Rome must fall.

Chapter 145 It’s better to leave the remaining brave men to chase the poor bandits

The speaker was Musades. His words extinguished Voris's anger and made him wake up instantly: You're right, I just fell into the trap of these enemies this time. It doesn't matter if I lose. I'll win back next time. But the village must not be lost!

Thinking of this, he shouted loudly again: "Retreat! Retreat! Go back to our village!"

"Woo!...Woo!...What!..." The deep and thick sound of copper horns suddenly resounded through the battlefield. The soldiers of the First Legion, who had been huddled behind the shield wall, received the order to attack, and their previous frustrations disappeared. With a roar that shook the sky, they held square shields and short swords and charged at the enemy who began to flee.

The Segestikas were completely defeated, but because the Second Army wanted to completely surround nearly 2000 Segestikas with 4000 men, the encirclement network formed was inevitably thin. Voorhees led the guards to break through backwards. Some Segestica warriors saw their heroic leader and naturally followed him. Under their desperate attack, the interception front of the Second Army was broken through. Kouzi...

Cassius rode a donkey and crossed the Korana River to the west, passing through the open space between two swamps. As soon as he turned southwest, he saw the oncoming army. Before he could say his victory, he rode away. Maximus, who was at the front of the team, smiled and said, "Seeing how happy you are, we must have won!"

"Chief, our army has won a great victory and the enemy has been defeated!" Cassius cheered excitedly.

"Chief, it seems we no longer have to worry about being discovered by the Segesticas and can speed up our march!" Frontinus caught up and said.

Maximus nodded.

Frontinus turned his horse around and urged the troops to march faster.

This is a mixed team. At the front are more than 2000 soldiers, followed by more than people from the supply camp, including hundreds of women, who are mainly responsible for rescue work. Behind them are a dozen pack cars that have been put together in an emergency, and even driving four or five bullocks...

Maximus led the army ahead and arrived at the battlefield in less than an hour.

The flat area between the banks of the Kupa River and the hills was filled with people lying everywhere. Broken spears and cracked shields were thrown everywhere, and moans and wailings were heard non-stop...

On the east side of the battlefield, hundreds of heavily armed rebel soldiers were guarding a large group of prisoners kneeling on the ground with their hands raised. More than 200 personnel from the supply camp who originally stayed here gathered at the river not far from the west side of the battlefield, taking care of the wounded soldiers.

Maximus ran towards the wounded soldiers without hesitation, and then he saw a man coming up to him and saluting him. It turned out to be Toreligo.

Maximus first noticed that his right arm was wrapped in layers of linen and soaked in blood. He asked with concern: "Are you injured? Is it serious?!"

"I was just cut by the enemy's sword. No blood vessels or muscles were injured. It's nothing serious." Tolerugo waved his right hand pretending to be relaxed.

"It's fine, it's no big deal." After Maximus finished speaking, his face immediately darkened: "So you went into battle to kill the enemy in person?"

"Uh... this..." Faced with Maximus's stern gaze, Tolerugo became nervous. This would never have happened a year ago. It can only be said that Maximus is in the team now. Zhong's prestige is growing day by day, and even old rebels like Torrelugo are in awe.

"After this war is over, you can go and accept the punishment from Military Judge Sidonius." Maximus said lightly.

"Yes." Tolerugo responded obediently with his head lowered.

"What about the soldier casualties?"

"A total of 9 people were killed and 87 injured, of which only three were seriously injured."

"Where are the enemies?"

"The casualties must have exceeded a thousand, but the specific number is not yet clear." Tolerugo pointed to the battlefield not far away and said in a deep voice: "Some enemy corpses have been trampled to pieces. Let's go over and count the battlefield. All the staff vomited when they saw it... Oh, by the way, we also captured more than 800 people!"

This is indeed a big win! ...Maximus smiled happily without any pity for the enemy's misery.

In fact, the reason for such a disparity in the casualty ratio between the two sides was not because the rebels had a strong offensive power. In addition to the Skordisqi male slaves taking the risk to charge at the beginning and suffering a heavy setback, the two sides later did not win in the battle. No major casualties were caused. The turning point came when the soldiers of the Second Legion surrounded the Segostikas, and the attack from both sides caused a rout, causing the number of casualties to rise sharply, at least half of which came from the panicked cannibalism and trampling of their companions.

"Did Phesalus lead his army to pursue the defeated troops?" Maximus then asked.

"Yes, his soldiers did not wear armor and were able to catch up with the enemy. More than 100 soldiers of the Second Legion also followed. Perhaps Pheasalus has now reached the Segestika stronghold and has already Let's start the attack!" Torrelugo said enviously.

Maximus glanced at him and praised: "You personally led the army and defeated the Segestica army, which was your first contribution!"

Torrelugo grinned.

So, Maximus continued: "Brother Torelugu, I will give you another task now."

"Chief, tell me." Tolerugo responded immediately.

Maximus said seriously: "Keep an eye on these prisoners and the wounded soldiers on the battlefield. After the people from the supply camp arrive, we will tie them all up and escort them back to the temporary camp. Don't make any trouble."

"Chief, don't worry, leave it all to me!" Brother Toleru assured him, patting his chest.

Maximus then turned to Horace, who was waiting aside: "How are the conditions of the wounded?"

"There are not many wounded, their wounds have been bandaged, and their conditions are all stable." Horace answered concisely and concisely.

Maximus said: "Since your medical team is rich in manpower, let's also treat the enemy's wounded soldiers over there."

"Okay." Horace agreed without hesitation. Having been the captain of the medical team for more than a year, saving lives and healing the wounded has almost become his instinct. He originally felt pitiful for the enemies lying on the ground, wailing and crying, but now with Mark Sims nodded, and he couldn't wait to take people there immediately.

It was Tolerugo who objected: "Chief, those are our enemies. Don't look at how pitiful they are now. When they attacked us before, they were very fierce. Our people go to rescue them, so don't get hurt by them!"

"So you have to protect the members of the medical team. If one of them is injured, I will come back to you to settle the score." Maximus said half-jokingly, half-seriously.

Torrelugo was just about to continue to object, but he saw Maximus reminding him with a serious face: "Don't think they are enemies now, maybe they will be our people in the future. If you give more goodwill now, you will gain more in the future." People’s hearts!”

Torreluco was stunned on the spot.

Maximus walked straight back to the team and shouted loudly: "Brothers, the brothers who fought here have won a big victory, now it's your turn! Do you have the confidence to win a bigger victory?! "

"Yes!!!" The soldiers who had seen the situation on the battlefield shouted in unison, their fighting spirit rising sharply. "Let's go!" Maximus waved his hand vigorously, and the army crossed the battlefield and marched eastward.

Along the way, wounded Segostika soldiers lying on the ground could be seen from time to time, and occasionally a group of rebel soldiers could be seen walking back holding captives...

The soldiers became more eager to fight and kept accelerating their pace.

Quintus rode up to catch up.

"Have you asked Torrelugo about the battle?" Maximus asked with a relaxed look.

Quintus nodded and briefly told him the entire battle.

After hearing this, Maximus asked: "What do you think of the Segestica army?"

"There is no strict organization, no strict discipline, no strict training, no meticulous command, only some rough and simple tactics, and once they fight, it becomes chaotic. This is still an ignorant and backward tribal team, and it is not even considered It's an army." Quintus commented harshly.

"But the Ardeans say they are very powerful." Maximus said leisurely.

"It can be seen that the combat effectiveness of the Aldi people is even worse." Quintus made this evaluation unceremoniously.

"Listening to what you said, I feel a little more confident about defeating the Pannonians!" Maximus smiled softly.

Quintus quickly reminded: "Chief, after all, the Pannoni are much stronger than us, and their population is many times ours. If the war continues, no one can predict the outcome."

"I understand that it is not easy for a snake to swallow an elephant. The war has just begun." Maximus suppressed his smile, looked ahead and murmured: "We can't do it without taking risks. Let's hurry up... "

"Chief, what did you say?" Quintus didn't hear clearly.

Maximus did not respond, but instead asked: "Where did Frontinus stay?"

"Yes, he has to lead people to clean up the battlefield and deal with some post-war affairs."

"I'm afraid it won't be long before he will be called to the front again." Maximus showed a confident smile again and pointed forward: "Let's go and see how the Segestica people defend the city. What are your abilities?"

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

Voorhees ran away all the way. In extreme panic, he ran down more than eight miles in one go.

By the time he arrived at the village, the gate in front of him was already blocked by panicked soldiers. After all, he was wearing armor (his helmet had been thrown away), so it was impossible for him to outrun the lightly-armed infantry. As a result, he fell behind. If the guards hadn't fought to protect him, he would have almost become a prisoner of the pursuing rebel soldiers.

"Asshole! Get out of the way, the leader is going in!..." the guards shouted while roughly pushing away the defeated soldiers in front.

Voorhees turned around and saw the enemy chasing after him not far behind him. His heart beat violently. He shouted in a hissing voice: "Quick! Let's go in through the east gate!"

The group of people hurried around to the east gate. There were also broken troops here, but it was far less crowded than the west gate.

Just as the guards were pushing and pulling to clear the way for Wollis to enter the stronghold, without the pressure of the enemy's pursuit, Wollris regained some consciousness. He eagerly shouted to his brother: "Clay Liss, go and ask for help from the leader of Kabdus! Hurry! Otherwise our stronghold will be destroyed!"

Crelis nodded heavily and continued running eastward dragging his tired body.

Wallis entered the stockade. The people in the stockade had already heard the bad news of the army's defeat, and were very panicked. They rushed up to ask Walris about the situation.

"Get out of here! Get out of here!..." Wallis usually has a pretty good attitude towards his people, but at this moment he was shouting curses.

The guards had to carry out his orders and drive the people away.

Voorhees called to his equally trusted guard captain: "Musendes, the situation is urgent now. You should immediately reorganize the soldiers who entered the village and guard the gates on both sides! Then send people to arrest the other tribesmen." Organize them all and ask them to take up arms and guard the wall! You tell them that as long as we hold on for a while, the reinforcements from Chief Kabdus will arrive, and our wall will be saved. Do you understand!"

The guard captain nodded repeatedly, and suddenly realized something: "Chief, what about you?"

"I have to go drink some goat's milk, I'm so thirsty!" Voorhees gasped.

Every time Wallis gets too excited, he will feel thirsty... This is something everyone close to him knows. The situation is urgent, and the captain of the guard has no choice but to do his best without the backbone of the leader. Gather the defeated troops.

Wallis kicked open the door of the master bedroom, and the young woman who was busy in the room was startled.

"Go and bring me a can of goat's milk! Go!" Voorhees roared.

The woman quickly ran towards the kitchen like a frightened deer.

Wallis sat down on the wooden chair. He was sweating profusely, and the lining was completely soaked, causing the hard breastplate to rub against his skin as if unimpeded. It was a little uncomfortable; what was even more uncomfortable was his lungs. , I ran for eight or nine miles without stopping. My lungs were like broken bellows. Every time I took a breath, I felt like I had to use all my strength, and it was swollen and painful.

Voorhees took a deep breath and leaned back on his chair. Just as he was about to relax a little, he saw the red iron wall composed of countless thick shields, the capable soldiers armed from head to toe... that scene on the battlefield A terrifying picture immediately came to mind again, making him feel even more irritable and restless.

At this time, a jar of goat's milk was held in front of him.

Wallis grabbed it, raised his head and drank: "Well, it's not bad, I added honey...

After drinking most of the can in one go, he felt better and began to curse in a low voice: "Damn enemy, no matter where you come from, no matter how powerful you are, after I get through this, I will bring you Thousands of warriors, destroy your tribe, and let your women moan naked at my feet!..."

(End of this chapter)