Augustus Road

"If grain alms cannot continue, the country's demise is imminent. √∟," - Ancient Roman Emperor Tiberius

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After the two sides saluted each other on horseback, their respective guards lined up around them. The clerk sat cross-legged on the sand under the tree, using a writing board and a hook pen to record the meeting memos of both sides in Greek and Latin.

"Although your country is currently in civil strife, we have no intention of becoming an enemy of your country." Saptaros first asked tentatively, because he was still unsure about the current situation of the two warring parties, and Poland Cus also expressed the same view, "It is said that the Hitius Party is on the side of your enemies. It is very difficult for me to be an enemy of my long-term friends. You must know that he came twenty-five years ago." Come here to train the army for me."

Labienus smiled and raised his hand, "I will give the two respected kings a gift of five hundred talents each, and promise to bring Numidia east of the Muluca River to the city of Kilta in the future. The vast territory will be divided equally among you."

After hearing this, Bokus raised his hand and asked to speak, "I think you, Commander, have not understood what we mean. We are not very interested in future rewards, because once we meet the person you are talking about, High Priest of the Roman Republic, if Lepidus, the high priest of the Roman Republic, breaks out the war, if the wind goes smoothly, what we conquer will definitely be what we deserve. Even if we don't get your recognition, we won't care. , if we lose, the whole country will be lost." Bocchus took a tablet from the royal slave next to him. "This is a letter sent by my personal friend Hittius. In it he stated that Lepidus led fifteen legions into Africa, and most of them were majestic troops from the time of Caesar, as well as the former Spanish governor Tellou The four legions led by Reas were completely wiped out by Lepidus using a small number of men in less than ten days on Sardinia. Two full legions surrendered. Listen, Labienus, we are here. The tribes and kingdoms are located on the border of the desert. When Jugurtha went to war with your country, my ancestors only heard the name of the country Rome. The truth we got was vague and limited. In short, you should not use rhetoric. To deceive us into death.”

Rabinus laughed. He pulled the reins and said to the two kings, "Sitius is completely lying. Caesar's veterans are nothing more than nine legions formed in the Gallic War. This group of people is During the Gaul years, they lost nearly half of their personnel, and later lost a third due to injuries during the civil war. In the end, only a quarter or a fifth of them could be resettled and discharged intact. 1. That is, less than 10,000 people. In the previous war in the city of Mutina in Shannan Gaul, half of the veterans acted as guards for Antony and Octavian and killed nearly 4,000 people. This is a very simple numerical calculation. Even if Lepidus had all Caesar's veterans in his hands, they would only be four to five thousand people. What's more, the real situation is definitely not like this. There are still a considerable number of veterans loyal to Antony and Octavian. Facts. Above, this arrogant and fake high priest is mostly composed of inferior people recruited from Cyrene and Asia Minor. Most of them are farmers who know nothing. They are not as brave as you desert herdsmen, nor are they as strong as you. They are not as tough as the Italian citizens. As long as a cavalry charges, they will inevitably break up and flee. If you want to believe such a bluff letter, then I really have to question whether the courage of the two majesties is worthy of the status of a king."

So Saptaros and Bokus whispered to each other and whispered a few words, and then the former spoke again, "My daughter, Selene, the wife of King Juba, is still in Kilta City. Once a war breaks out, How should her safety be ensured?”

"If she can escape safely, that would be better. If not, our army will not let her go easily and serve as the flagpole for Lepidus to conquer Numidia - as far as I know, the great king of Mauritania , there are more than ten queens canonized, and just one daughter should be nothing."

It seemed that Labienus was right. Saptaros shrugged his shoulders and quickly ignored his daughter's safety. "I am willing to provide you with five thousand light cavalry, while Bocchus is willing to provide one thousand." "

"But this is not provided as an ally, and there is no content in the memorandum about the agreement between you and me. We have only sent a considerable number of troops to protect the security of the border. As for where these troops have gone during this period, , What did they do again? We didn't know, maybe they were bribed by you with money," the cunning Bokus added.

"Very good, very good. In addition, our army needs the food stored in the farms and fields in the Muruca River Basin. As a logistic reserve, we will definitely give corresponding rewards." Rabinus seemed to have completed a major task. As if on a mission, he took a long breath and said happily, thinking to himself, "Caesar has paid his debt for his ambition, but great Pompey, your revenge has not yet been avenged, that is, Lepidus is still punished with impunity. In addition, the burden of restoring the republic will be shouldered by me - I was previously swayed by personal kindness, but now I have a more noble goal in my mind."

With the support of 10,000 desert warriors, Labinus decided to use a fierce offensive to win greater support from the two kings. In the previous African campaign, he was absolutely familiar with the organization of this group of very distinctive warriors - he mixed light infantry and light cavalry in a ratio of two to one, and deployed the Spanish medium cavalry in the rear and on both wings. This tactic will have a very significant assault effect in the flat and vast desert area.

"Forward, forward, all warriors! Before Lepidus arrives, we will sweep directly to the Tumur River, where we will defeat any enemy."

First, 4,000 light cavalry rushed directly to the city of Kirta, setting fire to the surrounding farmland and villages, and then they split into two, one stayed to continue besieging the royal city of Numidia, and the other continued to advance towards the palace of Tara in the southwest. Even if they had to cross a barren land of 30 Roman miles, it was nothing to the Mauritanian cavalry.

In a short period of time, most of the important towns in the west and south of Numidia fell under Labienus's blitzkrieg. Only the port of Hippo, which was guarded by the Hittian legion, persisted like an isolated island in the ocean.

The Hittian party now had no cavalry because they were all taken away by the leader. Only two thousand infantry and hundreds of armed immigrants were left to guard the city walls and ramparts. They were in a panic facing the enemy light cavalry who came and went outside the city without knowing the truth. There was originally Mago's troops, but the general's only thought now was to run, run, run. (To be continued...)

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