The slave drove the wagon slowly away from the fishers' dock.
Mikalis then noticed the fishermen and labourers on both sides of the road watching him leave indifferently. Only now did he realise why he felt the strangeness when arriving at the dock: Usually, the fishermen would more or less greet him when he came, but except for the few fishermen he hired, everyone else was silent, and a strange silence enveloped the whole dock today…
It had made him feel uneasy.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
In fact, the news of Syracuse's army's tragic defeat in Magna Graecia began to spread in the city just as Mikalis rushed to the port.
When the Syracusans learned of this shocking news, they all rushed to the city hall near the square with suspicion and panic, wanting to question the acting ruler Philistus at this time to confirm the authenticity of the news.
But unlike the loud noise outside of the city hall due to the increasing number of people gathering, the inside was unusually quiet. Although there were only a few people inside, everyone had graved expression on their face as the news they received wasn't only the tragic defeat of Syracuse's army but also the order of the all-powerful supreme commander Dionysius to send reinforcements.
“It's hard to believe that 80,000 troops and more than 400 ships…such a powerful force was defeated by Theonia, who wasn't as powerful as us!” Herolis broke the silence with a long sigh.
“No one remains invincible, especially in such a difficult expedition that crosses the sea. Anyway, with the wealth and population of Magna Graecia, all the sacrifices are worth it as long as Syracuse becomes the final victor. Isn't that right, Lord Herolis?” Hipparinus, the chief intelligence officer, looked at him and said coldly.
“Yes, if it leads to victory!” Herolis said seriously without avoiding Hipparinus' threatening tone, “But that is only IF! The current situation is that our Lord Dionysius and our citizens are besieged in Scylletium, which is two to three days’ travel by ship from us, and our waiting for our reinforcements!”
“Everyone, I have never doubted the final victor of this war is us!” Philistus spoke loudly to diffuse the possible conflict between the two, “Although Theonia's performance is indeed surprising, I am afraid that they have already done all they could to win the battle. While we in Syracuse still have enough men and money to put together another army and devote to the war in Magna Graecia, which is something that the Theonians can't resist!”
“Philistus, you are right.” Herolis softened his tone, “Still, it is not easy to gather an army of 20,000 men and hundred ships in a very short time.”
“Although it is not easy,” Philistus said with determination, “We must still do it. It's for Syracuse's survival!”
Philistus then looked at Macias, the former Campanian mercenary leader and the remaining strategos that Dionysius appointed, “Strategos, how many soldiers do you think we can draft in Syracuse?”
After thinking for a bit, Macias replied, “At least tens of thousands. We could mobilise more than 5,000 people outside the city alone, but inside-” Macias unconsciously looked out of the hall and showed concern, “I am afraid it won't be easy to mobilise them for war again at the current situation.”
By “outside the city”, Macias did not mean the ports and bays but the mercenaries placed by Dionysius on the city's outskirts, who had gotten citizenship and land, making them more loyal to Dionysius. At the same time as Dionysius relocated the population of the conquered city-state, he also placed the mercenaries dominated by the Campanians to occupy the land that the neighbouring city-states were forced to abandon. In these years, dozens of new villages were created outside the city, which rapidly expanded the territory controlled by Syracuse and made Syracuse the most powerful city-state in Sicily and even the western Mediterranean. But it had led to the growing tensions between those inside the city, those on the outside, and those in the port.
Philistus rubbed his temple, obviously feeling a headache from the growing public resentment. He then said, “Herolis, you are responsible for conscripting soldiers in the city.”
“Me?” Herolis looked at Philistus in surprise.
“It can't be helped. It might work if only you go as the people prefer you.” Philistus said half-jokingly but with a serious expression.
Herolis hesitated and tried to argue several times and wanted to say something. But in the end, he said helplessly, “Alright, I'll take care of this.”
Philistus became half-relieved at his promise, so he continued, “We did not recruit troops from Gela, Kamarina and Agrigento…and those city-states in the south coast last time, so the remaining shortage of soldiers should come from them. Lord Kalidmus, we will leave you the task of going out to those city-states and having them send troops.”
Kalidmus, who had remained silent, glanced at Hipparinus and saw him nod slightly. Then he said, “I will immediately go to these city-states and ask them to send troops!”
As a relative of Hipparinus and a member of Dionysius' inner circle, Kalidmus served as second in power only to Philistus. And whenever Dionysius was away from the city, his secret mission was to keep Philistus in check. Thus he would not leave Syracuse easily without Hipparinus' consent.
Philistus continued acting as if he had not seen the silent exchange between the two men, “Although the army is easy to solve, the ships are much more troublesome. Besides not having enough time to build new ships, we also don't have a strong fleet, so we can't send them to Magna Graecia even if we have more troops. Therefore, you should also ask those city-states in the south for ships while you conscript the soldiers. If we were to add them together with our more than 50 triremes moored in the port, we could barely form a fleet of 100 ships. However, that is still not quite enough. We need more triremes to be able to defeat the Theonian fleet, so I will send an envoy to Cyrenaica to buy or lease their existing triremes…”
Herolis couldn't help but say, “We already borrowed a large amount of money from Cyrenaica and haven't paid it back, so how could Cyrenaica lend us their ships?!”
“It is because we haven't paid them back that we would be able to get their ships.” Philistus laughed.
Herolis immediately understood what he meant: It would be the best way for Cyrenaica to help Syracuse win the war if they wanted to get back the money they lent and its interest immediately. Otherwise, they would lose everything once Syracuse was destroyed.
“Well then, please go and complete your task immediately. I hope that we can form the reinforcements and fleets that Lord Dionysius needs in five days!” Philistus spoke in a gentle but firm tone.
As everyone left after another, Philistus stopped Herolis, “You need to persuade those people making trouble at the entrance.”
Herolis smiled helplessly, “Hmm, I'll try. But even if I can persuade them back now, they will come again next time.”
“The situation will change by then!” Philistus said confidently.
“I hope so.” Herolis replied expressionlessly.
When everyone left, Hipparinus said with discontent, “Lord Philistus, back when Lord Dionysius was leading his army out of Sicily, I had reminded you that Herolis was in close contact with Philoxenus and his people! And he had even declared at the banquet, ‘the power of kings is nothing but a fancy veil!’ which is an open expression of displeasure to Lord Dionysius. I had hoped you would temporarily imprison him until Lord Dionysius returned. Yet not only did you oppose it, but gave him power, in case-”
“What Herolis said at the banquet was drunken nonsense; there is no need to take it seriously. Besides, I know Philoxenus and his people well. Apart from drinking, chatting and letting out their dissatisfaction, they couldn't do anything else…” Philistus, as a scholar, knew that group better. However, considering Hipparinus' status, he patiently persuaded him, “Despite Herolis' minor faults, he has outstanding abilities like calming the grievances of the people outside and, more importantly, recruiting the citizens to be soldiers…who else could do these things besides him?! He is undoubtedly my best helper in a situation as bad as now!”
Hipparinus, however, coldly said, “With his great influence among the civilians, he would do the greatest harm once he wants to make chaos!”
“Have you discovered something?” Philistus asked.
“Not yet. But his slaves went in and out of the port a little more than usual during this period. And with the current chaos and countless rumours in the port, I am afraid that there are Theonian spies causing trouble!”
Hipparinus' words made Philistus' countenance grim, “It is your duty to monitor anomalies and keep the city-state, and I have no right to stand in the way. So if you found Herolis to be acting in an unusual way that would harm Syracuse, I will disregard my friendship with him and will certainly imprison him! After all, a riot in Syracuse will jeopardise our safety!” Philistus looked cold and stern while implicitly reminded that: As Dionysius' most loyal follower and relative, the populace's perception of Hipparinus was no better than Dionysius’ and that they are all in the same boat.
“Lord Hipparinus, I have decided to send 200 mercenaries to the port. So I also hope that you can find the Theonian spies hiding there as soon as possible and restore the port's order!”
“I'll try my best!”
