allied army returned to Taranto together with the freed Tarantines and the remains of the soldiers, which of course included Archytas’ body that was pieced together.
The Council of Taranto, after being warned by Umakas, had even forbidden the people to leave the city, allowing the Theonian army to return to their camp without incident.
After attending the funeral of Archytas, Davos and some of the soldiers who remained behind returned to Thurii by ship first.
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After accepting the mission to be the envoy, Androlis left with three companions for Consentia that afternoon.
He did not take the road that led west from Thurii, across the mountain road to Laos, and then to Vergae, although it would make their journey safer, most of these roads were in the mountain, which would take them too much time. Instead, they choose to take the path on the south bank of the Crati River, go up the river and reach Besidice and then go south to Consentia.
After crossing the wooden bridge over the Crati River, Androlis and his companions walked westward along the south bank of the Crati River. And as the terrain became higher, the road became narrower. After passing the last sentry post of Thurii, only a dirt road appears in front of them, which could only accommodate three people side by side: On the left side is a steep cliff, on the right side is a steep slope more than 10 metres high, and at the bottom of the slope is the roaring Crati River.
When Androlis looked down, he saw the dark blue roaring river, constantly hitting the rocks below, making a loud and shocking sound, one after another, huge whirlpools appeared and disappeared in which you couldn’t even know how deep the bottom is…
Androlis’ legs became slightly soft, and so they carefully assisted each other to move forward.
Due to being soak by the rain, some of the sections of the road had collapsed, making only one person able to pass through it.
The groups walked for four hours, but it was as if they had walked for a day which had expended their physical energy very fast. Fortunately, the path gradually descends, and the road became wider and wider. Suddenly, their eyes opened wide: Continuous green mountains, the river that has narrowed, but its current is more rapid than the Crati River, and between the mountains and river is a low-lying flat land, and on this land stands a small city – Besidice.
The Bruttian sentries soon stopped Androlis and his companions at the exit of the mountain path. Only long after, they made their intention clear that they were then escorted through the defensive camp blocking the intersection and into the city of Besidice and led to the shabby assembly hall of Besidice.
Although it was called a hall, it was, in fact, just a larger wooden hut with firewood burning in a pit in the centre. In early September, the weather in the city of Thurii is still warm, and most of the people are still wearing thin bare-shouldered summer chiton, but here in Besidice mountains, which are not too far from Thurii. The fire pits do not only provide light but also keep the cold away.
Three men were sitting around the fire pit and were all wearing fur coats. The youngest of them stood up and went to Androlis, with his fierce eyes filled with curiosity, “Greeks, why have you come here in the mountains?! Don’t you know that we Bruttians do not welcome you!”
After listening to the translation of his attendant, Androlis calmly said, “I am the envoy of Theonia, and I have been sent to Consentia by the Senate’s order to discuss something important with your leaders.”
“Something important?! What is it?!” He asked with interest.
Androlis said seriously, “I apologise. I am unable to say it until I see your leaders.”
The young man’s expression immediately changed, and he yelled with hostility, “If you do not say it, I will not allow you to pass through Besidice! I now suspect you of being spies! Men, arrest them, and give each other ten lashes, and lock them up in the sheep pen!”
Androlis and his entourage became pale.
“Kanaru, wait!” At this time, the man next to him stood up and stopped him, “They are Theonians. It’s best not to hurt these people until the great chieftain and the others give their reply!”