Rome Must Fall

"You, you, you always use this sentence to attack me now." Akupagos pointed at the other party helplessly, and then said in a deep voice: "I can see that the young man is perfunctory with us, he He wants to turn those Skodisci slaves into his own, and perhaps also wants to make the Segostika prisoners surrender, so that his team can grow rapidly. "

"I feel the same way." Cleobrotus agreed. Maximus's acting did not deceive their experienced eyes, but his thoughts were different: "Scordis The Qi slaves may be able to be won over, but it may be difficult for the Segestica people. If he can really do it, it would be a good thing. Then our north will be completely safe. "

"The threat from the Segestica people is gone, and there may be new threats -" Akupagos stopped mid-sentence. He covered his chest, suppressed the urge to cough, and rested. After waiting for a while, he murmured: "It's hard to predict what will happen in the future. Let's wait and see..."

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After the two Acoupagos left, Kalsipempas also said goodbye: "Chief Maximus, I'm so sorry! I should have been with you to deal with the next arrival of the Segostica army, but I've been away from my fleet for too long, and I'm a little worried about their safety!

I also want to go to my tribe and take a look. I don’t know how they are living now, so——”

"Elder Kalsipempas, if you keep talking, I will be too ashamed to see you!" Maximus said sincerely: "This time we can come here smoothly and get the Ardei tribe. We are allowed to settle here, all thanks to your hard work over the past few months to mediate for us!

Without your help, we might still be marching tiredly on the Italian soil, or trekking aimlessly in the mountains, so I and all my men will remember your kindness and never forget it! "

Carl Sipempas was very happy to be praised. He waved his hands repeatedly: "Thank you, thank you! You helped us a lot before, and I should do this!"

Besides, you are now our neighbors and allies, helping each other! "

"Yes, we are neighbors and friends now, and we will keep in touch more in the future!" Maximus took over the conversation and said seriously: "I heard that your tribe is in the mountains, and the environment is relatively harsh. The people lack food and clothing. …If you have any difficulties, please tell me and I will do my best to help!”

"Well, um... they are living well now, and besides, it is quite far from here..." Out of the dignity of the tribal leader, Calsipempas politely wanted to refuse.

Maximus then said: "You travel on the sea all year round. If there is any difficulty in the tribe, you will definitely not be able to solve it in time. The surrounding tribes may not be in a good situation, and they cannot help your tribe much, but I Can!"

Maximus confidently pointed to the mountains of supplies in the camp and continued: "Why don't you send a capable subordinate to stay here for a long time? Once your tribe has any difficulties, he can tell me directly, and I can Send people to transport the necessary supplies, and the problem will be solved!

Of course, I am not helping you in vain. I also need you to help me. When we come here, we are isolated from the outside world. I need you to help me keep an eye on the situation of my comrades in Italy and the situation in Rome.

Sometimes I need to buy some things that are not available here, and I also need your help... You see, we help each other and it is good for everyone, right? "

Kalsi Pampas thought for a while and nodded: "Yes."

"Then we're settled like this?" Maximus stretched out his hand.

"It's settled." The two held their hands together firmly.

"Then who will you send?"

Calsipempas thought for a moment and said, "Roginesius, my second son."

Chalcedonpas had only two sons, which shows how seriously he took this matter.

Maximus smiled: "Okay, I will wait for his arrival!"

Carlsipempas was about to say goodbye and leave when Maximus spoke again: "Calsipempas, there is something I want to remind you!

I heard that piracy has been rampant in the waters around Italy in recent years, which has seriously affected the business and travel of Italians. Rome is the overlord of the Mediterranean. I am afraid that it will not allow this situation to exist for a long time. One day it will free up its hands and concentrate its efforts to solve the problem. Maritime safety issues.

By then I hope you can retreat in time, of course then you will no longer be able to provide material support to your tribe. But that doesn’t matter. I believe that I have defeated the Pannoni by then. I will set aside a fertile land for your tribe as your tribe’s territory for them to easily farm and graze... You should think about it carefully. "

On the way back, Calsipempas had been in a daze.

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The rebels were experienced in dealing with prisoners.

They separated the Segestika soldiers from other Segestika people, fed them half-full meals, and built camps under the supervision of the soldiers during the day, draining their strength completely; at night, they formed groups of 10 people, Their hands and feet were tied with the same long rope, and they were repeatedly warned that "as long as one person escapes, the other nine people will be executed, and the wives, children, and parents of the ten people will also be executed."

The women in Segestika also have to work, building the camp, but the workload is smaller than that of the men. The various brigades are competing for the task of guarding them. After all, just watching the women under the scorching sun The scene of sweat soaked through thin clothes and hard work is a beautiful sight.

But they can only live with their eyes for the time being, because Maximus issued an order: "No one is allowed to violate the female captives, otherwise they will be severely punished!"

The rebel soldiers who were accustomed to obeying orders did not yet have the courage to disobey orders.

The children of Segestica were supervised by the women's camp, while the old people belonged to the baggage camp commanded by Capito.

The slaves were easy to deal with, so Maximus gathered them all together and asked Emmerich to persuade them in public.

Emmerich has great prestige among the slaves. In addition, the rebel army worked hard to rescue the wounded Skordisqi. Many Skordisqi slaves saw it and felt their goodwill, so it made sense. , expressed their willingness to serve the rebel army.

As a result, the Skodisqi women went to work in the kitchen or the women's camp, the old men went to work in the supply camp, and the young and middle-aged men did not need to work. They had to work under the guidance of a group of Illyrian-born officers and soldiers headed by Pecot. Under the leadership, emergency military drills were conducted.

There were not many women among the Skodisci slaves, and the Segostika people were not kind enough to allow the Skodisci slaves to form families. Most of them were female slaves of the Segostika nobles;

There are not many old people, and most of them have special skills, such as raising horses, feeding pigs, fishing, blacksmithing...;

There are more than 4,000 young and middle-aged people, accounting for the vast majority of the slaves. They plow, herd, and work for the Skodisqi people in peacetime, and serve as cannon fodder in wartime; this kind of slave composition is very consistent with Segestika. The tribe's pioneering and enterprising requirements.

This also gave the rebels a big surprise. It not only greatly supplemented the army's shortage of troops, but also made the entire team's labor abundant.

But when the heads of various departments came to the assembly hall to receive people, Maximus reminded them loudly: These new brothers and sisters are very weak because they have been bullied for many years, and they must work less and rest more. And they must have meat for three meals a day so that they can recover as quickly as possible.

Everyone in Skodisqi heard this and had a better impression of the rebels.

No matter how strictly the rebels guarded the Segostika prisoners, some prisoners wanted to escape at night, but failed to escape the pursuit of the patrols.

In this regard, Maximus showed no mercy. With an order, more than a dozen fugitives and their families were beheaded in public, and their bodies were thrown into the Mrezhnica River. On the second day, no more slaves escaped.

It's a pity that this lively labor scene had to stop on the third day, because Segestica's army had appeared along the Kupa River.

"According to repeated investigations by my men and I, the number of enemies coming this time is about 15,000..." Hagux reported to Maximus and the army generals in the military tent.

He, the cavalry captain, is a bit miserable now. Horses are delicate. During the long journey over mountains and ridges, most of them were lost due to broken legs, split hoofs, illness, fat loss, etc. The only few horses that were barely rideable were given to Maxim. They used it, so in the last battle his cavalry was completely a bystander.

Fortunately, after the rebel army captured two villages and captured a few horses, he was able to reluctantly take up the duties of horse scouting when he first joined the rebel army.

"Most of the enemy's team consists of light infantry armed with wooden shields and spears. There are about 1,000 heavy infantry wearing armor and holding large shields and swords. In addition, there are more than 2,000 Scots wearing only single lining. Dischi male slave..."

After hearing what Hagux said, Maximus asked: "No cavalry?"

"There are less than a hundred cavalry." Hagux looked a little depressed.

"It's a good thing to have less cavalry. At least we don't have to worry about being suddenly attacked on the flanks." Maximus understood why he was so disappointed, and said with relief: "I asked the prisoners why the Segestica people had so few horses. The reason was not because they did not raise horses, but because the Pannoni tribe to the north had a war with the Boi.

The Boi people have powerful cavalry. The Pannoni Tribal Alliance collected horses from all major tribes and sent them to the northern tribes to form a powerful cavalry to fight against the Boi people... So don't expect to capture many of their horses for the time being. Well, let’s wait until we defeat them and then raise our own horses. "

"Speaking of it, this Pannoni tribal alliance is quite united. Even horses can be transferred between tribes in large quantities. It seems that borrowing a large number of troops from each other is not a problem at all." Frontinus reminded with some worry.

"Such a possibility does exist. But it seems that Chief Ardie is right. The Pannonians did fight against the Boii in the north, and invaded the Illyrians in the south. Even if their tribes are relatively united, But I’m afraid they won’t be able to lend many troops to the Segestica tribe when they are attacked on many sides,” Quintus retorted.

Maximus coughed slightly: "We will discuss whether the Pannoni Tribe Alliance borrows troops or not. Let's focus on dealing with the enemy in front of us first. It seems that the leader of Segestika is very impatient. , led the army to kill them so quickly."

"Perhaps... he has already detected our situation and does not want to wait for our camp to be repaired before attacking..." Quintus looked at Hagux in deep thought and asked: "Did the enemy bring any luggage?"

"There are more than 50 pack cars and more than 1,000 Pannoni civilians are responsible for escorting." After Hagux finished speaking, he added: "These civilians are relatively young."

"It takes more than 1,000 people to transport more than 50 pack cars?! The Segestica people think we are stupid. These civilians are soldiers when they pick up weapons. They are imitating us!" Tolerugo sneered.

"The food in more than 50 pack cars can feed more than 16,000 people for up to five or six days." Capito reminded that he had been the temporary director of the baggage camp during the march of the rebel army and was very experienced in this.

"That is to say, the enemy wants a quick victory this time." Quintus thought thoughtfully.

"That's not necessarily the case." Frontinus retorted: "Don't forget that there are two of their strongholds along the Kupa River in the east. Their fortress...the main stronghold of Segestica is not far away either. , they can completely let the baggage team continue to transport food here after they are stationed."

Quintus shook his head: "I asked several elders of the Ardei tribe. Neither they nor the Ardei people have an organization specifically responsible for providing logistical support to the army. They all collect food before going to war. If the food is eaten It’s over, we have to retreat.”

Frontinus was stunned for a moment. He really did not understand the enemy as carefully as Quintus, so he said: "Since the Segestica people do not intend to fight with us for a long time, we only need to defend the camp well, and they will consume food. We can only retreat. Hagux, when will Segestika’s army arrive?”

Hagux replied: "Although they are very cautious and sent many spies to carefully explore the mountains along the Kupa River, the marching speed is indeed not slow. I estimate that they can reach the east stockade tonight and tomorrow morning." Get here.”

"If I had known that we should have burned down the stronghold when we evacuated, then the Segestika people would have to set up camp by themselves. If they couldn't sleep well at night, they wouldn't have enough energy to fight us tomorrow." Tolerugo Whispering under his breath.