Chapter 163: Heated debate in the Senate

The wise statesmen like Kunogelata and Cornelius just stood by and no one else came forward to answer it.

Davos continued, “Then let’s look to the north of Nerulum, which are all the territory of Lucania, as well as several large cities and towns. I heard that their total population is more than 100,000, which is several times more than our population. Although they are still fighting with each other, once the Greeks occupy their traditional territory and threatened their own security, will they unite against us? Even if we defeat them, as long as they hide in the mountains, we won’t be able to do anything else, and it will make the Lucanians hate us even more. They are familiar with every mountains and every rivers there, and they will change their tactics by attacking our farms and the citizens that will go herding, raiding our supplies and caravans, and the output of Nerulum cannot support a large number of people. There are only a few of us, while the Lucanians have more, if we couldn’t conquer them, they will devour us instead. Then what should we do?”

Davos sneered when he saw that someone was trying to say something, “One might say, ‘Isn’t there Laos? They will help us!’ Yes, Laos is indeed our ally. But when we, the alliance leader, asked them again and again for military support and supplies, it might be okay at the beginning. But after a long time, do you think that Laos will not look down on our strength and have other thoughts?! Don’t forget, Avinoges is not a pure Greek, and they have never cooperated with us Greeks before. And so, we can’t expect him to stick to the agreement forever.”

Davos paused for a moment to give them time to think, and then continued, “Therefore, we can only constantly transport food from Thurii and Amendolara, and to increase the number of soldiers in Nerulum. Not to mention that it is difficult to traverse the mountain road, which will make the war cost huge. Do you think that it is meaningful to continuously invest and consume the valuable human and material resources of Thua Union into a city without any benefits?! What is more, there is also a powerful Crotone, who are ready to take their revenge!”

“Then what is the reason for us to attack Nerulum and provoke the Lucanians?” At the words of Davos, Bolus began to flinch.

“You should have deep impression on the Lucanians that have invaded Thurii many times. Although they have suffered defeat this time, they, after all, have numerous population. If we do not attack and weaken them, they will be able to recover their strength, and they will surely come to invade us again. Of course, we hope to keep them out of the union’s territory, rather than let the war burn on our land and destroy our farms and houses that we had work-hard!” Alexius stood up and answered.

“Can the Lucanians help us stabilize Nerulum and solve the difficulties that the Archon has said?” At this moment, Scambras stood up and asked.

There was a slight smile on Davos’ face, “First of all, they are Lucanians, and the victory over Nerulum will helped us stabilize the mood of the city’s residents. There are also rich and poor people in Lucania, so we should capture the rich and their warriors and turn them into slaves. Then we will distribute the captured livestock to the poor and let the mixed team of Greeks and Lucania be responsible for managing the whole city. At the same time, there are also powerful tribes and weak tribes in the tribal alliance of Lucania. Some tribes, like Vespa, who are unwilling to join us, but because of the war and it is hard to survive, they will wander around the city. So we can open a market on the border of Nerulum, and use our pottery, iron products and other goods to attract those poor tribes to come exchange their livestock, furs, prey and so on., and give them appropriate help when necessary. Over time, they will be happy to be close to us. In this way, we not only have promoted our trade, provided food for the garrison soldiers, but also weakened the power of the Lucanians.

You might ask why would the Lucanians believe in us Greeks and be willing to be close to us?” Davos then said, “Because Vespa and Bagul are there, and they are involved in the management of the city. In the eyes of the Lucanians, they still worship the gods of Lucania, maintain the traditional customs of Lucania, and so, they are still true Lucanians! But they are the citizens of Thua Union, dressed in gorgeous clothes, drinks wine and live in a comfortable houses…their way of life is bound to arouse the envy of the Lucanians and eventually lead to the willingness of other Lucanians to join our alliance!”

“But allowing Bagul and the other Lucanians who have only been in the Thua Union for half a year, be released to the land that they are familiar with. What if they rebelled?” Asked Stromboli.

“If we give them citizenship, and treat them as we treat our people, and let them live in a civilization far beyond the reach of Lucania, a brilliant culture created by our ancestors through generations of hard work and wisdom! I firmly believe that they will be assimilated by us, instead of us being assimilated through their ignorance and backwardness! Of course, there is a small possibility of them rebelling, but I think that this risk is worth taking! Because if we fail, we will only lose more than a thousand slaves and postpone our plan to attack Lucania. But if we succeed, we will get a vast land and the hundred thousand population of Lucania. With all this, do we still need to worry about Crotone?! No, Crotone is just a small stone on our path forward, we can just kick them off easily and welcome a broader world!”

Davos’ passionate speech made the statesmen excited, and they began to talk to each other excitedly.

Then Davos announced that the meeting was temporarily adjourned.

Then he went to Kunogelata and Cornelius, the city’s praetor, and hope that they would take the lead in supporting his proposal.

“I have carefully listened to your plan to stabilize Nerulum with the tribe of Vespa and Bagul, and I think that is worth a try.” Said Cornelius, while abandoning his personal feelings.

“Lord Davos, are the circumstances that you have mentioned before is so dangerous and difficult without the help of the Lucanians like Vespa?” Kunogelata asked in a slightly skeptical way.

“If you think about the worst, then you can work for the best.” Answered Davos.

Kunogelata thought about it and nodded.

At the second meeting, most of the statesmen agreed under the guidance of Kunogelata and Cornelius, and so, the proposal of Davos was passed. Bagul will then lead nearly a thousand Lucanian warriors to join the army, and after capturing Nerulum, they will all be eligible for citizenship, and Vespa and Bagul will also join the Senate.

Although few statesmen, led by Bolus, lamented, ‘This is an unprecedented disgrace to the Greek city-states! The sacred Senate Hall will be defiled by the dirty smell of those aborigines!’

But most of the statesmen just ignored their noises, and were all looking forward to the huge gains that they will get in Lucania…

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

As soon as Philesius stepped into his house, he heard the courtyard being very lively.

The courtyard was assigned to Philesius. And his wife, Delia, who was originally going to plant some apples and fig trees in the courtyard, and Philesius had no objection to it, but his adopted son objected to it, because he wanted to transform the courtyard into a training ground, so that he could exercise his body and skills at any time. In the end, his loving wife agreed to it.

As soon as he heard the noise in the courtyard, Philesius knew that it was Melisander and was practicing with someone.

He walked up the corridor and came closer to see that it was Melisander’s friend, Arsinis. The young man appearing here is obviously because of the campaign tomorrow.

When Philesius thought of his appointment today, his heart was filled with tension. He never expected that Davos would make him the commander of the campaign to Nerulum. To date, since the time he was a mercenary, he had only managed to command battles alone a few times, and he felt even more pressure under the dazzling aura of Davos.

He leaned against the colonnade, to think about it, while watching the battle between the two young men in the field.

“You’re back!” His wife’s gentle voice sounded behind him, “This is the drink that I have just boiled today, and with some dates, it should be sweeter. Quench your thirst first with this.”

Philesius held the warm drink (because it’s almost winter), then Delia said with a smile, “For dinner today, I had made your favorite roasted cod, stewed mutton, boiled porridge and bread. Because Arsinis will stay here tonight, so the dinner is a little more than usual.”

Philesius took a sip and said, “It’s very nice to have a visitor in our house and make it more lively.”

Delia was busy cooking dinner in the kitchen and directing the slaves to set the table. Philesius looked at her busy figure and couldn’t help exclaiming that his choice was correct. Although Delia was a little older, she was a diligent and virtuous Greek woman, who arranged the family affairs in an orderly manner.

The training on the field was finally over, then Melisander said, “Arsinis, you had only managed to beat me because you are two years older than me. Once I come out of age, I will no longer lose to you!”

“When you become an adult, I don’t even know how many real battles I would have experienced!” Arsinis retorted without showing weakness. As soon as he turned around, he saw Philesius outside the courtyard, and called out with respect “Lord Philesius!”

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