Rome Must Perish-Chapter 166 - 118 Defeat_2

"The Romans should launch an attack on Maximus soon. From here... the distance is less than ten miles," Attutmus pointed toward the northeast.

"I’ll take some men to scout first." Okmar waved his hand and led the cavalry away hurriedly.

After quite a while, a long procession emerged in Attutmus’s field of vision, led by Spartacus himself.

Even while listening to Attutmus’s brief recounting of the earlier defeat, Spartacus didn’t halt his advance.

After hearing the explanation, he frowned and asked, "So... forty to fifty thousand Roman troops are currently besieging Maximus’s forces. Do you think he can hold out until we arrive to rescue them?"

Attutmus wanted to say it was impossible, but upon seeing Spartacus drenched in sweat, along with the soldiers around him in a similar state, he opened his mouth but revised his response: "Perhaps he can."

"Maximus is extremely capable; he’s created miracles many times before. He will surely persevere!" Spartacus spoke resolutely. It wasn’t that he had unwavering faith in Maximus but that he needed to reassure himself; this was the hope for the rebels’ victory.

Suddenly, Spartacus raised his right hand high, vigorously gesturing forward, and shouted, "Brothers! Maximus’s troops are fiercely battling ahead. They desperately need our reinforcements! We must pick up our pace, reach them in time, defeat the Romans, and secure our survival!"

Spurred on by Spartacus’s rousing call, the rebel soldiers, trudging forward for a slim chance at life despite their fatigue, overcame their wavering resolve after seeing the defeated remnants of Attutmus’s forces. Spartacus’s words injected strength back into their weary bodies.

Watching the reinforcements, now breaking into a jog, Attutmus felt deeply stirred. He said to his men, who had retreated to the roadside, "We’ll follow them too!"

...

On the southern plains downstream of the Womans River, the Roman Army and the rebel forces were locked in a ferocious showdown. The battle had reached its climax.

The riverside, trampled back and forth by soldiers on both sides and soaked with blood from the river, had turned into a mire. Soldiers frequently stumbled and fell, becoming mud-covered figures as they fought. Swinging swords often led to slips, forcing them to rely more on shields and shoving into their opponents. The fight had devolved into a melee wrestling match.

Due to the Military Law Team’s enforced supervision, Roman soldiers, who had been standing knee-deep in the river for hours and were utterly exhausted, had no choice but to keep charging at the rebel army’s defensive lines.

The outnumbered rebel army’s First Legion began to retreat under the relentless pressure exerted by the enemy. Despite this, every soldier fought desperately to hold the line, driven by the hoarse and persistently shouting voices of women behind them.

Among those women were individuals the soldiers loved, those who had treated their wounds, and those who had cared for them in the past. As Leader Maximus had said, "These women are your sisters. They are family!" As men, they had to fight to the death to defend them!

The Second Legion of the rebels was also struggling to hold out. Although their advance had gradually turned into defense, the thickness of the enemy’s formation in front of them prevented them from breaking through quickly. Over time, as the Roman Army’s chaotic formation began to reorganize, the Romans regained their footing and started pressing harder.

Despite being at a disadvantage, the Second Legion soldiers continued to fight doggedly. For them, the women’s cheering voices behind them remained a crucial source of courage and strength.

While the First and Second Legions fought desperately, the Third Legion presented a stark contrast—they dominated the battlefield. The Romans were pushed back repeatedly, and signs of panic began to emerge... The enemy line eventually collapsed entirely...

Soldiers of the Third Legion began chasing after the retreating enemy forces.

Oluus originally intended to command the First Battalion to switch focus and attack the Roman forces fighting against the Second Legion at their flank. However, the Third Legion was neither well-trained nor experienced in warfare. Caught up in the exhilaration of victory, they fixated entirely on the fleeing enemy before them. In no time, their entire line scattered wildly in pursuit. Oluus’s calls were completely drowned out by the deafening noise of the battlefield, failing to stir even the faintest ripple.

Victory! The Third Legion was victorious!... Upon hearing the news, Maximus clenched his fists tightly in excitement. For a long time, the northern and northwestern fronts had weighed heavily on his heart. He had even sent the remnants of his Guard soldiers—who had crushed the Mateninum City Guard—to provide reinforcement despite knowing it was only a drop in the ocean.

"This is great news!" Flanitnus’s furrowed brows finally relaxed as he remarked, "Let’s hope the Third Legion’s triumph can swiftly undermine Roman morale and alleviate pressures faced by the First and Second Legions."

"Leader, please order Camillus and Oluus to rally their forces immediately and assist the Second Legion in crushing the enemy front!" Quintus suggested. An unease lingered in his heart: why was it that, despite the First and Second Legions starting out with advantages, they now faced such difficulties, yet the Third Legion’s assault had gone so smoothly?

"Good! Let’s proceed with that plan!" Maximus promptly instructed Akegu to deliver the orders.

No sooner had Akegu departed than a scout rode in hurriedly from the southwest. "Leader, bad news! The Third Legion has been defeated!"

"What?!" Maximus was shocked.

"The cunning Romans had hidden a reserve force in the rear. While the Third Legion pursued their fleeing troops, they were ambushed. As a result—"

Before the scout could finish, Maximus felt his hands and feet turn cold as a buzzing sound filled his head. Instinctively, he turned to Quintus and Flanitnus.

Both wore equally grim expressions as they shook their heads and sighed deeply.

Maximus’s forces had played all their cards, holding on through sheer willpower—but now, there was no turning the tide. freēnovelkiss.com

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After receiving Governor Crodianus’s orders to attack, Antonius devised a new strategy after careful deliberation.

Initially, when the two Roman governors divided their forces in Rome, each gained four legions. Crodianus expanded his troops by conscripting City Guards along his route, effectively doubling his army to a strength of 50,000. Before the offensive against the rebels began, he had Antonius take two legions and a force of town soldiers which was one-and-a-half times larger than usual, intending for a swift victory over the rebels near the Womans River upstream.

Since the Roman Legions had undergone months of rigorous training, their combat effectiveness was markedly enhanced. Consequently, both commanders prioritized having the Roman Legions spearhead the attacks while stationing the Italian Town Soldiers in the rear as support. However, this time, Antonius decided to deploy the Italian Town Soldiers at the front while concealing the two Roman Legions behind the Roman troops engaging the rebels’ Second Legion, allowing them crucial time to rest and recuperate.

The Italian Town Soldiers under Antonius’s command, already weakened in battle and suffering from exhaustion after extended marches, faced unfavorable terrain, leading to a quick and predictable defeat. However, their rout caused the Third Legion to completely lose formation during its pursuit, exposing their vulnerabilities to the ambushed Roman forces lurking nearby.

Antonius immediately ordered one legion to ambush the pursuing rebel forces. Meanwhile, he led the other legion himself, preparing to bypass the friendlies ahead and outflank another rebel unit engaged in combat.

Diverging into two directions—east and south—the legions struck simultaneously. Though the Roman soldiers were fatigued, they relied on orderly centurion column formations that swiftly dismantled the disorganized Third Legion of the rebels.

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