The Rise Of An Empire In Ancient Europe
Chapter 69: Surveying the Land (Part 2)

Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Surveying the Land (Part 2)

The group descended the gentle slope and entered the river terrace. The terrain here was much easier to traverse: soft soil, a flat surface, and almost level with the river.

"You mentioned earlier that the people of Thurii dislike this hot spring swamp. Why is that?" Asistes persisted in asking.

The guide glanced at him and replied, "Because of the hot springs, the swamp maintains a comfortable water temperature all year round, which attracts a large number of mosquitoes. The bites are terrible, and the people of Thurii avoid coming here."

Asistes widened his eyes, gazing at the other side of the river. The thick mist rising from the swamp obscured his view, adding an air of mystery to the place.

Juleios remained silent, his eyes fixed on the river terrace, the Tinos River, and the hot spring swamp across the river. He seemed deep in thought.

After walking about half a mile, they reached the end of the river terrace. Forced to dismount, they continued on foot up another gentle slope, as the muddy ground made riding impossible.

Once they climbed the slope and left the river terrace, the path turned entirely uphill. Farmland became increasingly sparse, while the trees grew denser and more lush, until no traces of human habitation were visible.

Now on an open section of the hillside, the guide refused to proceed further. "Beyond that ridge lies the Lucanians’ camp. It’s too dangerous!" he warned.

After much persuasion, the guide reluctantly agreed to lead them to a vantage point farther away.

Standing atop the hill, braving the cold mountain wind, they gazed ahead. Before them was a taller hill. What should have been a lush, green landscape had been cleared of trees, creating a large open area. Countless tents were scattered across the clearing, haphazardly arranged. From a distance, the Lucanians, resembling tiny ants, swarmed the area in vast numbers.

"Wow, there are so many people!" Even Asistes, who had witnessed the Persian army’s massive forces, couldn’t help but exclaim.

Juleios said nothing, studying the scene intently. After a while, he pointed to a spot in the distance and asked, "What’s that place?"

The guide, his face pale, looked in the indicated direction, confused. "Where?"

"To the right side of the hill. It seems... I see Lucanian troops coming out from there occasionally," Juleios explained, pulling the guide closer and pointing again.

The guide squinted, carefully observing the location, and then said, "Oh, that’s the entrance to a mountain pass. It’s a trail leading straight into Lucanian territory."

"How long is the trail?" Juleios continued.

"I’ve never walked it myself, but I’ve heard it’s over 40 li (around 20 kilometers). It doesn’t sound far, but the mountain paths are difficult to traverse. It could take one or two days to cross. Oh... and it was on that trail that Thurii’s army was ambushed and defeated before," the guide added nervously.

Juleios looked at the continuous mountain ranges beyond the hills and fell into deep thought.

"Thurii should build a fortress here. The Lucanians wouldn’t be able to enter so easily," Ledes suggested.

"Thurii used to have a camp here, but after decades of peace and with the poor conditions, few citizens were willing to garrison it. No one expected the Lucanians to launch a large-scale attack," the guide explained dejectedly.

"If the people of Thurii had defended this area, we wouldn’t even be needed here," Juleios remarked flatly. The fact that this mountainous region was largely undeveloped showed how little attention Thurii had paid to it. It wasn’t surprising they failed to hold it. This neglect was typical of the Greeks, a seafaring and trade-focused people who showed little interest in the mountains.

After repeated urging from the guide, the group began their return journey.

Noticing the relaxed demeanor of Juleios and his companions, the guide, a trusted slave of Bourkos, recalled his master’s description of these men as seasoned warriors. Unable to hold back his curiosity, he asked, "Leader Juleios, do you think we can defeat these Lucanians?"

"That depends on the battle," Juleios replied nonchalantly.

This time, they descended along the right edge of the Sybaris Plain, where continuous forests and cheerful streams accompanied them eastward. Eventually, the streams converged into a river. When Juleios saw soldiers cutting down trees on the opposite bank, he realized it was the river Felicius had mentioned. The guide called it the Sybaris River.

With the sky turning to dusk, Juleios abandoned his plan to scout further north. He dismounted, crossed the river, and joined the soldiers in leveling tree trunks and carrying timber back to camp.

After dinner, Juleios listened to reports from Phelicius and the officers of each unit, confirming that the mercenaries were operating smoothly. After dismissing them, he calmed himself and used a branch to sketch out the terrain he had surveyed earlier. He meticulously revised it until he was satisfied, then studied it closely, committing the map and its details to memory. This was only a rough sketch. Further scouting would be needed to gather more specific data, such as the Sybaris Plain’s approximate size, the Crathis River’s width and depth, and the river terrace’s dimensions.

The next day, with the guide leading them, Juleios and his group continued their exploration northward. Crossing the Sybaris River, they found themselves in a flat area stretching about 5 kilometers between the forested mountains and the coastline. This land, still part of the Sybaris Plain, was not used for wheat cultivation but instead planted with olive trees and vineyards.

The guide explained, "The wine produced here is famous throughout Magna Graecia." This reminded Juleios of ancient stories from his previous life about the luxurious Sybarites bathing in wine, likely inspired by the wine from this region.

However, the vineyards were now overgrown with weeds, neglected and untended.

"That’s because Lucanians from Amendolara occasionally roam nearby, and the people are too afraid to come here," the guide explained.

"Thurii should send troops to protect its citizens!" Asistes scoffed.

"After Thurii’s previous defeat, they likely lack the manpower. Protecting the city is their top priority," Juleios responded.

"You’re absolutely right, Leader Juleios!" the guide quickly chimed in, grateful for the excuse.

"They say there aren’t many Lucanians in Amendolara. We could protect this area for them—though, of course, for a price," Asistes joked.

"Asistes," Juleios said seriously, "one day, you’ll command your own troops. Remember this: never divide your forces lightly. Our primary mission now is to help Thurii defeat the Lucanian army. Everything else is secondary."

Both Asistes and Ledes listened intently, nodding in agreement.

The group continued forward until a river blocked their path.

"This is the Saraceno River, the boundary between Thurii and Amendolara," the guide explained.

"So beyond this is Amendolara’s territory," Juleios said, pointing ahead.

"Yes, and there’s always the risk of encountering Lucanians. We should turn back now," the guide suggested nervously.

Juleios, however, seemed intrigued. "Can this river be forded?"

Before the guide could answer, Asistes, unable to contain himself, spurred his horse into the river. In moments, he was across the 10-meter-wide stream.

"The water’s only thigh-deep," Asistes called back, gesturing with his hand.

"Ledes, Phelicius left a hundred soldiers at the logging site for defense. Go bring them here. We’ll cross the river together and take a look," Juleios ordered immediately.

"Yes, sir!" Ledes replied enthusiastically and ran back.

The guide could only wait helplessly.

Ten minutes later, Ledes returned with over a hundred fully armed soldiers. Though out of breath, their faces were filled with excitement. Seeing them, Juleios felt emboldened. "Let’s cross the river!" he commanded.

The guide couldn’t understand why this group seemed so eager. Didn’t they realize the dangers lurking across the river, where the fearsome Lucanians roamed? Yet as a slave, he had no power to stop them and could only follow nervously.