Rome Must Perish-Chapter 263 - 167: Andres’ Reinforcements

Demikas paused for a moment and then said emphatically, "But last month, I heard that one of the Taurisci tribes across the river was fiercely attacked by the Dacians. Although there have been numerous skirmishes between the Taurisci and the Dacians over the years, none of them were on such a massive scale as this one.

Now, the Dacian army has appeared in the territory of the Andizeti Tribe... I believe there must be upheaval within the Dacians. It’s likely related to rumors about the Dacian king!"

Demikas’s words immediately drew everyone’s attention. Maitilis said solemnly, "Demikas, your tribe is situated across the river from the Dacians. You must do everything you can to figure out what changes have taken place within the Dacians. This will directly affect the safety of our entire community!"

Demikas nodded solemnly, "I understand. I’ll focus all my efforts on handling this matter as soon as I return!"

Maitilis looked around at the people. "Everyone, regardless of what changes may have occurred within the Dacians, the fact that they’ve declared war on the Andizeti Tribe means they are declaring war on all of Pannonia!

Antosy is right: we need to strike the Dacians hard, to make them realize our strength. Only then will they cease their greedy ambitions toward us. This time, we’d better send out a sufficient number of reinforcements!"

Chorus of agreement resounded once again, and the group began discussing the details of mobilizing troops. Only Andres abstained from participating.

He felt anxious internally but refused to show it, not wanting others to look down on him. Instead, he leaned back against the chair, closing his eyes as if to rest.

Gradually, the weariness from the long journey crept over him, and his consciousness began to drift. In the haze, he vaguely heard someone calling his name, but he didn’t even bother to respond.

Suddenly, he was shoved hard, and then came the voice of Temagis: "Andres, wake up! They’re about to discuss your issues now!"

Startled, Andres jerked up, shaking his head vigorously to clear his mind.

Then he heard Bricks laughing. "Andres can still manage to fall asleep now—it seems his business isn’t all that urgent after all."

Infuriated, Andres was about to curse out Bricks, but Maitilis stopped him. "Andres, didn’t you come here to seek aid as well? Quickly tell us what happened!"

Andres steadied himself and hurriedly recounted the ordeal his tribe had been facing over the past few days.

"Andres, did I hear you correctly? You’re telling me you were utterly defeated by a mercenary force of fewer than ten thousand men and now barely have the strength left to defend your tribe’s territory?" Temagis exclaimed, shocked.

"Indeed, I’m equally stunned. Andres is supposed to be one of the renowned warriors of the Pannonians!" Bricks chimed in, though the mocking curve of his lips betrayed his schadenfreude over Andres’s plight.

"That can’t have been an ordinary mercenary force!" Maitilis said grimly, his tone weighty. "Based on Antosy’s account of the situation, this mercenary army sounds remarkably like the Roman Army!"

"Yes, like the Roman Army!" Demikas took over, speaking with lingering fear. "I still remember the battle over ten years ago between the Skodisqi people and the Roman Army. The Roman forces were also small in number then but formed dense battle arrays, like a thick wall. No matter how tens of thousands of Skodisqi attacked, they couldn’t break through.

Once the Skodisqi warriors were exhausted from fighting, Roman cavalry suddenly emerged from the rear while their infantry launched a counterattack. The Skodisqi suffered a crushing defeat. If I hadn’t fled quickly that day, I would have died on the battlefield along with everyone else..." ƒreewebɳovel.com

"But they might not necessarily be Romans. I’ve never heard of Romans serving as mercenaries. On the other hand, Greeks often take mercenary roles. They also tend to wear heavy armor, carry large shields, and form compact phalanxes..." Antosy suggested.

"Regardless of whether they are Romans or Greeks, they’ve already killed many warriors from the Segestica Tribe. This makes them enemies of our Pannonian Alliance, and we must assist Andres in wiping them out!" Temagis declared loudly.

"But why did they slaughter the warriors of the Segestica Tribe?" Pagiras asked bitterly. "Is it not because Andres kept encroaching on the territory of the Alde Tribe, provoking them to the point of desperation where they had to hire mercenaries? Several years ago, I warned against antagonizing the Illyrians in the south. We’ve always coexisted peacefully with them, but you wouldn’t listen!"

The Dacians are enemies because they are determined to help us eliminate the Skodisqi people. The Boyi people oppose us because we occupied lands north of the Delaware River that the Skodisqi once held, which were originally disputed with the Boyi people.

We already face two formidable enemies, and now Andres has stirred up yet another one. If this continues, we’ll be beset on all sides. Even if we are united, we may still succumb to constant warfare and annihilation! By then, Andres, you—this so-called Pannonian hero—could very well become the traitor of our tribe!"

Andres’s eyes immediately burned red. He stood up abruptly, about to retort angrily, but someone spoke ahead of him: "Pagiras, your words are overly harsh. Back then, Andres’s declaration of war against the Aldeans was ultimately approved by the tribal alliance council. Furthermore, in the years that Segestica has fought the Illyrians, the tribe has indeed grown stronger.

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