Augustus Road

Everything was just like the previous Battle of Zama. First, the security forces in Zama came out of the city and relied on the city walls and towers to fight against Lelias's three legions, preparing to block Lelias's sudden attack - he Lack of necessary supplies and equipment. ,

Then, in the dust flying all over the sky, Paluma's thousands of cavalry appeared like a pack of wolves on the horizon, making the soldiers at the back of Lelias seem to hear an indestructible sound coming from under their feet. With thunder and fire, their flanking cavalry was instantly defeated, and then the infantry array was trampled. The enemy's cavalry rode steadily on high saddles, carrying spears and stabbing spears, and instantly pierced through them. All the troops on the left wing, and then their second round of cavalry came up alternately, wielding hammers and swords, destroying and slaughtering the poor two-footed infantry who were running around in panic-for now, Lelias can only use this There are no vocabulary to describe them, and Roman heavy-armed infantry for hundreds of years has always been synonymous with strict discipline and training, but who would have thought that after encountering a flank attack by this group of powerful cavalry, the originally solid formation would turn out like this Weak, so vulnerable.

In the decisive offensive, about 2,000 Lelias soldiers were massacred in an instant. The rest threw down their weapons and shields and fell down on the hot sand to beg for mercy. These soldiers really had no courage and ability to resist. , now they just want to drink some water and eat some semolina bread, even as prisoners of war.

The army of Laelias was thus disintegrated, and it only lasted a few days longer than Labienus.

As for the one-eyed general himself, he didn't even see Lepidus' face, and he didn't even confront the enemy's cavalry - he was riding a horse. When scolding and blocking the deserters. A flag bearer who was frightened to the point of losing his mind. Seeing that Lelias would not let them escape, he struck at the commander who was supposed to die: the top of the flag was itself the tip of the spear.

The general's guards immediately hacked the flag bearer to death, but Lelias fell off the saddle and his abdomen was pierced. His expression looked extremely painful, and even his intestines came out. The guards' retinues hurriedly carried him onto a stretcher. He also set up a leather tent with wooden poles on top to prevent him from being burned to death by the sun before he walked far.

Later, the followers used all the money they had to accompany the army and bribed some Getulian warriors, because this group of people were familiar with the desert. They were unwilling to fight the enemy cavalry, but they were still confident and interested in escaping. That's it. There were only 1,300 Getulians left, and a dozen of Lailias's retinue, protecting the general's stretcher. They walked quickly towards the route they came from - the edge of the barren desert, as long as they could walk for three days and three nights. We can find the source of the river. In that case, Lelias, who was seriously injured, might be saved.

In this way, Lelias lay in agony on the hard rattan stretcher, staring directly at the leather covering it. Sunlight and heat continued to seep in from the left and right, and sweat soaked his wounds, which was very painful. A terrible infection soon occurred. Lelias's eye circles began to turn blue and it became difficult to breathe. Maggots began to grow in his abdomen, but the loyal followers were still unwilling to abandon him, even though there were constant Getulians along the way. Escape.

"The enemy has fled deep into the desert. We are not familiar with the situation there. There is no need to pursue. We entered the city of Zama in formation, took in the prisoners and buried the corpses, preparing to welcome and celebrate my father's great second victory. The enemy was ten The whole legion has been wiped out by him." Paluma waved his hand and ordered as he looked at the groups of prisoners on the messy battlefield.

As a result, at this time a cavalry ran over along the river, and the leader was Hansk. He hurriedly made a military salute to Paluma, and then hurriedly asked, "The high priest has received your good news, but he By sending me hastily, I ask you to pursue in depth.”

"But, the enemy has already..."

Before Paluma could finish speaking, Hanske sent the warrant scroll over with irrefutable momentum, so Little Pigeon took it and opened it. His father did not write anything inside, which showed that it was really aimed at him. , with a painting on it: a pigeon stepping on the head of a one-eyed and bearded general.

Paluma understood everything now. He kept returning salutes to Hanske, then put on his black-feathered helmet again, and ran towards the queue of cavalry waiting in front.

Thirty kilometers south of Zama City, in a temple of the Mother of the Earth on the edge of the desert, the servants cheered lowly as they carried Lelias' stretcher from the steps. This was an abandoned temple that seemed to be A long time ago, the Libyans came to build it in an ancient Greek style. The statue of Isis had an exaggerated and colorful face and expression. The altar was covered with bat and mouse droppings, and the walls were mottled and indistinguishable. There were cobwebs connecting the pillars, and Lelias' stretcher was placed in a dark corner. In the darkness, the seriously injured one-eyed general gasped hoarsely.

The Getulians who were still willing to stay outside to protect them picked up some horse dung, lit a fire, and gave it to the retinue. "Temporarily rest for a sentry hour, and then take advantage of the late night to light the pine trees and leave."

"Our general will freeze to death."

"That's fine, just wait for the enemy's pursuers to catch up and chop off his head. That's a suitable way of death for him." The Getulian said sarcastically.

"Don't take away these maggots!" Lelias suddenly said when the attendant was helping the one-eyed general clean his wounds, "because it will help me clean the dirty things."

Then, Laelius was still lying on his back, and his appearance was not clear at all. "It's too late to say these now. I'm going to die soon. What a miserable and helpless way to die! I envy Labinus. He must have died under the enemy's sword, or he escaped again and was ready to continue to resist the enemy in Spain. What about me?" After saying this, Laelius smiled bitterly, and then his eyes slightly turned sideways, and one pupil was still shining. "The curly-haired attendant, you are my recent promotion, right?"

"Yes, my name is Cornelius Octavius ​​Scipio." The attendant replied.

Laelias laughed out loud, "Yes, of course, you were originally a military slave. I gave you this name as a prank. The prophecy said that Cornelius would become the third king, and Octavian would be Caesar's successor. Scipio had never failed in Africa. I hoped that your name would bring good luck to the army, but I didn't expect it to be like this today." After a pause, Laelias continued, "Then please ask this great servant to stab me to death, and then take my head to see Lepidus' army and say that I asked him to save your lives." (To be continued...)