Rome must fall.

Chapter 100 Female Battalion Captain Karina

Pasippidas's face suddenly turned red.

Maximus looked at him with a smile: "I heard that you have a very good relationship with Lucina. After you recovered from your injury, you met with her in private many times—"

"I...I didn't! She just took care of me when I was sick. There is nothing between me and her-" Pasipidas blushed and denied loudly.

Maximus looked stunned: "I originally thought you fell in love with her and was going to give you a blessing, but it turned out not to be the case. What a pity!"

Pasipidas was stunned, and regardless of his shyness, he immediately changed his words and said: "Chief, I do like her, she...she also likes me, do you really want to bless us?!"

Pasipidas lowered his voice and said, "My father was opposed to this."

Maximus glanced at Percy Anasis, who was not far away with his back to them, deliberately increased his voice, and said with a smile: "You two are in love, and it is a great good thing that you can get married! I not only support , and after we find our real home and settle down, I will also be willing to host the wedding for you two, so that you two can receive everyone's blessings!"

"Really?!" Pasipidas looked surprised.

"Of course it's true." Maximus responded and changed the subject: "You have been in this weapons workshop for more than ten days. How do you feel?"

"It's very good! I never thought that ironmaking and blacksmithing could be done to this extent before. When I got here, I really opened my eyes and learned a lot!" Pasipidas looked excited, but then he added Lowering his voice: "However, people here don't like me and my dad, but they have nothing to be proud of. When it comes to blacksmithing skills, none of them can beat me, let alone my dad..."

"You two are outsiders. It's normal not to be accepted by them at first. After a long time, everyone is familiar with each other, and there won't be such a problem. You have to work hard here, don't just be satisfied with being a blacksmith, work hard If you learn everything here, you will be able to take on greater responsibilities, and Lucina will be proud of you!"

Maximus’s words encouraged the young man who had just heard the good news and was even more excited. He nodded heavily, returned to Percy Anassis, and excitedly reminded: "Father, you heard it all! "

Percy Anasis was silent for a moment, and then asked with a worried look: "It seems that you really plan to marry that woman? Do you really plan to stay in this team?"

"Yeah!" Pasipidas nodded heavily again, causing the old father to sigh: "Alas..."

Maximus spent most of the day visiting the entire weapons workshop. The more he looked at it, the more excited he became. Not only did he see the water mill and water hammer that he had longed for, he also discovered that the iron smelting technology used was quite advanced in this era. It is advanced, and the weapon production in the workshop has achieved a clear division of labor and streamlined operations. More importantly, this weapons workshop has a complete production chain from upstream to downstream, from ore refining, to refined iron manufacturing, to weapon preparation. , forming a perfect closed loop.

Even though Kedessos said that "the monthly production of cast iron here does not exceed 500 kilograms, and the output of short swords and armor is far less than that of the weapons workshops in the Latium region," it still far exceeded Maximus's expectations.

Therefore, after Maximus left the weapons workshop, his face could no longer be suppressed with joy.

He mounted his horse and urged it to a higher ground, overlooking the scorched depression with billowing black smoke and rumbling noise. He said with a serious expression: "Capito, next you must focus on this weapons workshop and do your best. Ensure its normal operation and enable it to continuously manufacture weapons and equipment! Now our team is constantly expanding and there are many new recruits. When the Romans come in the future, we cannot let them fight with wooden sticks."

"It's not that easy to do." Capito was not a submissive person. He directly objected: "The two important raw materials needed for iron smelting - iron ore and charcoal - are not originally available in the weapons workshop's warehouse. No matter how much is left, not much has been looted in the entire city. I have estimated that with the current surplus of iron ore and charcoal, the weapons workshop can be operated for a month at most, and about 300 recruits can be equipped with full sets of weapons... "

Maximus just visited Xinxi and did not consider this aspect for a moment. After hearing this, he was dumbfounded and frowned and asked: "I know that the iron ore used here is purchased from the Noriki people. Except for Noriki, Qom, where else can we get iron ore?”

Capito shook his head: "I asked, no."

Maximus had no luck, touched his chin, and thought for a while: "I will ask Pigris to find a way to contact the Noriki people. If we can contact them, we will buy the iron ore at a high price. I think they should I won’t refuse...but this takes time, and what we are short of now is time. Another way is to send troops to conquer the surrounding areas to collect various iron tools, and then bring them here to smelt them——"

"This method is feasible and saves time." Capito agreed.

"Where did the charcoal used here come from?" Maximus asked.

"There are charcoal workshops outside the northern city of Sarapia, and there are two of them. They not only supply here, but also supply pottery and bricks. Most of their labor is slaves, and they are all under the control of our warehouse.

However, the wood used for burning charcoal comes from the Garganum Peninsula not far to the north. We are now sending troops to conquer the area around the great lake in the north. At that time, we can ask for wood from towns near the mountains, such as Siputum..."

Maximus vaguely remembered that Vorenus had reported to him the charcoal workshop of Sarapia. At this moment, he was more aware of the importance of this material and said in a deep voice: "I know, I will let the troops on the expedition I’ll bring you enough wood, and you’ll have to get the charcoal workshop up and running as soon as possible—”

Having said this, he paused and said solemnly: "The Roman army may attack at any time, and we may abandon this place by then, so Capito, you must do your best to create enough weapons in a short time. !…

Weapon workshops and charcoal workshops are both good things and very useful to us. You have to make great efforts to control these craftsmen and workers, and make them all focus as much as possible... I just noticed in the workshop When we arrived, most of the people were indifferent to our arrival. Even the obedient Kedessos asked about his original master when we left. This shows that they are still resisting us in their hearts... …

But it doesn't matter. At first, Percy Anassis and his son were more stubborn, but now they have become one of our own. You have to let them complain more, care more about their health, and improve their living conditions. I believe that as time goes by, , they will also agree with us. "

Capito was silent. As a Roman civilian who once had a good family, he was not too enthusiastic about the requirement to assimilate slaves. After all, during his decades of military career, Roman soldiers used short swords and harsh weapons. The law was used to force slaves to work for it.

It was only after he joined the rebel army that due to the influence of the surrounding environment, he had to make a gesture of getting close to the slaves at first. Later, he found that the slaves who had been freed and treated as equals were more active in working than before, and he gradually became more and more interested in Maxi. Some of James's practices were accepted, but it was almost impossible for him to regard these slaves who were once cattle and sheep as his brothers. However, as a supervisor, Capito only needs to instruct his subordinates to do what Maximus asked, so there is not much resistance.

Maximus continued: “...More people should be arranged to learn how to burn charcoal and cast weapons so that production can be expanded in the future.

In addition, we must inform the engineering team, especially Spukala, to let them have an in-depth understanding of the various facilities, layout and structure of the charcoal workshop and weapons workshop, study the principles of their operation, and draw drawings...so that we can build these ourselves in the future. Workshops and facilities, thoroughly master the techniques of charcoal burning and iron smelting! "

Maximus occasionally popped out some unfamiliar terms from his mouth, and Capito was used to it. He responded: "Chief, don't worry, I have assigned all the people in the blacksmith shop to the weapons workshop, and I am also preparing to More manpower will be arranged to join. In this way, the original talents of the weapon workshop will be more obedient.

Spukala and the others were originally interested in this place, and they helped repair the water hammer. After I convey your order to them, I believe that Spukala and the others will move here in a hurry tomorrow morning. "

Maximus smiled: "That's good."

"Uh..." Capito couldn't help but asked in a low voice: "Chief, where will we build a new weapons workshop in the future?"

Maximus looked at Capito, who looked indifferent and seemed to be asking casually.

Maximus smiled: "You will know when the time comes."

..........................................................................................

Maximus returned to the chief executive's residence in Sarapia. Before he had time to have dinner, he received a report from the attendant Akago: the kitchen manager Akonis had been waiting for him for a long time.

As soon as Maximus entered his office, Arconis immediately greeted him. There was no long-awaited complaint on his face, but a look of joy eager to repay his merits: "Chief, I have found the person you want. Got it!"

Maximus's eyes focused on another person in the room: this was a tall, athletic, blond, and sharp-edged woman. Even if she knew that Maximus was the leader, she was not shy. Avoiding his scrutinizing gaze, he looked back calmly.

Maximus composed himself: "Is it her?"

"Leader, her name is Karina. She is a German and a serf of a wealthy merchant in Pompeii. She joined the team after we captured Pompeii and she once strongly requested to become a soldier.

But Frontinus did not agree, and Vorenus assigned her to me. She works very hard, and can stand up to three people by herself. Now she is the captain of our slaughtering team, and all the men under her are dissatisfied with her..." Akonis introduced her subordinate enthusiastically.

The situation she introduced and the image of this woman made Maximus feel that she was indeed a suitable candidate, but he still had some doubts in his mind: "Why did you want to be a soldier in the first place?"

"I want to kill the Romans with my own hands!" Karina said solemnly, with a trace of ferocity flashing in her green eyes.

I'm afraid he has a deep hatred against the Romans... Maximus thought to himself that there were many people in his team who had suffered such tragic experiences, and he had become accustomed to it, so he didn't ask any more questions.

He coughed, and then said seriously: "It doesn't matter if you can't be a soldier. You can serve as the captain of the women's battalion, take care of all the women in our team, protect their safety, and prevent them from unnecessary harassment. Only in this way can we Let our soldiers fight the Romans without any worries...are you willing?"

"Yes!" Although Karina is a woman, her voice is short and low, giving people a solid and powerful feeling.

"There are thousands of women in our team now, and there will be more in the future. Moreover, they have to work in the kitchen or warehouse during the day, and then go back to the women's camp to rest together at night. This is not easy to manage!" Maximus reminded. road.

"I can take care of it, but I still need some help from you, chief!" Apparently Karina had already considered this issue before coming, and she seemed confident.

Maximus was also prepared: "I can give you a hundred women as subordinates. They don't need to do anything else. They will fully assist you in managing the entire women's camp. I can also give you 50 sets of leather helmets and leather helmets." Armor and weapons so that you can form a patrol team and maintain the order of the female camp.

But you have to choose the candidates for these hundred people yourself, and report back to me later. It’s up to you to decide where the women’s camp will be located. I won’t interfere too much with how to manage it. However, you must ensure that the order in the women’s camp is stable and the women will not be dissatisfied with your control. Otherwise, I will have to choose another captain. It would be someone else, do you understand? ! "

"Chief, don't worry, there will be no one else besides me as the female battalion captain!" Karina said with an emphasis, a smile appeared on her face. That was because she heard that Maximus was going to form a female battalion. patrol.

Maximus was happy to see his men confident and capable. He smiled and said, "That's it for now. You two can go back."

"Chief, this time I recommend my most capable subordinate to you again. No one can replace her in the short term. If there is a little trouble in the kitchen, you can't blame me." Akonis half-joked, half reminded seriously.

Maximus responded with a smile: "You, Arconis, are good at cultivating and discovering talents. You have helped me solve big problems several times, and I will remember them all in my heart. Let me tell Volenus, you How about having whomever you want assigned to you first?"

(End of this chapter)