Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece

Chapter 676: The Magonids Scheme

Due to Theonia's strength and trade prosperity, the Hades silver coin became popular locally, with their allies, and throughout the western Mediterranean. And because of its beautiful appearance and high purity, it became a popular commodity that people from other city-states liked to get as a collection and wouldn't use unless necessary.

As a consequence, Theonia couldn't fully recover the Hades silver coins they circulated in the market. At the same time, they suffered some losses by remelting the silver coins of other city-states into new Hades’ silver coins. Thus, to maintain the coins’ purity, they must have their own source of silver mines, which is why the Ministry of Commerce has been supporting Irna and Poseidonia’s private trade with the people of Sardinia.

Now that Aeonis had found a new channel to obtain silver ore, what would happen if he could seize it? Wealth! Power! Aeonis even fantasised about a personal audience and receiving praise from the king of Theonia.

Thus he became tempted. However, he remained cautious, “With Theonia and Carthage's agreement, we can't trade here-”

“With the Carthaginians’ strictness, we certainly can't trade here in Gadir! But we can do it in Huelva as my master has quite an influence there, allowing us to evade their investigation while conducting our trade on a deserted beach near Huelva…”

Although that man had come prepared with a pretty thorough plan, Aeonis was still determining if he were worth trusting, as this would be the first time he would deal with him…Aeonis hesitated for a while but couldn't stand the temptation and decided to take the risk.

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

After his ship received temporary repair, Aeonis led his crew to sail away from Gadir under the watch of the Gadir officials and headed eastward first. But after the Carthaginian patrol ship returned, he ordered his men to turn the ship around and detours close to the shore of mainland Africa, bypassing Gadir and reaching further west near Huelva.

Huelva's location was near the estuary of the Odiel river. Before Gadir's rise, Huelva was the Phoenician centre of metal processing in the entire western Mediterranean. They would use the Odiel river to transport the countless ores from the mines to Huelva. With the town of Huelva having hundreds of smelting furnaces, they would even ship the ore from Sardinia here to smelt. And even after Gadir took some share of the ore smelting tasks, Huelva's smelting output is still relatively high.

On the ship, Aeonis watched the countless clouds of smoke on the coast as they rose into the sky from afar with excitement.

Under the guidance of the Phoenician from Huelva, hiding among his crew, the merchant ship sailed to a remote beach to anchor.

But while the Huelvan man went to inform his master, Aeonis felt anxious and uneasy. He then inwardly thought that if they try to deceive him, he would immediately sail away, even though this would result in wasted time.

But things went quite smoothly. After waiting a long time, the mine owner finally appeared, bringing with him many slaves and wagons filled with silver ore.

After their negotiation, the two soon reached an agreement with Aeonis exchanging a shipload of Thurian wine he was planning to sell in Sagunto for nearly 250 kilograms of silver ore.

Although Aeonis made profits, it was clear that the mine owner gave more for the sake of continued trading.

After suppressing his ecstasy, Aeonis made an appointment with the mine owner on the time, place and goods for the next trade. Then Aeonis boarded the ship satisfied and was ready to leave the wasteland with his excited crew.

Suddenly, several Carthaginian patrol ships appeared, completely encircled them and once more captured Aeonis and his crew.

Once they took the desponded Aeonis to the patrol ship, he saw the man who had persuaded him to come to Huelva. But the man flattering him before now had a sneer on his face.

And that had caused Aeonis' heart to sink, ‘I've fallen into a trap…’

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

Sexi, a Phoenician colony in southern Iberia, is located east of the Pillar of Heracles and near Malaga. In this place is where the residence of the Governor of Iberia, whom Carthage had appointed and was also the patriarch of the Magonids, Mago. A few years ago, he moved most of his family (including his daughter Dido) and their wealth to this place. He then turned Sexi, with its sea abundant with mackerel, making it one of the main producing locations of the Phoenicians’ fish sauce, into the Magonids’ private property.

In the study of the governor's residence, the main members of the Magonids are holding an important gathering.

In the centre seat was the patriarch of the Magonids and the governor of Iberia, Mago, an almost fifty-five-year-old man whose hair had already turned white and whose face was wrinkled. After their failed attack on Syracuse, in addition to his brother committing suicide, then suffering defeat one after another under Dionysius' attack, then the Magonids losing its dominance in the Senate…and a series of setbacks had caused him to age. But after coming to Iberia, with power in his hands and no one to restrain him, he regained his ambition, and his authority increased.

On his right side was his brother Himilco's eldest son Hasdrubal, the young general who only knew how to charge and fight before but had now become somewhat stable and restrained. Still, his gaze remained slightly fierce.

On his left was Himilco's second son, Haka. The almost thirty years old Haka was just a thin, boyish young man before coming to the Iberian Peninsula. Although he is slim with a pale face and looks exhausted, he has become Magos' most indispensable subordinate. Currently, his primary responsibility is managing the internal affairs of the Iberian territory, and it is because of him the Magonids could maintain their stable rule.

Sitting below Mago was Kisego, a member of a distant branch of the Magonids who had stood out while they were expanding their territory and fighting the natives, resulting in Mago valuing him highly. Although the aborigines attacked the rear of their territory several times, he was able to notice the enemy and repel them, allowing the Magonids to secure their territory in Iberia.

“Uncle, a report came from Huelva on our plan's success. Now that we captured all those greedy Theonian merchants and their merchant ship filled with silver ore, shall we send them to Carthage next?” Haka, who was sitting on a specially made chair that allowed the chair to tilt back so that he could talk while lying down, became energetic after saying that.

Finally, a smile appeared on Mago's always serious face. With his eyes shining with excitement, he said in a deep voice, “We will follow the plan you arranged. At the same time, inform Pretasdrubal to spread the word about it so that everyone in Carthage will know that the Theonians aren't only coveting our silver mines but have already begun taking action!”

“Will that old man really give in and start supporting Rome against Theonia?” Hasdrubal didn't have much confidence in the Carthaginian Senate and thus asked doubtfully.

“Brother, Carthage is already dissatisfied with Theonia, with its people and most elders wishing to teach the Theonians a lesson. Unfortunately, Hanno is taking his time to make up his mind-” Haka then sneered, “But that's just because of his pathetic pride in his claim of being the highest authority in Carthage. However, this matter will be like pouring oil into a burning heath! If he still dares to delay it, his authority will come to an end!”

“I hope that old man will continue blocking our proposal in the Senate so that he would experience the pain of having the people oust him!” Hasdrubal said gloatingly.

“Don't underestimate Hanno. He won't give up his dominance in the Carthaginian Senate! Thus, we must stay vigilant and watch Carthage's situation!” Mago reminded them as he had a deep understanding of Hanno. Otherwise, he wouldn't have reluctantly chosen to leave Carthage and go far away to Iberia.

“Uncle, shall we send our troops once the war between Theonia and Carthage starts?” Hasdrubal looked at Mago eagerly.

“I think it would be better to wait for Carthage's army to be defeated, to make the people remember us and call us the Magonids and for the Senate to beg us to send our troops!” Haka suggested.

The other three became excited at Haka's words as they had prepared for so long in order to restore their family's glory and regain their dominance of the Senate.

“What if Theonia backs down because Carthage supported Rome?” Kisego asked with caution.

His words took Mago and Hasdrubal aback, but Haka said with certainty, “Theonia will never back down! Because the king of Theonia claimed to keep his promise and has done so since Theonia's foundation, which is why the people of Theonia and their allies trusted him. If he were to back down this time and let Rome absorb their ally Volsci, the hearts of their allies would cool down, and the people of Theonia would lose their trust in him. But since the king of Theonia is wise, he would never make such a mistake!”

After hearing that, Mago nodded and sighed, “I admire the king of Theonia as even though he is young, he would dare fight stronger enemies several times just to fulfil his promises over the years and still win in the end!”