Rome must fall.

Chapter 88 Marching and Camping in Mountainous Areas
  So among the original soldiers, those who were well-trained and performed outstandingly in the raid on Pompeii and the city of Abela were promoted, such as Tinibazus.

However, the position of captain is too important. Maximus believes that most of the captains in the army are trying to undermine their own abilities, so experienced captains are needed to control the team and ensure combat effectiveness. Therefore, in addition to the original four captains Feisalu Si, Torrelugo, Carminus, and Aulus (Maximus's bodyguards were expanded into one brigade). The remaining two captains were originally slaves from the army and Lucelia who joined later. Each of them chose one, and Rufus was one of them.

At this moment, Rufus said to Tinybazus: "Our fifth team has no arrangements for the time being. You should have a good rest here and recover your strength as soon as possible."

When they heard that they could rest first, the soldiers of the 200th were not happy. Instead, they all sighed, because based on their previous military training experience and their experience of camping outside Benevento yesterday, they felt that they would definitely have to go there soon. Digging.

Seeing this situation, Rufus frowned and winked at Tinibazus.

Tinybazus pretended not to see it, thinking: I am also tired, so how can I have the energy to comfort them.

When Rufus saw Tinybazus didn't respond, he suddenly became sullen and stared at him.

Tinybazus felt a little guilty, so he had to force out a smile and said loudly: "Brothers, what are you muttering about? Why don't you rest quickly! Even if it's our turn to dig in the ground later, it's better than putting on the armor again and standing on defense all the time. Camp, okay. Besides, after we dug the trenches and built the walls, we can just eat without having to worry about other things. Isn’t that great! Don’t you want to be like them—"

Tinibazus pointed to the soldiers who were working: "When we rest, they still have to set up tents."

"The captain is right, let's not complain. Let's take a rest first and get back to work later..." Some soldiers responded, and everyone's complaints quickly disappeared.

Rufus felt relieved and went to greet the newly arrived team.

The soldiers carefully placed the wooden shields and packages on their shoulders on the grass, took off the cowhide water bags tied around their waists, drank a few cold water in the bags to quench their thirst, and then put on the thick cloth sheets draped on their bodies. (According to the advice of Frontinus and Quintus, Maximus issued a woolen blanket to each soldier, but even if it was obtained through transactions with southern merchants and the capture of the city of Abela, The wool blankets were far from enough to meet the needs of so many soldiers. Warehouse director Capito asked the women in the army to sew multiple layers of linen together to make a thick sheet. Although it was a bit bulky, the warmth retention effect was not good. (and sent it to the brigade that was later formed), lay down on the dry grass, closed his eyes and took a nap...

Tinibazus and the soldiers did not rest long. Spukala, the deputy captain of the engineering team who had already surveyed the terrain and drawn a sketch of the camp, came over. After discussing with several waiting captains, Lu Fu Si grabbed a handful of branches, walked to his team, and shouted loudly: "Soldiers of the Fifth Brigade, please get up, it's our turn to work!" After saying that, he turned and walked forward.

Under the shouts of the centurions, the soldiers got up one after another, picked up the packages again, and followed them.

Not far in front of the creek, Rufus stopped and planted a branch beside him. Then he measured a hundred steps with his feet, planted another branch, and turned around and shouted: "Fotus, this is This section is your first team’s responsibility!”

"Yes, Captain!"

Rufus measured another hundred steps and planted the branch again: "Master Tiliba, this section belongs to our second team!"

"Understood, captain." Patriarch Tiniba responded, but he did not urge the soldiers to work immediately. Instead, he called together his 10 captains and divided the area responsible for their centurions into Divided into ten equal parts, clearly assigned to each squad.

After that, he said loudly to the soldiers: "Brothers, don't just stand around stupidly. Start working quickly. Finish it early and let's rest early!"

"Yes...Captain..." The soldiers' response was not enthusiastic, but they were unambiguous when they started working. They each quickly took out the digging tools from their backpacks and followed the captain to the area they were responsible for. Lot, start digging...

Although Patriarch Tiniba was a centurion, he did not dare to be lazy, because he knew very well that if he did so, the soldiers would not work with all their heart, and would not be able to complete the task on time. Not only would they be scolded, but they would also be scolded. It would be embarrassing in front of the other centurions...well, that's why he only wanted to be a soldier in the first place!

However, after Tinibazus, who had always been an ordinary soldier in the Pontic army, joined the rebel army, he soon became a centurion, in charge of the hundred and ten men, which gave him an unprecedented sense of accomplishment and made him There was a boost of motivation, so he still wanted to perform better.

Patriarch Tiniba called a few soldiers and followed him to the baggage camp. He brought several wooden frames filled with earth and ten tools for digging earth - pickaxes. After returning to the team, he first carried Pick up a hoe and start fucking...

The army is building a camp, and the baggage train is not idle either.

Before the army was about to move south, Maximus temporarily merged the warehouse and kitchen departments into a baggage train. Capito served as the captain and Aconis served as the deputy captain. They also received marching training beforehand. The two parties cooperated well. In addition, the personnel of these two departments have been receiving military training in their free time, so there have been no major mistakes since the departure from Pompeii.

At this time, under the command of Capito, the coachmen had driven the horse-drawn carriages, ox-carts, and donkey carts to the lower part of the slope, where the planned camp baggage was, arranged in a huge ring, and then unloaded the cattle and horses. Feed them fodder in the center of the carriage ring and start making a simple stable.

At the same time, another group of baggage personnel moved out various materials for the camp from the carriages: tents, ropes, iron poles, wooden frames, hoes... and then distributed them to the soldiers from each unit who came to collect them.

Akonis led the kitchen staff to take out the cooking utensils and ingredients from the carriage, set up simple stoves next to them, put on the large copper pots specially made by Percy Anasis for the kitchen, and poured the cooked food into them. Clean the stream water, put in a lot of hulled wheat, light the firewood collected by the soldiers, and start making porridge. Then cut in some bacon bits, and when the porridge is almost ready, add a few washed wild vegetables and a little salt... Finally, a can of marching porridge, which Maximus calls convenient and nutritious, is ready. It's ready. Each soldier could scoop up two earthen jars of wheat porridge and eat them with the dry bread he brought with him. This was a complete dinner.

When the sun was about to set, the slopes that were originally covered with grass and swaying trees turned into a camp with trenches and earthen walls outside and countless tents inside. The noisy and lively scene gradually returned to silence, and the largest in the center of the camp A candle was lit in a military hat.

"Chief, the soldiers of each group are ready to go to bed, and the personnel and materials of the baggage train are also arranged properly..." Military officer Frontinus reported to Maximus the situation in the newly built camp.

After Maximus listened, he then asked: "How are the security arrangements for the camp at night? Has the enemy been discovered?"

"Tonight it is the turn of the second brigade to be on guard duty. I specifically reminded Torrelugo and sent a team of 100 people to guard the sentry post at the highest point of the slope. If there is an enemy attack, they will be able to detect it early because of their condescending position. Notify the entire army for defense in time..."

Staff officer Quintus pointed to a sketch of the camp drawn by Spukala placed on the wooden table and explained in detail: "When the camp was being built, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd brigades were responsible for the defense. They found a small number of Samnites snooping near the slopes, and after being driven away, they left voluntarily without showing any hostility. The spies we sent also observed that the city gate of Aequum in front of the road was closed. , there is no sign of sending troops... Judging from these circumstances, what Ramdolos said should be correct, the Samnites have no intention of opposing us. "

Ramdorus was a poor shepherd from Samnitae. When he was young, he participated in the Marsi War (civil war of the Italian League) and fought against Rome. Not long ago, he led dozens of compatriots to join Maximus' army, and soon He was quickly appointed centurion and served as guide on this march south.

He once made suggestions to the leaders of Maximus's army: As long as the army does not plunder the Samnite area, the Samnite people will never become enemies of the rebels.

And he also told the reason: This is because in the Roman League War (90 BC) more than ten years ago, although the Samnite region joined the uprising later, after the "Julius Citizenship Law" was promulgated, After most of the rebellious areas laid down their weapons, the Samnites still fought against Rome. It was Sulla who finally pacified the Samnites. He led his army to massacre in the Samnites, which led to the resentment of the Samnites. Therefore, during the civil war between Sulla and Marius, most of the Samnites sided with Marius. This led to Sulla severely suppressing the Samnites after he became the dictator. Even though he had been dead for many years, the Samnites People are still dissatisfied with the Senate controlled by the Sullas. They are happy to see the rebels defeating the Romans one after another and weakening the Senate...

Frontinus couldn't help but said: "Speaking of which, we should be grateful to Sulla. If it weren't for his hatred of the Samnites, we might have run into trouble while marching in this mountainous area."

Quintus glared at the Marius veteran, hesitated, and finally did not say anything to defend Sulla.

Maximus saw this in his eyes and automatically ignored it, and then said cautiously: "Although the Samnites did not show hostility to us, we cannot be careless. The army must be ready for all exploration, vigilance, and defense at any time! At the same time, We must also restrain the soldiers, strictly abide by military laws, and do not harass or anger the Samoni people, so that we can pass through this mountainous area as soon as possible!"

Frontinus, Quintus and others nodded in agreement.

"According to our current marching speed, how many days will it take to get out of the Samnai Mountains and enter the Apulia region?" Maximus then asked.

Frontinus thought for a while and said: "Chief, you said before that our team is marching independently for a long distance for the first time, and everything must be safe. So today our marching speed on the road is only about 20 Here, although the number of our soldiers is not as large as that of the troops led by Chief Spartacus and Chief Cross, the supplies our baggage team has are too large, so the marching speed in the next few days will not be greatly affected. Ascension, so I estimate it will take another three or four days to get out of the mountains and into the plains of Apulia.”

"Well, it will take about three or four days." Although Quintus and Frontinus were a little unhappy in private, this did not affect his agreement with the other party's judgment.

Maximus pondered for a moment, then said with an expression: "Compared with the marching route of Spartacus and Cross, it only takes three or four days to pass through the mountains and enter the plains. This is not too slow. Let the soldiers Let’s slowly adapt to this wartime situation.”

After Maximus finished speaking, he looked at the administrator who was sitting quietly next to him: "Vorenus, do you have any suggestions?"

Since the army left Pompeii and started marching, Volenus, who was nicknamed "the great steward of Maximus's army", had nothing to do, so he stayed in the baggage train during the day, helping Capito and A. Cornish does things.

"Chief, Capito and Arconis manage the baggage team very well." Volenus remembered something and added: "The children are also very good, and they have been helping the baggage team with work." Volanus knew how much Maximus valued those children, and as expected, as soon as he said these words, a smile appeared on Maximus's face.

"Thanks to the preparations you made for us, Chief, the food reserves carried by the baggage trains are enough to support the entire army for three months..." Volenus continued: "When we first captured Pompeii, there was more food. But as a large number of new people joined us, our food reserves became tense for a while... Since our march, no one has come to join us in the past few days, but I am worried that after entering the Apulian region, there may be more There are many people coming to join, we should be prepared in advance..."

"Vorenus, what you are worried about is not a problem." Maximus raised his eyebrows and said in a deep voice: "Although we are not planning to plunder supplies in the Samnite Mountains, when we arrive in Apulia—— "

Maximus slapped his right hand on the wooden table: "We have to have a big fight!"

The crowd cheered.

At this time, the cavalry captain Hagux entered the military tent: "Chief, Chief Attumus is coming with his men."

(End of this chapter)