Chapter 28: Rout


    After seeing all the rebel soldiers charge down the mountain, Maximus stopped putting out the fire and intently observed the situation unfolding below: the Romans javelin attack made his heart race, the diators charge filled him with excitement, the deadlock between the two sides made him anxious And then he saw the troops at the back of the Roman formation split into two groups, starting to nk the rebels wings. The inexperienced recruits, who wielded farming tools and had never experiencedbat, almost instantly copsed upon seeing enemies attacking from the rear


    <em>Its over!</em>


    Even though Maximus had some expectations based on his memories from his previous life, witnessing the rebel soldiers crying out and fleeing up the mountain in disarray made his scalp tingle and his hands and feet turn cold. It took him a while to regain hisposure before urgently shouting, Agnes! Cornelius! Take your subordinates and quickly retreat up the mountain!


    Pigres! The members of your wagon teamget on the wagons and follow them up the mountain!


    Vorenus! Children! Follow me! Maximus ran back while continuously shouting with all his might.


    He heard the responses from Agnes, Pigres, and Corneliusing from the camp. However, at the same time, apanied by the panicked cries of other members of the Logistics Team, some people rushed toward Maximus.


    The situation was urgent, and Maximus couldnt spare a moment to look closely. He hurriedly led them in a hasty retreat towards the rear, up the mountain.


    ber was overjoyed when he saw the enemy in full retreat and immediately gave the order, Send out the cavalry to pursue the enemy!


    Yes!


    Legionnaires ber hesitated for a moment and said, Maintain formation and advance towards the enemys camp at a normal pace. Leave the task of pursuing the fleeing soldiers to the cavalry and auxiliary troops.


    bers cautious approach stemmed from hisck of confidence in thebat ability of these newly conscripted Roman soldiers. The diators charge earlier had left him frightened. He was worried that the Roman soldiers would scatter during the pursuit, and if the diators counterattacked, an unexpected situation could arise.


    Vettinius had no objections to this n.


    The Roman cavalry and Campanian auxiliary troops pursued from both nks, forcing the retreating soldiers to flee up the mountain.


    As the Logistics Team had abandoned their firefighting efforts, several fires reignited in the camp, causing even more panic and confusion among the retreating soldiers. Thus, when many of them looked up and saw hundreds of people from the Logistics Team gathering together and climbing up towards the rear of the mountain, they aimlessly fled toward the rear of the mountain as well.


    As more and more people followed, the rear of the mountain became the main direction of escape for the fleeing rebel soldiers, including the diators. Since they were at the forefront when the battle started, they were left behind when the retreat began. However, they were not like the frightened ves. As soon as the pursuers approached, they turned around andunched counterattacks. The Roman cavalry and auxiliary troops suffered losses from this encounter and didnt dare to continue to fight them head-on and chose to bypass them and pursue other fleeing soldiers.


    By the time the diators made their way around the vineyard farm and reached the rear of the mountain, the routed soldiers in front had already been dispersed. The Roman cavalry and auxiliary troops vaguely formed an encirclement around the diators.


    During the chaotic retreat, the diators gradually regrouped, facing the impending encirclement. Although they were tense, they were not panicking. After all, most of them had experienced being surrounded by enemies in grouppetitions in the arena. Therefore, spurred on by Spartacus and Crixus loud shouts, they quickly formed a circr formation of hundreds of people and advanced slowly towards the upper part of the rear of the mountain.


    The weak Roman cavalry and Campanian auxiliary troops were unable to stop them and had to release the blockade, bing a trailing force on three sides.


    Initially, the slope of the back of the vineyard farm was gentle, but it became steeper and narrower as they ascended. Moreover, the width gradually narrowed. When the diators reached a certain height, the slope was no longer wide enough to amodate their formation.


    Spartacus immediately ordered the circr formation to be transformed into four vertical columns and continued to retreat upward.


    The trailing Campanian auxiliary troops faced the vignt diators but didnt dare tounch an attack. It wasnt until a signal from the rear sounded that they hastily withdrew.


    It turned out that ber had followed the Roman army to the rebel camp, and when he saw the auxiliary troops confronting the diators on the rear of the mountain, in order to avoid losses, he gave the order to withdraw the troops.


    At the same time, he summoned a guide who used to be a guard at the vineyard. He had avoided the rebels on the day of the raid by chance when the farm overseer ordered him to go to Naples to buy farm supplies.


    Besides this side, are there any other paths down the mountain? ber looked up at the mountain and asked.


    My lord, the guide respectfully replied, this mountain, except for this side that has a gentle slope and can barely reach the mountaintop, other areas are exceptionally steep and impossible to climb. Moreover, as you go higher up the mountain, the narrower and steeper the paths be. Only near the mountaintop, there is a teau that can amodate a few hundred people. My overseer once opened up a small vineyard there


    Listening, ber suddenly asked, Is there a water source on this mountain?


    No, there is no water source, the guide understood bers implication and shook his head. We built a reservoir in the vineyard up the mountain, but its notrge enough. Even if its filled with water, it wouldnt be enough for so many people to drink for a day


    ber was feeling relieved, but he was notpletely at ease. He pointed to the mountain and ordered Vettinius, Immediately recall the auxiliary troops from Campania and have them build a new camp on the mountainside to block the enemys path down the mountain and let the legion soldiers maintain vignce. Additionally, send the cavalry to circle around this mountain and thoroughly examine the terrain, checking if there are any other possible routes down.


    Were not pursuing the fleeing troops? Vettinius asked reluctantly.


    ber sneered, I saw it clearly just now. Those damn diators have mostly escaped up the mountain. Once we annihte them, the other fleeing ves are not worth mentioning.


    What about the surrendered ves?


    Kill them all to save us from wasting manpower on guarding them. ber sighed lightly, Its a pity though, this is just a small ve rebellion. We cant parade them triumphantly down the streets of Rome after victory!


    Vettinius, who had participated in the triumphal procession with Su in the past, didnt find it regrettable. He replied, Legatus, I will proceed with the orders.


    .


    After the enemy withdrew, Spartacus did not let his guard down. He and Hamilcar, along with more than 20 diators, held the rear and stationed themselves at a narrow section of the mountain road.


    Not long after, he saw Roman soldiers forming up at the foot of the mountain. While the auxiliary troops once again discarded their shields, spears, and armor, and picked up shovels and other digging tools, a sense of unease crept into Spartacus heart.


    Not good, the Romans want to trap us on this mountain! Hamilcar voiced his concern.


    The diators beside them had their faces filled with rm, all looking at Spartacus.


    With a stern face, Spartacus withdrew his gaze from below and said to everyone, Lets go back up the mountain, theres no need to defend this ce.


    What if the Romans attack us up here? a worried diator asked.


    I actually hope they continue to advance, Spartacus replied with a remark before turning around and heading up the mountain.


    Hamilcar understood his meaning, while the other diators were somewhat puzzled, but they also followed suit.


    The mountain road wound its way upward, and as Spartacus walked, he suddenly stopped. He saw a row of wagons parked near up ahead, with no horses hitched to them.


    Spartacus approached and examined each one closely. Inside the wagons, there were either bags of flour or smoked meat, along with some sealed wine jars and plenty of dry bread


    Spartacus felt slightly relieved and muttered to Hamilcar, Maximus is quite well-prepared. But why leave everything here? In case the Romans attack us up here, wont it all fall into their hands?