Augustus Road

"Due to the advantages of (Roman) system and their ability to survive... within a few years, they became the masters of the world." - Polybius

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Just as Lepidus and Habaluka were talking to each other, Sabocemus, looking at the baggage train that was only visible from the beginning to the end of the team, walked under the poplar tree with a somewhat collapsed expression and said, "What should we do now?"

Lepidus said, "Didn't you say that there is a narrow river valley from here that leads directly to the location of Caesar's camp? We can find a big market in Numansia, sell all the looted things, and then march quickly with funds and necessary baggage to meet up with the regular army.

As a result, Sabus' eyes bulged and he shouted that it was not possible. We need to establish some real achievements in attacking Lusitania, so that it will be easier to meet Caesar again.

So Lepidus asked why it was easy.

"Need I say more? Mr. Treasurer, Caesar has only two orders for you, go to Vittuni to recruit soldiers, and then escort the Numidian mercenaries to Lusitania."

"Yes, so now I have completed these two tasks perfectly. I have recruited 5,000 people in Vittuni and Bettenari, with weapons, food, and horses. In addition, General Mago and three elephants will be delivered to the governor in Lusitania next month."

"No, no, no." Sabo waved his hands quickly to express his denial, indicating that he was unwilling to play tricks with Lepidus, "You use deception to deceive and bribery, hijacked General Mago's troops, killed an elephant named Vida, and then plundered the Betenari area loyal to Spain, robbed no less than three or four hundred talents of money, razed more than a dozen cities and towns, and is now disobeying military orders and marching further north. "

"I have to remind you seriously, dear Sabo. Marching north to Newmansia is exactly the order I received in advance. And Vida was not killed by me. I am also very sad about his death, and I don't want to repeat it again." Li Bi Da corrected sternly.

"Then let's go to the southwest of Numansia and attack a big tribe called Ballantia! That tribe is no different from green forest bandits, and has been indiscriminately looting grain transport teams and merchant caravans from two provinces in Spain. Anyway, we have come to the heart of Iberia, and it makes no difference whether we crush one more tribe or one less tribe. As long as we destroy Ballantia, we can pass through the Complanian Plain there, so that we can enter the north of Lusitania without crossing the dangerous mountains. Yes, the north." Sabo shouted nervously, and what he said sounded scary even to himself. God, I was originally in the small town of Ga, Italy. I was a young man praised by both natives and immigrants. The natives admired my kindness, and the Roman immigrants praised my integrity. Even in the poor days after losing my father, I could not feel the slightest ashamed of my character in front of the gods. But mother, ever since I met this financial officer Lepidus from Sardinia, I followed him to launch an attack on the natives without authorization, kidnapped the governor's mercenaries and elephants, defrauded a year's tax in advance, and attacked and robbed the Roman towns... I feel that the simplicity, justice and virtue of the Romans in my body have melted away like the snow after the spring!

"Well, after arriving in the north of Lusitania, as far as I know, there are still many hostile cities and tribes between us and the governor." Just as Sabo was in pain, Lepidus under the poplars drank a sip of wine to relieve fatigue and continued to ask innocently.

"Then attack southwards, or ask the bald governor to join our army! Anyway, according to the current situation, if we fight our way into the Douro River and the Nimes River in the north of there, we will have to expand to at least 10,000 soldiers. We don't have to fear any opponent!" Sabokemus completely gave up the idea of ​​being serious and obedient, and shouted hysterically. Then he flushed and gasped, and saw Li Bi Da smiling at him with ill intentions. He immediately understood everything and felt defeated. The other party then raised his finger and said kindly: "That's right, dear Sabo, you have to be passive on the battlefield. "I have also invested in a clinic in Rome. After the operation, the doctors would lie to the patients and say, don't worry, you will get better. Just choose a good day to offer sacrifices to the gods of the house with sincerity. Then if you continue to live, they will be proud of how exquisite my medical skills are; then if you die, they will complain that you are not pious enough when you offer sacrifices to the gods. Now we are playing the role of qualified doctors, everything will be fine - OK, now draft a plan for me to attack Complanion." After speaking, Habaluka handed a larger drawing board to Subochemus.

This is another new idea of ​​the financial officer, whose knowledge is as strange as his skin color. That is, he and a group of freed slaves with some culture will draw the terrain of the combat area and the draft of the pre-arranged offensive route on the drawing board. But what makes Sabokemus angry is that the last time he swept a certain town in Betenari, he clearly made a plan very seriously and read out his ideas at the centurion meeting. How to gather troops, how to divide the team and when to use the reserve second array of troops were clearly stated. Even those newly promoted centurions with double salaries (Libida recently promoted a group of them, most of whom were promoted from the original camp team centurions. Libida believed that these people were promoted on the spot and familiar with the team and the battlefield) nodded in agreement. As a result, the financial officer probably thought of a better way, so he cleared his throat, put away the vellum and hook pen, and said, dear Sabo, what you said is very good, now listen to me...

It's as if I just talked nonsense!

But there was no other way. Sabokemus was still seriously drafting a plan to attack Balantia. He knew that this tribe had a large population and strong military force, so he must not be overconfident.

In the mountains and valleys of Spain, after the thick winter snow melted, endless spring rains came, and there were muddy rivers everywhere. This was tolerable for the elephants in Lepidus's team. The three giant warriors could easily cross the muddy roads and rivers under the guidance of the elephant drivers, but the ordinary soldiers suffered a lot. They complained about this bone-chilling season and the wet mud that stuck to every part of their bodies. It was difficult to light a fire in such weather, and the fire was treated as eyes, carefully placed in water and oil containers covered with glass. They also had to work hard to pull the pack horses and wheels out of the mud. The number of four-wheeled artillery carriages had increased to twelve. Like the elephants, these things were extremely heavy burdens on weekdays. In order to supply these twelve artillery carriages, an additional fifty pack horses were needed to carry the heavy luggage, so they had to set aside a special baggage team to take on this task. However, Li Bi Da's military orders were extremely strict. Not only did he put the baggage and artillery carts in the rear team every day during the march, guarded by Ala cavalry, but he also paid generous wages to the baggage team members and required them to raise swords and shields to fight like regular soldiers when they encountered danger. (To be continued.)