The Rise Of An Empire In Ancient Europe-Chapter 141: The Rescue

"Governor, the Crotonians have superior numbers while we are fewer. Wouldn’t attacking them be—" Cornelius began expressing his concern, but Amintas immediately interrupted, "You don’t understand warfare, so don’t meddle!"

Juleios quickly rebuked Amintas, demanding an apology, and then addressed Cornelius and the older citizens with patience.

"As the governor of Amendolara and a seasoned battlefield leader, I deeply value the lives of our citizens.

I would never recklessly attack Crotone’s strong army without a well-thought-out plan.

Crotone’s soldiers are undoubtedly proud of their recent victory, and their general, Melanthius, is even prouder.

Laden with plunder, these soldiers are likely focused on dividing their spoils and have little appetite for fighting.

By the time they reach their camp, they’ll be exhausted, and their defenses will be lax. That’s when we’ll strike them hard—just like we did when retaking Amendolara!"

Seeing the elders deep in thought, Juleios added, "Of course, if our scouts find that their camp is well-fortified, then we’ll cancel the operation."

Philius emphasized, "The governor’s plan is indeed feasible!"

Antonius added, "We’re in agreement!"

Scumbras, Tritodemos, and Protesilaus were the first to voice their support, and the attack plan was approved.

"Immediately gather all four battalions in the square.

Tell the captains to maintain strict discipline: no noise, no shouting. I don’t want Crotone’s scouts to sense anything unusual!" Juleios commanded calmly.

"Here’s the attack plan..."

Philesius and the elder officers left to carry out their orders.

Turning to Cornelius, Juleios said earnestly, "Turii has suffered a terrible disaster. As their ally, we must assist their people.

I propose forming a Turii Emergency Relief Committee under your leadership to provide them with food, shelter, and medical care."

Cornelius hesitated briefly before nodding in agreement.

Other elder citizens, once resentful of Turii, remained silent, though Stromboli cautioned, "If we send food to help the Turians, we might not have enough for ourselves."

"Don’t worry!" Juleios replied confidently. "Crotone has looted plenty of grain. Once we defeat Melanthius, we’ll have more than enough." Silently, he thought, and we’ll gain something far more important.

Juleios suddenly remembered someone crucial. "What about Konogorata’s injuries? Are they healed?"

Scumbras replied, "They seem much better.

I saw him yesterday at the temple, walking down the hill unassisted."

"Have him assist you," Juleios instructed Cornelius.

"He knows Turii’s people and matters better than anyone."

Cornelius hesitated. "But he was—"

Juleios interrupted gently, "Turii is his homeland.

Despite their past mistreatment of him, his love and concern for Turii undoubtedly outweigh any resentment, especially now that the city has been destroyed."

As predicted, upon hearing about the Relief Committee, Konogorata, who had nearly fainted from grief upon learning of Turii’s destruction, immediately went to Cornelius’s residence to discuss aid efforts.

Later, Juleios summoned Vespa, the Lucanian leader, and his son Bagul to his residence.

"Tonight, we plan to attack Crotone’s army, and I hope you’ll join us. If we succeed, your five-year service term will be halved," Juleios stated bluntly.

"Attack Crotone’s army? I heard they have over ten thousand men!" Vespa, though a slave, was well-informed and hesitated.

"We’ll join!" Bagule interjected decisively.

"Son, you—" Vespa began, but Bagule ignored him and declared again, "The Lucanians will participate!"

Bagule’s confidence stemmed from his experiences.

Having played in several olive ball games and interacted with Amendolara’s unique citizen-soldiers, he had come to admire Juleios’s leadership and believed the governor would not act without confidence in victory.

This, he thought, was an opportunity for their tribe.

"Good! Excellent!" Juleios exclaimed, both pleased by Bagul’s response and excited by the success of his assimilation policies.

Placing a hand on Bagul’s shoulder, Juleios said, "I believe this decision will be immensely beneficial for you and your people!" ƒгeewёbnovel.com

Bagule stood firm, while Vespa sighed in resignation.

"Your next steps will be explained by Arsistatus, who will serve as your deputy.

You, Bagul, are the captain of the Lucanian Battalion," Juleios said, gesturing to Arsistatus, who smiled shyly.

By midday, Crotone’s army abandoned thousands of Turian civilians outside the ruins of Turii and began retreating with their spoils.

They left the pontoon bridge intact.

When this news reached Amendolara, Juleios ascended to the Temple of Zeus at the hilltop with the priests, offering a sacrificial bull.

Amid hymns and prayers, he sought Zeus’s blessing for the campaign. The priests blessed him and conducted a sacred divination.

Returning to the square, Juleios announced to the gathered citizen-soldiers, "Zeus’s omens are favorable! Victory is ours!"

Bound by military discipline, the unarmored citizen-soldiers did not cheer aloud, but their expressions brimmed with excitement and determination.

The entire city of Amendolara sprang into action.

As Juleios watched the citizens leading oxen and horses laden with supplies through the city gates, an ancient phrase from his previous life echoed in his mind: "The die is cast."

On that day, the skies were dark and heavy clouds pressed low, as if the gods had foretold an ominous event.

The Crotonian soldiers were not men—they were thieves, beasts. They seized everything edible, even the porridge from infants’ bowls.

They plundered every valuable item, sparing not even the teeth from the mouths of the desperate.

Those who dared to resist were ruthlessly kicked aside, some losing their lives. Those who knelt and pleaded were met with cold indifference.

From every house came the despairing wails of Turian citizens; every street flowed with their blood and tears.

What sins had the Turians committed to deserve such horrifying torment by these demons?

In his History of Greater Greece, Ansitanos, though generally neutral, could not hide his strong emotions in this Chapter. Later, Crotonians protested, accusing Ansitanos of gross exaggeration and undermining national unity, demanding the Chapter be revised.

As the flames engulfed the city, Turians could only watch helplessly as their homes turned to ashes and their sacred temples crumbled.

Had the gods abandoned Turii, leaving Hephaestus to cast down his fiery wrath?

When the Crotonians finally retreated, the Turian people, heedless of the lingering smoke and flames, rushed madly into the city ruins.

The scorching heat seared their flesh, but they still plunged into the smoldering ashes, desperate to salvage anything of use.

With no shelter, no food, no clothes, and no money, how could the Turians survive in this now-wilderness of the Sybaris plain?

Just when despair gripped their hearts, the people of Amendolara arrived.

Thousands of Amendolarans brought hundreds of wagons, half of which concealed weapons and equipment, and began their rescue efforts.

They set up tents, dug campsites, and distributed aid.

Kunogorata, entirely forgetting the previous mistreatment he had suffered at the hands of the Turians, tirelessly worked across every corner to help those in need.

It was said his injuries from a prior beating were not yet fully healed, yet he never stopped.

Amendolara’s administrator, Cornelius, directed resources and personnel, organizing the rescue efforts with exceptional order and efficiency.

Let me finally speak of Juleios.

At the time, Juleios was the governor of Amendolara and the hero who had once saved Turii from the Lucanians.

Yet, for many Turian citizens, this was their first time seeing him, and it was amidst their greatest suffering.

To their surprise, this young man, barely looking of age, carried himself with a warmth that felt familial.

His kind smile never wavered as he listened intently to the citizens’ grievances, offering gentle words of comfort.

He cradled crying children, wiping away their tears and the ashes on their faces. He lifted injured elders and handed them soft bread.

Under Juleios’s leadership, the people of Amendolara worked tirelessly to aid the Turians, treating them like family.

Juleios had once again saved the people of Turii, ensuring they did not suffer starvation or disease in their time of need.

From the depths of their hearts, the Turians were grateful—not only to the Amendolarans but also to the hero who had twice saved their lives: Juleios.

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