However, in the Carthage Senate, the atmosphere in the venue was not only not as relaxed as the people imagined, but also very solemn.

In the Carthage Sophite election that just ended in October, Okreton was re-elected again, but at the center of the Senate venue, he was not as happy as he won. Instead, he said to everyone with a serious face: "Seniors, I believe you have received the news. We sent envoys to ask for help from the Phoenician Allies of Sardinia, Saros, Saint Ibigny, and Cararis, one after another, sent envoys to ask for help from us. Our judges stationed in Sardinia also sent back detailed news. The greedy Dionians like hungry wolf captured Alenya in Corsica, and then set their sights on Sardinia.

They sent a fleet, not only patrolling the Sardinian waters, but also frequently landed on the coasts of various towns on the island, sending troops to attack villages, destroy mines, and even inciting slaves and launching riots... Now the situation on Sardinia is becoming chaotic, and the people of allies are also very panicked. As the leader of the Phoenician city-states in Sardinia, we Carthage cannot see that they are in trouble. Should we send reinforcements immediately? Please express your opinions, elders."

"Is this more important?" Aesyaruba, the leader of the neutral faction, stood up and said solemnly: "The most important pillar of our Carthage treasury income is precious metal trade, and Sardinia and Corsica are one of the important sources of our Carthage precious metal trade, not to mention that Sardinia is also one of the important sources of our Carthage merchants' trade income. Therefore, we must not only send troops immediately to rescue Sardinia, but also seize Alenia of Corsica again."

Aisyaruba had a high prestige in the Senate, and Sardinia was indeed related to Carthage's fundamental interests, so his speech received responses from many veterans.

Tepanraco immediately took over the conversation and made a positive suggestion: "Sir, there is actually a Phoenician army of tens of thousands of people on Sardinia. The Dionians dare not compete with it at all. But the cunning Dionians always use warships to avoid their garrisons and attack and defend against empty areas.

Therefore, considering that the battle in Sicily is in full swing now and our troops are in short supply, we don’t have to send troops to Sardinia, but we must send a fleet to repel the Dionian fleet that has been ramming Sardinia to ensure the safety of Sardinia. After defeating the Dionian fleet, we will transport some of our soldiers and Sardinian troops to Corsica to retake Alenia.”

Many veterans thought that Tepanrako's statement was reasonable, but some people raised questions: "Before, our fleet had been destroyed by the storm. The new fleet that has been under construction does not know how it is going? Can we go to sea to fight?"

"I think this question should be more appropriate with our Navy Commander to answer." Ocreton said to Annobas, who was sitting behind the venue.

These days, Anobas has been busy between the ports of the Phoenician Allied states in Africa. He received a message from Hanno and rushed back to attend the Senate meeting. At this moment, he stood up and said loudly: "My sir, since the Senate issued the decision to build warships with all its efforts in Carthage and the Allied states in June, all shipyards in the Phoenician city-states in Carthage and Africa are stepping up the construction of warships. What I have now grasped is that 195 3-layer oar warships have been built and are gradually being equipped with crew members to prepare for trial voyages."

"How long will it take to go out to sea to fight?" A veteran asked impatiently.

"Generally speaking, it will take at least three months to get a new fleet to have the ability to go to sea to fight." Annobas said this, and saw many veterans in the field showing disappointment. A smile appeared on his lips: "But the situation is quite special now, because that storm destroyed our warships, but it left behind a large number of sailors with rich combat experience. They only need 10 to 15 days to get familiar with the new ship, and then they can form a fleet and go to sea to fight."

"That's great!" The elders showed joy, and some even shouted. During this period, due to the threat of the Dionian warships in the northern waters, the Carthaginians even drove their boats to sea. They had never been so depressed.

"15 days are too long, and our allies can't wait that long. I suggest that no more than 7 days at least! Within 7 days, please Lord Anobas set up a fleet as soon as possible, go to Sardinia, protect its waters, and repel the invasion of the Deonian fleet on Sardinia, and then return to Lilibi to protect the safety of the Carthage and Sicily routes." Ocreton asked with a serious expression: "Mr Anobas, can you do it?"

In fact, Ocreton had already discussed with Annobas in advance, and Annobas also looked thoughtful. After a while, he nodded solemnly: "I will do my best to do it!"

"Okay, sirs, let's reinforce Sardinia now-" Ocreton was interrupted by Pretakuba before he finished speaking: "Wait a minute! The newly established fleet should not be sent to Sardinia first, but should go to Sicily! Sardinia has more than 10,000 Phoenician soldiers guarding. The Dionians only dare to harass them, but dare not attack the city-states on the island directly. Their safety is actually guaranteed, and the situation is not as serious as they say.

The most important issue that concerns our life and death in Carthage is not Sardinia, but Sicily! The 100,000 army led by Lord Mago has already attacked the territory of Dionys in Sicily and is fighting fiercely with the enemy. But the problem now is that we have no maritime advantage, and the transportation of military rations and supplies can only be transported by land. Due to the long journey and uneven terrain, the labor required is large, which not only increases the consumption of military rations, but has also been attacked by the Dionys fleet from the sea several times.

Moreover, our army's main force is far away in the eastern part of Sicily, and the defense behind is relatively empty. The soldiers of the Dionysians have taken boats to the west many times and landed on ashore to harass the enemy, threatening the security of our territory and allies in Sicily. They have sent envoys to come here to seek help before. Why are we only discussing the matter of Sardinia today?! I suggest that the newly established fleet must be sent to the Sicily waters immediately to regain our maritime advantage and ensure that the army led by Lord Mago can successfully drive the Dionys out of Sicily!

Due to Mago's achievements in Sicily, Pretakuba was elected as Sofitel again this time, which also greatly increased the weight of his speech in the Senate. For a moment, the venue was full of discussion, but no one clearly expressed his opposition.

At this time, Tepanrako asked loudly: "If the new fleet is sent to Sicily, when will Sardinia ask for reinforcements be resolved?"

Pretakuba glanced at him and said, "At least, we must wait until Lord Mago leads his army to drive the Dionians out of Sicily before considering this issue."

Tepanraco sneered and said with a sarcastic sarcastic voice: "Mr. Mago led an army of 100,000 and the Syracuses. Until now, he could not conquer a small village in Dionia. Most of the soldiers were blocked outside the Catania Plain. If he wanted to wait until he captured Katanai and Naxos? At that time, all the mines in Sardinia would be turned into ruins!"

Pretakuba immediately refuted: "The reason why our army is slow to attack now is precisely because the transportation of military rations and supplies has dragged down, so it should be more important-"

"Our fleet must go to Sardinia first!" A younger veteran suddenly stood up and interrupted him loudly.

Pretakuba looked closely and saw that El Accra, a newcomer from the neutral faction, suddenly became a little uneasy.

"Mr. Pretakuba, you have been emphasizing the importance of Sicily and demanding that the new fleet be deployed to Sicily, but do you know how this fleet came about?!" El Accra waved his hand excitedly and said: "A large amount of wood was cut down from the Iberian Peninsula and transported it to Carthage and other Phoenician city-state ports. Then all shipyards started to move and accelerate construction. It was possible to build so many warships in just a few months. Do you know the most important reason?!

It's money! At the beginning, you said at the Senate meeting, 'Although your Margonid family controls southern Iberia, we have to make some concessions to get the local indigenous people to agree to us to cut down a large number of trees safely.' In the end, you convinced the Senate to pass the resolution. Carthage will allocate a portion of the treasury income every month to fund Iberia to obtain marine timber!

Although we are very prestige in Carthage and the various Phoenician allies are very cooperative, is it free for those owners and craftsmen to stop other businesses and build warships for us every day? Of course not! Even if they are willing, we Carthaginians will not ruin our credibility! We paid a lot of gold and silver to ensure the quality of construction, and at the same time we guarantee that they will continue to build warships for us.

What after the fleet was established? It takes money to hire sailors! It takes money to provide rations! It takes even more money to provide rations and supplies to the entire Carthage army! Lord Pretakuba, please tell me where this money comes from?!"

After hearing this, Pretakuba kept silent for the time being. As a senator and the newly re-elected Sophite, of course, he could not speak lies with his eyes open and let others laugh at him.
Chapter completed!