Chapter 547: Rebellion (I)
Then the soldiers began handing out shields and spears to the freemen and slaves who returned. Afterwards, a soldier would form a small group of ten people and return to the Theonian camp. But if anyone refused to fight or run away, these soldiers would catch and execute them to deter others.
In the front of these makeshift teams were nearly 20,000 Syracusan soldiers and siege engines. The soldiers were arranged in a highly loose formation, carrying ladders of up to ten metres long and walked on the muddy ground that the freemen and slaves levelled along with the various bulky siege engines. Because many of them lost their armours and shields in the previous battle, everyone’s current equipment is relatively simple, almost like the freemen in the rear. Thus the arrows they didn’t worry about before have become the most troublesome long-range weapon they faced. Fortunately, the movable towers, arrow-blocking carts and siege wagons blocked most arrows.
Even though they could see the terrifying stone projectiles blasting into the soil from time to time, the Syracusan soldiers were not as frightened as the freemen. After all, they had already witnessed such sights many times. However, everyone still prayed, “O Apollo, please bless me not to be unlucky to get hit by a stone projectile.”
“Bang!” A loud sound rang as a stone projectile hit an arrow-blocking wagon, immediately breaking it. The broken pieces of wood then injured several slaves pushing the wagon, frightening the other soldiers hiding behind the siege engines since these big things were the main target of the ballista’s attack!
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On the other hand, the Theonian light infantry heard a rumbling sound from the front of the wooden wall that got louder and louder as if the rumbling thunder was about to release the lightning. Feeling nervous, they began increasing the speed of their shooting of arrows, becoming relieved every time they heard a scream.
But soon after, they could faintly see numerous vague figures in the white fog. Then when more than a dozen siege towers taller than the camp’s wall emerged from the thick fog and in front of the trench, the Theonian soldiers became nervous about these giants.
“Defense!” The heavy infantry quickly placed their long shield on top of their heads to form a shield formation.
Then a clanging sound rang out as the javelins thrown from the towers clashed with the metal piece on the centre of the long shields, with a very few piercing through and causing damage to the legion soldiers. The Syracusans obviously knew that the archers wouldn’t threaten the Theonian heavy infantry, so all the light infantry on top of the towers were peltast.
The light infantry hiding behind the Theonian heavy infantry immediately fired arrows and javelins back at the tower eight-nine metres away from the wooden wall.
On the other hand, the Syracusans relied on the protection of the tower’s wooden barrier. And if someone falls from getting hit, a new light infantry would immediately enter from the entrance behind the tower, climb to the top through the ladders and replace them.
By relying on the suppression of the tower’s long-range attacks, the Syracusan soldiers below braved the rains of arrows and javelins, rushed to the trench and put a ten-metre-long siege ladder on the wooden wall.
When the Theonian soldiers rigorously constructed the camp, they dug four metres wide and three metres deep trenches with sharp wooden stakes inside. On the Theonian camp’s side, they built an earthen mound and a wooden wall on top of it after tamping the earthen mound. When adding them together, the height of the earthen mound and wooden wall would nearly be five metres high. So the Syracusan soldiers couldn’t stand under the wooden wall and could only stand on the other side of the trench and attack the city through the lengthened ladder.
But besides decreasing the inclination of the lengthened ladder when it hit the wooden wall, it had also exposed the bodies of the attacking soldiers more to the enemies’ attack. Moreover, the ladders became much more prone to swaying, increasing the chance the soldiers fell into the trenches and getting pierced by the sharp wooden stakes if they were not careful. Still, the Syracusans fearlessly placed the ladders and climbed forward towards the wall one after another.
While the towers and ladders attracted the attention of the Theonian defenders, hundreds of freemen, carrying sacks full of soil, quickly ran towards the trench in front of the camp’s gate. Even though some fell from the arrows, more people succeeded in throwing the sacks into the trench.
The soldiers remaining in the Theonian camp are from the fourth and seventh legion of Theonia, with a total of 11,000 men, and all rushed towards the eastern wall for defence. But since the wall’s walkway wasn’t wide, the archers could only retreat behind the wall or to the sentry towers to continue firing their arrows at the towers outside the camp and the Syracusan soldiers rushing in their direction.
On top of the wooden wall were mixed troops of heavy infantry and peltast: They threw javelins at the enemy in front of the trench or on the ladder; Use the shields and spears to knock down the enemy climbing up the wall while using the shield to protect against the enemies’ javelin attacks.
Once the thick fog gradually dispersed and the sun shone into the sky, the offensive and defensive war of the central Theonian camp intensified…
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At the same time as the war on Theonia’s camp, the gates of the Sicilian island of Ortygia leading to the main city of Syracuse opened and the carriage in which Hipparinus rode and his entourage came out in columns.
The island of Ortygia was the original settlement of the Syracusans until Gelon became the tyrant. Afterwards, the people of the surrounding city-states were massively relocated to Syracuse, reclaimed the inland area connected to Ortygia and vigorously developed maritime trade. From then on, Syracuse gradually became the most powerful of the Greek city-states in Sicily. But after Dionysius became the tyrant, he not only moved more Greeks to Syracuse but also, because of the two riots that nearly overthrew his rule and endangered his life, made him forcibly removed the original inhabitants of Ortygia to protect his life, turning the island into his residence and fortress for his family, supporters and his loyal mercenaries. Then the Syracusans jokingly referred to the island of Ortygia as ‘Dionysius’ Acropolis’.
Naturally, Philistus and Hipparinus also lived on the island of Ortygia as loyal subordinates of Dionysius. However, Syracuse’s city hall was outside the island and next to the square south of the Temple of Apollo. So if there were no special circumstances, Philistus would usually rush to the city hall early to deal with the government affairs and then return to the palace in Ortygia in the afternoon to report the situation to Dionysius.
Hipparinus, as the chief of the intelligence department, also has a position in the city hall. But because his work needed secrecy, he usually worked in his residence on the island of Ortygia. Only when Dionysius left Syracuse would he go to the city hall to work every day to understand the city’s situation more conveniently and quickly while monitoring the officers nearby.
Between the island of Ortygia and the city of Syracuse was a 500 metres long and 300 metres wide isthmus that Hipparinus and his entourage had to pass. In the middle of the isthmus is a small fortress with hundreds of mercenaries stationed and a wall separating the island of Ortygia. Although Dionysius had done everything possible for his family’s safety, this fortress further narrowed the already narrow passage.
Suddenly, the carriage Hipparinus was riding stopped at the exit of the isthmus. Then a noise outside reached his ears, so he hurriedly poked his head out. Only to see dozens of men fighting and brawling at the isthmus’ exit. At the same time, numerous cheering people watched the event and blocked the road.
“Go and see the situation!” Hipparinus said hurriedly.
Soon after returning, his men reported, “Milord, the citizens heard that they were being gathered in the square today to form an army to go to Magna Graecia as reinforcements. Some citizens responded and were about to go to the square, while others thought this would only…result in the war continuing without end, so they blocked those responding citizens from going to the square. As a result, both sides…”
Hipparinus looked at the cloud of dust ahead with agitation. He then cursed, “What the hell is Philistus doing?! Why isn’t he sending the patrols to drive these people away?!!”
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Philistus usually goes to the city hall early to work, but he is even earlier today. The gathering of citizens and forming an army is a major event in any city-states, especially in Syracuse’s situation. So it is necessary to maintain order in the city and ensure they can smoothly complete this matter. Thus he wants to arrive before the citizens gather in the square and check the preparations in detail to avoid mistakes.
To Philistus’ delight, he saw many citizens marching toward the square on his way to the city hall, ‘It seems Herolis’ work these past days is fruitful, so we should be able to complete Lord Dionysius’ request!’
But just as he arrived at the city hall feeling grateful to Herolis, he received unpleasant news, “What do you mean?! Herolis was beaten while he was on his way to the city hall?!!”
“Yes, milord. It was reported that several citizens were afraid to go to war and resented Lord Herolis for persuading the citizens to participate in the war mobilisation, so they assaulted him.”
“Where is he now? How’s his injury?!” Asked Philistus.
“I heard that he was struck on the head and fainted. His relatives then carried him back to his house while the patrol rushed to arrest the perpetrators.”
When Philistus heard this, he could no longer sit still as he thought he was the one responsible for Herolis’ wound. After all, if he had not assigned Herolis this difficult task and told him to do his best, those disgruntled citizens wouldn’t resent him. Furthermore, the task of forming an army for the expedition in the square today was very important and risky, but things would go much better if Herolis could assist besides him.
So, he must pay him a visit for public and private matters.
While it was still early, Philistus quickly arranged some simple matters for his men to complete. He then took 20 guards and hurried to Herolis’ residence.