Moreover, the defense measures of the Dionian defenders were more than this. They collected linens from the residences in the city, sewed them into long sections, and then laid wooden poles at both ends of the walkway at the top of the city to support the linen, forming sections of linen roofs. In this way, most of the arrows, javelins, and flying stones shot at the top of the city were blocked by it, and lost their lethality, protecting the defenders at the top of the city well.

In addition, the Deonian defenders also set up many wooden racks on the top of the city, with copper jars full of water hanging on them. After boiling with firewood, they poured them directly into the city. The boiling water contained feces and urine, which was poured on the Carthaginian soldiers who were sieging the city, causing their skin to ulcerate and unable to heal, which was very vicious.

The stone bombs flew across the air from time to time, causing a sensation no matter where they landed; arrows and flying stones continued to crisscross the air, like dark clouds covering the sky. The soldiers of the Dionian defended the city without retreating; the soldiers of the Carthage continued to rush the city like a tide...

In fact, the battle was not only on the ground, but in recent days, Ma Ge asked the soldiers from miners to dig several new tunnels under the ground, and also allowed them to continue digging into the city. He also learned the lesson from the last time. He was equipped with fully armed soldiers behind them. After the tunnel was discovered by the Dionians, the two sides also fought even more tragic battles in the tunnel...

The siege continued from morning to dusk, and the intensity of the Carthage army's offensive continued, especially after sending the Philip infantry, they attacked the city several times, but were eventually repelled by the reinforcements of the Dionians.

When night fell, the Carthage army finally sounded the trumpet of retreat.

Although Ocreton also participated in battles when he was young, he had never experienced such a large number of people participating in the war, such a grand and fierce battle. He stood on the inner wall, looking at the countless fallen corpses and wounded soldiers under the city ahead, and his mood could not be calm for a long time.

Not long after, when he met Mago in the tent of the Carthage camp, the military commander who had just finished the siege was eating dinner.

Seeing Ocredon come in, Ma Ge's eyes suddenly became sharp. He put down the bread in his hand and asked straightforwardly: "Ocredon, how is your negotiation situation?"

Ocreton was not surprised that Mago knew about the negotiations, because as the head of Margonid's family, someone would risk coming to Sicily to report to him everything that happened in the Senate. He was surprised that Mago did not seem to be angry that the Senate was about to negotiate.

But after thinking about it carefully, he understood: Lilibi lost, the sea route was cut off, and the food supply of the 100,000 troops became increasingly difficult. Even Ma Ge, who was always tough, had to bow his head in the face of reality?!

For Ocreton, he was happy to see this happening, which meant that something could be negotiated.

"One of the conditions for the Dionians to reach a peace agreement is to surrender to them by the army you led!" Ocredon said word by word.

Ma Ge's eyes suddenly became sharp, but then he restrained his light and said confidently: "The Senate will never agree to such a ridiculous condition!"

"Not only this, the Dionians also asked Carthage to cede Corsica, Sardinia and the entire Sicily!" Ocreton continued to speak in a stressful tone.

"Dionia is trying to destroy me, Carthage!" There was a little flame burning in Mago's eyes, but his expression became solemn: "It seems that the Dionys don't want to negotiate at all!"

"I don't think so." Ocreton said slowly: "Just like the peace negotiation conditions given by the Senate, the Dionians gave such harsh conditions in the first meeting, but they were asking for prices all over the place. Of course, we can continue to bargain with them. But now our record is too poor, so I can't get good bargaining chips..."

Marco looked up and looked directly at Ocreton.

Ocreton calmly met Ma Ge's sharp gaze as sharp as a blade, his face was covered with frost, and his tone was cold: "Is there something wrong with what I said?! If it weren't for Ma Ge's you, you led the army to be defeated from the east and lost Palermos and Lilibi one after another, causing the entire battle situation to become so bad, and the Senate would not have made such a humiliating choice to negotiate!"——"

"When did I suffer a great defeat in the east?" Ma Ge slapped the table with anger, and the bowls on the table were jingling and the food was spread all over the floor: "I led the army to retreat from the east because the supply of military rations is not enough. The fundamental reason is not because our navy is not good. It lost control of the Sicily waters, which seriously threatened the army's maritime transportation lines. These are the things you recommended Annobas did well! The fleet he led was defeated and lost again and again, almost exhausting all our Carthage warships. The army I commanded has not suffered a great loss so far, but has fallen into a passive position because of being trapped in military rations!" Ma Ge couldn't help but say his last words express his helplessness and sadness.

But Ocreton obviously did not sympathize with him, but said coldly: "Mr. Maggie, in order to achieve your request for sending troops, the Senate tried his best to almost take time out all the young and middle-aged citizens of Carthage and Phoenician allies, and gathered 100,000 troops for you. This led to the gap in the defense of Afiriga and could not resist the harassment of the Dionian fleet!

In order to ensure the food supply of the army you led, the Senate almost collected all the surplus grains from all the people of Afiliga, which led to the emptiness of the treasury! The family Taiji made such great sacrifices and efforts, not to make you satisfied that the army did not suffer a great loss, but to shirk the reasons for its failure to succeed to the navy. Even if you win a few more victories and make the Dionians feel the pressure, Dionians dare not send the navy to harass the land of Afiliga. Even in the peace talks, they would not put forward such harsh conditions!"

Brother Ma was speechless for a moment, and after a moment he returned to his proud expression: "In a few days, you will receive news of victory!"

Ocreton was stunned, then understood and said uncertainly: "Are you talking about Selinus? I have seen today's siege. How many soldiers did we die in battle? 3,000 people? Or 5,000 people?"

Mago said confidently: "We have lost a lot of people, but the casualties of the Dionians will not be low. The most important thing is that we built the earth wall to the edge of the trench, and then attacked Selinus, and our soldiers could fight directly with the Dionians head-on through the city wall.

If the Dionians do not increase their troops, we can seize the city of Selinus with the absolute advantage of their troops; and if they increase their troops, then this will become the wound of continuous bleeding in Dionia! By then, the negotiation conditions they proposed will have to be greatly modified!"

Although the two are political enemies, in Carthage now facing a major crisis, Ocreton hopes to see what Maggie said for the first time to become a fact, so he said seriously: "The Senate is eagerly waiting for the news of your victory, and I hope we don't wait too long!"

…………………………………………

Late at night, Selinus's clutch entered Minoa Harbor. Davers was awakened by Martius in his sleep. After reading the battle report written by Amintas, he was completely sleepy. To Thormid, who arrived later, Priintols said: "The Carthage army has launched an attack on Selinus City in recent days. Selinus defenders have suffered a lot of casualties. Even Amintas can't stand it anymore and wrote a letter to ask for help."

Thormid took the war report in surprise. After reading it, he handed it to Printols. Then he thought for a while and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, now the Carthage military commander Mago has concentrated all his troops outside the city of Selinnus and concentrated all his strength to attack the city. Amintas has only more than 10,000 soldiers under his command. Even if he tried his best to resist the attack of the Carthage army for a long time, his casualties will inevitably be heavy. You must know that most of the soldiers of the First Legion are from Turiyi. In this war, it has replenished the soldiers twice, and the Turiyi people have made great sacrifices..."

Hearing these words, Davers was moved and silent.

Thormid carefully observed the expression on Davers's face and whispered: "I remember when His Majesty was in Latinum, given that the Roman army attacked Ostia and caused a considerable casualty, we decisively ordered the abandonment of Ostia and burned it, which resulted in the Roman army's huge casualties and gained nothing, thus damaging their morale. Now that we have occupied Lilibi, we can completely replace the role played by the Port of Selinus. Can we consider taking the same method to abandon Selinus when necessary?"

Davers felt a move when he heard this suggestion, and his fingers tapped the table, and fell into thought. After a while, he raised his head and looked at another staff officer: "Printhols, what about your opinion?"

Printols saw that the other people were all focused and said, "I agree with the advice of Lord Thormeed, but it is best not to give up Selinus too early, because your majesty is to take a defensive attitude on land and lure the Carthaginian army to take the initiative to attack, so as to constantly kill the Carthaginian soldiers and destroy their morale... If the Carthaginians capture Selinus too early, even in the ruins, they will increase their morale. At the same time, they will save more time to attack Lelibi..."
Chapter completed!