Augustus Road

The brave Salonians were unwilling to fail. They mobilized more citizens and slaves in an attempt to repair the burned and collapsed walls and gaps. However, Marcius commanded four "Samontoga" and accurately Along the gap, cork with flames was continuously shot in. The bloody corpses of the dead were piled up there, and there was a burning smell.

"Let the Latin Mountain position attack." Lepidus, who was watching the battle from the tower, ordered the flag officer next to him despite the flying arrows and stones.

"However, this will prematurely expose the position of our main force." The commander of the legion next to him, Faobinas, was worried, because Lepidus had accurately surveyed beforehand and made it clear that this hill was the key to the attack on Lelias' army. Also on top are the essence of the Sixteenth Legion: the chief battalion, three cavalry cannons, and all the Mattian cavalry.

If we attack too early, it may not be that easy to achieve the shocking effect on Lelias.

But on the city battlements, the mayor of Salona and many elders and nobles were working hard to encourage the citizens to help defend themselves. Lepidus would never say words that chilled them, so he immediately rejected Faobinas's suggestion and "protect Sarona is to protect ourselves and the cause of His Excellency Caesar - let the chief group of your legion attack first to attract the enemy's attention, and then the Mattian cavalry ambushing on the back of the mountain to attack the siege equipment." He said. Under the instructions, the flag officers stood on the tower, raised three legion flags in succession, and played a set of semaphores.

"What, you actually asked us to attack now?" Cletus said with a complaining tone, but Hanske, who was commanding the Mattia cavalry next to him, said nothing. Everything depends on the will of the coach. He immediately ran to mobilize his subordinates. Cleitas complained a few words. He also ordered the flag officers and trumpeters to sound the horn of attack. Then the chief group of the "Cyrenees" legion formed a dense column and stood up from the hiding place on the mountain. Shield after shield, spear against spear, feathers The ornaments are next to the feathers. He bravely charged towards the junction between Machius's position and the subsequent Pompey army.

This surprise startled Laelias, who loudly cursed the two careless centurions for putting his troops in such a dangerous situation. The fire pots and stones that came down became even more violent, and many volunteers composed of young and middle-aged men also came out with weapons in hand. When Lelias's main army was flanked and retreated in fear - Hansk, who skillfully grasped the timing of the cavalry attack, led him in an instant. Following the Mattias, they formed a charge formation and broke into the isolated front formation where Marcius was unstoppable.

The neighboring Balearic barbarian soldiers. Howling reinforcements came, most of them wearing only Thracian helmets. Armed with reverse-blade machetes and naked buttocks, they were unstoppable in melee combat. This made the young volunteers in Salona dare not stop them. However, the Matians were not afraid of this "light pig charge" at all. They were galloping , flying arrows at the open space where the Balearic people were. The Balearic people were now unprotected. Their flesh and blood alone could not block the damage caused by the powerful hooked arrow clusters. Many people's hands and feet were injured. and abdomen were penetrated, intestines and bones and flesh flowed everywhere. Many people were shot into porcupines and hedgehogs. Even sitting on the ground, they could not bear the tearing pain of the wounds and could only turn around and run away.

The Mattian cavalry successfully destroyed three "Samontoga" and towed one back with horses. In addition, they also had a huge gain, that is, they captured Pompeii's engineering director Machius for the third time. Your Mightiness.

At nightfall, Lepidus met with Marcius in the acropolis of Salona. He first asked about the number and subordinates of Pompey's army besieging the city. Marcius also said, "Two days later, General Laelias's third The first legion will also go north, and they will use the fleets of Libourna and Olikum to strengthen the blockade and siege on the coastal side of the city. "So he did not feel discouraged at all as a prisoner, but instead tried his best to persuade Lepidus to lead the army to surrender. "Because now in the Republican camp, your activity and ability have been made clear. As long as you can fight back, Caesar will be completely finished. Although he will be finished sooner or later, you will be designated by General Pompeo. The governor of a province - it is not as simple as a second-class province like Sardinia, and it will not stop at the rank of construction officer. "

"Can Pompey appoint me as the commander of the cavalry?" Lepidus immediately said something shocking.

At this moment, Marcius was at a loss for words. He did not expect that this naturalized citizen from a foreign country had such great ambitions and wanted to be deputy dictator. You must know that even Pompey himself was satisfied with Dictator after only six months in office. of.

"If I am not wrong, according to Pompey's habit of high-level officials arguing with each other, if he returns to the city of Rome to take charge of power, Marcellus, Gebinus, Laelias or Scipio This group of people are all vying for the position of commander of the cavalry, so how can it be my turn? So you should give up lobbying - Cato the Younger and Dumitius are dead, and Pompey is no longer qualified to call himself a Republican Party. He just transformed into an unjust warlord, no different from Caesar." Lepidus replied seriously to Machius, "On the other hand, you can serve our army. I am interested in your excellent equipment manufacturing skills. If I remember correctly, you are a talented person who studied under the Athenian technicians. I have people who are proficient in civil engineering and ship construction, but none like you. How about I be willing to pay you 150,000 per year? The Price of Cestius.”

Well, now he is being persuaded by the other party, and it seems that Lepidus has been paying attention to him for a long time. Marcius even feels a little warm in his heart, but he still insists that he is grateful for Lepidus's favor, but he is also Pompey's "Crien" and cannot do anything to disobey his master.

"Okay, then I will release you for the third time, and please take this handwritten letter from Caesar. In fact, the content is the same as that of Corfinium, both of which request the two to negotiate and disband the army at the same time." Lepidus handed the letter to Marcius very politely, and then instructed his guards to release him and return him to Laelias's camp.

Then, Faobinus sighed and said to Lepidus that the defense of the city would become more difficult now. If Laelias really built a tower to besiege, the food would not last long, and a trick must be used.

"I completely understand what you said, and I'm ready. Marcius said that the Macedonian First Legion will also join the siege in two days, so we only have two days left to plan this matter, and we must hurry." Lepidus pondered and replied, as if he had already made a plan in mind. (To be continued...)