Chapter 61: Recruitment of New Soldiers in the Logistics Camp (II)


    Tiribazus didn’t do what he was told at first, but instead said with a hint of excitement, “I’ve had enough of war and death. I don’t want to be a soldier anymore!”


    The smile on Tolerugo’s face instantly turned into dissatisfaction. “You don’t want to be a soldier?! You’re neither a woman nor an old person or a child. The fact that Vorenus brought you here means you’re not the special talent Maximus needs. It means you’re only suitable to be a soldier here! Since you’ve joined us, you should follow our rules. If you don’tply, we’ll have to ask you to leave. You better think it through!”


    Tolerugo’s threatening words calmed Tiribazus down. After a brief consideration, he understood that without the protection of the rebels, he couldn’t escape on this Roman-controllednd. And once caught by the Romans, he, a fugitive, would undoubtedly face the harshest punishment…


    Thinking about this, he quickly took the small wooden tag and reluctantly said, “I was confused for a moment. I’ve figured it out now. I want to be a soldier and fight against the Romans in the future!”


    “That’s more like it!” Tolerugo turned his anger into joy and patted his shoulder. “Our team is growing rapidly. If you work hard, there’s no problem bing a decanus or a centurion in the future.”


    “Yes,” Tiribazus replied without showing joy despite Tolerugo’s encouragement.


    “By the way, among the people who joined us today, do you have anyrades from the Pontic army?” Tolerugo looked at him expectantly.


    “Yes, there are several dozen. We were transported to Italy together and sold to that farm. Over the years… more than ten of them have died…” Tiribazus’ expression turned mncholy.


    Tolerugo fell silent for a moment and cursed, “D*mn Romans!”As Tiribazus was about to leave, Horatius called him and pointed at the tattered clothes on the ground, reminding him, “Put on your outer garment.”


    Tiribazus bent down to pick up the clothes and suddenly remembered something, unable to help but ask, “Among the people who came with us, there are women. Do they also have to undress for inspection?”


    “Of course, they also have to undress for inspection, but don’t worry, it will be done by specialized female nurses,” exined Horatius.


    Tolerugo then said sternly, “It seems you’re not very honest either. Let me remind you, you can’t harass women here, or else you’ll suffer the consequences!”


    Although he didn’t fully understand, Tiribazus nodded obediently. As soon as he walked out, he saw another man in armor passing by him and entering the tent. Then, amotion came from inside, “Phaselus, it’s not time yet. Why did youe in?”


    “Tolerugo, you’ve gone too far! You only picked the stronger ones for your team, while me and Carminus got the weaker ones!”


    “How I choose is my freedom. It’s because I won the draw! Wait a little longer, and you can do the same.”


    …


    Seeing the ve in front was getting quite far away and about to pass through a wooden gate, Tiribazus did not linger and hurried to catch up.


    After crossing the wooden gate, he entered the backyard. There were no more tents here, but many houses instead. The line they were queuing in led towards thergest building, which looked like a warehouse.


    Tiribazus caught up to the person in front and asked, “Hey Oxhead, where were you assigned?”


    The young man called “Oxhead” was actually named Samoras. He was a cowherd on the farm, responsible for plowing the fields. He was an acquaintance of Tiribazus. At this moment, he scratched his head embarrassedly and said, “I…I forgot…Oh, they gave me this.” He handed over the wooden tag he was holding.


    “I can’t make sense of what’s written on this thing. You’ll have to show it to the people hereter.”


    “Oh.” Samoras scratched his head again, then excitedly said, “Tiribazus, that guy earlier said I…said I would make a good soldier. As long as I listen well to his words, I could be a de…ten-man captain in the future,manding many men!”


    “That’s called a decanus,” Tiribazus said, ncing at Samoras’ burly body and dopey smile. Not wanting to disillusion him, he encouraged, “Yeah, not bad. When you be a decanus someday, be sure to look out for me.”


    “Don’t worry Tiribazus, I won’t let anyone bully you in the future,” Samoras thumped his chest.


    “Well, thanks for that,” Tiribazus smiled wryly.


    “Hey, you big guy over there,e here!” a shout came from the front.


    “They’re calling you!” Tiribazus pushed Samoras.


    Samoras hurried to the front.


    In front of the warehouse’s entrance, there was a wooden table, and an old man sat at the head, eyes closed as if napping. Two youths sat beside him, while seven or eight young boys and girls stood around the table…


    Tiribazus was dumbstruck seeing this: <em>Have I ended up in a nursery?</em>


    But he was soon amazed to see these children writing, carrying things, guiding people around—their work was very well organized. They quickly finished assigning Samoras.


    “Next!” The first youth sitting behind the table called out loudly.


    Tiribazus put aside his disdain and properly answered, “Here!” Then based on what he had observed earlier, he immediately handed over his wooden tag.


    The youth took the tag and quietly read, “First squad, fifth toon…”


    The youth beside him immediately flipped open a page in the roster before him.


    “What’s your name?” the youth asked.


    “Tiribazus.”


    “How do you spell it?”


    “I… I can’t read,” Tiribazus admitted. He was ustomed to his illiteracy but suddenly felt ashamed facing these young boys and girls.


    The youth before him did not seem surprised by this. He thought for a moment, then made a few notes in the roster.


    The youth said seriously, “ording to Commander Maximus’ orders, every soldier joining our logistics camp’s guard team will receive two y pots——”


    Before he could finish speaking, the other youth beside him had already ced two y pots on the wooden table.


    “These two y pots will be used for eating porridge and drinking soup in the future. You must protect them well! If they get damaged, there are no spare pots in the warehouse to rece them, and you’ll be in trouble then,” the youth sternly warned.


    Tiribazus nodded to show that he understood.


    “One linen outer garment…one linen sleep sheet…one pair of straw sandals…one linen bag…” With each item the youth listed, the one beside him fetched it from the warehouse behind and ced it on the table.


    In the past two months, many enved women had joined the logistics camp. Maximus gathered the skilled ones and formed a weaving team specifically tasked with cutting and sewing the plundered linen into outer garments, bags, bedsheets, and weaving dried grass into sandals. Due to the short time, the quantity was notrge, so Maximus only distributed them to the logistics camp personnel, drawing criticism from the other teams.


    “And one training shield and short sword,” the youth continued, as a crude wooden board and wooden stick were quickly ced on the table.


    This is supposed to be a sword and shield?!” Tiribazus’ eyes went wide.


    “Once you be a qualified member of the guard team, you’ll naturally be issued a real shield and sword,” the youth said indignantly. “Besides, even these two items were painstakingly made by the uncles in the armory. You must take good care of them, as we’ll need to collect them backter.”


    Tiribazus did notin further. In truth, he never imagined he would get so many things just for joining the rebel army. Even when he was conscripted into the Pontic army years ago, the officials did not consider things so thoroughly at first.


    “Check that you have all your items, then sign your name or leave your thumbprint on this,” the youth said, pushing the roster forward.


    Tiribazus looked at the rows of characters on the roster but couldn’t recognize a single one. He could only follow the youth’s instructions and dip his right thumb into ck ink before pressing it on the nk space.


    “Nesuya,” the youth called out. “Take this soldier to the first squad of the fifth toon.”


    “Okay, Big Brother Akgo,” replied a beautiful, slim girl, who came to the table. She packed the items into the bag one by one, slinging it over her shoulder and leaving just the wooden shield and stick. Smiling at Tiribazus, she said, “Please follow me.”