Under the command of Spartacus, the rebel army exerted all its strength, with one team after another launching relentless attacks. The battle raged from dawn until dusk, but countless soldiers perished beneath the city walls without ever breaching the parapet...
"Leader Maximus!" A ssenger ca galloping, loudly announcing, "Spartacus orders the attack to cease, retreat back to camp!"
Maximus had been waiting for this order and imdiately told the bugler, "Sound the retreat horn quickly!"
"Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo!..." The urgent sound of the copper horn rang out.
Maximus breathed a sigh of relief as Quintus’s voice reached his ears: "The order to retreat should have been given long ago. The morale of the tapontum people is high, and they can keep receiving reinforcents from other towns. Even if we attack several more tis, we won’t be able to conquer it."
Maximus detected the dissatisfaction in his words, although he had not supported the decision to attack tapontum earlier. Still, he defended himself, saying, "We didn’t expect these few southern towns to unite and support tapontum."
"These southerners, though timid and unwilling to fight in the open field, can still put up a fight with the tall city walls as their shield."
As a forr Roman, Quintus held contempt for the Greeks of Southern Italy. Stroking his chin, he added, "I think it must have been tapontum’s administrative officer who, after killing Enomai, foresaw our potential revenge and persuaded other towns to support them, and prepared their defenses well. With our current strength, it’s impossible to conquer it, and there’s no need to waste our forces here; it’s best to retreat early."
"Yes, you are right." Maximus stopped arguing and changed the topic: "However, this ti, even if we didn’t take tapontum, our Free Italy troops have gained significant training. At first, as you saw, over twenty thousand n were in chaos. Especially the forces of the leaders who joined later, unfamiliar with the orders, they attacked or retreated at will...
Now it’s much better; within just over ten days, all soldiers have been rged into a team, obeying commands during the siege, advancing and retreating smoothly. Spartacus has put in trendous effort."
"In this regard, there is so benefit to us, but despite our full-scale assault, we still couldn’t take tapontum City, and many soldiers were killed or wounded. It might have a significant impact on morale!" Quintus reminded him.
Maximus remained silent as he watched the retreating troops in front of him: Leading the way were Oluus and Pequot, followed by most soldiers who were once Enomai’s subordinates, and just joined Maximus’s army with Pequot not long ago. Therefore, Maximus didn’t bring in any more troops from Sarabia but temporarily mixed the five hundred guards with these over two thousand forr Erromyi soldiers, led by Oluus and Pequot respectively, as the siege force. So new soldiers were determined to avenge Enomai, openly dissatisfied with the initial probing attacks. But now, they were battered and bleeding, supporting each other like beaten dogs, with no trace of arrogance left.
Perhaps the blow to their morale from the failed siege is beneficial to ... Maximus thought to himself, imdiately adopting a solemn expression, riding forward, and loudly saying, "Brothers, although we failed to take the city this ti, among all the siege forces, you fought the longest and were the bravest, almost reaching the parapet. I am proud of you all!"
Maximus paused for a mont, seeing the soldiers gradually lift their heads, their eyes focusing on him. He continued with concern in his voice, "Now you must be tired and thirsty. I’ve already had ample food and hot soup prepared at the camp! I also had the dical Team prepare enough herbs, waiting outside the camp. Every injured brother will receive excellent care and treatnt!... Let’s hurry back to camp, once we return, everything will be fine!"
The retreating soldiers looked at Maximus as he vigorously waved his arms, and, hearing his heartfelt words, seed to gain so strength in their weary bodies.
At this mont, they saw Maximus jump down from his horse, quickly walking to a pair of wounded soldiers supporting each other, loudly saying, "You’re injured yourself, how can you hold your comrade! Let help!"
Saying that, he supported a wounded soldier’s body, hoisting his arm onto his shoulder, walking slowly forward.
The nurous soldiers were profoundly moved by this scene, knowing that as the rebel army rapidly grew, the status and prestige of the leaders also increased rapidly. Even Spartacus no longer mingled with ordinary soldiers as he did at the beginning of the uprising, let alone the sowhat arrogant Cross and Enomai. Yet this young leader still showed such concern for ordinary soldiers...
"What’s your na?"
"Diocles."
"That sounds like a Greek na."
"I’m from Poseidon, and joined the ranks when Leader Enomai’s army passed by."
"You haven’t been with our Free Italy for long, but I see the courage you showed during the siege is no less than that of veteran soldiers!"
...
Unknowingly, the soldiers all followed behind Maximus, listening to the conversation between the two. One soldier couldn’t help but shout, "Leader, I also joined the ranks at Poseidon!"
"Oh, your injuries are also substantial, it seems you were valiant in battle too!"
"Leader, I’m from Croton. Upon hearing the fa of Free Italy, I rushed to Turi to join the ranks."
"Oh, it seems that even in the southernmost part of Great Greece, there are warriors daring to resist Ro and pursue freedom!"
"Leader Maximus, I’m a gladiator from Capua."
"I rember you, Kumo, the cheetah from Mauritania..."
...
Pequot watched as Maximus was surrounded, chatting and laughing with the soldiers, his expression complex and changeable.
..............................
Back at the camp, Maximus settled the troops, and the post-battle statistics were out: over 750 casualties.
For the Maximus Army, with just over 2500 troops here, this was already a significant blow.
But Maximus didn’t take it to heart. After dinner, he received a notice to rush to Spartacus’s camp for a military eting.
After each siege battle, Spartacus would convene the leaders to discuss, summarize experiences and improve siege thods, which was also the main reason why he could consolidate the team and enhance combat effectiveness so quickly.
As he entered the tent, all the other leaders were already there. Maximus saw that everyone’s faces looked a bit grim and thought it was because they were upset about the losses from the failed siege today. But then Spartacus looked at him and said solemnly, "We just received word from a ssenger sent by Cross—the Roman Army is coming!"
Despite being ntally prepared for the arrival of the Roman Army, hearing this now, Maximus’s heart couldn’t help but thump rapidly. He hurriedly asked, "How many are in the Roman Army? Where are they?"
"According to the ssenger, Cross’s cavalry captured a southbound caravan and learned from the rchants that the Roman Governor, Publius Crassus, is leading an army of about forty to fifty thousand, which has already passed Campania and is heading south along Ania Avenue," Hamilcar reported.
"Forty to fifty thousand?!" Maximus’s heart pounded even more intensively. Although he knew from historical records in his previous life that the rebel army eventually repelled the Roman attack, being part of it was still nerve-wracking. Who knows if things might change in this lifeti.
Reviews
All reviews (0)