Augustus Road

Amid the sound of the horn, the Tatan militia and their cavalry shouted together, and their phalanx cavalry began to speed up their pace, launching a swift and intensive charge about two furlongs away from the Setratai warriors. Following behind were the militia infantry holding spears and swords, and they also ran behind the cavalry.

At this time, Hortensius the Younger and Sabokemus raised the flags at the same time, using this as a signal. The Settratae warriors suddenly separated to the left and right, changing from a horizontal formation to four separate small formations. The four small formations just left three wide passages, and then the greatest fear of the Tatan cavalry appeared. Three huge beasts ran out of the three passages at a rapid speed. Everyone present felt the trembling of the earth and the air waves that could blow away helmets and hats. This was Lepidus's killer weapon - the African forest war elephants that quickly jumped out of the jungle of spears and swords. They had ringing bells hanging on their necks, four pillar-like legs, and long, curling trunks. They were all covered with bronze armor to protect themselves. The two protruding tusks covered with sharp iron, originally to keep them quiet, the mahouts stuffed cork in their mouths, and now they used goads to stimulate them. With irresistible momentum, they rushed towards the Tatan cavalry square!

The roar of the forest war elephant and the terrifying sight of it running and overturning the whole world frightened the Tatan cavalry. Many horses bared their teeth and shouted, and suddenly turned back to flee. However, the cavalry, which was arranged in a dense assault square, could advance easily but retreated difficultly. Soon, the Tatan people's front and rear infantry and cavalry collided with each other in chaos. With a long roar, three copper-clad war elephants rushed in one after another. Li Bi Da and all the followers watching the battle saw that several Tatan riders were knocked upside down in the air. The whole scene was like three huge meteorites hitting a large and fragile earth wall - the Tatan militia formation was smashed to pieces.

"Hurray!" Hortensius the Younger and Sabokemus were on horseback again, lowering their flags, and all the Settratae warriors shouted in response, and then, like a raging wave, they followed the war elephants that moved freely and rushed into the chaotic Tatan militia camp. This second wave of attacks completely destroyed the morale of the Tatan militia. Many people fled towards the city gate along with the war elephants, and everywhere were limbs flying in the air lifted by the trunks and tusks of the elephants. The rest of the braver ones also huddled together back to back in the air waves raised by the giant beasts, and were either chopped to death by the long swords of the Settratae warriors or stabbed down by the hunting spears thrown by the Numidians who had come from both wings again.

At the city gate, more than a hundred militiamen wanted to defend the city and resist the Setratai warriors who were charging in, but they were soon torn apart by the war elephants that roared "I can't stop at all". Li Bi Da's subordinates took the opportunity to follow the elephants' steps and broke into the city wall. Soon, black smoke rose from the towers and houses of Tatan.

"General Ma Ge, everything is over. Now it's time for you and me to harvest the crops." Li Bi Da smiled and made a casual gesture to Ma Ge, who was also proud.

It was almost evening, and the city of Tatan was effectively and quickly looted. Lepidus's men did not waste time on the robbery. They drove all the residents into their houses, threatened them not to come out, and then looted the temples, warehouses and noble longhouses. The war elephants were still running back and forth in the streets of the city. One of them knocked down the statues and altars of the native gods. The priests were crying and running away like frightened spiders in the collapsed wood and tiles.

"Don't just grab gold and silver, you also need a lot of fodder. A lot of it. Fodder is more precious than gold and silver now." Lepidus stood in front of the burning temple, waving his baton and personally directing the details of the robbery to the centurions. Behind him, three elephants were still walking around frantically on the streets full of smoke and fire.

When the Spanish garrison arrived at the city of Tatan three days later in a panic, they only saw the looted city and various horror stories about the looters: three armored elephants, swordsmen wielding swords with lightning and fire, strange armor and flags, soldiers speaking various languages, and a general with black hair, black eyes and yellow skin. When verifying the losses, it can only be said that the city of Tatan and the dozen or so towns around it alone were robbed of property worth no less than 100 talents. The army was still advancing further north towards Betnali, but the garrison did not have the courage to pursue.

The strange army swept through Betnali like a whirlwind in a dozen days. The towns and settlements loyal to Lusitania were attacked by them, as were those loyal to Rome. They robbed money, men, fodder and food, various weapons, livestock, and everything else. Thus, when they arrived at the border of Betenari, that is, the beginning of spring, Lepidus's troops had swelled to five thousand people, many of whom were horse bandits and heroes who joined in sporadically, three thousand military slaves, and the size of a legion was fully formed. They also carried the looting income that even Sabokemus was frightened of - four hundred talents. "Sir Treasurer! I think - we can't turn back. If we go to the Taigas River to meet the governor, we will all be executed..." Sabokemus held his head and muttered absentmindedly.

Lepidus was half lying under a poplar tree to rest. The soldiers around him walked back and forth in front of him, picking up the luggage to continue moving forward. Habaluka put Caesar's questioning letter in front of him, "Just say, let's say it this way." He said hesitantly, obviously thinking about how to deal with it, "Just say that there is heavy snow here, all over the mountains and valleys, yes, the so-called here refers to Chimera and Osir, not to mention that we have crossed Betenari, so we have to winter camp here to ensure the training and morale of the soldiers. And the elephants that the King of Numidia gave to you, yes, there are only three left, one died during the sea transportation, its name is Vida, I know its I feel extremely sorry and sad for the death of Vida. Habaluka, don't ask stupid questions like corpses. His Excellency Caesar would never ask such stupid questions. Vida died at sea, and his huge corpse was thrown into the depths of the ocean. In addition, these three elephants have made me suffer losses, so I have been raising more money and food to rush to southern Lusitania to meet you in the spring, and I have advanced one year's tax in Cadiz. Yes, I have to write the words of extreme apology and trembling. "After saying so much, Habaluka stacked up a stack of writing boards and prepared to copy them on vellum. Lepidar took a look and asked in a low voice, "Why is there so much content in my reply? Habaluka said yes, and Lepidar said with a guilty conscience, will this make me look guilty? Habaluka said that it does not depend on whether you are guilty or not, but only on whether His Excellency Julius Caesar is stupid or not. (To be continued.)