Augustus Road

"If you pursue too high a moral standard, peace will become crazy, and correctness will become wrong.?..."————Horace

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"But." The more rational Peteneus was still ready to persuade the commander-in-chief, "Massalia is indeed a very glorious city. In addition, Caesar has repeatedly warned us not to destroy this city, let alone Cato the Younger."

"Caesar said this before he suffered the defeat in Ilerda. Because of the treachery of the Masselians, 80% of our wooden siege equipment was burned, and the surrounding trees had been cut down, and the supplies in the Liguria region were almost exhausted. Do you want me to wait another ten years until the trees here grow again before attacking the city?"

So all the generals fell silent and prepared to start the strategy of strong attack. Anyway, the nobles of this city were almost killed and the city defense was almost destroyed, so it was not difficult to capture the Acropolis. But here, Marcellus, who had been standing in the corner, said in a very calm tone: "I advise you, respected commander and governor, it is better to stay in the city of Masseria. Because the overly cruel policy is not applicable at this time when the two heroes are fighting. After all, it is not a foreign city that is plundered. It is a vassal of the Republic. You are driving the neutral forces to the enemy." When Itasus shrewdly figured out the thoughts of his superiors, he put on full military uniforms, rode a horse in the busy military camp, and ran to the camp of the commander-in-chief from the old harbor on the east side of the city. After running to the camp of the commander-in-chief, he immediately walked in and asked the governor very humbly for any instructions.

"If I destroy Masseria. Can you answer the final conclusion on whether you are willing or unwilling on behalf of your country?" Unexpectedly, Lepidus said this at the beginning.

In other words, Lepidus was actually asking the entire Ligurian city-state whether destroying the city in front of them would make them happy - if the answer was affirmative, the commander-in-chief would probably immediately mobilize elite troops to raze it to the ground. "No, it's too late, please make a decision now." Lepidus rejected it without delay.

Finally, Itasus thought about it and finally put together his ideas: "If you destroy Masseria, please try to keep the city walls, docks and warehouses."

"Of course, I will ask the consul to appoint 300 veterans to serve as sentries, so that Masseria's vassal status will not change."

"Then what role will our army play in the siege?" Next, Itasus knew that he had to act quickly.

"Because capturing this city is of the greatest benefit to your state, the Ligurian Legion will serve as the frontline vanguard. You can freely deal with the people in the city, but if you encounter Cato the Younger, you must spare his life and hand him over to me." Lepidus was quite satisfied with Itasus's answer, "And Triari, it seems that he has retreated back into the city. I don't know where he ran to. I also need him to avenge Claudius."...

Itasus repeatedly expressed his approval, and of course he began to return the favor, because Lepidus gave them the benefits of the city-state, such as asking for Get the corresponding price, "Liguria will soon immigrate 3,000 to 5,000 families to revive the city here. In addition, the city of Masseria will then become the bridgehead and supply port for Caesar to control Gaul and Spain. We will build docks, warehouses and granaries for your army, and provide fleet support without hesitation in the war!"

Very good, then there is no need to delay. Libida decided on the spot that the Ligurian Legion would draw six battalions as the vanguard and attack the city with all their strength in three days. The Sixth Legion and the Sixteenth Legion would also draw five battalions each to serve as the second-line troops. In addition, eight wild donkey catapults and twenty cavalry cannons were concentrated to cooperate with the Fifteenth Legion to garrison in the positions around the Behemoth Siege Tower, and then a devastating blow would be launched against the city defense of Masseria.

Within three days, the city of Masseria was in chaos. Most of the elders and nobles died in the previous melee. Those who survived also lost the courage to lead the city-state. They all guarded the gates, hid in the altars and basements, trembled in the arms of armed slaves, and waited for the bloody doomsday to come. The ordinary people were even more miserable. Those without rations died like rats in the drainage ditches and the corners of the temple. Those with some rations also huddled in the dark of the city, staring at the alternation of night and day with fearful and hateful eyes from time to time. There were babies crying and ominous cries everywhere.

Cato the Younger gathered the remaining two or three hundred soldiers and broke into the temple of the immortal god in this city. He was now completely radicalized. He couldn't understand why he came to this city to resist Caesar's rebellion, but in the end this city and the entire army had to betray his beliefs and ideas? Am I not qualified to integrate a mere vassal autonomous city?

"It is the people of this city who are wrong. They are too selfish and cowardly. After several setbacks in battle, they went back on their words and completely lost the courage to resist. And I, I can't escape either, just like my great-grandfather always threatened to destroy Carthage. Yes, Carthage, when this magnificent city fell a hundred years ago, the nobles and humbles in it were probably in the same mood as I am now, full of the powerlessness of being a rat in a bag. I can't break out of the ocean, and there is little hope for the Renus River. The bastard cavalry of Lepidus will catch up with me, or Caesar's troops. In short, I will become a prisoner as they wish, and suffer contempt and insult. This will never happen to the Cato family, never!" In front of the fire of the altar, Cato pulled out a shining dagger and secretly made up his mind.

But the soldiers who followed him soon looted everywhere. They did not have the high ideals of little Cato. They only knew that street fighting on horseback required food and military supplies, which was the most natural thing. So right in front of the temple, these people started killing and looting, and their cries shook the earth.)