NOVEL WEB Chapter 224: We Are One Family
Having just seen off the Crotonites, the citizens of Crimea were greeted by the Dionysian army, a striking entrance to the city.
However, the Dionysian army, marching along the streets to the square, quickly disbanded. Led by their officers, the soldiers diligently used tools carried in their carts to clean the garbage-strewn streets, leveled damaged pavement, and even helped repair houses, diligently cleaning up the devastated city after the battle.
Initially surprised, the citizens of Crimea gradually attempted to engage in conversation with these "conquerors." Eventually, inspired by the soldiers' enthusiasm, they too joined in the rebuilding of their own homes. Women brought food and water to the soldiers, offering their condolences and sharing their family struggles, hoping for their assistance. The soldiers readily offered their physical strength and enthusiasm.
In a single afternoon, Crimea—a city once stagnant and lifeless after the war—became vibrant with life.
The members of the former Crimean Council were all surprised by this scene, whispering to each other and discussing it non-stop.
Antaoris, Crimean's former chief general, considered himself well-traveled and knowledgeable, but he had never seen or heard of a city-state's citizen soldiers, after conquering another city-state, actually helping the conquered people restore their homes after the war! Like everyone else, he was filled with astonishment and excitement, at a loss for words:
"Lord Davos, this... this is truly..."
"From today on, the people of Crimea are citizens of the Dionysian Alliance. We are all family! As family, of course we should help each other, right?" Davos said with a smile.
Seeing the shocked expressions around him, he was very satisfied with the results of this operation. Before arriving, he had indeed ordered his soldiers to serve as "cleaners," but orders alone were insufficient to ensure their willingness. He also informed them that, due to victory and their bravery, the probation period for freemen who had participated in numerous battles would be significantly shortened. Some soldiers who excelled on the battlefield might even be granted full citizenship.
Furthermore, with this victory, Dionysia would acquire a vast amount of land, and all soldiers who participated would be rewarded with "lots of land" based on their military achievements. These lands would primarily be located near Crimea. Therefore, Crimea would become the new homeland for some of the soldiers.
Furthermore, due to the frequent fighting in Crimea over the past six months, many male citizens had been killed or injured, and the population was now higher than men. Davos encouraged single soldiers to win the favor of Crimean women through their actions! These factors ensured that the soldiers, instead of being arrogant as victors, would earn the favor of the Crimeans—their future neighbors—through their actions.
"And you—" Davos continued, "you've protected the treasury and granaries... so well, they weren't looted by the defeated Crotone soldiers, and you've handed them over intact to the Alliance. Isn't it because you identify with the Dionysian Alliance and consider yourselves Dionysian citizens that you've been so thoughtful! I'm sure the Dionysian Senate will recognize your efforts!"
Everyone, taking Davos's hint, beamed.
Davos observed and smiled as well, but he knew clearly: while the Dionysian Senate was still far from full membership, it would proceed with caution this time, sending secret investigations to determine who held the highest prestige and influence among the Crimean people. Only those truly willing to become Dionysian citizens and dedicated to their work would be specially recruited into the Senate. The talk of a vote was a sham. As a territory newly annexed to the Alliance, he and the Senate naturally had to maintain a firm grip on Crimea to prevent any unforeseen events.
"Lord Davos, please follow me to the port to inventory the supplies we've seized from Crotone."
It was remarkable how calm the former chief general of Crimisa remained.
Davos looked at Antaoris with admiration and said, "Excellent!"
After inspecting Crimisa, Davos immediately ordered a portion of the food and supplies to be distributed to the people of Crimisa to compensate them for the losses they suffered during the war.
This generous gesture won the people's favor. He also ordered Capus to lead 2,000 soldiers of the First Legion to station within the city, maintaining order and helping the people repair damaged facilities. The rest of the army remained in the camp outside the city, filling traps, removing spikes, and other tasks to restore the surrounding environment.
Davos politely declined Antaoris' invitation to a banquet and, accompanied by Hieronymus, led the Rhedes cavalry to Asprustum.
Galloping across the gently rolling, vast Croton Plain, what came into view were farmlands, villages, and a crisscross of canals. Though no human activity was visible, smoke billowed from some of the villages. Save for the occasional stray hound, which cast a timid, hateful glare and barked incessantly, everything was remarkably quiet.
This did not dampen the good spirits of Davos and his companions. They surveyed the newly acquired Dionysian land with great interest as they journeyed.
Rhedes excitedly remarked, "Although the terrain isn't as flat as the Sybari Plain, it feels just as fertile and incomparable!"
"It seems you're planning to trade all your land here," Davos joked.
"My lord, I have no such plans. With the Crotonites right next door, everything feels a little uneasy," Rhedes shook his head.
"Such fertile land, and yet you're still so picky? You're truly ignorant of the suffering of the poor," Davos continued to tease him.
The cavalrymen also took the opportunity to tease their captain.
At this moment, Hieronymus beside him said, "No matter how good the land is, it can't be protected without strong forces."
Davos was stunned, then said, "That's right. We can't follow Crotone. We must continue to strengthen training and defend our homeland! Especially your cavalry. You have made great contributions this time, but you must not be complacent. Continue to follow your captain to improve your riding skills and learn new cavalry tactics. I hope you can become a major offensive force in the Dionysian army, capable of deciding the outcome of the battle! Do you have this confidence?"
"Yes!!!" The cavalry raised their spears and shouted excitedly.
Standing on the top of Asprustum, one can gaze westward at the endless mountains, capped with snow; eastward, overlooking the rushing torrent, the steep cliffs, and the lush green fields of the Croton Plain. On a perfectly clear day, you could even gaze southeast and catch a glimpse of the bustling traffic outside Crotone...
"What a wonderful place! The Crotoneans actually gave it to us!" Davos exclaimed, stroking the thick battlements.
"Of course, it's not that the Crotoneans wanted to give it to us, but they simply can't take it back!" Bagul confidently stated, "Asprustum has excellent terrain, and the walls are high and the trenches are deep. I only need 2,000 men to hold off an enemy force of 20,000!"
Davos, who had already carefully examined the city's defenses, nodded in agreement.
"Izam's mountain reconnaissance team was a huge help in taking this city!" Hieronymus' words reminded Davos. He found the young Dukeyan from the accompanying team and said, "Izam, your company has made great contributions this time. Every soldier who participated in the capture of the city must be credited with at least one great merit!"
"I thank the commander on behalf of my brothers!" Izam said excitedly, "Sir, my reconnaissance team can play an even greater role, as long as you can expand the reconnaissance team to 1,000 people!"
Hieronymus and Asistes exchanged glances. This Dukian's request was surprisingly direct.
Davos, unfazed, smiled and said, "The role of the Mountain Scouting Team is reconnaissance, harassment, and sabotage, not direct engagement. Having so many people would be inconvenient for you to command and would also make them easily discovered by the enemy..."
Davos didn't refuse. Instead, he thought carefully and said, "Expanding the team is not impossible. I'd first like you to develop a plan for expansion and training. I'd like to know how many more people to add, how to organize and train the expanded Mountain Scouting Team, how to help this new team adapt more quickly and enhance its special role in wartime... If your plan is feasible, I can discuss expanding the Mountain Scouting Team with Felixius and appoint you as captain."
"Excellent, thank you, sir!" Izam exclaimed with undisguised joy.
"So you want to be captain? Why didn't you say so earlier?" Asistes took the opportunity to tease.
"Since you've all become captain, I certainly can't be left behind," Izam said confidently.
Everyone laughed.
"Have all the original residents of the city left?" Davos asked, turning back to look down at the city.
"The Crotones came to the city, read the newly signed covenant to the people, and vigorously mobilized them to leave. They cried and made a fuss, but in the end, they all left. Not one stayed. We allowed them to take their belongings with them, but they also wanted to take public property, but we refused. That was our spoils of war!" Asistes said.
"It's good that all the residents of Asprustum have left. It will make it easier for us to immigrate and keep the city firmly under the control of the Alliance!" Davos also reminded: "You must quickly inventory the property in Asprustum and make a list so that we can divide it up between Laos and Castellon."