Augustus Road

With bursts of thunderous sounds, in the barbarian camp on the other side, more than a thousand cavalrymen, carrying flags made of oxtails or horsetails, also walked along the Guadalcanal River, parallel to the Roman army. Where did this army cross the river? , where they intercepted, the two teams were like two snakes in the river, speeding in the same direction.

After walking about ten stadia, the firepower from the ballistas and catapults of the Lepidus Army's bridgehead suddenly became more intense. The flying trajectories of rockets and javelins could almost cover the entire sky above the bridge, and then behind the walls and hills. The four hidden infantrymen of the main group stood up, holding flags and weapons, and pushed the sheepskin raft down the river. In the burning fire on the other side, they waded through the turbid river and suddenly headed towards the empty barbarian camp on the other side. Kill. A brigade of veterans lined up on the shield wall, and under the cover of the ballistae, walked slowly along the bridge towards the other side.

There were only about 1,500 Lusitanians. When they saw the "large group of Romans" with considerable military strength heading up the river, they mobilized the main force to intercept them, but they were deceived by Lepidus. Of the so-called Romans, only the outer two columns of the column were standard legion recruits, wearing complete helmets and armors to look confused, and most of the people inside were temporary recruits summoned from Cadiz yesterday. Military personnel, the "roving troops" going upriver, actually only have two or three centuries, and the real main force was all hidden around the bridgehead by Lepidus. After the Lusitanian defense showed emptiness and flaws, another wave was launched. Forced crossing.

The barbarian troops left behind in the camp were greatly frightened. They hurriedly sent messengers on fast horses to call the main force back to assist in the defense. However, Lepidah's sheepskin raft was very fast because the soldiers on it were all lightly dressed and there were many of them. They just charged up with daggers and javelins, wearing short shirts. What they pursued was speed. When the frontier troops reached the beach on the other side, the barbarian camp began to throw stones and arrows, but most of them were light cavalry carrying The equipment was limited, so Lepidus' men turned over the sheepskin bags and rafts to form a wooden female wall. There were also waterproof leather curtains hung to block the barbarians' shooting. There were dense arrow tails inserted on them, and they slowly Steady progress towards the camp.

When the main barbarian cavalry received news of the attack on the camp upstream, they began to turn back in panic to rescue them. However, at this time, the three centurions of the Romans located upstream also waded through Asase.

In this way, the barbarian river defenses were completely broken through by Lepidus. Almost at the same time, a Roman ala cavalry team from the Tuditannian camp also heard the news and came to join the battle group. At this time, all the Lusitanians They climbed on their horses and fled in all directions. Their equestrian skills were so exquisite that the Roman cavalry could not catch up. Lepidus wore a helmet and held the banner of Catiline's Iron Hand, riding the "Owl" across the bridge alone. In a blaze of fire, they came to the soldiers who had captured the barbarian river defense camp and loudly demanded: "Only one brigade will go in and collect and count the loot. Everything should be done according to the predetermined regulations. The rest will set up a sentry line around the camp to prevent the barbarians from turning back and counterattack!" "The Romans were disorganized when they captured the baggage, and were counterattacked by many barbarian cavalry in Iberia. This is not only the tragic past that Luculas repeatedly discussed in "History of the Iberian War", but also the future. A bloody lesson in front of everyone.

In front of the camp, Lepidus met the ala cavalry of Tuditannia. After saluting each other, Lepidus saw that this cavalry was personally led by Apis, the former military tribune of the Thirteenth Legion. "Thank you for your timely assistance. Your Excellency." Li Bida expressed his gratitude.

"No need to be polite, I have to tell you that the Governor of Italy has already led the Tenth Army to march towards the Lusitania region. He told me that if you come, hand over the Thirteenth Army, and then you can Take two auxiliary troops to the Vitoni region adjacent to Lusitania, recruit a new auxiliary corps, and then continue to advance in a roundabout way to the north, it is best to reach the Newmancia region! "

"But who will command the thirteen legions of Turditannia?" Lepidus felt that the army he had carefully raised was suddenly drained by Caesar, and his heart was sinking and bleeding. This bald man's heart was cruel enough.

"It's me. I will immediately accept the Lightning Thrower Legion as the second echelon of Your Excellency Julius. You will be the flanking army and partial division, used to contain the barbarians, but the problems of soldiers and supplies are all solved by yourself. You may go deep into hundreds or even thousands of stadia where the barbarians gather. I hope the God of War will favor you." After Apis said this, he saluted Lepidah, who was a little stunned, and then left.

Soldiers walking everywhere, packhorses being led out by prisoners, as well as smoke and flames, all dangled in front of Lepidus' eyes: Could it be that the year Lusitania followed Caesar was really a year of training and success? This Caesar is so good at "employing people". He asked me to take two auxiliary troops and go to the Vitoni Mountains where there are murderers everywhere to recruit an entire legion of people. I had to continue traveling north without any rear. , arrived at Newmancia without replenishment. Okay, I can understand Caesar's intention. It is to attract the firepower of Lusitania or Celtic barbarians, act as a human shield, and cut off the connection between the east and west of the resisting barbarians, creating favorable conditions for him to conquer Lusitania from south to north. .

But you bald man has to consider my feelings and difficulties, right?

On the bleak high ground, Lepidus sat silently on his mount, overlooking the chessboard-like camp of Tuditania below. The centurions and soldiers of the Thirteenth Legion gathered in the center of the camp, lined up, and accepted Apis's training and orders. His nose was actually a little sour. This was his hard work, and to some extent, it also carried Julia's hard work, and now it all belonged to him. Then he looked back and saw that there were only the Iron Hand Flag and an inconspicuous auxiliary legion flag, plus two or three hundred lightly armed soldiers with only cloaks, short shirts, short swords and slings. Most of them were freed slaves who had joined the army in Sardinia. Only these people were the "capital" for Lepidus to travel to Numansia and defeat the barbarians.

At this time, there was a snort of horses, and Hortensius the Younger rode a horse with a spear in his hand and a bloody head in his hand. Lepidus looked closely and saw that the owner of the head was the barbarian warrior wearing leaf armor, who had insulted Hortensius's head before. Now the centurion's son completed the blood revenge.

"You should be in the Thirteenth Legion now."

"No, my father died in the battle, and it's meaningless for me to stay in the legion. I am willing to follow your auxiliary troops and go deep into the north to kill more barbarians." Hortensius the Younger answered firmly, "But you should consider giving me a high salary, I know you are short of manpower here, especially good hands like me."

Lepidus smiled, "You will be a centurion in Italy soon, enjoying double food and salary, and I will also give you a golden chain in the city, but remember - don't be like your father, who didn't care about his life in front of the enemy. I will take you back to Rome to participate in the triumphal ceremony!" (To be continued.)