Rome Must Fall

Bubius thought for a moment and said: "Brothers, we are not just hanging around. Our teams are all busy evacuating. There is already some chaos in the city. If these Sarapias secretly gather together and take advantage of this opportunity, If you make trouble, we will be in big trouble, so we must patrol carefully to ensure that all Sarapians stay quietly in their rooms to ensure that our large force can evacuate smoothly. You said our mission is Not very important?"

"Yes!..." Although the soldiers' answers were mixed, everyone's mental outlook changed.

"Brothers, we have to be careful on the street ahead, don't make any mistakes!" Captain Staggs reminded.

Without his reminder, the soldiers who had performed patrol missions several times knew that the team was about to enter the slums of Sarapia City. Since the occupation of the city, most Sarabian people have been more obedient to the orders of the rebels. Only the slums have occasionally caused conflicts. This may be because the people living here have always been poor, so they have no scruples and are brave. Fight hard.

The soldiers all cheered up, drew their daggers, reorganized their formation, and slowed down into the narrow and winding alley. Their vigilant eyes scanned every dilapidated house on both sides of the road.

The team walked for a short distance, rounded a corner, and suddenly saw seven or eight people standing in the middle of the road ahead. Everyone became nervous.

"Who?! Why didn't you obey the ban issued by the city hall and stay at home!" Captain Staggs shouted loudly.

The soldiers simultaneously beat their square shields with their short swords as a deterrent.

Seeing the soldiers holding sharp knives and approaching menacingly, those few people trembled in fear.

Only one person was still calm, and he quickly replied: "I...we are Sarapians, want to...want to join Free Italy, become soldiers like you, resist the Romans, and fight for freedom!"

He was a little nervous at first, but soon his voice became fluent and loud.

"That sounds pretty nice." Staggs sneered: "But I know you, Casaridoa, a well-known gangster in Sarabia City. He usually likes to bully slaves and extort money. Just pay him back with his salary. If you want to fight for freedom, don’t tarnish this sacred word!”

Staggs' face darkened and he shouted: "Go back to your own house quickly, or else——"

"Roar!!" The soldiers tapped their shields with their daggers again and shouted in unison.

The faces of those people were already pale. They dragged Casaridoa and stammered to persuade him: "Forget it, let's... let's go back quickly..."

Casaridoa shook off his friend's drag and said loudly and unconvinced: "More than ten years ago, many towns in Italy resisted Rome (the Roman Alliance War), and Sarapia was one of them. My father was Sarapia. The captain of Pia's army, but in the end the Romans won and Sarapia surrendered.

My father was seriously injured and died shortly after returning home... The councilors of Sarapia were afraid of Rome and did not provide pensions in accordance with the regulations. My mother raised me independently, which was very hard... and later she became tired and sick..."

There were tears in Casaridoa's eyes. He sniffed sharply and said in a serious tone: "Do you think I don't want to work to make money? But in Sarapia, those nobles and rich people only buy Slaves do the work, never hire civilians!

I also thought about going to other places to make a living, but my mother’s health didn’t allow me to leave. I had no choice but to rely on this to make some money and buy medicine for my mother’s illness. Do you think I was willing to let others talk behind my back? I have disgraced my father! He is a hero who resisted Rome! …”

At the end of the speech, he was so excited that his face was distorted.

For a moment, the soldiers were moved. They didn't know that there was such a tortuous and sad story behind this famous gangster in Sarapia.

Bubius broke the silence: "Since you have a mother to take care of, why do you want to join us?"

Staggs coughed lightly: "Captain, this boy's mother just passed away a few days ago. Because he couldn't leave the city, we helped bury her."

"I want to join you, not just to repay the favor." Casaridoa said loudly and excitedly: "You said that you are a team of poor people who want to fight against the Romans, nobles and rich people who oppress the poor...

Through these few months of observation, I know that you are not just talking. You defeated the Romans in Campania, and here you killed all those hateful nobles and rich people. Not only did you have Slaves, and poor people, and it can be seen that they live a good life... So I want to join you and become a soldier of free Italy, fighting bravely against the Romans like my father! "

Bubius stared at the impassioned Casaridoa for a while, then turned his attention to the others: "Why do they want to join?"

With Casaridoa's example, a young man had the courage to say: "I...my situation is the same as Casaridoa's. My father died at the hands of the Romans, and now the Romans rule Sarapia. Take revenge on us and make it impossible for us to survive. I will join you and fight against the damn Romans!”

"Me too!" Others shouted in response.

Seeing that Bubius was moving, Staggs reminded him in a low voice: "Captain, don't forget that we stopped recruiting people six days ago!"

"I know, but look at them, they are young and strong, with many years of fighting experience. More importantly, they know why they want to join us! This is much stronger than when we first joined the team! With a little training, they will They are a group of good soldiers!" Bubius looked at Casaridoa and the others with bright eyes.

"But we're leaving soon!" Staggs reminded again.

"Let's do this. I will take them to the legion commander now and ask for his consent."

Seeing that Bubius had made up his mind, Staggs did not persuade him.

…………………………………………………………………………

"Chief, our current marching plan is...the first legion will start first, the second legion will follow, followed by you and the escort in the middle of the team, and our huge baggage camp will be at the end, with The third legion provided protection (before the rebels turned north, Maximus's army had expanded to 15,000 soldiers. He would form two legions of the extra 3,000 men plus a thousand more guards. The army was later organized into a legion, with Carminus as its commander and Aulus as its deputy. It was first named the Guards Legion, and later, after being reminded by Quintus and others, it was renamed for the convenience of combat. The Third Legion, a thousand-man team led by Pecot became the new escort).

Considering that this march, with the Roman army chasing behind it, will never be as easy as the last time from Campania to Apulia, and the number of people in our transport camp has also increased several times, many people have not yet made the journey. Based on the experience of long-distance marches, we need to transfer some soldiers from the Third Army to form a reception team, which will be entrusted at the end of the marching team to take care of those who have fallen behind and lost their way every day..."

Quintus held a wooden map and gestured while saying: "Our team will march along the coast to Siptum, and then stick to the edge of Cape Garganum to reach northern Apulia and Buddha. The town of Aprum at the junction of Luntani has existing roads along the way, and the terrain is flat, making it easier to walk... Chief, are you sure that the Attumus army will meet us in Aprum? "

"He and I have cooperated well before, and this time we are the vanguard. He and I have already discussed it. If we set off today, they will also set off today, and they will use cavalry to keep in touch at any time. I believe that when we arrive When Aprum arrives, they are not far away and will not keep us waiting," Maximus said firmly.

"If this is the case, it will be easy to handle next." Quintus pointed to the map and said: "Florentani is different from Apulia. It is all mountainous. Even if we walk along the coast, because of the narrow road , the team will be stretched very long, and once it encounters a sudden attack by the enemy, there will be greater trouble. If the army of leader Attumus can march side by side with us, then our flanks will be much safer."

"Don't worry, Attumus will keep his promise." Maximus comforted him confidently again.

The reason why Attumus was willing to cooperate and let the army take the rugged mountain road instead of the flat seaside road was not only because of his good relationship with Maximus, but more importantly, the two sides reached an agreement: once his food was in short supply, Maximus Force must do its best to provide assistance.

As a neighbor, Attumus knew very well that Maximus had managed his territory very well in the past few months, and he was truly wealthy and enviable.

"Chief, have Chief Spartacus and his team already set off?" Quintus asked again.

"I just got the news that Spartacus and his team set off early yesterday morning."

Quintus hurriedly lowered his head to look at the map and muttered: "If they had marched faster, they would have reached Bari by now... Our supply camp is huge now. Even if we march along the highway, we can move at a speed of 25 miles a day. That’s good. In this way, we can keep half a day’s journey with Spartacus and the others behind them, and be able to provide support in a relatively timely manner, which is very good.”

"Quintus and you guys have worked really hard these past few days so that we can go north smoothly this time!" Maximus looked at the tired Quintus and expressed his sincere thanks.

"Isn't this exactly our duty?" Quintus responded calmly.

"From your words, you seem to think that the Romans will intercept us from the front?" Maximus asked instead.

"That's for sure." Quintus said without hesitation: "Based on my understanding of Rome, the people in the Senate will never allow us to escape Italy, otherwise it would be a huge shame for Rome, so They will definitely send troops to intercept them in front. They can ask the governor of the Northern Italy Province to lead the troops south. They are elite troops specially used to defend against the barbarians in the north. There are pursuers behind and strong enemies in front. Can we successfully break through them? Surrounding is a big problem!”

Quintus sighed, looking a little worried. Originally, he was very pleased with the rapid expansion of the rebel army, but he did not expect that with the arrival of the Roman army, most of the rebel soldiers did not even have the courage to fight with them, so they could only If they give up a frontal battle and are forced to flee, no matter how many people there are, what's the use.

"Believe me, not only will we be able to break through the siege in the end, but we will also be able to defeat all invading enemies!" Maximus responded resoundingly. He was certainly not trying to comfort his subordinates, although history does not record Spartacus's defeat of Rome. The detailed process of the army, but in the end the rebel army successfully arrived in the Alps, and now that he has himself, he firmly believes that the strength of the rebel army has been greatly enhanced, and it should be easier to defeat the enemy.

Quintus was stunned. He didn't know where Maximus got such strong confidence. He was about to persuade him not to be too blind, when Frontinus strode in: "Chief, all legions have already We are ready and waiting for your order to set off!”

"Let's go to the military camp!" As soon as Maximus finished speaking, Akago, who was standing by, immediately handed over his helmet. He put it on and walked out first. As soon as he reached the door, a man rushed in and almost bumped into him.

"Chief... Chief, I have brought Kalsipempas!" Pigris said eagerly.

When Maximus heard this, he immediately felt happy: "This is really a blessing from God! Charles Pampas arrived before we were about to leave. I happened to have something important to say to him! Frontinus , Quintus, you go to the military camp first, I will be there in a moment."

After hearing this, the two had no choice but to leave first. After walking out of the chief executive's residence, he saw Chalcy Pempas and his party waiting outside. Frontinus looked at their clothes and recognized their identities. He whispered with some dissatisfaction: "The leader actually wanted to meet a group of pirates. It’s outrageous to delay our departure!”

Quintus said nothing, looking at these people and wondering about Maximus's intention of meeting them at this time.

………………………………………………………………

The rebel army, led by Spartacus and entrenched in northern Calabria for several months, finally broke camp and headed north.

Half a day later, Cross's army from the north of Brutium also followed him northward. Spartacus was pleasantly surprised after receiving the news. He thought Cross had figured it out. In order not to hurt his self-esteem, Spartacus Si did not take the initiative to send anyone to contact Cross.

After several days of marching, they finally arrived at Apulum, a town on the northern border of Apulia. early morning. Spartacus was about to assemble his troops and continue marching north when he suddenly received news: Cross's troops, who were following behind and were twenty or thirty miles away, suddenly disappeared.