《Rome Must Fall》


 Chapter 1: Rebirth

    Chapter 1: Rebirth


    <strong>Content Warning: </strong>This novel contains graphic depictions of violence and mature themes. Reader discretion is advised.


    ***


    In 78 BC, the Roman dictator Su passed away, and the Roman Republic entered the post-Sun era.


    In 76 BC, the Roman Senate decided to send the 29-year-old Pompey to lead an army to the province of Hispania to suppress the rebellion of Sertorius. This made him the second Roman tomand an army before the age of 39 in the military history of the Roman Republic, following in the footsteps of Scipio Africanus.


    In the same year, the 24-year-old Caesar went to study in Rhodes but was kidnapped by pirates along the way. He willingly paid a ransom of 50 talents. Upon safely reaching the shore, he immediately recruited men, trained an army, andunched a surprise attack on the pirates, sessfully capturing them all and reiming his money.


    Also in the same year, the 37-year-old Crassus made a fortune in Rome through lending and real estate, but this tarnished his reputation. Unwilling to see the younger Pompey basking in glory, he began to campaign and prepare to run for the position of praetor in the Roman Senate a yearter.


    ..


    Xu Tianyu deeply regretted it. If he had known, he wouldnt have agreed to the dinner invitation from his high school ssmate. As a result, during the meal, he drank quite a bit of alcohol, and his ssmate got into a conflict with a customer at the neighboring table. He tried to mediate but was identally pushed and hit his head on the edge of the table, instantly losing consciousness.


    In the moment of losing his consciousness, a thought shed through his mind: Its a pity that I havent even yed the old game Total War: Rome II that I just bought!


    He didnt know how long had passed when the noisy voices awakened his consciousness: Crixus, you hit too hard, Maximus was killed by you! someone eximed.


    He died from just one punch? This traitor got off easy. He betrayed us, I wish I could tear him apart! It was a loud and fierce voice.


    Its not all Maximus fault. Batiatus must have heard the rumors beforehand, thats why he sent Maximus to inquire. Faced with that wicked wolf, not everyone has the courage to keep a secret. Moreover, he could have concealed it when he returned, but he immediately confessed to us, saving us from the wolfs clutches when we werepletely unaware. From this perspective, he did us a great favor. Crixus, you shouldnt have been so impulsive! It was a low and gentle voice.


    Hmph, this coward ruined our n and put us all in danger. Should we be grateful to him?


    Spartacus, Crixus, stop arguing. The situation is critical. What should we do? A clear voice rang out.


    Artorix, dont panic. We were already nning to start a rebellion soon. Although Batiatus knows about it, he probably doesnt know that Maximus has already told us the truth. We must act immediately, gather everyone while the wolf is not prepared, overthrow the guards here, and then escape! The gentle voice was now filled with stirring power.


    The previous fierce voice immediately responded, Youre right, we must act immediately! Lets quickly inform our brothers!


    ng! ng! ng!


    As the voices faded, a series of metal nging sounds echoed, followed by a cold voice in Xu Tianyus ear, Spartacus, Crixus, the master wants to see you, he wants to consult you about the uing arena match the day after tomorrow.


    Bad news, Batiatus is definitely nning to harm you two! the clear voice urgently whispered.


    We were just worrying about how to open that iron gate, and he arrived just in time! the gentle voice was now filled with joy.


    The fierce voice whispered knowingly, Yes, Spartacus and I will pretend to obey orders, but as soon as we step out of that iron gate, we will immediately take out the two guards outside the gate!


    But the two guards outside the gate are well-equipped and not weak, while you two are unarmed


    So when Crixus and Iunch the attack, Artorix, you must immediately lead our brothers from the other rooms to rush out. Whether we can gain freedom or not depends on how fast you are!


    I understand. Rest assured, Spartacus!


    Then the gentle voice shouted loudly, Got it, Crixus and I areing!


    Listening to the footsteps receding, Xu Tianyu was filled with disbelief:


    <em>Spartacus, Crixus Is this from the old American TV series Spartacus: Blood and Sand? But these voices sound like they are really happening around me! And they are not speaking English, but a strangenguage that I can understand. What is going on?!</em>


    He struggled to open his heavy eyelids, but suddenly a flood of information rushed into his mind:


    Maximus, born and raised as a ve by a rising Roman equestrian family, and the son of an Illyrian ve and a Thracian ve. He showed linguistic talent from a young age, and his master, seeing his intelligence, decided to let him study with his son so that he could manage the estate and business in the future, bing a trusted aide to his son. Year after year, Maximus excelled in his studies and remained loyal to the young master. His masters expectations were being fulfilled.


    Unexpectedly, when Maximus was 13 years old, Su led his army into Rome, became a dictator, and began a bloodbath against the popres. Unfortunately, his master was on Sus purge list, and soon after, his masters whole family was massacred by the mob. Maximus was then sent to the ve market in Capua and eventually bought by Batiatus, the owner of the ludus (diator school).


    Batiatus, who usually liked to buy barbarian prisoners of war from ve traders to serve as diators, had his own reasons for buying Maximus. Perhaps due to the advantage of hybridization, the still underage Maximus grew tall and strong, appearing to be excellent for diatorbat. Additionally, Maximus was a house-born ve, obedient and well-behaved, unlike the wild barbarian diators, making it easier for Batiatus to control him. Furthermore, Maximus was proficient in various barbariannguages and literate, allowing him to blend in with the barbarian diators and gather information for Batiatus to prevent any unexpected incidents. After all, these barbarians were hard to tame, and they often caused trouble, unlike the Roman citizens who volunteered to be diators due to debts.


    Batiatus had his own ns, but little did he know that after Maximus became a diator, he was influenced by Spartacus and joined his rebellion n. Using his rtively free status as a diator, Maximus secretly passed on information between the diator barracks, keeping Spartacus and other leaders informed about the changes in the outside world, thus perfecting their uprising n.


    However, it was impossible to keep a rebellion involving over two hundred diatorspletely secret. Batiatus heard some rumors and summoned Maximus for questioning.


    Under his ruthless interrogation, Maximuss inherent obedience to his master took over, and he confessed to Batiatus about the diators nning a revolt. To prevent the diators from bing suspicious, Batiatus warned Maximus not to tell anyone that he knew about the n. If Maximus could do that, Batiatus would forgive his mistake.


    Maximus agreed obediently, but when he saw Spartacus and realized that this man who had taken care of him like a father figure might die because of this, he couldnt help but show shame and sadness on his face. This led Spartacus to suspect something, and after repeated questioning, Maximus, who, overwhelmed by guilt, confessed the truth. In a fit of anger, Crixus struck him with a powerful blow, causing his head to hit the uneven stone wall and fall unconscious.


    (From now on, the protagonist will be referred to as Maximus.)


    ***

 Chapter 2: Uprising (I)

    Chapter 2: Uprising (I)


    <em>I have been reborn? Reborn as this diator named Maximus?!</em>


    Maximus realized something, but he was unwilling to believe it was true, preferring to think it was just a dream. However, as he struggled to open his eyes, what appeared before him was a dark and cramped room. There were no windows, no wooden doors, only uneven stone walls, a floor covered in dusty soil, a tattered wooden bed with a straw mattress on top The air was filled with nauseating sweat and the stench of excrement and urine. What a terrible living environment!


    To make matters worse, his ears were filled with piercing shouts. Countless fierce, shirtless men were shouting and running towards the iron gate


    <em>This is not a dream!</em>


    Maximus subconsciously clenched his fists, but felt a sharp pain in his chest. It was the injury caused by Crixus blow. However, he didnt have the mind to think about it at the moment.


    <em>Spartacus Crixus diator school Batiatus Could it be that I have been reborn in the ancient Roman times during the Spartacus uprising? And now is the crucial moment when Spartacus leads the diators in a riot at the diator school?!</em>


    Thinking of all this, Maximus realized that he had to escape from here with these diators. Otherwise, the only fate awaiting him would be crucifixion.


    Maximus propped himself up with his hands and stood up with great difficulty. His head was still dizzy as he staggered towards the door.


    Outside the door was a long, narrow corridor, with a few sparse torches inserted on the stone walls on both sides. The weak and lonely mes cast some light in this dim corridor, and the swaying shadows only added to the eerie and terrifying atmosphere.


    There were many small rooms on both sides of the corridor, like dog holes chiseled into the stone walls. The space inside could barely amodate one person lying down. Thinking that the original owner of his current body had lived in such a dreadful environment, Maximus couldnt help but shudder and made up his mind to escape from here.


    He looked at the diators running ahead and staggered to catch up. Gradually his head no longer felt dizzy, and his body became more agile


    Ahead, a row of iron bars blocked the entire corridor, with thick iron rods deeply embedded in the ground and stone walls, making it seemingly imprable. Fortunately, the iron door in the middle has already been opened. Maximus lowered his head and squeezed through the iron door.


    On the other side of the iron door, he saw three bodies lying below the stairs, almost turned into a pile of mud by countless trampling.


    The bloody and terrifying scene frightened Maximus, who came from a peaceful era, but his body did not have the corresponding nauseous vomiting reaction. Yes, the original Maximus, although a mediocre diator, had been here for several years, had been to the arena, and had killed people. He had seen even bloodier scenes and was not a neer to this


    Maximus ran up the stairs and felt a refreshing breath of air. The air was fresh, and the light was soft and bright. Above him was a sky adorned with brilliant sunset hues. However, countless diators were congested in front, preventing him from moving forward. Voices kept shouting, Brothers, give it your all! Push aside those guards that are blocking us, and we will be free!


    In the memory of the previous Maximus, after leaving the corridor and ascending the stairs, there was a training ground. It was arge courtyard capable of amodating 300 diators training together. But now they were crowded at the entrance and unable to move forward.


    Brother, whats happening up ahead? Maximus couldnt help asking a diator in front.


    Batiatus guards are blocking us The diator turned his head to reply, but before the diator could finish his sentence, a shadow shed by, and the diator let out a scream as an arrow pierced his neck, causing him to fall to the ground.


    Watch out for arrows! someone shouted hoarsely, causing amotion in the crowd.


    Maximus fearfully followed suit, crouching like the others with his eyes alertly scanning upward. On the other side of the training ground, there stood a three-story building with two guards holding bows and arrows on the second-floor balcony. On the third-floor balcony, a middle-aged man in a light gray robe, with a fierce face, was waving his fists and shouting loudly. This man was the Lanista (the trainer of a diator school), Batiatus.


    Amidst his shouting, the guards on the balcony shot arrows again, causing two more diators to fall, while at the same time, there were screams from the front, indicating that the guards blocking the diators had also drawn their short swords.


    Although the diators outnumbered the guards, they were unarmed, while the guards were fully armed and, with Batiatus permission, they attacked without hesitation. The guards short swords continuously stabbed at the diators, causing the diators to fall and preventing them from breaking through guards defense line.


    The diators screams were continuous, but did not deter theirrades. After all, the diators profession was to kill or be killed by their opponents. Most diators had long disregarded life and death, and theirpanions injuries and deaths only fueled their ferocity.


    Brothers, Batiatus wants to kill us! Lets fight back!


    Charge! Knocked them down! I will bite off the throats of these bastards!


    The diators roared like wild beasts, disregarding the enemys swords and arrows. Those behind pushed forward, pressing against the backs of those in front, advancing with determination. asionally, someone fell, but others quickly took their ce


    The guards were being pushed back, leaving gaps in their shield wall.


    Hamilcar, take the brothers to the kitchen and get weapons! a deep voice, likely Spartacus, shouted over the chaos.


    Maximus, through the memory of the previous owner of his current body, felt puzzled:


    <em>Are there weapons in the kitchen?</em>


    But then he realized:


    <em>Kitchen knives, forks, and pots could serve as weapons. Also, the benches and wooden tables in the adjacent dining hall could be used as weapons as well.</em>


    Hamilcar, a diator with a robust physique and visibly aged facial appearance, gestured and led the charge through the gap. An arrow was immediately shot at him.


    Although not the top-ranked diator in the school, Hamilcar had experienced facing archers in groupbat in the arena before. As he ran, he kept his eyes on the archers on the balcony. When one of them pulled the bowstring, he rolled forward to dodge the arrow, then rolled to the side to avoid another arrow.


    Indeed, both archers were targeting him, but once Hamilcar entered the training ground, he had enough space to evade them.


    As the archers reloaded their bows, some diators also rushed into the training ground, sprinting towards the building where Batiatus was located.


    Based on the memory of the original Maximus, the current Maximus knew that the diators kitchen and dining hall were on the ground floor of that building, but there was no direct ess to the second and third floors.


    Upon seeing the archers aim at the diators heading for the dining hall, Maximus didnt rush out with them. However, he kept his attention on that area because he knew that in order to ovee their current predicament, they needed the diators who went to retrieve weapons.


    Soon, Maximus saw Hamilcar and a few others swiftly emerge from the dining hall on the ground floor. They took two steps outside, turned around, and waved their hands upwards, executing a well-coordinated movement.


    Suddenly, one of the archers on the second-floor balcony clutched his neck and fell down, causing the other archer to quickly crouch down behind the railing in fear.


    Other diators also emerged from the dining hall. Some wielded kitchen knives, others had pots and spoons, and some carried benches. They attacked the guards who were still engaged in fiercebat at the entrance to the barracks.


    These 20-plus guards included retired veterans and former diators who had gained their freedom. They not only had the responsibility of ensuring the schools security, but some of them were also mentors who trained these diators. They were experienced inbat and fully armed with helmets, breasttes, greaves, long shields, and short swords. However, outnumbered by the diators, they were eventually overwhelmed and defeated one by one.

 Chapter 3: Uprising (II)

    Chapter 3: Uprising (II)


    Some of the training instructors knelt and begged for mercy, but unfortunately, the Batiatus diator school was known for its harsh training. Over the years, many diators had died on the training grounds. There was no bond of affection between the instructors and the diators, only endless resentment. This was one of the main reasons why they were willing to join Spartacus in this rebellion. Therefore, without mercy, they stabbed the begging guards to death one by one.


    Batiatus has run away! someone shouted.


    Maximus subconsciously looked up and indeed, there was no sign of Batiatus on the balcony of the three-story building.


    Forget about that wicked wolf. Its getting dark, and we need to escape from here quickly, Spartacus said in a deep voice. Hamilcar, take some of our brothers to the kitchen and pack up all the food we can take.


    Alright.


    Crixus, you are in charge of selecting some of our brothers who are capable of fighting and equipping them with the armor and weapons of these people.


    Got it.


    Oenomaus, you bring a few strong brothers with me to break open the main gate, Spartacus continued. Artorix, you take the others and help bandage the wounded brothers. After the gate is opened, take them with you to leave.


    The diators in the school had been nning the rebellion for some time now. Several leaders had emerged, with Spartacus at the forefront and Crixus, Artorix, Hamilcar, and Oenomaus as his aides. After Spartacus assigned the tasks, they immediately went to carry them out.


    Maximus was worried about being seen by Crixus, who might publicly use him of betraying everyone, causing anger and harm to himself. So, when he saw a wounded diator lying not far away, he immediately crouched beside him and pretended to be concerned, asking, Brother, how are your injuries?


    Oh, Maximus, please help me! My right thigh was stabbed deeply by a sword, it hurts so much I cant stand, the diator groaned and cried to Maximus.


    His face was very familiar, and in the memory of the previous Maximus, the current Maximus found his name: Phaselus, a young and former Illyrian pirate.


    In recent years, Illyrian pirates had been rampant, frequently plundering ships traveling to and from Italy. Rome had to send warships to patrol the surrounding waters of Italy day and night to eliminate these Illyrian pirates.


    Phaselus pirate ship was captured by a Roman warship, and the leader was beheaded on the spot. The remaining crew members, including him, became ves and were sent to various towns in Italy to be sold. ves like them were usually not purchased as household ves by the Romans but were often sent to mines and diator arenas.


    The actual personality of Phaselus was lively and cheerful. It was only because of his difficult life and the need for survival that he had to be a sailor on a pirate ship. When he first arrived at the diator school six months ago, he couldnt adapt to the harsh training at all. Maximus, who had half Illyrian blood, actively helped him multiple times, and as a result, they became good friends.


    Looking at the bloody sword wound on Phaselus sturdy right thigh, Maximus gently pressed around the wound ording to the memory of the original Maximus.


    Phaselus endured the pain and let out a hissing groan through his clenched teeth.


    The bleeding isnt too severe. It shouldnt have cut any blood vessels, and your foot can still move, so there shouldnt be any severed tendons either. Youre lucky. With some time to heal, your injury will be fine, Maximus said, looking relieved for him. The profession of a diator is to kill, and besides training them inbat skills, the instructors also teach them some knowledge of human anatomy to help them defeat opponents and protect themselves.


    Phaselus didnt feel much at ease despite Maximus reassurance. He worriedly asked, Maximus, Im injured now and cant escape on my own. Will you all leave me behind?


    Maximus hesitated for a moment. In his heart, as a neer to this world, he had no emotional ties with anyone here, and his own situation wasnt great either. But from the memory of the previous Maximus, Phaselus was one of the few diators who respected him.


    The reason for this respect was somewhatplicated. Although Maximus had been living in this diator school for several years and was considered one of the older residents, he was still under 20 years old. Despite his strong physique and decentbat skills, he had a gentle temperament andcked ruthlessness. He often lost to other diators during training, and Batiatus never arranged risky one-on-one matches for him. So, although he had a good rtionship with the other diators, they looked down on him from the bottom of their hearts.


    His name revealed this as well. Maximus was not his real name but a nickname given to him by the diators. Maximus meant greatest, but his poor diatorial record clearly didnt match up to that name. It was everyones way of mocking him, and they often referred to him as such. Over time, it became his diator name (diators rarely used their real names; they either received titles from the audience based on their fighting style and record or chose names ording to their own preferences).


    As Phaselus had only recently arrived, the previous Maximus had taken care of him, and they were also from the same hometown, so his attitude towards Maximus was quite different from that of the other diators.


    Maximus, who was new to this world and felt extremely lonely, instinctively didnt want to lose the trust of the person in front of him, so he quickly said, Dont worry, Spartacus will definitely not abandon you. I will support you when the timees.


    Maximus, thank you! Phaselus was moved to the point of tears.


    Maximus felt a slight sense of shame in his heart. He was merely speaking empty words. If Spartacus truly decided to abandon these injured diators, he wouldnt oppose it. On the contrary, he would be relieved. After all, Phaselus, with his leg injury, would slow down their escape. Maximus avoided Phaselus grateful gaze and looked around.


    Crixus had already selected more than twenty diators, who were now stripping the armor from the guards and putting it on themselves


    Of course, the reason Crixus was moving so quickly was that he hadnt followed Spartacus instructions for selection at all. Instead, he had given all the equipment from the fallen guards to the Gallic diators who followed him. The diators in this school were mainlyposed of Gauls and Thracians, and Crixus was the leader of the Gallic diators.


    Others were taking care of their injuredrades. Among the crowd, Maximus spotted someone very familiar. His eyes shifted, and he whispered to Phaselus, Look, Pequot is over there. Thank goodness, hes not injured.


    Phaselus turned to look and couldnt help but shout, Pequot!


    The diator named Pequot had a dark skin and a muscr physique. Upon hearing Phaselus shout, he immediately walked over inrge strides. Without saying a word, he forcefully tore off his own linen undershirt and began to bandage Phaselus wound.


    In the memory original Maximus, Pequot was Phaselus fellow pirate on the same ship, and one of the only two Illyrians in this school. Unlike Phaselus, Pequot had been a pirate for many years. He was always silent in diator school, but fierce and ruthless during training which matched his fierce appearance, so some experienced diators didnt want to provoke him. The previous Maximus had tried to befriend him, but Pequot had always maintained an indifferent attitude towards him. However, he had a good rtionship with Phaselus, his formerpanion.


    After a while, Spartacus, Crixus, Artorix, Oenomaus, and Hamilcar gathered again in the center of the training ground.


    The main gate has been smashed open, Spartacus asked directly, Hamilcar, how much food did you manage to find?


    We only found five and a half bags of barley and a palm-sized piece of smoked meat, Hamilcar replied. I also had our brothers bring the copper pots and y pots from the kitchen.


    With the stinginess of the wicked wolf Batiatus, there wont be anything good left in the kitchen, Crixus said with a bitter tone.

 Chapter 4: Spartacus

    Chapter 4: Spartacus


    Just enough for everyone to have a meal. Spartacus looked at Crixus and asked, Have our brothers finished equipping all the weapons and armor?


    Yes, Crixus grinned and pointed behind himself, 20 brothers have all put on infantry equipment, and with you and me taking down the guard at the iron gate and changing into these outfits, plus an archer falling from the balcony We now have twenty-two infantry and one archer. If anyone dares to stop us again, we can crush them like ants!


    Roar! The fully armed diators behind him roared, causing others on the training ground to look back in astonishment.


    Spartacus scanned these fully armored diators and noticed that they were all Gauls. He nodded and calmly said, Well rely on you if we encounter enemies while escaping.


    Dont worry, Ill lead them at the front, Crixus replied confidently.


    How are the injuries of our brothers? Spartacus then looked at Artorix.


    Artorix replied in a low voice, 21 dead, 11 seriously wounded, and 32 slightly wounded


    The leaders of the diators fell into silence at the same time. The school had a total of 295 diators, and this uprising had mobilized all of them, resulting in a high casualty count of 64, which was more than one-fifth of their number.


    Spartacus quickly regained hisposure and said in a deep voice, For the slightly wounded, let our brothers take turns carrying them. For the seriously wounded let them depart without suffering.


    Understood, Crixus responded and went to carry out the order with his men.


    Thus, Maximus saw these diators approaching their unconscious and seriously injuredrades, closing their eyes and silently reciting a prayer before drawing their short swords and piercing their chests directly.


    No one stopped them, nor did anyone raise objections. Since the day they became diators, they had dealt with death and had long grown ustomed to it.


    But this greatly shocked Maximus and also horrified his injuredpanion, Phaselus.


    At this moment, Spartacus spoke loudly, Brothers, after our bloody battle, we have broken free from the cage set by Batiatus for us! The gates are now open, but as you escape from this school, do not forget that many of the guards you killed were Roman citizens! The wicked wolf Batiatus must have already sought help from the officials in Capua. Romans are always cruel to ves who betray their masters. They will surely send troops to hunt us down, capture us, nail us to cross, and torture us to death!


    Do not forget the strength of the Romans. They control all of Italy and the entire Mediterranean. Trying to escape and hide alone will not work. We must unite tightly and gather all our strength. Only when we have the strength to ovee one difficulty after another can we finally achieve true freedom!


    As soon as he finished speaking, there were immediate shouts from other diators, Spartacus, rest assured, I will not run around. I will follow you all the way!


    Right, Spartacus, you have the best n. We believe in you and will fight alongside you!


    Spartacus, you are our leader. Under your guidance, we will tear apart any Romans who dare to stop us!


    The shouts of the diators continued, eventually merging into an excited roar:


    Spartacus! Spartacus!!


    Maximus curiously gazed at Spartacus standing in front:


    <em>This real Spartacus bears no resemnce to the actors who portray him in the movies and TV series from the past. He is tall and muscr, but not bulky. His brown, curly hair, soaked with sweat, gently drapes over his broad forehead. With his long, oval face, slightly pointed chin, prominent nose,rge and bright eyes with a particrly spirited brown iris, long and thick eyshes, and a reserved smile</em>


    A phrase popped into Maximuss mind: A face as gentle as amb. This image did not match his physique, but it was this contradiction that gave a strong sense of familiarity. Perhaps it was because of this that the schools top diator, who was undefeated in the arena, was so trusted and followed by everyone.


    Spartacus put on the Roman-style helmet left by the guard he had killed. The lingering glow of the sunset reflected upon it, forming a hazy halo that made it especially dazzling. His gaze was resolute as he waved forcefully, Follow me, lets leave this ce! With that, he rushed towards the gate, followed closely by the armed diators, and then by the unarmed ones carrying their injuredpanions on their backs


    Without hesitation, Pequot lifted Phaselus onto his back. Maximus said from the side, Pequot if you get tired, you can let me carry him.


    Pequot ignored him.


    The diator school was surrounded by walls over four meters high, with a thick oak door and arge iron lock, it can be said that it was heavily fortified. Although the iron lock on the gate was not opened, arge hole had been smashed into the wooden door, and the edges were smoothed out with short swords. Thinking of the incredible strength of Oenomaus and the other Germanic people in the previous Maximus memories, Maximus was not surprised.


    Passing through the hole, they found themselves in a narrow, winding alleyway


    Capua was once the capital of the Campanian League and remains the primary city in the region. diator games were very popr here, and it was one of the first towns within Roman territory to build a diator arena. Some Capuans even proudly im that diator games originated in Capua. As a result, there were over ten privately operated diator schools here.


    The Capuans loved watching diatorpetitions, but they didnt want to live with these murderous monsters who killed for a living. The constant noisy fights from the diator schools were also annoying. Many years ago, the citizens of Capua collectively demanded that all diator schools be moved outside the city. However, schools with hundreds or even thousands of diators couldnt operate without daily supervision. Eventually, these schools were required to be built near the city walls, so the soldiers patrolling the walls could keep an eye on them.


    With the expansion and conquests of the Romans, Rome became the center of the Mediterranean. A huge amount of wealth and ves poured into Rome, and countless foreigners and poor people came to Rome in search of survival and opportunities. Capua, not far from Rome and with a better environment, became a destination for their migration. The inner city of Capua couldnt amodate arge number of immigrants, so they began building houses outside the city. Due to theck of unified nning and self-will of the immigrants, the houses in the outer city of Capua were disorderly, the alleys were narrow, and the roads were poor, resembling arge maze.


    Normally, Spartacus and hispanions would enter the arena directly under the guard of Batiatus men. After the matches, they would immediately be taken back to the school. Batiatus never gave them the right to go out alone, which was also rted to the fact that most of them were criminals or war captives.


    As the sky darkened, the diators suddenly stopped running after a while because they encountered a dead end ahead.


    Spartacus couldnt help but feel anxious. He scanned the closed wooden doors on both sides of the alley and said firmly, Break open the doors, grab two people, and have them show us the way!


    No need for that trouble, I know the way. Ill lead the way! Someone in the crowd shouted loudly.


    Spartacus looked over and was somewhat surprised. Maximus? Youre still alive?!


    I just passed out. Later, when I woke up, I saw you fighting with the guards at the entrance to the training ground, so I joined the battle Maximus said as he walked towards Spartacus.


    The reason he dared to step forward at this moment was that he realized the previous Maximus actions were too despicable. If the diators found out, he could only imagine what would happen. So, he couldnt continue to do nothing and had to actively contribute to gain Spartacus protection and reduce everyones animosity towards him.


    ***


    <strong>Authors Note:</strong>


    The historical records about Spartacus mention that there were over 200 diators in the diator school where Spartacus was located. However, there are two different ounts regarding the number of people who escaped after the riot.


    One version says that Spartacus led a charge into the kitchen, wielding cooking utensils as weapons, and ultimately only around 70 diators managed to escape after the riot. Another version, as described in this book, presents a different narrative.


    I still remember reading a world-renowned work titled Spartacus written by an Italian author in my childhood. It mentioned that there were over ten thousand diators in the diator school where Spartacus was situated. However, this seems to be an exaggeration, and such a massive scale is likely only found in Romes diator school during the Roman Empire era.

 Chapter 5: Serving as a Guide

    Chapter 5: Serving as a Guide


    You traitor, how dare you show your face! Crixus immediately rushed forward, grabbing his chest and raising a huge fist. His scarred face had a pair of wolf-like eyes, emitting a fierce and menacing light. He viciously said, Youve killed so many of our brothers, and now


    Enough, Crixus. Now is not the time for internal strife. We need Maximus help! Sure enough, Spartacus quickly stepped in to stop the confrontation.


    Ptui! Crixus spat a thick phlegm onto Maximus face before reluctantly being separated by Spartacus.


    Maximus wiped the phlegm off his face and momentarily felt relieved. If Spartacus hadnt intervened, he was genuinely afraid that Crixus might have killed him. Based on the memory of the original Maximus, this guy, although was only second best diator of the diator school, either left his opponents dead or seriously injured in the matches he participated in. Even during training, he often caused injuries to hispanions. He was a dangerous man who valued human life very little.


    Even though Crixus had let go, his sharp gaze remained fixed on Maximus, piercing through him like a sharp knife. It sent a chill down Maximus spine, making him regret his decision to step forward a little.


    Maximus, are you really familiar with the roads here?! Spartacus asked very seriously.


    Maximus collected himself and confidently said, I grew up in Capua. I can find my way around here with my eyes closed! With me leading the way, we can leave here quickly. However


    Maximus paused for a moment, and continued with a hint of show-off, Our current location is in the south of the city. From Capua, there are two main roads to the south. One is the Appian Way, heading southeast towards the Samnite Mountains. The other is the Via Annia, heading south, crossing the entire Campanian in. Which one should we take?


    South of Rome, Capua was one of the fewrge cities intersected by two major Roman roads. It was an important transportation hub, thriving not only in agriculture but also inmerce.


    We should go to the mountainous region, it would be easier for us to hide, Artorix suggested from the side.


    Its getting dark, and its not safe to go to the mountains at this time. Plus, the Samnites are not to be trifled with. We should head south. Although the uprising was sudden and somewhat hasty, Spartacus had a n in mind. However, he didnt intend to reveal it at this moment, so he came up with another reason.


    However, everyones opinions were reasonable. Not far to the east of Capua was the Samnite mountain region. The Samnites were impoverished but fierce, and they were a major source of auctoratus (a term used for those Roman citizens who volunteered to be diators). Although they were not from the same diator school, they encountered them as opponents in the arena, and their strength should not be underestimated. Therefore, no one objected.


    However, Maximus boldly suggested based on the memory of the original Maximus:


    Lets head south from the Via Annia. Theres a Temple of Flora (Flora is a Roman goddess of flowers and spring) by the roadside, about three or 4 kilometers from Capua. When it gets dark, we can rest there.


    Well talk about it then, Spartacus replied nomittally.


    Maximus turned and looked to the back of the group. The diators eyes had already begun to look at him with suspicion, a sign that Crixus angry outburst had affected them.


    Crixus, with a stern face and a short sword in hand, closely followed Maximus, clearly intending to monitor him and prevent him from leading them the wrong way.


    Maximus felt a bit nervous, but seeing Spartacus beside him, he calmed down.


    The group set off again. Although they were dyed a bit, the narrow alleys they passed through remained empty. The nearby residents had realized that there was an abnormality in the diator school, but no one dared to organize a group to stop these murderous monsters. Instead, they closed their doors and hid.


    Guided by Maximus, the diators quickly exited the maze-like streets and stepped onto the Via Annia. Many of them breathed a sigh of relief. The wide and solid road increased the speed of the entire groups advance.


    As Maximus walked and nced around, he couldnt help but marvel at the famous Roman road, despite having the memory of the original Maximus. The smooth and sturdy stone road, deep water ditches on both sides, lush roadside trees, paths for pedestrians, and even simple benches could be seen for people to restall these elements were present, resembling modern city roads, and it was built a hundred years ago. With careful maintenance, it still functioned well, revealing a glimpse of Romes power.


    <em>How could a powerful nation like this be defeated by a group of diators alone?</em>


    A strong sense of unease suddenly surged in Maximus heart.


    The sun had descended behind the western mountains, and the lingering glow of sunset gradually dissipated as night approached. Normally, there would still be some pedestrians along the road at this time, but the fearsome diators scared them away. However, the vehicles on the road couldnt avoid the diators blocking their way. They intercepted a donkey cart loaded with flour, and the diators cheered, Finally, we can have some delicious bread!


    The diators trained andpeted every day, requiring arge amount of food. However, the school needed to make money and couldnt afford to provide them with good meals. Apart from asionally being able to eat meat from killing wild animals in the diator matches, their main food was cheap and unappetizing barley, which provided high calories but little else. As a result, the diators were derogatorily called barley men. Despite this, their situation was still better than the poor citizens, who often went hungry.


    The diators were overjoyed and spared the driver of a donkey cart.


    After a while, arge wagon approached from the front, but the owner of the wagon sensed trouble and quickly turned the horses around.


    Some diators, led by Oenomaus, rushed over and intercepted it. Soon, he excitedly shouted, Spartacus,e quickly! There are many weapons in this wagon!


    Spartacus perked up and rushed towards the intercepted wagon with Crixus and the others.


    Inside the wagon were numerous weapons such as short swords, long swords, spears, rectangr shields, round shields, helmets, greaves, and even a few fishings, but there were no breasttes, as these were all diator equipment.


    Spartacus touched the cold shield and excitedly said to the diators, Brothers, our actions have received the blessing of Ares. He has brought us weapons!


    The diators erupted in cheers, with some even shouting, With weapons, we have nothing to fear! Lets go back and take down Batiatus!


    However, someone immediately countered, Fool, Batiatus has already fled into the city. There is no way we can catch him.


    Spartacus ignored their argument and turned around and said, Hamilcar, carefully count how many weapons there are.


    Before Hamilcar could respond, Maximus eagerly said, Let me do it.


    It was another opportunity to show his abilities. Seeing Spartacus not objecting, Maximus jumped into the wagon and began to count seriously.


    Meanwhile, Spartacus approached the driver who quickly begged him for mercy. Spartacus asked in a deep voice, Tell me, where did you bring these diator weapons from? And where were you taking them?


    To to the arena inside the city, trembling, the driver replied. Because the day after tomorrow is the founding day of Capua the magistrate is hosting arge diatorpetition to celebrate and they were afraid there wouldnt be enough weapons so I was ordered to transport some from Naples


    Spartacus and Crixus exchanged a nce. In fact, their diator school had also received an invitation from the city lords mansion. It was said that the rewards were quite generous. If it werent for this uprising, many of their brothers might have fallen in the arena to satisfy Capuas bloodthirsty audience.

 Chapter 6: Temple of Flora

    Chapter 6: Temple of Flora


    I recognize you, the legendary Thraex warrior of the arena! And you, the lion of Gaul! Cant you spare me? Considering I am your admirer and always cheering for you in the arena? My whole family depends on me for a living! The driver of the wagon begged again.


    Crixus was somewhat swayed by his words, but Spartacus calmly said, Tie him up and take him with us.


    Crixus was puzzled, Spartacus, why make things soplicated? Why not just let him go after leaving all his goods behind, just like earlier?


    Spartacuss eyes gleamed as he spoke softly, If the Capuans dont know that weve seized the wagon carrying diatorial weapons and equipment, they will assume that most of us are unarmed. When their defense forcese to pursue us without any precautions


    Crixuss eyes lit up, and he licked his lips with a crimson tongue, It seems we dont need to rush to escape, lets give them a good beating first!


    At this moment, Maximus poked his head out from the wagon shed, Spartacus, there are a total of 60 short swords, 15 long swords, 15 spears, 40 square shields, 40 round shields, 90 helmets, 90 pairs of greaves, and 5 fishings


    Thats a lot of stuff! Crixus eximed excitedly, forgetting to put on a stern face for Maximus.


    Spartacus was somewhat surprised. He knew Maximus could read and write, but he didnt know that this young man also had good arithmetic skills, being able to quickly tally up all the items in the wagon. It should be noted that most of the diators from Thrace or Gaul were illiterate, and the vast majority could only count up to ten using their fingers. Only Hamilcar could be relied upon, but even he couldnt match Maximus speed in calctions.


    Spartacus looked deeply at Maximus and asked, How far is the temple you mentioned earlier?


    Maximus immediately got down from the wagon, surveyed the surroundings, and searched on the previous Maximus memories. He then uncertainly replied, It should be not far, around more than two kilometers.


    Lead us there, well rest there tonight.


    Maximus now deeply regretted bringing the diators to the Temple of Flora. Some of them actually assaulted the female priestesses in the temple, including an elderly one, using them as an outlet for their desires and resentment towards the Romans. The pitiful screams of the priestesses felt like a whip,shing at Maximus guilty conscience. He wanted to escape from the ufortable temple main hall but was stopped by a diator.


    Maximus, Crixus said you cant leave at will. Go back and sleep, the diator crossed his arms and said coldly.


    From the memories of the previous Maximus, he found the name of this person. Torquevado, a Gaul, a veteran among the diators, and one of Crixus followers.


    You guys are doing this, and you still want me to sleep?! Maximus suppressed the urge to curse and spoke firmly, I need to see Spartacus. Theres something important I need to tell him, something that concerns the life and death of our brothers! If you dont let me see him, fine, youll be responsible if something happens tomorrow!


    Torquevado was taken aback, You want to see Spartacus?


    Yes!


    Whats the matter?


    Maximus ignored him and walked back.


    Wait! Torquevado stepped aside, warning, You can only see Spartacus. Dont wander around!


    Maximus ignored him and walked straight out of the main hall.


    Torquevado followed closely, apanying him to the apse like escorting a prisoner.


    The slightly ajar door allowed light to seep through, and as Maximus pushed it open, Spartacus and the others inside immediately focused their attention on him.


    Maximus swallowed and pretended to be shocked as he said, Spartacus, please stop those brothers who are viting the priestesses. They are spheming the goddess and will be cursed and punished!


    Thats the goddess of the Romans. Punishment doesnt apply to us Gauls. Our brothers have suffered enough from the Romans, so its good to take it out on Roman women, Crixus said indifferently. He then mocked Maximus, It seems youre so protective of those Roman women. No wonder youre a traitor, raised by Romans!


    Ignoring Crixus, Maximus looked at Spartacus and said solemnly, They are not ordinary Roman women. They are respected priestesses. Our actions will only provoke the anger of the Romans, not just the Roman nobles but also the Romanmoners. Soon, the Romans will be hostile towards us everywhere in Italy, and we will find it difficult to move forward!


    We are already against the Romans. Whoever dares to stop us, we will kill them. Either we die, or they die, its not a big deal, Oenomaus said in a nonchnt manner, seemingly indifferent to life and death, only seeking to cause amotion.


    Oenomaus was a Germanic man, with blonde hair, blue eyes, fair skin, and an exceptionally tall and robust figure like an iron tower. He was the strongest among the diators in terms of physical strength, but his sword-fighting skills were weaker than Spartacus and Crixus. However, he had already gained a notorious reputation in the Capuan arena.


    Romanmoners are different from Roman nobles, especially the impoverished Roman peasants who wander the streets and can barely survive on free bread. They have lost theirnd, burdened withrge debts, and their living conditions are not much different from ours. They harbor even greater hatred towards the Roman nobles than us. They could very well join us in fighting against the Roman army because only by doing so can they reim what they desire, Maximus exined earnestly.


    In his previous life, he was not a historian but a frencer who enjoyed taking on projects at home, such as writing and graphic design, while also being a homebody. ying games was his greatest hobby, followed by watching movies and TV shows online. He lived azy life, but when it came to doing things, he was very serious, especially when watching historical biographies or ying war strategy games. He always liked to first understand the historical background, weapons, and equipment, which allowed him to immerse himself more fully. There were quite a few films and TV shows about Spartacus, and although the actual historical records were scarce, Maximus had thoroughly researched the historical context of that time.


    Nonsense! Crixus rebuked loudly, feeling that Maximus was just making up reasons to help the priestesses.


    But Spartacus was greatly shocked upon hearing this. He took a few big strides towards Maximus and eagerly asked, Is what you said true? Will the impoverished peasants help us fight against the Romans?!


    Spartacuss extremely excited expression left Maximus stunned:


    <em>Dont you know about this? In history, this is what you did. Thats why the rebel army you led grewrger andrger like a snowball, eventually bing a major threat to Rome!</em>


    But then Maximus realized that the ancient hero standing in front of him had grown up in the remote Thracian tribe,ter joining the Roman army as an auxiliary troop to fight in Asia Minor, being captured as a deserter, and ultimately bing a diator in Italy. Spartacus, being trapped in the diator school, could not possibly have a profound understanding of Roman society, let alone have the foresight and wisdom. Everything he did was just following the historical trend.


    At this point, Maximus realized another issue: Compared to these diators, his own martial prowess was not outstanding, he didnt know how to lead troops in battle, or how to farm or trade goods. The only thing that set him apart from the others was his far superior knowledge, and the ability to understand the present and foresee the future, which should allow him to establish a firm position in the rebel army and have enough influence!

 Chapter 7: Destination

    Chapter 7: Destination


    This gave Maximus great confidence. He said loudly, As long as we defeat the Roman army a few times, demonstrate our abilities, and make the poor Romans aware of our existence, they, who hate the Roman Senate, will definitely join us. With their help, we can leave Italy and return to our homnd!


    Sounds quite beautiful Crixus sneered, but Spartacus immediately said to him, Crixus, go and ask our brothers to release those priestesses and dont harm them again!


    Spartacus, this guy is a traitor. Do you believe his words?! Crixus stood still and questioned Spartacus while pointing at Maximus.


    Whether its true or not, as long as theres a glimmer of hope to strengthen our force and resist the Romans, we must give it a try! Spartacus said firmly. Besides, I dont want everyone here to view us as ruthless enemies, just like how we viewed the Romans who burned, killed, and looted in our homnd.


    Crixus was slightly moved, but he still refused, I wont go. Our brothers are having fun, and I cant stop them.


    Spartacus didnt insist. He turned to the others and said, Artorix, Oenomaus, you two go and tell our brothers that tomorrow we will head south to raid the Roman farming estates. There will be plenty of beautiful women for them to enjoy. No need to make things difficult for a few poor priestesses.


    Alright, Spartacus, the two said as they left.


    Maximus wanted to follow, but Spartacus stopped him, I remember you told me before that theres a volcano called Vesuvius to the south of Capua, and there are manyrge farming estates nearby with lots of ves. There was even a rebellion a few years ago. Is that true?


    Upon hearing this, Maximus felt a stir in his heart. Indeed, there was such information from the memories of the previous Maximus. He answered straightforwardly, Yes, thats right. Spartacus, are you nning to take us there?


    Spartacus nodded and asked, Do you know how far Mount Vesuvius is from us?


    The original Maximus had never been to the Vesuvius region and didnt have the opportunity to ess maps. The current information he had was gathered from conversations between the original Maximus master and guests during meals. However, Maximus had looked up this information while watching the TV series about Spartacus in his previous life andter delved deeper into the map of Mount Vesuvius while watching the movie <em>Pompeii</em>. The memories were quite vivid. He tried hard to recall and said, Mount Vesuvius is in the southern part of Campania, not too far from Capua. If we march fast we should be able to reach it within a day. Uh, is there water?


    Thest sentence was a bit abrupt, but Hamilcar immediately handed over a pitcher.


    Thank you! Maximus said politely.


    Hamilcar smiled kindly at him.


    Hamilcar, a Thracian, was slightly old. It was said that he belonged to the same tribe as Spartacus, and they had a close rtionship. In the original Maximus impression, he was friendly, sociable, and most diators had a good impression of him. He had assisted Spartacus in persuading the diators to participate in the rebellion.


    Maximus squatted down, dipped his fingers in the water, and drew the coastline of the Campania region on the stone b. Then he sketched the approximate location of Capua and Mount Vesuvius. After thinking for a moment, he drew three small circles on the coastline near Mount Vesuvius: This is Naples mentioned by the driver of the wagon earlier, arge town in the Campania region These are Pompeii and Heeum, both small cities


    Maximus almost blurted out that both Pompeii and Heeum would be buried under the surgingva from Mount Vesuvius in a few decades.


    Everyone gathered around, focusing on the simple map drawn by Maximus.


    Even Crixus, who was very dissatisfied with him, had to admit in his heart: <em>This damn guy is still somewhat useful.</em>


    After a while, Spartacus looked up at everyone. Does anyone have objection about going to Mount Vesuvius?


    No one objected.


    Then its settled, Spartacus made a decision. Tomorrow morning, if the Capuan army doesnt show up, well head south at noon. Hamilcar, have you made arrangements for our brothers on guard duty tonight?


    Everything has been arranged.


    You must remind them to stay alert, not to sleep, and to notify everyone immediately if they notice anything unusual! We are now opposing the Romans, so we must not be careless! Spartacus reminded solemnly.


    Late at night, the physically and mentally exhausted Maximus entered thend of dreams amidst the sound of snoring from other diators, but he had a nightmare.


    In the dream, the rebel army he was in engaged in a fierce battle with the Roman legions, and despite the intense fighting, the rebel army was ultimately defeated. He was captured by the Romans, nailed to the cross by the road leading to Rome, and died in a miserable and agonizing death


    Maximus woke up from the nightmare, drenched in sweat. He touched the palm of his hand, which had been pierced by iron nails in the dream, and the excruciating pain he felt as if it had really happened


    <em>This is by no means a dream, this is a historical fact!</em>


    Maximus vividly remembered that in history, the uprising led by Spartacus, although grand in scale, onlysted for less than three years before it met its downfall. Over 6,000 captured rebel soldiers were crucified


    Maximus gasped for breath and instinctively turned his head. The mes of the oilmp in the hall flickered inconsistently. The once benevolent-looking statue of Flora, in the dim light, appeared somewhat eerie and sinister as it coldly overlooked a group of people sleeping below, with Spartacus presumably in the center.


    Maximus gazed at the familiar silhouette, recalling the brief records in history: In fact, the rebel army had a real chance to escape the Roman pursuit and achieve true freedom. At that time, Spartacus led his army north, winning sessive battles, and had reached the Po River area, with the towering Alps in sight. If the rebel army crossed the Alps and entered Western Europe inhabited by Gauls and Germanic people, the Romans would have had no power over them. However, Spartacus led the rebel army back south, ultimately leading to their demise Why did Spartacus suddenly change the marching route and abandon the escape from northern Italy? This has be one of the great mysteries in history, and people have been debating about it for thousands of years


    Would he be able to persuade Spartacus and the others to change their tragic fate? Maximus clenched his fists, determined not to be a lifeless body on a cross!


    Meanwhile, Spartacus in the hall was not actually asleep. He had spent a long time nning this rebellion, ultimately achieving sess. However, he knew deep down that they had only temporarily gained freedom. Italy was the most powerful region under Roman control, and they were swimming in the vast sea of Roman influence. One slight misstep could result in defeat and death


    The lives of over two hundred people weighed heavily on Spartacus


    Dolus Vibius, an old Roman citizen. As his name suggests, his family was not a noble. However, his grandfather had a talent for business and seized the opportunity presented by Romes continuous expansion in the Mediterranean, umting considerable wealth, thus elevating their family to the equestrian ss in Rome. His father had served as a financial officer, responsible for the least promising task of managing the treasury and documents, which he did for over a decade without further advancement. Nevertheless, he forged connections with many Roman elites.


    In his generation, during the dictatorship of Su, newws were enacted: All towns within Italy must be governed by administrative officials appointed by Rome.

 Chapter 8: First Battle

    Chapter 8: First Battle


    Vibius father saw this as a good opportunity to build political influence and began to spend a lot of money to lobby for him. Finally,st year, he managed to impress the governor Lucius Licinius Lucullus, who was known as the heir of the Sus army. Lucullus signed an executive order, making Vibius, who was just over 30 years old and had only served as an assistant to a legal officer for a few years, the aedile of the city of Capua.


    Unlike his father, who was content to serve as amon official all his life, Vibius always had his sights set on the Roman Senate. He even wanted to be a consul to elevate his familys status. Thats why, less than a year into his term, he decided to organize a grand diatorial contest on Capuas founding day to entertain the people and build his own reputation. However, just before the celebration, a major oversight urreda group of diators actually started a rebellion!


    In Rome, the Senate would appoint a senator to oversee all diator schools, as it was necessary to control activities involving arge number of people training with deadly weapons. However, the system of appointing Roman officials as local town administrators had been in ce for less than ten years, and the management system had not been fully established. This led to unclear responsibilities, resulting inx control over diators in Capua.


    Nevertheless, the ultimate responsibility would fall on Vibius. Angry, he severely whipped Batiatus, who came to report the incident and decided to quickly send troops to eliminate these audacious ves and quickly quell the unrest, ensuring the smooth progress of the foundation day celebration.


    The problem was that although Capua had a garrison force, there was no readily avable army apart from a few dozen city guards. Vibius could only carry out an emergency military mobilization. However, by the time the troops were assembled and organized, it was alreadyte at night. Despite Vibius urging, the citizen soldiers of Capua refused to leave the city at night, forcing Vibius to postpone the military operation until the next day.


    The next day, Vibius hurriedly led the troops out of the city and soon received a report: Those diators were still inside the Temple of Flora.


    Only then did he feel a bit relieved and ordered the troops to slow down their march.


    To be honest, he was not satisfied with this armyposed of Capuan people. They were already panting and disorganized after just a short march.


    He had once been a soldier and had some war experience. It was during Sus invasion of Italy when the popres hastily assembled an army. At less than twenty years old, he was forcibly conscripted and joined the army to confront Su outside Rome. The result was a quick defeat, and Vibius hurriedly fled back home. Due to his familys insignificance in Roman politics, he managed to escape Sus retribution.


    <em>The past is not worth looking back on</em> Vibius sighed in his heart, refocusing his attention on the army he was leading: <em>Although the quality of the soldiers is not great, at least they are well-equipped and numerous. ording to that damn Batiatus, most of the diators are unarmed and would not be able to withstand this full-scale attack. Now, I have to consider how to report this victory to the Roman Senate to avoid their criticism.</em>


    The army began to deviate from the Via Annia and entered a grove of oak trees.


    Seeing this, Vibius beckoned his aide and asked, How far is the Temple of Flora?


    Its just past this oak grove, about half a kilometer away, the aide replied.


    Vibius cautiously said, Send the cavalry to scout ahead, make sure those diators are still in the temple, and watch out for any ambush! Though he had limited war experience, he had somemon sense.


    The few cavalrymen hurriedly galloped away.


    By the time they returned at full speed and gave Vibius a satisfactory report, the army had already exited the oak grove. In the distance, a quaint temple sat amidst an apple orchard. It was early April, and the apple trees were in full bloom with white and pink flowers, illuminated by the warm sunlight, creating a particrly beautiful sight.


    Vibius clearly had no interest in the beauty around him; his gaze was fixed on the temples entrance: Seven or eight strong men in simple clothing were sitting on the steps, basking in the sun and chatting. Upon seeing the approaching army, they hurriedly stood up and entered the temple.


    Form up and prepare to attack! Vibius eximed excitedly, followed by the sound of the bulge.


    The 500 Capuan citizen soldiers, wearing leather helmets and armor, carrying rectangr shields, spears, and short swords, began to transform from a marching column into a dense formation, advancing slowly towards the temple.


    During this process, the doors of the Temple of Flora opened, and the diators quickly poured out


    Vibius eyes widened. Some of the diators were wearing equipment simr to the Capuan soldiers, while others were dressed in shy diator gear far more than a hundred of them were armed with deadly weapons!


    <em>That damn Batiatus dared to lie to me!</em>


    Vibius seethed with anger. However, he didnt panic too much because mounted on his horse, he could see clearly: The diators were in a disorganized formation, and at the rear, there were dozens of individuals without any armor, only holding wooden clubs and kitchen knives. They were a ragtag group! With his forces twice the size and well-equipped, they were more than capable of crushing the enemy.


    Continue to advance steadily! Vibius ordered coldly, and the bugler sounded the horn rhythmically.


    But the Capuan soldiers in the front row were not as eager as before and became somewhat hesitant.


    As it turned out, Spartacus, Crixus, Oenomaus, and several other renowned diators from the Capuan arena had changed into their usual diatorial gear. They stood proudly in the center of the front line. Many Capuan soldiers had witnessed their matches before, and now seeing their imposing appearance, they recalled the terrifying scenes of these diators ughtering their opponents in the arena. Suddenly, fear crept into their hearts, and their legs grew weak.


    This was exactly the effect Spartacus wanted. He immediately roared, BROTHERS, ATTACK! Takingrge strides, he charged towards the enemy.


    Crixus, Oenomaus, and the other diators all roared wildly and charged together, despite being outnumbered and disorganized, their momentum was fierce.


    Form the shield wall! Vibius face changed slightly.


    In reality, a round of spear-throwing at this moment could disrupt the diators charge. However, since the military reforms implemented by Marius decades ago and the introduction of conscription, the citizens of various Italian towns no longer practiced Roman tactics as their ancestors did. Therefore, the Capuan militia did not possess the rtively difficult military skill of spear-throwing.


    However, Vibius felt somewhat relieved as the soldiers promptly raised their shields.


    But just then, Spartacus and his group of diators, like ferocious tigers, had already charged to the front of the Capuan militias formation. Before the opponents could thrust their spears, the diators violently rammed the shield wall with their own shields.


    In order to improve the diators chances of victory, the diator school provided them with ample food after intense training sessions. As a result, they were all well-fed and robust, easily surpassing the Capuan militia in body size. The untrained Capuan militia werepletely powerless to resist the diators strength. Even with their teammates supporting them from behind, they were still knocked off bnce. Taking advantage of the gaps in the shield wall, the diators swiftly and urately stabbed their opponents with their short swords. Amidst the screams, the Capua militia at the front of the formation fell to the ground.


    The terrifying killing power of the diators shattered Vibius preconceived battle n. As he stood in the rear, he instinctively kept shouting, Hold your ground! Hold your ground!


    However, his panic spread to the Capuan soldiers even more. They were already feeling intimidated by these murderous machines, and now, hearing theirrades screams, the affluent Capuans had no courage left to fight. They dropped their shields and spears and turned around to flee.


    Seeing the inevitable defeat, Vibius hastily turned his horse and fled towards the city of Capua.

 Chapter 9: Maximus First Battle

    Chapter 9: Maximus First Battle


    Early in the morning, the diators woke up. Hamilcar brought some people to use the cooking utensils to the backyard of the temple to make barley porridge and bake bread.


    Meanwhile, Spartacus sent Artorix to disguise himself as a civilian and ride a horse to go out and investigate the situation in the city of Capua. So when Vibius led the army out of the city, Artorix had already reported this news to Spartacus.


    After breakfast, the fully energized diators did not panic despite being outnumbered by the enemy. Instead, they showed a strong desire to fight and began to prepare for the battle.


    Since the weapons seized by the diatorsst night were not enough to equip everyone, ording to Spartacus suggestion, they were first given to the diators with strongbat abilities. As a result, Maximus was not chosen and was only given a kitchen knife in the end.


    This was not a street brawl but a war confrontation. With the enemy outnumbering them, it was too dangerous to fight with a kitchen knife. So Maximus learned from hispanions and broke off a thick and straight branch from an oak tree in the grove, sharpening one end to use it as a spear.


    Even though he was in the rear, Maximus still felt nervous when he saw the fully armed enemy approaching. When Spartacus led the charge, he followed hispanions in a sprint, but his fear subconsciously slowed his pace.


    Then he saw Spartacus and the others showing their might, breaking through the front lines of the Capuan formation, and shortly after, the Capuan militia started screaming and retreating.


    The victory came so quickly that Maximus could hardly believe his eyes. With his confidence soaring, he and hispanions chased after the retreating enemies. This was not the time to hold back!


    Maximus, tall and long-legged, without armor and a shield, ran swiftly and soon caught up with the fleeing militia.


    He thrust his stick forward, but the pointed end of the wooden stick failed to pierce through the enemys armor, but it still made the enemy stumble to the ground.


    Maximus didnt pay him any more attention. With a swing of his stick, he fiercely struck another fleeing soldier on the head, causing the person to scream and fall to the ground.


    The scream didnt startle Maximus; instead, it excited him. He chased after a few more steps and struck another fleeing enemy on the head with his stick


    He knocked down three or four in a row. Seeing the other fleeing soldiers getting farther and farther away, he stopped and turned around. He saw hispanions already clearing the battlefield. Some were stripping the armor from the dead enemy soldiers, some were finishing off the wounded enemy soldiers, and some were gathering the prisoners who had surrendered voluntarily because they couldnt escape.


    Due to the overly excited pursuit just now, Maximus now felt even more exhausted after stopping his pursuit of the fleeing enemies. He didnt join in the actions of hispanions, but instead sat on the grass, panting heavily


    Yesterday, witnessing hispanions killing severely woundedrades felt cruel, but today, seeing them kill the simrly injured and fallen Capuan militia, Maximus only felt a slight difort.


    <em>Am I already getting used to this?</em>


    Maximus looked up, and the warm sunlight filtering through the gaps in the trees, shining on him, was unusuallyforting


    Just as he was lost in thought, a voice sounded beside him:


    Maximus, I never thought you could run so fast and take down three of them in one go, kid.


    Maximus turned to look, and the speaker was Torquevado, a strong Gallic diator. Like most the diators, he used to look down on Maximus, but now his face showed a hint of admiration.


    <em>It seems my desperate performance earlier was not in vain!</em>


    Maximus extended his right hand, spread out his fingers, and emphasized, Torquevado, I didnt bring down just three, but five enemy soldiers! However, if it werent for your attacks breaking them down, I wouldnt have been able to take them down so easily. If you werent wearing armor, you could have run faster than me and killed more enemies.


    Torquevado was a straightforward man. Upon hearing Maximus ttery, he cracked a smile and said, Dont worry, this victory has gained us a lot of weapons and armor. Next time, you can fight alongside us with a shield and spear.


    Torquevados approval dispelled the inexplicable sadness in Maximus heart and temporarily made him forget his fatigue. He got up from the ground and was about to say, Let me help you take off your armor, when amotion came from nearby. It turned out that Spartacus and Crixus were having a dispute.


    Crixus wanted to kill all the prisoners to intimidate the Romans.


    Spartacus opposed this, believing that all the prisoners should be released. He argued that these cowardly Capuan soldiers would spread the word of their terror, making the Capuans think twice before sending troops to attack them, thus buying them more time. Releasing the prisoners would also make the Capuans less hostile towards them, benefiting their future activities in the Campania region and strengthening their forces


    Spartacus has a point, Torquevado murmured quietly, having been listening attentively.


    Maximus looked at him with some surprise. The group of Gallic diators had always regarded Crixus as their leader and fully supported him. It was rare to find one who didnt blindly follow and could think independently.


    Maximus looked at Spartacus, who was trying to persuade Crixus, and realized that his words fromst night must have had some impact on the leader of the diators. It was evident that Spartacus was amander who was not stubborn and could ept the advice of his subordinates. This gave Maximus a bit more confidence in persuading Spartacus to lead the army to escape from Italy in the future.


    Spartacus opinion received support from Hamilcar, Oenomaus, Artorix, and others. As a result, the prisoners were forced to remove their armor, leaving them only with their waistcoats, before being released.


    Crixus remained silent with a dark expression.


    Spartacus looked at the pile of weapons on the ground and said to Hamilcar, Go and call Maximus. Let him count our spoils.


    Maximus dly epted the task and soon finished counting.


    Hamilcar reported, Spartacus, in this battle, we killed 58 people, captured 137 people, and obtained a total of 195 leather armors, 320 leather helmets, 261 short swords, 452 spears, and 500 long shields.


    This is a huge gain. Now all our brothers can have weapons! Spartacus was excited and then asked, How many casualties do we have?


    Only three people were lightly injured.


    Spartacus looked at the people around him and said with a smile, This battle was too easy. The Capuans are really kind. They knew wecked weapons and specially sent us a batch.


    Laughter erupted among the crowd.


    Crixus said coldly, The Capuans are weaklings, everyone knows that. Its easy to defeat them, but the Romans are not easy to deal with.


    Youre right, Spartacus restrained his smile and said seriously. Thats why we must quickly head south to Mount Vesuvius, strengthen our forces as soon as possible, and rely on the terrain of the mountains there to confront the Roman army that maye to attack us at any time. These armor and weapons are hard-won. Let all our brothers wear them. For the remaining ones, Hamilcar, you will be responsible for finding a way to take them all with us, and let Maximus assist you.


    Alright. Hamilcar nodded decisively.


    Upon hearing Maximus name, this time Crixus merely snorted and didnt voice any objections. After all, he had witnessed Maximus taking the lead in pursuing and defeating the fleeing soldiers, as well as his performance fromst night, which had somewhat changed his negative impression of him.


    After receiving the notice from Hamilcar, Maximus first thought that came to mind was:


    <em>So they want me to handle logistics support, does that mean I dont have to go to the front lines and fight anymore?</em>


    So he readily agreed and asked, What should I do now?

 Chapter 10: Marching Along the Way

    Chapter 10: Marching Along the Way


    Lets go and get the wagon ready, Hamilcar said, then turned and walked towards the temple. Maximus followed closely behind. They arrived at the courtyard behind the temple, where two horses and a donkey were tied up, happily munching on barley brought by the diators from the diator school.


    The two led the horses to the carriage and put on their bridles, connecting them to the yoke


    The original Maximus had learned knowledge from his young master since he was a child, and as a ve, he had also done these tasks before, so he quickly got the hang of it. Then he put the donkey in front of the cart.


    Hamilcar threw bags of flour out of the cart.


    Why are you throwing away such good flour? Maximus couldnt adapt to the diators usual food, barley porridge. So when he saw Hamilcar throwing away the flour, he was quite puzzled.


    We need to make space to carry those weapons. We can always go and steal flour from farms, but we cant just steal those weapons whenever we want, Hamilcar replied.


    Maximus thought it made sense, but he also felt it was a pity. After thinking for a moment, he said, Why dont we give this flour to the priestesses of the temple? It can be considered as ourpensation.


    Hamilcar didnt say anything, which was taken as affirmation.


    But when Maximus faced the red and swollen eyes of the priestesses in the temple, filled with hidden resentment, he felt ashamed and hurriedly finished speaking before turning and running away.


    When the two of them drove the wagon and donkey cart to the front of the temple, the leather armor piled on the ground had already been distributed. It was evident that Spartacuss arithmetic skills were not very good, as the obtained weapons and armor were far from enough to equip all the diators. Maximus, however, was actually quite relieved about this fact.


    The diators also disliked the fancy, heavy, and obstructive diator helmets, and all switched to leather helmets. At first nce, they looked just like a Capuan city guard unit.


    But they disliked the heavy shields and were unwilling to carry them. Over five hundred shields were piled on the ground, forming a small mountain, which made Hamilcar furrow his brow, as the two vehicles could not fit so many things. So he immediately brought this matter to Spartacus attention.


    Spartacus had to ask everyone to carry at least two shields and a spear each. In order to appease everyonesints, he also promised to intercept more wagons as soon as possible to carry everyones weapons, making it easier for everyone to march south.


    When everything was arranged and they were ready to depart, a piece of bad news affected everyones cheerful mood: Among the injured resting in the temple, one person had a festering chest wound, causing an unrelenting high fever, and the person had fallen into aa.


    Spartacus had no choice but to issue the order to send him off peacefully.


    This time Maximus witnessed with his own eyes the process of the wounded man being stabbed in the chest and then buried in a pit. His mood remained calm, and he even felt relieved that the deceased was not Phaselus.


    Since the previous battle urred early and ended quickly, by the time the diators passed through the apple orchard and returned to the Via Annia, it was still not noon.


    Via Annia was a major road in Rome that led to Regium, the southernmost part of Italy. It was frequented by pedestrians and vehicles every day. Although the news of Capuas disastrous defeat had caused nearby pedestrians to avoid the area, it didnt take long for new, unaware pedestrians and vehicles to restore its liveliness. When the diators walked on the center of the main road, these people mistook them for their own army. As a result, four wagons were quickly seized by the diators.


    The diators threw away the contents of the wagons, ced their shields and spears inside, and even made space for their injuredrades to sit.


    The diators were not concerned about theck of enough wagon drivers, because Gauls were good charioteers, after all.


    Maximus also exchanged the donkey cart he was driving for a wagon, and with the help of the previous Maximus muscle memory, he familiarized himself with the skills of driving a horse-drawn carriage again. Additionally, there was an injured Gaul diator sitting in his wagon to provide technical guidance whenever he needed it.


    After this looting, pedestrians and merchants finally realized that these soldiers were not friendly and scattered away in all directions. The diators had no intention of chasing them, and the empty road was more advantageous for their march.


    Although it was called a march, it was more like a leisurely stroll. Despite being equipped with the armor of the city guard, they had no concept of marching in formation. Over 200 people followed behind Spartacus, Crixus, and Oenomaus, chatting, joking, and ying around, just like ordinary pedestrians, moving southward in a rxed and leisurely manner.


    The disorderly scene made Maximus, sitting in the wagon, a bit uneasy. He understood that these diators from Gaul, Thrace, Illyria, or other ces had battlefield experience before bing diators, and their individualbat capabilities were terrifying after years of training in the diator school, as evidenced by the previous battle. However, could they still unleash their power with their free-spirited and adept at solobat nature against the disciplined and coordinated Roman legions?


    Even though Maximus had never served in the military in his previous life, he could confidently give a negative answer. Therefore, to avoid being bothered, he turned his gaze to the sides of the road.


    Campania truly lived up to its reputation as a famous in in Italy. The wheat fields stretched endlessly. Just a month after the spring equinox, the green wheat shoots were already higher than calves. Under the gentle breeze,yers of wheat waves rose and fell, resembling a vast green ocean. asionally, people could be seen weeding and tending the fields within this sea.


    Based on the memories of the previous Maximus, the farmers wearing short shirts in the scorching hot weather at noon were probably the owners of the farnd, while those bare-chested, dark-skinned individuals were likely ves. However, it seemed that the owners rarely bossed them around and often worked in the fields themselves, cooperating seamlessly with the ves. They evenughed and joked together, creating a harmonious atmosphere.


    This made Maximus doubt the knowledge he had about Rome from his past life:


    <em>Shouldnt ves and ve owners be hostile towards each other in a ve society?</em>


    Determined to find out the truth, Maximus decided to continue observing carefully.


    .


    Along the Via Annia south of Capua, there were towns like Ctia, Suess, and N. These towns used to be small cities upied by the Samnites. They used these strongholds to attack the Greek colonial towns along the coast to the west, which attracted the attention of the Romans. The Samnites were eventually defeated and became part of the Roman alliance, but they did not fully submit and asionally caused trouble.


    When Hannibal invaded Italy, many Samnite tribes joined him. During the <em>Roman Social War</em>, they were one of the main forces of rebellion. And over a decade ago, when Su led his army to attack Rome, many Samnites actively responded to the recruitment of the popres and fought against Sus forces outside the walls of Rome. After their defeat, they were all taken prisoner.


    Su was extremely angry with the Samnites. He believed that as long as the Samnites existed as an independent people, there would be no peace for the Romans. Therefore, he not only massacred nearly ten thousand Samnite prisoners of war but also pursued any important Samnite figures with even the slightest connection to the popres. During his dictatorship, he also enacted a series of measures to strictly govern the Samnite towns, such as prohibiting the construction or repair of city walls without Roman officials and forbidding the establishment of city defense forces.


    Ten yearster, these Samnite towns in the Campania in gradually transformed into viges, and some of them had even disappeared. The fierce spirit of the Samnites in the in had almost been extinguished. Although they clearly recognized that the diators marching arrogantly on the road as a band of thieves, they simply gathered together and watched from a distance, without any intention of attacking the caravan trailing behind.


    After passing through N, ording to the memories of the previous inhabitant of his current body, Maximus went to inform Spartacus: They couldnt continue southward anymore. They had to leave the main road and turn west.

 Chapter 11: Raiding the Farm

    Chapter 11: Raiding the Farm


    Actually, without Maximuss reminder, everyone had already seen the towering cone-shaped mountain rising from the in to the south. The upper half of the mountain was dark and obscure, while the lower half was lush and green, with faint smoke lingering at the mountain top


    Everyone stared nkly at this renowned and peculiar mountain in Italy. Even the courageous Crixus couldnt help but swallow nervously and ask, Is that Mount Vesuvius?


    Yes, Spartacus responded softly, as if afraid of disturbing something. Our destination is thereThe Forge of Hephaestus.


    Although Mount Vesuvius was visible, it was still a considerable distance away, and it was already dusk. The diators didnt want to travel at night, so when they saw a nearby farm, they rushed towards it.


    The farm had a moderately sized courtyard, surrounded by a dense arrangement of wooden ts and low shrubs, forming a crisscrossing fence. It was merely meant to mark the boundaries and prevent strangers from trespassing, but it couldnt obstruct the fierce and menacing diators. They charged through the fence, pushed open the wooden gate, and frightened the seven or eight people huddled in the courtyard, causing them to tremble. However, instead of scattering and fleeing, they shielded a young man in their midst.


    One daring old man mustered his courage and questioned, W-Who are you?! How dare you intrude on Lord Dionysius territory! His words were greeted with even louder barking from the farm dogs.


    Without hesitation, Crixus stepped forward and delivered a kick. The farm dog let out a cry, flew through the air, and crashed into the wall. When itnded on the ground, its legs twitched, further terrifying the people in the courtyard.


    Spartacus looked at them and asked with a hint of interest, Who is Dionysius? Judging by the name, it sounds like a Greek.


    The young man, as if humiliated, trembled as he spoke, M-My father is a Roman citizen, an important senator from Naples. He has enough money to pay a ransom for me, but if if you dare to harm me, he will make Naples send out its army


    Can Naples army be stronger than Capuas? Crixus sneered, provokingughter from the diators.


    Spartacus, however, said seriously, We are not bandits. We are a group of fighters dering war on Rome and fighting for freedom!


    Despite the young mans desperate attempt to conceal it, his eyes looked at Spartacus as if he were a joke.


    Spartacus paid no attention and looked at the others. Are you all ves?


    The old man, forgetting his fear, proudly said, I am a Roman citizen!


    I I am a free man, two people responded in unison.


    The remaining four hesitated and nodded, admitting that they were ves.


    Are you willing to join us? Spartacus looked at them and spoke in a gentle tone, This way, you will have your freedom and no longer have to worry about being oppressed.


    The four ves looked at each other, then lowered their heads, none of them responded.


    Dont dream. They are all my family, the young man couldnt help but speak, but Crixus punched him in the face, causing him to fall backwards with blood streaming from his nose.


    Shut up, you little brat, or Ill end your life! Crixus threatened fiercely, then turned to the ves, If you dont speak up, Ill chop you up and feed you to the dogs!


    The ves trembled in fear, but still shook their heads in refusal.


    Crixus, enraged, drew his short sword and made two threatening shes in front of the ves, You ungrateful fools, what use is there in keeping you alive?


    Terrified, the ves immediately knelt down, begging for mercy.


    Crixus, thats enough, Spartacus face also turned grim, but he suppressed his anger and said in a deep voice, Our brothers have worked hard all day, tired and hungry. Hamilcar and Maximus, take these people to prepare food. If anyone disobeys, you can deal with them as you see fit.


    Spartacus then looked at the young man on the ground and continued, Artorix, take this guy inside the house, we need to have a good talk with him.


    Artorix approached and grabbed the terrified young man as if he were a little chicken.


    Wh-what are you going to do? The old man stepped forward, wanting to stop Artorix, but he was pushed aside and fell to the ground.


    He quickly got up and kowtowed repeatedly, Please, spare my young master! I beg you


    Juste with me and work. If you do well, we will consider sparing your young master, Hamilcar said coldly.


    The old man saw a glimmer of hope and quickly stood up, trying to please them. Please, give me your orders. We will do our best!


    How many sheep do you have? Hamilcar looked towards one side of the farm, despite the noise from the diators entering the yard, the sound of sheep bleating could still be heard.


    Forty-five, the old man replied.


    Who among you is skilled at ughtering sheep? Hamilcar asked again.


    The old man pointed to two people.


    Go and ughter twenty, then chop them up for stew.


    Twenty? the old man seemed reluctant, These are valuable Attica sheep, known for their fine wool


    Do you want me to ughter all your sheep? Hamilcar red at him, and the old man became too scared to say anything.


    Hamilcar ordered several diators to take the two ves to the sheep pen behind the farm to ughter sheep. Then he said to Maximus, Normally, one fat sheep is barely enough for eight people to eat. We diators have big appetites, and todays consumption is high. It seems that three or four people can eat one sheep. These 20 sheep wont be enough for them, but they havent had meat in a long time. If we let them eat too much at once, it will make them ufortable. So, we need to be moderate. Stewing the meat into soup would be best.


    Maximus listened attentively.


    Who among you is the cook? Hamilcar questioned again.


    The cook is inside, the old man hesitated and pointed to the location of the kitchen.


    Haha, so theres a woman hiding in there! Some diators were delighted and rushed inside.


    Spartacus shouted, Stop right there! Are you a bunch of donkeys who have never seen a woman before? If you ruin the cook, who will cook for you?


    Spartacus usually treated other diators kindly, but when he got angry, he was quite intimidating. The diators not only stopped in their tracks but also dared not meet his gaze or argue with him.


    Endure for now, Spartacus softened his tone and smiled, saying, Once we settle down and open up the situation, we can find any kind of woman. Why bother with the cook, who looks tougher than a man!


    Laughter erupted in the courtyard.


    Hamilcar quickly led the others to the kitchen, asking as they walked, Is there ready-made flour here?


    Yes, the old man replied.


    Is there enough for each of us to have tworge round loaves of bread?


    The old man surveyed the diators crowding the courtyard and nodded, It should be enough, but with so many of you, it will take quite some time to make.


    No rush, take your time. We have plenty of time.


    Hamilcars words made the old man uneasy: <em>It seems that these thieves wont leave here tonight.</em>


    Inside the kitchen, two cooks, who didnt look as terrible as Spartacus had described, were hiding. However, they werent attractive either. They were the wives of the two free men, who were promised by Hamilcar that their lives and the lives of their husbands would be spared if they prepared a good dinner. With trembling hearts, they began boiling water, making porridge, washing vegetables, and cooking fish.


    The rest of the group, under the old mans guidance, split their tasks. Some were responsible for chopping firewood and starting a fire, while others kneaded dough, let it ferment, and baked bread.


    Hamilcar walked back and forth in the small kitchen, solemnly supervising their work. It seemed that he had done the same thing in the kitchen of the Temple of Flora earlier in the morning.


    Maximus stood at the kitchen door, silently watching Hamilcars well-organized arrangements.

 Chapter 12: About Sl*very

    Chapter 12: About Sl*very


    When the food was almost ready, Hamilcar did not immediately bring it out. Instead, he had Maximus call in some of the most respected diators, such as Artorix, Oenomaus, and Torquevado to have them carry the food out and distribute it.


    If we bring the food out ourselves, our hungry brothers will surely rush in, and cause chaos. But if Oenomaus and the others do it, our brothers wont dare to snatch. In the legion, its usually a centurion leading the ves to distribute food to the soldiers. Weve just escaped, and we havent established any rules yet. It will get better in the future, Hamilcar patiently exined to Maximus.


    Maximus couldnt help but ask, Ive heard Spartacus say before that you were once in the Roman army?


    Hamilcar fell silent for a moment and said in a low voice, Thats right. We were recruited because we coveted Roman wealth, but it ended up causing the destruction of our entire tribe.


    Hearing Hamilcars cold voice, Maximus felt a chill down his spine. He didnt dare to ask further and instead inquired, ording to the standards of the Roman army, how many people would it take to prepare a meal for a group like ours?


    Hamilcar thought for a moment and said, Each contubernium of ten men in a Roman legion includes two ve soldiers who usually handle misceneous tasks and are primarily responsible for food preparation. We have about 250 people, so ording to their requirements, we would need 50 people to prepare a meal. But the Roman legion has a high standard, so for us, 20 people cooking would be enough.


    He looked at Maximus with satisfaction and said, Im d you asked such a question. It shows that you are seriously considering our food situation, unlike those guys this morning. I asked them to help, but they were all very reluctant. Besides killing, they dont know anything else. Youre quite remarkable!


    Maximus modestly replied, I just think that no matter how brave we are, if we cant eat enough, we wont have the strength to defeat the enemy.


    Youre right. An armys food supply is very important! The Romans are indeed detestable, but their dedication to this aspect is unmatched by other forces.


    Hamilcar sighed. It was rare for someone to listen to him talk about these things, which piqued his interest. He immediately pulled Maximus to sit near the kitchen door. He had the ves scoop two bowls ofmb soup and tore arge piece of hot bread. As they ate, he continued, I just gave a rough estimate earlier. In reality, the number of people needed to cook for a legion depends on the actual situation. If theres no danger around, and the kitchen and food are readily avable, just like we are now, ten people can satisfy the needs of over 200 people because we have enough time to prepare slowly. But if we are on the march or in enemy territory, the situation would be very different


    Maximus listened attentively to Hamilcars exnation and gained a better understanding of logistical supply. Hamilcar shared insights such as why transporting grain was preferred over ready-made flour for the army, as it was easier to preserve. This was also the reason why the ve soldiers of the Roman army often had to carry hand mills.


    Though Hamilcar was usually reserved and spoke sparingly, Maximus inquiries struck a chord with him. Once he started talking, he couldnt stop until a diator came to call him, Spartacus wants to discuss something with you. Reluctantly, he stood up and said to Maximus, Maximus, Ill leave things here to you. Is that alright?


    No problem, Maximus responded readily. After Hamilcar left, Maximus turned to the people in the kitchen. They had been working continuously for over three hours, sweating profusely. Artorix and the others had stoppeding to the kitchen to demand food, indicating that the diators were almost full.


    Take a break, have some food to regain your strength, Maximus said. As soon as he finished speaking, the people in the kitchen dropped their cooking utensils and started eating bread.


    After they had eaten, their hunger had subsided, and they were no longer wolfing down their food, Maximus approached one of the ves. Based on his previous observations, this person had been working the hardest. Why were you unwilling to join us?


    The ve looked up, somewhat bewildered.


    Youre a ve, ordered around by your master to work hard like an ox or a sheep every day. If you join us, not only will no one dare to order you around, but youll havemb soup and bread to eat every day. Its so much better to live freely. Why wouldnt you want that? Maximus asked, full of puzzlement.


    The ve lowered his head and mumbled after a while, I dont want to be crucified by the Romans.


    Maximus didnt get angry. He turned to another ve, who was the most glib at work and had been warned by Hamilcar a few times. And what about you?


    Well The ves eyes darted around, and he replied, My master treats me well. I dont feel like a ve. Why should I leave?


    Maximus was half skeptical of his words.


    At that moment, the old man looked at Maximus earnestly and said, I was once a ve too. I was raised in the house of Dionysius since I was a child, and my master treated me like family. After the civil war decades ago, the Romans recognized the entire poption of Italy as Roman citizens. Romanws also applied to all Italian towns, including Naples. So, my master paid for my freedom out of his own pocket, and after a few more years when I met the requirements, he applied to the municipal office to make me a Roman citizen


    At this point, the old man straightened his chest and said, After that, my master also appointed me as the overseer of this farm, with a decent monthly sry. Since then I got married, had children, and even grandchildren. And those two over there


    The old man pointed to the two freedmen, They were also ves before, but with the masters permission, they gained their freedom three years ago. And for the rest of you, dont worry, work hard, and you will be like me in the future.


    Upon hearing the old mans words, the deepest memory of the original Maximus was also stirred up. He realized that Romanw indeed had provisions that allowed ves to gain their freedom and be Roman citizens. However, without the masters permission, it was impossible for a ve to umte enough money to buy their own freedom. Nevertheless, the Romans seemed more tolerant and generous in this regard, and an important reason behind this was the ancient tradition of patronage.


    Patrons provided political and life protection to their clients, while clients offered political support and military assistance to their patrons. It was not a rtionship ofplete dependence but rather mutual support and progress. The Romans adhered to this established tradition, and no one dared to disrupt it, ensuring rtive stability in society. When a ve became a citizen, a deeper patronage rtionship naturally formed with their former master. Since the Roman civil war several decades ago, all Italians became Roman citizens, and this special tradition of Rome spread throughout Italy, including Naples.


    The reason why Maximus former master was willing to spend money and effort to cultivate him, a lowly household ve, stemmed from the same idea. Unfortunately, his former masters entire family was killed, leading to Maximus current predicament. If all the ves in Italy were treated like the ves on this farm, with minimal abuse, social mobility, and hopeful prospects for the future, would they be willing to stay rather than rise up in rebellion?


    Thinking about this, Maximus felt uneasy. Would Spartacus still be able to lead a major ve uprising?


    Countless thoughts churned in Maximus mind, and his expression changed constantly. The old man, seeing this, mistakenly believed that it was because Maximus was angered by his dissuasion of the ves from joining their cause. He quickly added, Actually, the reason our master takes care of us like this is because theres a shortage ofbor here. He even often asks the young master toe here and help with the work, so every person is important. But thoserge farming estates are different. They have vast cultivatednds and many ves, many of whom are neers. The owners of thoserge farms employ multiple overseers and even guards. They use whips and clubs every day to coerce the ves into working obediently. A few years ago, it even led to riots

 Chapter 13: Settling in Vesuvius

    Chapter 13: Settling in Vesuvius


    Maximus was intrigued, Are theserge farms you mentioned in the Mount Vesuvius area?


    Thats right, right there! The old man emphasized, speaking with certainty. Thoserge farms upy thousands of jugers<sup>[1]</sup> of extremely fertilend, with hundreds or even thousands of ves, countless grains and livestock, and even some beautiful female ves


    Hey! Maximus interrupted him, bluntly saying, Old man, are you trying to incite us to rob thoserge farms?


    N-no, I just wanted to tell you the truth, the old man denied, shaking his head.


    Maximus sneered. The old mans words triggered a memory of the previous Maximus, Facingpetition from theserge farms, can this farm sell its wheat and wool? How much money will it cost to sell them?


    The old man fell silent.


    Although there were norge farms around Capua, the surrounding markets were mostly flooded with agricultural products produced by theserge farming estates. ording to the memory of the previous Maximus, most of the owners of theserge farms were Roman patricians who took advantage of the fertile soil of Mount Vesuvius and the abundance of cheap ves to cultivate better wheat, grapes, and olives.. They sold these agricultural products at the same or even lower prices, naturally attracting the masses. Even the owner of this smaller farm, who owned several hundred jugers ofnd, oftenmented about not being able to sell their own produce. It seemed that the owner of this farm was probably not doing well, let alone themon people


    Thinking of this, Maximus regained hisposure and said to the people in the kitchen, Have you all eaten? Then continue working and bake another three hundred loaves of bread.


    The next morning, after having porridge and bread, the diators released the people from the farm and prepared to continue their journey south.


    After interrogating the young man and learning about the surrounding situation the previous night, Spartacus requested that the diators be fully armed as they moved forward.


    Hamilcar and Maximus exchanged the donkey cart for a farm wagon, increasing the number of wagons in the convoy to six, and providing ample space for carrying weapons, food, and wounded soldiers.


    As an intermittently erupting active volcano, Mount Vesuvius had a vast coverage of volcanic ash, spanning over 150 square kilometers. Therefore, not long after leaving the farm, the diators group entered the Vesuvius area.


    Along the way, besides the thriving wheat fields, there were also many vineyards. The number of farmers working in the fields had noticeably increased. asionally, overseers wielding whips and wearing long robes could be seen shouting loudly, while shackled and battered ves trembled in fear.


    The diators were eager to act, but Spartacus and Crixus did their best to restrain them. After all, their primary task now was to reach the foothills of Mount Vesuvius and find a ce to settle.


    However, trouble found them despite Spartacus intention to avoid it.


    The free-spirited diators walked through the fields, inevitably trampling on the wheat seedlings. When an overseer from arge farm noticed this, he immediately brought the farm guards and aggressively approached the group to confront them.


    It appeared that news of Spartacus leading the diators in a rebellion hadnt spread to this area yet. These people mistook the diators as city guards and arrogantly imed that the owner of this farm was a certain senator of Rome. They demandedpensation from the diators, threatening that their master would make them regret it otherwise.


    The diators burst intoughter, they drew their short swords and cut them down one by one.


    Other overseers and guards realized the danger and fled in fear. Many ves also tried to escape, but with their shackles, they couldnt run fast. Some ves remained in ce, observing curiously.


    We are diators rebelling against Roman oppression. Do you want to join us, fight against the Romans, and seek freedom together?! Spartacus eximed loudly.


    After some hesitation, the observing ves stumbled over, dragging their shackles.


    The leader among them spoke in broken Latin, saying loudly, Wee from Iberia the Celtic people in the mountains the Romans captured our tribes and took us captive here


    Wee to join us! As long as we defeat the Romans, we will find a way to get everyone back home! Spartacus smiled and made a promise. Compared to the few ves in the previous farm who declined to join the groupst night, he felt relieved by the smooth inclusion of these Celts today. It seemed that his decision toe to Vesuvius for recruitment was the right one.


    The diators even caught up with the farm overseer, cut him down, and took the keys to help the ves unlock their shackles. The ves cheered with excitement.


    Maximus, who was driving a wagon, also heard the ves words. It sparked something in his mind: In his previous life, when he had researched the history of the Spartacus uprising, he vaguely remembered that at this time, Rome was engaged in two wars, one in Asia Minor and the other in Iberia. That Pompey the Great should be in Hispania!


    The addition of the ves did not change the diators route. As the group advanced, the terrain became uneven, gradually rising towards Mount Vesuvius. They had entered the foothills of Vesuvius, where wheat fields were reced by vineyards.


    The volcanic ash soil, weathered over time, was particrly suitable for growing grapes. The Falernian, Statanian, and Calenian wines produced from these vineyards were considered the best in all of Italy. The Romans would undoubtedly make good use of every piece ofnd here. While there were no wheat fields, there were plenty of ves, even more than before. Taking care of grapevines requires more precision than cultivating wheat seedlings. Besides tilling the soil, fertilizing, and watering, the main tasks involved pruning and training the vines and constructing trellises. Some female ves could also be seen working in the vineyards.


    Killing overseers and inviting ves to join them became a routine for the diators as they marched. By the afternoon, when the group stopped moving, the number of joined ves had reached 150. One-third of them were from Iberia, one-third from Asia Minor, and one-third from northern Greece. These were newly enved individuals who had been here for less than three years.


    Spartacus, Crixus, and the other leaders main task along the way was to observe the terrain and find a suitable ce to settle. Eventually, they unanimously chose arge farm.


    It was situated on a gentle mountainside, with the terrain behind it gradually steepened, forming a protective barrier for the estate, with only a small road leading up to it.


    Whether it was Spartacus from Thrace or Crixus from Gaul, they were both mountain people. Given the constant threat of Roman military action, living in the mountains made them feel safer. Therefore, capturing thisrge farm and establishing their base here became the unanimous decision of the leaders.


    The farm was surrounded by a wall over two meters high, and there were several guards inside. As soon as they sensed danger, they closed the wooden gate and assumed a defensive posture. The person in charge even climbed up the wall, warning the approaching diators to leave immediately, or else they would face the wrath of the Roman senator.


    Spartacus ignored the warning and ordered an attack.


    Although the farm had walls, there were fig trees nted outside the walls with grapevines climbing on them, forming what was called grape trees. This was another way of trellising grapes. The diators easily climbed the walls using the fig trees and entered the estate. They swiftly overpowered the guards and overseers who dared to resist, and soon the entire estate was under their control.


    <b>Trantor''s Notes:</b><ol></ol><li> A Roman unit of measurement of area. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jugerum</li><!--


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 Chapter 14: Initial Establishment of Teams

    Chapter 14: Initial Establishment of Teams


    Hamilcar, apanied by Maximus, entered the farm, and the task given to them by Spartacus was to count the supplies in it.


    The farm was not small in size, butpared to the one they stayed inst night, it had fewer buildings. There were no manure piles near the farm, no granary in the yard, no pigsty, sheep pen, or even a stable, so there was no obvious smell.


    In the middle of the yard was a t stone ground, not for threshing, but for drying raisins. In the middle of the ground was a pool used to collect rainwater. On one side of the yard were two wine-making rooms with presses and various sizes of barrels inside. On the other side were multiple wine cers, some storingrge wine barrels, and others storing wooden barrels The entire farm had only one rtively small warehouse, storing flour and barley, as well as a small amount of smoked meat. It was evident that this was a farm specifically for producing wine.


    Finally, the two entered the only residential building in the farm. The ground floor was for the ves to live in, with small and cramped rooms, while the top floor was where the overseers and guards lived, spacious andfortable.


    Walking into thergest room, Maximus noticed a piece of papyrus on the wooden table, with an opened envelope next to it.


    He walked over, picked it up, and read the Latin letters written on it.


    What does it say? Hamilcar, who couldnt read, curiously asked


    After reading it, Maximus thought for a moment and said in a deep voice, The man just now didnt lie. This farm does indeed belong to a Roman senator. He wrote a letter to inform the steward here that the price of Roman wine had risen and demanded the immediate delivery of twenty barrels of wine to Rome. Theres his signature on the letter.


    Maximus pronounced each word slowly, Marcus. Porcius. Cato.


    Hamilcar casually asked, Who is this person?


    Im not entirely sure either, but I vaguely remember my former master mentioning him. This family called Cato has a lot of influence in Rome! Maximus said solemnly.


    In fact, he knew nothing about the person who wrote the letter. However, he was familiar with the Cato family, because in his previous lifes history, two members of this family left a deep impression on him:


    The Cato family was originally Roman plebeian, and the <em>Cato the Elder</em> rose to prominence during the war against Hannibal. He often shouted in the Senate, Carthage must be destroyed, which eventually led to the downfall of Carthage by Rome. There was also <em>Cato the Younger</em> who consistently opposed Caesar This family seemed to have a trait that once they set their sights on a goal, not even a nine-headed cow could pull them back.


    We must tell Spartacus about this! Hamilcars expression turned serious as he turned to leave.


    Maximus was about to follow when he caught sight of a stack of papyrus on the bed. He immediately walked over and picked it up.


    Whats this now? Hamilcar stopped in his tracks and asked.


    Maximus nced at the first page and said, It seems to be a book teaching people how to cultivate crops and raise cattle and sheep.


    Oh Hamilcar lost interest and left the room.


    But Maximus carefully searched the entire bed, picking up several scattered pages, neatly stacking them, and carefully putting them into his arm before leaving the room.


    After the diators eliminated the resistance, they gathered all the ves from the farm together. Spartacus not only invited them to join their cause, but at the same time, he generously dered, If anyone is unwilling to join, they are free to leave. We will not harm them.


    As a result, nearly 30 ves chose to stay.


    While everyone was resting in the courtyard of the farm, Spartacus, Crixus, and a few other leaders were already sitting in the room where they found the letter, discussing the situation.


    After hearing the situation described by Hamirlcar and Maximus, Spartacus spoke with a serious expression, Brothers, although we have temporarily found a foothold and gained more ves joining our ranks, the Romans will soon learn that we have taken over their farm and taken their ves. They will likely send troops soon. Should we stay here and fight them or rest for a few days before continuing south?


    Of course, we should stay here and fight the Romans! Crixus decisively eximed, We have only been here for half a day, and the number of people joining our ranks is close to 200! There are ves everywhere here. If weunch a full-scale attack, killing the Roman overseers and inviting the ves to join us, it wont take long for our numbers to reach thousands! Moreover, there are many farms here, storing an ample amount of food. We dont have to worry about going hungry! If we abandon such a good ce and choose to run south, that would be a foolish decision!


    Crixus is right. Since we have already decided to resist the Romans and will inevitably have to fight their army, the sooner we achieve victory, the sooner we can establish our reputation and attract more people to join us. Thats when we wont fear the Romans anymore! Artorix, who was usually cautious, now had a fiery gleam in his eyes.


    Us Germanic people have never feared battle with Rome! Oenomaus expressed his determination concisely.


    Spartacus nced at Hamilcar.


    Hamilcar nodded.


    Good! Since we are all in agreement, then we shall face the Romans here! Spartacus face was filled with enthusiasm. He looked around at everyone and spoke in a deep voice, However, the Roman legion is not like the soldiers in Capua. They are well-organized and disciplined. I once served as an auxiliary for the Roman legion in Asia Minor, and I can attest to this. If we want to fight the Romans, we can no longer engage in random battles like before. We must organize our brothers well, strengthen our training, and maximize our strength. So, I have a suggestion.


    Our army now exceeds 400 people. Crixus, Artorix, Oenomaus, and I will eachmand a hundred men. Each hundred-man unit (centuria) will consist of half veteran brothers and half newly recruited ves. This way, the new recruits will not perform poorly under the guidance of our veteran brothers. Additionally, we will elect one squad leader for every ten people, which will bring more order to the entire army and prevent chaos during battles. What do you think?


    Spartacuss suggestion is right. This way, we wont be disorganized in battle, Artorix was the first to express agreement.


    Lets do it, Oenomaus replied straightforwardly.


    Only Crixus hesitated.


    Spartacus understood his thoughts and persuaded, Crixus, our veteran brothers are limited, but the number of people joining the team will increase. In the future, our veteran brothers may be centurions or evenmanders, leading troops to fight against the Romans. If you overly protect them and prevent them from gaining experience, they may me you in the future.


    Crixus heart trembled slightly: Among the diators, there were more than a hundred Gauls, and he had always considered himself their leader, unwilling to let others interfere. But Spartacus was right. If these proud individuals saw diators inferior to them bing captains, leading seven or eight ves, while they themselves remained as subordinate soldiers, their dissatisfaction would quickly erupt


    Thinking of this, Crixus finally nodded, I have no objections.


    Spartacus smiled, Good, we will proceed ordingly. You will be the first to select a hundred men.


    Crixus readily agreed.


    Spartacus continued, We also need to establish a cavalry unit to scout the surrounding area, especially the movements of the Roman army. What do you think?


    I agree.


    How many people should be in this cavalry unit?


    Lets start with five for now.


    But all the horses we have are used to pull wagons, and there are no extras, reminded Hamilcar.


    There are plenty of farms around here, so we wontck horses. If we capture more horses, well allocate them to the cavalry unit first, suggested Spartacus.


    Everyone agreed.

 Chapter 15: Maximus New Position

    Chapter 15: Maximus New Position


    As for the captain of the cavalry unit Spartacus pondered for a moment, then looked at Artorix. The diator who apanied you on the reconnaissance mission and was the first to notice the movement of the Capuan army and promptly informed us his name is


    O Omarkel, Artorix interjected. Hes quite clever and skilled in horsemanship.


    I suggest he takemand of the cavalry unit, Spartacus said.


    Crixus hesitated. Although Omarkel was a Gaul, he was one of the few who didnt always obey him. But he didnt want to appear envious, so he reluctantly said, I have no objections.


    Spartacus continued, We have acquired a considerable amount of supply already, and we will gain even more spoils in the future. To avoid conflicts and chaos caused by everyone scrambling for them, we must manage the spoils properly. Additionally, our numbers are increasing, and ensuring everyone is well-fed is no easy task. We need to establish a logistical unit responsible for managing supplies and providing ample food for everyone. I suggest that Hamilcar take on the role of the logistics team leader, with Maximus as his assistant, overseeing a temporary team of twenty people. What do you all think?


    Everyone unanimously agreed. The diators were enthusiastic about fighting and killing, but they had little knowledge of logistics and supply. They were eager for someone to handle theseplicated matters. Therefore, Crixus only nced at Maximus. Instead of humiliating him, he said seriously, Spartacus, our biggest problem right now is the shortage of weapons and armor. Hamilcar mentioned earlier that after upying this farming estate, aside from the ten sets of city guard equipment we obtained from the in guards, we havent found any other weapons. At least half of the ves who joined us are without weapons. Are we going to let them fight the Romans unarmed?


    Spartacus was about to speak when Maximus cleared his throat. May I speak a few words?


    Feel free to speak, Spartacus said, interested in hearing what Maximus had to say. This young man possessed knowledge about Italy that other diatorscked, which was why Spartacus tolerated and valued him. Of course, the half Thracian blood in his body also yed a role.


    I dont have a solution, but I want to inform everyone, Maximus began,bining his knowledge of ancient Rome from his previous life and the firsthand experiences of the original Maximus. He spoke earnestly, A few decades ago, every citizen in Italian city-states who had some wealth in their homes would possess one or two sets of weapons, ready to answer the call of their city-state and fight alongside the Roman army. However, since Rome started recruiting unemployed vagrants using money and directly providing them with weapons to form their armies, these Italian civilians no longer needed to prepare their own weapons. Therefore, the households in the Campania region, including farms, are unlikely to possess many weapons. Only the towns, due to their obligation to establish city guard units ording to Romesw, have armories to provide weapons for the city guards.


    Are you suggesting that we attack the towns and seize their armories? Artorix frowned.


    No, Im just informing you about the distribution of weapons in the Campania region to give you an idea, Maximus quickly rified.


    While the people of Campania may not be skilled inbat, we are also not adept at siege warfare. To minimize casualties, we should temporarily avoid attacking towns, Spartacus said thoughtfully. After raiding these farms, we can gather as many weapons as possible. ves who dont have weapons for now can fight with sharpened sticks or wooden swords, just like during our training. Those things can still kill.


    Everyone nodded, understanding the situation.


    However, Maximus, your words reminded me that the citizens of the entire Italy havent been equipped with weapons for decades. Its likely they have little training inbat and are not capable of fighting us. As long as we can defeat the Roman army, we dont have to worry about anything else! Spartacus said passionately.


    His enthusiasm infected everyone, and they became excited.


    Crixus eximed, No wonder those Capuans fight like women! That exins it. The Romans may be despicable, but they did a good job with this.


    Everyone burst intoughter.


    Maximus joined in theughter, but in his mind, he remembered the fate of Spartacus and the others in history.


    Spartacus smiled and said, Today, we have found a ce to settle down, and many new brothers have joined us. We should celebrate properly! Hamilcar and Maximus, your first task as part of the logistics team is to prepare a sumptuous dinner for us and bring several dozen bottles of fine wine from the cer. Let our brothers drink to their hearts content!


    I wholeheartedly agree! everyone eximed excitedly.


    Maximus was also happy because, through his efforts, he had gained the recognition of Spartacus and the others and had been given some authority, even if it was just assisting Hamilcar in the logistics team. It was still a significant progress.


    Gaius udius ber, born into Romes prominent udius family, was also the youngest of the eight praetors in the Roman Senate. Although he was serving as a praetor for a short time, he had nock of war experience. In his youth, he had apanied the Roman legions to Asia Minor to battle the king of Pontus. Later, he followed Su in his march on Rome. While he didnt receive the same recognition as Lucullus and Pompey, he was still respected and had a rtively smooth political career in Rome.


    As a praetor, he aimed to further advance his positionto be a consul. However, there were manypetitors, and hecked impressive military achievements and strong support. Even obtaining the opportunity for nomination would be difficult. He felt helpless in this regard. But in recent days, he discovered an opportunity.


    A group of lowly diators initiated a rebellion at the Capua diator school and then fled to the Mount Vesuvius area. They upied the hills, raided farms, killed civilians, and took ves as hostages. Their actions grew increasingly disruptive, disturbing the peace in the entire Vesuvius region, and even threatening the safety of nearby towns and the Roman roads. But more importantly, it harmed the interests of the Roman senators and patricians in the area. Therefore, in the past two days, the senators had proposed sending troops to eliminate these rebels and swiftly passed a resolution.


    Although the reports indicated that these thieves had already grown to several thousand in number, the senators only allowed half a legion to be deployed. It was evident that the senators did not consider these rebels a significant threat. However, if ber could quickly defeat them and restore peace to the Vesuvius region, he would surely gain some favor from the majority of the senators and recognition of his abilities.


    It was precisely because he saw this point that ber actively sought and petitioned to lead troops on this expedition.


    ording to regtions, praetors had the authority to lead troops, but the other praetors didnt even bother with the small achievement of eliminating a handful of rebels. Thus, ber easily obtained this task. However, Rome didnt have readily avable troops, so he had to first issue a recruitment notice in the square. The news quickly spread throughout the city, and arge number of unemployed and poor citizens flocked to Campus Martius.


    As a first-timemander, ber was cautious. Based on the information he collected, although most of those rebels were a rabble of ves, there was a group of diators leading them. diators were not proficient in military strategy, but their individualbat abilities were astonishing. When the Germanic Cimbri invaded, the Roman army suffered consecutive defeats. The Senate urgently called upon Marius, who found the soldiers he recruited to be too inexperienced to resist the fierce barbarians. Following the advice of his colleague, Lucius Rufus, Marius recruited some diators and trained his soldiers using diatorial methods. The process was extremely rigorous, with soldiers being injured constantly. However, several monthster, the new recruits individualbat abilities greatly improved,ying a solid foundation for the eventual defeat of the Cimbri.

 Chapter 16: Active Maximus

    Chapter 16: Active Maximus


    It was precisely considering these factors that Gaius udius ber instructed the recruiting officer to recruit soldiers withbat experience as much as possible.


    bers idea was good, but the problem was that several years ago, one of Marius subordinates, Quintus Sertorius, initiated a rebellion in Iberia and achieved repeated victories. Later, he joined forces with the remnants of the popres faction and increased his military strength. In order to suppress the rebellion, Rome even vited centuries-old political traditions and allowed the 30-year-old Pompey, who was neither a praetor nor a former consul, to lead the troops into battle. They even reinforced him twice. As a result, there were very few excellent soldiers withbat experience left in Rome.


    ber had to lower his requirements and recruit some veteran soldiers. These veterans were all former soldiers under Su and had marched on Rome with him. After Su became dictator, he fulfilled his promise by constructing colonial cities (such as Florence) within Italy and allocatingnd to his soldiers, ensuring their well-being. However, the problem was that these soldiers had been constantly fighting outside and had forgotten how to farm when their swords turned into plows. Year after year, many of them went bankrupt due to the mismanagement of their farnd. In their destitution, they had to return to Rome to seek a living. But now, ten years had passed since they had threatened Rome as soldiers, the veterans who were not recruited by Pompey were all over 40 years old.


    ber didnt despise them; instead, he appointed these veterans as decanus and centurions to help him manage the new recruits.


    Within a few days, berpleted the recruitment of soldiers. After spending additional days organizing the army, ber led the troops into battle without conducting any training.


    The distance from Rome to Mount Vesuvius was about 200 kilometers. Even with the Via Latina and Via Annia, it would take four or five days to travel bynd. Although traveling by sea would undoubtedly save time, ber chose to travel bynd because it allowed the new recruits to march and set up camps, utilizing the time for training.


    I am Pullo, from Egypt, living by the banks of the lower Nile River. I used to own my ownnd, and it was very fertile! When the flood season was about to end, I would build embankments with mud and keep the remaining water in the fields. Then I would start sowing, and when the harvest season arrived, the fields would be filled with abundant wheat


    Later, there was turmoil in Egypt. The vige chief, who had long coveted mynd, falsely used me of colluding with rebels. Without any investigation, the city lord arrested my entire family and threw us into prison. Later, we were sold to Roman ve traders and locked in the overcrowded and sweltering lower holds of the ship on the way to Italy My wife my children all fell ill and died


    Standing in the center of the courtyard, wearing tattered clothes, a thin man resembling a skeleton spoke with tears streaming down his face. There were several people sitting around him, each with a solemn expression, listening attentively and empathizing with his words. Some even shed tears.


    At this moment, Maximus, who was sitting on the ground in the front row, stood up and passionately eximed, Pullo is just like us, oppressed by the wealthy and powerful, losing our homes, losing our families, and forced to toil for the rich under the threat of punishment. Is this fair, brothers?!


    Unfair!!! the people around shouted angrily.


    Yes, it is very unfair, Maximus spoke solemnly, pausing for a moment before raising his voice again. Luckily, he has now joined us, joined our ranksposed of countlessrades who have suffered hardships. Here, there is no oppression, no tyranny, only mutual care and support. We stand united like brothers, all for the purpose of resisting the Romans, overthrowing the wealthy, and obtaining the freedom and happiness we desire. Brothers, am I right?!


    Youre right!!!


    Wee to our brotherhood, Pullo! Maximus wore a sincere expression, giving him a tight embrace before leading him into the crowd, where everyone approached him for hugs.


    Although Pullo still had tears in his eyes, his emotions were evidently stirred.


    The courtyard buzzed with noise for a while before gradually quieting down.


    Maximus looked towards another new addition to the logistics team not too far away, an elderly ve. His face was weathered and estimated to be over 50 years old. So far, most of the recruits in the uprising were young ves, making an elderly one like him somewhat rare. Naturally curious, Maximus spoke: Next, please wee our new brother toe forward and share his story.


    The old man walked to the center of the courtyard. Compared to the previous nervousness of Pullo when he started speaking, the old man appeared calmer. My name is Vorenus, a Samnite. I became a ve when I was very young. My master, Titus Longus, was a Roman equestrian. He treated me well, like family. Later, he even spent money to grant me freedom and sent me here to manage his farm


    Upon hearing these words, most of the ves expressions turned sour. They came from various farms in the Vesuvius region, and the hardships they endured on those farms were mostly caused by overseers.


    I managed the farm well, and my master was pleased. He was even preparing to apply for my Roman citizenship but Su that damned Su! The old man suddenly raised his voice, his face contorting in anger. He led his army into Rome, massacring the popres. Someone falsely used my master of colluding with Lepidus, when all he wanted was my masters farm in Vesuvius. That tyrant didnt bother to investigate the truth and executed my master. I was used of frequently acting as my masters messenger, passing information to the popres, and was stripped of my freedman status, bing a ve again. My family my family was sold off to different ces, and I dont know if theyre still alive or not Its been ten years! For these ten years, I have cursed Su and the Roman Senate every moment, yearning for revenge!


    When I first heard about you, I wanted to join, but the guards on the farm kept a close watch on me. Being old and feeble, I didnt dare act recklessly. Today, when you broke into the farm where I was held, I was the first to respond to Commander Spartacus call. I swear to Jupiter that while I may not have the ability to fight the Romans, I am willing to do anything else that can help our cause in defeating them!


    As the old man spoke, the ves opinion of him changed. When Maximus shouted, Great! they also apuded with enthusiasm (they learned that from Maximus), conveying their goodwill to Vorenus.


    Thats enough for the self-introductions of our new brothers of the logistics team today. Starting tomorrow, a few of you will work with the rest of the group and get familiar with our tasks. Once youre settled in, our leader, Hamilcar, will assign you specific duties. Understood? Maximus asked with a friendly expression.


    Vorenus, Pullo, and a few others nodded.


    Reius.


    Yes! a thin man in his 40s responded.


    Youll be in charge of their amodation arrangements.


    Understood.


    Maximus surveyed the entire courtyard. It was filled with ves sitting around, clearly more than there were at the beginning. They must have secretlye from other teams, and he was pleased to see it. He asked loudly, Brothers, what should we do next?


    Tell stories!! the ves cheered loudly.


    No, before I tell stories, we need to learn! Maximus said seriously. Yesterday, we learned addition and subtraction within 10. Today, before we move on to new arithmetic, lets review. Akgo, Cassius, bring the ckboard over.


    Yes. Two young ve boys immediately carried a wooden board to the center of the courtyard.


    One side of the board was painted ck. Maximus took a piece of chalk and said, Lets say there are five bags of wheat in the courtyard, and we bring in four more bags from another farm. How many bags of wheat are there in total now? As he spoke, he wrote 5+4 on the ckboard and asked, Who can solve this arithmetic problem?

 Chapter 17: Leader of the Logistics Team

    Chapter 17: Leader of the Logistics Team


    Me! two young ve boys immediately shouted excitedly at the same time.


    You two have answered the most questions in the past. Today, let others have this opportunity, Maximus said as he looked around.


    There are quite a few people who want to answer the questions! Spartacus, who was peering at everything from outside the courtyard gate, whispered in surprise.


    Thats because Maximus set a rule. As long as they study seriously and can correctly answer the questions he asks, they can have an extra piece of meat or an additional cup of wine for dinner on the next day. So these guys are more focused when learning what Maximus teaches, Hamilcar exined quietly on the side.


    Your Logistics Team must not take advantage of the convenience to feed yourselves extra meals, Spartacus reminded with a serious tone.


    We have no other choice, Hamilcar immediatelyined. Now that we are acquiring more and more supplies, the people you assigned to us can handle physical work, but most of them are illiterate and dont understand arithmetic. Maximus and I have to check the supplies untilte at night. Maximus said to me, Our group is still small, but were already so busy. If the number of people exceeds 10,000 in the future, wont we be worked to death So he suggested using the spare time every evening to teach everyone arithmetic and literacy. Once they all learn, we wont be so overwhelmed.


    Hamilcar continued, I agreed with his opinion, but the actual implementation is not that easy. Many people are unwilling to use their brains to study. Thats why Maximus came up with the method of using food as a stimulus. He also added storytelling and even came up with such simple symbols to represent numbers. Thats why our brothers are so actively gathering in the courtyard after dinner, lighting bonfires, and earnestly studying. Look, they even attracted people from other teams


    Why do you let the newly joined brothers speak publicly about their experiences? Spartacus curiously asked.


    You know, these ves who join our teame from all directionsAsia Minor, Northern Greece, Iberia, Greece, Egypt, Numidia, Gaul, Germania, Italy, Illyria Hamilcar counted on his fingers, listing them one by one. Their customs and habits are different, their personalities are different, and theirnguages are different. When they gather together, conflicts are inevitable. Its easier here since we have fewer people, but Ive heard that fights often break out in other teams. I imagine you and Crixus must be troubled by this, right?


    Spartacus nodded, signaling Hamilcar to continue.


    Maximus found a solution to this problem! He told me: Although our brotherse from different backgrounds, they all share themon experience of being oppressed by the rich and patricians, as lowly ves under Roman oppression. They all have tragic experiences. If we let them publicly share their past experiences, it will easily evoke resonance among everyone and promote mutual eptance, making them closerades in the fight against amon enemy I followed his advice and let him implement this method. So far, the results have been excellent. You can see that our Logistics Team is the most united team, and so far, there have been no fights or brawls.


    This method seems good and can be implemented in other teams. After you take over the military affairs, you can be in charge of this, Spartacus pondered and said, As for the candidate to rece you and be the leader of the Logistics Team


    Hamilcar said anxiously, Spartacus, Ive brought you here to observe for so long. Why are you still not confident? Although Maximus is young, he has the ability and insight. Moreover, he is eager to learn. After following me for so many days, he not only learned how to manage the Logistics Team and satisfy the teams needs but also made many improvements. I can handle the military affairs for you these days because Maximus has taken sole responsibility for this team. Let me tell you the truth, Maximus prestige in the Logistics Team is higher than mine now. Everyone is willing to listen to him. If you let someone else take over as the leader of the Logistics Team, it might cause trouble!


    Listening to Hamilcars reminder, Spartacus looked towards the center of the courtyard. Maximus was writing and drawing on a wooden board with limestone while exining loudly. The eyes of the ves around him were focused on him, listening attentively.


    Seeing Spartacus remaining silent, Hamilcar couldnt help but continue, Spartacus, is it because you still dont trust Maximus due to the incident where he was forced to betray?


    Spartacus shook his head first, then nodded, Maximus recent performance is enough to earn the trust of every one of us! However his act of betrayal has left Crixus resentful, and some of our diator brothers have objections, including Oenomaus.


    So what? As long as you and I support him in the meeting, Artorix will also support him. Even if Crixus and Oenomaus oppose, the minority must obey the majority, and Maximus will be the new leader of the Logistics Team.


    Spartacus was about to speak when he heard orderly shouts from the courtyard, Maximus, tell a story! Tell a story! Tell a story!!!


    Alright! Alright! Maximus smiled and pressed his hands down, gesturing for everyone to quiet down. The shouting immediately subsided. You have all studied diligently tonight, so shall I continue telling the story of Troy?


    Yes!!!


    Spartacus looked at the lively scene in the courtyard and finally made up his mind. He said to Hamilcar, Alright, lets go with your suggestion. Lets discuss it tomorrow and let Maximus take over as the leader of the Logistics Team, while you wille to manage the military affairs. Although we have more people now, most of themck training. You need to quickly focus on military training. Otherwise, we might have trouble when fighting against the Roman legions!


    Okay, I will take care of it as soon as possible, Hamilcar responded solemnly, understanding the urgency of the matter.


    Pleasee in, Maximus. We are all waiting for you. After hearing Spartacus words, Maximus entered the room.


    Spartacus straightforwardly said: We just had a discussion, and we unanimously decided to make you the leader of the Logistics Team.


    Upon hearing this, Maximus felt ecstatic inside. His efforts over the past month had not been in vain after all!


    Maximus surveyed the room: Spartacus looked expectant, Artorix showed enthusiasm, Crixus had a cold expression, and Oenomaus brows were slightly furrowed


    Finally, his gaze fell on Hamilcar:


    The diator who had the closest rtionship with him was smiling and nodding towards him


    He suppressed his excitement and put on a concerned expression as he asked, What about Hamilcar?


    He will be in charge of managing the military affairs and assist us in organizing our growing army. Tell me, do you have the confidence to handle the Logistics Team on your own? Spartacus looked at him and asked seriously.


    Of course, no problem! Maximus confidently replied in a loud voice. He knew he couldnt show any weakness at this moment.


    Humph, whats the use of empty words? Well see if you can do it in due time, Crixus interjected coldly.


    Maximus pretended not to hear the sarcastic remark.


    The supply of food and other resources is crucial for us. Therefore, in the future, when we discuss matters concerning our entire army, you will also participate and provide us with information about the reserves. Of course, you can also give us suggestions, and we will discuss them together, understood?


    Understood! Maximus could no longer suppress his joy and smiled: <em>Now, I have finally be one of the leaders of this uprising! Even though I have the fewest number of people under mymand, Im still one of the six key figures of this rebel army!</em>


    During this time, under the proposals of Spartacus and Hamilcar, a Military Commanders Assembly was established to manage the growing team and handle variousplicated matters. The militarymanders in charge of the meeting were Spartacus, Crixus, Hamilcar, Oenomaus, and Artorix, the five diators who had initially led the revolt. Additionally, when encountering important matters that concerned the entire armys life and death, a soldiers assembly had to be held to make decisions.

 Chapter 18: Military Commanders Assembly

    Chapter 18: Military Commanders Assembly


    While the majority of diators were still indulging in daily killings, looting, and excessive drinking, Maximus had already keenly realized that the Military Commanders Assembly had be the highest authority in the entire rebel army. He began finding ways to be a part of it as soon as possible, in order to gain greater influence over the rebel forces. Now that he had finally achieved his goal, how could he not be happy?


    Dont get too excited! Although you can participate in the Military Commanders Assembly, youre just a participant. You can suggest ideas, but you have no decision-making power! Crixus coldly said.


    Crixus words poured cold water on Maximus excitement, his expression stiffened briefly before looking to Hamilcar.


    Hamilcar nodded.


    Sit down, we have other matters to discuss, Spartacus said without further exnation, urging them to proceed.


    Maximus let out a sigh and expelled his frustration: <em>Well, being present is better than not. At least Im in, and Ill work harder to be an official member in the future.</em>


    Maximus adjusted his mood and found an empty wooden stool to sit on.


    Weve all agreed to start training the troops, but we need toe up with a n on how to proceed with the training, Spartacus looked at the others in the room and asked, Do you have any suggestions?


    Training the troops is simple, Oenomaus interjected, After dinner, before the sun sets, let our diator brothers in each unit serve as instructors and train our newly recruited brothers using the training methods from the diator school. I believe that within two or three months, thebat abilities of the new recruits will significantly improve.


    The schools training methods are too rigorous. Doing that might cause dissatisfaction among the new recruits. Weve already had enough fights and brawls in the camp recently. If we provoke more conflicts and shes, it could Artorix expressed his concern.


    Let our diator brothers lower the requirements. Theres no need to be as strict as in the school. Moreover, after implementing that method Spartacus mentioned earlier, it will definitely foster a more friendly atmosphere among everyone, so you dont have to worry about that, Crixus mentioned that method which referred to the airing of grievances promoted by Maximus in the supply team.


    For some psychological reason, Crixus only briefly mentioned it and quickly shifted the topic: However, the main problem is that even if we lower the requirements, the training will still be strenuous. Our brothers are already tired from daytime activities, and adding training at night might be too much to handle.


    During this period, our army has been expanding continuously, and we have obtained more and more resources. We have basically raided all the nearby farms, Spartacus said earnestly. I think theres no urgent need to send all our teams down the mountain every day. We can let the different teams take turns attacking the more distant farms, while the teams staying here at the base can focus on training. This way, we will have sufficient time to organize our forces. You see, some of our brothers serving as centurions dont even know how many soldiers they have under theirmand, let alone familiarize themselves with their names. How can they lead them into battle against the Romans? This wont do. We need to make changes quickly!


    Others in the room could sense Spartacus anxiety. As leaders themselves, they shared the same sentiments and expressed their agreement.


    Then, Hamilcar offered his suggestion, I believe its not appropriate to focus solely on training the individualbat abilities of our brothers. In a battle involving thousands of soldiers, its often the side with better organization and discipline that triumphs over the courageous but chaotic opposition. Therefore, in addition to individual training, its necessary to conduct collective training for all teams, teaching them how to assemble, march, maneuver into formations, switch formations, and followmands to engage in battle or retreat in a timely manner.


    I agree, Spartacus responded first, as it was a n he had discussed with Hamilcar.


    I agree too, Artorix followed suit.


    Crixus didnt respond immediately, but instead asked, Hamilcar, what kind of collective training are you nning to conduct?


    We will train our brothers using Roman tactics and formations. I have spent time in the Roman legion with Spartacus, so I have some understanding of their methods, Hamilcar replied.


    Why should we use Roman tactics in our battles?! Oenomaus expressed his dissatisfaction, We should practice our Germanic wedge formation tactics instead. Once we master them, we can easily defeat the Romans!


    The Romans may not be very strong or tall, but they have managed to conquer many races and establish dominance in the Mediterranean primarily because of their tactics, Spartacus patiently exined. Oenomaus, I have heard you talk about the tactics of your Germanic people before, and they are indeed excellent. However, in our army, most of our brothers, especially the new recruits, are not as strong and tall as us diators, and theyckbat experience. They have suffered from abuse, are physically weak, and dont have enough strength to break through the Romans tight defense lines or prate their shield formations. Thats why Roman tactics are suitable for them. Just think about it, when our brothers learn the Roman tactics andbine them with their superior courage and hatred for the Romans, can the Roman army still defeat us?


    Oenomaus scratched his head and remained silent.


    Crixus pondered for a moment and said, We need to train our brothers individualbat abilities and conduct collective training. After a whole day of training, their physical exertion will be significant. Can our brothers endure it?


    I have considered your concern as well. We can provide them with an additional meal at noon. When our brothers are well-fed, they will naturally have the energy to continue training, Hamilcar replied, looking at Maximus. How much food do we have in stock?


    We have 600 tons of wheat, 200 tons of barley, 1,000 kilograms of smoked pork, 750 kilograms of smoked fish, 240 sheep, and 23 cows Maximus answered quickly without much thought. If we calcte based on our current army of 5,000 people, its enough to feed us for half a year. If we add an extra meal at lunchtime, ensuring that our brothers eat well and have the energy to continue training, it willst us for over three months. Moreover, we will also capture new farms to obtain more food, so theres no need to worry about food shortages.


    Maximus looked at everyone, confidently suggesting, We can even add more meat to the lunch and provide diluted wine. This way, our brothers will be more willing to train when they are well-fed and well-hydrated.


    Well, thats a good idea. As the new leader of the Logistics Team, you will be responsible for these matters, Hamilcar said.


    Alright, Maximus quickly nodded, showing respect for the former leader.


    No one else objected, and the decision to conduct military training was finalized.


    Since we have already looted all the nearby farms. We should discuss which direction to attack next, Crixus reminded.


    For now, lets not go south. Its close to the coast and has multiple towns. They may not dare attack us, but will still hinder our farm raids and supply transport. To go east, the journey is far and we have to bypass Mount Vesuvius. Its better to go north first. When we be stronger, we can consider other options, Spartacus had long considered this.


    Despite Crixus and Oenomaus often boasting to their respective subordinates about being able to easily defeat any enemy, deep down, they still had some fear of the Roman army. Thats why they unanimously agreed to establish their base on the mountainside. Now, with the possibility of Roman army attacking at any time, they were even less willing to lead their forces away from the main stronghold and approach hostile towns. Therefore, they naturally didnt oppose Spartacus suggestion.


    Oenomaus added, If we attack east, we can have Omarkel monitor Via Annia. In case there are more weapon-carrying wagons passing by, we can intercept them and distribute the weapons to our brothers. We have too few weapons at the moment!

 Chapter 19: The Shameless Maximus

    Chapter 19: The Shameless Maximus


    Although Oenomaus idea was somewhat naive, given the chaotic situation in the northern region of Mount Vesuvius caused by the rebel army, the nearby Via Annia had be deste. It was nearly impossible to encounter a fortunate situation like before. However, the issue he raised was indeed the primary concern for everyone: it had been a month since they escaped from Capua, and their forces had swelled to nearly 5,000 people. Yet, only less than 500 individuals had simple weapons (such as wooden shields, short swords, or spears).


    During this period, everyone hade up with many ideas but was unable to ovee the dilemma of the weapon shortage.


    After a moment of silence, Spartacus spoke in a deep voice, Oenomaus suggestion is not bad. We can have Omarkel send his men to give it a try. However, our main focus should be on intensifying the training of our brothers starting tomorrow, to quickly enhance theirbat abilities. Only then can we defeat and seize the weapons and equipment of the Roman army when they arrive! If they donte for the time being, we cant foolishly wait for them to gather arge army to besiege us. We must take the initiative to attack small towns like Pompeii, seize their armories, and equip our brothers. This is the only way we can have a chance against the Roman army.


    Whether defeating the Roman army or capturing cities, both would be difficult. But everyone realized that the rebel army had no other choice. In the end, they all expressed their agreement.


    After the meeting, Hamilcar gathered all the members of the Logistics Team in the courtyard and announced that Maximus would be their new leader.


    As soon as the announcement was made, cheers erupted from all around, and some even apuded vigorously.


    Hamilcar turned to Maximus and said, We made the right decision. It seems everyone is eager to have you as their leader.


    Thats because of your full support, Teacher, and selflessly teaching me many things these days! Maximus said sincerely. After assisting Hamilcar in his work and frequently seeking his advice, Maximus began calling him Teacher. Initially, Hamilcar was ufortable with it, but Maximus persisted, and eventually, Hamilcar epted it silently. As a result, he also grew to trust Maximus and often allowed him to take charge. It was one of the main reasons why he proactively rmended Maximus to Spartacus.


    Its all for the sake of our team. I entrust the Logistics Team to you. You must manage it well and avoid any mishaps! Hamilcar earnestly advised. If you encounter any difficulties that you cant solve, feel free toe to me. We will discuss and find a solution together.


    Maximus immediately took the opportunity and said, Teacher, I have a problem right now and I hope to have your support.


    Youre quite shameless, brat, Hamilcar scolded, but he wasnt truly angry. After spending time together in the team, he had grown ustomed to the young mans thick skin. Go ahead, whats the difficult problem?


    The Logistics Team is short-staffed! Maximus hurriedly exined, afraid that Hamilcar would object. Although the number of people in the team seems substantial now, with nearly 200 people, and its increasing every day, you should know what kind of people they are. There are over 50 women, more than 30 elderly individuals over 40 years old, and over 20 children. Although there are still over 80 adult men, they are either frail or sickly In short, most of the additional manpower for the team is the old, weak, sick, or disabled


    You should be aware that the Roman army may attack at any time, and our newly joined ve brothers will of course be incorporated into the major teams first. Now is not the time to prioritize the Logistics Team! Hamilcar finally interrupted him, reminding him.


    I understand that, but when Spartacus and others are in battle, the Logistics Team needs to be there as well. It may not be apparent during the routine activities of seizing farms or collecting food, but during the entire battle, the Logistics Team members will struggle to adapt to the intense battle. They wont be able to fulfill their roles and may be a burden instead!


    Maximus spoke earnestly, having considered this issue for a while. He even preemptively countered Hamilcars possible remedies: Even if we assignbat troops to assist the Logistics Team during battles, theyre unfamiliar with the Logistics Team. It will only create confusion. They may not even followmands, and if they abandon the team during critical moments to engage inbat, it will put the team in danger Therefore, its best to allocate some of the strong ve brothers to the Logistics Team!


    After hearing Maximuss words, Hamilcars expression also turned serious. He pondered for a while before saying, Alright, I will mention this to Spartacus first. Youre now the leader of the Logistics Team and can participate in the Military Commanders Assembly. When we all gather next time, you can bring up this matter for discussion. But even if its approved, the number of personnel assigned to the team wont be significant.


    Having some will do, Maximus replied with a smile.


    Are there any other difficult problems? Hamilcar blinked.


    Not for now, Maximus replied with a smile. In fact, he had other suggestions, but he knew he had to take it one step at a time.


    Looking at Hamilcars departing figure, Maximus clenched his fists with excitement.


    His diligent efforts during this past month had not been in vain. He had finally be the leader of the Logistics Team! Although it was partly due to his ability to read and do arithmetic, as well as theck ofpetition from other diators involved in the rebellion within the Logistics Team, his demonstrated capabilities were also evident. Otherwise, even with Hamilcars rmendation, he wouldnt have been approved during the assembly. In the eyes of those diators who only knew how to fight fiercely, the Logistics Team was where the weaklings belonged. However, when Spartacus appointed Hamilcar as the leader of the team and allowed him to participate in the Military Commanders Assembly to discuss military affairs, Maximus realized that joining the Logistics Team and bing its leader was undoubtedly the best choice for a young man like him, whocked prestige and a tainted reputation among the diators. It was just surprising how quickly he achieved his goal, even beyond his own expectations.


    Just as he was feeling excited, someone approached him with a smile on their face and said, Captain Maximus, now that you have be the leader of our team, should we celebrate?


    Maximus looked at her.


    This woman in her 30s was named Agnes, from Egypt. Her family had be ves due to heavy debts and was sold to arge farm in the Vesuvius region. Her husband was assigned to work in the fields, while she became a cook. Two years ago, her eldest daughter was forcibly taken into the farm overseers house. After bing pregnant, she was abandoned like worn-out shoes, eventually dying in childbirth. The grieving couple hastily buried her, but they didnt dare show the slightest hint of resentment towards the farm overseer. Not long after, her husband passed away in sorrow. Agnes endured the pain and carefully guarded her other underage daughter, fearing that she would be harmed too. These past two years had been filled with constant worry for her. Thanks to the rebel army breaking into the farm and killing the resisting overseer on the spot, she was the first among the farm ves to actively join the rebels. She even took a butchers knife and hacked the overseers body to vent her anger


    As the number of personnel in the Logistics Team grew, Hamilcar wanted to appoint a leader to manage the kitchen. He originally had another male ve in mind, but Maximus strongly rmended Agnes to him. Because of his frequent work with the Logistics Team members, Maximus had discovered that Agnes, despite being a woman, was bold and efficient in her work. She had amanding influence among the group of people working in the kitchen. Maximus,ing from the modern society, didnt hold the same discriminatory views towards women as the era he found himself in. Under his insistence, Agnes became the first female leader in the uprising team.


    Maximus himself didnt have the habit of doing good deeds anonymously. Instead, he made sure his contributions were known to others, and as a result, he earned Agnes gratitude.


    With a serious expression, Maximus said to Agnes, Thank you for your kindness, but now is not the time for celebration. We must first do our tasks well and prove to our brothers fighting outside that Spartacus decision to make me the leader is the right one.

 Chapter 20: Suggestions from Subordinates (I)

    Chapter 20: Suggestions from Subordinates (I)


    Maximus had another consideration that he didnt voice out: as a former diator who had escaped, he had once betrayed hisrades. Now, he had suddenly risen to a high position within the rebel army. Even though the Logistics Team was looked down upon by others, it was inevitable that some would feel jealous. Therefore, he decided it was best to keep a low profile.


    Agnes didnt think too much about it. Out of respect for Maximus, she patted her chest and said loudly, Captain Maximus, dont worry, I will supervise them (the other kitchen personnel) to work diligently!


    Maximus nodded and looked around at the people in the courtyard. He spoke loudly, From now on, I am the leader of the Logistics Team! Dont worry, everything will remain the same as before. Continue to do your tasks well, and then gather in this courtyard at night. Follow me to learn and listen to my stories. How does that sound?!


    Great!!! The crowd shouted in unison.


    When Maximus said, Everything in the logistics team will remain the same, it was just aforting phrase to stabilize the morale. After the Logistics Team members finished listening to the story and went to rest, Maximus called several leaders within the team for a meeting.


    The meeting took ce in Maximuss bedroom.


    Maximuss bedroom was a single room in the main building of the vineyard. Although Maximus was already familiar with the other people in the room, tonight, illuminated by candlelight, he took another look at them:


    Agnes, the fierce woman in charge of the kitchen.


    Cornelius, a thin and elderly male ve responsible for guarding the warehouse and managing supplies.


    And Pigres, a rtively strong man in charge of the wagons for delivering goods. Unfortunately, he wasme in his left leg.


    The higher-ups of the Logistics Team didnt seem to have impressive backgrounds, but Agnes was skilled in kitchen affairs, Cornelius was one of the few ves in the rebel army who could read and write, and Pigres had excellent carriage-driving skills. Each of them had their own expertise, and the three leaders shared amon characteristicthey all hated Romans.


    Agnes didnt need further exnation. Cornelius was a Sabine, originally having a few acres ofnd to sustain himself, but he fell into debt and his family was destroyed due to thend consolidation by Roman nobles. Pigres, on the other hand, was a Greek from Asia Minor, forced to be involved in the war between Rome and Pontus. He was captured and enved by the Roman army due to his injuries


    All three of them were older than Maximus, but they looked at the young Maximus with respect. It wasnt just because Maximus had been working and teaching them for almost a month, but also because this group of diators who started the revolt were their benefactors and the backbone of the current army. From themanders to the centurions and even some leader of ten (decanus), diators held positions of authority. In their eyes, Maximus, as one of them, was only fitting to hold an important position.


    Maximus was satisfied with their respectful attitude and asked directly, You three have been leading the Logistics Team for a while now. What are your thoughts and suggestions regarding the matters you oversee?


    The three of them were taken aback when they heard this. They didnt expect Maximus to call them for a meetingte at night to ask for their suggestions. The previous leader, Hamilcar, was known for giving direct orders and never consulted or listened to their suggestions.


    Seeing the silence from the three, Maximus realized their cautiousness and immediately smiled, speaking in a soothing tone, As Commander Spartacus once said, Once you join our ranks, we are brothers and sisters. We all belong to the Logistics Team, so the matters of this team are everyones concern. While you were working, you must have noticed some issues. Lets discuss and solve them together to make our team better, right?


    Maximuss words dispelled their concerns. Agnes spoke up first, Captain Maximus, thenthen Ill say it


    Speak freely!


    Agnes bit her lip and said, The biggest problem in the kitchen is that there are too many women. They work diligently, but they are constantly harassed by soldiers from other teams. Although Commander Spartacus has previously issued orders to prohibit people from other teams from entering the farm, they still frequently sneak in! The Patrol Team responsible for guarding the farm are aware of it but dont make a wholehearted effort to stop them. Especially the soldiers from the Second Team who often enter the kitchen and touch my subordinates. They are so scared that they cant work properly! Captain, you must manage this properly; otherwise, the kitchen will be chaotic, and we wont be able to carry out our tasks!


    Maximus frowned. He was aware of this issue and had brought it up to Hamilcar before. But Hamilcar didnt take it seriously. He believed: The rebel army was mostly young men full of energy and curiosity about women. As long as they didnt truly assault the women of the Logistics Team, allowing them to indulge in some verbal desires could help boost their desire to fight.


    Additionally, the Second Team was under themand of Crixus. Due to Crixuss indulgence, their discipline was indeed poor. However, Spartacus considered Crixus as one of the leaders of the rebel army, and with his stubborn and obstinate personality, he was hesitant to address or prevent this issue, fearing it would affect unity. If even Spartacus had reservations, then Hamilcar certainly had no intention to intervene either.


    Maximus knew this matter was difficult to handle, but he still earnestly noted it down on the wax tablet with an iron stylus. Then he asked, Very well, are there any other issues?


    Yes! Agnes, feeling affirmed and no longer hesitant, spoke loudly, Although there are over 100 people assigned to our kitchen, they have to cook porridge and stew twice a day, grind flour, knead dough, bake bread, and distribute food to the various teams camps They are busy from morning till night without any rest.


    Everyone is working so hard, but despite of that, we can barely meet the needs of the entire army. And every day, there are so many more people joining the army. If we dont increase the manpower in our kitchen, Im afraid some people will go hungry. Also, we need more stoves, ovens, grinding mills Without these things, even if we have more manpower, we wont be able to produce enough food.


    Maximus nodded solemnly and noted it down on the wax tablet. Then he asked, Anything else?


    Theres also the issue of sleeping, Agnes continued, The Logistics Teamcks tents. We sleep in the yard when its sunny, and when it rains, we squeeze under the eaves of the warehouse and main building. We have so many women in the kitchen, so its very inconvenient, and it also makes us prone to illness.


    Maximus frowned again.


    Since Spartacus and the other leaders chose this ce as their base, but with the rapid expansion of the rebel army, the farm couldnt amodate so many people anymore. Itter became a storage base, and the Logistics Team responsible for guarding the supplies naturally stayed in the farm. Apart from the leaders of the rebel army who still resided in the farm, more than 4,000 soldiers were stationed in the hills and ins surrounding the farm. They alsocked tents, and they believed that the Logistics Team had better amodation conditions, so they wouldnt agree to give any tents to the Logistics Team


    This is indeed a problem. Maximus knew that this matter was not easy to solve, but he still showed a serious attitude and noted it down on his wax tablet.


    Ive said everything. Agnes looked at Cornelius and urged, Old man, if you have any difficulties in your area, hurry up and tell the captain!


    Although the three leaders of the logistics team didnt know each other before joining the uprising, they had formed a good bond in just over 20 days due to their simr tragic experiences and frequent interactions at work.


    Cornelius nodded to Agnes and calmly said, There are three problems that need to be solved in the warehouse area. First, people from other teams oftene in and steal things, like smoked fish, smoked meat, wine, and such. We cant stop them, and we even get beaten. The Patrol Team is not effective, and sometimes they even join in the stealing;


    The second issue is that we are receiving more and more supplies now, and the few warehouses in the farm are already full. Storing them in the yard is not easy to manage, and they are prone to damage in windy or rainy weather. We also need to be careful about fire safety;


    The third problem is I am old and have limited abilities. I can barely manage the supplies in one farm, but now we have umted supplies from over a dozen farms. My subordinates didnt understand arithmetic before and only learned a little in the past few days under your leadership, Captain. Its bing increasingly difficult to keep track of these supplies. I need a few subordinates with strong arithmetic skills. Otherwise, the supply management of the Logistics Team will be more and more chaotic

 Chapter 21: Suggestions from Subordinates (II)

    Chapter 21: Suggestions from Subordinates (II)


    Maximus listened attentively, his iron stylus continuously writing on the wax tablet. After finishing, he didnt immediately respond but looked at Pigres and asked, What difficulties do you have on your side?


    Captain Maximus, like Uncle Cornelius, I also have three problems here, Pigres replied, following Cornelius example. He raised three fingers and responded solemnly, The first problem is that every day I lead the Wagon Team to follow the main force. Our task is to transport all the captured spoils back here. However, after the farm was taken over, the Wagon Team was thest to be allowed inside. As a result, many things inside were already taken by people from other major teams. They even said to my face that we only scavenge what they leave behind


    At this point, Pigres appeared somewhat angry, but he quickly realized it was inappropriate andposed himself. He continued, The second problem is that the Wagon Teamcks carpenters who can repair the wagons. Initially, we had a total of 20 wagons, but now we can only use 13. With daily heavy loads and the uneven road up this mountain, a wagon gets damaged every two or three days. Although we can continue to sustain the team by seizing wagons, its a pity to leave the broken wagons abandoned in the yard. If we can repair them, the Wagon Team can transport more goods in one trip, reducing the need for multiple round trips in a day.


    The third problem is rted to those sheep that Commander Hamilcar initially assigned to me. At that time, there were only a dozen sheep, and I still had the energy to feed them together with the horses. But now, the number has increased to over 240, along with six cows. The farm doesnt have sheep pen originally, and the surrounding areas are upied by other teams. We could only build a makeshiftrge sheep pen about 1 kilometer north of the farm, where the sheep can rest and graze during the day. However, its difficult to manage because weck enough personnel for sheep herding, and people from other teams oftene to steal sheep. We lose sheep every day, and even Saxippus hasined to me several times. But I cant do anything about it. My focus is mainly on the Wagon Team, and the sheep pen is too far away for me to oversee


    After listening, Maximus didnt immediately respond. He looked at the three of them and said, Do you have any other issues?


    No, thats all, Agnes replied eagerly, and Pigres and Cornelius nodded in agreement.


    Maximus looked at the wax tablet filled with Latin words and contemted for a while before addressing them:


    The problems you have raised can be summarized as ack of manpower and resources. Its not just a shortage of ordinaryborers. Agnes, you need more people who are skilled in kitchen work. Cornelius, you want people who are good at arithmetic to help you manage the stored supplies. Pigres, you need carpenters to repair the wagons and people knowledgeable in animal husbandry to take care of the cattle and sheep. But more importantly, all three of you have mentioned our Logistics Teamsck of security and excessive reliance on external forces


    Maximus looked at the three individuals and spoke with a more serious tone, In other words, what we need in our Logistics Team is a patrol unit directly under ourmand, capable of ensuring our safety and preventing people from other teams from causing trouble!


    Youre absolutely right, Captain! Agnes eximed loudly, no longer concealing her feelings of approval and disapproval. We have brought up these issues to Commander Hamilcar before, but he simply doesnt care. You, on the other hand, show us great concern and value. Right, old man Cornelius? Pigres?


    Pigres vigorously nodded in agreement, while Cornelius merely stroked his chin without responding.


    Maximus observed their reactions and cleared his throat loudly, saying, Commander Hamilcar isnt uncaring, he knows that providing enough manpower for you is not an easy task. Its even more difficult for the Logistics Team to have its own patrol unit. Right now, all the major teams are busy expanding their forces to counter the potential attacks from the Roman army. Naturally, they wont agree to allocate young men to join our team. But you dont need to worry. I have taken note of all these concerns and will find ways to solve your problems. It will just take some time.


    The sincere attitude disyed by Maximus made the three individuals feel that this newly appointed leader was not just going through the motions but genuinely wanted to address the problems. They didnt feel discouraged but rather expressed their understanding, advising Maximus not to be too impatient.


    As for theck of kitchen equipment, warehouses, and tents that you mentioned, I think this problem is rtively easier to solve, Maximus paused for a moment and said in a deep voice, Since this farm no longer has enough space to store supplies, we can use other farms as additional bases for our Logistics Team. I remember theres arge olive oil farm not far down the mountain.


    But although our army has already taken that farm, there are no soldiers stationed near it now. If our Logistics Team sends people to upy that farm, it could be dangerous if the Roman army suddenly attacks, Cornelius voiced his concerns.


    Of course, we cant upy that farm alone. We need other major teams to be stationed nearby to ensure safety, Maximus had already considered this and replied, Our army is currentlyrge in number, but the concentration here up this mountain is too dense! It would be better to divide and upy several farms to expand our territory I will propose this matter to Spartacus and other leaders and try my best to persuade them..


    Captain, if what you said can be implemented, it would indeed solve the problem of theck of kitchen equipment. However, we were already short on people, and this would only exacerbate the issue! Agnes reminded.


    You dont need to worry about that. As long as Commander Spartacus agrees to designate other farms as supply bases for our Logistics Team, they will have to provide us with more manpower, Maximus confidently replied.


    But if the other farms also have kitchens, warehouses, and wagon teams, would we need new leaders for them too? Agnes followed up with her question.


    Hearing this, Maximus looked at the anxious Agnes, then at the calm but tightly sped hands of Pigres, and finally at the nonchnt Cornelius. He nodded and said, Thats certain, for the sake of better management. However, as the Logistics Team growsrger in the future, I will establish additional leaders such as the Chief of Kitchens, Chief of Warehouses, and Chief of Wagon Teams above these leaders to avoid any chaos. As he spoke, Maximus smiled at the three individuals.


    The meaning behind his words couldnt be clearer, and it immediately excited Agnes, while Pigris straightened his posture. Only Cornelius maintained his nonchnt expression.


    After dangling the carrot in front of these three people, Maximus continued, Pigres, based on what you just said, it seems you no longer wish to oversee the sheep?


    Captain, I spend my whole day leading the Wagon Team and have no time to take care of the sheep and cattle! Pigres exined hastily.


    Since thats the case Maximus pretended to ponder and said, Lets establish a separate team for herding and assign someone else to take charge. Do you have any rmended candidates?


    Saxippus. Pigris blurted out, He can handle it. He used to be a ve herding sheep and cattle for the Romans, and now hes been taking care of them.


    <em>Saxippus</em>


    Maximus tried hard to recall, and a vague face finally appeared in his mind.


    Maximus had been in the Logistics Team all along and was familiar with the majority of the people. However, he was somewhat unfamiliar with Saxippus because the man spent his days herding the animals outside, leaving little opportunity for Maximus to interact with him. Therefore, he responded, Call him overter. Ill talk to him first before deciding.

 Chapter 22: A New Broom Sweeps Clean

    Chapter 22: A New Broom Sweeps Clean


    Pigres looked hesitant and said, Captain, its alreadyte at night. Saxippus sleeps over by the sheep pen. Shall I call him tomorrow morning?


    Alright, Maximus restrained his smile, looked at the three individuals, and solemnly said, If we want Spartacus and other leaders to agree to my proposal and solve the problems of our Logistics Team, we must do better than before. We need to make the soldiers from other teams realize the importance of our team, and they will be happy to see our team grow stronger.


    The three individuals exchanged nces upon hearing this.


    Maximus continued, The three of you are already working diligently and responsibly, but we can do even better. For example, Agnes, in the kitchen that you are in charge of, breakfast consists of a bowl of barley porridge, two pieces of bread, a piece of cheese, a bowl of meat soup, and a small portion of vegetables. Dinner is a small piece of smoked meat, two pieces of bread, and a bowl of meat soup It has hardly changed in over 20 days. The soldiers eat just to fill their stomachs. Of course, its not easy for the kitchen to provide sufficient food for so many people, but if you could spare a little more effort and carefully consider how to make the food tastier, that would be even better.


    For example, when stewing the soup, adding some dried seaweed and shellfish that we confiscated from arge farm four days ago, it will surely make the meat soup more vorful. Or, brushing ayer of honey water on the freshly baked bread, or asionally ughtering two or three more sheep to make roast meat and distribute it to the soldiers, or asionally ughtering some chickens and ducks to make soup for them to drink


    But Captain, if we do that, our daily expenses will be very high! Agnes couldnt help interrupting.


    Our supplies are all looted. There are plenty of farms around here. When we finish the good stuff, we will seize other good things, Maximus smiled dismissively.


    Agnes and Hamilcar both came from humble backgrounds, and their inherent values emphasized frugality and thrift. Maximus understood this, but he couldnt continue to do things the same way. As a newly appointed leader of the Logistics Team, he needed the team to undergo some obvious changes as soon as possible to win the soldiers approval. Of course, he didnt express this thought openly but continued righteously, The brothers who joined us have suffered a lot in the past. Now, they have to fight against the Roman army and may die on the battlefield at any time. Providing them with delicious food, and making their journey in this world worthwhile, is the only thing our Logistics Team can do for them! Lets put more effort into making this food even tastier, so they can asionally feel surprised and grateful. Then, when we make requests, we will receive their support


    Maximus words deeply moved Agnes, and she immediately spoke up, Captain, youre right. I will do as you say and do my best to make the food even more delicious.


    Pigres quickly followed up with a question, Do we need to make some changes to the Wagon Team as well, Captain?


    Maximus nodded approvingly and nced at Cornelius before saying, I do have some ideas for the Wagon and Warehouse Teams, but its not the right time yet. Well discuss itter.


    Oh, Pigres responded with a mix of anxiety and anticipation.


    Lets end the discussion for tonight. Everyone, go back and rest quickly, so it doesnt affect our work tomorrow, Maximus said, but then he remembered something and called out to Agnes, who was about to leave the room.


    Captain, rest assured, Ill make sure everyone has breakfast ready tomorrow morning, Agnes hurriedly said.


    Maximus knew she had misunderstood and smiled as he said, Go and call Akgo, Cassius, Gallus, Nasya all the children. Although my room is small, we can squeeze in with the children. At least its much better than them sleeping outside in the courtyard.


    Nasya was Agnes youngest daughter, and she immediately responded with a smile, Okay, Ill go and call them.


    After the three left, Maximus fell into deep thought. Based on their performance just now, Agnes was enthusiastic and willing to obey his orders. Pigres was also proactive and had suggestions, perhaps because he used to be a merchant before bing a ve, so he had a more meticulous mindset. Cornelius, on the other hand, seemed indifferent, maybe because of his old age and not wanting to bother anymore


    Therefore, Maximus was somewhat dissatisfied with Cornelius as a leader, but he didnt have a better candidate at the moment, so he could only wait and see. It was also because of this that he decided to bring a group of children into his room to rest, not only to care for their physical well-being but also because the children had better learning abilities. He needed to provide them with intensive guidance so they could be useful as soon as possible.


    In the early morning, Maximus woke up and didnt disturb the still sleeping children. He then went alone to the kitchen.


    The kitchen was filled with smoke, and dozens of people were busy. Some were tending to the fire, others were cooking porridge, kneading dough, or baking Although the Logistics Team had renovated the kitchen and opened up a few adjacent rooms, it still felt crowded. The room was unbearably hot, and sweat soaked through the thin clothes. Some people even worked shirtless.


    Amidst all the noise, Agnes voice rose above the rest as she stood in the center of the kitchen, waving her hands and loudly directing her subordinates.


    Maximus stood at the door for a while, then turned and returned to the main building, climbing up to the rooftop on the third floor to look around.


    When the Rebel Army first arrived here, the area around the farm was lush and green. Orderly rows of trees were covered with grapevines, adorned with clusters of small grapes like green pearls. However, now, the trees and grapevines had already been cut down by the soldiers. The messy and haphazardly ced tents of various sizes and shapes, as well as rudimentary huts made of wood, scattered across the dark brown soil, extending from the vicinity of the farm to the distance. There were no earth walls or fences around the tents. In the open spaces between the tents, many people were lying fast asleep. It didnt resemble a military camp at all, but rather a refugee camp.


    It was precisely because of the disorder in the military camp that Spartacus recently abandoned resting in the farm and instead lived directly in the camp, enduring hardships with the soldiers. Many diators, such as Crixus and Artorix, followed suit and learned from him, so the rtionship between the diators and the ves who joined the Rebel Armyter was harmonious.


    However, discipline within the army remained an issue. Just like now, the members of the Logistics Team ced some prepared breakfast on wooden carts and as soon as they passed the farms gate, people in the camp rushed over, frantically grabbing the food like greedy pigs. Even though the officers shouted loudly to stop them, it was of little use. Only when the patrol teams arrived and used sticks to strike them did they barely manage to maintain order.


    Maximus looked at the chaotic scene at the farms gate and sighed inwardly: <em>I hope that the uing military training can train these ignorant and unruly ves into apetent army!</em>


    After finishing breakfast, Maximus took the children to the warehouse.


    Cornelius, who was taking a stroll after breakfast to aid digestion, saw them and asked in surprise, Captain, what are you doing here?


    Dont you need more people here? I brought them to help, Maximus said, pointing to the children behind him.


    Them?! What do a bunch of children know? Theyll only cause trouble. No, no, no! Cornelius shook his head repeatedly.


    No one is born with knowledge. Although they are young, their arithmetic skills are better than others. As long as you teach them a bit more, once they learn, it will make your job easier in the future, Maximuss words made Cornelius somewhat intrigued.


    Taking the opportunity given by Maximus, Akgo spoke up, Grandpa Cornelius, we will listen to you attentively and work earnestly!


    Let me make it clear beforehand, if anyone doesnt listen or follow orders, I will send them back, and they wont be allowed toe again. Understand?! Cornelius words didnt frighten the children. They excitedly nodded their heads.


    Watching the children being led into the warehouse by Cornelius, Maximus turned around and left with relief.

 Chapter 23: Discussing Agriculture

    Chapter 23: Discussing Agriculture


    Even though these children ranged from the eldest at 14 years old to the youngest at only 10 years old, Maximus didnt feel like he was exploiting childbor by making them work at such a young age. After all, this wasnt the developed modern society, but the ancient Western world dominated by Romans. Here, they didnt have carefree childhoods, but only suffering and oppression. If they didnt want to be mere beasts earning money for their ve owners, they had to grow up quickly and bravely fight for survival.


    Returning to the front yard, Maximus saw Pigres leading the wagon drivers, guiding the horses as they were about to leave through the gate.


    Be careful out there ande back safely! Maximus reminded them.


    Captain, only the members of the First Team are going out today. The other three teams are said to be staying here, Pigres whispered, sounding somewhat puzzled.


    <em>We have just discussed this yesterday and today they already started implementing it. Spartacus really moves fast</em> Maximus thought to himself,fortingly saying, Its fine. This will be the norm from now on. One team goes out, and the other teams will train in the camp.


    After Pigres left, Maximus climbed up to the rooftop of the main building once again. From there, he observed the diators who were serving as squad leaders in the camp surrounding the farm. They were shouting, cursing, beating, and kicking while directing their new recruits. The squad leaders then handed each of them a wooden stick and instructed them to diligently strike the tree stumps that had already been felled


    The practice of striking the wooden stumps was the basic training for diators, and now it was being applied to the new recruits.


    Maximus really wanted to go to the camp and observe the training of the new recruits, but he had other matters to attend to at the moment.


    Vorenus entered the room and saw Maximus sitting at the edge of the bed.


    Vorenus had only joined the rebellion two days ago, and the only high-ranking member he knew was this young man. When he recounted his own experiences in the courtyard the other night, theforting words from this young man had left a favorable impression on him.


    Before Vorenus could even greet him, Maximus stood up and approached him. VoVorenus, youre here. Please, have a seat. He guided Vorenus to sit on the edge of the bed.


    Um Captain, is there something you want to discuss with me? Vorenus asked, surprised and honored by the attention.


    You served as overseer of a farm for many years, so I assume you have a good understanding of farm affairs, Maximus said, looking at him expectantly.


    I wouldnt dare say I know everything, but Im quite familiar with anything Ive been in charge of, Vorenus answered cautiously, unsure why Maximus was asking these questions.


    Thats great. I have some questions Id like to consult with you. Maximus picked up a stack of papyrus from the nearby wooden table, flipped through a few pages, and then focused his gaze on it. He asked, When you normally cultivate thend, do you use fertilizers? And where do these fertilizerse from?


    Vorenus didnt expect the young man to ask about this, so he paused for a moment and then replied, Of course, we use fertilizers. Even the most fertilend will experience reduced yields after several crops, so we must replenish the nutrients in the soil.


    There are several types of fertilizers. The best one is bird droppings, but they are scarce and insufficient. Ive heard that in the Latium region, there are farms specifically dedicated to raising thrushes and bullfinches for collecting and selling bird droppings, and the prices are not low Next is human manure, followed by sheep manure and donkey manure. Horse manure is the least preferred, but it is suitable for pastures


    After collecting the manure, it cannot be immediately used in the fields, or else the wheat seedlings will die. It needs to be made into a manure heap and protected from excessive exposure to the sun. After a period of time, it can be spread in the fields, which will result in bountiful crops. Many farms have manure heaps nearby. I dont know if you have noticed them, Captain


    Vorenus spoke confidently, while Maximus was deeply shocked: <em>It seems that the contents in this book are true. The method of using manure to fertilize crops is not unique to our Chinese ancestors but was also practiced by the Romans. Although they may not have understood the underlying principles, they have discovered this method through practical experience to promote abundant harvests.</em>


    Maximus regained hisposure, turned a few more pages, and continued to ask, This book mentions that the highest value produced by nting crops on 100 jugers (around 62 acres) ofnd is from grapes for making wine, followed by irrigated vegetable gardens, then willow groves, fruit orchards, and pastures, with grains being the least profitable Why is the profit from cultivating grains so low?


    Without hesitation, Vorenus replied, Captain, the reason is simple. Nowadays, there is arge quantity of grain flowing into Italy from provinces such as Sicily, Africa, Asia Minor, and even Egypt The grain merchants from these provinces, under the pressure of Rome, have set very low grain prices. As a result, the grains grown by the Italian poption, apart from their own consumption, are sold at a loss in the market. Therefore, most wealthy individuals do not grow grains but instead cultivate grapes, fruit trees, and olives, and engage in animal husbandry Thats how they can make money. The reason there are still some wheat fields in Campania is that thend here is fertile, resulting in high grain yields, and the neighboring Samnites in the mountains are in great need of food, providing some profit.


    So youre saying that the influx of grain from various Roman provinces into Italy is the main reason for the widespread bankruptcy of farmers in Italian towns? Maximus continued to inquire.


    The farmers throughout Italy? This Im not too sure about that, but I do know that in Capua, some farmers have umted debts and lost theirnd because of this. Farming not only requires seeds but also a lot of tools, such as oxen, horses, plows, hoes, sickles Farmers cannot make these things themselves; they need to buy them from the market. However, if their grains cannot be sold, they cannot earn money to purchase these tools and can only borrow money from others. If there is a drought and the grain harvest is bad, they even need to borrow money to buy seeds for the next year.


    However, the money they borrowed is all from usurers! It umtes more and more, and in the end, they can only sell theirnd to repay the debt. Some people sell theirnd, but its still not enough, so they have to sell themselves Sigh, its not easy for farmers nowadays! Vorenus sighed heavily.


    Although Maximus had already pondered over this issue, there was still a sense of joy in his heart because the author of this book was Cato, as mentioned in the self-introduction on the front page. He was certain that it was the same Cato who constantly cursed the Carthage. Even though this book was written in Catoster years, around 30 to 40 years ago, it meant that the plight of Italian farmers had already emerged back then.


    Maximus let out a gentle sigh, nced at the papyrus in his hand, and asked in a deep voice, This book also mentions the practice of continuously mating male and female ves like livestock, and then training their children from a young age to be sold Is there really someone engaged in such a ve industry?


    Vorenus fell silent for a moment and replied, I have heard my former master talk about it. There are indeed nobles in Rome involved in this kind of ve trade because captured ves are often disobedient. Homebred ves with skills are more desirable, and naturally, theymand higher prices In fact, I am a homebred ve myself because my parents were originally ves of my masters household.


    Although in these past few days, Maximus had witnessed and heard about various cruel exploitations and oppressions carried out by ve owners during this era, he had grown somewhat ustomed to it. Yet, at this moment, he still felt a heavy difort in his chest. In his previous life, he had learned about this Roman senator, Cato, who had been consistently shouting Carthage must be destroyed. Although he was known for his stubbornness, he was a follower of <em>Stoicism</em>, leading a simple and modest life, and emphasizing reason and equality for all. However, looking at what he wrote in this book: <em>the tools used on the farm are divided into two types: those who can speak and those who cannot, and ves belong to the speaking ones</em> and so on, even Cato had such views, let alone other Roman patricians.


    <em>This evil ve society!</em> Maximus couldnt help but curse in his heart.


    CapCaptain, what book is that in your hand? Vorenus cautiously asked out of curiosity.


    This is <em>De Agri Cultura</em> written by Marcus Porcius Cato. I found it in one of the rooms after we captured this farm, Maximus replied, handing over the papyrus in his hand.


    The Cato family from Rome? Ive heard my former master talk about them. This Roman family is known for their expertise in agricultural management! Vorenus said with a look of joy as he eagerly started reading the papyrus.

 Chapter 24: The Roman Legion Is Coming

    Chapter 24: The Roman Legion Is Coming


    Maximus blinked his eyes. Can you read?


    I can read a little.


    Do you know arithmetic?


    I know a little.


    <em>To be able to manage a farm, its not just about knowing how to read and do arithmetic!</em> Maximus looked at the hardworking Vorenus and realized that he was a rare talent in the Logistics Team. If he were to rece Cornelius and manage the warehouse, it would be a waste of talent. After thinking for a moment, Maximus said, Vorenus, starting today, you dont need to go to the kitchen anymore. Stay by my side and help me handle the affairs of the entire Logistics Team.


    Huh? Vorenus raised his head in surprise.


    Just as Maximus was about to speak, someone barged into the room. C-Captain, Commander Spartacus has asked for you to attend a meeting!


    Maximus saw that it was Pigres who came in and asked in astonishment, Why did youe back so early?


    The the Roman army ising! Pigres gasped for breath.


    Maximus was taken aback.


    Vorenus hand trembled, and the papyrus he was holding fell to the ground.


    Omarkels men have discovered the Roman army and saw them entering Naples. There is no doubt that they areing for us. So, as soon as I received the news, I immediately returned with the First Team. Spartacus exined the situation to everyone.


    How many Roman soldiers are there? Crixus asked anxiously.


    There are about 2,000 to 3,000 men. They are fully armed, holding the eagle standard high, and they also have hundreds of cavalry.


    Is it 2,000 or 3,000 soldiers? Can you be more specific?! Hamilcar asked impatiently.


    Hamilcar, not everyone has a talent for arithmetic like you. Omarkels men were loyal to their duty and dared to extend their reconnaissance beyond the Vesuvius region. They discovered the trace of the Roman army in a timely manner and made a rough estimate of their numbers. Thats already quite good! Spartacus defended the cavalry.


    I understand that, but the difference between 2,000 and 3,000 is a thousand men, and that can significantly affect our tactical nning. Hamilcar was getting anxious.


    Regardless of how many of theme, as long as the Romans dare to show up here, well charge at them and crush them all, just like we did at the Temple of Flora! Oenomaus fiercely said.


    ording to what Spartacus said, this army that hase should be a Roman legion, far superior to the Capuan city guards. They are well-equipped and even have cavalry. As for us, we have less than five hundred people with actual weapons, while the rest either have sticks or farming tools. How can we face off against a Roman legion? Artorixs face revealed concern.


    Sticks can kill people just like any weapon. Furthermore, we have many more people than them. When the timees, well charge together and surround the Romans. Even if they have powerful weapons, they wont be able to unleash their full force. In the end, they will only be killed by us, just like when we escaped from the diator school! Crixus said confidently.


    For diators like you and me who have undergone long-term training, using sticks to kill people is indeed easy. However, most of our men are used to handling hoes and farming tools. They havent received training, and they would hesitate even to kill a person. How can they have the courage to fight against the Roman army?! Artorix reminded.


    If thats what youre saying, then why dont we just surrender when the Romans arrive! Crixus mocked.


    My men are not afraid of the Romans. When they arrive, I will lead the charge and show them the might of my Third Team! Oenomaus said with a proud expression.


    Enough arguing! Spartacus looked at everyone sternly, signaling for them to quiet down. He spoke in a deep voice, Dont forget that our motto is Resist Rome and fight for freedom. The ves who have joined us believe in us, and thats why they joined our ranks. So, this battle is unavoidable, and we have prepared for it, havent we? However, what Artorix said does need our attention. The Roman army ising too quickly, and our troopsck training and dont have enough weapons. If we engage them head-on, we will certainly be at a disadvantage. My suggestion is


    Spartacus paused for a moment, pondering before continuing, we will first wait quietly for the Romans to attack, then position our entire army with our back against the camp and the mountain. The camp is now the home of our brothers, and they will surely fight bravely to defend it. This way, we can also prevent the Roman cavalry from nking us and undermining the morale of our brothers.


    We will defend from a high position while the Romans have to attack from below. Even if the slope is not very steep, they are wearing heavy armor and have to climb, prevent themselves from falling, and engage in battle. They wont be able to fully utilize their attacking capabilities, and they will easily tire. As long as we withstand their initial attack, we will gain the advantage!


    Spartacus words rejuvenated everyones spirits.


    But the Romans are not fools. If they see us adopting this formation, they probably wont rashly attack, Artorix objected.


    You dont have to worry about that. Even if they see us forming up with our backs against the mountain, the Romans will definitely attack, Hamilcar exined. Ive served in the Roman army before and have some understanding of them. The Romans are currently the rulers of the Mediterranean, and to them, we are nothing more than lowly ves. If this Roman army faces us, who have no armor andck weapons, and they still dont dare to attack, they will only be ridiculed by other Romans.


    What Spartacus said makes sense. Lets do it! Crixus expressed his agreement loudly, and no one raised any objections.


    So Spartacus continued, Before the Roman army attacks, our forces must not descend from the mountain to prevent being ambushed by the Romans. We need to use our time wisely to train our brothers, at least to teach them how to form formations and understand themands for attack. Omarkels reconnaissance team should constantly monitor the movements of the Roman army and report back to the camp.


    Maximus, Hamilcar then said, starting from today until we fight against the Romans, I want you to increase the amount of meat in the rations for the soldiers, so they can eat their fill at every meal. That way, they will have enough energy for training and battle.


    Understood, I will make sure Agnes and the others work hard on it, Maximus immediately responded.


    Thats it then. Everyone, go back and train your troops as soon as possible, Spartacus concluded the meeting decisively.


    As the people left the hall, Maximus was thest to leave. Throughout the entire meeting, he had not voiced any opinions, but he had been pondering one question: What should he do in the first battle between Spartacus rebel army and the Roman army?


    In his past life, there were only a few sparse historical records about the Spartacus rebellion, but it had inspired numerous novels and movies, each with different plots. However, there were a few key moments that remained consistent


    Subconsciously, Maximus looked through the window of the hall and gazed at the mountain behind.


    For two consecutive days, the rebel army intensified their training in preparation for the uing battle. However, the Roman army remained unseen, and Omarkels reconnaissance team had not received any information. Once they entered the vicinity of Naples, they would be intercepted by Roman cavalry. Some Roman cavalry even roamed near the vineyard at the foot of the mountain.


    On the morning of the third day, while Maximus was in the bedroom asking Vorenus how to herd sheep and grow fodder, he suddenly heard the long ring sound of a horn.


    Wooo!


    <em>The Romans are here?!</em> Maximus immediately stood up and rushed out of the bedroom and out of the farm.


    The camp outside was already in a frenzy, and under the shouting of the squad leaders, the soldiers noisily began to gather


    Maximus sprinted through the camp and saw Hamilcar standing on arge boulder on the hillside, looking westward.

 Chapter 25: Before the Battle

    Chapter 25: Before the Battle


    Maximus hurriedly approached Hamilcars side. Hamilcar nced at him, then looked ahead and said, The Romans are here. Despite Hamilcars efforts to appear calm, Maximus could still hear the tension in his voice.


    Maximus looked into the distance and saw Roman cavalry in groups of ten, advancing in a fan-shaped formation towards the vineyard. In the far distance, a long line of soldiers was approaching. Two standard-bearers led the way, draped in wolf skins and holding eagle emblems and gs. Behind them were several trumpeters carrying long horns, followed by Roman legionnaires. They marched in five parallel columns, each wearing a red waistcoat, a Gallic-style helmet, and segmented armor, and carrying arge red shield in their left hand and a heavy javelin in their right. They had a short Roman sword on their left side and a short dagger on their right They walked with their heads held high, exuding an imposing aura. This was not just a simple march, but a force ready for battle. At the end of the long line, there were several auxiliary soldiers wearing leather helmets and chainmail, armed with long spears andrge shields. Even the equipment of these less valued Roman auxiliaries far surpassed that of the majority of rebel soldiers. The whole formation was followed by a dozen or so wagons and some army ves.


    The Roman army, with their shining helmets and bright armor, sparkled in the sunlight, emitting a dazzling light


    Hamilcar and Maximus squinted their eyes, holding their breath, and stood still, observing for quite a while.


    Hamilcar eximed angrily, There are more than just 2,000 or 3,000 men. It has already exceeded 4,000!


    About 4,300, Maximus said with certainty.


    I must quickly inform Spartacus! Hamilcar turned and ran towards the camp.


    Maximus remained standing, continuing to observe the advancing Roman army. They were not moving at a fast pace. It took about half an hour for them to approach the olive oil farm, which was about 1.5 kilometers away. By this time, the rebel forces had roughlypleted their formation.


    Spartacus, Crixus, and several other leaders also arrived near Maximus to observe the enemy.


    Hamilcar pulled Maximus aside and whispered in his ear, As the leader of the Logistics Team, you should stay with your subordinates at a time like this instead of wandering around here!


    Maximus was alert, realizing that he had been too curious about the Roman legion and had momentarily forgotten his duty. He quickly apologized and humbly asked for advice, Teacher, I was wrong! What should I do now?


    Hamilcar looked serious and said, The Logistics Team consists mainly of women, elderly, and children. You should gather them together andfort them! And


    He lowered his voice and said, You need to prepare the wagons and load them with some food, just in case


    Hamilcar didnt continue, but Maximus understood his meaning. He nodded solemnly and turned around to run back.


    The rebel formation was right behind him, with the majority of the front row consisting of diators, all fully armed. Maximus heard several people calling his name, but he didnt have time to respond.


    As Maximus hurried back to the farm, the Roman army, passing by the olive oil farm, had already stopped their advance. They faced the rebel forces and began to prepare for formation.


    From the hill, Spartacus looked down at the scene and said with a serious expression, The Romans are preparing to attack!


    Our brothers are ready and waiting for them toe and die! Oenomaus enthusiastically dered.


    The diators behind him took the opportunity to roar, rallying the other rebel soldiers. HRAAAH!! HRAAAH!! The morale of the rebel forces soared.


    The Roman army remained unfazed, calmly forming their ranks. They had been marching in an organized formation, with their entire force moving horizontally. Eachrge unit gradually gathered, forming the traditional Roman checkerboard formation. Their formation speed was much faster than that of the rebel army. However, strangely enough, the auxiliary soldiers at the rear of their formation broke away and dropped their weapons. They walked toward the wagons parked behind the formation and took out shovels, hoes, and other digging tools stored inside. They surrounded the olive oil farm and started digging.


    This peculiar action puzzled Spartacus and the others: The auxiliary soldiers in this Roman army numbered over a thousand, ounting for more than a quarter of the entire force. Instead of participating in the battle, they were digging. What were they up to?


    After a while, the Roman legionpleted its formation but remained stationary. Meanwhile, the sweating auxiliary soldiers had already dug a shallow trench, encircling the olive oil farm. The soil they excavated was used to build earthworks inside the trench.


    Hamilcar suddenly realized, The Romans are constructing a camp!


    Will they still attack us? Artorix immediately asked.


    The Roman army has a habit of building temporary camps on the battlefield. This way, if they are defeated, they can take refuge inside and defend themselves to ensure their safety. I never expected them to be so cautious even when facing us. Perhaps once they finish building, they willunch an attack against us. Spartacus said, recalling his experience fighting with the Roman army in Asia Minor and having some understanding of their tactics.


    So, how long do we have to wait? Why not take the initiative and attack them now while the Romans have fewer troops? Oenomaus impatiently suggested.


    Since we have already formted a battle n in advance, we should execute it ording to the n! Spartacus said in a deep voice.


    Even Crixus, who usually boasted of his bravery, agreed with Spartacus opinion at this moment. Seeing the well-organized Roman army below the hill, he felt a bit intimidated.


    As a result, the rebel army continued to wait silently on the slope, while the Roman legion remained motionless below, with only the Roman auxiliary soldiers toiling away.


    As time passed, the mor within the rebel army grew louder. The once dense formation gradually became sparse. The soldiers chatted and joked to alleviate the tension. Some even sat down on the ground due to the scorching sun and prolonged standing. Spartacus and hisrades had to hurry to their respective units, doing their best to inspire the soldiers and maintain their dwindling morale.


    Simr circumstances urred within the Roman army, but the veteran officers performed more efficiently, resulting in the soldiers disying better discipline.


    Both sides stood facing each other, several miles apart, until noon. By then, the trench behind the Roman army had been mostly dug, and the earthen wall had been erected,plete with designated entrances and exits. Romanmander ber gave the order, and the Roman soldiers began withdrawing one by one into the earthen wall and the olive oil farm.


    The Roman army didntunch the attack Spartacus had anticipated, which disappointed him. However, when he saw the rebel soldiers lying and resting on the ground behind him, he couldnt help but feel relieved.


    Although no battle took ce that day, the Roman army hade dangerously close. This made the rebel forces nervous, prompting Spartacus and hisrades to hold another urgent meeting. After discussing, they decided to temporarily continue with their original n and wait for the Romans to attack. But at the same time, they would strengthen the camps defenses to prevent enemy sneak attacks.


    On the Roman side, ber also feared a sneak attack from the rebels. He ordered the auxiliary soldiers to continue setting traps and constructing palisades outside the trench. He also arranged multiple patrols within the camp to keep watch throughout the night.


    Although it was an uneventful day, many people didnt sleep well, including Maximus. After all, whether in his past life or the present one, it was his first experience of war.


    But as the rooster crowed at dawn, Maximus immediately got up and headed to the kitchen.


    Without any need for his urging, Agnes had already led her team to busy themselves because they were well aware that if the rebel army suffered a defeat, they could face dire consequences. The only thing they could do was to quickly prepare delicious food, ensuring the soldiers ate their fill and had abundant strength to fight the enemy.

 Chapter 26: Battle Begins

    Chapter 26: Battle Begins


    The kitchen was filled with a tense atmosphere. Maximus stayed inside for a while but had to step out to avoid getting in the way.


    At this moment, he suddenly felt a little lost: He hade to this time period and decided to change the fate of his and Spartacus rebel army being ultimately destroyed. However, when it came time to fight the Roman army, he could only watch from the sidelines, waiting quietly for the oue of the battle, unable to contribute in any way.


    <em>If only I couldmand an army into battle! </em>This thought suddenly arose in Maximus mind.


    Lost in his thoughts, Maximus saw a few figures passing by in front of him. He immediately snapped back to reality and shouted, Akgo, Cassius, what are you doing?


    T-Teacher, we wanted to help in the kitchen, Akgo stammered in response.


    The title teacher was what Maximus had them call him, and considering his efforts in teaching the children, he indeed deserved the title.


    Didnt I tell you that you cant wander around during this critical time? You must stay with Uncle Vorenus! This way, if something happens, I can find you at any time. Understand? Maximus said sternly.


    We also wanted to contribute Cassius exined softly, but Maximus gave him a stern gaze, causing him to lower his head immediately.


    Teacher, we were wrong. Well go back now. Please dont be angry! Nasya quickly apologized, and the other children quickly agreed.


    Maximus expression softened, and he nodded. Since its your first offense, Ill forgive you this time.


    The children held great respect for Maximus, and they didnt want to make him angry, so they obediently turned and headed back to the main building. Maximus followed behind and arrived at the front courtyard, where he coincidentally met Pigres.


    Captain, should we still move everything into the wagons like we did yesterday? Pigris asked eagerly upon seeing him.


    Of course, Maximus replied without hesitation. Seeing Pigres slight confusion, he added, We must prepare for the worst and hope for the best.


    With Maximus words, Pigres emotions settled a bit, and he led his subordinates to carry the supplies.


    Maximus then went up to the rooftop of the main building. After a while, he saw the kitchen staff pushing a cart loaded with steaming food, leaving through the main gate of the farm. In the past, soldiers would rush to grab the food, causing a chaotic scene at the entrance. However, this time, they were nowhere to be seen, and the food cart smoothly made its way towards the camp.


    On the surface, this seemed like a good thing, but Maximus felt uneasy. He had actually hoped that today would be like any other day, indicating that the rebel soldiers were not affected by the arrival of the Roman army yesterday. However, he realized that he also hadnt given his usual lectures to the Logistics Teamst night. It seemed that everyone, himself included, was a novice to the anxiety and tension of the real war.


    Realizing this, Maximus struggled to calm himself down because, as the leader of the Logistics Team, his every move would affect the morale of his subordinates.


    After having breakfast, Maximus ordered Saxippus to herd the cattle and sheep to the back of the farm, and then gathered the rest of the Logistics Team inside the farm.


    By this time, the sky was already bright, and the sun hung low in the clear sky.


    Woo! Woo! Woo! The sound of trumpets urgently rang out in the camp.


    <em>Are the Romans finally attacking?!</em> Maximus went up to the rooftop again and looked ahead.


    In the distance, fully armed Roman soldiers were orderly marching out of the newly constructed camp from yesterday, directly lining up in the fields


    After about half an hour, the Roman legion had formed the traditional three-line formation, and behind this formation were auxiliary troops in a more dense formation. Following the auxiliary troops were ten wagons, with 50 cavalry on each nk.


    The brass horn whistled.


    The Roman army slowly began to advance towards the rebel camp.


    <em>It seems that this time the Romans are really going to attack!</em> Maximus felt nervous, and he shifted his gaze to the nearby area.


    As the Roman soldiers marched out of the camp, the rebel army also began to move. In fact, after finishing breakfast, the rebel soldiers had already been on standby in the camp. Though the formation still seemed noisy and chaotic, having experienced it once yesterday made the process faster. Just as the Roman army approached the foot of the mountain, the rebel army had alreadypleted their formation This relieved Maximus slightly.


    Then he saw Spartacus, who was in the front row of the formation, walking to the front and speaking loudly. Then, the diators in the front row of the formation brandished their swords and spears, roaring in unison. The new recruits were also influenced and began to join in the shouting. Eventually, the entire rebel armys formation resounded with roars


    Although most of the ves who joined the rebel army were still dressed in simple clothes, holding hoes, pitchforks, and wooden sticks their hatred for the Romans had been stirred, causing them to no longer tremble and fear when facing the well-equipped Roman army. Instead, their eyes were filled with anger.


    Even Maximus, who was in the rear, felt the change in morale and couldnt help but have a little more hope for victory.


    However, at this moment, the Roman army stopped its advance. They began to adjust their somewhat disorderly formation at the foot of the mountain, and from each wagon, three or four soldiers jumped out. They each carried a wooden frame and ced them in the gaps of the formation, then started to busy themselves around the frames.


    What are those things they ced in front of their formation?!


    Why arent these Roman bastards attacking?!


    The soldiers behind Spartacus whispered among themselves.


    Thats the Roman ballista! Spartacus spoke loudly to rify for the soldiers, dispelling their suspicions: Its like a slingshot children y with, but instead of small stones, itunches projectiles. However, its uracy is not great, so hitting the target is difficult


    Both in expression and tone, Spartacus appeared rxed, but deep down, he started to feel uneasy: <em>How could I forget that the Romans would use this tactic in a pitched battle?</em>


    Report to the legatus, all ballistae are installed and awaiting your orders! Vettinius saluted and reported to ber.


    I understand. ber looked at the campmander before him, a man in his 50s. He was a veteran he appointed against all objections. He was once a centurion under Su, with an outstanding record in the wars in Asia Minor. Since Vettinius appointment, everything from marching, training, camping, and military discipline had been meticulously arranged by him, rewarding bers trust in him.


    ording to the previous n, let these ignorant ves witness the horrors of war! ber disdainfully pointed towards the rebel army on the mountain.


    The Roman ballistae operators, following the orders, began to turn the handles. The doubleyered spring arms were pulled backward with the string and then secured onto the metal hook, then a lead ball was ced on the track.


    This was a small lead ball that weighed only half a talent (a standard ballista projectile weighs about one Attic talent, approximately 26 kilograms). This was done to increase its flight distance. Unlike usual projectiles, it was wrapped in oiled cloth. Once ignited, the ballista operators quickly pulled the trigger. The sound of whoosh, whoosh! filled the air as ten fireball projectiles shot out, flying over 500 meters and soaring above the rebel armys formation.


    Most of the rebel soldiers breathed a sigh of relief, but Spartacus was suddenly startled. He hadnt expected the ballistae to fire fireballs instead of lead projectiles. And these fireballs werending not far from the rebel camp.


    The rebel camp was not well-nned, with no clear spacing between the tents and no fire prevention measures. Moreover, it was early summer, hot weather, and the items were dry. As the fireballs fell into the camp, the tents immediately ignited


    Maximus saw five or six fires erupting around the farm and was momentarily stunned. He realized the danger and hurriedly rushed downstairs, shouting at Agnes, Pigres, and others in the front yard, Quick! Take people to the camp and extinguish the fire! Go put out the fire!


    Maximus led the members of the Logistics Team hurriedly towards the camp but forgot to inform Spartacus.

 Chapter 27: Engaging in Battle

    Chapter 27: Engaging in Battle


    The soldiers of the rebel army became rmed when they saw the camp behind them catch fire. Even Hamilcar felt a sense of tension. He anxiously asked Spartacus beside him, The Romans are very cunning. They are attempting to burn our camp and undermine our morale. If this continues, Im afraid Should we change our n andunch an attack in advance?


    Dont panic. The original n remains unchanged. We will continue to wait, Spartacus replied calmly. He then said in a deep voice, Immediately send someone to inform Maximus to lead his team and extinguish the fire.


    Understood! Hamilcars heart settled a bit. He knew that although he had experienced some battles, he found it difficult to remain as calm andposed as Spartacus during critical moments. That was also the main reason why he was willing to assist Spartacus.


    Continue the bombardment! Dont stop! ber looked up at the mes on the mountain ahead and gave a loud order. Although he was only permitted to bring half a legion, due to his cautious nature, he stubbornly insisted on obtaining more ballistae and cavalry. Originally, it was to intimidate the enemy, who were mostly ves, during confrontations. However, after the cavalry discovered the enemy campsyout, he formted this battle n, which seemed to be effective now.


    Overhead, fireballs flew sporadically and shouts from the Logistics Team behind the rebel army continued to be heard. The rebel soldiers kept turning their heads to look back, their emotions fluctuating like a roller coaster. The initial high morale had vanished, and the once dense formation gradually became loose, with the noise growing louder.


    Spartacus remained standing motionless, fully focused on overlooking the Roman ballistae position below the mountain. Suddenly, he spoke up, One of the ballistae hasntunched a fireball for two rounds! Oh, it looks like the one next to it has also stopped!


    Hamilcar followed his gaze and indeed confirmed it. He felt a surge of joy and said, It seems theyre malfunctioning!


    Ballistae being damaged by fire is to be expected! Spartacus rxed his furrowed brow and shouted, Brothers, hold on a little longer! The Roman ballistae will soon all be rendered useless, and then they will have no choice but toe up the mountain and fight us!


    As he shouted, Hamilcar echoed him, and the nearby diators joined in as well. The soldiers in the center gradually regained theirposure. However, it was at this moment that a roar erupted from the left nk. The rebel soldiers there rushed down towards the Roman army below like a roaring torrent.


    Hamilcar was taken aback by this situation.


    Spartacus angrily eximed, What is happening?! What is Oenomaus doing?!


    As soon as he finished speaking, a simr roar erupted from the right nk, and then the soldiers followed suit and charged down the mountain.


    Damn it! Crixus Spartacus cursing abruptly stopped as he raised his short sword and shouted with all his might, Brothers, take revenge against the Romans, charge with me! After speaking, he wielded his sword and shield, leading the way as he rushed down the mountain. In this situation, Spartacus couldnt possibly watch the left and right nks fight the Roman army themselves.


    The soldiers shouted, REVENGE!! REVENGE!!! as they eagerly charged down. Another thousand-man unit led by Artorix followed closely behind in the center.


    The sessive descent of the rebel army caught the attention of Maximus, who was uneasy about this sudden change in the battle n. He looked around and saw the Logistics Team personnel scattered throughout the camp, extinguishing fires.


    He hesitated briefly before making a decision: Hurry up and gather here, everyone! Quick!


    ..


    ber couldnt help but feel nervous when he saw the fierce rebel army charging down from the mountain.


    On the other hand, the campmander, Vettinius, remained calm. Hemanded the officers to shout loudly, quickly merging the small formations of hundred-man squads (centuria) into arge formation, approximately 300 meters long and ten columns wide. Behind the formation were around 1,000 auxiliary troops (with another 300 auxiliary troops guarding the camp). ber had not deployed these auxiliary troops to obstruct the rebel armys charge because hecked confidence in these hastily conscripted city guards from Naples and surrounding towns. He was worried that these poorly trained Campanians would not provide assistance in the face of a direct confrontation and might even be a burden.


    Just as the Roman legion finished merging their formations, the rebel armys left and right nks were already closing in on the front of their formation.


    Javelin! Javelin! The Roman officers shouts prompted the soldiers to quickly assume throwing positions. Following the officers, they threw heavy javelins at the enemy with their right hands. Although they were pressed for time and their actions were not precise, the concentrated volley of thousands of heavy javelins was disastrous for the inexperienced and poorly protected rebel soldiers. Amidst a chorus of screams, countless rebel soldiers were pierced by the heavy javelins and fell to the ground. The once dense formation suddenly became sparse. Some rebel soldiers who narrowly avoided the javelin attack turned and fled, while others, though still advancing, noticeably slowed down. Only the diators in the front line continued their relentless charge.


    If it were a seasoned Roman legion achieved such a great result with the javelin attack, they would undoubtedly take advantage of the situation andunch a full assault,pletely disrupting the enemys formation. However, the Roman army before them clearly had no such intention. Instead, under the leadership of the officers, they raised their shields, drew their short swords, and assumed a defensive posture. Although they had dealt a heavy blow to the enemy, they couldnt help but feel nervous when facing the fierce charging diators.


    The onught of javelins and the significant reduction in the number ofrades did not make the diators on the left and right nks hesitate. On the contrary, the worsening situation on the battlefield made their blood boil. They roared loudly, their faces were ferocious like wild beasts. Battle and death were their destiny, just as in the arena.


    Oenomaus and Crixus were the kings of these beasts. They charged at the forefront, effortlessly holding theirrge shields impaled with heavy javelins as easy as holding a piece of cloth. With the momentum, they forcefully rammed their shields against the shield defense of the Roman soldiers, the powerful impact caused their opponents to stagger. Then, with lightning speed, their right-hand short swords prated the gaps exposed by the shields, injuring their foes.


    Soon after, the central units of the rebel army, led by Spartacus and Artorix, also reached the front of the Roman formation, inflicting casualties on the first line of Roman soldiers.


    The Roman formation became somewhat disordered, causing ber, who was in the rear, to feel anxious. He couldnt help but shout, Quickly, let the Campanian soldiers


    Dont worry, Legatus, Vettinius reassured loudly, our soldiers can hold their ground!


    Is is that so? Vettinius words calmed bers emotions slightly. He remained mounted on his horse, observing the situation ahead. Amidst the shouts of the officers, some of the panicked soldiers instinctively followed the orders and pressed closer to each other. Some of the front-line soldiers even abandoned their short swords and held their shields with both hands, focusing on full defense. As a result, the entire formation contracted inward, bing denser.


    The diators charge was halted; their numbers were still too few. Once engaged in closebat, their attacking power diminished significantly due to theck of overall coordination. The Roman soldiers began to catch their breath.


    It was only now that ber breathed a sigh of relief and asked in an inquiring tone, When can we send in the Campanians?


    Wait a little longer, let these ignorant ves exhaust their stamina. By then, they wont have the energy to run, Vettinius replied.


    Alright, lets do that, ber agreed.


    Spartacus gathered his strength and fiercely rammed into the Roman soldiers in front of him many times. However, the opponents defended with full force, using long shields to guard their bodies withoutunching a counterattack. This made it difficult for Spartacus to find an opening to strike and injure them. Moreover, due to the loose formation of the rebel army and the forced retreat of the Romans, Spartacus found himself embedded among the enemy, with enemies on both sides. This made him hesitant tounch another all-out attack, and frustration rose within him: <em>These damned Romans are like turtles, we cant break through their formation quickly, what do we do?! Our brothers on both left and right wings have been attacked by javelins earlier and their strength is weakened. How much longer can they hold on?!</em>

 Chapter 28: Rout

    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?

 Chapter 29: Maximus Suggestion

    Chapter 29: Maximus Suggestion


    The road ahead is narrow, and the wagons cannot pass, Hamilcar thought for a moment and exined. Besides, the people in the logistics team are mostly elderly, women, and children. They wont be able to protect these wagons. Its already their utmost effort to bring them up the mountain.


    Thats true. Maximus was able to organize the logistics team and safely bring these provisions up the mountain despite our defeat in battle and being pursued by the Roman army. It was not an easy task. Its indeed the right decision to let him take charge of the logistics team, Spartacus praised Maximus, then turned to the other diators and said, Vasilis, you stay here with our brothers and guard our food.


    Vasilis, a Thracian diator who had always trusted Spartacus, immediately obeyed the order.


    While the other diators stayed behind, Spartacus and Hamilcar continued their ascent. After a while, they saw a group of over ten peopleing down from above.


    Spartacus recognized the leader as diator Phaselus at first nce. He had injured his leg while escaping from the diator school but recovered after twenty days of rest. He served as a leader of ten in Artorixs team. When he saw Spartacus, his tired eyes suddenly lit up, and he respectfully called out, Commander Spartacus!


    Behind him were all newly recruited ve soldiers. Their heads were hanging low, with lifeless expressions, and they didnt even bother to look up at Spartacus.


    Spartacus noticed this and asked, Where are you all going?


    Maximus requested someone to guard the food in the wagons below, but no one was willing. Only I Phaselus said somewhat helplessly, Well, since I have a good rtionship with Maximus, I couldnt refuse.


    <em>It seems that Maximus hasnt considered everything</em> Spartacus subconsciously nced at Hamilcar, then said, You dont need to go down. Ive already asked Vasilis and others to guard it.


    Upon hearing this, Phaselus immediately became spirited and turned to the others, saying, Brothers, we dont need to go down. Lets go up and rest.


    The others turned around, relieved, but couldnt be bothered to respond.


    Spartacus furrowed his brow even tighter.


    At a bend in the mountain path, Phaselus shouted ahead, Commander, the road ahead is steeper. Be careful. We were too panicked when we came up earlier andsome of our brothers fell


    After the rebel army established their base in the small vineyard, Spartacus personally surveyed the surrounding terrain. He had also walked on this mountain and did not feel it was particrly difficult to traverse, but Phaselus words shocked him. He then felt a pain in his heart as he silently followed Phaselus and his group along the steepest section of the mountain path, arriving at the refuge for the routed rebel soldiers.


    This was a teau at the mountaintop, surrounded by rough and uneven rocks. In the center, there was a deposit of thick, dark brown soil. With ample sunlight, it was no wonder it was developed into a vineyard.


    However, the wooden sheds that were blocking the mountain wind had been torn down, and the grape trellises were nowhere to be seen. There were no lush green leaves or heavy clusters of grapes, only densely packed rebel soldiers. They sat crowded on the ground, some leaning on each other and falling asleep from exhaustion, others clutching their wounds and groaning incessantly, and some with a dejected expression, silently shedding tears Each of them was dispirited and demoralized. When Spartacus entered this ce, more than half of the people remained motionless like wooden sculptures, as if the leader of the rebel army did not exist.


    Only the three leaders, Crixus, Oenomaus, and Artorix, who were sitting at the edge of the teau, stood up. And from the dense crowd, Maximus, who was in the innermost part of the teau, squeezed his way through.


    How many of us are left? Spartacus first asked the question he was most concerned about.


    Maximus did a rough count for me just now. There are about 1,400 people here, including 170 people from the logistics team, even Crixus, who was usually full of fighting spirit, couldnt help but feel dejected. Among these people, more than 200 are injured, and it may be impossible for them to fight again in the short term


    Spartacus felt a sense of sorrow in his heart. Before the battle started, the rebel army had over 4,000 people, but after the battle, three-quarters of them were gone. Those who were not on the mountain either died in battle, were captured, or fled elsewhere


    Spartacus shook his head, temporarily pushing aside his grief, and asked with a serious expression, How many diators have been injured or killed?


    Including Vasilis and the others who stayed halfway up the mountain, there are still 163 Crixus, the strong-willed Gaul, also showed a sense of sadness. Boudoville, Nigel, Vibert they died in the battle against the Romans I saw it with my own eyes


    The names Crixus mentioned were all Gaulish diators and close friends of his.


    Spartacus patted his shoulder firmly to offerfort.


    Spartacus, the Romans are building a camp at the foot of the mountain, attempting to trap us here. What should we do now?! Artorix interjected anxiously. They could see the situation below from the teau.


    Lets take advantage of the fact that the Romans havent finished digging their trenches yet. We should charge down together andunch a surprise attack on them. We can definitely break through their encirclement! Oenomaus said loudly.


    We have some food, but we dont have enough water. If were surrounded by the Romans for three or four days, well all die of thirst. Its better to do as Oenomaus suggests. After everyone have rested enough, well go down the mountain and fight the Romans! Crixus said through clenched teeth.


    Artorix, although he didnt speak, clearly expressed his agreement through his expression.


    <em>It seems these three have reached a consensus in advance</em> Spartacus hesitated for a moment. The Romans building a camp at the foot of the mountain were not without precautions, their regr troops were standing guard nearby. The previous charge of over 4,000 men had failed to break through the enemy line. Now, to lead these 1,000 plus demoralized soldiers to attack down the mountain, this was simply gambling with their lives! However, if they didnt do this, and let themselves be surrounded and trapped on the mountain by the Romans, would they just wait for death with their eyes wide open?


    Spartacus was in a dilemma. Just as he was about to say, Let me think again, he suddenly heard Maximus who had rushed over: The Romans cant block us if we can quietly descend the mountain.


    Quietly descend? How? Crixus, upon hearing this, became furious. This mountain is surrounded by cliffs on all sides except this one. There is no ce to set foot. Dreaming is the only way you can quietly climb down this mountain! If it werent for you leading the logistics team up this mountain, causing the soldiers to follow, we wouldnt be trapped on this mountain in the first ce!


    Crixus, if Maximus didnt lead the panicked soldiers up the mountain, we might still be on the run right now. It would be impossible for us to be here discussing how to break through, Hamilcar immediately defended Maximus.


    At least that way, we would still have a chance to escape. We wouldnt be waiting here to die like we are now! Crixus retorted.


    Enough arguing! Spartacus shouted impatiently, then looked at Maximus with a voice filled with anticipation and tension. He asked, What do you mean by quietly descending the mountain? Is there another way down?


    Of course, there is! Maximus looked at everyone confidently, and finally, his gaze fell on Crixus. He said in a deep voice, You were right just now. Except for this side, the mountain is surrounded by cliffs. The distance to the ground is too high, making it indeed difficult to descend. But its not impossible! I brought several sturdy ropes. Although theyre not long enough to reach the bottom whenbined, there are plenty of grapevines here. Some of the old vines are very strong. By connecting them with the ropes, we can lower ourselves from here to the ground. Moreover


    Maximus pointed to the eastern cliff and emphasized, I examined the terrain over there. There are two ridges that reach the ground vertically. Some of the cliffs between the ridges can be used as footholds. We can slide down on the ropes while using the cliffs for support. We should be able to reach the bottom smoothly. And that side is separated by a mountain from the camp the Romans are building. Its unlikely they would notice our actions.


    Maximuss words made Spartacus skeptical, but the newfound hope revitalized him. He turned his head and said loudly to the other leaders, Lets go, lets all go and take a look!

 Chapter 30: Commander-in-Chief

    Chapter 30: Commander-in-Chief


    Under Maximus lead, the group squeezed through the crowd with a sense of anxiety. They carefully examined the eastern cliff, inspected the bundles of ropes Maximus had brought up the mountain in a wagon, and personally tested the grapevines the women of the logistics team were twisting to make ropes


    The worries on the faces of the rebel forces leaders finally disappeared, and their confidence was restored.


    Spartacus gave Maximus a powerful hug. Maximus, thank you! You saved us all!


    Hamilcar stepped forward and lightly punched Maximus in the chest. Well done, boy!


    Artorix smiled at him.


    Oenomaus scratched his head awkwardly.


    Crixus coughed twice. Maximus idea is indeed good, but we wont know if it can really be executed until we try. Even if it is possible, not everyone has the courage and ability to climb down this mountain. Our injured brothers cant do it, and neither can the people from the logistics team!


    The leaders were taken aback and their expressions became serious once again.


    Maximus couldnt help but speak again, but Spartacus interrupted in a solemn tone, Dont worry about them. We can quietly descend the mountain using this method andunch a surprise attack on the Romans! The Romans must have studied the terrain beforehand, which is why they built their camp at the foot of the mountain, thinking they could trap us here. They will definitelyck precautions


    Crixus eyes lit up, and he excitedly interjected, Spartacus is right! Lets do it this way! Let the brothers rest for a day, recover their strength, and then quietly climb down the mountain tomorrow night. The Romans will definitely be asleep by then, and we canunch a surprise attack. We will definitely defeat them!


    Not tomorrow night, but tonight. We willunch the attack tonight! Spartacus emphasized.


    Tonight? Isnt it too rushed?! Hamilcar eximed in surprise.


    The Romans have just fought against us, but they havent rested. The auxiliaries are building the camp, the legionnaires are on guard, and the cavalry is patrolling around Spartacus pointed down the mountain and analyzed seriously, Look! Their personnel are concentrated on that side. They probably intend to dig trenches, build earthen walls, and set traps under this slope before nightfall topletely block our descent. That means they wont have enough time and manpower to fortify the other directions of their camp. Besides, they have been fighting all day and will surely be fast asleep at night, rxing their patrols and vignce. We can easily break into their camp.


    However, if we wait until tomorrow night This Roman army only stayed at the olive farm for one night yesterday, but they still built a camp. It shows that theirmander is very cautious. Tomorrow, he will certainly demand his soldiers to fortify the entire camps defenses. By then, it will be more difficult for us tounch a surprise attack


    Everyone was convinced, but Artorix reminded, Spartacus, what you said is undoubtedly correct, but after our defeat, most of our brothers have lost their desire to fight. They may not dare to follow us and climb down the mountain, risking great danger to ambush the Romans.


    Leave that to me, Spartacus responded without hesitation, then walked briskly to the center of the teau.


    Brothers, the reason we failed in the battle against the Romans this time is entirely my fault! Spartacus began, shocking many soldiers who looked up in confusion.


    I had fear in my heart towards the Romans, so I always wanted to gain more advantages before the battle, thinking that only then could we ultimately win. Therefore, I waited for the Romans to attack first instead of leading you to initiate the attack. But I clearly forgot that the Romans possessed unimaginable wealth and exceptionally superior equipment. The more we waited, the more advantages the Romans could gather, and the less likely we could defeat them!


    Spartacus voice was loud and earnest, attracting the attention of almost everyone on the teau.


    So,pared to the Roman army, do we, the poor ones, have any strengths that surpass the Romans?! Spartacus asked loudly before lowering his voice. I used to live in a Thracian tribe near the ck Sea. I had a wife, children, and a peaceful and fulfilling life But then the Romans came. They forcibly conscripted people from our tribe as auxiliaries, and I was forced to follow the Roman army to Asia Minor


    Little did I know that not long after, another Roman army arrived near my hometown. While forcibly collecting food from the various tribes of Thrace, two Roman soldiers attempted to vite the women of our tribe. In their anger, my fellow tribesmen killed them, which angered the Romans. They killed all the tribesmen in our tribe and burned down the entire vige as a warning to other Thracian tribes. My wife and children died as a result Spartacuss voice trembled, and his eyes were filled with tears.


    Everyone listened attentively, their expressions solemn.


    Although our fellow Thracians from other Thracian tribes rushed into Asia Minor and secretly told us this shocking news while we were still fighting for the Romans, we failed to escape the Romans pursuit and eventually became their ves. We were forced to fight in the arena to entertain those despicable Romans


    Brothers, just like me, all of you have once enjoyed a life of freedom but became ves of the Romans for various reasons. Day and night, we endured their whippings and toiled for them tirelessly, like cattle and sheep.


    The reason you joined our ranks is because you refuse to be ves any longer. You want your freedom back. For this, you are not afraid to face the mighty Roman army. Because youve suffered hell already, death does not scare you anymore!


    Spartacus voice grew louder, The Romans are indeed powerful, but the more wealth they possess, the more they fear death. That is where we surpass them, for only those who fearlessly face death are true warriors who can create great miracles!


    In the previous battle, we failed, but it also made the Romans underestimate us even more. They have set up their camp at the foot of the mountain, thinking that we will obediently stay on the mountain and starve like docile cattle and sheep. But they will never expect that tonight, we will descend from the cliffs like agile apes andunch a surprise attack on the unprepared Roman camp like ferocious mountain eagles, utterly defeating them! Brothers, are you willing to join me in this assault?!


    The soldiers were filled with renewed spirit, but some remained puzzled. One person asked loudly, Commander Spartacus, this mountain has Romans guarding it on one side, and the rest are impassable cliffs. How can we possibly climb down?


    Archidas, I remember you. You were a ve herding cattle for the Romans in a nearby farm. You are familiar with the terrain here. Indeed, what you said is true. There are no other paths down the mountain except for this side. But Spartacus took a deep breath, passionately proiming, As long as we do not fear death, we can create miracles! I will be the first to climb down, and if you see me safely reach the ground, will you follow me?!


    Spartacus surveyed the crowd, raising his voice, Will you follow me?! With the hatred in your hearts, will you follow me in attacking the Roman camp and striking down those high and mighty Romans?! Will you follow me and show them that we are not lowly cattle and sheep but heroes who can create miracles, and are gods of death who can make them kneel down in fear and beg for mercy?! Will you follow me to regain our freedom?!


    FOR FREEDOM! FOR OUR FREEDOM!!! The soldiers were finally fired up, shouting eagerly. The previously silent and gloomy atmosphere was swept away.


    <em>Amazing!</em> Maximus watched Spartacus standing in the center of the crowd and couldnt help but be amazed. He understood why Spartacus had always been themander of the uprising in history, with his soldiers swearing unwavering loyalty.


    <em>A leader with such inspiring charisma is worth learning from</em>, Maximus thought to himself.

 Chapter 31: Night Raid

    Chapter 31: Night Raid


    As the dark night arrived and the full moon hung in the sky, everything fell silent. The soldiers of the uprising, who had been resting on the ground since the afternoon, awakened from their sleep. After eating the carefully prepared food by the logistics team, they were full of energy and high morale.


    However, when they arrived at the eastern cliff under Spartacus lead and looked down, their hearts began to tremble. The steep cliff resembled a sharp de, with an unfathomable depth below. The strong mountain wind howled, rustling the trees below like demons dancing, ready to devour human flesh at any moment.


    The mountain wind pressed against the cliff and blew against the bodies of the rebel soldiers at the edge, making it almost impossible for them to stand firm


    Just as they felt fearful, Spartacus deep voice rang in their ears, Ill go first. Without hesitation, he fulfilled his promise. His strong hands gripped a thick rope tied securely to arge rock. His sturdy legs stepped on the rocky crevices between the mountain ridges, slowly descending along the hanging rope


    Everyone on the cliff held their breath, nervously watching his diminishing figure. Every swing of the rope and every groan he made tightened their nerves.


    Although the moonlight was bright tonight, the darkness below the cliff eventually engulfed Spartacus figure. They couldnt see him anymore, which made them even more nervous. It wasnt until the rope shook forcefully three times, followed by three more shakes, signaling the agreed-upon signal


    The soldiers breathed a sigh of relief, their faces showing joy. Spartacus seeded! He safely reached the ground!!


    Its my turn. Crixus stepped forward.


    And me too. Oenomaus also stepped forward. This was because two ropes were hanging down from the teau to ensure that the soldiers could descend the mountain as quickly as possible. Otherwise, with Spartacus slow pace, it would take a long time for all five hundred warriors to reach the foot of the mountain one by one.


    Crixus, Oenomaus, and other diators sessfully descended the mountain, greatly inspiring the remaining warriors on the mountain.


    Of course, things were not without difficulties. asionally, a warrior would identally bump into a mountain ridge or fall off while descending. Their screams were drowned out by the howling mountain wind


    But these idents were not enough to instill fear in the warriors. On the contrary, they were eager to descend the mountain and follow Spartacus to strike a blow against the Romans.


    The reason they chose only five hundred warriors tounch a surprise attack on the Roman camp was that the rebel army currently had only around 500 short swords and spears. The ones with courage andbat capability were also around 500. Apart from the diators, most of them were Celtic people from the Iberian Penins, who had been enved for a short time and retained their wild nature.


    Its unclear how much time had passed, but the warriors had all climbed down the mountain. Those who remained on the mountain continued to gaze down at the cliffs edge. They were reluctant to leave, even though it was pitch ck and they couldnt see any trace of the approaching army about to head to the battlefield. However, that was their only hope of survival!


    Its time to go! We should also do our part! Hamilcar reminded everyone, leading the way down the mountain path. The other soldiers followed him one by one.


    Following closely behind was Maximus. Unlike the others, he was not anxious or uneasy. Memories from his past life convinced him that Spartacus leading a surprise attack on the Roman camp would seed.


    Agnes, Cornelius, and Vorenus, take care of the others and dont let them wander off! Maximus reminded his subordinates loudly, to avoid making the same mistakes as before.


    Be careful, Teacher Maximus! The children said their farewells reluctantly.


    Dont worry, tomorrow you cane down the mountain and continue your studies in the farm! Maximus waved confidently.


    Behind him were the members of the wagon team led by Pigres, each leading a packhorse. There were a total of ten horses, blindfolded and obediently following their handlers. When they had initially driven the wagons up the mountain, the handlers couldnt bear to leave the horses behind on the mountainside due to the narrow road. As a result, they brought the horses to the teau, which drewints from some soldiers as they took up a lot of space. But now, they might y an important role in the uing operation.


    Behind the wagon team were over 500 rebel soldiers, marching in a long line, carefully treading the rough and uneven mountain path. Without torches, they could only rely on the moonlight to see the way ahead. Therefore, no one was distracted or joking around, focusing all their attention on their footsteps.


    The mountain path gradually widened. When they were about to reach a curved path, Hamilcar and Maximus, who were leading, stopped and crouched down, peering down below. Ahead was a wide gentle slope, and a few dozen meters further down was the foot of the mountain. There, a long trench and earth wall could be seen, with a few watchtowers in front of the trench. Several torches were mounted on the earth wall, illuminating that area. Shadows of people could be seen moving behind the earth wall It seemed that the Romans had a tight defense on the mountain path, so they had no choice but to wait.


    Waiting was an excruciating ordeal, especially when they didnt know if the other team could sessfully raid the enemys camp. Even Hamilcar eventually became restless and impatient, let alone the others. Only Maximus remained calm andposed, asionallyforting others in a low voice, Dont worry, Spartacus and the others must have already safely reached the nk of the Roman camp. They just need some time to assess the camps situation and n the attack, aiming to bring down the entire camp in one fell swoop


    The younger generation is really formidable, huh! Hamilcar sighed in his heart, just as he was about to praise his apprentice. Suddenly, he faintly heard the sounds of fightinging from below the mountain.


    He quickly turned his ear to listen, and the sounds grew louder and louder Due to the obstruction of the vineyard buildings, Hamilcar and his group couldnt see the situation of the Roman camp, but they were certain that Spartacus and his group were already attacking the Roman camp. As a result, everyones faces lit up with excitement.


    Soon, they could clearly see the Roman soldiers on guard behind the earth wall retreating.


    Brothers, its our turn! Hamilcar turned around and said.


    Commander Hamilcar, please give the order. We cant wait any longer! Everyone urged eagerly in hushed voices.


    Hamilcar instructed Pigres and the others from the wagon team to lead the horses out of the mountain path and line up on the gentle slope.


    Taking off their blindfolds and bridles, the handlers hesitated but ultimately drew their short daggers and ruthlessly stabbed the horses hindquarters a few times.


    The horses let out pained neighs and fled forward in terror. They crashed through the palisade, some falling into the trench, and others colliding with the earth wall. The force of their charge was so great that it directly toppled the two-meter-high earth wall.


    It worked! Maximus couldnt help but raise his fist in triumph, after all, it was his idea to use the horses to clear the way.


    Brothers, follow me and kill the Romans! Hamilcar shouted loudly, leading the charge downhill.


    KILL THOSE DAMN ROMANS! KILL THEM! Everyone shouted with extreme excitement. Although most of them were unarmed and poorly dressed (many new recruits had discarded their weapons during the daytime escape), their fighting spirit was high. They followed the path trampled by the horses, crossed the trenches, and rushed through the breaches in the earth wall. The firelight from the vineyard in front illuminated their way, and they could clearly see the fierce battle taking ce in front of the farms entrance. They roared in anger and charged forward.


    Under the influence of such high morale, Maximus blood boiled, and he had forgotten about his fear. Charging ahead, the meat cleaver in his right hand struck a Roman soldiers head, who let out a scream. In the next moment, Maximus left hand, wielding another cleaver, swiftly swung towards the neck of another enemy beside him


    Maximus body, which had undergone years of hellish training as a diator, disyed astonishing lethality at this moment. Maximus wielded dual des, charging through the enemy forces, as if nothing could stand in his way.


    In reality, the majority of the enemies were still waking up from their sleep, unable to don their armor or pick up their weapons in time. They began to flee, attempting to seek refuge inside the farm, only to be intercepted by a group of rebel soldiers.

 Chapter 32: Victory and Sorrow

    Chapter 32: Victory and Sorrow


    <strong>Content Warning:</strong> This chapter contains graphic violence and mature themes. Reader discretion is advised.


    I also just added this warning in the first chapter because Ive forgotten it. I wont put this content warning in the future chapters.


    ***


    After seeing the battle at the farm, ber quickly sent out the few soldiers he had left to attack the rebel forces from both sides, hoping to trap the rebels and bring the retreating Roman soldiers back to reinforce the farms defenses. However, just as the Romans were about to recover the routing troops, to their surprise, Hamilcar and a few hundred men arrived just in time. Although theycked weapons, these rebel soldiers, mostly former ves with frail bodies, carried a deep hatred for the Romans. They used their bodies to collide, their fists to strike, and even their teeth to bite, exhibiting a ferocious and frenzied appearance.


    The Roman soldierspletely copsed amidst the screams.


    Charge in! Follow me into the farm! Hamilcar shouted, brandishing his sword high.


    It was toote for the Roman soldiers inside the farm to close the gates. First, the routing troops rushed in, and the defenders hesitated to stab out with their swords at theirrades. In an instant, the thin defensive line was thrown into disarray by the fleeing soldiers.


    The rebel soldiers then poured in andunched a frenzied attack on the disorganized Roman soldiers in the courtyard.


    If these Roman recruits had fought in formation, they might have been able to withstand the rebel soldiers assault due to their excellent equipment. However, they were surrounded by chaos, and the rebel soldiers furious roars sounded like a death knell to them. Already terrified, theypletely lost their fighting spirit and knelt down, surrendering one after another.


    ber, standing on the balcony of the main building, immediately shifted his gaze. Outside the farm was the Roman camp engulfed in mes. Those damn ves, like wild beasts, were crazily hunting down the scattered fleeing Roman soldiers, their screams echoing throughout the camp


    ber closed his eyes in anguish, then let out a long sigh. He straightened his military attire, picked up his short sword, and turned to descend the stairs. I am a Roman magistrate, themander of this army, Gaius udius ber. I am willing to surrender with my troops and hope that


    Before he could finish his words, someone rushed forward and delivered a powerful punch, knocking him to the ground. F*ck off! Youve all be prisoners, yet you still have so much nonsense to say!


    Maximus recognized this brutal guy; it was none other than Torquevado.


    Spartacus led his troops quietly to the Roman army camp. As he had anticipated, there were no defenses around the camp, and even the guards were deep in slumber. Instead ofunching an immediate assault, Spartacus took the time to assess the situation of the entire camp. He then instructed Crixus, Oenomaus, and Artorix to lead their respective troops in a surprise attack from three different directions. They set the tents on fire, and ughtered the sleeping Roman soldiers, while Spartacus and his small group infiltrated the center of the camp. When the chaos ensued and the camp fell into disarray, they made a direct assault on themanders tent, killing the guards on their way. Spartacus then beheaded Vettinius, the campmander. With no leadership left in the camp, the resistance waspletely shattered.


    The rebel soldiers sessfully raided the Roman camp,pletely defeating the Roman army.


    However, the matter was not over yet. Spartacus learned from the captives that there were still 200 auxiliary soldiers stationed at an olive farm one and a half kilometers away from the camp, and some supplies were stored there as well.


    Ignoring fatigue, Spartacus immediately led 300 men to attack.


    The Campanian auxiliaries stationed there had already noticed the mes and heard the sounds of battleing from the vineyard farm. They were unsure of what was happening but were too fearful to send anyone to investigate in the darkness. They were also afraid of Roman punishment, and dared not escape on their own. It wasnt until some fleeing soldiers arrived and informed them of the news of the enemys surprise attack and the disastrous defeat of the Roman army that they hurriedly gathered their belongings to prepare to leave. However, Spartacus and his army intercepted them just in time


    As Spartacus led the prisoners and the wagons filled with supplies back to the vineyard farm, the eastern sky was already showing a pale light.


    Laughter and cheers filled the hillside as the exhausted rebel soldiers, who had been fighting all night, continued their tireless work. Some soldiers were boasting about their achievements from the previous nights battle, others were donning armor stripped from the bodies of Roman soldiers, some were organizing the tents in the camp, and others were testing the captured warhorses


    When they saw Spartacus returning with his army, they waved their arms and cheered:


    Spartacus! Spartacus!! Spartacus!!!


    Other rebel leaders heard the news and came out of the farm to greet them.


    Spartacus, it seems like youve had a fruitful journey! Hamilcar looked at the troops behind Spartacus and said with a smile.


    It has been fruitful indeed! Spartacus beamed. We captured over 100 Campanian auxiliaries, seized a good amount of food, and obtained a batch of weapons and equipment, all loaded in the wagons. Additionally, we also captured a group of ves from the Roman army.


    Thats excellent news! Now we dont have to worry about a shortage of weapons for a while! Crixus eximed with joy.


    How are things over here? What about our casualties? Spartacus asked with concern.


    Hammilcar replied, We lost 86 men in battle, and 42 were wounded, but all of them have minor wounds. We killed and wounded over 1,200 enemies (in fact, more than half of them were trampled and killed in the chaos and panic of the night). We captured nearly a thousand prisoners, including their legatus, ber We havent had a chance to tally the captured weapons and armor yet. Last night, the Romans were caught off guard while they were sleeping, and most of them left their weapons and armor in their tents. We should have made a significant gain, however, many of our brothers have already put on Roman armor


    Let them wear it if they want. After all, it was meant for them. If we had enough weapons and armor from the beginning, we wouldnt have had so many casualties, Spartacusmented, and the others fell silent.


    Spartacus quickly changed the subject, Maximus, is breakfast ready? Were all hungry.


    Our logistics team just came down from the hill and theyre busy in the kitchen. Breakfast may take a while, Maximus truthfully replied.


    Spartacus jokingly rubbed his stomach, Oh, were all hungry


    Spartacus! Crixus! Oenomaus Artorix! Hamilcar! A rider galloped towards them, shouting non-stop, Something terrible happened!


    Omarkel, calm down. What happened? Spartacus asked calmly.


    Just now, I was riding with a fewrades on the captured warhorses, chasing after the fleeing enemy to the west and not far from there Omarkel pointed behind him, his expression filled with grief and anger, We found so many bodies! The Roman prisoners we captured told me that yesterday evening, under the order of their legionmander, they killed all our brothers that were captured there. There were over 900 of them! Over 900!


    Spartacus and the others faces instantly turned pale.


    This was arge elliptical pond, surrounded by stone embankments made of Roman cement. It was used as water storage and irrigation for therge farm. However, the pool was now filled with bodies, strewn haphazardly: Their eyes were vacant, their faces were contorted, with multiple sword wounds on their chests, and dark red scabs covering their bodies. It was evident that they had endured painful struggles before their deaths


    Maximus stood in silence by the edge of the pond, and one of the nearby bodies caught his attention: she had gray hair, a frail body, and a wrinkled face


    Maximus recognized her because she was a member of the logistics team named Saria. When she was assigned to his team initially, Maximus had noticed her weak physique and out of sympathy, he had suggested to Hamilcar to assign her light tasks in the kitchen. Saria had always been grateful, and every time she saw Maximus, she would warmly greet him and sometimes offer him a cup of goats milk to quench his thirst. Normally, goats milk had a strong odor, but the goats milk she prepared was not only light in smell but also had a slightly sweet and sour taste. Maximus hadnt expected this elderly woman to have such a skill. After bing the leader of the logistics team, he had nned to have Saria exclusively responsible for preparing goats milk in a few days

 Chapter 33: Post-War Discussions

    Chapter 33: Post-War Discussions


    Even though Maximus had only been in this world for a month, he hadnt fully integrated himself into it. He still had an observers mentality in his daily activities. Seeing the kind and amiable old woman turn into a cold corpse in the blink of an eye made him feel extremely ufortable. He also felt a sense of self-me because he didnt gather the scattered members of the logistics team who were fighting the fire at the camp yesterday and led them to the teau as soon as possible. The chaotic retreat resulted in the loss of over 30 members of the logistics team, and now Sarias lifeless bodyy here. Maximus feared that others might also be among the corpses in this pond.


    The thought made Maximus breathing quicken, and he became hesitant to look further, afraid of seeing more familiar corpses.


    Beside Maximus, Crixus suddenly roared, startling him. The Gaul warrior gritted his teeth and said through clenched jaws, The Romans massacred our captured brothers. This blood must be repaid with blood!


    Spartacus and the other leaders did not oppose him. They were equally consumed by anger.


    After breakfast, gather our brothers and offer a blood sacrifice with those Roman captives! Spartacus made a cold decision.


    KILL HIM!!! KILL HIM!!! KILL HIM!!! The rebel soldiers who had witnessed the mass grave of theirrades shouted in anger when they saw ber being brought into the center of the camp.


    Seeing this scene, ber knew he wouldnt be able to escape his fate today. He raised his head proudly, ncing at the crowd with a scornful gaze and a cold smile. Ignorant ves, even though youre acting rampant today, tomorrow the mighty Roman army will break through your camp, hang you on crosses until your filthy blood runs dry


    Before he could finish his cursed words, he felt immense pain in his body as the sharp tip of a sword emerged from his chest


    Crixus repeatedly stabbed his chest from behind several times,pletely shattering his heart, and only when ber stopped struggling did he decapitate him with a single strike, raising his head high.


    The soldiers cheered louder.


    Next were the Roman officers, followed by the ordinary soldiers. They were executed by the rebel execution squad one by one, totaling more than 400 people. This wasnt the total number of captives; the others were either Campanian auxiliary soldiers or ves from the Roman legion, so they were spared.


    Maximus suggested to quickly cremate all the bodies in the camp and the farm to prevent the outbreak of a gue.


    Even though Maximus exined, Spartacus, Crixus, and other leaders still didnt understand why too many corpses would lead to a gue. However, just the word gue was enough to make them nervous. Moreover, the weather was hot, and the piles of bodies would easily emit a foul smell and breed mosquitoes, making everyone uneasy. Therefore, no one opposed Maximus suggestion.


    The entire rebel army sprang into action, collecting firewood and burning the corpses, creating roaring mes and billowing smoke throughout the camp. They were busy the entire day.


    During this process, soldiers who had scattered and fled during yesterdays battle gradually returned to the camp. After escaping the pursuit of the Roman army, they hadnt gone far and had been hiding in the nearby mountains. When they heard the tumultuous sounds of battleing from the vineyard farmst night, they sensed something was happening. Therefore, they sent people to secretly investigate and were pleasantly surprised to find the Roman camp was filled with rebel soldiers.


    By midnight, over 400 formerly missing rebel soldiers had returned, including 15 diators who were believed to have died in battle. The entire rebel army rejoiced in their victory.


    In this atmosphere of triumph, the leaders of the rebellion held Military Commanders Assembly in the guest room of the vineyard farm.


    Now that we have defeated a Roman legion and seized arge number of weapons and equipment, our strength has been greatly enhanced. But the Romans will not give up. They will undoubtedly send a stronger army to wipe us out. Therefore, we must quickly grow our forces before the next Roman legion arrives! Spartacus warned everyone at the beginning of the meeting.


    Spartacus, you dont need to worry. Previously, we were only engaged in minor skirmishes, but in less than a month, we expanded our original force of over 200 people to more than 4,000. Now that we have defeated the Roman army and demonstrated our power, more ves will join us, and we have enough weapons to equip them. When the Roman armyes again, we have the capability to defeat them head-on!


    When Crixus said these words, he felt ashamed inside. Previously, when fighting against the Roman legion, he had also felt fear deep down. Thats why, when facing the Roman battle formations, he couldnt withstand the pressure and charged alongside Oenomaus on the left nk. But thest nights surprise attack had bolstered his confidence.


    I agree with Crixus. Our forces will soon be vast, and new recruits wont be wielding hoes and clubs anymore; they will have real swords and spears. However, we need to strengthen their training. Otherwise, even if they have weapons, they will still be scared and run away when facing the Roman attacks! Oenomaus said loudly, recalling the yesterdays battle. He had fought bravely at the forefront, yet the new recruits behind him were the first to flee. This impression was truly too deep.


    It seems that everyone is aware that no matter how many people we have, if theyck training, they will only run away on the battlefield, Spartacus looked at Hamilcar and said seriously, Regarding the training of soldiers, Hamilcar, you not only need to start implementing it more intensively but also impose stricter discipline on our brothers. We will fully cooperate so that we can be confident of victory when we encounter the Roman legion again in the future.


    I will do my best to help the new recruits improve theirbat abilities! Hamilcar made amitment and continued, I also have a proposal. Currently, we have nearly 500 Campanian prisoners, most of whom are from Naples. Instead of releasing them like we did at the Temple of Florast time, we should escort them to the outskirts of Naples and negotiate with the people inside the city. We can exchange these prisoners for ves and diators.


    And theres another benefit to doing this. I heard that Naples is a city of trade with many merchants. They will spread the news of our victory faster and wider, attracting more ves to join our ranks.


    Thats a great idea! Spartacus eximed, pping his thigh.


    I also think its a good n. We shouldnt just let these Campanian prisoners go for nothing. However, we dont know much about the ves and diators inside Naples. What if the Neapolitans include some people loyal to them in the exchange and then instruct them to cause trouble in our ranks? Artorix expressed his concern.


    I hate traitors the most, and its troublesome to deal with them! Crixus chimed in, ncing intentionally or unintentionally at Maximus.


    Spartacus pondered for a moment and said, We wontck warriors, and those who willingly join us are the most reliable. Theres no need to ask Naples for people. What weck most now is weapons. How about we let the Neapolitans exchange these prisoners for weapons instead?


    No one opposed this idea this time.


    Spartacus looked at everyone and continued, We are not familiar with the diators in Naples, but we are familiar with the diators in Capua. There are many diator schools there, mostly outside the city, and we have fought against them in the arena. After our strength has recovered in a few days, lets send a team tounch a surprise attack on the outskirts of Capua, rescue the diators there, and have them join us to strengthen our forces!


    I agree! Send me there when the timees. The diator school there is full of Germanic warriors, and Ive been wanting to rescue them! Oenomaus said excitedly.


    Others also agreed because training new recruits was a long-term process, while the addition of diators meant immediatebat strength. Moreover, they shared amon background.


    Theres one more thing Id like to discuss with you, Spartacus said cautiously. I want to abandon our current camp and lead the army to establish a new camp at a farm not far to the north.

 Chapter 34: Maximus Request

    Chapter 34: Maximus Request


    Why? Artorix was puzzled. This ce is so good. Its easy for us to defend, and when we cant hold on anymore, we can retreat to the teau behind. It was this unique terrain that helped us defeat the Romans! This ce is blessed by the war god Ares! Why should we give it up? Besides, if we move to the farm in the north, the terrain there is t and vulnerable to sudden attacks from the Roman army. Once were defeated, it wont be easy to retreat. Our legs cant outrun the Roman cavalry.


    Crixus immediately spoke out loudly, I agree with Spartacus suggestion. We shouldnt stay on this mountain anymore! Yesterdays battle has already shown us that relying solely on defense and waiting wont win against the Romans. And the method we used to defeat the Romans this time cannot be repeated. The Romans will learn about the entire battle from the mouths of the fleeing soldiers, and the next time they attack us, they wont make the same mistakes again.


    Defense requires skill, which the new recruits cannot learn in a short time. On the other hand, courage is crucial for an attack, and our brothers do notck hatred for the Romans. Hatred will fill them with strength, so taking the initiative to attack is our best choice. Establishing a camp on t ground leaves us vulnerable without natural defenses. We can only ensure our safety by defeating the enemy, while on this mountain, our fighting spirit can easily be weakened!


    I also agree with Spartacus n. Hamilcar nodded towards Artorix, speaking in a gentle tone. Aside from other factors, the farm in the north is surrounded by Roman ditches and earthworks, which actually provide better defense than our camp here. Moreover, training our soldiers on t ground would be more advantageous. Once our forces expand, it will be easier for us to expand the camp outward. Additionally, on t ground, the logistics team can transport supplies more easily


    Lets move the camp quickly. Theres nothing good about staying here! Oenomausined. The camp surrounds us with a burnt smell, and theres that pool of bodies. Even though theyve been cremated, its still unpleasant to think about. We better find a new ce quickly.


    The suggestion to move the camp was approved, and it was decided to take action the next day.


    After making this decision, the leaders had little else to say. As usual, Spartacus asked the final question, Does anyone have any other suggestions?


    I do. Maximus, who had been quiet in the corner, spoke up. From yesterday to today, over 240 of our people have been injured to varying degrees. Based on the recovery of previous wounded soldiers, Im afraid that more than half of them will die due to infected wounds and high fever. When I was young, I learned some medical skills. I believe that as long as we regrly change the bandages on their wounds, keep the wounds clean, provide them with sufficient rest, and give them enough good food as long as its not a severely critical injury, the majority of them will eventually recover.


    But we havent taken care of them enough! Maximus said with great sorrow. Many of our brothers who fought alongside us before (referring to the diators injured during the escape from the school) died due tock of proper treatment. We cant continue like this! I suggest that we entrust all these wounded soldiers to our logistics team. I will personally ensure that they are well taken care of and do everything in my power to help them recover and return to duty.


    You know medicine, why didnt you say so earlier?! Crixus red at him,ining loudly.


    Maximus immediately retorted, I have some knowledge of medicine, but I have never actually treated anyone before. Taking care of wounded soldiers is a troublesome task. If it werent for the fact that I noticed too many of our wounded soldiers dying recently and that I just became the captain of the logistics team, giving me the opportunity to do something about it, I wouldnt have bothered to intervene.


    You


    Alright, alright, treating wounded soldiers is indeed a troublesome task. We all experienced it back at the diator school. Maximus is willing to let the logistics team take care of the wounded, which is a great thing for us. We should all express our gratitude to him! Right? Spartacus immediately affirmed Maximus suggestion.


    Maximus, I truly thank you. Youve helped me tremendously this time! Artorix sincerely expressed his gratitude. It was worth noting that the current rule in the rebel army was that if a soldier in a particr team was injured, it was the obligation of their own team to take care of their own. In Artorixs team, there was a Thracian diator who had a chest injury that turned into an abscess. He had recurrent high fevers and would often howl uncontrobly, tormenting the entire team mentally. In the end, they strongly demanded to end his suffering.


    That wounded soldier happened to be Artorixs fellow countryman, and they had a close rtionship. In the end, Artorix had to make the difficult decision to end his life. So, without hesitation, he loudly said, I raise both hands in agreement. Let the logistics team take care of the wounded!


    Crixus and Oenomaus had simr experiences, and they also expressed their agreement without dy.


    At this moment, Hamilcar spoke up, I remember when we were at the school, there was a doctor named Valerius who had excellent medical skills. He was able to treat many injured brothers and heal them. Perhaps this is due to his extensive experience in treating wounded diators. This time, when we go to Capua, it would be best to invite a doctor from the diator school and let him join to the logistics team to treat the wounded.


    Maximus eyes lit up, Thats a good idea! However, these doctors receive decentpensation, and Im afraid they wont join us willingly.


    They have to join even if they dont want to! Crixus said coldly, and surprisingly, no one opposed, including Spartacus.


    <em>I thought you all upheld the principle of voluntary participation for everyone as you were with those farm ves. It turns out, that when ites to truly needed talents, you dont hesitate to use any means! </em>Maximus nced at the four of them and felt like he had learned a new trick.


    I also agree with the idea of the logistics team taking care of the wounded. However, the logistics team is responsible for providing food, transporting supplies, and managing warehouses, so manpower is already stretched thin. Now you have to take care of the wounded as well. Do you have enough people? Hamilcar raised his question with a serious expression.


    Maximus inwardly rejoiced, thinking, Teacher is giving me a timely help! He immediately spoke up, Indeed, we are a bit short on manpower! There are currently over 240 wounded soldiers, and we need at least thirty to forty people to take care of them around the clock. And as you all should know, most of the logistics team members are physically weak. They cant even carry the injured, so how can they take care of them properly? So, we not only need people, but we need strong and robust men!


    Spartacus looked troubled and said, But the major teams are also short on manpower How about this, once we have new recruits, well try to allocate more to the logistics team.


    Maximus, with a hint ofint, suggested, Thats all well and good, but it should have been done a long time ago. However, right now, we cant dy any longer. The wounded soldiers urgently need care. I suggest we allocate the batch of ves captured from the prisoners to our logistics team.


    That wont work! These ves are different from the new recruits who only know how to farm. They have already undergone military training and have somebat experience. It would be a waste to assign them to the logistics team! Crixus immediately expressed his opposition.


    The batch of ves they mentioned came from the recently defeated Roman army. ording to the current Roman military system, the smallest unit of a Roman legion was a contubernium, consisting of ten individuals, two of whom were ves. They did not participate inbat but were responsible for misceneous tasks such as carrying items for the other eight soldiers, cooking, setting up tents, repairing weapons, and taking care of the wounded.


    The Roman army that came to Mount Vesuvius this time had a total of 560 such ves. The rebel armyunched a surprise attack on the Roman camp and captured over 200 of them. They are all publicly owned ves of Rome, many of whom are war prisoners. After years of hardbor for Rome, they have the chance to be freed and be free citizens. Therefore, not all ves were willing to join the rebellion, but the act of the rebel army ughtering all Roman prisoners frightened them, so they all reluctantly expressed their agreement.

 Chapter 35: The Need for a Guard Unit

    Chapter 35: The Need for a Guard Unit


    It is precisely because these newly joined ves are familiar with military affairs that they should not be treated as ordinary soldiers, Maximus said confidently. They can cook, which the kitchen of the logistics team needs; they can transport supplies, which the logistics teams convoy requires; they can take care of the wounded, which the medical camp the logistics team is about to establish needs; and they can also maintain and repair weapons, which our troops urgently need


    They also understand military training and how to construct a camp We need them even more to teach our ignorant recruits! Crixus reminded, unwilling to back down.


    It seems that this batch of new recruits is highly sought after, Spartacus said seriously, looking at the two of them. Each major team needs them to improvebat effectiveness, and the logistics team also needs them to provide better support for us. I suggest allocating thirty people to the logistics team for now, and when more people join, we can give the logistics team more personnel. What do you think?


    No one opposed this, but Maximus looked somewhat aggrieved. Over 200 people, and were only getting 30 for the supply team. Thats too few! Well, for the sake of our entire team, I ept.


    He paused for a moment and then continued with a serious expression, I have another suggestion. I hope the logistics team can have its own guard unit!


    In response, Crixus immediately objected, Absolutely not! The logistics team is not responsible forbat, and your safety is protected by us. It ispletely unnecessary to assign a guard unit to you.


    We used to think the same way. With your protection, we didnt have to worry about our safety, Maximus said with a regretful tone. But precisely because of that, when you were fighting at the foot of the mountain, our logistics team was busy extinguishing fires in the camp. The result: you lost the battle, discarded your weapons and armor, and fled for your lives, only thinking of saving yourselves. But did anyone think about stopping the pursuers for our logistics team?


    While we were in panic, we were still thinking of rushing the wagon up the mountain, so that when you defend the mountain in the future, you wouldnt starve. As a result, we wasted time. Our logistics team consists of either elderly, women, or children. How could they possibly outrun you? In the end, over thirty people were caught up by enemy soldiers and died in that mass grave


    Maximus sniffed, his expression filled with sorrow.


    Crixus was at a loss for words, unsure of how to refute.


    Maximus emphasized his words and continued, We worked hard to bring the wagons up the mountain. Because the mountain road was narrow, we stopped halfway up, hoping that you would send troops to guard them and prevent them from being looted by the enemy. But what did you say? No, our brothers just escaped from the pursuers, where do we have the energy to guard your wagons?


    Maximus sneered and said angrily, Now that we have won the battle, everyone is celebrating our victory, but dont forget that it was our logistics team who came up with the idea of descending from the cliff when you were in despair! It was our logistics team that worked hard to make the long rope that allowed you to descend safely! And it was our logistics team that made enough food for you to have the strength to fight the enemy! For the logistics team that yed an important role in this war, I believe it is only right for it to have its own guard unit to protect itself!


    Crixus face turned pale, and Oenomaus and Artorix looked ashamed The living room fell into silence for a moment.


    Spartacus looked around at everyone and sincerely said, The logistics team is indeed important to us, and it has made great contributions in the battle against the Romans. We must fight with all our might, and sometimes we truly have no spare energy to take care of the logistics team. That was my mistake! Now it seems that the logistics team does need a dedicated guard unit to ensure its safety. Lets allocate 100 personnel to this guard unit for now, and when the logistics team expands, we can increase the number of personnel in the guard unit. What do you think?


    I agree! Maximus immediately responded loudly. Although he was a bit disappointed with the small number of personnel in the guard unit, having the logistics team armed would make certain things easier to handle.


    After Maximus made his statement, Crixus, Oenomaus, and Artorix felt too embarrassed to object, and the matter was settled.


    I hope this guard unit of a hundred soldiers will bemanded by Phaselus, Maximus looked at Spartacus and made a further request, as Phaselus currently served under Spartacus as the captain of the first squad.


    Spartacus believed that Maximus made this request because he had a good rtionship with Phaselus, and yesterday on the teau, only Phaselus responded to Maximus request to help him guard the wagons. Therefore, appointing Phaselus as the leader of the guard unit should ensure that he would follow Maximus orders. Spartacus was pleased with this and readily agreed.


    After the meeting ended, Maximus caught up with Hamilcar and whispered, Teacher, thanks for your help earlier!


    Hamilcar turned to look at him and said with concern, Now that the logistics team has added a guard unit and needs to take care of the wounded, there will be more tasks and more people to manage than before. Can you handle it alone? And be careful to not let any problems arise, giving other people an opportunity to use it against you.


    Maximus understood who Hamilcar was referring to and immediately reassured him, Teacher, rest assured, I will do my best to manage the logistics team and provide better assistance to our entire team!


    Hamilcar nodded. Lets go. Come with me now to select those 30 new recruits.


    More than 200 Roman legion ves had just joined the rebel army and had not yet been assigned to different teams. For the time being, they were under the jurisdiction of Hamilcar, who had recently taken charge of military affairs. The majority of them were young men in their 20s and 30s, with only a few middle-aged and elderly individuals over the age of 40. They were all in good health, with a healthyplexion.


    As public ves of Rome, it was evident that they were treated fairly well within the Roman army. However,pared to other ves who joined the rebel army, many of them seemed overly cautious. When Hamilcar gathered them together, most of them kept their heads down, appearing lethargic.


    Observing this, Maximus spoke loudly, I am going to select 30 people from among you to join the logistics team. Those who join the logistics team will not have to fight the Romans directly and can enjoy good food. Youll even get to spend time with women every day. Who among you is willing to go?


    Upon hearing this, the ves became spirited and eagerly shouted, Me! Me! I am willing to go!


    Though a few remained silent, they all raised their heads.


    Frowning, Maximus said, We only need 30 people for the logistics team, and there are too many of you who want to join. So, I have to carefully choose among you Who among you is skilled in carpentry? It would be best if you can construct siege weapons.


    Me! Me! Over 20 ves simultaneously eximed.


    So many of you?! Maximus eximed in surprise, pointing to his right side and saying, Then all of youe over here.


    After these ves stepped forward, Maximus stared at them with a fierce gaze and said, Later, I will test your carpentry skills. If anyone is lying and I find out, the next time we fight the Romans, they will be ced at the forefront of the battle formation!


    Hamilcar hesitated because he noticed that many of the ves who stepped forward looked uneasy.


    Maximus took the opportunity to say, Now, I will give you another chance to change your choice. If you feel that your carpentry skills are not sufficient, you can return your teams.


    Immediately, more than half of the ves lowered their heads and hurriedly stepped back.


    Among you, who knows the most about constructing camps? It would be even better if you know how to build roads. Maximus continued, then looked at the ves standing on his right side. If any of you feel that you are proficient in this area, you can also step forward. The more you know, the more likely I will choose you.


    Having learned from the previous lesson, this time over a dozen people spoke up, and some of those who had previously stepped back responded as well.


    Among you, who knows more about maintaining and repairing weapons and armor? It would be best if you are also skilled in using the Scorpio<sup>[1]</sup>. Who among you understands military training and tactics? Perhaps even someone with extensive battlefield experience. Who among you has experience in caring for wounded soldiers? It would be even better if you are knowledgeable in treating external injuries


    <b>Trantor''s Notes:</b><ol></ol><li> Roman siege weapon: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scorpio_(weapon)</li><!--


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 Chapter 36: The Formation of the Guard Unit

    Chapter 36: The Formation of the Guard Unit


    After questioning the ves, Maximus certainly couldnt test them one by one to verify the authenticity of their skills because he had to act quickly to prevent other leaders from realizing what he was doing and trying to take the ves for themselves. Due to the limited number of spots, he chose ves who had responded to multiple questions, resulting in most of the 30 individuals he selected being older in age.


    Hamilcar, observing the situation, felt something was amiss and asked softly, These people youve chosen seem capable, but they are quite old. Can they properly care for so many wounded soldiers?


    Confidently, Maximus replied, Teacher, rest assured. Since Ive promised, I will find a way to handle the treatment of wounded soldiers. However, in the future, you should allocate more young and strong individuals to our logistics team.


    Hesitating for a moment, Hamilcar said, Alright, you can choose five more younger individuals to join the logistics team.


    Maximus reminded, Teacher, thank you for your help, but if we do that, Crixus and the others might


    Interrupting, Hamilcar waved his hand dismissively, Those youve taken are the elderly ones that no other unit wants. They are happy to be chosen, and you have suffered a loss because of it. Naturally, you should receive somepensation, and Crixus and the others shouldnt have any objections to it.


    Hearing Hamilcars words, Maximus didnt hold back any longer. He immediately selected five more ves he deemed suitable, all in their 30s, and with the chosen 35 individuals, he left the camp and returned to the vineyard.


    First, he went directly to the kitchen, where he found Agnes busy inside.


    As soon as Agnes saw him, sheined, Captain, you informed me earlier that the leaders wanted the soldiers to celebrate the victory tonight and asked us to prepare a more borate dinner. You even wanted it ready before sunset. The time is tight, and we are short-staffed. Everyone is working hard, but Im afraid its difficult to finish everything before dusk!


    I understand your difficulties, so Ive brought you some help, Maximus said, leading Agnes out of the kitchen and pointing to the 35 individuals he had just brought back. He smiled and said, They were once ves in the Roman army, and now they are our new brothers in the logistics team. Since the kitchen is short-staffed, Ive asked them to help. However, they are new here, so there might be some


    Maximus pointed to his own chest and discreetly gave Agnes a signal.


    After spending these days together, Agnes immediately understood Maximus intention. She looked at the neers, smiled, and eximed, Oh, thats wonderful! Finally, some decent-looking men have joined our logistics team! Wee to join us! Let me tell you, being in our logistics team is much better than being in other teams. You will eat well, and sleep well, and there are plenty of youngdies around. As long as you work diligently, they will surely notice you! Come,e,e. Hurry and help them in the kitchen!


    Agnes words stirred the hearts of some of the younger ves, and they immediately followed her into the kitchen.


    The others, however, did not move and instead looked at the oldest ve among them.


    After ncing at Maximus, the old ve calmly said to others, Since were all here, lets do whatever needs to be done. Its better to be here than out there killing people. With that, he walked straight into the kitchen, and the rest of the ves followed closely behind.


    Maximus didnt leave; he quietly stood at the doorway and observed the performance of the new ves.


    Maximus! A voice sounded next to him. He turned around and smiled, Phaselus, wee, wee. Ive been looking forward to your arrival!


    I didnt want toe, but Spartacus gave the order, saying you specifically requested me to be the captain of this guard unit for the logistics team, Phaselus said, somewhat discontentedly.


    Maximus whispered, Dont worry, I didnt bring you here just to be a babysitter for our logistics team. In the future, there will definitely be battles for the guard unit.


    Phaselus eyes lit up, and he quickly asked, Are you saying


    Well talk about these matterster. At the very least, you should thank me now. Ive promoted you from a decanus to a centurion, and as the captain of the guard, you no longer have to obey that Anatos


    Its Anatosian. When he heard that we are leaving because of you, he cursed and said he would make you regret it, Phaselus chuckled with a hint of schadenfreude, then sighed, Now I dont have to listen to his orders anymore, but in the future, Ill have to follow yours.


    Dont worry, I wont be as domineering as Anatosian. We can discuss and decide things together in the future, Maximus reassured him. After a fewforting words, he changed the subject and joked, By the way, how many people did you bring?


    Phaselus felt relieved by Maximus promise and answered seriously, 50 people. They were personally selected by Commander Spartacus from the First Team. They are all former ves who joined the rebellion earlier, and none of them are diators. However, they all participated in the two battles yesterday, so they wont fear the Romans like they used to. Commander Spartacus also wanted me to tell you that the First Team now has just over 600 soldiers, that he cant spare any more people, and that the shortfall will be filled upter as soon as possible.


    I understand, Maximus said, but he felt surprised in his heart.


    He was aware of the current situation of the rebellion, but he didnt expect Spartacus to send him so many people so quickly. The efficiency and generosity of his actions were truly admirable, making him think it was worth learning from.


    Where are the members of our guard unit now? Maximus looked around and asked.


    They are in the front courtyard.


    Maximus quickly met the members of the guard unit, and facing them, he changed his rhetoric, saying, Brothers, wee! Our logistics team has been hoping for a guard of our own! Are you willing to stay with our logistics team, alongside the elderly, children, and so many <em>women</em>, and protect them with all your might?!


    YES! PROTECT THEM!! the soldiers of the guard unit shouted excitedly.


    Very well, from today onwards, you are all part of the logistics team! Maximus looked at them, his expression bing serious. The logistics team has its own rules, and you must strictly adhere to them. If you vite them, you will be punished! Those who execute orders diligently and perform exceptionally will receive my rewards, while those who show poor performance and refuse to follow orders will face my strict punishment! Do you all understand?!


    W-We understand, the soldiers voices lowered considerably, and their gaze towards Maximus carried a hint of fear. They were different from the ves in the Roman army and the diators. When they were defeated and felt hopeless on the mountain, they heard Maximus miraculous idea of descending from the cliff to the leaders. Later, most of them followed Hamilcar and Maximus tounch a surprise attack on the Roman camp, witnessing his remarkable prowess firsthand. Thus, they couldnt help but hold a sense of awe when they saw him again.


    Maximus noticed their expressions and continued, Brothers, the young women are currently busy in the kitchen. Phaselus will take you there to help them.


    The soldiers became excited once again. They were all born as ves, and working was amon urrence for them. Even if they didnt know how to bake bread, they could still carry water, chop wood, ughter sheep, skin animals, and so on.


    The best way to familiarize and integrate the ves of the Roman army and the soldiers of the guard unit into the logistics team as quickly as possible was to work together. That was why Maximus had stuffed them all into the kitchen.


    Watching the soldiers of the guard unit being led by Phaselus towards the kitchen, Maximus felt secretly excited. As the leader of the logistics team, he could attend the Military Commanders Assembly of the rebel army, but unlike Hamilcar, he only had the power to make suggestions andcked voting rights. The diators only recognized Spartacus, Crixus, Artorix, Oenomaus, and Hamilcar as the leaders of the rebel army. This recognition originated from the five being the initial organizers of the uprising. However, this also showed that Maximus had little prestige among the military officers of the entire rebel army. Now, he finally had a 100-man unit under hismand. Perhaps he could do more to elevate his position within the rebel army!

 Chapter 37: Roman Veterans

    Chapter 37: Roman Veterans


    The celebratory feast for the victory was sessfully held at dusk. The setback faced by the rebels also had its advantages. The soldiers, numbering less than 2,000, were able to gather in a camp next to the farm. Dozens of people sat around a bonfire with a roastedmb on top (after the Roman army defeated the rebels and entered the camp, they captured all the cattle and sheep that the logistics team had been herding, originally intended as food reserves, but unexpectedly, with the surprise attack of the rebel army that night, these livestock fell back into the hands of the logistics team.). Each person held a small jar of diluted wine in their hands, with freshly baked bread beneath them, and steaming chicken soup


    Everyone drank wine, ate meat,mented their miserable state during yesterdays retreat, and boasted about their bravery during the surprise attack at night. Some people excitedly started singing, while others danced around the bonfire. Laughter and chatter filled the air, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.


    Spartacus, Crixus, and a few other leaders walked around the camp, frequently clinking jars with the soldiers and sharing their joy. Wherever they went, there was always thunderous apuse. The battle of the previous night had made the soldiers admire these leaders even more, and they hoped to achieve more victories under theirmand.


    Maximus and the logistics team were also invited, but Maximus declined, citing the presence of too many women in the logistics team and the fear that the soldiers revelry might lead to unexpected incidents and disrupt the festive atmosphere.


    Spartacus, considering the special circumstances of the logistics team, did not insist.


    So, the logistics team held their own feast within the farm.


    Over 200 people were seated around ten bonfires in the courtyard. They also drank wine, ate meat, sang, and danced, but because there were both men and women present, it wasnt as noisy as the camp. However, the joy in their hearts was even greater.


    Maximus also wandered around the bonfires, toasting with his subordinates.


    First, he toasted to Agnes, Pigres, and Cornelius, thanking them for their unwavering support in the past two days.


    Then, he proceeded to toast with the others from the logistics team, expressing gratitude for their hard work over the past month.


    After the ups and downs of the previous day, the members of the logistics team were extremely grateful and respectful towards Maximus.


    They appreciated Maximus for saving their lives. Unlike Maximus, who med himself, they believed that it was thanks to this young leaders early preparations and arrangements that most of them, including the elderly, women, and children, managed to escape the pursuit of the Romans and avoided the same fate as other captured soldiers.


    They held great admiration for Maximus wisdom. While the soldiers cheered for Spartacus and the other leaders for leading them to victory, they believed that it was this young man who first found a way down the mountain and even had them prepare long ropes in advance. Maximus was truly the savior of the rebel army!


    It is precisely because of this kind of conviction that several women boldly expressed to Maximus: I am willing to sleep with you.


    Maximus was overwhelmed by the excessive enthusiasm of the veteran members of the logistics team, so he quickly ran over to the guard unit and toasted with the newly joined soldiers, hoping that they would be a strong support for the logistics team in the days toe.


    Finally, he approached the Roman ve soldiers, who were mostly gathered around a bonfire on the edge of the courtyard.


    New members of the logistics team,e, lets drink! Maximus raised his wine jar high and shouted with a smile.


    Drink! Some people immediately responded, while others first turned to look at the ve who had taken the lead. When they saw him raising his wine jar, they followed suit.


    Maximus took a sip of the sweet and sour grape wine and said loudly, Someone told me that this is Falernian wine, one of the best wines in Italy. The patrician elders of Rome often drink it. Do you think it tastes good?


    The ves were surprised and carefully took a sip. Then someone said, It tastes good!


    We dont have cruel and vicious nobles here, no overseers who whip you with ash. We are all suffering people, working happily together, and even eating good food that the Roman elites used to eat. Doesnt it feel good? Maximus asked with a smile, then looked towards the center of the courtyard. Someone was beating a simple rhythm on a drum, and several women were singing and dancing, attracting many men to joyfully dance around them, including the newly joined ves.


    Compared to before, this ce is like a paradise! Someone excitedly replied.


    Yes, exactly! Someone else happily agreed.


    But how long can these happy daysst? Suddenly, someone in the crowd spoke up. It was the elderly that was acting as the leader of the Roman ve soldiers.


    Fearlessly meeting Maximus gaze, he calmly said, Im sorry for saying something that might spoil the festive atmosphere, but I used to be a Roman citizen and a soldier in the Roman legion. I have served in the army for many years, and they, the leader pointed to the other ves around him, were also Roman legion soldiers.


    <em>No wonder these people understand construction, carpentry, weapon maintenance, and military training They turned out to be veteran soldiers of the Roman legion. This is a real treasure!</em> Maximus felt delighted in his heart.


    We used to be Roman citizens, but we now hate Rome! the elderly leader emphasized, and those around him nodded in agreement.


    We were once soldiers under General Marius. We faithfully followed him because he protected the rights of us ordinary soldiers! But after his death, the dictator Su led his army to attack Rome, and the popres wanted to reorganize us retired soldiers to resist Su.


    Many of myrades recognized the precarious situation and refused to join. Only those of us without families to worry about thought that we absolutely could not let General Mariuss hard-won rights for us go to waste. So we responded to the call of the Senate and decided to risk it all in battle. But the result, tens of thousands of troops were defeated at the gates of Rome The leader spoke with a pained expression, and the people around him sighed, each wearing a look of regret.


    We were captured by Su. He didnt execute us like those Samnites, but he stripped us of our Roman citizenship and made us ves, attempting to subject us to even more humiliation! These years, we have lived a life worse than death. Many of our brothers silently passed away, their bodies thrown into a pit outside the Porta Esquilina (Romes easternmost gate) where wild dogs gnawed on them This time we are able to regain our freedom, we are truly grateful to you!


    In fact, the leader should also thank the deceased ber. If not for his strong insistence on conscripting some old soldiers, both citizens and ves, the recruiting officer wouldnt have included these Roman rebels who had spent eight or nine years in ve camps. They were considered too old to be a threat, but they unexpectedly gained the opportunity for freedom.


    Because we spent many years in the Roman legion, we know the strength of the Roman army. With just a small force of two or three thousand people like you,cking weapons and equipment, even if you win one battle, once you attract Romes attention, you will likely face annihtion The elderly leaders voice solemnly reminded them, his eyes filled with pain and sadness.


    The people around fell silent.


    Maximus, however, remained unfazed. He looked intently at the old man, whose face showed some signs of age but still carried a robust physique. The long scar on his face added a touch of fierceness. Maximus asked, May I know your name?


    Cassius Frontinus.


    <em>Just by hearing the name, one can tell that this person came from the Roman plebeians. No wonder he obeyed the call of the popres</em> Maximus continued to inquire, Frontinus, were you not just an ordinary soldier before?


    I was a centurion in the legion for a while. Frontinus hesitated for a moment, then answered. There was no hint of pride on his face, but rather a trace of mncholy.

 Chapter 38: The Sins of Rome

    Chapter 38: The Sins of Rome


    <em>A centurion of a Roman legion who had been a soldier for many years!</em> Maximuss eyes lit up, and a surge of excitement rose in his heart. He wiped the remnants of wine from his mouth with his hand and confidently said, I can answer your concerns right now!


    With that, he turned and walked towards the center of the courtyard, shouting, Everyone, please calm down for a moment. I have something to say to all of you!


    The courtyard gradually regained its quietness as the people who were singing and dancing stepped aside. Everyones gaze focused on Maximus standing in the center, which showed his current prestige in the logistics team.


    My brothers and sisters! Maximus scanned the surroundings and spoke loudly, Someone just told me, The Roman army is incredibly powerful. They have defeated many city-states and kingdoms in the Mediterranean. Our small and weak forceposed of ves, even if we achieve one or two victories, will ultimately be annihted by them. Many of you also have such thoughts, right?!


    Some people immediately eximed, No, no, we are not afraid of the Romans!


    Captain, tell us who said such pessimistic words?!


    Some people remained silent.


    Some nervous ve soldiers looked at Maximus, wondering in hushed voices, What does he want to do?!


    Dont worry, lets see what happens first, Frontinus calmly reassured them.


    Maximus waved his right hand forcefully and said resoundingly: I can tell you very confidently that although we are weak now, we will soon be powerful. Although Rome is powerful now, they will gradually march towards destruction!


    Why? He softened his tone slightly and continued: Many of you are from Illyria, Iberia, Greece, Asia Minor, Egypt, Gaul and most of you became ves because of Rome.


    To obtain huge wealth from its provinces and client states, Rome sends tax collectors who impose very high taxes. The local officials then pass most of these taxes onto the ordinary civilians. These ordinary civilians cannot afford the taxes, so they have to borrow. It is said that these Roman tax collectors are the ultimate beneficiaries of provincial debts, so the interest is very high. Ordinary civilians who cannot repay their debts end up with destroyed families and enved


    Some people led by Agnes showed sadness and began sobbing softly


    Rome also wants morend and ves, so they frequently deploy armies and invade other territories. Gaul, Iberia, Asia Minor, Thrace Many tribes and city-states have been conquered by Rome, and the people who once lived there freely have be ves of Rome


    Some people around, led by Pigres, clenched their fists, their faces filled with resentment


    Rome continuously loots wealth,nd, and poption from various parts of the Mediterranean and brings it back to Italy. But tell me, did the lives of the Italian people be prosperous because of this? Are they living happily?! Maximus asked loudly.


    The ve soldiers looked at each other, remaining silent.


    Cornelius and others unconsciously shook their heads, while Vorenus and others responded loudly, No! No!


    Why not?! Maximus asked, raising his voice.


    Vorenus stammered, unsure of how to answer, and the others remained silent.


    I will tell you why! Maximus looked at the crowd with a serious expression. Indeed, in recent years, Rome extended citizenship to the entire Italy. All Italians no longer have to pay direct taxes. The soldiers who go to war and win can receive some spoils, and even when they retire, they can receive a smallnd


    But in Italy, the number of bankrupted,ndless civilians without a home is increasing every year. They either be vagrants, surviving on free bread, or they be ves, working for the elites like cattle and sheep. I believe some of you have experienced such tragic situations.


    Why is this the result?! Thats because the senators and patricians of Rome have the power, they possess the majority of the looted wealth, but they are still not satisfied with it. They have vastnds and countless cheap ves, allowing their farms to produce agricultural products at very low costs, making it impossible for ordinary civilians to sell the food they have worked hard to cultivate for a year. Without money from selling the crops, they cannot live better lives, so they have no choice but to borrow money!


    And the lenders are often the elites of Rome. They have enormous wealth, but the interest rates they charge on loans are shockingly high. In the end, the ordinary civilians of Italy suffer the same fate as the ordinary civilians in other parts of the Mediterranean: they take away yournd, making you their ves, forcing you to continue working for them. How tragic it is!


    Maximus sighed deeply, and everyone around listened attentively, their expressions filled with sorrow and anger.


    These senators and patricians of Rome are so greedy, like a huge and ugly mosquito sucking blood from all of us. For the lowly Italianmoners, besides rising up in rebellion like we are doing, is there any normal way for them to change their own miserable fate?!


    Maximus asked again, but this time, his gaze turned to the group of ve soldiers led by Frontinus: Perhaps there are other ways, but they are incredibly difficult! Several decades ago, some Roman elites, led by the Grhi brothers, sympathized with ordinary civilians and proposed some beneficial suggestions. However, they were vehemently obstructed by the Roman senators. They even dispatched thugs to kill them!


    Centuries ago, Roman plebeians, through prolonged struggles, forced the Roman Senate to establish the position of tribune of the plebs. A few elite plebeians could assume this position, which prevented any proposals detrimental to ordinary civilians from being passed. But now, the Roman Senate not only severely limits the power of the tribunes, but the dictator Su has made the position almost dispensable.


    The patricians havepletely blocked the path for the plebeians to improve their status. Oh, and someone might say, We can join the legion and rise to prominence like General Marius. But you must understand, that no matter how brave or talented you are, the highest you can reach is to be a centurion of a legion. But who gets appointed as the high-rankingmanders? The sons of elites of Rome! They dont need to risk their lives rising up through the ranks like you do. Just by virtue of being born to privileged families, they can easily take the coveted high-ranking positions that are so difficult for you to attain. Then they reap the political capital from the victories you fight and bleed for, preparing them to be senior Roman officials or run for the consulship in the future.


    General Marius is just an exception. Despite so manymon people serving in the Roman legions over the past few decades, he is the only one who has achieved such a high position. And dont forget, he married a woman from the prestigious Julius family of Rome. He was already epted as a Roman patrician, or else it wouldnt have been so easy for him to be a Roman consul.


    As Roman plebeians serving as soldiers, not only do you have to shed blood and fight for these patricians to seizend and wealth, but you are also driven by their ambitions to kill each other. Even if you eventually obtain somend, in the end, it will be plundered back by them through various means. You will be homeless vagrants, losing your honor and dignity. How tragic it is!


    Maximusbined his knowledge of Roman history from his previous life with what he had seen and heard during this time, speaking passionately and eloquently.


    Not only did the veterans of the logistics team listen and gain rity, but even the ve soldiers led by Frontinus were deeply moved.


    After all, even the Roman cultural elites of this era could notprehensively analyze the current situation in Rome from political, military, economic, and other perspectives like Maximus. Although his words were simple, they were enough to enlighten these people who lived at the bottom of society, struggling daily for their livelihoods and having limited knowledge: <em>So, this is the source of our suffering!</em>


    ***


    I used some terms interchangeably here. I hope it doesnt cause confusion.

 Chapter 39: Hope

    Chapter 39: Hope


    The Roman senators and patricians are like a great mountain pressing down on themon people of Italy and Mediterranean. The only way to free ourselves from their oppression and live a life of freedom is to take up arms and resist. Only by overthrowing them can we achieve true freedom!


    They may be powerful now, but in this world, there are ultimately fewer patricians and more plebeians. You have all seen how ves andndless plebeians are everywhere in Italy, living aimlessly


    Now, we bravely rise up and dere war against them, just like lighting a torch in the darkness, showing them hope. Thats why we have rapidly grown from over 200 people to 5,000 in just a month! As news of our rebellion spreads, more people who harbor resentment towards the Roman elites will join us. When all the ves and poor people of Italy are mobilized by us, can the Roman army withstand this massive force?


    Maximus raised his fist and spoke passionately, So, in the end, we will surely defeat the Romans and sessfully escape Italy to create a homnd of our own elsewhere! In this new homnd, we will not be discriminated based on race or social status. As long as you have talent, you can hold official positions and be promoted! In this new homnd, we will all have our ownnd, and with hard work, we can live fulfilling lives! In this new homnd, wemoners can also participate in political affairs. We can oppose proposals that would harm our interests, proposews that would benefit us, and find ways to get them passed! Our elderly will be cared for, our children can receive education, and when we fall ill, we can receive affordable treatment. When we face disaster, our homnd will provide assistance


    Everyone listened with fascination and yearning.


    Thats incredible! Its like a paradise!


    If we can really establish such a beautiful homnd, it would be worth dying for!


    Captain Maximus, can we really build such a wonderful new home of our own?! someone asked excitedly.


    As long as we work together and relentlessly strive for this goal, we will ultimately seed! Maximus said with unwavering confidence, infecting those around him.


    As they rejoiced and were filled with enthusiasm, Maximus, already a bit intoxicated and fueled by his own words, continued, I want to tell you a story. Would you like to hear it?


    We like to hear it!! The veteran members of the logistics team responded in unison. The Maximus Night Storytelling had be a rare form of entertainment for them before going to sleep.


    The newly joined guards were also excited because they had heard that Maximus was a great storyteller, and tonight they would finally get to hear him firsthand.


    The Roman ve soldiers, however, were a bit bewildered. They didnt understand why telling a story would excite others so much.


    Maximus took a sip of wine, looked up at the night sky, and slowly began, This story takes ce in a distant, distantnd in the East. There, vast fertilends are inhabited by tens of millions of people, with dozens of kingdoms constantly warring and annexing each other. The warssted for centuries until one kingdom annihted all the other forces, unifying the distant East.


    In theory, the king should have given a peaceful and secure life to the people who had endured the long years of war, allowing them to rebuild their homes. However, he imposed heavybor on them, making the people tirelessly build city walls, construct tombs, and dig canals. He also implemented harshws, where even a minor offense would result in gouged eyes, severed hands, or chopped feet.


    The suffering of themon people became unbearable, and they finally rose up in rebellion against the kings tyrannical rule, fighting against the powerful and numerous kingdom army. There were over a dozen rebel groups, most of which were led by the remnants of the nobility from the destroyed kingdoms. But only one group was led by a vagrant, and his subordinates included farmers, butchers, shepherds, bandits, and thugs allposed of low-statusmoners. The story I mainly want to tell is about him


    Night fell, the banquet had ended, and the bonfire was extinguished. Tranquility returned to the farm, and people began to fall asleep.


    In Maximus bedroom, the internal meeting of the logistics team had just begun.


    In addition to Maximus, those present included Agnes, who was in charge of kitchen affairs; Pigres, responsible for the wagon team; Cornelius responsible for managing the storage warehouse; Phaselus, in charge of the guard unit, as well as Sextus, who was rmended by Pigres and specifically responsible for livestock such as cattle and sheep. There was also Cassius Frontinus, whom Maximus specifically called for, andstly, Vorenus, whom Maximus appointed to take notes.


    As a frencer and a bit of a homebody in his previous life, nighttime was when Maximus had the most energy. Even in this era, his habits hadnt changed much. Withoutputers, inte, and other modern forms of entertainment, he expended his energy on teaching, storytelling, and holding meetings to avoid idleness.


    He scanned the people in the room: a cook, a destitute merchant, a farmer, a household ve, a diator, a retired veteran He had all sorts of people under hismand, and they were all of low status, but fortunately, each had some skills.


    Everyones gaze was focused on Maximus. Previously, Maximus had often worked together with Agnes, Pigres, and the others, and their rtionships were good. So they were happy to see Maximus take over the logistics team. After experiencing yesterdays battle and tonights public speech, their respect for Maximus had grown, including Frontinus, because his wisdom had dispelled confusion and illuminated the way for them, something not anyone could achieve.


    Were short on time, so I wont ramble on, Maximus said directly. We need to establish a medical team in our logistics team, and all the wounded will be under our care


    Agnes immediately eximed in surprise, Ah, thats hundreds of wounded men! Our team doesnt have enough hands to care for them all, not to mention we dont know how to provide that care!


    The leaders have already decided, and we must follow through! Maximus pretended to be helpless. He would never mention the fact that he had volunteered for this task himself. Dont worry, taking care of the wounded is not aplicated matter, and it doesnt require too many people. Moreover, the leaders have promised to allocate more personnel to our logistics team in the future.


    Maximus did not n to give them more opportunity for discussion, and said immediately: Frontinus, who among your people is more skilled at caring for the wounded?


    Frontinus hesitated for a moment and replied, Putrius Horace, hes a good person and patient. After our battles in the past, he always took the initiative to care for injuredrades.


    Then let him temporarily be in charge of the medical teams affairs. If he doesnt perform well, we can rece him. He can select a few suitable assistants from your people.


    After finishing, Maximus looked at Agnes, As for cleaning wounds, applying medicine, and bandaging the wounded, I hope it will be done mainly by women from the kitchen. Its best if they are younger and without husbands. Let them go to the newly established medical team to take care of the wounded.


    Let our women take care of those men, and they have to be unmarried?! No, no, this is too much! Besides, were already short-staffed in the kitchen. If we lose more people, we wont be able to handle the work! Agnes vehemently opposed, shaking her head like a tambourine, her attitude seemingly resolute.

 Chapter 40: Arrangements

    Chapter 40: Arrangements


    Women are more careful and better at taking care of people. They can betterfort the wounded soldiers pessimistic emotions, which is beneficial for their better recovery. And, most importantly Maximus patiently and earnestly exined, Agnes, you need to understand that although our group isposed of people who have suffered and endured hardships, due to traditional beliefs, women have a rtively low status within the group. They often face harassment from the soldiers, and these soldiers do not face any punishment.


    But when the soldiers get injured, they often be pessimistic and desperate. Under the careful care of these women, when they heal, its as if they have gained a second life. These women would be their mothers who give them a second chance at life. With that, how could the soldiers not greatly respect and appreciate them?! And when these wounded soldiers return to their respective units and spread the stories of what the women in the medical team have done, who would dare to bully them anymore? Wont their status be elevated?!


    Well that thats true, Agnes was moved, but still hesitated, But the young women in our kitchen are our main workforce. If we assign them elsewhere, it will be difficult toplete the kitchen tasks, and if we cant provide food to the soldiers on time


    You dont need to worry about that. Among the newly recruited ves in the Roman army, many of them know how to cook and can temporarily help out in the kitchen.


    Why temporarily? Because Maximus believed that this batch of legion ves could y a bigger role, and it would be a waste to have them only as cooks.


    The soldiers from the guard unit can also temporarily help you. As long as we get through one or two days, once the leaders agree to allocate the people promised to us, I can prioritize your selection. But I think, actually, you have quite a few people in the kitchen, but the efficiency of their work is not very high. With some changes, you can achieve more with fewer people, and you dont have to be in the kitchen all day long, which is too tiring! We can discuss this after the meeting is over.


    Agnes was born a farmer. She had never managed people before as a ve or as a cook. Since bing the head in charge of the kitchen, she had been pondering every day on how to manage tasks and people. So when Maximus said this, she began to itch with curiosity. After all, this young leader of the logistics team had already demonstrated his wisdom multiple times before.


    Maximus, of course, was unaware of her thoughts and continued, After this victorious battle, we have gained many weapons, armor, several ballistae, and some military supplies. These are different from ordinary daily supplies and require knowledgeable individuals for specialized management. Otherwise, if they get damaged, it would be such a pity!


    After saying this, Maximus nced at Cornelius.


    Captain Maximus is right. Weapons and armor are not easy toe by. I havent been in the army before, so I dont know how to maintain them. It does require someone to specifically manage them, Cornelius said nonchntly, going with the flow. He didnt mind it, as less work meant more free time for him.


    Frontinus, Maximus, relieved that Cornelius didnt oppose, turned to Frontinus and asked, Among your people, who would be suitable for managing these weapons and equipment?


    Frontinus pondered for a moment and replied, ius Capito. He can read and write, and soldiers often rely on him to write letters or even keep their money safe.


    Good, then lets temporarily assign him to manage these military supplies, Maximus decisively nodded, looking at everyone. He continued, The leaders have decided that tomorrow the entire group will move to the nearby farm, where we will build a new camp. Our logistics team will be stationed there, so everyone needs to mobilize and work together, including the injured soldiers. So, Pigres, your wagon team


    Captain, although most of our wagons are intact, we dont have many packhorses left, Pigres was about toin but was interrupted by Maximus, Didnt Commander Spartacus seize 15 wagons at the olive farm? Havent they been handed over to you?


    Oh, I almost forgot, Pigres patted his face sheepishly.


    If we dont have enough, I have already discussed it with Omarkel. We can temporarily borrow some of the warhorses they captured to use as packhorses


    Captain, warhorses arent meant for pulling wagons. They havent been trained, and its not easy to handle them, Pigres reminded.


    Maximus nced at him and said, That depends on the ability of your team. If I solve all your problems, then whats the point of having you as the head of it?


    I understand, I will find a solution, Pigres quickly responded.


    I have three oxen that can help pull the wagons, Sextus spoke up.


    You see, when you encounter difficulties, everyone is here to help you find a solution. So, theres no need to worry, Maximus said half-jokingly and half-seriously.


    Encouraged by this, Pigres immediately said, Captain, my team will do our best to safely transport all the wounded to the new camp!


    Good! Maximus said, then shifted his gaze to Sextus, the tall and lean Samnite from the Apennine Mountains, who resembled a stick. This was why he had been abandoned by other leaders and thrown into the logistics team.


    Sextus, although all the sheep in our logistics team have been eaten up, I believe it wont be long before we acquire a new herd of sheep. Your livestock team doesnt need to relocate with us. I have obtained permission from the leaders. Once the soldiers leave, this farm can be used to raise cattle and sheep.


    Thats great! Sextus eximed happily. During the day, I can let the cattle and sheep graze on the nearby hillside and herd them back to the farm at night. We wont have to worry about losing them again. I can also raise some chickens and ducks on the farm


    Maximus ignored Sextus muttering and turned to Frontinus: After we relocate to the new base, I dont n to have the wounded soldiers stay inside the farm. I want to set aside a separate area outside the farm to erect tents for the wounded soldiers. However, I want these tents to be interconnected as much as possible, with good airflow, so the wounded soldiers can restfortably How many tents do you think we need, and how should we set them up?


    How many wounded soldiers are there? Frontinus asked.


    About 250.


    How many people do we have in the entire team?


    Nearly 2,000.


    Frontinus thought for a moment and said, We were responsible for transporting these military tents, and I remember it vividly because even though the legion only has 3,000 soldiers, the supplies were prepared for 5,000. I think ber had nned in advance and intended to call upon the city guards in Campania. I saw some tents burned in the camp this morning, but the remaining ones can fully meet the needs of the entire team


    As Frontinus spoke, he began gesturing with his hands. The Roman army uses tents made of cowhide, with dedicated iron poles for support, so they are sturdy and not easily damaged. They are set up in a rectangr shape and can amodate a small squad of 10 people resting inside. If only 6 people stay in one tent, it will be more spacious andfortable. So, we will need more than 40 tents. As for making the tents interconnected and ensuring airflow, its quite simple. Just set up the tents close together, roll up the side cowhide, and they will naturally be connected.


    How long will it take to set them all up?


    We have 35 people to set up 40 tents. If we have some help it will probably take an hour.


    Thats great. Ill leave this task to you then. After we relocate to the new base tomorrow, you should take people to do it. Let me know how many people you need, but make sure to set up all the tents as soon as possible so that the wounded soldiers can move in immediately. It would be even better if theres a surrounding wall or fence outside the tent area, to prevent disturbances from others in the future.


    Ill do my best, Frontinus replied somewhat reluctantly.


    Frontinus, Maximus looked at him solemnly and said, You and yourrades possess the military skills we urgently need. Besides those responsible for the military supplies and managing the medical team, the rest of you will form a military advisory group, with you as the leader.


    ***


    Im a bit busy so I couldnt update these past few days. Ill try to post more next week.

 Chapter 41: Arrangements (II)

    Chapter 41: Arrangements (II)


    Military Advisory Group? Frontinus was unfamiliar with the term.


    Its a team that can provide us with military assistance whenever needed, Maximus looked at the others and exined, For example, when we need to construct a camp, how should it be built? You will provide guidance. Or, for instance, when we have to engage in battle, how should we fight? You will develop the n. After reaching a consensus through discussion, we will proceed with the battle ording to the n


    <em>Isnt this simr to the campmander in the Roman legion? No, it seems like it holds even greater authority than a campmander</em> Frontinus thought to himself.


    <em>A young man responsible only for the logistics team wants to establish such a military-functional team. His ambitions must be high But its not surprising. After all, he is someone capable of delivering such a speech and telling such a story.</em>


    So, its called the Military Advisory Group, right? I think I can give it a try, Frontinus replied casually, but there was a noticeable change in his gaze as he looked at Maximus.


    Maximus seemed not to notice these changes and continued, Theres a task that the Military Advisory Group needs to handle right now. Although we won the battle this time, it was a bit of a fluke. We were actually heavily defeated in the frontal confrontation yesterday. Therefore, the leaders are nning to conduct strict military training for the soldiers, and our guard unit should be no exception. I want you to lead the Military Advisory Group and provide rigorous training to our guard unit soldiers ording to the requirements of the Roman legion. Can you do that?


    Before Frontinus could respond, Phaselus interjected, Maximus, our guard unit can train ourselves; we dont need outsiders interfering.


    Just train ourselves? Maximus expression became serious, and he questioned, Do you know how to lead the guard unit in a disciplined march? Do you know how to construct a defensive camp? Do you know how to form a battle formation during battle? Do you know how to use bronze trumpets and drums tomand soldiers to charge or retreat?


    Phaselus was stunned by the barrage of questions and took a while to respond, I know how to teach our brothers to fight the enemy!


    Improving individualbat skills is just one basic skill for soldiers in warfare. We have a lot more to learn seriously so that we dont repeat yesterdays rout in the next battle, Maximus said with a solemn expression. Frontinus was once a centurion in the Roman legion and has extensive war experience. He will be an excellent teacher for us.


    He was a centurion in the Roman legion?! Phaselus was surprised. He originally thought that Maximus valued Frontinus because he had been a ve in the Roman army for a long time, learning many skills. He didnt expect him to have such a background.


    The others also felt surprised, and their gazes towards Frontinus became moreplex.


    Hey! Maximus shouted to remind everyone: Dont forget what I said in the courtyard earlier. Whether its a centurion or an ordinary Roman soldier, they are all of Italian plebeian origin. Frontinus went from being a centurion to being a ve, experiencing a lot of hardships. He has had simr experiences to us. Since he has joined us and will fight against Rome with us, he is now our brother, and we should warmly wee him!


    As Maximus finished speaking, Agnes immediately smiled and said, Captain is right. Regardless of Frontinus previous identity, he is one of us now. Moreover, having a centurion in our logistics team makes me feel even safer!


    Pigres reluctantly said, I became a ve because Roman soldiers were indiscriminately capturing and enving people in Asia Minor. I feel only hatred, not goodwill, towards Roman soldiers. However, you used to be a Roman soldier and are now a ve, and the captain has spokenAnyway, wee to the logistics team.


    Youre a Sabine? Cornelius asked.


    Frontinus was stunned for a moment and nodded, Yes.


    I noticed your ent earlier; it sounded familiar. I wanted to ask, Cornelius smiled and continued, Which town are you from?


    Cures.


    I was in Eretum before, not far from you, Cornelius smiled even more, We should spend more time together in the future.


    Okay, a hint of a smile finally appeared on Frontinus face.


    Welwee to the transport team, Sextus also chimed in, albeit with some nervousness.


    Phaselus quickly approached Frontinus, startling Maximus, who thought he might be hostile towards Frontinus. However, Phaselus had a smile on his face and warmly said, So, you were once a centurion in the Roman legion. You should have better marching and fighting skills than me. You must teach me more in the future!


    Maximus breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that a conflict between them was unlikely given Phaselus character.


    Frontinus also breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing that everyone in the room eventually epted him and the other military ves after learning his true identity, it was evident that Maximus held significant prestige in the logistics team. Therefore, he spoke seriously, The Military Advisory Group will conduct rigorous training for the guard unit. However, the guard unit has too few members, so it might be challenging to conduct formation training.


    Start training first, more people will jointer.


    Maximus reply further convinced Frontinus: that this young man would not be satisfied with just being a captain of the logistics team.


    Maximus looked at the others and said, Its not just the guards who need training. During your free time, you should also lead your subordinates in training.


    What? We have to train too?! Agnes eximed in surprise, and the others widened their eyes as well.


    Yesterday, after our team was defeated and ced at the rear, ording to the pre-arranged n, we should have been able to retreat safely up the mountain. However, everyone panicked and disrupted the formation, resulting in so many casualties


    Maximus expression turned solemn, and he spoke with a heavy tone, Our battle with the Roman army will continue for a long time, and each battle may have its wins and losses. Our logistics team is weak inbat and carries a lot of provisions, making us a prime target for enemy attacks. I want you to undergo training, not to learn how to kill enemies, but to learn obedience, to followmands, and how to quickly and safely evacuate in dangerous situations. Do you understand?


    Yesterdays events served as a wake-up call for Maximus because he remembered that in history, Spartacus rebel army was constantly on the move. The logistics team, due to carrying various supplies, was undoubtedly the slowest in action. If the teams organization and crisis response capability were not strengthened, such a painful lesson would repeat itself time and time again.


    With his reminder, the others also realized this, and they all expressed their agreement.


    At this moment, Frontinus interjected, In fact, the ves responsible for doing misceneous tasks in the Roman legion also undergo some military training. Its to ensure that they can keep up with the armys movements and not slow them down.


    Maximus reminder, coupled with Frontinus support, finally made the others realize the importance of training, changing their reluctant agreement to active cooperation.


    By the way, Frontinus, Maximus remembered something and said, In the past, I used to teach the members of the logistics team reading, and arithmetic, and tell them stories every evening, just like tonight. You can also be a teacher and impart knowledge to them.


    Me? Be a teacher? Frontinus expression becameplex, and he waved his hands repeatedly, saying, Oh, I cant do that!


    Youll be fine! Maximus earnestly persuaded him, You have such rich military experience that we dont have. You canbine your own war experiences and tell us what we should pay attention to during regr training. What to consider when building a camp? How to prepare before a battle? How to kill enemies and protect ourselves duringbat? You can even talk about a specific battle you participated in or a particr failure you encountered I believe everyone would be very willing to listen to your stories and learn a lot from them!

 Chapter 42: Laws

    Chapter 42: Laws


    Maximus words made Frontinus inexplicably excited. He had been a farmer in his youth, then became a refugee, andter joined the army after being recruited. He eventually became a centurion in the Roman legion, but that was just an ordinary position in the vast Roman army. After retiring, he became an ordinary farmer again, andter a ve His life was ordinary, like a tiny speck of dust, unnoticed and seemingly meaningless. But now, he had the opportunity to be a teacher, and his words would be listened to by many, just like Maximus tonight. He would receive the respect he had never experienced before!


    Frontinus took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, I can give it a try.


    Maximus observed the change in his expression, a slight smile forming at the corner of his mouth. Then its settled!


    He then turned to Phaselus and said, Apart from training, it is your responsibility as the guard to ensure the safety of the logistics team. Starting tomorrow, you must take up this responsibility, especially since the women in our team are constantly harassed by soldiers from other teams. I hope such incidents will not ur again.


    But what if those soldiers dont listen to our warnings and forcefully try to enter our camp? What if a conflict arises? Phaselus showed a troubled expression, as he had heard about such incidents before.


    Without hesitation, Maximus replied, Then apprehend them and hand them over to me. Dont worry about things escting; I have a n.


    Alright, well follow your lead. Phaselus shrugged, showing a hint of helplessness.


    Maximus didnt dwell on it and looked at the others again. He solemnly said, Next, we have another important task at hand! Our logistics team has now grown to nearly 300 people, and it will continue to increase in the future. To prevent chaos, we must establish some regtions specifically for the logistics team to manage personnel and maintain overall stability. I havee up with a few, and Id like to discuss them together to see if they are suitable for us.


    Did the rebel army havews? No, it didnt. After all, the army had only been formed for a month, and they had been busy expanding the group and trying to survive. They hadnt had the time to consider such matters. Even if they stabilized in the future, leaders like Spartacus might not immediately realize the importance of it.


    But Maximus was different. He came from China in his previous life and understood the importance of the rule ofw. Moreover, he was a fan of Zhuge Liang, the great figure in Chinese history who attacked the powerful Wei Kingdom with the strength of a single province (and evenunched six expeditions to Mount Qi). Despite the enormous expenditure of national resources and multiple military campaigns, the Shu Kingdom remained stable, with upright officials, submissive elites, and peaceful citizens. This was primarily achieved through the rule ofw Maximus wanted to be proactive, usingws to restrict his subordinates while the team was still weak, so that when it grewrger, there would be fewer obstacles.


    Others didnt think much of it, but Frontinus was shocked: Rome was a country that ced great emphasis onws. From the establishment of the city-state to the present, countlessws and decrees had been enacted and passed. As a Roman citizen, he deeply understood this. And now, a small division of a rebellion, consisting of less than 300 people and upying an area less than a mile, was going to establishws!


    Frontinus had already been impressed by Maximus talent before, and now he looked at him with even greater admiration.


    This is Article 1, Maximus raised a finger and said solemnly, We are a rebel force against Rome. Anyone who voluntarily joins us should have that determination. If anyone tries to desert after joining or secretly colludes with the Romans to harm us, once discovered and captured, they will be executed. What do you think of this point?


    Agreed!


    Traitors should meet such a fate! Agnes, Pigres, Phaselus, and Cornelius, along with Sextus, all eximed, nodding repeatedly.


    Only Frontinus frowned slightly. He felt that the first point Maximus mentioned was probably mainly directed at them, the army ves. So, he decided that after returning, he would remind his men to not be foolish.


    Article 2: any resolutions passed in the meetings of our logistics team must be implemented seriously. Failure to implement or execute them properly will be considered dereliction of duty and will be punished!


    After Maximus finished speaking, everyone was taken aback. It was evident that this point was directed at them.


    Article 3: each member of the logistics team must diligently fulfill their responsibilities. If anyone cks off, they must also be punished.


    Article 4: the supplies stored in the logistics team belong to the entire rebel group. No one is allowed to take them without permission, or they will face punishment.


    Article 5: members of the logistics team are not allowed to instigate trouble on their own, or they will be punished.


    Since the rebel army had only recently been established, the members of the logistics team lived together, and they didnt have any private property. Therefore, Maximus only came up with these five items for now.


    After some discussion, the group didnt add or remove anything, but they expanded on the details, such as determining the severity of the punishment based on the gravity of the offense.


    After the meeting, Maximus kept Agnes, Vorenus, and Phaselus behind.


    In theing days, your guard unit should pay special attention to the Roman army ves who have just joined our team. Be vignt against anyone attempting to desert. Maximus whispered to Phaselus.


    Ah? How is this possible?! Didnt they all join us? I thought Frontinus was quite cooperative! Phaselus eximed in surprise.


    Spartacus told me that some of them were not very willing when they joined our group Anyway, your guard unit should pay more attention to them. I dont want to see someone viting the firstw shortly after its issuance, Maximus said in a low voice.


    He had given a speech and told a story tonight, even inviting Frontinus to their meeting, all in an effort to retain this group of Roman army ves. He could see that Frontinus was somewhat loyal now, but despite Frantinus influence among those army ves being rtively high, there was no guarantee that someone wouldnt act foolishly.


    After Phaselus left, Maximus approached Vorenus. The former farm overseer had been diligently taking notes throughout the meeting without saying a word, thanks to his good education as a house ve.


    Maximus picked up the papyrus Vorenus had been writing on, where he had written down the tasks Maximus had assigned tonight and the fivews they had formted, all clearly legible.


    Maximus nodded in satisfaction. Very good, its written clearly. Tomorrow night, I will announce thesews to everyone. Vorenus, starting tomorrow, anyone who joins our logistics team will have to go through your screening process. Their background, ethnicity, experiences, and most importantly, their skillssuch as carpentry, weaving, wheat cultivation, or sailingshould all be categorized by you to facilitate my task assignments.


    I can handle these tasks, but Im afraid we might run out of papyrus.


    That can be taken care of. Ill ask the other leaders to collect more papyrus when they go out with their teams in the future.


    After Vorenus left, only Agnes remained in the room. She couldnt contain her excitement and asked eagerly, Captain, tell me quickly, how can we make those guys in the kitchen work better?


    Dont rush, Maximus analyzed for her clearly and at a slow pace, You see, the tasks in your kitchen can be roughly divided into three categories: first is chopping wood and tending the fire, second is cooking porridge, meat, and soup, and third is baking bread.


    Chopping trees and splitting wood is time-consuming andborious. From now on, let the guard unit handle that. It will be just an additional military training for them, and your kitchen can save a lot of manpower. Instead, assign two or three people specifically responsible for tending the fires and keeping an eye on the stoves every day, ensuring that the fires dont go out


    Captain, your solution solves a big problem for us! Agnes eximed happily.

 Chapter 43: Camp Relocation

    Chapter 43: Camp Relocation


    You, on the other hand, try to control everything. Even if you stand in the kitchen watching over them every day, shouting and yelling, their efficiency wont improve much. You should be good at delegating tasks to your subordinates and motivating them to work.


    Seeing her still confused, Maximus patiently exined, Lets take the example of cooking porridge, soup, and meat in the kitchen. You can divide the people who are good at these tasks into two or three groups, appoint a leader for each group, and assign them tasks. The group that performs the best andpletes the tasks the fastest should be rewarded. For example, they can have half a day of extra rest, be given an extra piece of meat, or you can gather your subordinates regrly and publicly praise the best-performing group


    Despite Maximus confident exnation, in his previous life, he chose to be a frencer because he disliked trouble and didnt want to manage people. But in this chaotic world, he had to change his habits and learn how to work and manage people in order to ensure his own safety.


    Agnes listened attentively, feeling excited. She said, Captain, these methods you mentioned are all excellent! I I will give them a try, but Im not very clever, so I may not be able to do it well!


    No one is born knowing how to do everything. As long as you do your work seriously and make an effort, you will eventually seed. Dont worry! Maximus encouraged her with empathy, because this was his experience during this time.


    Agnes gained confidence from his words and immediately expressed her intention to implement these methods in the kitchen starting tomorrow.


    Oh, and one more thing. When I saw you using the millstone to shell and grind the wheat, why didnt you use donkeys to pull the millstone continuously? Instead, you often had people pushing it, which not only wasted manpower but also reduced efficiency, Maximus pointed out.


    If we let the donkeys pull the millstone all the time, they would get exhausted. Besides, we have many people, so we take turns pushing the millstone. Its not a big deal, Agnes exined.


    <em>Indeed, diligence and frugality are deeply ingrained in the hearts of these hardworking people </em>Maximus smiled helplessly and said loudly, Agnes, you must understand that now people are important, not donkeys! I will request Spartacus to help us acquire more donkeys so that they can do the work, and we only need one person to oversee them.


    Well alright, Agnes reluctantly agreed.


    Dont you feel that you have enough manpower avable now? Can you allocate a group of young women to go to the medical unit, as I mentioned earlier?


    Agnes thought for a moment, then said through gritted teeth: I suppose its possible.


    Who do you think is suitable to lead the group among those youre going to send? Maximus asked without hesitation.


    Nessia, Agnes answered promptly, referring to a young and beautiful woman who was very familiar with kitchen affairs.


    Maximus nodded approvingly, imagining the image of the young and charming woman in his mind. He said, Its alreadyte. You should go back and rest. Tomorrow, there will be a lot of work to do. After you go out, call the children in. Theyre probably about to fall asleep.


    After Agnes left, Maximus looked up at the dark night outside the window and stretchedzily. Ive aplished quite a lot tonight. Tomorrow will be a new beginning!


    The next morning, after breakfast, the entire rebel army began to move camp to the farm below the mountain.


    Although the distance between the two locations was short, the soldiers in each team appeared somewhat disorganized due to ack of effective organization.


    The logistics team had made prior arrangements, but they had to carry too many things, so their progress was rtively slow. As the leader, Maximus didnt just sit back and rx. He personally took the lead in helping to carry and transport things and injured soldiers, and naturally, the others did not dare to be idle. The enthusiasm of the whole team was high, and by noon, the logistics team had settled into the farm.


    Following that, Frontinus set up military tents outside the farm gate with the 34 legion ves, and Maximus led others to help.


    Within two hours, all the medical teams tents were set up.


    Instead of immediately carrying the wounded soldiers inside, Maximus gathered the members of the medical team first.


    The newly formed medical team consisted of the newly appointed leader, Putrius Horatius, and five men who were also former Roman legion ves. Agnes had sent 32 women from the kitchen, making a total of 38 people. The men and women gathered separately, very distinct from each other.


    Seeing this situation, Maximus yfully reminded, Brothers and sisters, from now on, you have to work together. Dont stand so far apart. Everyone,e closer.


    Except for Horatius, these legion ves were rtively young and had been eyeing these women for a while. However, considering that they were neers, they didnt dare to make any moves. Now, upon hearing Maximus words, they immediately smiled and moved closer.


    On the other hand, these women from the kitchen had often been harassed by the rebel soldiers in the past month, so they were cautious and guarded. However, since Maximus had spoken, they reluctantly made a move, which showed Maximus prestige among the logistics team.


    Observing the situation, Maximus said with a serious expression, Let me emphasize one thing: if both parties in our logistics team willingly engage in intimate rtionships, I wont say anything. However, if a woman disagrees and a man insists forcefully, the punishment can range from a beating to a fatal stab. So, before you make such a mistake, think carefully!


    Maximus was tall and robust, and now that he was leading a team, his stern expression carried a certain authority, causing these male ves to feel a chill in their hearts. On the other hand, the women showed smiles, realizing that their leader was truly on their side.


    Maximus then turned his gaze to Horatius. This Roman veteran had a in appearance and looked somewhat older than Frontinus, despite being younger: Horatius, you are now the leader of our medical team


    Captain Maximus! Horatius hastily interjected, Dont listen to what Frontinus said. I dont know how to treat illnesses; I can only bandage wounds and take care of the injured. Im willing to work in the medical team, but the position as the leader should be given to someone skilled in medicine.


    Maximus was satisfied with Horatius frank words and shook his head, saying, My requirements for the leader of the medical team are, first and foremost, genuine concern for the wounded and having the patients well-being in mind. Secondly, the ability to manage the team andmand them to better take care of the patients, and handle any unexpected situations the medical team may encounter during the war. As for medical skills, whether good or not is irrelevant to being able to lead the team.


    After listening, Horatius thought carefully and said, Then I can give it a try.


    I have a few requirements for the medical team, Maximus went straight to the point, looking at him. First, separate the seriously wounded and those who cannot walk from the ordinary wounded and prioritize their care. Second, your medical teams camp must maintain cleanliness, with no garbage or excrement umtion, and minimize the presence of mosquitoes and rats inside the tents. Third, use boiled water to clean wounds, and the bandages used for dressing wounds must be soaked in boiling water and dried before use. Fourth, the task of cleaning wounds and taking care of the injured will mainly be assigned to the women.


    After Maximus finished speaking, the women didnt seem to mind much since most of them didnt have experience in caring for the wounded. However, a few male ves began to discuss among themselves, Weve taken care of injuredrades before, but weve never had so many troublesome tasks.


    Yeah, taking care of the wounded shouldnt involve cleaning the tents and boiling water to soak bandages Ive never heard of it!


    If you want to ck off and dont want to work hard, then leave the medical team right away. Dont make a fuss here! a woman stood up and scolded loudly.


    She was a 20-year-old girl with soft ck long hair, slightly dark skin, captivating brown eyes, a small and straight nose, slightly thick lips, and a graceful figure.


    Seeing that the woman scolding them was beautiful, the male ves immediately retorted unwilling to show weakness: Who are you? Do you even know how to take care of wounded soldiers?

 Chapter 44: Horatius and Nessia

    Chapter 44: Horatius and Nessia


    <em>New Trantor: <strong>Phos</strong></em>


    ***


    ¡°Her name is Nessia, the head nurse of the medical team and also the deputy leader!¡± Maximus eximed loudly.


    Nessia, a Greek ve, was bought by an overseer from a nearby farm to be a concubine. She suffered various abuses and had two miscarriages. When the rebels attacked the farm where she was, she incited the ves on the farm to kill the overseer and his subordinates directly and joined the rebels. She appeared delicate on the outside, adept at socializing, but her inner strength and endurance were remarkable.


    Upon hearing Maximus¡¯ words, Nessia was both surprised and puzzled: ¡°What is a head nurse?¡±


    ¡°A soldier who takes care of the wounded is called a nurse, and the leader of the nurses is called the head nurse,¡± Maximus intentionally distorted the meaning of nurse.


    Nessia and the other women immediately showed delight. Being referred to as ¡°soldiers¡± clearly elevated their status within the rebel group.


    Nessia continued to ask, ¡°What if these wounded soldiers, while we are taking care of them, behave rudely towards us? How should we handle it?¡±


    Maximus spoke sternly, ¡°Every wounded soldier who enters the medical team¡¯s camp should be reminded in advance. If there is any harassment, you can issue a warning. If they continue to cause trouble after the warning, they will be expelled from the medical team¡¯s camp. We won¡¯t ept such wounded soldiers!¡±¡°Understood!¡± Nessia smiled, satisfied with Maximus¡¯ response.


    While the others were moring noisily like the legion ves, Horatius, who had been lost in thought since hearing Maximus¡¯ requirements, finally asked, ¡°Why do we need to boil water to soak the linen used for dressing wounds?¡±


    Maximus was prepared for this question and answered earnestly, ¡°We often see countless small insects at the bottom of ditches in the wild. In fact, these are only the ones we can see. There are also unseen insects around us that thrive on filth. They can cause high fever and illness. Usually, our skin acts as armor, tightly protecting us, and coupled with our strong bodies, we can live normally. However, if we are injured and physically weakened, they can easily enter our bodies through the wounds, causing the wounds to fester, high fever, and ultimately death. High temperatures can kill these insects, and a clean environment can also reduce their presence¡­¡±


    Maximus¡¯s words not only startled Horatius but also made the others nervously nce around.


    Maximus¡¯s serious look left Horatius half-believing and half-doubting. He eagerly asked, ¡°From which physician did you learn all this that you speak of?¡±


    Maximus was toozy to exin further to Horatius and emphasized, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about where I learned it from. Just follow these instructions for now and see if it works after a while. If it works, we¡¯ll continue with it. If not, then we can go back to your original methods of caring for the wounded. How about that?¡±


    Horatius had never studied medicine, so he did not adhere to any particr theory that would cause him to reject other ¡°heresies.¡± Instead, he felt that what Maximus said made some sense. Moreover, as a farmer by birth, he did not mind doing a bit more work.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s give it a try as you suggested.¡±


    This response relieved Maximus, who had already made up his mind that if Horatius had opposed the idea, he wouldn¡¯t have minded finding another obedient person to be the leader of the medical team.


    Maximus looked at Nessia and then at Horatius, speaking earnestly, ¡°I hope both of you will work together to make our medical team sessful and help more wounded soldiers recover!¡±


    Nessia immediately expressed her support, saying, ¡°I will fully cooperate with the leader of the medical team and lead our sisters to do our best!¡±


    Horatius, on the other hand, said, ¡°I¡¯ve never been a leader before, so I don¡¯t know if I can do a good job, but I¡¯ll do my best!¡±


    <em>Such an honest man!</em> Maximus had a good impression of Horatius upon this first meeting.


    After a simple n was made for the medical team¡¯s camp based on the severity of the soldiers¡¯ injuries, they began carrying the wounded into the tents.


    At this moment, Maximus approached Nessia and whispered, ¡°Nessia, I¡¯ll give you another task. While you lead our sisters in taking care of the wounded, you can subtly persuade them to stay with our logistics team after they recover.¡±


    This was another purpose of Maximus in establishing the medical team. Since the leaders were reluctant to allocate more soldiers to the logistics team, he would recruit from among the wounded soldiers. After all, the rebel army epted new members on a voluntary basis, but most people didn¡¯t understand the internal situation of the rebel army, so they just followed orders. If the wounded soldiers insisted on staying with the logistics team, it would be difficult for others to object. Moreover, the wounded soldiers had already experienced battles and had better qualities than new recruits.


    ¡°I understand. We will persuade them discreetly,¡± Nessia whispered back, throwing him a flirtatious gaze. ¡°If I do well, Captain, how would you thank me?¡±


    Maximus¡¯s heart skipped a beat as he met her gaze, but he maintained hisposure and said, ¡°If you do well, it means I didn¡¯t pick the wrong person.¡±


    Nessia¡¯s eyes danced on Maximus¡¯ face, and she giggled.


    Of course, it wasn¡¯t just the medical team that carried the wounded into the tents. Maximus also called in the guards to help, so within half an hour, all the wounded soldiers were properly settled.


    Afterward, Maximus tirelessly went aroundforting each wounded soldier and intentionally told them that he had personally applied to the leaders to establish the medical team and would ensure their recovery process was fully supported.


    Since the soldiers were wounded, the rebel army had been busy for the past two days. As a result, they were left behind with no one to take care of them, and their spirits were very low. Now, hearing that the logistics team specifically sent women to take care of them, they suddenly felt like they had gone from hell to heaven. They were not only grateful to Maximus but also promised to respect these women who would take care of them.


    Following Horatius¡¯ orders, several legion ves started chopping firewood and preparing to boil water outside the medical team¡¯s camp. Horatius began carefully instructing Nessia and the others on how to clean the wounds of the wounded soldiers, how to stop bleeding, and how to bandage them.


    Seeing that the medical team¡¯s work was starting to progress smoothly, Maximus quietly left. Thinking back to the grateful eyes of the injured soldiers just now, he decided toe here every day to win the favor of these wounded soldiers. It was a beneficial thing without any cost.


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­


    Since the rebel army had only 2,000 soldiers, the makeshift camp previously built by the Roman army on the olive oil farm could easily amodate them. However, even so, the soldiers were busy all day and didn¡¯t settle down untilte at night.


    Early the next morning, Spartacus and Crixus led the troops, escorting the hundreds of Campanian prisoners, and headed to Naples.


    Naples was located northwest of the rebel army¡¯s current camp, just ten kilometers away.


    By noon, the troops arrived at the outskirts of the city.


    Neapolitans had already received news of the rebel army¡¯s approach and had closed the city gates long ago. The city guards were all stationed on the city walls, ready to face a formidable enemy.


    Spartacus shouted loudly from below the city, dering that they had risen up in resistance because they could no longer endure the oppression of the Romans. They had no ill intentions towards Neapolitans. However, Naples had aided the Romans by sending troops to assist the Roman army in attacking their camp. Now that the Roman army had been annihted, and the majority of Campanian soldiers, mainly from Naples, had been captured, the rebel army had decided to punish the people of Naples. Unless Naples presented 500 sets of armor, 500 short swords, 500 spears, and 500 shields in exchange for the lives of these prisoners, they would all be executed right in front of them.


    Spartacus¡¯ promation caused amotion among the officials, senators, and the city guards who were watching from the city walls.


    Through the defeated soldiers who had escaped and returned yesterday, Neapolitans had already learned of the disastrous defeat of the Roman army. The families of soldiers who had not seen their loved ones return were already preparing for funerals, and the city was filled with mourning.


    Now they saw that so many Neapolitan soldiers were still alive, and they were crying out in despair at the outskirts of the city. Most of the people wanted to agree to Spartacus¡¯ conditions.


    ***


    Hi readers, Phos here. Thank you for waiting patiently for the continuation of this project. From now on, I¡¯ll be the new trantor of this novel. I¡¯ll try to post 3-4 releases per week. But of course, it still depends on my free time.

 Chapter 45: Conflict

    Chapter 45: Conflict


    ***


    Naples was the secondrgest city in the Campania region, second only to Capua. It also had the busiest port for maritime trade in central Italy. They not only had the required quantity of weapons and armor, but they could also afford it. The Neapolitan soldiers sent to fight were not refugees but rather the people of Naples who ownednd and assets (and were also Roman citizens). The officials of Naples had previously agreed to ber¡¯s request and sent city guards to assist the Roman army. Now, with most soldiers not returning, they faced the me of the city¡¯s poption for suffering a disastrous defeat. If they could save some of the prisoners, it would alleviate the situation.


    However, the chief magistrate of Naples disagreed. As a Roman himself and the appointed chief magistrate of Naples by the Roman Senate, he would not allow these rebellious ves to obtain weapons and armor, which would strengthen their power and make it harder for the next Roman army to suppress them. Although the rebel army outside the city was fully armed, except for not carrying the eagle standard, they appeared like a Roman army.


    The opposition of the chief magistrate of Naples led to a deadlock between the two sides on the city walls.


    The rebel army had been waiting outside the city for a long time without a response. Crixus, bing impatient, immediately grabbed five prisoners from the captives and brought them to the front of the troops. Without saying a word, he stabbed each of them to death with a short sword.


    There was an outcry from the city.


    Crixus threatened loudly, ¡°If Naples does not provide a satisfactory response, I will kill a batch of prisoners at regr intervals!¡±


    Hearing the tearful pleas of the prisoners below the city and facing the usations of others above, the chief magistrate of Naples dared not persist. Otherwise, the anger of the entire city would make his life difficult within Naples.


    The Neapolitans agreed to the demands of the rebel army, but out of fear, they did not dare to open the city gate. They proposed that the requested weapons and armor would be transported by ship to a port outside the city, and the released prisoners would be picked up by ships (at that time, Naples had developed maritime trade, and its ports were scattered throughout the Gulf of Naples).Spartacus agreed to this.


    The exchange that made the people of Naples anxious was eventuallypleted rtively smoothly. The rebel army fulfilled its promise, and all the Campanian prisoners were released.


    The Neapolitans breathed a sigh of relief, but they did not know that while Naples prospered from maritime trade, that prosperity was built on the blood and sweat of thousands of dock workers. The dashing appearance of the rebel army at the port would soon spread throughout Naples¡¯ dozen-odd ports and reach the ears of countless suffering lower-ss people.


    The rebel army obtained the weapons and armor they desired and returned satisfied.


    The rebel soldiers were usually just following Spartacus and the other leaders to upy farms and kill the overseers and guards they hated. They couldn¡¯t sense the impact this rebellion would have on this world. But today, they saw the high and mighty Neapolitan nobles cower and submit under their show of force. This brought them immense satisfaction and increased their sense of belonging to the rebel army.


    Spartacus sensed the change in the soldiers¡¯ morale and discussed with Crixus: should they lead the army to nearby towns for armed demonstrations periodically? Not only could they threaten the Roman nobles to provide some much-needed supplies, but it would also boost the morale of the new recruits.


    Just then, several riders galloped forward, with Omarkel in the lead. He waved and shouted, ¡°Commander Spartacus! Commander Crixus! Something bad has happened!¡±


    Spartacus and Crixus were both shocked. ¡°What happened?!¡± they eximed.


    ¡°The logistics team¡­ and the soldiers of the Second Cohort¡­<sup>[1]</sup> got into a fight!¡± Omarkel rushed to their side, panting heavily.


    ¡­


    Originally, considering the Neapolitans¡¯ weak military strength, Spartacus and Crixus didn¡¯t take all of their soldiers with them. Instead, they left some soldiers behind to receive military training from Hamilcar, along with soldiers from other teams. After a morning of training, the soldiers replenished their water and food supply and needed some rest before continuing their training.


    During this break, a few soldiers from the Second Cohort sneaked into the medical team¡¯s camp, attempting to harass the nurses. However, they were stopped by the logistics team¡¯s guards who arrived upon hearing the news. Instead of heeding the warning, they became even more furious and started fighting with the guards. The guards outnumbered them and quickly subdued several troublemakers, but one of them realized the situation was turning against them and slipped away, spreading rumors like ¡°the logistics team is bullying our brothers with their numbers¡± among the soldiers. This immediately ignited the anger of some soldiers, who gathered and headed towards the medical camp¡­


    Soon, during the midday break, Hamilcar received a report while resting in his tent: some soldiers from the Second Cohort were involved in a brawl with the guards in the medical camp.


    Hamilcar hurried to the scene and found the situation to be true, with the conflict escting. He quickly stepped forward to intervene, but the fired-up soldiers of the Second Cohort paid no heed.


    At that moment, Omarkel approached and reported that Spartacus and Crixus had sessfullypleted their previous n and were on their way back with the army.


    Hamilcar couldn¡¯t afford to rejoice; he instructed Omarkel to immediately notify Spartacus and Crixus to rush over and quell the situation.


    ¡­


    ¡°What caused the conflict in the first ce?¡± Spartacus, though anxious, wanted to rify the reasons first.


    ¡°I just arrived there myself, so I¡¯m not entirely sure about the situation. But I heard it was because the guards detained several soldiers from the Second Cohort¡ª¡ª¡±


    Before Omarkel could finish his sentence, Crixus erupted in anger, ¡°The logistics team has some nerve! How dare they detain my brothers! How does Maximus control his troops?!¡±


    ¡°Crixus, don¡¯t be hasty. Maximus has always acted with restraint. There must be a reason behind this. Let¡¯s first understand the situation before jumping to conclusions,¡± Spartacus quickly advised.


    ¡°I think we¡¯ve given him too much power, making him too arrogant and out of control!¡± Crixus snorted angrily, grabbed a horse from a member of the reconnaissance team, and leaped onto it, galloping ahead.


    However, Spartacus couldn¡¯t immediately abandon the troops and leave. He first entrusted the leadership task to his trusted centurion and former diator, Agorius, and gave him a few instructions before following Omarkel on horseback.


    Crixus arrived at the camp and from afar, he could see hundreds of people densely gathered outside the medical camp, blocking the entrance and exit. Many were shouting loudly, but he didn¡¯t hear any sounds of fighting or screams.


    ¡°What are you all doing here, blocking the way? Get out of my sight!¡± Crixus shouted loudly.


    ¡°It¡¯s Commander Crixus!¡±


    ¡°Commander Crixus, you¡¯ve finally returned! Several of our brothers have been detained by the logistics team¡¯s guards, and they won¡¯t release them!¡±


    ¡°Commander Crixus, when you¡¯re not around, we suffer from mistreatment! Commander Hamilcar and Commander Artorix are favoring the logistics team. They even sent the Third Cohort to assist the guards in driving us out of the medical camp.¡±


    The more Crixus listened, the darker his face became. Unable to contain himself any longer, he yelled, ¡°Enough, I¡¯ve heard it all!¡±


    The soldiers of the Second Cohort immediately stoppedining, and even the soldiers from the Fourth Cohort who hade to watch themotion voluntarily cleared the way. Crixus walked forward withrge strides until he stood in front of a row of disciplined soldiers.


    ¡°What? You dare to block my path?!¡± Crixus red fiercely at them, his eyes filled with hostility.


    ¡°Commander Crixus, the twomanders, Hamilcar and Artorix request your presence for a discussion.¡± The speaker was a centurion from the Third Cohort and also a former diator who was familiar with Crixus. He nced behind Crixus and continued, ¡°To prevent further conflicts, everyone else must wait outside for the time being.¡±


    Crixus stared at him, and the centurion met his gaze without flinching.


    After a moment, Crixus turned around and shouted, ¡°What are you lot still doing here? Go about your own business!¡±


    The centurion turned and walked inside, the soldiers making way to create a path. Crixus, with a dark expression on his face, followed closely behind.


    Entering the medical camp, three people stood in the open space in front of the tents: Hamilcar, Artorix, and Maximus.


    As soon as Hamilcar saw Crixus, he immediately exined, ¡°Crixus, you¡¯ve finally returned. I was afraid the conflict would escte, so I had to ask for Artorix¡¯s help. I called in the Third Cohort to forcibly separate your soldiers from the logistics team¡¯s guards.¡±


    Crixus didn¡¯t even look at him and charged straight toward Maximus, cursing, ¡°Maximus, you¡¯ve really done it this time!¡± As he spoke, he raised his fist and aimed for Maximus¡¯ face.


    <b>Trantor''s Notes:</b><ol></ol><li> First to Fifth <strong>Team</strong> -> First to Fifth <strong>Cohort </strong>??</li><!--


    <strong>Current Schedule:-->


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 Chapter 46: Soldiers Assembly

    Chapter 46: Soldiers Assembly


    ***


    Crixus¡¯ furious appearance resembled that of a ferocious wolf ready to devour its prey, making Maximus feel a bit apprehensive. However, with dozens of eyes from the medical team watching behind him, as their leader, he couldn¡¯t back down! So, after swiftly dodging the iing punch, he retaliated with a punch of his own.


    <em>How dare this traitor fight back?!</em> Crixus grew angrier, shifting his body to the side, pushing off with his right foot, and charging forward with great force.


    Maximus couldn¡¯t evade in time and was knocked down by Crixus. The two of them started wrestling on the ground¡­


    Soon, a pair of powerful hands forcefully held Crixus back, while Hamilcar helped Maximus, who had taken two punches, to his feet.


    Spartacus released Crixus and yelled angrily, ¡°Both of you are leaders of your respective teams. Why can¡¯t you discuss things properly instead of fighting like ruffians here? Is this how you set an example for our brothers!¡±


    ¡°This traitor dared to detain our brothers from my Second Cohort. Why shouldn¡¯t I punch him?¡± Crixus remained furious but refrained from attacking again. He red at Hamilcar and Artorix, saying, ¡°And you two, you actually sided with him to bully my Second Cohort!¡±


    Hamilcar replied sternly, ¡°The reason the guards detained several soldiers from the Second Cohort is that they intruded into the medical team¡¯s camp, harassed the women who were tending to the wounded, and caused chaos within the medical team. It is the duty of the guards to detain them to protect the entire logistics team.


    ¡°Not only did these soldiers from the Second Cohort attack our ownrades and disrupt the medical team, but one of them escaped the pursuit of the guards and returned to spread rumors within the Second Cohort, instigating them to brawl with the guards. If it weren¡¯t for the timely arrival of the Third Cohort to intervene, it could have led to internal conflict. That¡¯s why I request strict punishment for these soldiers,¡± Hamilcar exined firmly.Crixus was momentarily stunned. He hadn¡¯t expected the situation to be like this, but then he dissatisfiedly said, ¡°Hamilcar, you¡¯re exaggerating too much. These brothers just wanted to rx a bit amidst the tense military training. They used to do this quite often, not just them, haven¡¯t the members of your own team do the same?¡±


    Crixus mockingly looked at them, then at Spartacus, and finally locked his gaze on Maximus, saying, ¡°It was merely a way for the soldiers to rx under the pressure of the imminent Roman attack. It used to be no big deal. But today, Maximus, you specifically targeted my team and detained them, which sparked the anger of the Second Cohort. So, the ones truly responsible for this are Maximus and the guards!¡±


    Maximus chuckled in anger, not even bothering to look at Crixus. He turned his head towards Spartacus and said seriously, ¡°We formed this army to resist the Romans and grant freedom to all those who have suffered. Our brothers and sisters of the logistics team believed in us and joined our ranks. They worked tirelessly day and night, preparing delicious meals for our fellow brothers. They saw so many injuredrades and felt their pain, so they volunteered to take care of them. Our brothers and sisters of the logistics team genuinely consider everyone in the entire rebel army as a family!


    ¡°But certain soldiers from different teams, and even some leaders, fail to see the efforts of the logistics team, and did not even regard the women of the logistics team as their family. They have barely escaped from the Roman nobles¡¯ farming estates themselves, yet they shamelessly harass our sisters in the logistics team who have also suffered. What¡¯s the difference between their behavior and that of the Roman nobles or farm overseers? Are we risking our lives and started a rebellion only to be the people we despise?!¡± Maximus passionately questioned, each word piercing into the hearts of everyone present.


    His voice was loud and clear, audible to the countless soldiers who had been gossiping and watching the scene unfold. They suddenly fell silent, even some unconsciously lowering their heads.


    ¡°The humiliation of the women in the logistics team must be stopped. Otherwise, it will only disappoint those who genuinely care for our cause and fight wholeheartedly for our goals! This time, we must severely punish these soldiers who havemitted wrongdoings and restore our discipline!¡± Maximus concluded with a resounding call.


    ¡°This is absolutely not possible!¡± Crixus instinctively voiced his opposition.


    Spartacus, who was not particrly concerned about the soldiers harassing the women of the logistics team, was deeply moved by Maximus¡¯ words. He also noticed the strong reactions of the soldiers outside the medical camp upon hearing these words. So, after giving it some thought, he asked earnestly, ¡°How do you propose to punish them?¡±


    ¡°Public flogging!¡±


    ¡°This is absolutely uneptable!¡± Crixus strongly objected again. ¡°It would be a great humiliation to our brothers!¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it a great humiliation to harass the members of the logistics team?!¡± Maximus retorted loudly, pointing towards the wooden sign in the camp. ¡°There is a sign clearly stating, ¡®Anyone who intrudes into the medical camp without permission will be punished.¡¯ Your soldiers knowingly vited this rule and should face severe punishment!¡±


    ¡°Who can understand what you¡¯ve written on that sign?!¡± Crixus shouted. ¡°Besides, you are arbitrarily setting rules without our permission!¡±


    ¡°Alright, everyone, stop arguing!¡± Spartacus said in a deep voice. ¡°How about this? Let¡¯s hold a soldiers¡¯ assembly and let our brothers decide whether or not to punish them.¡±


    Hearing this, Maximus pretended to hesitate.


    Crixus, without any hesitation, said, ¡°Fine, I agree!¡± Because he believed that the soldiers of the Second Cohort, who ounted for a quarter of the entire army, would definitely support theirrades, and soldiers from other cohorts had also gone to the logistics team to do this kind of thing in the past, so of course, they would not agree either. Maximus¡¯ proposal could not possibly be approved by the majority of soldiers.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Maximus said, sounding somewhat helpless.


    Soon, the soldiers were gathered together, sitting in a circle with the members of the logistics team. Spartacus stood in the center of the camp and impartially recounted the events of the conflict that had urred earlier this day.


    Then, it was Crixus who walked to the center of the camp, strongly demanding to go first. He escorted the four soldiers who had caused trouble, and they no longer disyed the nervousness they had when they were detained. Upon hearing their names shouted by the soldiers of the Second Cohort, they even arrogantly waved back.


    Crixus then briefly introduced their names to the entire rebel group, and then described in detail their brave performances in two battles against the Roman army¡ªhow many enemies they killed, how manyrades they rescued, and so on¡ªhe deliberately omitted their intrusion into the medical camp.


    As the soldiers around them asionally expressed admiration, the four individuals held their heads high.


    ¡°Brothers, you are all warriors because you dare to fight against the mighty Romans! As warriors, we should be respected and taken care of, shouldn¡¯t we?!¡±


    ¡°Yes!!!¡± the soldiers shouted in unison.


    Seeing the enthusiastic response from the soldiers, Crixus excitedly shouted again, ¡°Brothers, I believe you would never want to see yourrades, who fought side by side with you, subjected to such disgusting humiliation over such a trivial matter, right?!¡±


    ¡°Right!!¡± The response was slightly quieter, but it still appeared to be more than half, which satisfied Crixus. When he left the stage, he nced at Maximus with disdain.


    ¡°What now? It seems these bastards won¡¯t be punished!¡± Agnes felt nervous.


    ¡°Our leader hasn¡¯t appeared yet; he should have a solution, right?¡± Nessia felt equally anxious.


    ¡°If these soldiers dare to let these bastards go unpunished, then our logistics team won¡¯t cook for them anymore!¡± Agnes angrily eximed.


    ¡°If you do that, Maximus won¡¯t be able to remain as our leader!¡± Pigres reminded her.


    ¡°You¡ªPigres, whose side are you on?!¡± Agnes angrily eximed.

 Chapter 47: Bubius and Tolerugo

    Chapter 47: Bubius and Tolerugo


    Frontinus, who was standing aside, ignored their quarrel. He didn¡¯t really care whether or not these few individuals would be punished. He focused on the center of the gathering, scanning the lively crowd around him. What interested him was the way the rebels sought the opinions of everyone.


    Although there were many militaryws in the Roman army and military discipline was quite strict, with his years of military career, he knew: in reality, the power of life and death over a legionary soldier was ultimately decided by the legionmander, and ordinary soldiers had no opportunity to appeal. The rebel army did not yet have militaryws, yet it seemed to be giving this punitive power to the soldiers. Was this the so-called freedom?


    Maximus walked into the center of the camp, followed closely by two young women who looked frightened. They were thin and had swollen eyes, and one of them even had a clear red handprint on her cheek.


    The soldiers curiously looked at Maximus standing in the center. In all honesty, many recruits probably didn¡¯t know this young leader of the logistics team just two days ago. But it wasn¡¯t surprising. The new recruits were busy raiding farms every day and had little interaction with Maximus, who always stayed with the logistics team. It was only when they fought against the Roman army and ultimately retreated to the mountains that Maximus stepped forward and pointed out a way to turn defeat into victory, attracting everyone¡¯s attention for the first time. And now, he once again became the focus of everyone¡¯s attention, but this time it was to punish theirrades, which caused mixed feelings among the soldiers.


    Maximus didn¡¯t know the soldiers¡¯ conflicting emotions at the moment. His voice was loud and carried a hint of gravity as he introduced the two women to the soldiers and emphasized the hardships they had endured.


    Endlessbor driven by whips and sticks was the shared ordeal of every ve in the camp. But young female ves with some beauty had to endure some unspeakable vitions and suffering, simr to what Nessia had experienced.


    Perhaps Maximus¡¯ narration brought back the terrible memories for the two women, and they couldn¡¯t help but start weeping.


    Maximus stopped speaking and raised his voice, saying, ¡°These two women joined our ranks with hope, thinking they hade from hell to paradise. They work tirelessly every day to prepare delicious food for everyone, and now they actively care for the wounded. But their enthusiasm has been met with the shameless vition by these few individuals!¡±


    Maximus¡¯ strong usation silenced the entire assembly.Crixus began to feel uneasy but quickly rxed. He understood his soldiers well. Perhaps they felt guilty now, but Maximus¡¯ continued usations would only make them support the innocence of those four individuals because that was the only way they could feel innocent themselves.


    Maximus looked around and said, ¡°I believe all of you heard what I said in the medical camp. I don¡¯t intend to say much more. I would like to invite two other people to speak to everyone.¡±


    ¡°Two other people?¡± Crixus was a bit surprised, but then he saw Maximus escorting the two women out of the center of the gathering, followed by another person entering.


    This person leaned on a wooden stick, with his right leg wrapped in linen. After awkwardly positioning himself in the center, there was amotion among the soldiers of the Second Team.


    ¡°I¡­ I am Bubius from the Second Cohort,¡± he said nervously. ¡°Two days ago, during the battle with the Romans¡­ I was stabbed in the leg by a Roman short sword¡­ I ran for my life¡­ ran¡­ and barely escaped their pursuit, making it to the mountain. Afterward, the wound on my right leg became swollen and painful, to the point where I couldn¡¯t sleep. I even wished to just chop off my right leg to end my agony¡­


    ¡°Myrades were busy descending the mountain to raid the Romans and relocate our camp. No one noticed how much pain I was in! For two consecutive days, I hardly ate or slept. I felt weak all over, unable to even open my eyes. I thought I was going to die¡­¡± Bubius became more excited as he spoke, his words flowing more smoothly this time. ¡°Fortunately, the logistics team established a medical team, and those women became the nurses who cared for us wounded soldiers. They carefully cleaned my wounds, bandaged them, and even fed me,forting me and telling me not to worry¡­ Just after one night, I could already stand up with the support of a wooden stick!¡±


    Bubius, overwhelmed with emotion, even shed tears. Choking up, he continued, ¡°In my entire life, apart from my mother when I was young, no one has shown me such care! They are such good people! Alexius, you damned bastards! How dare you vite them? You are unworthy of being myrades; you should be punished!¡±


    Bubius forcefully mmed the ground with the wooden stick, shouting in anger. The assembly immediately became chaotic.


    Crixus felt a strong sense of unease and urgently asked several centurions under hismand, ¡°Is he truly a soldier from the Second Cohort?!¡± The Second Cohort already had over a thousand soldiers, and their time together was still rtively short, so it was impossible for Crixus to know everyone.


    ¡°Bubius is indeed a soldier in our team,¡± one centurion replied.


    ¡°This cunning Maximus!¡± Crixus muttered under his breath. At this moment, he felt somewhat helpless.


    Then he saw four guards carrying a wooden frame into the center of the gathering, with a person lying on it. When the person was helped up by the guards, Crixus saw his face and immediately felt a tremendous shock.


    Tolerugo, a diator from Gaul, had a good rtionship with Crixus and served as a centurion of the Second Cohort. During the battle against the Roman army, the Second Cohort suffered a disastrous defeat. Tolerugo, however, fought to the death and managed to break free from the Roman encirclement, leading his soldiers to escape the pursuit of the Roman cavalry and retreat to the mountain. While the soldiers celebrated their rescue, Tolerugo copsed to the ground, covered in sword wounds. The blood flowing from his body dyed his armor red. Even Crixus, upon seeing him, believed that his injuries were so severe that he wouldn¡¯t survive for long. He never expected to see Tolerugo appear in the center of the assembly at this moment.


    In fact, the majority of the severely wounded in the medical camp were diators. Their fierce resilience and experience in the arena allowed them to reach safe zones even with severe injuries. Tolerugo was just one of them.


    ¡°These soldiers deserve to die!¡± Despite his pale and weak appearance, Tolerugo¡¯s angry expression shook the soldiers around him as soon as he spoke.


    ¡°I am alive here today because of the careful care of these women! Any bastard who harasses them is an enemy of mine and other wounded soldiers! Anyone who agrees that these bastards should go unpunished, the next time you get injured I will rmend to the medical team to not treat you, and let you fools die wailing in pain!¡±


    Tolerugo¡¯s impassioned words caused even greater turmoil among the soldiers.


    <em>Damn, Maximus!</em> Crixus cursed internally. He didn¡¯t know the situation in the other cohorts, but Tolerugo, known for his straightforward nature in the Second Cohort, had considerable influence. After being berated by him like this, there were likely very few people left supporting those soldiers.


    Meanwhile, Maximus quietly praised Nessia, saying, ¡°It¡¯s great that Tolerugo stood up to support you. You all did well!¡±


    ¡°All the sisters followed your orders and took care of these severely wounded soldiers with all their hearts and efforts.¡± Nessia didn¡¯t sound proud; instead, sheined, ¡°They can¡¯t move, and we have to bandage their wounds, clean their bodies, even handle their excrement and urine. It¡¯s not only tiring but also¡­¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s all worth it, isn¡¯t it?¡± Maximus pointed to Tolerugo in the center of the assembly.


    At this moment, Tolerugo was carried away, and Spartacus entered the center again. ¡°Now that both sides have presented their reasons, my brothers, I believe you have made your decisions. So, those in favor of punishment, raise your arms!¡±

 Chapter 48: Rome Sends Troops Again

    Chapter 48: Rome Sends Troops Again


    This method of judgment was rather simple but at least better than the previous Spartan Citizens¡¯ Assembly (the Spartan Citizens¡¯ Assembly or <em>lesia</em> where proposals were decided based on the loudness of citizens¡¯ shouts). Moreover, most of the soldiers raised their hands, so there was no need for further counting. After all, the testimonies of the two injured soldiers had made them aware of the significance of these women in the uprising.


    ¡°More than half of our brothers believe that they should be punished. ording to the proposal of the leader of the logistics team, Maximus, they should be publicly flogged!¡± Spartacus said with a dignified expression.


    When Maximus initially proposed forming a medical team, Spartacus didn¡¯t find it particrly novel since the Roman army also had simr medical teams. However, he hadn¡¯t expected Maximus to have the women take care of the wounded soldiers. The effectiveness of their arguments had been evident during the defense just now, causing Spartacus, who hadn¡¯t paid much attention to the harassment of women in the uprising, to now attach great importance to it. He breathed a sigh of relief at the verdict and instinctively nced at Maximus on the side. This young man, once considered a traitor, always managed to surprise him! The oue of the Soldier¡¯s Assembly made the women of the logistics team cheer and rejoice. They knew that everything would be different from now on!


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.


    Under the initiative of the consuls, the Roman Senate convened a meeting. Over 500 senators took their seats in their designated positions. This year¡¯s two Consuls stood in the center of the assembly hall, with seven Praetors seated behind them (it should have been eight, but ber was absent).


    Consul Marcus Terentius Varro Lucullus was the military leader under the dictator Su and the younger brother of Lucius Licinius Lucullus, who served as consul the previous year. After his term as consul ended, Lucius Licinius Lucullus went to Asia Minor to serve as the governor of the province. Even though he was not in Rome, Varro Lucullus was still elected as this year¡¯s consul. This clearly showed Lucius Licinius Lucullus¡¯ influence within the Su¡¯s faction.


    However, even though Varro Lucullus relied on his brother to ascend to power, he himself had fought in Asia Minor for many years and had achieved considerable military merits. His abilities were not weak, and many senators epted his election.


    Standing tall, Varro Lucullus surveyed the assembly hall and spoke in a solemn voice, ¡°I have just received a report that the army led by ber suffered a disastrous defeat at Vesuvius. He himself perished, and more than half of the soldiers were killed or injured. The suppression of those diators has failed. Therefore, I propose the formation of another army to swiftly crush those rebellious ves!¡±


    Upon hearing the news of the Roman army¡¯s disastrous defeat, a smallmotion arose from the back of the assembly hall. After all, the Campania region was close to Rome, with pleasant weather and fertilend. Many senators owned farms and vis there, so they were constantly aware of the situation and had already received the news.The other consul, Gaius Cassius Longinus, seemed to have coordinated with Varro in advance. He immediately responded, ¡°I agree with Varro¡¯s proposal. We must dispatch an army as soon as possible to suppress the rebellion and restore peace in Campania!¡±


    After the two consuls expressed their opinions one after another, everyone¡¯s gaze turned to an elderly man sitting in the first seat of the front row of the Senate.


    Quintus Lutatius Catulus, a former Roman consul and the most powerful ally of the dictator Su in the political arena was known for his integrity in Rome. When Su appointed him to rebuild the Temple of Jupiter, which had been burned down during the civil war, Catulus constructed it magnificently. Su hoped to have his name engraved on the entature of the temple, but Catulus, considering the terror Su had brought to Rome, had reservations. If he agreed, it would undoubtedly ruin the perfection of the temple, causing unease for anyone who came to worship. So, he firmly refused the immensely powerful Su at the time and boldly inscribed his own name instead. Su was furious but ultimately couldn¡¯t do anything about it. This incident earned him praise from the Roman people.


    Now, Catulus was a highly respected Princeps Senatus (leader of the senate). He lightly grasped the purple-bordered toga and calmly stood up. Despite his old age, his voice was clear and sonorous. ¡°I believe everyone present agrees to send troops to quell the rebellion. However, how many soldiers should be dispatched? Who shouldmand them? These are the issues we need to seriously discuss. ber was prudent and had military capabilities, yet he suffered a defeat and died. Shouldn¡¯t we take this group of insurgents seriously?¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, another elderly man by his side also rose and spoke loudly, ¡°Based on the information I have gathered, ber was a fool! He had already defeated those ves with his army. If he had continued to pursue them, victory would have been within reach. However, he was overly cautious, wanting to trap the fleeing rebels on the mountain without strengthening the camp¡¯s defenses. As a result, the vesunched a sessful surprise attack¡­ So, it¡¯s not that those diators are formidable, but rather ber was foolish enough! I believe that as long as we send apetentmander, we will only need to dispatch 3,000 soldiers, just like before.¡±


    The opinion of the Princeps Senatus was directly challenged, and the other senators were not surprised because the speaker was Publius Cornelius Cethegus, another influential Roman senator in the Senate. He felt quite dissatisfied with Catulus bing the Princeps Senatus and believed he was more qualified. Therefore, the two had been at odds in the Senate for the past two years.


    Many senators deep down agreed with Cethegus¡¯ opinion. Although the Roman army suffered a disastrous defeat, they didn¡¯t consider the rebels¡¯ military strength to be a significant threat. They believed it was ber¡¯s foolishness that led to the defeat. However, the rebellion in Campania had been ongoing for over two months, causing progressive damage to the entire southern region. It was now at the risk of spiraling out of control. Therefore, they concluded that increasing the military force was the best way to thoroughly suppress the rebellion and restore order in Campania.


    After discussions, the senators reached a unanimous decision: to form a legion.


    The majority still believed that there was no need for a consul to personally lead the campaign against a group of lowly diators and ves. Therefore, the choice ofmander should stille from the praetors, as it had been in the previous campaign.


    Unlike thest time, where almost no praetors were willing to go on the expedition, this time, most praetors voluntarily expressed their willingness to assumemand. Conquering a group of lowly diators wouldn¡¯t bring glory, but since the rebels had defeated the Roman army and ughtered Roman soldiers before, crushing them to win the apuse of the people would be a good choice.


    In the end, the majority of senators chose Praetor Publius Varinius. Compared to other praetors, his experience of fighting alongside Su in Asia Minor was a significant factor that favored him among the senators.


    As the meeting concluded, the senators began to leave one by one.


    ¡°Crassus! Crassus! Wait for me!¡± After leaving the Senate, a middle-aged man hurriedly shouted.


    Apanied by his call, one of the senators who was descending the steps halted and turned around.


    This man had a tall stature, a square face, a broad forehead, a high nose bridge, thick eyebrows, and big eyes. His gaze was sharp, and somewhat intimidating, but the smile on his face added a touch of affability.


    He was Praetor Marcus Licinius Crassus, the wealthiest man in Rome.


    When he saw the person calling out to him, his smile grew wider. ¡°Su, why are you shouting so urgently? Is there something you need?¡±


    Publius Cornelius Su was the nephew of the dictator Su. During Su¡¯s upation of Rome and the purge of his political enemies, this man had closely cooperated with Crassus and gained a substantial amount of wealth. Therefore, their rtionship was quite close.


    Young Su hurriedly approached Crassus, grabbing his arm and speaking in a low voice. ¡°Inside just now, why didn¡¯t you volunteer like the others to lead the army? This is a great opportunity to win glory! In terms of military capabilities, Varinius can¡¯tpare to you.¡±

 Chapter 49: Military Training (I)

    Chapter 49: Military Training (I)


    Crassus smiled slightly and said, ¡°Su, you should know that when you want to buy a house, it¡¯s best not to buy it when the price is still high. Wait until the price hits rock bottom, so you¡¯ll make more profit.¡±


    Young Su widened his eyes and asked, ¡°Do you¡­ do you think Varinius will fail?!¡±


    ¡°No one can say for certain who will win or lose in war,¡± Crassus turned his head to look at Varinius, who was excitedly talking to several other senators near the entrance of the Senate. He said casually, ¡°But in business, sometimes you have to take risks. Besides, even if I misjudge, it won¡¯t cause me much loss.¡±


    Young Su shrugged and said, ¡°You¡¯re right. It¡¯s a waste of time to defeat a group of ves that not many people care about. It¡¯s better to use that time to make more money.¡±


    Changing the topic, he continued, ¡°Have you heard? The war in Iberia is going well recently. Pompey has already captured several strongholds of the rebels. That Sertorius isn¡¯t as rampant as before.¡±


    Crassus¡¯ face changed for a moment, but he quickly regained hisposure and sneered, ¡°The Senate has given Pompey such great support, and hemands nearly 100,000 troops. Yet, it¡¯s taking him so long to deal with remnants of the popres. What¡¯s there to be happy about?¡±


    After speaking, he continued walking, but he felt a sense of urgency in his heart.


    Young Su deliberatelygged two steps behind, and a smirk formed on his lips. He thought, ¡°Hehe, Crassus, no matter how wealthy you are, there are still things that don¡¯t go your way. However, to have the ce where you started up be the territory for others to cultivate supporters and train their armies, anyone¡¯s heart would feel uneasy about that!¡±


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡°Before you stand your enemies. They have not only taken away yournd and turned you into ves, but now they also want to take your lives! You must tightly grip your swords, kill them, and seek revenge for yourselves. Do you understand?!¡± Frontinus shouted loudly.


    ¡°Understood!!¡± The fully armed guards responded in unison, holding wooden shields and wooden clubs in their hands as they attacked the wooden stakes set up in front of them.


    ¡°Try to strike the exposed parts of the enemy¡¯s skin with your swords¡ªhands and feet. Even a small wound that causes pain and bleeding will weaken their strength and morale, giving you an advantage¡­ Always remember, when you swing your short swords, your long shields in your hands must protect you firmly. Otherwise, before you strike the enemy, you¡¯ll be knocked down by them¡­¡±


    The guards listened attentively to Frontinus¡¯ teachings. The wooden clubs and shields they held were crudely made, but slightly heavier than real swords and shields. They practiced thrusting, stabbing, feints, and charges on the wooden stakes. Behind them, members of the military advisory group patrolled back and forth, asionally correcting their striking movements. If they noticed any soldiers cking off, they would immediately reprimand them and impose additional training time as punishment. As a result, no one dared to ck off.


    Watching the soldiers drenched in sweat one by one, Frontinus showed a hint of a satisfied smile on his face. Throughout his decades-long military career, he had trained numerous new recruits, and the training attitude of these soldiers before him was undoubtedly the best. <em>Not surprising, really, as ves are always the ones most able to endure hardship and toil.</em>


    Frontinus¡¯s gaze fell on Maximus, who was also undergoing rigorous training. On the first day of military training, this young leader of the logistics camp (due to the expansion of the logistics team, Maximus had changed its name to the logistics camp) had requested to participate in training like ordinary soldiers. Initially, Frontinus had some hesitation, fearing that Maximus would do something unexpected and disrupt the training atmosphere.


    But in fact, during these three days of training, Maximus always listened attentively to hismands and meticulously fulfilled the training requirements he set forth. His leading by example also influenced the other soldiers, especially the leader of the guard team, Phaselus, ensuring that every one of Frontinus¡¯ orders could be executed smoothly, which saved him a lot of worry.


    Frontinus was grateful for this because he understood that Maximus was helping him establish authority. In reality, Maximus didn¡¯t need to do the wooden stake striking training anymore since he was a diator, and it was already part of their basic skills.


    ¡°Time¡¯s up, wooden stake training is over!¡± Frontinus eximed loudly. ¡°Everyone, assemble in formation!¡±


    As soon as his words fell, the soldiers stopped their training, holding wooden sticks and shields, and gathered together, panting heavily. They formed two columns in formation, with Maximus and Phaselus standing at the front. This simple formation was full of errors at the beginning, but after repeated training, they achieved the current result.


    ¡°March around the camp at a normal pace,¡± Frontinus said and took the lead.


    Maximus and Phaselus exchanged a nce and led the formation closely behind.


    Since the rebels had seized the supplies of the Roman army, there was now an ample stock of provisions. Therefore, in recent days, they hadn¡¯t dispatched troops for plundering but instead focused on military training. The various cohorts were scattered around the camp, and trees and crops that hindered training had been cleared, creating an environment filled with dust and bustling voices.


    Whenever the guards passed by, it would attract some curious gazes. ¡°Is it necessary for the small guard team toe out to train?¡±


    ¡°They just need to keep an eye on those women. They shouldn¡¯t get involved in the fighting¡ªthat¡¯s our job to protect them.¡±


    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t talk nonsense. They mightin about uster. When we get injured, the women in the medical team might refuse to treat us!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right.¡±


    The soldiers of the guard team heard this, and although they felt indignant, no one retorted or argued, because this was an armed march after intense training. The entire unit had to march in orderly formation, and although the pace was not fast, if they expended effort arguing instead of using this opportunity to recover their strength, once they lost their rhythm and fell out of formation, they would be punished with double training sessions by Frontinus. So everyone, including Maximus and Phaselus, marched forward in silence, and by the time they returned to the original training ground, the soreness in their arms had mostly subsided.


    ¡°Shield collision training begins!¡± Frontinusmanded, and the guards formed pairs, each holding a wooden shield and colliding with each other. The one forced to retreat would be considered the loser, and after three consecutive losses, they would face punishment. The winning side would gain valuable resting time, so everyone gave it their all.


    Both the wooden stake training and shield collision training were designed to cultivate the individualbat capabilities of soldiers in formation battles. Training with weighted wooden shields and clubs for an extended period would make the soldiers stronger and more powerful, enabling them to wield real swords and shields more freely and thus boosting their confidence.


    After the shield collision training, it was another armed march around the camp. This not onlyid the foundation for future long-distance marching training for the guards but also taught them to rx during marches because the next training session would involve more intense agility exercises.


    Originally, in Frontinus¡¯ initial training n, the third individual training was spear-throwing. However, considering the current situation with the rebels, it was unlikely that there would be sufficient supplies of heavy spears for the various cohorts for a long time, let alone the logistics camp¡¯s guards. So that part was temporarily skipped.


    The third individual training was agility training, which was important for heavily armored soldiers who needed to climbdders and ovee obstacles while fully armed.


    The military advisory group set up two wooden stakes supporting a wooden beam in the training ground, reaching the height of an adult¡¯s knee. The soldiers were required to hurdle over it while running, which seemed easy, but it was not so simple when wearing a helmet and breastte. Even if they managed to cross, due to the inability to maintain bnce, they would fall to the ground, and any protrusions or irregrities inside the armor would leave bruises of the same shape on their bodies. In the past few days since the training began, almost all soldiers, except Maximus and Phaselus, had numerous bruises on their bodies.


    The soldiers who had started to adapt to this training didn¡¯t fall this time, but they had no time to rejoice. The military advisory group added several more wooden beams on the training ground and demanded that they continuously cross them while running without stopping.

 Chapter 50: Military Training (II)

    Chapter 50: Military Training (II)


    Amidst the soldiers¡¯ sighs and groans, Maximus inwardly chuckled. Frontinus had previously exined to him in detail about the military training n, and he knew that this was just the beginning. The height of the wooden beams would increaseter, and the soldiers would even need to cross them with swords and shields. ording to Frontinus, those who excelled in agility training among the recruits in Rome were the focus of the cavalry¡¯s attention.


    At noon, each cohort would send personnel to wait at the entrance of the farm. They would then ride in the logistics camp¡¯s prepared wagons filled with food and return to their respective training grounds. The soldiers would line up and receive their food in order.


    This was a suggestion made by Maximus to the Military Commanders Assembly. Each cohort would receive and distribute food from the logistics camp, avoiding chaos and cultivating discipline among the soldiers. It was approved because it not only prevented disorder but also saved manpower in the logistics camp, which was Maximus¡¯s primary intention.


    Just after finishing lunch, Phaselus approached Maximus. ¡°Commander, when will our guard team receive additional manpower?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t we just fill up the guard team?¡± Maximus pretended to be surprised.


    ¡°This is the original number for our guard team. But you mentioned before that we would receive additional people,¡± Phaselus reminded him.


    ¡°I did say that,¡± Maximus nodded in acknowledgment and then exined seriously, ¡°However, the logistics camp has now established a medical, armory, and construction teams¡­ These teams are in urgent need of manpower and are also the focus of several leaders. The new recruits should initially meet the needs of these teams, so they can function properly. Otherwise, if the original responsibilities of the logistics camp are neglected, and we immediately increase the manpower for your guard team, what would the leaders think?¡±


    Phesalus fell silent.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Maximus patted his sweaty shoulder and encouraged him, ¡°Nowadays, so many people are joining our ranks every day, and the number of people assigned to our logistics camp has increased several timespared to before. The guard team will soon be expanded. I¡¯m only concerned about whether we can train them well andmand them effectively in battle once the soldiers increase in number.¡±Upon hearing this, Phaselus hesitated to speak. In the past, he would have blurted out, ¡°We can,¡± but after experiencing Frontinus¡¯ rigorous military training and the lectures at night these past few days, he had begun to realize that war was not just about brawling but required a lot of knowledge to have a chance at victory.


    While the two were conversing, they heard Frontinus¡¯ shout from the distance, ¡°Soldiers, assemble! Gather into formation!¡±


    Maximus and Phaselus immediately picked up their swords and shields and hurried over.


    The soldiers gathered together, moring and jostling, all trying to find their positions in the formation as quickly as possible. Some soldiers bumped around like headless flies, drawing a series of curses from the instructors of the military advisory group. The whole scene was chaotic.


    Maximus, who had already taken his position at the front of the formation, was not surprised by this. In his previous life, even elementary school students could easily form a square formation because they had been educated that way since childhood. However, these ves, who had been oppressed by the Roman nobles and had be numb and ignorant, would find it difficult to achieve the same result with just two or three days of training. After all, forming a dense square formation of ten rows by ten columns was much harder than forming two columns.


    After finally arranging the formation, Frontinus shouted, ¡°You formed the formation a little faster than yesterday, but it¡¯s still not enough! I hope you use your brains and remember who is on your left and right. If you can¡¯t figure out your own position and disrupt the entire formation next time, everyone in your row will face punishment!¡±


    The formation was in an uproar, and even those soldiers who had been gloating earlier felt anxious after hearing thest sentence.


    Frontinus didn¡¯t say anything more, he just shouted loudly, ¡°Listen up, move forward!¡±


    This was amand for the soldiers to move forward at a normal pace, but doing it well was not easy. The soldiers were wearing armor and carrying swords and shields as they moved forward in a rtively dense formation. Their strides were different, and even the direction of their movement had deviations. After just a few steps, they either bumped into each other from the sides or collided from the front and back. The members of the military advisory group kept shouting, ¡°Slow down! Look at your teammate on the left, try to maintain the same formation! Increase the distance from the front row, don¡¯t get too close! Pull back your short swords to avoid stabbing your teammate in front!¡±


    After a while, the instructors stopped shouting because the formation had already be chaotic. Some soldiersined to each other, and a few fell to the ground, groaning loudly in pain.


    Maximus watched all of this and sighed in his heart: <em>Training soldiers is truly not easy! Just forming a formation and marching in a straight line is already so difficult!</em>


    Frontinus didn¡¯t curse or rebuke them. Instead, he shouted, ¡°Rearrange the formation! Move forward!¡±


    The more than 100 soldiers of the guard team repeated these formation drills tirelessly.


    Not only the guard team, but also the personnel belonging to the logistics camp, such as the kitchen, wagon, warehouse, and medical teams, were being trained on this training ground. They took advantage of their free time, under the leadership of their respective leaders and the guidance of the military advisory group, to conduct simple training in assembly, formation, and marching.


    This was Maximus¡¯ strong demand, aiming to ensure that everyone in the logistics camp received military-style management, became ustomed to obeying orders, and followedmands to facilitate future operations.


    Therefore, the training ground where the logistics camp was located was different from the others. It had more women, presenting a beautiful scenery, but the soldiers did not ck off because of it. Instead, they trained even harder.


    Finally, Frontinus gave the order to rest, and the exhausted soldiers sat directly on the ground.


    ¡°Everyone has worked hard. Have a drink of water to quench your thirst!¡± Agnes led her subordinates over, pushing a cart filled with jars of cold water. This was one of the benefits of being in the logistics camp.


    ¡°Commander, here you go.¡± Agnes handed the y jar to Maximus first.


    ¡°Give it to the instructors and the guards first!¡± Maximus licked his lips and said loudly.


    No matter what Agnes said, he only reached out to ept the jar when he saw everyone holding theirs.


    Just as he took a sip, a rider came rushing in. ¡°Commander Maximus, Commander Spartacus is calling you for a meeting!¡±


    ¡°I understand, I¡¯ll go immediately.¡± Maximus took two more sips of water before standing up, walking to Frontinus, and lightly tapping his left chest with his right fist. ¡°Reporting to the instructor, I request temporary leave!¡±


    Frontinus paused for a moment before nodding and saying, ¡°Granted.¡±


    Watching Maximus¡¯ departing figure, Frontinus¡¯ evaluation of him rose a bit in his heart. As the leader of the logistics camp, Maximus not only epted training here like an ordinary soldier, which was already beyond his expectations, but he also followed his regtionspletely. Even when attending a meeting, he had to report to him first. With this, which soldier would dare not obey orders?


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­


    ¡°You all know that we¡¯ve had quite a few people joining our army these past few days, but this morning, over seven hundred people suddenly arrived. They are eitherborers or sailors from various ports in Naples. The one leading them is called Artemus. He led these people to escape from Naples and join us. However, he asked hispanions to stay behind to the west of our camp and came alone to see me. He hopes that theseborers and sailors from the ports can join our army without being separated and lead themselves¡ª¡ª¡± Spartacus looked at the four people and said seriously, ¡°So, I called everyone here to discuss whether we should agree to their request and let them join our army.¡±


    Artorix frowned and spoke first. ¡°After these few days of reorganization, we finally have some order in the army. Now that so many people want to join, and if they are not under our control, if they cause trouble, it will affect other soldiers. Our efforts these past few days will be in vain.¡±


    ¡°Theborers and sailors from the ports are not like ordinary ves. They have courage and strength. With a little training, they can be good soldiers!¡± Oenomaus reminded excitedly.

 Chapter 51: Absorbing the Leaders

    Chapter 51: Absorbing the Leaders


    ¡°Oenomaus is right,¡± said Crixus. ¡°These dock workers and sailors make good soldiers. Besides, there are many port towns in Campania, and there are far moreborers and sailors than just a few hundred. If we don¡¯t let them join, other sailors andborers who want to join will hesitate¡­¡± Crixus looked around and whispered, ¡°We can promise them to join first, and then slowly figure out a way to disperse them and assign them to different units.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s appropriate,¡± objected Hamilcar. ¡°If we¡¯ve made a promise, we should keep it. Otherwise, they will feel dissatisfied, and if the soldiers are not united, it will be troublesome in battle.¡±


    ¡°So, you disagree with them joining?¡± Crixus asked impatiently.


    Hamilcar replied in a deep voice, ¡°We can allow them to join and form their own team. I believe that Artemus will be their leader. We can also allow him to participate in our Military Commanders Assembly. That way, through assembly, we can make Artemus enforce every resolution passed in the meeting. That¡¯s how we can control them!¡±


    Crixus, Oenomaus, and Artorix were taken aback.


    Crixus eximed indignantly, ¡°This man named Artemus didn¡¯t incite a rebellion at the diator school, nor did he fight alongside us and defeat the Roman army. What qualifications does he have to participate in our Military Commanders Assembly? If a person like him can easily participate in our assembly, what will the soldiers think?¡±


    Crixus¡¯ words were met with agreement from Oenomaus and Artorix.


    ¡°Maximus, do you have any suggestions?¡± Spartacus timely asked, shifting everyone¡¯s attention to Maximus, who had been silent all along.


    Maximus cleared his throat and said loudly, ¡°If all we wanted to be was a band of bandits, asionally plundering and harassing the Romans, then it wouldn¡¯t matter if we didn¡¯t ept theseborers and sailors. But now we are fighting against the most powerful force in the Mediterranean, the Romans. Only by uniting everyone we can unite and strengthening our forces do we have a chance to defeat the Romans and gain freedom. Otherwise, we will only be defeated and perish.¡±¡°We are not afraid of death,¡± Crixus retorted coldly.


    ¡°We are indeed not afraid of death, but if there is hope of victory, why don¡¯t we try our best?¡± Maximus countered without showing any weakness.


    ¡°I think we should indeed give it a try,¡± Spartacus interjected in a timely manner. He looked serious and said, ¡°Think about it, ever since we defeated the Roman army, the number of people joining our ranks has been increasing these past few days. Today, someone like Artemus appeared, leading his own group and wanting to join us. As long as we can still defeat the Roman army, such situations will not only continue to arise but will also be more and more frequent with arger number of people. So, what should we do? Reject them for fear of disorder? Italy is vast, and there are many capable people who hate Rome. If theye to us with their people, we should not refuse to ept them. Instead, we should actively absorb them. Not only will our ranks quickly grow, but when our force exceeds 10,000, reaches 20,000, 30,000, 40,000, or even 50,000, can just a few of us manage it all?!¡±


    ¡°50,000 people! Is it really possible?!¡± Oenomaus eximed, wearing an expression of disbelief.


    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t it be possible?!¡± Hamilcar reminded them. ¡°It has only been a few days since we defeated the Roman army, and our numbers have already exceeded 3,000. If we add these sailors andborers, it will beparable to our number before thest battle. At this rate, our army will surpass 10,000 within a month.¡±


    Spartacus seized the opportunity to continue, saying: ¡°With more people, if we cannot manage them well, once chaos arises, the Romans won¡¯t even need to attack¡ªwe¡¯ll fall apart on our own. Therefore, we need to absorb these capable people and have them participate in our meetings, so they can control the people they brought based on our collective will. Only this way, therger our forces grow, the stronger ourbat power will be, and only then can we work together to defeat the Romans!¡±


    Crixus, Oenomaus, and Artorix pondered over his words.


    Spartacus continued, ¡°Of course, your concerns are not unfounded. Here¡¯s what I propose: Artemus can be amander,manding the people he brings with him. He can also participate in our Military Commanders Assembly, but for now, he will only have the right to make suggestions and not to vote, just like Maximus before. After he proves his abilities over time, we can discuss granting him voting rights. Additionally, these dockborers and sailors likely have nobat experience. We can select some individuals from our main force to serve as their unit officers to quickly enhance theirbat capabilities.¡±


    As Maximus listened to these words, he couldn¡¯t help but nce at Spartacus a few more times: <em>The leader of the rebellion is not just someone who prioritizes the overall situation and unity among hisrades; he also knows how to cleverly employ certain tactics to achieve his goals¡­</em> While Maximus was lost in thought, he suddenly noticed Spartacus looking towards him. He thought his thoughts had been discovered, but to his surprise, Spartacus wore an apologetic expression and said, ¡°Maximus, since you took over the leadership of the logistics camp, it has be increasingly important for our entire army. Our brothers acknowledge your abilities, and originally, I nned to hold a meeting in a few days to grant you voting rights, just like us. I believe no one would object. But now, if Artemus joins and knows that you and he are in the same situation, I believe he¡¯ll be more epting of our conditions. So, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to wait a bit longer.¡±


    Maximus intentionally remained silent for a moment before unwillingly asking, ¡°How much longer do I have to wait?¡±


    ¡°We will discuss your matter as soon as Artemus understands the importance of the logistics camp to our army. I believe it won¡¯t take long,¡± responded Spartacus.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll wait¡­a little longer.¡±


    Spartacus looked at the other four individuals and said, ¡°Let¡¯s start voting. Should we agree to Artemus¡¯ request, allow him to participate in our Military Commanders Assembly, and grant him the right to make suggestions?¡±


    ¡°I agree,¡± Hamilcar quickly spoke up. Since it was his suggestion in the first ce, it was only natural for him to express his agreement.


    Surprisingly, it was not Artorix but Crixus who agreed next. He was easily convinced. On one hand, Spartacus did make sense, and on the other hand, the Second Cohort had just suffered a setback due to the medical team¡¯s incident. So, he would rather let Artemus in than see Maximus gain equal rights as him at this moment.


    In the end, Hamilcar¡¯s proposal easily received approval.


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­..


    Artemus led his team to join the uprising and became amander, establishing the Fifth Cohort.


    This move by the rebellion triggered a chain reaction. Over the next two days, dockborers and sailors kept joining, and the rebel army¡¯s numbers exceeded 5,000. As a result, the leaders decided to send three cohorts to Campania to rescue more diators.


    Under the leadership of Spartacus, Crixus, and Oenomaus, the First, Second, and Third Cohorts swiftly marched north along Via Annia early in the morning. It only took them a day to reach Capua.


    After escaping from Capua, the diators had gone straight to Vesuvius and had been causing trouble in the south for over two months. The people of Capua never expected the rebel army to suddenlye back. Without enough time to bring all the residents and supplies from outside the city walls into the city, they hastily closed the city gates.


    The panicked Capuans could only stand on top of the city wall, helplessly watching as the rebel soldiers swept through the surrounding areas of Capua, breaking through one diator school after another. They recruited nearly 1,000 diators and seized arge amount of supplies before smoothly returning to their camp.


    With the strengthened power of the rebel army, their activities were no longer confined to the northern region of Vesuvius. They began expanding into the entire Vesuvius area, even threatening nearby towns and asionally blocking Via Annia.

 Chapter 52: The Mighty Logistics Camps Guard Team

    Chapter 52: The Mighty Logistics Camps Guard Team


    By the end of August, the number of rebels had reached nearly 10,000, necessitating the formation of separate camps. This further strengthened theirplete control over the northern region of Vesuvius, causing towns like Naples to suffer and continuously send messengers seeking aid from Rome.


    ¡°Commander, when the people here saw using, the overseers drove the ves into the nearby farms. However, a few ves managed to escape, and I have brought them with me,¡±


    ¡°Well done!¡± Maximus loudly praised Hagueux, who was riding on a horse.


    Hagueux grinned from ear to ear. He was young and had a thin build. His parents were Gauls who were captured and enved after their defeat in battle, bing farm ves responsible for raising cattle and horses. He was born on the farm, also considered a homebred ve, and had worked with his parents since he was little.


    One day, his owner invited some friends over to the farm as guests. After dining and drinking, they prepared to go out riding for fun, but one of the drunk guests fell off the horse and broke his leg. The owner med Hagueux¡¯s father for this and beat him to death on the spot to appease his friend¡¯s anger. Hagueux¡¯s mother, devastated by the news, soon fell ill and died. Hagueux buried his hatred deep within his heart.


    When the rebel army attacked the farm in May, he willingly joined and was assigned to the logistics camp as part of the wagon team. By the end of July, Maximus decided to form a cavalry unit within the logistics camp. It would serve as a messenger unit during peacetime and gather intelligence during war. Due to his experience in the logistics camp, good horsemanship, and quick thinking, Hagueux was promoted to lead a four-person cavalry unit.


    Maximus¡¯ gaze shifted to the three ves behind Hagueux: they had dark reddish and rough skin, taut muscles, thick joints in their hands and feet, slightly hunched figures, and aged faces¡­


    Maximus had gained some experience in observing ves and knew that they had likely been engaged in long-term farmbor. With a gentle tone, he asked, ¡°Do you have any knowledge about that farm? Can you tell me how many people are there? How many armed guards are there who can fight?¡±


    The three individuals nervously scanned the fully armed group before them, finally focusing their gaze on Maximus, dressed in shining armor and resembling a Roman officer. The youngest among them cautiously asked, ¡°Are you really the¡­ the ve army led by Spartacus?¡±¡°That¡¯s right, we are! We took these armors from the defeated Roman soldiers. Today, following the orders of our leader, Spartacus, we havee all the way here from the other side of the mountain to rescue you,¡± realizing that his well-equipped troops made these ves uncertain, Maximus said with a smile.


    The ves, relieved of their suspicions, excitedly eximed, ¡°We¡¯ve heard about you killing those cruel Roman nobles and overseers on the other side of the mountain (referring to the northern region of Vesuvius) and liberating many ves. We¡¯ve wanted to join you for a long time, but the overseers and guards have been keeping a close watch on ustely. Some of ourpanions tried to escape, but they were caught and brutally beaten in front of us¡­ and finally, they were hanged at the gate of the estate.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we are here now, and we will make those nobles¡±ckeys pay for their sins!¡± Hagueux angrily added.


    ¡°Oh, that farm has over 300 ves. There was originally one overseer and 30 guards, but it increased to 50 guards about ten days ago.¡± The younger ve, with his eyes red, gestured with his right hand over his head while standing on tiptoe as he continued, ¡°The estate is quiterge, with walls about this high¡­¡±


    Hearing that the farm had a considerable number of guards, Maximus was not surprised. Thisrge wheat farm covered several hundred acres ofnd, requiring arge number of ves, naturally necessitating a significant number of people to oversee them.


    ¡°Now we can finally have a real fight!¡± Hagueux eximed excitedly.


    Maximus felt the same excitement. In the past few days, they had only raided vineyards, encountering only a few enemies and a handful of ves. They had already crossed the southern edge of the Vesuvius region, nearing the towns of Pompeii and Heeum. Finally, they came across a target that could truly train their troops. However, he tried to maintain a calm expression on his face, pointing in the direction of the farming estate and saying loudly, ¡°Slow down the march, and advance towards the farm!¡±


    The centurions, led by Phaselus, immediately ryed the order, and the two columns of over 300 soldiers quickly slowed down their pace.


    Seeing the effects of over two months of military training, Frontinius felt satisfied and praised, ¡°Maximus, your decision just now was correct. Slowing down the pace before the battle is beneficial for the soldiers to recover their strength and boost their morale.¡±


    ¡°Frontinius, you should still provide more critical feedback. That way, I can improve quickly,¡± Maximus jokingly replied. Over the past two months, he had diligently undergone military training and often humbly sought advice from Frontinius, fostering a good friendship between them.


    ¡°As per our agreement, the Military Advisory Group will not intervene this time. We will provide feedback based on the situation after the battle,¡± Frontinius said solemnly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t disappoint you,¡± Maximus replied confidently.


    Amidst the golden, heavy waves of wheat stood a white mansion, with several armed individuals behind a three-meter-high wall.


    ¡°Halt the entire army¡¯s advance!¡± Maximus raised his right arm and shouted, ¡°Prepare for formation!¡±


    The order was given, and the soldiers of the guard team quickly halted their advance. Then the shouts of the officers rang out:


    ¡°First squad! First squad, stand over here!¡±


    ¡°Brothers of the second squad, gather here!¡±


    ¡°Third squad, change from a column formation to a horizontal formation right where you are!¡±


    After a noisymotion, the three hundred soldiers formed three parallel formations of a hundred soldiers each.


    ¡°Reporting to the Commander, the formation of the First Guard Cohort isplete!¡± Phaselus, wearing a Roman centurion armor with horizontal plumes, saluted Maximus respectfully and said.


    He used to be the captain of the entire guard team, but even with the increase in the number of guards, he stillmanded a hundred soldiers and his position changed to the leader of the First Guard Cohort. He epted it calmly partly due to Maximus¡¯ patient persuasion and partly because of the Second Guard Cohort¡¯s leader, Tolerugo.


    Tolerugo, who was once severely injured, had undergone two months of meticulous care from the medical team. With his strong physique and gradual recovery, he decided to stay in the logistics camp out of sincere gratitude to the medical team. Besides him, dozens of recovered wounded soldiers chose to stay as well. It can be said that one of Maximus¡¯ primary goals in establishing the medical team had been achieved. He formed a second hundred-man squad with these individuals and some newly recruited soldiers assigned to the logistics camp, with Tolerugo as the leader of the Second Guard Cohort.


    Tolerugo had gained some fame in the diator school and had earned considerable prestige in the Second Cohort. Then, he fought valiantly and survived in battles against the Romans, and after defending the nurses of the medical camp at the soldiers¡¯ assembly, he became well-known throughout the entire army. With such a brave warrior willingly epting a subordinate position in the logistics camp¡¯s guard team, how could Phaselus, who had remained unknown despite his bravery, dare to ask for more?


    ¡°Reporting to the Commander, the Third Guard Cohort has alsopleted formation!¡± Immediately following was Carminus, the captain of the Third Guard Cohort, who came to report.


    He was originally a ve sailor from Naples, an Illyrian. Inspired by Artemus¡¯ deeds, he organized 90 port ves to escape from Naples in mid-July and happened to encounter Maximus during the process of joining the rebel army. Learning that most of his team members were Illyrians and knowing that Maximus himself had half Illyrian blood, Maximus quickly sought Hamilcar¡¯s approval and assigned these individuals to the logistics camp, forming the Third Guard Cohort. Carminus was appointed as their leader.


    After a while, Tolerugo limped his way to Maximus. Unlike the other two centurions, he was the only injured one, and he wasn¡¯t wearing armor, only a red tunic. He didn¡¯t salute but instead shouted directly: ¡°Maximus, my men are all ready. Give the order to attack!¡±

 Chapter 53: Learning in Battle

    Chapter 53: Learning in Battle


    ¡°Don¡¯t be impatient,¡± Maximus calmly said to the three of them. ¡°The main purpose of our outing this time is to apply what our brothers have learned in their regr training to realbat. We can¡¯t just rush in like before.¡±


    Tolerugo was straightforward in his response, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll follow your lead. Just give the order.¡±


    Maximus turned around and shouted: ¡°Ready the ballistae!¡±


    Ten ballista operators at the rear immediately lifted two ballistae from the wagon and ced them at the forefront of the formation. Under the guidance of the military advisor group, they quickly assembled the siege weapons.


    ¡°The target is the wooden gate of the farm!¡± After Maximus gave themand, two lead projectiles were shot out, hitting the walls near the wooden gate and leaving two dents, causing the enemies inside the courtyard to shout in rm.


    Then two more rounds of lead projectiles were fired, still failing to hit the wooden gate, but causing several cracks in the nearby walls.


    ¡°These ballistae sound intimidating, but their power is not that great. It¡¯s better to let our brothersunch a direct attack!¡± Tolerugo couldn¡¯t help but shout.


    Before Maximus could speak, a member of the military advisor group beside him spoke up, ¡°They haven¡¯t trained for long, so it¡¯s normal for their aim to be off. How about this, let us take over.¡±


    ¡°No need, we have plenty of time. If we don¡¯t train them properly now, how can we expect them to be useful in a major battle in the future!¡± Maximus deliberately said loudly.The ballistae operators who heard him became more focused and serious. In the next two rounds of bombardment, they not only hit the wooden gate but also brought down the adjacent wall, creating arge breach in the front of the estate.


    Ignoring the chaos inside the farm, Maximus gave his orders earnestly, ¡°Phaselus, lead the first toon and attack the main gate.¡±


    ¡°Understood!¡± Phaselus responded excitedly.


    ¡°Wait a moment!¡± Maximus continued, ¡°If you approach the breach and the enemies keep throwing javelins from the courtyard walls, what will you do?¡±


    After thinking for a moment, Phaselus replied, ¡°We will form a tortoise formation and charge in.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the n then. I want to see how proficient your first toon is with the tortoise formation.¡± After Maximus finished speaking, he looked at Tolerugo and Carminus, ¡°Soldiers of the second and third toons, go to the wagons and get the longdders. When the first toon attracts the enemy¡¯s attention with their attack, the second toon will climb up the front wall of the farm, and the third toon will attack from behind. Tolerugo, since you¡¯re still injured, stay behind andmand. Don¡¯t go into battle.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Maximus, I¡¯m not stupid. I want to live a few more years,¡± Tolerugo said andughed heartily.


    The three hundred soldiers quickly moved into action.


    Before long, the three hundred soldiers shouted and rushed towards the farm 100 meters away. Their figures scattered across the t fields, creating a significant momentum that gave Maximus a feeling ofmanding authority.


    Of course, although the logistics camp was in charge of supplies, not all of the 300 soldiers were fully armed. More than half of the soldiers in the third toon were still wearing simple clothes and carrying wooden spears. That¡¯s why Maximus arranged for them to attack from the rear to minimize unnecessary casualties.


    There was no way around it; the number of rebels was increasing too quickly, and the reserves of weapons and armor were already insufficient. As the leader of the logistics camp, if Maximus only focused on satisfying the needs of his own troops, it would inevitably cause dissatisfaction among other leaders. However, after today¡¯s battle, the equipment of the soldiers in the third toon should be significantly improved.


    The battle quickly came to an end. In fact, when the ballistae smashed the gate and the fully armed soldiers began their attack, many enemies inside the farm were already intimidated. However, the three toons were so focused on practicing the tactics set by Maximus that theypletely ignored their surrender until they broke into the courtyard and captured them all.


    Upon receiving the news that the army had upied the estate with only five soldiers lightly injured, Maximus did not take pride in it. Instead, he asked Frontinus, ¡°What do you think of this battle?¡±


    Frontinus answered earnestly, ¡°There were no issues with the tactics you set up and the execution by the soldiers, so the battle went smoothly without any casualties. However¡­¡± Frontinus shifted the focus of his words and questioned, ¡°You attacked only a farming estate, and the enemies were just farm guards. They couldn¡¯t cause you any trouble. But if it were a small town with a hundred Roman soldiers stationed inside, our light ballista would not be able to break through the city gates. What would you do then?¡±


    Maximus immediately responded, ¡°It would be unwise for 300 people to attack a small town defended by 100 soldiers. I would abandon the attack unless our numbers increased to 1,000. Then I would be willing to give it a try.¡±


    ¡°What if you had 1,000 soldiers?¡± Frontinus continued to inquire.


    ¡°I would first build a camp¡­¡± Maximus pondered, ¡°¡­although we don¡¯t have heavy ballista, the logistics camp has a construction team. We can build siege towers, right?¡± As he said this, his gaze turned to the other members of the military advisor group.


    Frontinus nodded.


    ¡°We can build siege towers, but it will require a considerable amount of time,¡± Frontinus reminded.


    ¡°That¡¯s okay; we can use this time to do something else,¡± Maximus said, stomping the ground with his foot. ¡°The soil here is loose. We can secretly send some soldiers to dig tunnels directly under the city walls and copse them.¡±


    ¡°Experienced soldiers won¡¯t be unprepared for that.¡±


    Maximus calmly said, ¡°But they still have to allocate manpower to defend, right? One hundred soldiers are not many. It¡¯s impossible for them to fully defend the city walls of the entire small town. I will first use light ballistae to bombard the city walls, undermining the enemy¡¯s morale. Then we will attack the city gate and wall from the front with siege vehicles and towers, distracting the enemy. The remaining soldiers will usedders and tunnels to attack the city. At the same time, we can utilize secret tunnels¡­ Can the enemy withstand such a full-scale assault?¡±


    Frontinus fell silent for a moment and said, ¡°You¡¯remitting all your forces. What if the enemy has reinforcements?¡±


    ¡°Look at you, always making things more difficult for me. Originally, it was just an attack on a small city, but now with reinforcements, who knows, my supply route might be cut offter¡­ With you as the enemy¡¯s insider, how can I possibly win?¡± Maximus jokingly replied.


    Frontinus spoke seriously, ¡°I think you have learned quite well. What youck is experience.¡±


    ¡°You, as an instructor, rarely praise people. It makes me a little proud,¡± Maximusughed and waved his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside the farm and enjoy the fruits of victory. Vorenus, you go in first and count the supplies.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡± Vorenus headed towards the farmhouse, followed by Akgo, Cassius, Marcus, and several other young boys. These children listened to Maximus¡¯ lectures every night and practiced in the warehouse during the day. Their arithmetic skills had improved rapidly, and they could now provide some assistance to the logistics camp.


    ¡°We should go and do our job.¡±


    Maximus¡¯ next task was to publicly interrogate the captives in front of these newly liberated ves. Those found guilty would be handed over to the ves for punishment, often resulting in angry ves killing them. As a result, the majority of the ves would willingly join the uprising, and some of them, due to their favorable impression of the logistics camp, would actively request to be assigned to the team.


    Maximus had been following this approach during the recent raids, and it had proven to be very effective.


    After the interrogation was over and Vorenus finished counting the supplies, Maximus frowned and said, ¡°Such arge farm, so many people, and they only have this little amount of food?!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s normal,¡± Vorenus, knowledgeable in agriculture, said. ¡°The wheat outside is already ripe. It can be harvested soon, providing new food. They don¡¯t need to store much of the old grain.¡±


    Maximus pondered for a moment and said, ¡°Should we stay here for another day? Let the soldiers and the liberated ves harvest these wheat fields and transport the grain back after it¡¯s threshed.¡±


    The reason the guards of the logistics camp were allowed to participate in looting in recent days was due to the rapid increase in the number of rebels, leading to a shortage of food. All the teams were dispatched to intensify the collection of provisions.


    ¡°We¡¯re too far from the camp. What if the enemy attacks while the soldiers are harvesting?¡± Vorenus expressed his concern.

 Chapter 54: Rome Comes to Attack Again

    Chapter 54: Rome Comes to Attack Again


    ¡°Since we arrived here suddenly, and the only ces nearby that could mobilize troops to attack within a day are probably Pompeii and Lucania. Frontinus, is it possible for them to send troops?¡± Maximus asked.


    ¡°Pompeians wouldn¡¯t dare to provoke us. As for Lucania¡ª¡ª¡± Frontinus¡¯ face showed aplex expression. ¡°From what I know, it¡¯s a colonial town built by a dictator to house his loyal soldiers. If they haven¡¯t lost their fighting spirit after more than ten years, they might send troops¡­¡±


    ¡°If Lucania does send troops, how many would they send?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Frontinus shrugged. ¡°After Su led his army to attack Rome, I became a ve. We only heard about the construction of the Lucania colonial town in southern Campania while repairing the Roman roads. As for how many soldiers are stationed there now and how many residents are left¡­ How could I possibly know? But when we were causing trouble in the Vesuvius area before, Lucania remained quiet. So if we don¡¯t provoke them, I think they won¡¯t provoke us either.¡±


    ¡°Based on the interrogation just now, the owner of this farm is a Roman senator and has no connection to the people of Lucania¡­¡± Maximus pondered for a moment and said in a deep voice, ¡°We traveled so far, and it was not easy to capture such arge farming estate. If we just go back like this, it will not only affect morale, but other teams will also mock us when they learn about it. Plus, it would be a waste to abandon such a vast wheat field¡­ So, I¡¯ve decided that we will harvest it before returning!¡±


    After a brief pause, Maximus made further arrangements. ¡°I will have Hagueux lead a reconnaissance team to investigate the situation in the direction of Lucania. At the same time, someone will be dispatched to the camp to report our situation. The soldiers from the three toons will intensify the wheat harvest, apanied by these liberated ves. As for the specific arrangements, Vorenus, it will be your responsibility.¡±


    ¡°Um¡­¡± Vorenus hesitated for a moment but then responded, ¡°Alright.¡±


    ¡°Frontinus, do you see anything else that needs attention?¡±


    ¡°I think you shouldn¡¯t let everyone go and harvest the wheat. At least one toon should stay to guard the farm in case of any unexpected events.¡±¡°¡­That makes sense. I was a bit too hasty.¡± Maximus thought for a moment and openly admitted his mistake. ¡°Let the soldiers from the first toon stay to guard the farm. When the other toons get tired, we can rotate them. This way, it will be fair and allow them to regain their strength. What do you think?¡±


    Frontinus nodded. Being open to advice and willing to ept suggestions was one of the significant advantages of this young leader of the rebel army, and it was one of the reasons why Frontinus and others were happy to stay in the logistics camp and serve him.


    ¡°Vorenus, can we harvest everything in one day?¡±


    Vorenus considered and said, ¡°¡­The captives just mentioned that there are about 209 acres of wheat fields here. With our two toons and over 400 liberated ves, totaling more than 600 capable young workers, as long as we arrange it well, one day should be enough.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave this matter to you. If there¡¯s anything I can do, just let me know.¡±


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­..


    Maximus led the guard team to station at the farm, intense battlefield scene soon turned into aborious one with sweat pouring like rain.


    During this time, Hagueux reported several times that ¡°a few small groups of Lucanians were approaching to scout,¡± but ultimately Lucania did not send troops to attack.


    When the soldiers finally finished harvesting the wheat fields. Maximus let out a long sigh of relief the moment he gave the order to ¡°return to the camp.¡±


    Although nothing unusual happened during this day, Maximus remained on edge. It was his first time being away from the main force and carrying out such a dangerous mission alone with his team. The lives of hundreds of people depended solely on him, which put him under immense pressure but also greatly tested his character.


    As the guard team of the logistics camp marched back, they were apanied by a convoyprising 15 wagons loaded with wheat (five of which were originally from this farm and used for grain trading). Additionally, three bullock carts pulled by oxen were filled with wheat, along with over 400 liberated ves each carrying a sack of wheat, except for the women. Although there was still some leftover wheat that couldn¡¯t be taken away, Maximus opted not to order its destruction. Instead, it was neatly piled up in the farm¡¯s warehouse, awaiting discovery, to ensure it wouldn¡¯t go to waste.


    The group of nearly 800 people set out on the return journey early in the morning. Due to the burden of the supplies, they made frequent stops along the way. They spent the entire day walking for around 12 kilometers and only arrived at the camp at dusk.


    Maximus hadn¡¯t even had a chance to catch his breath when he received a messenger from the rebel army leader: Spartacus was calling for an urgent meeting.


    When Maximus entered the farm hall, the other leaders of the uprising were already seated inside.


    ¡°I apologize foring backte!¡± Maximus immediately greeted everyone with an apology.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you, Maximus, to be so daring. You only brought 300 soldiers but ventured deep into the south. We were all worried about you. Did you encounter any danger?¡± Spartacus asked with concern.


    ¡°What is there to worry about? The entire Vesuvius region and its surroundings are now under our control. Who dares to provoke us?!¡± Crixus interjected.


    ¡°There was indeed no danger. We captured arge farm without any casualties and harvested approximately 36,200 kilograms of wheat. We also liberated over 400 ves who joined our ranks,¡± Maximus said nonchntly.


    ¡°So much wheat! This greatly relieves the pressure on our food supply!¡± Hamilcar said joyfully.


    ¡°After the meeting is over, I will ask you to count the supplies and ves we brought back,¡± Maximus said to his mentor.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Hamilcar nodded.


    ¡°Your logistics camp¡¯s guard team did a great job this time!¡± After Spartacus¡¯ praise, he looked around the crowd and his expression became serious: ¡°We called this emergency meeting today because our scouts obtained information that a Roman legion has left Rome and is advancing towards us.¡±


    ¡°A legion?!¡± Artorix¡¯s face changed.


    ¡°Only one legion? As long as they dare toe, we are fully capable of defeating them!¡± Oenomaus said fearlessly.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Our soldiers now number close to 10,000, and after two months of training, ourbat strength has greatly increased. We are fully capable of defeating them in battle!¡± Crixus was also full of confidence.


    Artemus, the rugged-looking leader who joined the uprisingter, had a rough appearance and a lean and strong figure. He had been fighting against the wind and waves on the sea for many years. Although he had never experiencedbat before, he boldly eximed, ¡°As long as the Roman army arrives, we¡¯ll take them on! Since we can defeat them once, we can defeat them a second time!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re all right. We don¡¯t need to worry about the Roman legion¡¯s attack much,¡± Spartacus said, seizing the opportunity as he noticed the high spirits of everyone, far better than the previous time. ¡°But instead of waiting for the Roman army to attack, we should take the initiative to attack them.¡±


    ¡°Initiate an attack?!¡± The others were taken aback. This statementpletely surprised them. Spartacus had been more cautious than anyone before thest battle with the Romans, they didn¡¯t expect him to be so aggressive this time.


    However, Spartacus didn¡¯t see his approach as radical. Instead, it was a general tactical principle that he had formted after learning the lessons of thest battle and carefully analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the Romans and the rebels. He didn¡¯t borate on it but instead nced at Hamilcar.


    Hamilcar understood and exined, ¡°ording to the information obtained by the scouts, this legion sent by the Romans is marching along the Via Latina. They are divided into two parts, with their vanguard consisting of 2,000 men, which arrived in Cales this afternoon. The main force of 4,000 men is in Suessa, with a difference of about half a day¡¯s journey between the two.¡±

 Chapter 55: The Ambitious Furius

    Chapter 55: The Ambitious Furius


    ¡°I now understand,¡± Crixus suddenly realized, pping his thigh. ¡°Spartacus, you mean to take the initiative and attack while the two enemy forces haven¡¯t joined together. We¡¯ll first eliminate the vanguard of 2,000 soldiers and then engage their main force in battle. It will be much easier to defeat them this way!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Spartacus leaned forward, his eyes gleaming. ¡°The Romans dare to divide their forces because they think they are safe on their ownnd. But when they approach us, they will inevitably regroup. So, we must not miss this opportunity to defeat them! My suggestion is to gather the fiverge teams early tomorrow morning, march north quickly along the Via Annia, and aim to catch the Romans¡¯ vanguard and crush them.¡±


    ¡°Spartacus,¡± Artorix hesitated and asked, ¡°If all 8,000 of us go north together, we won¡¯t be able to hide from the enemy. What if they retreat into a fortified city? Remember, Capua is not far north of the enemy vanguard.¡±


    Spartacus had already considered this. His eyes sparkled with wisdom as he confidently replied, ¡°Precisely because Capua is not far from the enemy¡¯s vanguard, by the time we approach, they will likely have already passed Capua. But they probably won¡¯t make it to the next town, Suess, in time for their main force to join them. Last time, the Roman army didn¡¯t stay in Capua, and they probably won¡¯t this time either¡­


    ¡°In case the Roman vanguard doesn¡¯t act as we expect and chooses to retreat upon learning of our approach, intending to join their main force, then we will continue north and seek a decisive battle with the entire Roman legion. In any case, we must not passively wait for the enemy to attack our camp before fighting them!¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing to fear about the Romans, I agree with Spartacus¡¯s proposal!¡± Oenomaus responded enthusiastically.


    ¡°I agree too,¡± Crixus added his approval. ¡°Spartacus¡¯ n will seed. Given the Romans¡¯ pride, they won¡¯t choose to retreat after receiving news of our attack.¡±


    The hall¡¯s atmosphere was filled with enthusiasm. Even the cautious Artorix did not object anymore.


    Spartacus continued, ¡°With our entire army engaging the Roman legion, our camp will be left empty, and the Neapolitans might take advantage of it. I suggest that Maximus be responsible for guarding the camp. Just hold on for two or three days, and we will return with the main force.¡±Maximus didn¡¯t expect to be able to lead the logistics camp¡¯s guard team and act together with the main force anyway. After all, the other teams of the logistics camp were in the camp, so it was only natural for him to stay behind. He nodded and agreed, ¡°Alright, you can rest assured and march out. I will guard the camp.¡±


    Even Crixus did not express opposition to this. After all, in the situation where all the other leaders were going to battle, apart from Maximus, there was no one else who could take on this heavy responsibility.


    ¡°Although the city guard of Naples is not formidable, there are too few soldiers under Maximus. To be on the safe side, I suggest incorporating the more than 400 ves that Maximus brought back today into the logistics camp to strengthen the defensive force,¡± Hamilcar¡¯s words delighted Maximus.


    ¡°I think that¡¯s a good idea,¡± Spartacus didn¡¯t mind. He looked at everyone and said, ¡°Let¡¯s vote on the proposal I just made.¡±


    In fact, they had already reached a unanimous agreement earlier, so the vote now was just a formality. There were seven people in the hall, and six of them had voting rights (Maximus gained the right to vote at the militarymanders¡¯ assembly in early August due to his outstanding performance in the logistics camp, while Artemus, who joinedte, temporarily only had the right to participate and give suggestions). The vote was passed unanimously.


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­


    After Praetor Varinius became themander to suppress the rebel army, his house was filled with guests, as many elders and nobles rmended their families¡¯ sons and brothers to him. He did not reject any of them and put all their names on the expedition list.


    However, as an experienced general, he didn¡¯tpletely lose his mind. After recruiting soldiers, he found that they were mostly new recruits. Instead of rushing into battle, he intensified the training of the entire legion to avoid a repeat of ber¡¯s failure.


    He applied to the Senate, stating that he ¡°needed more time to train the soldiers for a smoother suppression of the rebellion.¡± After deliberation, the Senate agreed.


    However, during the time he was busy training the troops, the Roman popce gradually felt the impact on their lives caused by the cut-off of Via Annia and the turmoil in southern Campania. Moreover, the unceasing calls for help from the Campanian towns like Naples and Capua put great pressure on the Senate. Finally, they unanimously passed a resolution requiring Varinius to dispatch troops immediately.


    This sudden order caught Varinius a little off guard. Since the previous expedition led by ber had emptied the Roman armory, he had not yet urged for replenishment, and now the entire legion was stillcking in weapons and equipment.


    To avoid the Senate¡¯s dissatisfaction, Varinius had no choice but to let Lucius Furius, a military tribune, lead 2,000 well-equipped soldiers to set out first.


    Under Varinius¡¯ urgent insistence, the Roman armory barely managed to equip the remaining soldiers the next day. He ordered the campmander Lucius Cossinius to lead the remaining 4,000 soldiers to set off quickly. He himself led the cavalry, escorting the hard-won remaining legion supplies, and calmly marched southward after half a day.


    A legion divided into three parts, each separated by about half a day¡¯s journey, is a major military taboo. However, Varinius wasn¡¯t too worried because he had a detailed understanding of ber¡¯s battle with the rebel ves. The ves were forced toe out and fight only when ber¡¯s army reached their camp, indicating that the rebel vescked the courage tounch an attack proactively. Moreover, Varinius had already made an agreement with Furius and Cossinius: they would first meet in Capua to regroup and then continue towards the rebel camp.


    Varinius¡¯ n seemed good, but he underestimated the rebels and misjudged one person.


    Furius, who had previously served as a questor andter became a Roman senator, was recruited into the military by Varinius, and appointed as a broad-striped military tribune, on the strong rmendation of Su the Younger.


    The broad-striped military tribune was different from a regr military tribune, not just because he wore a wide sash over his belted tunic, but more importantly, because this role had to be assumed by someone of senatorial rank. If something happened to the legatus, they had the right to take over the position andmand the entire legion. As such an important position, Varinius chose Furius not only to amodate Su but also because of Furius himself.


    Furrius had served as a questor in the province of Hispania and worked under Pompey, who had a good opinion of him. He had some military experience. During his tenure as a senator, he didn¡¯t exhibit the impulsive radicalism that some young senators did and showed more stability.


    So Varinius believed that this stable young senator would execute his orders well. However, he forgot that Roman youths of patrician birth had a strong ambition for glory, and Furius was no exception. Moreover, during the time Furius spent in the province of Hispania with Pompey, who was close in age, this feeling became even stronger. The reason why Furrius remained restrained in the Senate was that the Senate was a ce where the elderly held power, and any disy of youthful exuberance would only draw antipathy¡­ And now, when the opportunity presented itself to Furius, he wanted to seize it without hesitation.


    Varinius ordered Furius to halt the march upon reaching Capua and wait for the following troops to join them, but Furius disregarded themand. Instead, he led his troops to continue marching south along the Via Annia after arriving in Capua.


    He believed that if ber could easily crush the rebel ve army with 3,000 soldiers, he could do it even with 1,000 fewer soldiers, and he wouldn¡¯t make the same foolish mistake. When he independently quelled the ve rebellion, he would undoubtedly win considerable praise from the Roman popce and further his career in the Senate.

 Chapter 56: Deception

    Chapter 56: Deception


    With these thoughts in mind, Furius felt a surge of energy and excitement, and he gave the order once again: ¡°Let the soldiers increase their marching speed!¡±


    A centurion couldn¡¯t help but remind him, ¡°Sir, the weather is hot today. We should prevent the soldiers from marching excessively and risking heatstroke!¡±


    Furius red at him and cunningly argued, ¡°Precisely because it¡¯s hot, we need to speed up and try to reach Naples as soon as possible. By then, I will strive to have the people of Naples provide the soldiers with Vesuvian wine to quench their thirst.¡±


    Furius had his subordinates spread his exnation, and the soldiers stoppedining and instead cheered.


    Seeing this, Furius smirked with satisfaction, looking up at the zing sun in the sky. <em>Camp Commander Cossinius used to be Varinius¡¯rade-in-arms. As a seasoned soldier, he should slow down the march in such scorching conditions¡­ This way, when I depart from Naples tomorrow and attack the ve camp, Cossinius¡¯ troops will still have more than half a day¡¯s journey remaining. Even if I defeat those ves, they might not be able to catch up¡­</em>


    Lost in his thoughts, Furius was interrupted by a Roman cavalryman riding ahead, holding a spear with feathers tied to it (indicating he was a temporary messenger with urgent news). The soldiers quickly cleared a path for him.


    ¡°Report, sir! There are over 5,000 ves approaching us!¡± The scout rider anxiously reported to Furius.


    ¡°Five thousand ves¡­¡± Furius, instead of feeling nervous upon hearing this, became excited. ¡°These lowly ves didn¡¯t stay in their own camp and dared tounch an attack on us proactively! They¡¯vee at just the right time, saving us a lot of effort!¡±


    ¡°Sir, their numbers may be far more than 5,000, and they even have cavalry. They have driven us out, so we couldn¡¯t conduct deeper reconnaissance,¡± the scout reminded him.¡°Cavalry?!¡± Furius was momentarily stunned, then quickly asked, ¡°What about the equipment of these ves?¡±


    ¡°Most of them have no armor, not even weapons. They carry farming tools and clubs, only a few have equipment simr to ours, probably obtained from the previous battle.¡±


    Furius grew even more confident and immediately asked, ¡°How far away are these ves from us?¡±


    ¡°Um¡­ when I left, it was about three kilometers.¡±


    Furius stopped asking questions and turned to the messenger, saying, ¡°Order the soldiers to halt immediately, put on their armor, take up their swords and shields, move into formation facing south, and prepare to confront the enemy!¡±


    The messenger had also heard the scout¡¯s report and didn¡¯t raise any objections like ¡°The enemy is approaching fiercely, we should retreat temporarily.¡± Instead, he believed Furius¡¯ decision was only natural: <em>How could Roman citizens withdraw in front of a group of lowly ves? No matter how many they are, they are nothing more than a disorganized mob!</em>


    With this mindset, he galloped alongside the marching column, shouting loudly.


    The soldiers stopped their advance. Perhaps hearing that the approaching enemy was ves, they remained rtively calm. They calmly ced their furca<sup>[1]</sup> resting on their shoulders, unloaded the bags strapped to their heads, took out their square shields from their covers, fastened their helmets hanging on their chests, and began to move into formation under themand of their officers. The veborers of the army gathered the soldiers¡¯ belongings and took them along with the apanying wagons to the rear of the formation¡­ The whole process was orderly, a result of two months of rigorous training.


    Furius was pleased with the soldiers¡¯ performance. Now hemanded four cohorts, with more than 2,000 men, not enough to form a traditional battle formation. So he ordered the soldiers to leave the Via Annia and form a tight horizontal formation on the west side of the road, facing south.


    Not long after the Roman soldiers finished lining up, they saw the enemy figures appearing in the distance: These enemies had no glorious banners, no splendid armor, no sharp weapons, and no organized formation. They were ragged, disorganized, bustling along the Via Annia, heading north¡­


    ¡°These are our enemies? Even my old man at home could defeat them,¡± a soldier¡¯s sarcastic remark causedughter among the surrounding soldiers.


    The Roman soldiers appeared rxed, and Furius was equally at ease. He hoped these foolish ves would just charge straight at them, and then he would lead the army to strike them hard¡­


    But then he saw a dozen or so ve cavalrymen riding up to the front of the enemy from beside the road, shouting something at them. The enemy swiftly halted their advance and began forming up.


    Furius felt a slight unease and an impulse surged within him, wanting tounch an attack while the enemy was in disarray. But he quickly restrained himself. After all, the two armies were about 500 meters away, and by the time his eagerly advancing soldiers reached the enemy lines, these ves might already have been frightened away. Besides, it would be difficult for soldiers in heavy armor to catch up with these lightly dressed ves. When the time came, he would lead the army to attack the ve camp. It was better to wait for the enemy toe and die on their own.


    Furius made up his mind and continued sitting on horseback in front of the formation, patiently observing the enemy¡¯s movements¡­


    Then he saw the enemy in front of him, after a period of chaos, bing organized: The enemies in the front quickly formed a simple formation and kept moving to the sides. Meanwhile, the enemies in the rear kept surging forward, like a growing bamboo shoot. It started with one point and gradually turned into a line, and this line had already surpassed the length of their own formation and continued to extend¡­


    Furius became increasingly uneasy, and then his eyes widened: Fully armed soldiers appeared in the center of the enemy formation, and their numbers kept increasing, shining brightly under the scorching sun¡­


    <em>D*mn scouts! Are they blind?! How could they miss the fact that the majority of the enemy is well-equipped?! The number of armored soldiers among them far exceeds ours!</em> Furius cursed in his mind, almost wanting to give the order to retreat. But reason told him that retreating in front of the enemy was a great taboo. Even if they were several hundred meters apart, his heavily armored soldiers wouldn¡¯t be able to run far and would likely be chased down by the unarmed ves on the nks of the enemy formation, ultimately leading to defeat. To be defeated without engaging in battle, he would not only be held ountable by the Senate upon his return to Rome but also despised by the people. His life would be over!


    Thinking of this, Furius decisively turned around and looked at the soldiers who were already showing signs of fear and restlessness. He raised his right arm high and shouted loudly, ¡°Soldiers, you are elite Roman citizens, while they are just ves to bemanded by you. No matter how numerous they are, they cannot defeat us who are blessed by Jupiter and have an excellent military tradition! Soldiers, for the glory of Rome, fight to the death! Fight to the death!¡±


    Inspired by Furius¡¯ stirring words, the soldiers¡¯ courage was ignited, and they began shouting along, ¡°FIGHT TO THE DEATH!! FIGHT TO THE DEATH!!!¡±


    At this moment, Spartacus stood at the forefront of the rebel army¡¯s formation, looking at the Roman army ahead, filled with joy in his heart: <em>The Romans did not run away, this is great news!</em>


    It must be said that in order to create an illusion for the Romans, he deliberately arranged the Fifth and Fourth Cohorts as the vanguard (most soldiers in these two cohortscked armor and weapons, especially the Fifth Cohort), and he also had Omarkel lead the cavalry to drive away the Roman scouts¡­ <em>Now it seems that the n is a sess!</em> Spartacus raised his short sword excitedly and pointed forward with force, ¡°Attack!¡±


    This time, he didn¡¯t need to take the first action with the soldiers around him to drive the entire army forward. After hearing his shout, several buglers beside him immediately blew their bronze horns.


    Woo!


    Crixus, Oenomaus, Artorix, and Artemus, each standing at the forefront of their respective troops, heard the order to attack. They all turned back and shouted: ¡°Brothers, follow me and advance!¡±


    The entire army formation began to move forward. Aheady the Roman army that dominated the Mediterranean. The soldiers, originally ves, couldn¡¯t help feeling nervous, their palms sweating as they gripped their weapons. But being part of this massive military formation, with their ears filled with the excited shouts of theirrades and their eyes fixed on the strong, agile backs of the diators before them, their fear gradually faded. A desire for revenge surged within them, and their pace quickened¡­


    <b>Trantor''s Notes:</b><ol></ol><li> It was a wooden pole used by Roman soldiers to carry their belongings. ??</li><!--


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 Chapter 57: Crushing Furius

    Chapter 57: Crushing Furius


    The left and right wings of the rebel army advanced the fastest, with a rtively disorganized formation. These soldiers had joined the rebellionter, so they had fewer armored soldiers, less training, and shorter training time. On the other hand, the central formation of the rebel army consisted of fully armed soldiers who had undergone two months of rigorous training. They were able to maintain a good pace and formation. As the rebel army approached the Roman army¡¯s formation, their line, which was more than three times longer than the Roman formation, curved into a semi-circr shape. The rebel army¡¯s central formation faced the Roman army directly, while the two wings were like outstretched arms, seemingly ready to embrace the Roman formation¡­


    The Roman soldiers, who had been inspired by Furius¡¯ speech and were preparing to deal with the enemy¡¯s attack, looked at the approaching enemy formation, heard the thunderous roarsing from the other side, and especially saw the fully armed enemy soldiers with their fierce faces and resentful gazes¡­ Fear crept into the hearts of the Roman soldiers. After all, they had only trained for two months, and they were still inexperienced.


    But before they could fullyprehend this first taste of battle in their lives, the two wings of the rebel army had already approached within 30 meters of the nks of the Roman formation.


    <em>Should I order them to throw their javelins or not?</em> Furius hesitated because if they threw them, the enemy charging towards them would be able tounch a fearless assault.


    In fact, before he could give themand, the soldiers had already started to throw their heavy javelins. Although their targets were scattered, the poorly equipped rebel soldiers on the wings suffered some casualties, which had a significant deterrent effect.


    However, immediately after that, the soldiers in the central formation of the rebel army, led by Spartacus,unched a charge. They held their square shields diagonally, wielded short swords in their hands, took long strides, and charged forward with great force¡­ This fierce momentum frightened the remaining Roman soldiers who still had their javelins, causing them to hastily throw them, but it was like throwing pebbles into a raging river, causing no ripples.


    This time, Spartacus concentrated the more than 1,000 diators he had liberated in Capua at the forefront of the central formation. Strong and fierce, they were like descending tigers, using their shields to strike and their swords to swiftly stab through the gaps. Their fighting movements were skilled and fluid. As soon as the two sides made contact, the screams of the Roman soldiers became constant.


    Subsequently, with thebined effort of the soldiers behind them, they fiercely pushed forward, causing gaps to appear in the tight formation of the Roman army. The rebel soldiers flowed in like water, taking advantage of the situation to widen these gaps¡­


    Furius never imagined that these rebellious ves, whom he had underestimated, wouldunch such a fierce attack. As soon as the battle began, they disrupted his army¡¯s formation.But what rmed him even more was that the enemy¡¯s two wings were also quickly nking from the sides and rear, with a momentum that threatened to surround and devour the entire Roman army. Although they were poorly equipped and weak inbat power, would the demoralized Roman recruits still have the courage to fight on when faced with encirclement?


    Thinking about this, he anxiously shouted, ¡°Soldiers, hold on! Hold on! Cossinius and the reinforcements areing soon! The reinforcements areing!¡± However, his shouts had little effect amidst the chaotic battlefield. On the contrary, another voice quickly spread throughout the Roman formation: ¡°We¡¯re surrounded!!! Run for your lives!!!¡±


    The Roman formation copsed, and the soldiers discarded their shields and armor, scrambling to escape through the gaps that the rebel army hadn¡¯t closed yet.


    Furius, bewildered, was swept away by the fleeing soldiers. Suddenly, someone grabbed him, pulling him off his horse. Before he could even get up, he was trampled by countless feet¡­


    In just half an hour, the entire battle had already ended. Except for a few Roman soldiers who managed to escape and were being pursued by rebel soldiers, most either died in battle or were captured.


    Spartacus had anticipated victory, but he didn¡¯t expect the battle to end so quickly. So when the leaders gathered to discuss the next steps, he confidently said without hesitation, ¡°Let¡¯s stick to our original n and continue heading north and look for an opportunity to deal with their main force.¡±


    ¡°I agree!¡± Crixus immediately voiced his approval, ¡°We didn¡¯t suffer many casualties in this battle, and we won with little effort. Thebat capabilities of this Roman army aren¡¯t impressive at all. We are fully capable of winning another battle!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that the Roman army is weak, but that we have be stronger!¡± Artorix chuckled, feeling confident because of the victory.


    ¡°We must continue heading north and find their main force for a decisive battle. Otherwise, if they learn of our victory, they might retreat back to Rome, and we will miss a great opportunity!¡± Artemus reminded them.


    Oenomaus nodded and urged, ¡°We must act quickly and not let them escape!¡±


    Seeing everyone agreeing to fight again, Spartacus continued, ¡°Artemus, detach 400 soldiers from your unit for now, and temporarily let Hamilcar lead them. They will be responsible for clearing the battlefield and taking care of our wounded brothers. The rest of you, gather your soldiers from your respective teams and march north along the main road.¡±


    ¡°Understood!¡± Artemus responded promptly.


    ¡°Spartacus, don¡¯t forget about those Roman prisoners!¡± Artorix reminded.


    ¡°Kill them all. We don¡¯t have spare manpower to look after these people right now,¡± Crixus interjected.


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Spartacus said calmly, making a decision that sealed the fate of these Roman prisoners. Then he turned and walked towards the other side of the battlefield. ¡°Omarkel! Omarkel!¡±<sup>[1]</sup>


    The captain of the cavalry, Omarkel, was leading his warhorse to graze in the wheat field when he heard the shout and quickly approached. ¡°Commander Spartacus, what¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°Where is your cavalry unit deployed for surveince?¡±


    ¡°They are stationed as far as Capua, and we haven¡¯t received any news of another Roman armying to reinforce. Since the battle has ended, can I bring them back?¡±


    ¡°No, let your cavalry continue to scout north. Once they discover any trace of the Roman army, they should return and inform us immediately!¡±


    Omarkel¡¯s spirits were instantly lifted. ¡°Are we preparing to attack another Roman army?!¡±


    ¡°Whether we can crush them depends on whether you can discover them in time!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, leave it to us!¡± Omarkel confidently replied. He turned and ran towards his own warhorse, but as he leaped onto it, the horse was happily eating and unwilling to leave. He raised his arm and pped the horse¡¯s hindquarters forcefully, causing the horse to neigh and run away.


    Omarkel was prepared for this. He squeezed his legs against the horse¡¯s belly, tightly grasping the reins, controlling the direction as he guided the warhorse onto the main road, then blew a sharp whistle.


    In no time, a dozen cavalrymen gathered and galloped north together.


    Although the rebel soldiers were somewhat exhausted after the battle, the splendid victory exhrated them. Having endured hardship and toil as ves, they had grown ustomed to it. Therefore, when the rebelmanders issued themand to ¡°continue marching north,¡± they had noints. Under the scorching sun, they marched on, albeit at a slower pace than before.


    In the afternoon, the troops arrived outside the city of Capua.


    The people of Capua trembled in fear within the city walls.


    Vibius stood on the city wall, silently gazing at the rebel army outside the city, stretching like a long dragon. The memory of his defeat from a few months ago resurfaced in his mind, and it took him a while to utter a sentence, ¡°Bring Batiatus to me and give him a severe beating!¡±


    During the march, Spartacus led the First Cohort at the forefront of the formation. His consideration was that if they encountered arger Roman main force, the soldiers of the heavily armored First Cohort wouldunch the initial attack and not be easily defeated, thus buying time for the following troops to deploy.


    Spartacus led the troops to bypass the city of Capua and continued forward. However, he saw Omarkel rushing towards him from the front. Excitedly, Omarkel shouted, ¡°Commander Spartacus, we have discovered the trace of the Roman army!¡±


    ¡°Where?!¡±


    ¡°They are by the Volturnus River, resting and drinking water there!¡±


    <b>Trantor''s Notes:</b><ol></ol><li> I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s a typo by the author, but he renamed Omarkel to Ocmar. But we¡¯ll go with Omarkel for now until I reach the chapter where his name is mentioned again. ??</li><!--


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 Chapter 58: Careless Cossinius

    Chapter 58: Careless Cossinius


    The Volturno River, originating from the Abruzzo Mountains in the Samnite region, was once called the Mother River by the indigenous people of Campania, the Tyrrhenians. Its clear waters irrigated a fertile in, producing the finest wheat and grains in Italy. The Tyrrhenians built twelve towns along its course, with Capua as their capital. Over the centuries, the Tyrrhenians became a thing of the past, but the Volturno River continued to flow peacefully.


    Cossinius led the main force of the Roman legion, enduring the scorching sun as they departed from Suessa, exited the mountainous region, and set foot on the Campanian in. They marched for five to six hours and arrived at the banks of the Volturno River in the afternoon.


    It was the hottest time of the day, and the tired and thirsty soldiers, gazing at the clear, flowing river water, found themselves unable to take another step.


    Not only the soldiers felt this way, but Cossinius, a veteran soldier himself, was also experiencing fatigue. It¡¯s worth noting that he had been urging the soldiers to march on for days, and his physical and mental energy was nearly exhausted. He thought to himself: <em>Since Capua is not far ahead, why not take a rest here to restore the soldier¡¯s morale?</em>


    However, the section of the river where the stone bridge was located was deep and the banks were high. Cossinius had to lead the troops along the riverbank to the west, taking several turns, until they reached a ce where the river widened with a gentle current andrge riverbank.


    When Cossinius announced the dismissal, the soldiers rushed to the river¡¯s edge to scoop up water, and some even took off their armor and dove straight into the river¡­


    After drinking water and washing his face, Cossinius found a shady spot andy down. The soreness and difort in his thighs and waist were greatly relieved with the support of solid ground. He closed his eyes contentedly¡­


    The majority of the Roman legion¡¯s cavalry was serving as the rear guard under themand of the legionmander Varinius. The remaining cavalry squad belonged to the vanguard, tasked with reconnaissance and scouting. The main force of the legion, positioned in the middle, did not have any cavalry. However, Cossinius was not particrly worried about this. Not to mention that they were still far from Vesuvius, and Capua was nearby. Even if those ves showed any signs of movement, Furius would send cavalry to notify him.


    Little did he know that while his main force was resting by the river, the vanguard had already suffered a devastating defeat. The routed soldiers took refuge in the city of Capua, lucky to have escaped with their lives. They had no intention of notifying the main force. Only a few cavalrymen remembered their mission. However, as they rushed back along the main road, passing the Volturno River, Cossinius had already led his troops down to the riverbank. The winding river and the lush trees along the banks concealed the approaching chaos-stricken Roman cavalry, who continued their journey north, unaware of the vignt rebel cavalry scouts.Cossiniusy half-asleep on the soft grass, resting, when suddenly he felt the ground tremble, as if thousands of drums were pounding the earth, in a chaotic yet increasingly clear manner¡­


    With his rich battlefield experience, Cossinius immediately realized that the vibrations on the ground couldn¡¯t possibly be caused by the vanguard troops of just over 2,000 men. Moreover, they were heading in his direction!


    Cossinius quickly turned over and stood up, shouting, ¡°Gather the entire army!¡±


    At this moment, he noticed that during the time he had dozed off, the soldiers hadpletely let loose. Everyone had taken off their clothes and gone into the water for a bath. Some people, finding the ce too crowded, had even walked downstream, searching for a better bathing spot.


    The soldiers who heard his shout just stared at him in astonishment, without taking any action.


    Cossinius hurriedly ran over and picked up the bronze horn that the trumpeter had thrown on the riverbank. He blew it with all his might.


    Woo! Woo!¡­ Woo! Woo!¡­


    The sound of the assembly horn rang out. The two months of arduous training paid off as nearby soldiers, albeit reluctantly, instinctively came ashore. They hurriedly wiped their bodies, then put on their tunics, donned their armor, picked up their belongings, and gathered around Cossinius¡­


    The standard bearer, dressed in the simplest attire, was the first to raise the eagle standard high, while the unarmored trumpeters picked up their bronze horns. Only then did Cossinius have a chance to speak again. He shouted urgently: ¡°Hurry and put on your armor, take up your weapons, form ranks, and prepare for battle!¡±


    A soldier dissatisfiedly asked, ¡°Commander Cossinius, are you telling us to train here?!¡±


    ¡°You fool!¡± Cossinius cursed loudly. ¡°The enemy is attacking!¡±


    ¡°How could there be enemies here?¡± The soldiers were unconvinced, thinking Cossinius was joking.


    ¡°Look over there!¡± The standard bearer tiptoed and suddenly pointed to the southeast. In the distance, a group of figures appeared on the main road, their armor shining brightly in the sunlight.


    ¡°That¡¯s our own troops!¡± The soldiers burst intoughter, thinking Cossinius was mistaken.


    ¡°You fools, those are the enemy!¡± Cossinius couldn¡¯t be bothered to exin further. He said to the messenger, ¡°Quick! Go and gather the others, or they¡¯ll face military punishment!¡±


    Threatened by his words, the messenger didn¡¯t dare to dy and immediately ran downstream.


    ¡°Good Lord, how can there be so many people?!¡± A soldier eximed.


    On the main road, it was no longer just a group of soldiers; it was like a long dragon. This dragon began to leave the road, trampling through the wheat fields and approaching their position. People kept joining from behind until the distant view was filled with countless figures¡­


    The soldiers couldn¡¯tugh anymore. Even if they were foolish, they understood that the vanguard force didn¡¯t have this many soldiers.


    Cossinius saw the situation and calmed down. He shouted, ¡°Don¡¯t panic, follow me!¡±


    His words didn¡¯t reduce the recruits¡¯ nervousness in the slightest. They hurriedly put on their armor and followed Cossinius, walking downstream.


    Guided by Ogmar<sup>[1]</sup>, Spartacus, who was approaching the Volturno River, spotted the Roman army several hundred meters away from the main road, on the south side of the riverbank, concealed by weeds and wheat fields. He saw the scattered and disorganized enemies beginning to gather, and he became anxious. He shouted, ¡°Brothers, charge with me! Don¡¯t give the enemy time to form their ranks!¡±


    With that, Spartacus jumped into the wheat field, and the soldiers of the First Cohort followed him closely. They ran through the field, disregarding the dense wheat leaves that cut their hands. Even if they trampled the heavy wheat ears into the ground, they couldn¡¯t care less at this moment.


    Spartacus passed through the wheat field, took a shortcut, and approached closer. He saw the Roman army lined up on the riverbank. Although they held up their rectangr shields, many of them had drooping chesttes and tilted helmets.


    The segmented structure of the Roman legion soldiers¡¯ armor was somewhatplicated. It required patience and time to put it on properly, so Roman soldiers usually marched wearing their armor, fearing encounters with enemies on the way. However, this time they had taken off their armor and bathed in the river. Under the pressure of the approaching enemy, it would be quite difficult to put their armor back on smoothly.


    Spartacus also noticed that enemy soldiers kept running from the downstream side of the riverbank, trying to merge into their formation.


    Spartacus immediately shouted, ¡°Bypass them and take out the scattered ones first!¡±


    The soldiers of the First Cohort, under his lead, turned a corner and charged towards the right side of the Roman army formation.


    Cossinius saw the situation and felt anxious, but he didn¡¯t dare to act recklessly. There were constantly enemy soldiers rushing towards them from the wheat field ahead. If he divided his forces to rescue them, not only would it be a futile effort, but the defensive formation they had painstakingly arranged would also be disrupted. In that case, no one would have a chance of survival.


    Looking at the fully armed and menacing enemy forces, Cossinius now understood that Furius had probably suffered a disastrous defeat: <em>D*mn the Senate! This wasn¡¯t a group of weak and ignorant ves; it¡¯s a fiercely motivated enemy army! D*mn Varinius! Ten years of yourfortable life made you rx your vignce. Your mistake of dividing the troops has led these young people into a deadly situation!</em>


    Cossinius cursed the Senate and Varinius internally but tried to inspire the soldiers loudly, saying, ¡°Soldiers, quickly put on your armor and prepare for defense! The enemy is numerous, and we are surrounded. We can only have a chance of survival if we fight bravely. Legatus Varinius is not far behind us; once he receives the news, he will definitely find a way to rescue us!¡±


    <b>Trantor''s Notes:</b><ol></ol><li> Omarkel ¡ª> Ogmar ??</li><!--


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 Chapter 59: Military Training

    Chapter 59: Military Training


    The soldiers were shocked by the approaching enemy tide and witnessed theirrades who failed to join the formation being easily killed by the enemy. Cossinius¡¯ words ignited their desire for survival.


    At this moment, arge number of enemies rushed to the front, and Cossinius immediately shouted, ¡°Javelins!¡±


    The Roman soldiers roared loudly and forcefully threw their heavy javelins.


    Charging towards them was the Second Cohort of the rebel army led by Crixus. Having suffered from a volley of javelins in the previous battle with ber, he had specifically trained his troops for such a scenario. So, when the Roman soldiers made a throwing motion, the rebel soldiers had already angled their shields upwards. Thousands of javelins rained down but caused few casualties. However, the sharp, lead tips of the javelins, upon piercing the shields, caused the entire shafts to hang down and drag on the ground. This not only increased the weight of the shields but also made movement difficult.


    Although Crixus was fierce, he was not without a brain. Standing at the forefront, he immediately waved his hand and shouted, ¡°Brothers, halt the advance! Retreat first! Pull out these javelins, then fight again!¡±


    More than half of the soldiers in Crixus¡¯ Second Cohort were Gallic diators and Gallic ves. Crixus had a high reputation in the team, so as soon as he shouted, those around him immediately responded, and others followed suit. Some soldiers who had not been attacked by javelins joined the charge with the Third Cohort.


    A rain of javelins pushed back arge group of rebels, and then anotherrge group rushed forward. Chaos ensued during the transition between attack and retreat.


    <em>Should we change from defense to offense now and let the soldiers charge?</em> An idea subconsciously arose in Cossinius¡¯ mind, but he immediately suppressed it. If he were fighting alongside his formerrades, he would do so without hesitation. But now he wasmanding a group of recruits. Once they lost the formation to rely on, their morale would quickly decline under enemy encirclement, bing as fragile as chicks¡­


    In this brief moment of Cossinius¡¯ inattention, the enemy had already reached the frontlines, and the soldiers had no javelins left. He shouted loudly, ¡°Prepare for battle!¡±The soldiers nted the lower end of their shields in the muddy ground in front of their feet, crouching down to hide the majority of their bodies behind the shields. They tightly gripped their short swords, nervously staring at the approaching enemy, while theirrades behind them pressed tightly against their backs, standing upright with shields raised in front of their chests, ready to help fend off attacks from above¡­


    Although the Third Cohort had only a small number of Germanic diators, under Oenomaus¡¯ leadership, the soldiers in this team showed great bravery. They roared and pounced on the Roman formation.


    Shields shed, short swords thrust, and both sides engaged inbat. The more than 2,000 soldiers of the Third Cohort quickly covered the Roman formation from the front.


    With great effort, Crixus pulled out the javelin from his shield and prepared to lead his troops in another charge. However, he realized that the Third Cohort hadpletely blocked their path to the enemy¡¯s formation.


    As the sound of battle raged ahead, the soldiers of the Second Cohort could only wait anxiously. Crixus, on the other hand, calmed down and carefully inspected the surrounding terrain. He discovered something suspicious about the enemy¡¯s formation. The Roman army was positioned in a U-shaped bend of a river, with higher banks. The Romans formed their lines at the opening, while the other three sides were adjacent to the water. This arrangement not only conserved their own forces but also prevented the rebels from outnking them and deploying their superior numbers.


    Standing on the riverbank not far away, Crixus looked down at the deep water and couldn¡¯t help but curse, ¡°Cunning Romans!¡±


    Unwilling to give up, he turned around and ordered, ¡°Someone go down and check the depth of the water.¡±


    A soldier who was skilled in swimming quickly took off his armor and dived in, using his feet to feel the riverbed. He circled the riverbank where the Roman army was stationed and came back ashore, reporting, ¡°Commander Crixus, the water here is deep, filled with mud, making it difficult to stand. Moreover, the embankment is high and steep, making it challenging to climb up.¡±


    Hearing this, Crixus extinguished the idea of having troops cross the river from behind the enemy formation. While contemting, he returned to the rear of the Third Cohort, coincidentally meeting the arrival of the Fourth Cohort¡¯s Commander, Artorix. Seeing Crixus, he asked with concern, ¡°How is the battle going now?¡±


    Crixus briefly described the situation, and Artorix frowned and pondered for a moment. He suggested, ¡°Should we gather our diator brothers as before and charge at the forefront? As long as we break through the enemy¡¯s tortoise formation, the rest will be easier to deal with.¡±


    Crixus nced at the soldiers following him and shook his head, saying, ¡°I observed the Roman formation earlier. Due to the terrain, their front line is shorter,pact, and densely packed. The soldiers have good morale. We have marched here all the way, and in the middle, we even experienced a battle. The ordinary soldiers are already exhausted. You should know that the diators are bigger and consume more energy, so they are even more tired. They won¡¯t have the strength to charge into the enemy¡¯s formation. Forcing them to do so might increase casualties.¡±


    Crixus paused for a moment and continued, ¡°But I have an idea. The Romans are close to the riverbank, and their numbers are far fewer than ours. Why don¡¯t we all push forward, give it our all, and forcefully push them into the river?¡±


    Artorix¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°That¡¯s a good idea!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s indeed a good n!¡± Spartacus¡¯ voice came from behind. Artorix turned his head and saw Spartacus standing behind him, dripping with sweat, with Hamilcar and Artemus beside him.


    ¡°Spartacus,¡± Crixus asked in surprise, ¡°Did you already take care of the other enemies so quickly?¡±


    Spartacus wiped off his sweat and said, ¡°Those Roman soldiersck fighting spirit and don¡¯t dare to engage us in battle. Most of them are not wearing armor and are just running along the riverbank. It was not easy for my troops in First Cohort to catch up with them. Fortunately, the Fifth Cohort led by Artemus arrived to assist. We managed to surround and capture arge portion of them. The few remaining Roman soldiers who escaped are not worth pursuing, so Artemus and I hurried over, intending to join you in besieging the main force of the Romans. We happened to overhear your discussion.¡±


    Spartacus emphasized, ¡°Crixus has proposed a good n, but I don¡¯t think we need to rush to eliminate this Roman army.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Crixus asked, a bit puzzled.


    Spartacus pointed ahead with excitement and said, ¡°Look, the Roman army is positioned with their backs against the riverbank, surrounded by us. They dare not attack and cannot escape. This is a great opportunity for training our troops! Let each cohort take turns engaging inbat. It will not only improve the soldiers¡¯ ability to fight in formation but also allow them to take turns resting and regaining their strength.¡±


    After contemting for a moment, Crixus reminded, ¡°¡­If we follow your approach, we will be engaged in battle for a long time. If the Roman reinforcements arrive, we will be in trouble!¡±


    Hamilcar exined, ¡°Didn¡¯t we interrogate the prisoners before? The Romans have sent a legion this time. We have already eliminated part of it, and the rest is surrounded here. It¡¯s highly unlikely that there will be Roman reinforcements anytime soon. And if the nearby Campanian towns dare to send troops to rescue them, should we be afraid?¡±


    Artorix and Crixus showed contemptuous smiles.


    ¡°It¡¯s almost dusk now, and we can¡¯t possibly make it back to our camp today. Besides, we already nned to camp outside. If we light campfires here and continue fighting the Roman army until nightfall, what is there to worry about? On the contrary, the Romans have no reinforcements, no food, and they have to keep fighting us. We won¡¯t need to suffer heavy casualties to ultimately defeat them.¡±


    ¡°Hamilcar¡¯s words moved the leaders present, and Spartacus¡¯ suggestion was approved.¡±


    They gathered their respective soldiers and formed their formations in the distance behind the Third Cohort. They retrieved food from the apanying baggage train, allowing the soldiers to eat their fill and drink water. After a short rest, they sounded the retreat signal.


    Spartacus and his group originally thought that the soldiers of the Third Cohort, who were in the heat of battle, would probably be unwilling to retreat in the face of the enemy. Unexpectedly, when the signal sounded, these soldiers of Third Cohort, who were increasingly fatigued due to their long fight without sess, immediately began to withdraw one after another. However, having only trained for two months, they caused considerable chaos in their haste.

 Chapter 60: Recruitment of New Soldiers in the Logistics Camp

    Chapter 60: Recruitment of New Soldiers in the Logistics Camp


    The Roman army did not take advantage the situation to counterattack because Cossinius, standing on arge rock, clearly saw the enemy¡¯s other forces forming up behind them. Therefore, he cautiously maintained a defensive formation.


    The soldiers of the Third Cohort passed through the intentional gaps left by the other cohorts and retreated to the rear, followed closely by the First Cohort¡­


    The rebel army engaged in a war of attrition and battled the Roman army until dusk. The Roman soldiers, hungry, tired, thirsty, and on the brink of despair, were finally defeated.


    In fact, when Cossinius saw nearly 10,000 rebel soldiers, half of them fully armed and able to follow orders from the bugle, he knew that his decision to fight with his back against the river was a fatal mistake. However, as the camp prefect, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to lead the troops in a desperate escape. Fighting to the death was also a form of honor.


    Watching the enemy break through the formation and mercilessly ughter the panicked fleeing soldiers, Cossinius sighed deeply, ¡°Foolish Senate, you¡¯re in big trouble now!¡±


    He drew his short sword and dragged it hard across his neck, blood spraying out¡­


    Under Spartacus¡¯ leadership, the rebel army embarked on a long-distance charge, fighting two battles in a day. Due to their superior numbers, they defeated a Roman legion of 6,000 soldiers who were divided. Most of the soldiers were either killed or captured, with only a few managing to escape. The rebels themselves suffered casualties of only around 2,000, achieving a glorious victory.


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±¡°Tiribazus.¡±


    ¡°How old are you?¡±


    ¡°Probably around 26 or 27.¡±


    ¡°Probably?¡±


    ¡°I am an orphan, never met my parents, and I don¡¯t know when I was born.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see¡­ Among the people who joined us this time, do you have any rtives or family members?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Where are you from? How did you be a ve?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m from Pontus, without a fixed residence. I traveled around as a street performer to make a living. When Pontus went to war with Rome, I was forcibly conscripted. The army was defeated, and I was captured and sold here¡­¡±


    ¡°Can you read?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Can you do arithmetic?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°What can you do?¡±


    ¡°I can do acrobatics, can do seven or eight consecutive somersaults, and I can walk on a tightrope¡­ Oh, and aftering to Rome, I learned farming.¡±


    ¡­


    Vorenus, sitting at the wooden table, finally stopped writing and looked up at Tiribazus, showing a kind smile. ¡°Ah, Tiribazus, wee to our logistics camp!¡±


    ¡°Logistics camp?¡± Tiribazus asked with some confusion. ¡°What does it do in your army?¡±


    ¡°You will knowter.¡± Vorenus didn¡¯t provide a detailed answer, instead, he said somewhat mysteriously, ¡°I¡¯ll just tell you that this time you got lucky. It¡¯s not easy toe here otherwise. You can go out from this side, next!¡±


    Tiribazus, still a bit confused, followed the direction pointed by Vorenus and exited the tent. He then saw another tent not far ahead, and the ve in front of him was being forcefully pulled away from the line by a fully armed soldier. The ve struggled and shouted, ¡°I¡¯m fine! Really, I¡¯m fine!¡±


    ¡°The whip wounds on your back have already festered. If you dy any longer, you¡¯ll start experiencing headaches and fever. Stop making a fuss ande with me for treatment!¡± The soldier¡¯s persuasion made the ve stop struggling.


    Tiribazus stared nkly as the two walked away towards the other side. The soldier standing in front of the tent couldn¡¯t help but shout, ¡°Hey, why are you standing there foolishly? Come over here!¡±


    Tiribazus immediately ran to the front of the tent and couldn¡¯t help but ask again, ¡°Where are they going?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re going to the medical team,¡± the soldier nced at him, ¡°If you have any injuries on your body, you¡¯ll have to go thereter.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have any,¡± Tiribazus quickly shook his head.


    ¡°Whether you have any or not is not for you to decide,¡± the soldier urged, ¡°Hurry up and go in, don¡¯t keep them waiting!¡±


    Tiribazus entered the tent.


    This time, there were three people inside. One of them was wearing a linen robe, with a kind face, while the other was wearing armor, with a rugged appearance. There was also a young boy.


    As soon as the man in armor saw him, he said discontentedly, ¡°Why did you take so long? Hurry up and take off your lousy clothes!¡±


    ¡°Huh? Take off my clothes?!¡± Tiribazus was stunned.


    The man in armor red, ¡°Hurry up!¡±


    Scared, Tiribazus quickly took off the ragged linen outer garment.


    The man in the robe immediately approached him, carefully examining him from head to toe, asionally using his hands to press on certain parts of his body, and asked, ¡°Does it hurt?¡±


    Tiribazus shook his head while instinctively using his hands to protect his body.


    ¡°All limbs intact, no visible injuries, many scars on the body, but no obvious hidden injuries¡­ Hmm, no major issues with the body,¡± the man in the robe frowned, ¡°It¡¯s just that your body is too dirty, you need a good bath.¡±


    The man in armor also scrutinized him, then suddenly asked, ¡°Those scars on your chest, are they from swords?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Have you been a soldier before?¡±


    ¡°I was forcefully conscripted in Pontus and served for half a year. We were defeated by the Romans, and I became a ve.¡±


    A smile appeared on the man in armor¡¯s face, ¡°Although you only served as a soldier for half a year, you have already surpassed most of the people in our team. What kind of soldier were you?¡±


    ¡°I was a phnx pikeman.¡±


    ¡°Never heard of it, but it must be good,¡± the man in armor¡¯s smile grew wider. He stood up, walked in front of Tiribazus, and reached out, squeezing his arms and thighs. He said with satisfaction, ¡°You don¡¯t look very strong, but your muscles are very solid. You will make a great heavy infantryman. Marcus, note this down¡ªassign him to the fifth toon, have him serve as decanus of the first squad.¡±


    ¡°Sir Tolerugo!¡± the young man named Marcus reminded loudly, ¡°Commander Maximus has already stated that the officers of these newly formed toons will all be soldiers from the original three toons!¡±


    ¡°But this guy served as a soldier for half a year and participated in real battles. He¡¯s much stronger than many of the soldiers from my original toon. He can easily handle being a decanus,¡± Tolerugo exined.


    ¡°But that¡¯s not allowed! The rules set by the leader cannot be vited!¡± Marcus adamantly refused.


    ¡°You stubborn little brat!¡± Tolerugo cursed angrily, ¡°You only know how to talk about Maximus¡¯ rules! Maximus¡¯ rules here! Maximus¡¯ rules there! Is Maximus your father? Why do you listen to him so blindly? Can¡¯t you be flexible and make some adjustments?!¡±


    Marcus stood his ground and said, ¡°The leader said that once the rules are set, everyone should abide by them. That¡¯s how the whole camp will be orderly. If everyone starts breaking the rules, then the rules themselves be meaningless!¡±


    ¡°Again¡­you!¡± Tolerugo became frustrated.


    ¡°Both of you, stop arguing,¡± the man in the robe intervened. He had encountered this situation before and knew how to defuse it, ¡°Sir Tolerugo, although this guy has military experience, he has just arrived in our camp and knows nothing about the situation here. If no one guides him, he might unintentionally vite the regtions of the logistics camp. How can he earn the trust of his subordinates in such a situation? I suggest letting him start as an ordinary soldier for now, until he bes fully familiar with this ce. Once you also recognize his capabilities, you can promote him. Wouldn¡¯t that be better?¡±


    Tolerugo pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, ¡°That makes sense. Let¡¯s do that. Kid, assign him to the first squad of the fifth toon.¡±


    Marcus did as he was told.


    Tolerugo then turned to the man in the robe and said, ¡°Horatius, with your abilities, it¡¯s a waste for you to stay in the medical team. Why don¡¯t youe to my side? You can choose between the second or fifth toon and be the centurion. How about that?¡±


    Horatius remained unmoved and smiled, ¡°I don¡¯t need to work so hard in the medical team. Plus, there are women to apany me, and I can also learn medical skills from Menenius. That¡¯s what I desire the most.¡±


    Tolerugo didn¡¯t insist after being rejected. He reached out and took a small wooden tag with Marcus¡¯ assigned number on it, then handed it to Tiribazus, saying, ¡°Take this thing and continue following the person in front of you. Go to the warehouse to collect your items, then they will lead you to the first squad of the fifth toon based on the symbols on this thing.¡±

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

    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¡ªtheir 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¡ª¡ª¡±


    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.¡±

 Chapter 62: Recruitment of New Soldiers in the Logistics Camp (III)

    Chapter 62: Recruitment of New Soldiers in the Logistics Camp (III)


    ¡°Oh, okay,¡± Tiribazus picked up the wooden shield and stick, then followed behind the girl.


    Nesuya led him into the inner courtyard, and Tiribazus couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Are all of you children also born as ves?¡±


    ¡°Not all of us. A fewpanions had fathers who were freeborn. Commander Maximus said that whether we are ves or freemen¡¯s children, we are all the children of poor families who have suffered hardships,¡± Nesuya answered earnestly.


    Tiribazus paused for a moment, then asked, ¡°Is our logistics camp short-handed? That¡¯s why children like you are helping with the work?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not because our logistics campcks manpower! Nesuya raised her voice proudly and said, ¡°This is Commander Maximus¡¯ training for us. He believes that we can do it well!¡±


    ¡°Training for you?¡± Tiribazus asked.


    ¡°Yes, Commander Maximus treats us children very well. He not only ensures we have enough food to eat and good clothes to wear, but he also teaches us reading and arithmetic. He even lets us help Grandpa Cornelius count the warehouse supplies and convey his orders to the guards¡­ We have been responsible for distributing supplies to new recruits during this time. Today, there are just a lot of neers, so we all came to help,¡± Nesuya said proudly.


    ¡°From what I can see, Commander Maximus is truly a good person!¡± Tiribazus felt a flicker of interest and asked intentionally, ¡°Does he only teach you children how to read and do arithmetic?¡±


    ¡°Of course not!¡± Nesuya quickly defended. ¡°When Commander Maximus first came to the logistics camp, he used to teach everyone reading and arithmetic every night. He also told us many interesting stories¡­ Now there are too many people, so he can¡¯t teach everyone and focuses on just us children. But Commander Maximus said once we learn well, we¡¯ll be in charge of properly teaching the rest of the logistics camp¡­¡±After Nesuya finished speaking, Tiribazus immediately felt a little disappointed and asked, ¡°So, does it mean that besides you, the leader no longer teaches others how to read and do arithmetic?¡±


    Though young, Nesuya could read between the lines. She quickly exined, ¡°The reason Commander Maximus stopped teaching everyone at night is indeed because there are too many people now. But also because many of them don¡¯t want to learn; they just want toze around¡­


    ¡°However, for those willing to learn, Commander Maximus absolutely won¡¯t give up on them. That¡¯s why he assigned Grandpa Vorenus and Uncle Capito to teach them reading and arithmetic every night. If you want to learn, you can apply to your squad officer, and they should arrange it for you.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see,¡± Tiribazus¡¯ eyes flickered for a moment, and then he asked, ¡°These Grandpa Vorenus and Uncle Capito you mentioned, are they also part of our logistics camp?¡±


    ¡°Of course, Grandpa Vorenus was appointed by Commander Maximus as the, um¡­scribe. Uncle Capito is the quartermaster for military supplies. Both of them can read, write, and do arithmetic. They know many things and are the most knowledgeable people in our logistics camp besides Commander Maximus himself.¡±


    As they chatted, they walked forward and passed through a small gate in the backyard, entering the campsite.


    Originally, the logistics camp was stationed inside the farm, but as the number of personnel increased, the farm could no longer amodate everyone. Additionally, several major units had established separate camps due to theirrge numbers. Except for the First Cohort and the logistics camp remaining in the main base, the rest of the major teams were stationed in locations about 500 to 1,000 meters away. The logistics camp took over the original campsite of the Second and Third Cohorts, adjacent to the farm¡¯s backyard and next to the medical team.


    Following the advice of the military advisory group led by Frontinus, Maximus led the logistics camp to rebuild the new campsite following the style of a Roman legion camp.


    So when Tiribazus entered the campsite, the first thing he saw was a two-meter-high earth wall and a moat beneath it. There were drawbridges and a camp gate, as well as unfinished watchtowers next to the gate. Beyond the camp gate was a straight, t road wide enough for five people to walk side by side, with many well-constructed tents arranged in orderly rows on either side. About 30 steps away, a path separated the tents and connected to the main road¡­ Though there were many tents, there was not a single person. Moving further, there were no more tents, but a number of people gathered in open spaces formed by the intersection of the small path and the main road. Wooden signs were erected at the edges of these open spaces¡­


    ¡°I heard Commander Maximus say that this campsite was built ording to the size of a Roman legion camp, but the logistics camp didn¡¯t have as many soldiers before, so the camp is mostly empty¡­¡± Nesuya exined.


    A Roman legion usually has around 6,000 soldiers¡­ As a former Pontic soldier, Tiribazus had some understanding of the Roman military. He looked ahead, where there were stillrge empty spaces, and couldn¡¯t help but mutter to himself: <em>This camp is quite well constructed, but it doesn¡¯t seem like the logistics team has that many people.</em>


    ¡°The Fifth Century is here!¡± Nesuya, who had been silently reading the wooden signs along the way, stopped and turned towards an open space with several people.


    ¡°Uncle Tirkus, this is Tiribazus, the soldier assigned to your squad,¡± Nesuya said, then turned to Tiribazus and introduced, ¡°This is Uncle Tirkus, the captain of the First Squad of the Fifth Century.¡±


    Tiribazus immediately nodded in greeting to the sturdy and in-looking man.


    Tirkus smiled at him and kindly said to Nesuya, ¡°Thank you for your hard work, little Nesuya!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s no trouble, it¡¯s my job. Uncle Tirkus, I still need to hurry for the next one, so I¡¯ll be going.¡± Nesuya handed the bag to Tiribazus and turned to leave.


    ¡°Thank you!¡± Tiribazus eximed loudly, expressing his gratitude.


    Nesuya waved in response.


    ¡°When this little girl first arrived, she would hide from people and was very timid. Now look how lively she¡¯s be, all thanks to Commander Maximus!¡± Tirkus said admiringly, watching Nesuya¡¯s bouncing figure depart.


    ¡°Was she really that timid before?¡± Tiribazus curiously asked.


    Tirkus gave him a serious look. ¡°You¡¯re thest one our squad was missing. Quickly set down your belongings and join the formation.¡±


    Seeing the other bags already on the ground, Tiribazus said, ¡°What if they get mixed up if I just leave it there? What if someone takes it?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Tirkus said dismissively. ¡°Just leave the wooden tag you were issued on top of your bag, and no one will take it by mistake, let alone steal it¡ªunless they want to face punishment.¡±


    Tiribazus had no choice but to set down his bag and join the group, where he saw a familiar face giving him a dopey smile.


    <em>So Oxhead is in my squad too¡­</em> Tiribazus was about to say something when Tirkus¡¯ loud voice cut him off. ¡°Our whole squad is here. Everyone take your swords and shields and follow me!¡±


    <em>What swords and shields is he talking about?</em> Tiribazus nced down at the wooden board and stick in his hands, silently mocking them in his mind.


    Led by Tirkus, they marched along the main road of the camp, and after a while, they reached another dirt road of the same width intersecting the previous one. At the crossroads, there stood a tent alone.


    ¡°That¡¯s the tent of our logistics camp leader, Commander Maximus!¡± Tirkus spoke with respect in his tone.


    Tiribazus nced at it¡ªit didn¡¯t seem much different from other tents, and was quiet, as if no one was inside.


    Tirkus led everyone to turn onto another road in the camp and continued forward. Eventually, they reached an open space in front of the camp, where several wooden stakes about one person tall stood. Some soldiers were already gathered in groups, receiving instructions from their respective squad leaders.


    ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± Tirkus halted his steps and signaled the nine men following him to sit in a circle. He walked to the center and smiled, saying, ¡°From today onwards, you are soldiers of the Fifth Century¡¯s First Squad of the Logistics Camp¡¯s Guard Team. ording to our tradition, every new brother must first share their past experiences. Let me demonstrate.¡±

 Chapter 63: Recruitment of New Soldiers in the Logistics Camp (IV)

    Chapter 63: Recruitment of New Soldiers in the LogisticsCamp (IV)


    My name is Tirkus. I was originally a mountain dweller from Iberia. I once lived a free and easy life, but then some Romans incited rebellion in Iberia, leading to war. The war dragged on, and Roman officials began imposing higher taxes on various tribes in the mountains. If we didn¡¯t pay, we would be seen as aplices to the rebels. Since the taxes were too high, our tribe wouldn¡¯t survive if we all paid, so our chieftain always tried to find ways to dy. But one day, Roman troops suddenly attacked our vige, killing most of our people. I was captured and sold into very on one of the farms here, forced to toil in the fields every day¡­¡±


    Tirkus spoke with a heavy tone, recounting his past experiences. At the same time, he lifted his tunic, revealing a crisscrossing pattern of scars on his chest and back. ¡°At first, I was filled with resentment and thought about escaping every day. But this is Roman territory¡ªwhere could I possibly escape to? Every time I was caught, I would receive a severe beating and be denied food¡­ To avoid theshings and hunger, I eventually submitted, ving away like cattle under the crack of the whip. At first, it felt like torture, butter, I became numb. I felt like I was living as if I were already dead. I thought maybe one day, I would just copse in the fields and be thrown into the thicket like trash by those guards¡­¡±


    Everyone listened silently, empathizing with Tirkus¡¯ experience. Some even had tears welling up in their eyes.


    ¡°And then,¡± Tirkus¡¯ voice suddenly rose, ¡°the army led by Commander Spartacus arrived in Vesuvius. The farm where I was located was the first one they captured. When I gained my freedom, I decided to join their ranks and be one of them. After joining, I realized that my decision was absolutely correct! In this rebel army, everyone had suffered hardship as impoverished people or ves. With no oppression between us¡ªwe were as close as brothers¡­


    ¡°When the Roman legion attacked us for the first time, I was with Commander Spartacus and his army. It was our first battle against the Romans, and none of us had any experience. As a result, we suffered a defeat¡­ Butter, Commander Spartacus listened to the advice of Commander Maximus. During the night, he led us to climb down from a cliff over 100 meters high andunched a surprise attack on the Roman camp. The Romans suffered a devastating defeat! I was injured in that battle, but thanks to the meticulous care of the medical team of the logistics camp, my wounds healed. So, I decided to stay in the logistics camp¡­¡±


    As Tirkus spoke, his face was filled with gratitude, but also a hint of indiscernible shyness. He coughed a few times and continued, ¡°Last night, Centurion Tolerugo told us that the headquarters has assigned over 400 ves to the logistics camp. Commander Maximus is nning to form several more centuries, but he needs to select some people from the existing units to be officers. I thought it¡¯s a good opportunity, so I volunteered and became the decanus of this squad. Alright, that¡¯s the end of my story. Who wants to go next?¡±


    ¡°Me! Me!¡± Tiribazus shouted first.


    Led by Tiribazus, the other new recruits of the squad took turns sharing their experiences.e Although they came from different backgrounds and some struggled with speaking Latin fluently, like Samoras, no one in the group mocked them. Instead, everyone empathized with each speaker had endured. After everyone had finished sharing their experiences, they felt a sense of closeness among themselves.


    Then, Tirkus spoke again in a solemn tone, ¡°Commander Maximus once said that the reason why we became ves and suffered so much is ultimately because of the Romans¡¯ greed and expansionism. Although we have obtained our freedom, it is only temporary. As long as the Romans are not defeated, we could easily be ves again and fall into darkness. If we want to ovee the mighty Romans and live in freedom forever, there are at least three things we should strive for¡­¡±Tirkus paused intentionally, observing the attentive faces of the new recruits. He continued, repeating what Commander Maximus had emphasized to the guards many times: ¡°First, we must be as close as brothers, united as one. Only by doing so will we be able to achieve twice the result with half the effort, and only then will we be able to unleash a powerful force in battle! Can you do it?!¡±


    The new recruits exchanged nces and almost unanimously replied, ¡°Yes!¡±


    ¡°Good!¡± Tirkus continued, ¡°Second, we must abide by thews of the logistics camp. Commander Maximus said thatws are meant to regte the behavior of every individual in the camp, creating order and preventing chaos that could lead to the disintegration of our forces. Can you do it?!¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± the new recruits responded in unison again.


    ¡°Oh, ¡®yes¡¯ what? You don¡¯t even know what thews are, and you¡¯re blindly responding!¡± Tirkus chided with augh, but then turned serious, saying, ¡°Listen carefully, everyone! The first rule of the logistics camp¡¯sws is to obey orders from superiors. Commander Maximus is in charge of the entire logistics camp, and we must carry out his orders and follow hismands. Do you understand?!¡±


    ¡°Understood!!!¡±


    ¡°And the second rule¡­¡± Tirkus proceeded to list out each of the logistics campws one by one. To help the recruits memorize, he gave examples of vitions and punishments, making them all tense up.


    ¡°Do you all have thesews memorized?¡±


    ¡°N-No¡­ we don¡¯t!¡± the new recruits replied in unison.


    ¡°Of course you can¡¯t memorize them all in one go. It¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll go over them again tonight, then test you one by one tomorrow. Anyone who hasn¡¯t memorized them will be punished.¡±


    Upon hearing these words, the new recruits tensed up again.


    Tirkus noticed their reaction but didn¡¯t say more. He looked around at the other squads and then spoke loudly, ¡°I mentioned two points earlier, but this third one is equally important. The Roman army is extremely powerful, if we want to confront and defeat them, we must undergo military training. Only when each one of us bes a skilled soldier through rigorous training will the entire army be strong. Do you all agree?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    ¡°Very well, it seems everyone is very enthusiastic. I won¡¯t dy any further. Let¡¯s begin the training now,¡± Tirkus said decisively.


    <em>This soon?!</em> Only Tiribazus was surprised, as the other recruits excitedly followed Tirkus to the wooden stakes.


    ¡°First, we¡¯ll start with wooden stake training!¡± Tirkus eximed.


    ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ ? ? ? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥


    Maximus looked out at the training ground, where the number of soldiers was greater than ever before. Under the guidance of their squad leaders, they were engrossed in intense training, their shouts ringing out and creating a lively atmosphere.


    Next to him, the leader of the military advisory group, Frontinus, reported, ¡°Out of the 456 ves assigned to us this time, after screening, we have selected 365 soldiers. Now our guard force has reached a total of 687 soldiers, so we have added four new centuries.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Maximus replied, ¡°Just as we anticipated.¡±


    ¡°Yes, thanks to the preparations we madest night, we were able to integrate them into our force so quickly and start training immediately,¡± Frontinus said.


    ¡°It¡¯s also thanks to the military training and daily instruction we¡¯ve been conducting for over two months that we were able to select so many promising soldiers from the existing squads to serve as squad leaders. I hope they seize this opportunity and receive better training so that they can be promoted to centurions, prefects, or even legionmanders in the future,¡± Maximus said, looking at the bustling training ground with great spirit.


    Although the members of the military advisory group had been in the logistics camp for over two months and were familiar with each other, there were still a few who regarded Maximus¡¯ vision as mere wishful thinking. Someone asked, ¡°I wonder if the army that left camp today has already encountered the Roman army? And how is the battle going?¡±

 Chapter 64: Vorenus Proposal

    Chapter 64: Vorenus Proposal


    Maximus understood the implication behind the words. Although his memory of Spartacus¡¯ rebellion was clear only regarding the Vesuvius raid and the final battle, hecked detailed knowledge of the entire campaign. However, he knew one thing: from the Vesuvius raid to approaching the Alps, Spartacus¡¯ rebel army had virtually remained undefeated. Now, with his assistance as a reincarnated individual, it was unlikely that the rebel army would suffer defeats. Thus, he confidently stated, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, if ever Spartacus and his men encounter the Roman army, they will definitely win!¡±


    After speaking, Maximus scanned the members of the military advisory group and noticed some were quite unconvinced.


    ¡°Ahem¡­¡± Frontinus interjected timely, ¡°Among the over 300 ves who joined today, 67 were former phnx pikemen in the Pontic army, each with at least three months of military experience.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Maximus felt a surge of joy, dispelling his earlier displeasure. Excitedly, he said, ¡°This is good news. Our logistics camp often suffers from personnel distribution issues, but this time we finally got lucky. However, with so many veterans in the newly formed centuries, it might be difficult for the new officers to manage them.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a test for them as well,¡± Frontinus replied.


    ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Maximusughed heartily and turned to the scribe on the other side, ¡°Vorenus, what about the remaining 91 ves? Any good news?¡±


    Scribe Vorenus stepped forward, looking at the roster in his hand, and said, ¡°Among the 91 ves, there are 37 women, 8 children, 25 elderly or disabled men, 10 injured men, and three injured women who were sent to the medical team for treatment. Additionally, there are three carpenters, one stonemason, one bricyer, two potters, and two young ves who can read and do arithmetic. I have separated them ording to our usual practice.¡±


    ¡°Oh, quite a few talents indeed,¡± Maximus¡¯s smile grew wider, yet he was still not satisfied. He asked, ¡°How many of the women can weave or do straw crafts?¡±


    ¡°ording to their own introductions, there are about 20 people,¡± Vorenus said, flipping through the roster. ¡°But we¡¯ll have to wait until Shemeret (the head of the weaving team)pletes the assessment before I can give you a detailed report.¡±Maximus nodded and asked, ¡°Why are there so many children this time?¡±


    ¡°Mostly because there are five married couples among the ves.¡±


    ¡°Oh, then make sure their amodations are properly arranged. And the two potters¡­ can they make st furnaces?¡±


    ¡°st furnaces?¡­¡± Vorenus looked puzzled. He was knowledgeable in agriculture but not well-versed in industrial crafts.


    ¡°Forget it, I¡¯ll ask themter,¡± Maximus waved his hand. ¡°Assign those carpenters, stonemasons, bricyers, and potters to the construction team. The two literate ves will work under you. Start arranging the education for those eight children immediately.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir,¡± Vorenus responded respectfully. He was now fully devoted to Maximus.


    The young leader had appointed him as scribe, putting him in charge of all literate and numerate individuals in the logistics camp. Vorenus managed personnel statistics, material consumption, and all significant and minor affairs of the camp. Everything had to be reported to him before he ryed it to Maximus, who then made decisions that Vorenus would see executed. This role, simr to his previous position as a steward under his former master, involved even greater power and required higher capabilities. It felt like a resurgence in his career, making him highly motivated each day.


    ¡°With so many new members today, do we have enough supplies?¡± Maximus asked again.


    ¡°Every new ve will receive a set of pots, outer garments, straw sandals, linen sheets, and bags, but ten new recruitsck wooden shields and swords,¡± Vorenus answered.


    Maximus instinctively nced at Capito.


    Capito immediatelyined, ¡°It¡¯s not our fault. My men and I cut trees andboriously make these items every day. But with so many new recruits, all our hard-earned wooden shields and swords are gone. Our weapon warehouse is still understaffed!¡±


    <em>The armory is so empty now that rats could run around in it.</em> While Maximus thought this, he chose not to voice it, because he understood Capito¡ªalthough he was a retired veteran soldier, his personality was more like that of a schr, somewhat proud and with quite a bit of self-respect. So, he responded in gentle tone, ¡°You¡¯re right. It was my oversight. Vorenus, assign two of the remaining 25 ves to the armory.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir,¡± Vorenus stepped forward again and whispered: ¡°We¡¯re running low on pots and linen. If more people join in theing days, the logistics camp won¡¯t be able to supply these items anymore! Sir, about my previous suggestion¡ª¡ª¡±


    Though Vorenus didn¡¯t finish, Maximus knew what he meant.


    The rebellion had only been underway for less than half a year, and the rebel army had no production capabilities. All their supplies were seized or plundered. In the fertilends of southern Campania, there were many farms but few craft workshops like pottery or weaving workshops. These might be found in towns, but the rebel armycked the strength for sieges. Thus, with the rapid expansion of the army, consumables like pots and linen from the farms couldn¡¯t be sufficiently replenished, leading to a shortage.


    Vorenus had previously identified this issue and proposed his own solution: the logistics camp¡¯s warehouses storedrge quantities of wine and olive oil, highly sought-after goods throughout Italy. The rebel soldiers rarely used these supplies (only consuming some wine during celebrations and adding a bit of olive oil to soups to increase their fat intake). Instead of letting these goods upy valuable storage space, it would be better to sell them to Italian merchants in exchange for urgently needed supplies. In other words, Vorenus suggested trading with Italian merchants.


    It was a military tradition in Mediterranean countries for armies to engage in trade while on a campaign, and Rome was no exception. However, when Maximus presented this idea at the military council meeting, it was ultimately rejected. The reason was simple: the other rebel leaders worried that allowing merchants into the camp to trade could lead to them taking the opportunity to spy on military intelligence or secretly sabotage operations, which would cause trouble for the rebel army¡¯s uing battles. After all, the rebel army was still very weak and surrounded by enemies on all sides, so they had to be extremely cautious and careful.


    Maximus chose not to mention to Vorenus that his proposal had been rejected at the military council meeting. Smiling, he said, ¡°Once Spartacus and his men return, I¡¯ll bring this up with them. Don¡¯t worry, since the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, I believe they will eventually agree to it.¡±


    ¡°If it gets approved, we won¡¯t have to worry about running out of supplies anymore. We might even secure additional weapons and tents for the soldiers!¡± Vorenus whispered excitedly. As someone akin to the logistics camp¡¯s steward, he naturally wanted his camp well-stocked with food and materials.


    ¡°What proposal?¡± Capito, with sharp ears, immediately asked.


    Maximus didn¡¯t want to spread the idea before it was settled. As he pondered how to deflect the question, he saw Hagueux riding towards them. He quickly called out, ¡°Hagueux, do we have any enemy activity?¡±


    ¡°Sir, no enemy troops were found around the camp, but we¡¯ve spotted a few scouts from Naples.¡±


    ¡°It seems the Neapolitans have learned about our main force¡¯s departure and are trying to gauge the camp¡¯s defenses. Given their timid nature, they won¡¯t likely send troops unless they hear of our defeat,¡± Frontinus said softly.


    Maximus felt moreposed this time while defending the camp, unlike the tension he felt two days ago when he camped at the farm away from the main force. Perhaps it was because he had gained experience, or perhaps because the strength at his disposal had increased. He appeared quite calm. After some thought, he said, ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s not have our three centuries sit idle. Have them conduct armed marching drills circling the camp, and make a bit of a spectacle out of it.¡±

 Chapter 65: Camp Anecdotes

    Chapter 65: Camp Anecdotes


    As the sun set, its golden rays bathed the now-quiet training grounds, and the evening breeze rustled the green trees, bringing a refreshing coolness.


    Most of the new recruits, having trained for most of the day,y sprawled on the grass, savoring the rare tranquility.


    Tiribazus felt every muscle in his body ache. He had thought that, having served in the military, he would easily handle military training again. But once training began, he realized it was apletely different experience.


    In the Pontic army, Tiribazus had been a phnx pikeman. Phnx training emphasized formation, so his initial training involved long hours of standing in formation and holding a spear. Onlyter did they practice moving as a unit while holding their spears. They didn¡¯t even need to practice thrusting, as the spear wall formed by the phnx was the most effective barrier against enemy attacks. As long as they maintained formation and could hold their spears for extended periods, they were considered qualified phnx pikemen.


    However, the military training here was different. The rebel army modeled their system entirely on the Roman military, training soldiers as Roman legionnaires. While formations were still important, they weren¡¯t as strict. Given the need for close-quartersbat, the training emphasized individualbat skills. On the first day, Tiribazus and the others mainly practiced striking wooden stakes and shield bashing, with asional formation and shield-holding drills (which actually helped the soldiers recover their strength).


    Striking wooden stakes seemed simple enough¡ªjust hitting them with a wooden stick. But under the supervision of Tirkus, the recruits had to hit the stakes hard enough to make loud noises, requiring them to use all their strength. The wooden stakes were sturdy, and the harder they hit, the stronger the recoil, making their hands tingle and arms ache. Initially, after only a few strikes, their palms could barely grip the sticks, necessitating a rest before continuing.


    If striking stakes only resulted in sore hands and backs, shield bashing caused full-body pain. It required tensing all muscles and nting their feet firmly to withstand the opponent¡¯s forceful impact or using all their might to knock the opponent down.


    As a former soldier, Tiribazus understood without Tirkus exining that soldiers who hadn¡¯t undergone such training would lose their swords in a sh, drop their shields upon impact, and soon lose their lives in battle. Understanding didn¡¯t make it any less excruciating. Lying on the ground, Tiribazus didn¡¯t want to move.


    ¡°Stop lying around, get up! I¡¯m taking you somewhere,¡± came Tirkus¡¯s voice.Tiribazus didn¡¯t want to respond, but couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Where?¡±


    ¡°Just wait and see,¡± Tirkus urged with feigned mystery. ¡°We need to hurry, so the other squads don¡¯t beat us to it!¡±


    The new recruits struggled to their feet and indeed saw other squads gathering and heading towards the north side of the training ground.


    After walking for a while, they reached a small river. Seeing the soldiers from other squads jumping into the river, Tiribazus and hisrades, sweaty and ufortable, grew excited.


    ¡°Hold on!¡± Tirkus shouted. ¡°Before you jump in to bathe, remember two things! First, don¡¯t drink the river water, or you¡¯ll get sick. Second, scrub your bodies clean and wash your hair. You are soldiers now, not ves, so you need to look like soldiers. Understood?!¡±


    ¡°Understood!!¡±


    The new recruits leaped into the river. The cool water washed away the heat and soreness, leaving their bodies feeling wonderfully refreshed. One couldn¡¯t help but shout, ¡°This feels sofor¡ªmmph!¡±


    A ssh of water hit his face, courtesy of Tirkus, who was thest to jump in and was ying a prank.


    Soon, under Tirkus¡¯ yful antics, the recruits forgot the distinction between superiors and subordinates, and started joking and sshing around.


    After getting out of the river, Tirkus said seriously, ¡°Your old clothes are torn, filthy, and smelly. Don¡¯t put them back on. Leave them here. When we get back, put on the tunics you¡¯ve been issued. Only then will you look like soldiers of the First Squad of the Fifth Century.¡±


    The new recruits had no objections and didn¡¯t mind walking back to the camp naked, as they often did when working in the fields.


    Following Tirkus back to the camp and donning their tunics, the recruits rested on the grass in their squad¡¯s designated area.


    ¡°Normally, we would be setting up our tents now, like those ten-man tents you saw when you first arrived,¡± Tirkus sighed. ¡°But unfortunately, there are too many people in our ranks now. The leather tents have all been distributed, and even the linen tents that the logistics camp has sewn are gone. So, we¡¯ll have to rough it for a few days and sleep under the open sky. The weather is still warm, so it might even be morefortable, right?¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, Tiribazus chimed in, ¡°Captain, sleeping outside is no problem. Which one of us ves hasn¡¯t slept this way? But the problem now is that we¡¯re hungry. When do we get to eat?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Captain, my stomach¡¯s growling, and I have no energy,¡± added Samoras weakly.


    ¡°By now, the kitchen should have sent food into the camp, but we have to wait for the squads ahead of us to get theirs first. We¡¯ll just sit here and wait; it should be soon,¡± Tirkus reassured them.


    ¡°Will there still be food left for us if we let the other squads go first?¡± Samoras asked worriedly, his usually slow mind bing sharp at the mention of food.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we might be short on other things here, but we definitely won¡¯t be short on food. Besides, the kitchen belongs to our logistics camp, and it¡¯s so close by. How could we possibly let you go hungry?¡± Tirkus reassured him. He saw that all the new recruits, following Samoras¡¯ example, were lying on the ground clutching their stomachs. Laughing, he chided, ¡°You guys! You all had a bowl of broth and a piece of bread for lunch, so how can you be so hungry already?!¡±


    Tiribazus remained silent. Indeed, he hadn¡¯t expected the logistics camp to provide food at noon. In the Pontic army, he had always had only two meals a day. In this respect, an army formed of ves seemed to be doing better than a regr army of a kingdom!


    ¡°It¡¯s because we ate at noon that we feel hungrier now,¡± Samoras grumbled.


    Suddenly, someone shouted, ¡°The food delivery is here!¡±


    The new recruits, who had been groaning in hunger, immediately scrambled to their feet and looked west. The camp gate opened, and a wagon rolled in, followed by another. The wagons then stopped in the area assigned to the First Century. The soldiers from the First Century emerged from their tents and quickly formed a line to receive their dinner in an orderly manner.


    ¡°See that? When it¡¯s our turn, we need to line up like those veterans. If you don¡¯t follow the rules and try to rush or grab food, you¡¯ll be breaking thew. Not only won¡¯t you get to eat, but you¡¯ll also be punished. So don¡¯t do anything stupid!¡± While Tirkus was warning everyone, his gaze was constantly fixed on Samoras¡ªhe was a bit uneasy about this seemingly foolish guy.


    Samoras was so scared that he quickly shook his head, indicating he understood.


    ¡°But since we¡¯re the first squad, we¡¯ll be at the front of the line when it¡¯s our turn to get dinner,¡± Tirkus added, offering some reassurance.


    Thanks to the officers¡¯ constant reminders, even the newly formed Fourth and Fifth Centuries lined up obediently to receive their food.


    ¡°Aunt Agnes, what brings you here in person today?!¡± Tirkus eximed, surprised to see the logistics camp¡¯s head cook, Agnes, standing by the wagon.


    ¡°We¡¯ve taken in so many new brothers today that we had to prepare twice as much food as usual. We¡¯re short-staffed, so I had to pitch in. Plus, I wanted to see how lively our camp is bing!¡± Agnes smiled as she spoke, but in reality, she was worried about maintaining order among the new recruits and hade personally to keep things under control.

 Chapter 66: Maximus and the New Recruits

    Chapter 66: Maximus and the New Recruits


    ¡°That must have been hard work for you!¡± Tirkus said tteringly.


    Agnes nced at him and teased, ¡°You¡¯ve been transferred to the Fifth Century, leading new recruits as a decanus. How does it feel?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s going alright,¡± Tirkus replied modestly with a smile.


    ¡°Seems like you¡¯re doing quite well,¡± Agnesughed and extended her hand, ¡°Enough chatting. Hand me your earthen pots.¡±


    Tirkus quickly handed over his two earthen pots, which Agnes took and passed to someone inside the wagon.


    After a moment, Agnes carefully retrieved the earthen pots handed out from the wagon.


    ¡°Be careful, they¡¯re a bit hot,¡± Agnes warned.


    ¡°What¡¯s on the menu tonight?¡± Tirkus asked curiously as he took the heavy pots.


    ¡°Bacon, bean porridge, and mutton soup,¡± Agnes replied.Upon hearing this, Tirkus hurriedly lowered his head to peer into the pot, and immediately his expression brightened: ¡°It really is mutton soup, and there¡¯s even a good amount of meat in it! (Normally the kitchen just provided a thin oil broth, which was just some olive oil poured into hot water to give the soldiers a bit of added fat and hydration). This porridge is also pretty thick, with a lot of meat bits! Why is tonight¡¯s dinner so good?!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t rush, there¡¯s also this,¡± Agnes handed him a warm,rge piece of bread, which was the soldiers¡¯ staple food.


    With his hands full, Tirkus bit the bread to hold it.


    Then, Agnes also handed him a small, egg-sized white blob, ¡°And this.¡±


    Tirkus¡¯ eyes widened as he quickly tucked the bread under his arm and asked, ¡°Where did this cheesee from?¡±


    Seeing his surprise, Agnes felt pleased, ¡°Of course, we made it ourselves in the kitchen with goat¡¯s milk. We tried making it several times before, and after some sessful attempts, we started making it inrge batches a few days ago. If it weren¡¯t for Commander Maximus saying, ¡®Tonight¡¯s dinner should be special to celebrate the joining of many new recruits,¡¯ I wouldn¡¯t have brought out the cheese for you.¡±


    ¡°So we¡¯re benefiting from these new recruits?¡± Tirkus asked.


    ¡°Exactly.¡±


    Not wasting any time, Tirkus grasped the pots tightly, tucked the bread under his arm, bnced the cheese in his hand, and carefully headed back. The new recruits behind him had overheard the conversation. For them, who had once eaten pig food every day, soft and delicious bread was already a rare treat. Now, being able to enjoy cheese, drink mutton soup, and chew on bacon filled them with excitement.


    After receiving their food, the recruits of various squads sat together, devouring their dinner ravenously.


    Suddenly, amotion arose near the camp¡¯s main gate. The recruits couldn¡¯t help but stand up and curiously look in that direction.


    ¡°No need to look. Commander Maximus has finished his business and is back to have dinner with everyone,¡± Tirkus said.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t Commander Maximus eat by himself?¡± Tiribazus was astonished. In his memory, themanders of Pontus always dined alone, enjoying the best food. How could they possibly eat the same food as ordinary soldiers?


    Tirkus nced at him sideways, proudly saying, ¡°Commander Maximus once said that in our army of the poor, there are no high and mighty nobles. We are all brothers who have suffered the same hardships, with no distinctions of rank. We share our difficulties and our fortunes. Only by consistently holding onto this belief can we unite as one and defeat the Romans!¡±


    Tiribazus was lost in thought.


    Themotion in the southern part of the camp continued, growing even louder. Maximus¡¯ constant movement within the camp also puzzled Tirkus. Normally, this youngmander would choose one from the three centuries to dine and chat with. Why was today so different?


    ¡°Tirkus!¡± a familiar voice called. Tirkus instinctively stood and saluted, ¡°Sir!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s mealtime, not training. What¡¯s gotten into you?¡± Maximus strode up to him,ughingly chiding as he pped the fist Tirkus held to his chest down.


    Tirkus grinned, a bit excited, and asked, ¡°Sir, are you eating with us tonight?¡±


    ¡°Today, with so many new brothers joining our logistics camp, I wanted to check on everyone first,¡± Maximus said, his eyes scanning the new recruits around him, asking warmly, ¡°How do you feel after joining the logistics camp?¡±


    Since Tirkus had repeatedly mentioned Maximus in a respectful manner in front of the new recruits today, influenced by him, when Maximus actually appeared before the new recruits, they felt somewhat restrained and, for a moment, no one responded.


    ¡°The logistics camp is great. We can eat our fill, and the food is delicious!¡± someone finally blurted out, their voice like thunder.


    Maximus saw that the one who spoke was a burly, dark-skinned man with an honest-looking face, and his smile broadened: ¡°Eat well, eat your fill, that¡¯s the right idea. We¡¯re risking our lives rising up against the Romans, isn¡¯t it so that we can eat our fill and live like human beings? Isn¡¯t that right, everyone?¡±


    ¡°Right!¡±


    ¡°Absolutely, Sir!¡±


    The soldiers responded eagerly.


    ¡°And next, there¡¯s something even better to eat!¡± Maximus, pleased with the new recruits¡¯ reactions, called out, ¡°o!¡±<sup>[1]</sup>


    A young man following him immediately handed over a bulging water bag.


    ¡°I originally nned to host a small celebration to wee you to the logistics camp,¡± Maximus said, raising the leather water bag in his hand. ¡°But the situation is a bit special now. Our main forces have left the camp to attack the Romans, leaving only our team to guard the base. Therefore, we must be cautious to prevent any enemy surprise attacks. However, to show how much we value you, the new recruits, I convinced the others to give each squad a bag of wine. This is the finest Falernian wine from Italy! Tirkus, you will be responsible for making sure every brother gets a sip, but don¡¯t let anyone drink too much.¡±


    Tirkus reached out to take the bag, and the eager eyes of the new recruits immediately focused on him. He looked around and said, ¡°Tiribazus, you drink first.¡±


    The reason Tirkus chose Tiribazus was that although this fellow was talkative, he was experienced and quite level-headed¡ªnot the type to act recklessly. Tirkus felt he could set a good example for the others.


    Tirkus¡¯ judgment was correct. In front of Maximus, Tiribazus restrained his desire to drink more and took a moderate sip before handing the bag back to Tirkus. Tirkus then passed the bag to another recruit he had selected.


    None of the nine recruits shouted or scrambled. There was still plenty of wine left in the bag after it had gone around, and Tirkus only took a small sip himself.


    Maximus observed with satisfaction: <em>this Tirkus is quite impressive. In just one day of leading the troops, he was able to bring the new recruits to this level. His ability to lead troops is worth paying attention to.</em>


    ¡°Did you enjoy the wine?¡± Maximus asked with a smile.


    ¡°It was delicious!¡± they all replied in unison.


    ¡°This time you could only have a taste. Next time, when our team goes out to fight and defeat the enemy, we¡¯ll drink freely to celebrate our victory. How about that?¡±


    ¡°Great!!¡±


    Then, Maximus had Tirkus introduce the new recruits. With each introduction,


    exchanged a few warm words, creating a very friendly atmosphere.


    As he was about to leave to visit the next squad, Tiribazus finally gathered the courage to speak up. ¡°Maxi¡­Commander Maximus, I heard that we can learn to read and do arithmetic in the logistics camp. Can I participate?¡±


    Maximus was pleasantly surprised. He hadn¡¯t expected a new recruit to bring this up voluntarily. Smiling, he replied, ¡°Of course you can! Just have your captain apply to the scribe, Vorenus, and we¡¯ll arrange it for you.¡±


    At this point, he looked around at everyone and said in a more emphatic tone, ¡°I hope everyone will actively and proactively apply to learn like Tiribazus! Of course, if you¡¯re just curious and want to watch the fun, don¡¯t sign up, because training requires hard work and so does learning. Why are the Romans able to dominate the Mediterranean? They not only have a strong military force but also possess profound knowledge and advanced technology. If we want to defeat them and have the ability to build our own homnd afterward, we not only need military training but also need to train this¡ª¡ª¡±


    <b>Trantor''s Notes:</b><ol></ol><li> Akgo ¡ª> o ??</li><!--


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 Chapter 67: The Nucerians

    Chapter 67: The Nucerians


    Maximus tapped his finger against his head and asked, ¡°Do you all agree?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡± This time, the recruits didn¡¯t respond in unison. Some of them were lost in thought.


    After Maximus left, Tirkus gave the dazed Tiribazus a push: ¡°Well done, kid! Themander will surely remember you now!¡±


    Having his thoughts exposed by Tirkus, Tiribazus maintained hisposure and changed the subject: ¡°Captain, I¡¯ve been a street performer, a soldier, and a ve before. Commander Maximus is very different from all the big shots I¡¯ve encountered in the past.¡±


    ¡°Of course he¡¯s different!¡± Tirkus said sincerely. ¡°Commander Maximus knows a lot of things, like those high-ranking schrs, but he¡¯s very willing to teach us!¡±


    Then he put on a stern face and said, ¡°Since you said you wanted to learn, I¡¯ll supervise you closely to make sure you don¡¯t get kicked out halfway and disgrace our squad.¡±


    ¡°Captain, what do you mean?¡± Tiribazus caught the implication in his words.


    ¡°You think you¡¯re the only smart one? I¡¯ve already been studying with Vorenus for a while!¡± Tirkus said proudly.


    ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ ? ? ? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥The main force of the rebel army first defeated the Roman vanguard north of Ctia and then annihted their main force by the Volturno River. When Roman Legion Commander Varinius arrived at Cales with a hundred cavalry and a baggage train, he was shocked to hear this news from the retreating soldiers. Fearing that the rebel army might continue north and surround him, he hastily withdrew his remaining forces to the north.


    After resting for a night by the Volturno River, the rebel leaders decided not to risk advancing further north. Instead, they triumphantly escorted their spoils and prisoners back to their camp in the Vesuvius region.


    The townspeople along the way learned of the Roman defeat and quickly spread the news.


    When the main force of the rebel army returned to camp, the entire Logistics Battalion was jubnt. Although Maximus had remained confident and kept morale high after the main forces left, everyone had been somewhat anxious until the army¡¯s triumphant return put their minds at ease.


    This victory greatly boosted the confidence of the rebels, dispelling their fear of the Romans.


    For the people of Campania, however, it was a disaster, signaling that the ve revolt would continue and leading to a dreadful consequence.


    Campania was a wealthy region under Roman rule, but it was not without poor people. Precisely because itsnd was so fertile, it attracted the covetous eyes of many Roman elites. The plundering and annexation of itsnd had never ceased for a long time (Su¡¯s estate and vi were located here). As a result, manyndless poor people lost their homes. A considerable number of them went to Rome to seek opportunities, while others drifted to various towns in Campania, surviving on alms and doing menialbor. They yearned to change their circumstances and regain the glory they once had as citizens.


    The diator-led ve revolt had ravaged Vesuvius for nearly six months, and all Campanians were aware of it. The poor hadn¡¯t joined not because they didn¡¯t want to, but because they knew better than the ves the might of the Roman army and doubted the rebellion¡¯s prospects, thinking it would soon be crushed.


    However, after 3,000 Roman soldiers led by ber had suffered a disastrous defeat, and now nearly an entire Roman legion was annihted, the rebellion¡¯s sessive victories shook the once skeptical poor. Consequently, Campanian poor began trickling into the rebel camp seeking to join.


    On this day, the rebel army held a militarymanders¡¯ meeting. Once the leaders had arrived, Spartacus began speaking: ¡°Today, I¡¯ve called everyone because there¡¯s a matter we need to discuss. Several dozen poor people from Nuceria havee wanting to join us, but they¡¯ve put forward a special request.¡±


    ¡°People from Nuceria want to join us?¡± Crixus was somewhat surprised.


    The reason for Crixus¡¯s surprise was that the rebel army had stayed here for so long that they had gained a deep understanding of the surrounding areas. The city of Nuceria was located on the southern edge of Vesuvius, very close to Pompeii. Unlike most towns in Campania, it was a Roman colonial city, genuinely built by Roman settlers who had relocated there. Moreover, Nuceria had only been established for about ten years. It was one of the eight colonial cities built under the direction of the dictator Su. Almost all of its residents were Roman veterans who had fought alongside Su years ago. How could they, who still benefited from the Su faction¡¯s rule in Rome, rebel against Rome?


    Crixus wasn¡¯t the only one puzzled; the other leaders were also confused.


    ¡°The situation is like this¡­¡± Hamilcar began exining.


    It turned out that much of thend allocated to Nuceria¡¯s residents had originally belonged to Pompeii. Su forcibly divided and allocated it, and during his purge of the Popres, executed many across Italy. The fear of his bloody methods silenced opposition from the Pompeians, but their resentment toward the Nucerians grew. They secretly made trouble for the Nucerians while currying favor with Su¡¯s followers.


    The Nucerians, although granted fertilend, struggled to adapt their sword-and-shield-trained hands to wielding a hoe. These Roman veteranscked experience in agriculture, making it difficult topete againstrge farming estates. Moreover, they faced deliberate targeting. Over the years, some Nucerians fell into heavy debt due to poor management.


    The creditors were Pompeian nobles. When Su was still alive, they were lenient, refraining from pressing for repayment and even extending further loans. However, as soon as Su died, they immediately changed their stance, demanding repayment. If the Nucerians couldn¡¯t pay, theirnd would be seized. When the Nucerians tried to reason with them, they were often beaten by hired guards. Numerous conflicts ensued, with the Nucerians consistently on the losing side. Even the officials sent by the Senate to investigate were biased in favor of the Pompeians.


    Before the Social War, Nucerians had certain privileges as Roman citizens. Now, with all Italians granted Roman citizenship and equal political status, the Nucerians held no advantage. Moreover, repaying debts was a strict Romanw. The Grhi brothers¡¯ attempts to alleviate plebeians¡¯ debts had faced fierce opposition from the Senate, so the Nucerians had little hope of relief.


    Ultimately, the dispossessed Nucerians sought help from Rome, as they were followers of Su, who by Roman tradition was their patron. Although Su was dead, he had sessors.


    Lucius Licinius Lucullus, Su¡¯s main sessor in military affairs, had led some of these Nucerians during his campaign in Asia Minor. However, Lucullus was a selfish pragmatist, harsh on his soldiers, and stingy with distributing spoils. He had little interest in politics or in inheriting Su¡¯s political legacy, so he dismissed the Nucerians¡¯ pleas.


    Another significant general under Su was Pompey. While the ambitious young Pompey cared for his men, he wasn¡¯t an old subordinate of Su. He joined Su during the Italian campaign, thus unfamiliar with these veterans. Preupied with campaigns in Iberia, he expressed his inability to help the Nucerians.


    Other senators with close ties to Su also avoided the Nucerians. Eventually, their Romanrades revealed that the Pompeians were backed by Su the Younger (the nephew of the dictator Su). This support emboldened the Pompeians to seize Nuceriannds.


    Thendless people of Nuceria fell into despair. Some simply wandered in Rome, while others returned to Campania with resentment, surviving on the charity of their formerrades-in-arms.


    Later, when the rebel army appeared and twice defeated the Roman forces, this news rekindled their hope, leading them to seek out the rebels¡­

 Chapter 68: The Nucerians Request

    Chapter 68: The Nucerians Request


    ¡°These Nucerians are willing to help us attack Pompeii,¡± Spartacus said. ¡°They only ask that we kill a few nobles in Pompeii, especially Vettius, who they say is the main culprit behind the seizure of theirnds. If we agree, these Nucerians will join our ranks and fully support us against the Roman army.¡±


    ¡°How many of these Nucerians want to join us?¡± Crixus asked.


    ¡°About 50 or so.¡±


    ¡°Only 50?!¡± Crixusughed. ¡°We have over 500 peopleing to join us every day. Do we really need these 50?¡±


    ¡°Most of these 50 were once centurions of the Roman legions. Leading them was a legion¡¯s primus pilus. He told us they have manyrades in Italy who are in simr situations. He¡¯s willing to mobilize them to join our cause,¡± Hamilcar emphasized.


    <em>Another centurion, and a primus pilus one at that¡­</em> Maximus¡¯s expression changed slightly.


    ¡°A few days ago, we just annihted a Roman legion. Haven¡¯t we killed enough of their centurions? Plenty of people hate Rome and want to join our cause. These Roman soldiers, under themand of Roman senators, had at least once invaded othernds and ughtered their people. They are not worth recruiting!¡± Crixus said, somewhat upset.


    ¡°Even though our ranks have grown to over 10,000, the influx of new recruits has left our forces disorganized and poorly trained. They are not ready forbat,¡± Artorix said cautiously. ¡°Moreover, our forcesck experience in siege warfare and the necessary equipment. Because of our presence, the surrounding towns have strengthened their defenses. Pompeii may be small, but its walls are four to five meters high. If we attack, our casualties will be high. Failing to capture it would hurt our morale and reputation.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m interested in a siege, but not at the Romans¡¯ behest,¡± Oenomaus said bluntly.Artemus added, ¡°I have no objections to field battles, but sieging a city¡­ count me out.¡±


    ¡°I think we should attack Pompeii,¡± Maximus said, immediately drawing everyone¡¯s attention. He calmly continued, ¡°Not for the Nucerians, but for ourselves! Our numbers are growing rapidly. We have enough food for now, as it¡¯s harvest season and our soldiers are out reaping wheat daily. But we are critically short on some supplies¡ªearthen pots, linen, tents, copper pots¡­ We¡¯ve already scoured the farms around Vesuvius. There may be a few more farms beyond, but not many. We needrge quantities of supplies. Capturing a busy coastal town like Pompeii will not only meet our needs but also provide us with more resources, like cksmiths!¡±


    ¡°You think attacking a town is as easy as making dinner?¡± Crixus gave him a scornful look. ¡°You speak lightly, but many people will die!¡±


    Maximus replied seriously, ¡°We rose up against the Romans, knowing it was a life-threatening endeavor. If we don¡¯t try, we¡¯ll never know if we can take a city. Besides, the Nucerians are offering their help.¡±


    ¡°The Nucerians?¡± Crixus sneered. ¡°Who knows if they¡¯re trying to trick us into a death trap!¡±


    ¡°Enough talk, let¡¯s vote,¡± Spartacus said. Crixus immediately stated firmly, ¡°I oppose attacking Pompeii!¡±


    ¡°So do I,¡± Artorix followed.


    ¡°I can¡¯t agree to the Nucerians¡¯ request,¡± Oenomaus shook his head.


    Hamilcar looked at Spartacus, then at Maximus, and said softly, ¡°I think we should try to attack Pompeii.¡±


    Maximus perked up. ¡°I also agree to attack Pompeii.¡±


    Crixus grew tense. In the past meetings, Spartacus and Hamilcar usually sided together, which meant a three-to-three tie again this time. Such a stalemate would leave the issue unresolved, making him feel that Maximus wasughing at him. Just as Crixus was feeling frustrated, Spartacus said, ¡°I also oppose attacking Pompeii. We must refuse the Nucerians¡¯ request.¡±


    Crixus was overjoyed. ¡°Then it¡¯s decided. Send those Nucerians away!¡±


    He nced at Maximus, but Maximus looked calm, showing no disappointment.


    Crixus rolled his eyes. ¡°Spartacus, I have a suggestion.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    ¡°Artemus, as the leader of the Fifth Cohort, has earned the soldiers¡¯ affection and considerable respect. In the recent battle against the Roman legion, his troops performed exceptionally well. I think it¡¯s time to make him one of us, a true militarymander!¡±


    Crixus wasn¡¯t typically considerate of others. He brought this up because he realized: Spartacus, close with Hamilcar and Artorix, plus Maximus who was at odds with him, had a strong advantage in votes. Adding Artemus, who was neutral and not too close to Spartacus, could help swing future votes in Crixus¡¯ favor.


    Artemus gave Crixus a grateful look.


    ¡°I was nning to bring this up myself, but Crixus beat me to it. This shows that Artemus¡¯ performance has won everyone¡¯s approval. So, let¡¯s vote on whether he should gain voting rights in the Military Commanders¡¯ Assembly,¡± Spartacus said seriously.


    The vote was unanimously in favor, increasing the number of the rebel leaders to seven.


    While everyone was congratting Artemus, Crixus spoke again, ¡°I have another suggestion¡ª¡ª¡±


    Crixus turned to Maximus and said solemnly, ¡°Recently, we incorporated nearly 500 newly joined ves into the Logistics Battalion as a temporary measure. Currently, the Logistics Battalion¡¯s guard unit has over 700 soldiers. I believe that since the Logistics Battalion only provides food and treats the wounded and doesn¡¯t fight on the front lines, assigning so many soldiers to it is a waste. We should redistribute half of these soldiers to other units. What do you all think?¡±


    The atmosphere of the meeting, which had been light, suddenly became tense.


    Since the rebel army was formed, it had undergone reorganization, but its structure remained rtively loose. Each cohort and the Logistics Battalion leader wielded significant power, akin to regional lords, and even Spartacus couldn¡¯t interfere in their internal affairs without their consent. Crixus¡¯ proposal to take soldiers from the Logistics Battalion was a tant attempt to undermine Maximus¡¯ authority as its leader.


    Such a direct challenge had never happened before in the military meetings. It seemed Crixus still harbored resentment over an incident two months prior when his soldiers were publicly flogged for insulting the medical team¡¯s women. He was using this recent victory as a chance for revenge.


    ¡°While you were out fighting, Naples sent several spies to our camp. If they hadn¡¯t seen the Logistics Battalion¡¯s hundreds of soldiers training in front of the camp, the Campanians would have looted all our supplies before you returned victorious. This demonstrates the importance of having a sufficient guard. If you want to take my soldiers, Crixus, then from now on, the Second Cohort should always remain in camp when we go on a campaign!¡± Maximus retorted coldly, then added, ¡°I have a suggestion too! The soldiers of the Second Cohort often say they don¡¯t eat much and that the food provided is too much. I propose we halve their rations from now on!¡±

 Chapter 69: Quintus

    Chapter 69: Quintus


    In past militarymanders¡¯ meetings, Maximus would endure Crixus¡¯ provocations, letting Hamilcar and Spartacus handle them. But now, with the Logistics Battalion growing stronger, Maximus felt more confident and believed he couldn¡¯t let Crixus target him any longer. Otherwise, he would lose the respect of the newly joined leaders and diminish his influence within the upper echelons of the rebel army.


    ¡°You¡ª¡ª¡± Crixus¡¯ face changed dramatically; he hadn¡¯t expected the usually tolerant Maximus to suddenly retort.


    ¡°Alright, you two are leaders now, yet you argue like children. What kind of example are you setting?¡± Spartacus immediately chastised them, using the argument as a pretext to cover up their conflict, allowing the matter to drop.


    After the meeting, Hamilcar sought out Maximus and reproached him, ¡°You were too impulsive just now; you shouldn¡¯t have quarreled with Crixus.¡±


    ¡°Teacher, you saw it yourself. Crixus went too far. If I don¡¯t fight back, he¡¯ll be even more arrogant, and I won¡¯t be able to hold my head high as the leader of the Logistics Battalion in future military meetings!¡± Maximus said, still indignant.


    Hamilcar said earnestly, ¡°He was wrong, but you shouldn¡¯t have used threats about reducing food supplies! You¡¯re the leader of the Logistics Battalion, responsible for the entire army¡¯s food supply. If others disagree with you, and you threaten them like this, how can other leaders trust you to manage the Logistics Battalion?¡±


    Maximus was taken aback, then sincerely replied, ¡°You¡¯re right, teacher. I was impulsive and didn¡¯t think it through. I shouldn¡¯t have said that!¡±


    Hamilcar, seeing that he admitted his mistake, lightly patted his shoulder and said: ¡°Just be mindful in the future. Regarding whether to agree to the Nucerians¡¯ request and attack the city of Pompeii, both you and I are concerned about the issue ofck of supplies. However, Spartacus needs to consider the situation of the entire army, uh, so¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°Teacher, I understand. Every leader has their own considerations. That¡¯s why we have the militarymanders¡¯ meeting. How could I me Spartacus?¡± Maximus said nonchntly.Arguments weremon in the militarymanders¡¯ meeting, but Hamilcar took the time to reassure Maximus because the Logistics Battalion under this young diator¡¯s leadership was bing increasingly vital to the rebel army:


    Even with more soldiers and a growing army, the Logistics Battalion consistently provided ample and delicious food;


    Soldiers trained diligently and fought without much fear, thanks to the medical team¡¯s excellent care for the wounded. Some soldiers even hoped to get injured to stay with the medical team.


    The Logistics Battalion established a construction team that built roads between the various camps and even helped repair other camps during their downtime.


    They also formed a weaving team and, following Maximus¡¯ suggestion, aimed to provide the entire army with uniform-colored linen tunics to give the rebellion a more organized appearance.


    Additionally, the Logistics Battalion organized the children, training and having them work during the day and study together at night. Maximus exined that ¡°this is preparing for the future of the rebel army¡­¡±


    The number of people in each battalion was growing daily, but only the Logistics Battalion remained consistently well-organized and even showed a thriving scene. This fully demonstrated Maximus¡¯ leadership abilities, making Spartacus and Hamilcar value him even more. That¡¯s why Hamilcar specifically came to exin, fearing that Maximus might have some dissatisfaction towards Spartacus.


    Hearing Maximus¡¯ response, Hamilcar felt he might have been overreacting. Then, Maximus asked, ¡°Teacher, where are those Nucerians?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re at the First Battalion¡¯s camp.¡±


    ¡°May I go see them?¡±


    ¡°You still want to attack Pompeii?¡± Hamilcar looked at him in surprise.


    ¡°With just the Logistics Battalion, we can¡¯t take Pompeii!¡± Maximus shook his head, ¡°I want to meet them because they were once under the Roman dictator Su. I¡¯d like to learn about Rome and southern Italy from them.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see. But since we didn¡¯t agree to their request, they might not be willing to talk.¡±


    ¡°I think if I bring them to the Logistics Battalion¡¯s camp and provide some food, they might be more willing to talk.¡±


    ¡°Alright then.¡±


    ©¥©¥©¥©¥ ? ? ? ©¥©¥©¥©¥


    Gnaeus Quintus, a Roman citizen born in Latium, came from a plebeian background. He married at 20, and a yearter was conscripted into the army. After many years of military campaigns, he umted merits and was promoted to the position of Primus Pilus in a Roman legion. He had even received an audience andmendation from Su. As a result, when he was arranged to settle in the colonial city of Nuceria in Campania, he was allocated 25 acres of state-ownednd.


    However, having no experience in managing farnd, he took advice from some opportunists and used his savings umted over many years to purchase several ves, farming tools, and seeds, ready to go all out. Unfortunately, a drought struck, reducing his yields, and leading to losses. Unwilling to ept this, he sought to recoup his losses, so again on the rmendation of the opportunists, he borrowed money. The second year¡¯s harvest was quite good, but he couldn¡¯t sell his wheat because the market price for wheat was very low. Selling at such a price would not only fail to make a profit but would incur more losses.


    Quintus rose to the rank of Primus Pilus not only due to his strategic mind but also because of his unwavering determination. When wheat farming proved unprofitable, he decided to switch to growing grapes, hoping to repay his debts. In the third year, he borrowed more money to start a vineyard. However, grape cultivation required high technical expertise, which hecked, and he couldn¡¯t afford skilled ves (these were highly priced and in great demand). Consequently, he incurred more losses.


    Over the years, his debts piled up. Fortunately, his creditors never pressed for repayment. This continued until he heard the news of Su¡¯s death. Quintus rushed to Rome to attend the funeral, and it was at this time, that creditors from Pompeii came to his door with arge group of people to collect the debt. When Quintus¡¯ son couldn¡¯t produce the money to repay the debt, they attempted to forcibly take thend deed aspensation, leading to a conflict between the two parties. In the end, Quintus¡¯ only son was severely injured and copsed, dying half a yearter. His daughter-inw, overwhelmed with grief, soon followed. Only Quintus, now destitute and bereaved, was left to struggle through life with his lone grandson¡­


    Years of unaddressed grievances and burning hatred aged Quintus prematurely, turning his hair white and his frame gaunt. His face bore deep wrinkles, but his eyes remained piercing and intense, like burning mes.


    Quintus was apanied by two other Nucerians, both sharing simr fates.


    Upon entering Maximus¡¯ tent, the three men sat down. Maximus got straight to the point: ¡°Gentlemen, we have discussed your request and concluded that attacking Pompeii at this time is not feasible.¡±


    One Nucerian immediately expressed his dissatisfaction: ¡°You have over ten thousand troops, yet you dare not attack a small town like Pompeii. How can you im to resist Rome and fight for freedom? You might as well surrender to Rome now, maybe then you¡¯ll avoid crucifixion and have a quicker death!¡±


    Another middle-aged man pleaded, ¡°Please, don¡¯t make a hasty decision. Consider it carefully. We know Pompeii very well and are willing to assist you. Although small, Pompeii is prosperous with trade and rich in resources. If you can capture it, you¡¯ll gain substantial supplies and greatly improve your current equipment¡­ Please reconsider!¡±


    Maximus responded slowly, ¡°Pompeii might be small, but it has high walls and strong defenses, and they are well-prepared. Though our numbers arerge, weck experience in siege warfare and do not have siege equipment. Attacking such a fortified city would result in heavy casualties, and sess is not guaranteed. While Pompeii might have ample supplies, so do many other towns in Italy. Why should we suffer heavy losses on Pompeii¡¯s walls?¡±

 Chapter 70: Quintus Siege Plan

    Chapter 70: Quintus Siege n


    The middle-aged man named Calpurnius Scaep spoke urgently, ¡°I served for many years as an engineer in the Roman army; I can help you build siege equipment. Quintus¡ª¡ª¡± He pointed to the elderly man beside him, ¡°served as a primus pilus for many years and has extensive siege experience. He can teach you how to attack Pompeii.¡±


    Scaep then pointed to the burly man who had spoken first, ¡°Aulus, once a renowned warrior in the Roman army, has been awarded the Civic Crown for bravery. He can gather over 40 experienced warriors, who, though older, have richbat experience, to fight alongside you.¡±


    ¡°What you¡¯re saying is tempting, but it¡¯s a pity¡­¡± Maximus sighed twice.


    Quintus, who had been silently observing, finally spoke, ¡°Since you¡¯ve already made your decision, why didn¡¯t you let the leader who originally received us tell us in that camp earlier? Sir Maximus, just say what you have to say.¡±


    Realizing his intentions had been seen through, Maximus felt a bit embarrassed. He gave a dryugh, looked at Quintus, and said seriously, ¡°Even though the other leaders are against it, I still want to give it a try. However, I only have 800 soldiers under mymand. A frontal assault on Pompeii is impossible. If you don¡¯t have another n, then let¡¯s drop the matter and you can leave.¡±


    ¡°Eight hundred men, and you want to take Pompeii?! That¡¯s simply¡ª¡ª¡± Aulus began to exim, but Quintus cut him off sharply, ¡°Aulus, be quiet!¡±


    Aulus immediately fell silent.


    Quintus looked at Maximus and asked, ¡°Do you have paper and pen?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Maximus quickly provided them.Without hesitation, Quintus walked to the wooden table and started drawing.


    Maximus leaned in to watch. He saw the elderly man quickly draw an oval shape with lines and dots on the papyrus.


    Quintus looked at Maximus and exined, ¡°This is a map of Pompeii.¡±


    Maximus nodded in understanding.


    ¡°Pompeii¡¯s walls are about one kilometer long. The walls facing ind are 700 meters long, with a height of five to six meters. The walls facing the sea are two to three meters high. There are six gates in total¡ª¡ª¡± Quintus pointed to the map he had just drawn: ¡°Heeum Gate, Vesuvius Gate, Capua Gate, N Gate, Sarnus Gate, and the Sea Gate. Pompeii has a poption of over 6,000, with a city guard of 300. In an emergency, at least 800 can join the defense. The strength to defend the entire wall is insufficient for your entire force, but it¡¯s more than enough to counter your 800 soldiers.¡±


    Maximus said calmly, ¡°I must remind you that among my 800 soldiers, only half have armor and weapons. The others are equipped only with farm tools and clubs.¡±


    ¡°You¡ª¡ª¡± Aulus started to speak again but was quickly silenced by Scaep beside him.


    Quintus remained unfazed and continued slowly, ¡°With only a few hundred men, capturing Pompeii by force is impossible. A surprise attack is the only way. When you first arrived at Vesuvius six months ago, Pompeii might have beenx, with city gates open until dusk and people moving freely. However, as your threat to the surrounding towns grew, Pompeii began keeping allnd gates closed, rarely opening them.¡±


    ¡°Allnd gates?¡± Maximus picked up on the subtle clue in his words.


    ¡°Yes, allnd gates. The sea gate, however, remains open.¡± Quintus took up the pen and drew a winding line on the map of Pompeii, indicating the coastline. Pointing to it, he said, ¡°This is the coastline, and this is the sea gate. The Pompeians fear you, so they¡¯ve closed allnd gates, relying only on sea routes for externalmunication. All necessary supplies are brought in by merchant ships through the sea gate into the city.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re saying that if we want tounch a surprise attack, the only way is by sea¡ªusing ships to transport soldiers into the harbor and then entering the city through the sea gate?¡± Maximus asked, pondering.


    Quintus tapped the coastline on the simple map and shook his head. ¡°The Pompeians built their city here because the coastline is at least five meters higher than the city itself. There¡¯s a sloping path from the sea gate to the harbor. Given that allnd gates are closed, even if the sea gate is open, the checks are stricter than ever. It would be very difficult to sneak in, and storming the sea gate would be even harder.¡±


    Quintus pointed to a specific spot along the coastline, ¡°The harbor area on this side of the bay is at least a hundred meters from the sea gate. By the time your soldiersnd, the sentries on the city walls will easily spot them. Once the sea gate is closed, the Pompeians will have the high ground to shoot arrows, leaving your men with no escape.¡±


    ¡°It seems with my limited force, capturing Pompeii is impossible,¡± Maximus sighed deeply and waved dismissively. ¡°In that case, I won¡¯t keep you any longer¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°Sir Maximus, please wait!¡± Seeing that Maximus was about to dismiss them, Quintus quickly dropped his pretense and said urgently, ¡°Attacking the sea gate directly is impossible, butunching a surprise attack from the harbor into the city is feasible!¡±


    ¡°Oh? Why?¡± Maximus responded nonchntly, appearing indifferent.


    ¡°Look here,¡± Quintus pointed slightly upward and tapped heavily.


    Maximus then noticed that on the left side of the sea gate, directly above the harbor, there was a break in the originally outlined map of Pompeii, an area that wasn¡¯t connected: ¡°What is this?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a stretch of about 200 meters here without any city wall,¡± Quintus said in a low voice. ¡°They say it¡¯s been like this since the city was built. The reason might be that the elevation difference between this part of the city and the bay below is over eight meters, and the slope is very steep. It would be impossible for enemies to climb up, so it looks quite safe indeed. However, Pompeii has existed for hundreds of years, and the bay area below the city has now be a bustling port district. The area below this section without walls is now entirely covered with buildings. Some have even brazenly ignored the Pompeii city government¡¯s prohibitions and built three-story buildings here, just to have more rooms to rent out to the poor people in the port area¡ª¡ª¡±


    Quintus paused for a moment, his indifferent expression suddenly bing somewhat distorted. He sneered and said: ¡°The only ones who would dare to do this, and yet leave the city government powerless against them, could only be Pompeii¡¯s first family¡ªthe Vettii family, known as the ¡®Protectors of Pompeii¡¯¡ª¡ª¡±


    Hearing this, Maximus felt a jolt: <em>the Vettii family is the very target of this old man¡¯s desire for revenge!</em>


    Quintus continued, not noticing Maximus¡¯ reaction, ¡°The Vettii family built several three-story Roman-style houses side by side in the harbor area beneath this wall-less part of the city. The rooftops are nearly level with the city¡¯s height. All we need to do is get to the rooftops and ce four or five-meter-long woodendders or nks to easily enter the city from the harbor area.


    ¡°The people of Pompeii, like other Campanians, are cowardly and have never experienced war. With walls to rely on, they might have the courage to fight you. However, once you prate the city, even with just a hundred or two soldiers, they won¡¯t dare to confront you unless they outnumber you by at least two or three times.¡±


    Quintus snorted disdainfully and ran his finger across the map, ¡°Once your soldiers enter the city from here, they can follow this road west for less than 200 meters to reach the Heeum Gate. Kill the guards and open the gate, allowing your other soldiers, who are lying in wait outside, to rush in. With your 800 men plus our support, you canpletely conquer Pompeii!¡±


    By the end, Quintus was visibly excited, but Maximus merely blinked and said, ¡°From what you¡¯re saying, entering the city from the nearby bay seems easy, but how can we get the troop ships into the harbor? If the Pompeians are on alert onnd, they must also be vignt at the harbor.¡±

 Chapter 71: Preparations Before the Surprise Attack

    Chapter 71: Preparations Before the Surprise Attack


    ¡°At sea, the people of Pompeii are far less vignt than they are onnd, because you, the rebels, don¡¯t have a fleet or control any ports. The Pompeians do not consider you capable of threatening their safety from the sea. In fact, these coastal towns in Campania haven¡¯t faced an attack from the sea for over a hundred years. Their harbor defenses are extremely weak.


    ¡°Take Pompeii, for example. Its port area has five harbors. The two built earlier were equipped with water gates, butter, as maritime trade flourished, the original harbors became insufficient, so two more were constructed. However, these were built for convenience in ess andcked water gates or chains for blocking entry. There isn¡¯t even a patrol ship outside the port area, and the only early warning system is the lighthouse keeper. But if a ship is disguised beforehand, they might not immediately detect anything unusual.¡±


    ¡°What about the other port?¡± Maximus asked attentively.


    ¡°That one belongs to the Vettii family. It¡¯s a private port, only allowing their family¡¯s merchant ships and those they have trade agreements with to enter and exit,¡± Quintus replied coldly. ¡°This private port has a long breakwater and water gates, with watchtowers on the breakwater. The defenses are quiteplete, but unfortunately, protecting just this one port is of little use¡­¡±


    The old man radiated resentment as soon as he mentioned the Vettii family of Pompeii, prompting Maximus to quickly change the subject: ¡°We¡¯ve solved the problem of entering the port, but there¡¯s still one issue¡ªwe don¡¯t have any ships.¡±


    Quintus looked at him with a strange expression, as if saying, ¡°Young man, are you joking?¡±


    The middle-aged man, Aulus, interjected, ¡°I heard earlier that arge number of sailors and dock workers joined your ranks, leaving the ports outside Naples almost deserted. Some sailors even stole ships from the ports as they fled, rowing them to beaches near your camp, where they became stranded. Later, you set up another camp near the coast, and the people of Naples didn¡¯t dare to retrieve those stranded ships¡­¡±


    As he spoke, Maximus suddenly recalled that the camp closer to the coast was that of the Fifth Battalion under Artemus. Artemus had even mentioned to him the idea of sending soldiers to sea to fish, to help increase the food reserves for the rebel army¡­ but the suggestion was never followed through, and Maximus hadn¡¯t asked why. But at least this indicated one thing¡ªthere were ships in Artemus¡¯ camp.


    Maximus stroked his chin, pondered for a moment, and then smiled, ¡°You are truly impressive! After learning that I have few troops, you¡¯ve managed to devise such a thorough surprise attack n so quickly. I must say, I am deeply impressed!¡±Quintus, recognizing the meaning behind his words, kept his expression unchanged but spoke with a heavy tone, mixed with a hint of agitation, ¡°For years, we have longed for revenge every moment of the day. We¡¯ve envisioned numerous ns for breaking through the city and killing our enemies thousands of times in our minds, but out of fear of Rome¡¯s power, and because we are few in number and worried about implicating our families and friends, we¡¯vecked the courage to act¡­ Until you appeared, giving us hope. Originally, I intended to reveal this n for a naval surprise attack after you had decided to assault Pompeii. Unfortunately¡ª¡ª¡±


    Having said that, Quintus shifted the conversation: ¡°But fortunately, Sir Maximus, though you are young and your forces are small, you dare to lead a lone army to attack Pompeii. Your courage is truly remarkable. If we implement this n and sessfully capture Pompeii, I believe everyone in your ranks will be in awe of your formidable reputation!¡±


    Quintus¡¯ words struck a chord with Maximus. The reason he had taken the risk of meeting with this group of Nucerians was to see if there was a chance to lead his army to capture Pompeii on his own. Although the city had high walls, its small garrison and weakbat ability were obvious, making it possible for the Logistics Battalion to have a chance.


    Maximus was driven to this idea mainly because of the ridicule he faced from Crixus during the previous military meeting. It made him realize that even though he controlled the Logistics Battalion and was of great help to the rebel army, hisck of military aplishments made it difficult for him to y a decisive role in the Military Commanders¡¯ Council, especially on military matters. This is why he wanted to capture Pompeii by himself, to prove his military capabilities to Crixus and the others.


    Maximus did not let Quintus¡¯ ttery go to his head. He restrained his smile, sat back in the wooden chair, and solemnly said, ¡°I have onest question about this surprise attack n¡ªhow can you convince me that this isn¡¯t a trap you¡¯ve devised to destroy my army?¡±


    ¡°Nonsense! We¡¯d rather die than coborate with those Pompeii scum to betray you!¡± the middle-aged man Aulus shouted loudly.


    Another middle-aged man, Scaep, answered earnestly, ¡°It¡¯s easy to prove we¡¯re not lying. You only need to ask any Nucerians. They can all tell you about our history of enmity with the Pompeians.¡±


    ¡°Sir Maximus, I¡¯ve brought 54 people with me, and with our families, we total 115. We¡¯ll all stay in your camp. If you find out in the end that this is a trap, you can kill us and avenge your soldiers!¡± Quintus dered firmly, his words shocking everyone.


    Scaep immediately eximed, ¡°Quintus, what if¡ª¡ª¡±


    Quintus interrupted him sternly, ¡°Scaep, since we¡¯ve decided to join their ranks after getting our revenge, wouldn¡¯t it be better toe here early and start adapting?¡±


    Scaep and Aulus exchanged nces, then reluctantly agreed, ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll do as you say.¡±


    Maximus observed this and made up his mind. He said, ¡°There¡¯s no need to rush. I need to discuss this with my subordinates first. Once everyone agrees, we can carry out the n.¡±


    ¡°When can you give us a clear answer?¡± Aulus asked anxiously.


    ¡°Tomorrow.¡±


    ©¥©¥©¥©¥ ? ? ? ©¥©¥©¥©¥


    After Quintus and his twopanions left, Maximus immediately summoned his three senior centurions¡ªPhaselus, Tolerugo, and Carminus¡ªto a meeting (these three had been assigned tomand at least two centuries each after the number of soldiers in the guard team had suddenly increased from over 300 to 700. Technically, their positions should have been upgraded to battalionmanders, but since the leaders of the rebel army, whomanded far more than a thousand troops, were still using the title of battalionmander, Maximus temporarily adopted this designation to avoid criticism). He also included the head of the Military Advisory Group, Frontinus, in the discussion.


    When Maximus mentioned his intention to lead the Logistics Battalion¡¯s guard team in an independent assault on Pompeii, the four men were somewhat surprised. However, after hearing about the n for a surprise attack by sea, they all fell into deep thought.


    Carminus, who had spent years at the port of Naples and had taken ships to Pompeii¡¯s harbor many times, confirmed the uracy of Quintus¡¯ description of the Pompeii port area. This further reinforced the feasibility of the n.


    Frontinus, on the other hand, was surprised that the Nucerians had chosen to join the rebel army. Amid his schadenfreude, he also reflected deeply on how soldiers from two armies that had once fought each other as mortal enemies, following different Roman generals, had ended up working together in the rebel army.


    After a brief period of consideration, the three senior centurions unanimously agreed to proceed with the surprise attack n. This oue was not surprising. Recently, they had watched soldiers from other battalions boast about their victories over Roman legions, while they had been training their own men even more rigorously, only to be confined to the camp most of the time. This had left them feeling stifled. They were eager to prove themselves.


    Once they reached a consensus, the next crucial task was to secure the ships.


    Maximus sent Vorenus to the Fifth Battalion¡¯s camp to ask Artemus about the ships, under the pretext that the Logistics Battalion wanted to try fishing at sea to diversify the soldiers¡¯ diet.


    Artemus didn¡¯t doubt this exnation. He had considered the idea before and had even had the soldiers maintain the ships stranded on the beach. However, being apetitive man, he had been so focused on training his troops to keep up with the other battalions that the ships had never actually been used. This, incidentally, had also led the nearby coastal towns to lower their guard.


    Vorenus borrowed five single-masted cargo ships from the Fifth Battalion. Maximus then discreetly sent soldiers who were former sailors, along with carpenters, to the beach to inspect and repair the ships, ensuring they were seaworthy. He also had the construction team build five-meter-long woodendders.


    The next day, when Maximus informed Quintus that the Logistics Battalion was ready to carry out the surprise attack n he had proposed, Quintus and hispanions were visibly pleased. On the morning of the third day, they arrived at the Logistics Battalion¡¯s camp with their families, fulfilling their promise.


    The surprise attack on Pompeii was a bold gamble for Maximus and a matter of life and death for the Logistics Battalion¡¯s guard team. Naturally, he was extremely cautious. He convened another meeting with Frontinus, Quintus, and the three senior centurions, discussing the n in detail for most of the day. They finalized every aspect of the operation, deciding that the attack would take cete at night when there was moonlight and a north wind. This timing would likely catch the Pompeians off guard, and even if they discovered the invasion, they would be slow to gather their forces. Additionally, the north wind would help the troop transports swiftly reach Pompeii¡¯s port along the coast.


    The seaborne assault force was to consist mainly of soldiers from the Third and Sixth Centuries, led by Carminus. These men had once been experienced sailors at the port of Naples and would have no trouble navigating the waters at night.


    In addition, 30 Nucerians led by Aulus were to participate in the seaborne raid. Although they were somewhat older, they were experienced Roman veterans who could effectivelypensate for the inexperience of the new recruits under Carminus¡¯mand.


    The total number of soldiers involved in the seaborne raid on the harbor was 200, with an average of 40 men per ship, well below the carrying capacity of a single-masted merchant vessel, ensuring a faster sailing speed.


    Maximus, being meticulous, outlined several key points once the n was finalized and required the soldiers participating in the raid to undergo simted training until they were thoroughly familiar with the process.


    <em>Simted training?</em> Even Quintus, with his twenty years of military experience, had never heard of this term, let alone the others, who were curious.


    Maximus called in the construction team to carefully set up the training ground, which took most of the day. When Carminus led the soldiers selected for the raid to the training ground, Maximus unexpectedly ordered them to sit fully armed on the ground and repeatedly practice rowing movements. After some time, they stopped, and the six soldiers at the front of the line had to lift a battering ram together, run several dozen meters, and smash it into a tall wooden board firmly nted in the muddy ground. The entire unit then had to sprint over a hundred meters along a designated route, smash through another wooden board with the battering ram, and reach two earthen mounds about three meters high and four meters apart. They had to climb one mound,y the long woodendder they were carrying across to the other mound, walk across it, and then run nearly two hundred meters to engage inbat with soldiers waiting there. Only after emerging victorious would the drill end.


    Afterpleting one round, the soldiers were all gasping for breath. Some, not understanding the purpose of the exercise, even resented Maximus, thinking their leader was deliberately wearing them out.


    However, Quintus, observing from the side, quickly understood: <em>This is a simtion of the entire process of raiding Pompeii.</em>


    ¡°What¡¯s the point of this training? It¡¯s like child¡¯s y. When the actual raides, the pressure of facing death will make them too scared to even move!¡± Aulus scoffed.


    ¡°No, I think it¡¯s useful,¡± Quintus replied seriously. ¡°Look at how they don¡¯t know how to effectively use the battering ram to break down the door. They¡¯re nervous and falling off the suspendeddder, and by the end, they can¡¯t even lift their swords and shields¡­ Even though this isn¡¯t a real battlefield, if they keep training this way, they should be able to perform better when the actual raid happens.¡±


    At this moment, they saw Maximus step in front of the troops and shouted, ¡°Brothers, I¡¯ve heard that every one of you from the Third and Sixth Centuries eagerly volunteered for this raid, and not a single one of you backed out. Some of you even pestered Carminus when you weren¡¯t selected. This makes me very proud¡ªyou are truly men who dare to battle the sea!¡±


    Despite being drenched in sweat, the soldiers lifted their heads with pride.


    Maximus then changed his tone, ¡°However, I¡¯m disappointed by your performance just now. This training isn¡¯t meant to torment you but to simte the entire process of raiding Pompeii. When the timees, you¡¯ll set out fully armed, rowing for over 5 kilometers with the help of sails, and storm the Pompeii harbor. Your actions will undoubtedly alert the harbor guards. While they sound the rm and summon their forces, you must quickly disembark, use the battering ram to break through the harbor gate, charge into the port area, swiftly navigate the narrow alleys, reach the designated building, break down the door, and race to the rooftop. There, you¡¯ll set up a woodendder spanning a ten-meter drop into a ravine below, and you must quickly cross it to enter the city¡­¡±

 Chapter 72: Youngsters

    Chapter 72: Youngsters


    Maximus continued, ¡°¡­Then, without stopping, you¡¯ll advance quickly along the road to the west. Along the way, Pompeii soldiers may have started to pursue you from behind or may already be shooting arrows at you from the city walls close to the road. If you act too slowly or react sluggishly, you could fall under their arrows or be caught and surrounded by the enemy.


    ¡°When you reach the Heeum Gate, you¡¯ll have to fight the enemy guards there. You must kill them as quickly as possible so that before the enemy¡¯s main force arrives, you can secure the gate and allow our main force, which will be lying in ambush outside the city, to enter smoothly. Only then can we achieve final victory¡­ Now, I ask you: Can you do it?!¡±


    The troops were silent for a moment before a few soldiers finally responded in hushed tones, ¡°¡­We can¡­ do it¡­¡±


    Maximus sternly surveyed the group, saying, ¡°It seems you know your limits. If you can¡¯t evenplete such a simple drill, how could you possibly seed in a raid on Pompeii and return safely? As your leader, my main concern is whether you cane back alive. That¡¯s why I want you to repeat this drill over and over, not only in the daytime but also at night, until you¡¯ve mastered it so well that you canplete the entire simted operation with your eyes closed in the shortest time possible. Only by sweating more in training can we bleed less in battle!


    ¡°I sincerely hope that on the day we capture Pompeii, every one of you will be alive to receive the envious gazes of the other battalions and hear them sincerely praise, ¡®The soldiers of the logistics camp¡¯s guard unit are the best! They are heroes capable of creating miracles!''¡±


    Moved by their leader¡¯s heartfelt words, the soldiers no longer panted or slouched; instead, they stood tall with renewed vigor.


    Taking advantage of the moment, Carminus loudly asked, ¡°Brothers, should we continue the training?!¡±


    ¡°YES!!!¡± the soldiers shouted in unison.


    Watching the soldiers resume their training, Quintus remarked softly, ¡°There are indeed outstanding individuals among the ves.¡±¡°Are you talking about Maximus?¡± Scaep asked, sensing something in his tone.


    Quintus nodded but said no more. Instead, he turned to Aulus and said, ¡°I think you should lead ourrades to join the training as well. We¡¯ve been out ofbat for more than ten years, and our skills are probably rusty. We don¡¯t want to make mistakes during the raid and be aughingstock.¡±


    Aulus sneered, ¡°It¡¯s already generous of us not tough at them, how dare they have the audacity tough at us! However, you¡¯re right. We should train with them a bit so that we can coordinate smoothly during the surprise attack¡­¡±


    With that, Aulus turned to gather his Nucerianpanions. Though he still looked down on these new recruits in the guard team, his extensive experience in warfare had taught him that war is no child¡¯s y and should never be taken lightly!


    ©¥©¥©¥©¥ ? ? ? ©¥©¥©¥©¥


    In the early morning, in the backyard of the rebel¡¯s headquarters at the olive oil farm, a wooden shed was set up in the open space in front of the kitchen. Inside, there were over a dozen simple wooden tables and benches, serving as the ¡°exclusive dining hall¡± for the logistics camp¡¯s support department.


    At this moment, a group of teenagers was having breakfast there. Most of them had already finished eating, with only a few still chewing slowly. One of the boys was rtively small and delicate, with clear features that made him resemble a girl. He was Quintus¡¯ only grandson, Varus Quintus.


    Since the Nucerians had brought their families to the camp, Maximus had assigned the elderly and women to the support department, while their children were ced in the youth squad. Because Maximus treated them no differently from his own men, even though they had to live separately from their families, the Nucerians were able to ept this arrangement.


    ¡°Hurry up, Varus! We¡¯re all waiting for you!¡± urged o.


    Varus quickly stuffed the remaining bread into his mouth and gulped down the leftover oatmeal in the pot.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already got your shield and sword. Let¡¯s head straight to the training ground,¡± said Marcus, handing him a wooden shield and sword. These were made by the people in the armory, smaller and lighter than the ones used by soldiers in training, but much more refined.


    ¡°Thanks!¡± Varus said, taking the equipment.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± o said, patting Varus on the back as he led the way out of the dining hall.


    Varus followed the other boys, hopping and skipping as they made their way to the training ground designated for them, which was right next to the guard team¡¯s training ground, separated by a few rows of oak trees.


    Once they arrived, the teenagers immediately quieted down and quickly lined up in four long rows. Led by their squad leader, o, they began jogging around the training ground¡­


    After fiveps, Varus, who was at the back of the line, began to feel fatigued. Cassius, the vice-leader, who was also at the rear, noticed this and quickly asked with concern, ¡°How are you holding up? Can you keep going?¡±


    Not wanting to be looked down upon, Varus hesitated and replied, ¡°I¡­ I can still do it.¡±


    ¡°Just hang in there a bit longer, there¡¯s only one morep to go. You can do it!¡±


    Cassius¡¯ encouragement gave Varus the strength he needed to push through. He gritted his teeth and finished thep, nearly copsing from exhaustion.


    Cassius quickly supported him and walked with him slowly along the edge of the field,forting him, ¡°It¡¯s always like this when you first start running. I performed even worse than you when I started; I even threw up my breakfast, and o and the othersughed at me. But after running for a few days, I got used to it. Now I can run tenps in a row at a pretty fast pace with no problem. Trust me, if you stick with it every day, you¡¯ll be just like me in no time.¡±


    Varus listened attentively, feeling a warm sensation in his heart, and nodded firmly.


    After a while, o shouted, ¡°Everyone,e over and form up!¡±


    The resting children immediately gathered and quickly arranged themselves into a tight square formation of ten columns and five rows, with Varus promptly taking his position.


    At that moment, an elderly man with graying hair and a stern face approached from the sidelines. His name was Rufus Grhus, a former Roman soldier who hadter fallen to the status of a public ve in Rome. Now, he was a member of the logistics camp¡¯s military advisory group. Over a month ago, when Maximus wanted to select a military instructor for the newly formed youth squad, Rufus had volunteered and secured the position.


    He walked to the front of the formation, and o, who was at the head of the group, immediately stepped forward, pounding his right fist on his chest and reporting clearly, ¡°Instructor, the formation isplete, with 52 members present and ounted for. Please give your orders!¡±


    ¡°Very good, fall in,¡± Grhus said, scanning the eager young faces before him. Every time he saw these youthful and spirited faces, he felt a bit younger himself. His gaze lingered briefly on a few of the children¡ªthose were the Nucerian children. The fact that former enemies were now working together in a ve-led rebellion against Rome struck him as a remarkable twist of fate.


    With a ripple of emotion in his heart, Grhus said, ¡°Next, we¡¯ll be conducting formation drills.¡±


    Unlike adults, these youngsters still had underdeveloped bones and muscles, and excessive strength training could harm their bodies. However, due to their youth and strong learning abilities, they responded much better to formation training than adults. This was a part of the military training n that Maximus and Frontinus had devised after many discussions.


    Grhus then took up his bugle and blew various signals. In response, the teenagers followed themands dictated by the sounds: sometimes advancing, sometimes halting, forming shield walls,unching charges, or retreating en masse¡­


    Afterward, Grhus issued further orders, directing the youth squad to turn left or right, switch to a circr formation, form columns, or push the rear ranks forward while extending the nks. During the training, the formation often became disorganized, mainly because Varus and a few other neers were unfamiliar with the maneuvers, slowing down the entire formation¡¯s movements.


    However, Grhus never stopped to correct them. Instead, the other teenagers took it upon themselves to guide the neers, with everyone actively cooperating and very fewints. As a result, even though the training was a bit rough, the atmosphere remained positive, and gradually, the formation started to improve.


    After the formation drills, the youths took a short break before moving on to engineering training.


    Grhus divided the 52 youths into two teams for apetition. Each team was tasked with digging a trench five meters long, one meter wide, and one meter deep. The trench needed to have traps set within it, and the soil dug up had to be used to build a one-meter-high, five-meter-long earthen wall. The team that finished the fastest and did the best job would win, while the losing team would have to run threeps around the field.


    Both teams gave it their all, working as hard as they could.


    Varus was ced in the same group as Cassius. Cassius specifically assigned Marcus to stay by Varus¡¯ side and personally guide him on what to do. Marcus, who had been so considerate in bringing Varus his equipment during breakfast, was now quite strict with him.


    Since his parents¡¯ deaths, and although his grandfather was somewhat neglectful, Varus had never experienced such hardbor. But influenced by the enthusiastic atmosphere, he neither cked off nor resented Marcus¡¯ strictness. Instead, he diligently followed Marcus¡¯ instructions and worked earnestly.


    Two hourster, Grhus began inspecting the trenchespleted by the two groups.


    ¡°The first group finished first,¡± Grhus observed, ¡°but the trench walls aren¡¯t steep enough, the sharp stakes at the bottom aren¡¯t buried deep or numerous enough, and there isn¡¯t enough water poured in¡­ Imagine this: if, on a real battlefield, the enemy tries to cross a wide trench to attack your camp, but the steep walls and slippery ground make it difficult for them to climb out once they¡¯re in¡­ If they set up a woodendder to quickly cross and identally fall into the trench, they wouldnd on the densely packed sharp stakes below. The only thing waiting for them would be death¡­¡± Grhus exined the shorings as he demonstrated the scenarios himself.


    Covered in dust, the youngsters stood in line at the side. At an age when they should have been ying without worries, they were instead listening to an old soldier recount the bloody realities of life and death on the battlefield. But no one seemed to find it strange; instead, they listened intently.


    ¡°¡­Byparison, although the second group took longer, they did a better job in these aspects.¡± Grhus calmly gave his final judgment: ¡°Based on your performances, the second group wins this round!¡±


    Cassius, Marcus, and their teammates cheered loudly. Varus couldn¡¯t help but join in the shouting, feeling the collective pride that came from their shared effort and sess.


    The youths in the first group were a bit dejected, but o took responsibility right away: ¡°It¡¯s my fault that we lost this time. I was too focused on speed and didn¡¯t enforce strict enough standards. I hope you can forgive me!¡±


    One of the youths quickly responded, ¡°It¡¯s not just your fault, Squad Leader; we all share the me! Teacher Maximus once told us, ¡®It¡¯s impossible not to make mistakes. What matters is recognizing them and correcting them!''¡±


    ¡°Gallus is right. We should learn from today¡¯s lesson and aim to beat the second group next time!¡± another boy shouted.


    ¡°Yeah, next time we¡¯ll definitely win!¡± The youths in the first group yelled, regaining their fighting spirit.


    <em>Ah, being young is amazing!</em> Grhus watched the scene of the youths¡¯ excitement with a smile. After a moment, he raised his voice again and said, ¡°Next, we¡¯ll do one-on-onebat training!¡±


    The youngsters cheered even louder. Compared to the highly disciplined formation drills and the grueling engineering tasks, this was their favorite activity¡ªwho wouldn¡¯t enjoy a bit of rough-and-tumble y?


    Only Varus and the other newly joined youths felt a bit nervous. Although they had been training for two days, this was their first time engaging in one-on-one swordbat.


    Grhus paired up the youths as evenly as possible to ensure that the opponents were well-matched in skill, which was essential for effective training.


    ¡°Varus, your opponent is Dorin.¡±


    Varus was stunned: <em>My opponent is a girl?!</em>


    Maximus didn¡¯t hold any gender biases. He had included five girls in the youth squad, who trained just like the boys. While he didn¡¯t n for them to fight in battles when they grew up, he hoped the training would help them develop strong, healthy bodies, making them less prone to illness and able to keep up during the troop¡¯s movements.


    But when Dorin stood in front of Varus, anyints he had vanished.


    Dorin, 14 years old, was the daughter of ves on the farm and had joined the logistics camp of the rebel army early on. When she first arrived, she was quite frail, but after six months of better nutrition and being in the midst of her growth spurt, she now stood a head taller than Varus and had a sturdy physique. If not for her more delicate facial features and slightly developed chest, she could easily be mistaken for a boy.


    ¡°Hey, watch yourself. I¡¯m not going to hold back,¡± Dorin said, looking Varus straight in the eye before charging at him with her wooden shield.


    Varus raised his shield to block, but the impact of the two shields colliding made him realize that he was weaker than his opponent. He was pushed back a step.


    Dorin charged again with her shield, and once more, Varus tried to block, only to be pushed back again, this time his arm was also starting to feel numb. So when Dorin charged for the third time, he didn¡¯t dare block her directly and chose to dodge instead.

 Chapter 73: Raid on Pompeii (I)

    Chapter 73: Raid on Pompeii (I)


    Dorin pressed her advantage relentlessly, forcing Varus to retreat step by step. She swung her wooden sword repeatedly until Varus, unable to dodge in time, was struck on the shoulder, causing him to cry out in pain.


    Dorin immediately stopped and asked with concern, ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    Varus rubbed his shoulder. Dorin had held back, so there was no serious injury. As the pain subsided, he replied, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°Should we continue?¡± Dorin asked, blinking and showing a hint of superiority.


    Not wanting to be looked down upon by a girl, Varus gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Of course we¡¯ll continue!¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s go again.¡± Dorin immediately took up her stance.


    ¡°Halt!¡± Instructor Rufus, who had somehow already stood beside them, stepped forward and asked Varus: ¡°Have you never practiced sword fighting before?¡±


    ¡°N-no, I haven¡¯t,¡± Varus answered honestly, feeling a bit ashamed.


    Rufus was surprised.<em>As a former primus pilus of a legion, how could this boy¡¯s grandfather have failed to train him from a young age? That¡¯s a deeply ingrained Roman tradition!</em>


    What Rufus didn¡¯t know was that ever since Quintus lost his son and daughter-inw, he had been consumed by revenge, neglecting the care and education of his grandson.


    After thinking for a moment, Rufus said, ¡°Dorin, go over to Marcus and others and spar with them in turn.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Dorin nced at Varus before turning to leave.


    ¡°Child, you won¡¯t be sparring today,¡± Rufus said kindly. ¡°Let¡¯s start by practicing the basic stances of sword fighting. See, you should hold the wooden shield like this¡­ Yes, that way it¡¯s easier on your arm, allows you to exert force more efficiently, and prevents injury¡­ Step forward with your left foot, brace with your right, and squat slightly. Keep the wooden shield in front of your chest, with the wooden sword hidden behind it but ready to strike at any moment¡­ Perfect, just like that. And remember, always keep your eyes on your opponent. Even if blood sshes on your face, you can¡¯t blink. Understood?¡±


    Under Rufus¡¯ careful guidance, Varus spent the rest of the time practicing his sword fighting stances and movements alone. By the time Rufus announced that the morning¡¯s military training was over, Varus was so exhausted that he could barely lift his arms.


    Then, o directed everyone to form up again and return to the farm¡¯s backyard.


    Agnes stood outside the dining hall, and upon seeing them arrive, she immediately called out with a beaming smile: ¡°Children,e and have a jar of milk first to quench your thirst!¡±


    Amid the chorus of ¡°Thank you, Aunt Agnes,¡± there was a soft ¡°Thanks Mom,¡± which came from Nesuya.


    Varus, holding his jar of milk, sat down at a wooden table and took a sip. The drink was both sour and sweet, with a delightful taste that was refreshingly cool. He drank it all in one go and then let out a contented burp.


    ¡°Tastes good, doesn¡¯t it? This is a special recipe from the kitchen, with a bit of honey added. It¡¯s something most people don¡¯t get to taste. We¡¯re lucky to be in the logistics camp with Aunt Agnes looking after us; otherwise, we¡¯d be stuck drinking greasy soup for lunch. So today¡¯s a good day,¡± a boy chimed in, speaking rapidly. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have finished it all at once. You should¡¯ve saved some to go with the bread¡ªit¡¯s better that way.¡±


    Varus remembered the boy¡¯s name was Menas and replied with a frown, ¡°But I¡¯ve already finished it all. Menas, what should I do?¡±


    After a moment of hesitation, Menas picked up his own jar. ¡°I¡¯ll pour you a little more.¡±


    At this moment, Varus recalled what Maximus had said to him two days ago when he first joined the evening study session: ¡°Child, you¡¯re new here, but don¡¯t worry about being excluded or bullied. These kids have all had hard lives, and they understand the importance of looking out for one another. They¡¯ll treat you like a brother, and I hope you¡¯ll see them as brothers and sisters too. Make this ce your home, and live here happily¡­¡±


    As Menas poured half of his milk into Varus¡¯ jar, Varus felt both touched and a bit ashamed.


    Menas leaned in closer and whispered, ¡°You really got beaten up by Dorin today, huh? That girl¡¯s nothing like a regr girl¡ªwhen she starts fighting, she goes all out like a madwoman, with no sense of restraint.¡±


    ¡°Menas, are you talking bad about me again? Is your skin itching for another beating?!¡± Dorin¡¯s voice suddenly came from behind, startling Menas. He quickly shook his head, ¡°I-I wasn¡¯t saying anything bad about you. I was just telling Varus how to enjoy his milk properly. Right, Varus?¡±


    Seeing Menas winking at him, Varus nodded and said, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡±


    ¡°Neither of you is any good,¡± Dorin red at the two of them, huffing, ¡°I heard everything, and Nesuya can testify!¡±


    Nesuya gently interjected, ¡°Menas, it¡¯s definitely wrong to talk behind someone¡¯s back! But, Dorin, since you¡¯re kind¡ªwhy not forgive him just this once? Oh, my mother just brought out the bread. Let¡¯s go help her distribute it.¡±


    Dorin snorted and turned to meet Agnes.


    ¡°Phew, that was close! Thank goodness for Nesuya,¡± Menas sighed in relief, sticking out his tongue.


    Varus couldn¡¯t help butugh.


    When Varus first learned that the youth squad¡ªand the whole camp¡ªgot an extra meal at noon, he was surprised. Even Romanmoners usually only had two meals a day, yet this group of armed ves was eating better than them!


    As he sat eating warm bread and drinking sweet milk while listening to Menas and the others boast and joke around, he felt a sense of contentment he couldn¡¯t quite describe. It seemed to sweep away all the fatigue of the morning.


    The afternoon was work time. Since Varus had a few years of education when he was young, in the afternoon he followed o and the others to the warehouse to assist Cornelius in receiving the looted supplies that had been delivered.


    Though it was called assistance, the youth team actually did most of the work. ording to Vorenus¡¯ instructions, they had to organize the warehouse, inventory the stock, and even make rough estimates of the supplies needed for the next few days. If they noticed any potential shortages, they were to report them promptly.


    Compared to the morning¡¯s military training, Varus preferred the afternoon work. It made him feel like he was doing something an adult would do, giving him a strong sense of aplishment.


    After dinner, Quintus came to find him.


    ¡°Varus, how have you been feeling these past few days?¡± Quintus asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Varus replied nonchntly, his usual tone when speaking with his grandfather.


    ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, we¡¯ll head back in a few days.¡±


    ¡°Why go back? It¡¯s great here!¡± Varus suddenly became anxious and said loudly, ¡°Here, I have so many friends my age. We train together, work together, and learn together. It¡¯s much more lively than at home, and I¡¯ve learned a lot! Plus, we get three meals here, and the food is delicious. I¡¯ve even gotten a bit stronger¡ª¡ª¡±


    As he spoke, Varus clenched his fist and stretched his arm out in front of his grandfather.


    Quintus watched his grandson¡¯s excited face, listening as he spoke more than usual, and calmly replied, ¡°It sounds like it¡¯s pretty good here. So, should we¡­ stay a bit longer?¡±


    ¡°Yes, let¡¯s stay here!¡± Varus nodded firmly, then impatiently added, ¡°Do you need anything else, Grandpa? I¡¯m about to go study!¡±


    ¡°Child,¡± Quintus looked at him, his voice somber, ¡°if I don¡¯te back, you must take good care of yourself here.¡±


    ¡°Grandpa, what do you mean¡ª¡ª¡± Varus suddenly felt uneasy.


    ¡°Of course, the chances of me noting back are very small,¡± Quintus forced a smile onto his aged face. ¡°It¡¯s more likely that when I return, we¡¯ll be able to live happily together in this camp!¡±


    With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Varus standing there silently, trying to make sense of the thoughts stirring in his mind.


    ©¥©¥©¥©¥ ? ? ? ©¥©¥©¥©¥


    Late at night, the bright moon hung high in the sky, and a northern wind blew southward.


    Carminus led 200 fully armed soldiers, carrying woodendders and battering rams, out of the guard camp. Using the moonlight as their guide, they silently marched westward, bypassing the first and fifth cohorts¡¯ camps, and finally reached the coast. Their destination was a row of five single-masted merchant ships anchored on the beach.


    The waves werepping against the shore with a gentle ¡®whoosh¡¯ sound, and the sea breeze was whistling ¡®swish, swish¡¯ incessantly¡­


    Using all his strength, Carminus shouted to ensure everyone could hear, ¡°Brothers, Leader Maximus and the others are already waiting at the gates of Pompeii. Everything depends on us now! Is everyone ready?!¡±


    ¡°Sir, enough talking, let¡¯s get on board! We can¡¯t wait any longer!¡±


    ¡°Yeah! After these tough days of training, we¡¯re eager to be heroes!¡±


    The soldiers shouted eagerly. Carminus cursed yfully at the soldiers and nced at Aulus beside him.


    Aulus spoke in a deep voice, ¡°Give the order.¡±


    Carminus waved his hand and shouted, ¡°Push the ships into the sea!¡±


    The soldiers worked together to push the vessels into the waves, then quickly jumped aboard. The appointed helmsmen adjusted the sails to the right angle. As soon as the sails were unfurled, they caught the full force of the northern wind.


    With the strong wind propelling them, the other soldiers didn¡¯t even need to row¡ªthe ships swiftly left the shore¡­


    Sailing along the coastline, the ships sped south like arrows. Although the night wind was quite strong, the stretch from Cape Miseno to Sorrento, epassing coastal towns like Naples and Pompeii, formed arge circr bay (Gulf of Naples/Bay of Naples). This weakened the wavesing from the open sea. Moreover, most of the soldiers were experienced sailors, so even sailing at night, they didn¡¯t encounter any significant risks along the way.


    After a little over ten minutes, the soldiers spotted a bright light on the coast ahead¡ªthis was the lighthouse at the port. However, the soldiers, familiar with the route, took no action as they knew this was the town of Heeum.


    A short whileter, when they saw a second bright light, Carminus, standing at the bow of the lead ship, immediately ordered the sails to be furled. The soldiers then began to row vigorously, steering the ship towards the shore¡­


    Carminus strained his eyes, peering at the coast under the lighthouse¡¯s glow. ¡°Not this port¡ªfurther ahead!¡­ This is the one, this is it! Row hard, charge in!¡±


    The soldiers rowed furiously, and the ships surged through the dark, rolling waves, breaking into Pompeii¡¯s new harbor, which was designated for receiving foreign merchant ships. The second, third, fourth, and fifth ships followed closely behind. Soon, the urgent sound of bells rang out across the port¡­


    ©¥©¥©¥©¥ ? ? ? ©¥©¥©¥©¥


    Maximus led the main force of the guard team and some of the logistics camp¡¯s leaders to leave the camp at dusk, resulting in the entire guard camp beingpletely empty.


    To avoid being detected by the First Battalion, they first headed south, reaching the abandoned hillside camp of the rebel army. Then, they turned west, reaching the coast and marching quickly south along the t coastal road.


    Due to the presence of the rebel army, few people ventured outside during the day in the Vesuvius area, so there were even fewer at night.


    The rebel main camp was about 10 kilometers from Pompeii. Maximus¡¯ army carried no heavy loads, so they marched quickly. After a few hours, they reached the northern side of Pompeii. It was a time ofplete stillness, and the army was now lurking less than 500 meters from Pompeii. This area, at the southern foothills of Vesuvius, had uneven terrain, dense trees, and thick underbrush, making it difficult for the sentries on the city walls to spot them.


    The soldiersy on the ground to rest and regain their strength.


    Maximus gazed into the distance. Under the night sky, Pompeii resembled a giant beast lying on the ground, sound asleep. The Heracleum Gate, dimly illuminated by torches on the city walls, appeared like one of its eyes, tightly shut.


    He then shifted his gaze westward, where darkness swallowed the horizon, making it impossible to distinguish the sky from the sea. Only the sound of the waves crashing against the shore echoed in his ears¡­


    ¡°It¡¯s still early. The assault team probably hasn¡¯t set out yet,¡± Quintus said beside him.


    ¡°How do you know?¡± Maximus asked curiously, not doubting him. They had marched mostly under the cover of night, and without carrying a water clock, Maximus had no way of knowing the time.


    Quintus pointed ahead and said, ¡°Look at those sentries. Deep into the night, people naturally grow weary. Without supervision, these guards will instinctively disregard military discipline, leaning against walls to rest. Only soldiers who have undergone strict training and experienced harsh battles will rigorously adhere to discipline, knowing that a moment offort can lead to disaster. But clearly, the Pompeians aren¡¯t such soldiers. See how those sentries are still pacing back and forth? That means it¡¯s still early, so there¡¯s no need to rush, Leader Maximus. You can rest for now.¡±


    Maximus nodded, then couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried, Quintus?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re referring to the sea raid, there¡¯s nothing to worry about. We¡¯ve made ample preparations in advance. If it still fails, it can only be the arrangement of the Goddess of Fate,¡± Quintus replied calmly. ¡°The only thing I am slightly concerned about is that after breaching the city, Areius Vettius might escape.¡±


    Maximus nced at the weathered old soldier, then silently turned his gaze back toward Pompeii¡­


    Maximus had dared to make the decision tounch a night raid on Pompeii because, even if it failed, he would only lose 200 soldiers. Though he would face criticism from Spartacus and the other leaders, it wouldn¡¯t be enough to shake his position as the leader of the logistics camp. He could regain any lost prestige through his efforts in the future.

 Chapter 74: Raid on Pompeii (II)

    Chapter 74: Raid on Pompeii (II)


    If the night raid seeded, Maximus would not only gain arge amount of urgently needed supplies and talented personnel but also significantly increase his prestige. This would prevent other leaders from underestimating his military abilities, making the potential rewards far outweigh the risks. That¡¯s why he dared to take such a gamble. However, standing before the gates of Pompeii, he couldn¡¯t help but feel tense and anxious, as this was his first real battle under his directmand.


    <em>I guess I¡¯m still too inexperienced¡­</em> Maximus thought to himself. He then decided to lie down on a t patch of grass nearby, looking up at the sky with his eyes closed, trying to clear his mind.


    Seeing this, the equally nervous soldiers began to follow his example, and soon the entire team¡¯s atmosphere became much more rxed.


    It was unclear how much time had passed when Maximus was shaken awake, hearing the excited voice of Phaselus in his ear: ¡°Maximus, look! Carminus has captured the gate!¡±


    Maximus, still groggy, quickly became alert. He leaped to his feet and looked into the distance, where he saw a torch waving rapidly on the city wall.


    ¡°What are we waiting for? Let¡¯s rush in!¡± Tolerugo shouted eagerly.


    At this moment, Maximus regained hisposure. He recalled the n they had discussed earlier, and after scanning the soldiers who were now getting to their feet, he spoke loudly, ¡°Brothers, don¡¯t be hasty! Get your gear in order and grab your weapons! Phaselus, Tolerugo, quickly organize your troops!¡±


    His words temporarily calmed everyone down.


    A momentter, the two senior centurions shouted in unison, ¡°We¡¯re ready! Sir, give the order!¡±Maximus then said in a low voice, ¡°Tolerugo, lead the Second, Fifth, and Eighth Centuriae and charge through the gate at full speed. Then proceed quickly along that main road toward the city hall.¡±


    ¡°Understood!¡±


    Tolerugo grinned and said, ¡°Just watch me. I¡¯ll bring you the praetor of Pompeii myself.¡±


    Maximus ignored him and turned back, saying, ¡°Frontinus, I¡¯ll need you and the military advisory group to follow him and help him maintain control of the troops.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, leave it to us!¡± Frontinus replied firmly, ncing at Quintus. Since the Nucerians had arrived at the logistics camp, these former Roman army ves had felt the pressure ofpetition. Although open conflicts had been avoided due to Maximus¡¯ presence, the rivalry had been simmering beneath the surface. Especially in tonight¡¯s raid, even though the Nucerians had devised the n and were more familiar with the city¡¯syout, Frontinus and his men were determined to prove themselves and show that they were better than the Nucerians.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave it to you,¡± Maximus responded with a smile. He was fully aware of what Frontinus and his men were thinking and was happy to see it becausepetition drives improvement.


    Tolerugo, however, was oblivious to the undercurrents at y. Unwilling to be constrained by Frontinus and his group, he raised his sword in his right hand and shouted, ¡°Brothers, charge!¡±


    With that, he dashed forward. The soldiers were about to rush after him, but Frontinus, trying to maintain order, shouted alongside hispanions, ¡°Hold it! ¡­Second Centuria, go first! ¡­Keep your formation, don¡¯t scatter! ¡­Fifth Centuria, follow! Keep your formation!¡±


    Since Frontinus and his group had always been in charge of the guard unit¡¯s military training, the soldiers were ustomed to theirmands. When they shouted orders, the soldiers instinctively followed, trying to maintain their formations, sprinting forward one after another in an orderly manner.


    Quintus watched silently, saying nothing.


    Maximus waited until Tolerugo and his troops had run a considerable distance before saying, ¡°Phaselus, you lead the First, Third, Sixth, and Seventh Centuries, and follow me.¡±


    ¡°Brothers!¡± Phaselus could barely contain his eagerness. ¡°It¡¯s our turn! As they did, keep your formation as you advance¡ªdon¡¯t let anyone make a fool of us!¡±


    ¡°HRAHH!¡± The soldiers roared and raised their arms. Although theycked armor and swords, wielding wooden shields, spears, and even farming tools, their morale was high. (Although the rebel army had achieved a great victory at the Volturno River and captured thousands of pieces of armor and weapons, the logistics camp¡¯s guard unit did not benefit due to the strong opposition from Crixus and Oenomaus. Only half of them had armor and weapons. To ensure the sess of the sea raid and to help Tolerugo¡¯s troops, the vanguard, resist the enemy¡¯s counterattack, Maximus had ordered that the soldiers in these three centuriae give up their armor and weapons to the vanguard. Of course, these would be returned after the battle.)


    Tolerugo was the first to rush through the city gate, where he immediately saw Carminus standing by the gate with a torch. He praised him on the spot, ¡°Hey, brother, great job!¡±


    ¡°You got here quickly too!¡± Carminus replied.


    ¡°Quick? We were too slow!¡± Tolerugo said impatiently, turning back and waving his hand vigorously. ¡°Hurry up, you all!¡±


    Seeing that all the soldiers of the vanguard troops had passed through the city gate, Carminus finally breathed a sigh of relief. He pointed to a middle-aged man nearby and said, ¡°Valerius will be your guide and take you to the city hall.¡±


    ¡°I remember the location of the city hall perfectly!¡± Tolerugo said confidently, though he didn¡¯t refuse Valerius¡¯ help. He led his troops southward along the road.


    The road running parallel to the city district and the port was mainly used for transporting goods, so it was quite spacious, wide enough to amodate six or seven people walking side by side. It was also rtively t. As Tolerugo led his troops forward, their speed didn¡¯t slow down much.


    To the west of the road was the city wall, where sporadic sounds of fighting could be heard¡ªthose were Carminus¡¯ soldiers hunting down the remaining sentries on the wall.


    To the east of the road were rows of houses, where lights were gradually being lit. The Pompeii residents, awakened from their sleep, peeked through their windows, watching in fear as the rebel soldiers marched past their homes. The rumble of footsteps and the noisy shouts filled them with dread.


    The dim light from the houses also illuminated the path ahead. After marching for a while, Tolerugo noticed countless figures moving in the distance and heard someone shouting, ¡°Citizens of Pompeii, drive out the robbers and protect our families!¡±


    The people approaching were the city guards, hastily assembled by Pompeii¡¯s city officials. Encouraged by their leader, they roared as they charged toward Tolerugo¡¯s troops.


    Tolerugo, far from being intimidated, shouted excitedly, ¡°Brothers, charge with me and kill them all!¡±


    Under his lead, the Tolerugo¡¯s troops shed head-on with the Pompeii city guard soldiers. The sounds of battle immediately tore through the darkness and echoed throughout the city.


    No matter how wide the road, only about eight men could engage directly at the front, causing congestion as the troops couldn¡¯t spread out. The men at the front couldn¡¯t retreat, and those at the back couldn¡¯t advance. Fortunately, the three centuriae had maintained some distance from each other, thanks to the military advisory group¡¯s repeated warnings. When the enemy was encountered, Frontinus quickly stopped the other two centuriae from blindly pressing forward.


    ¡°Can we bypass them?¡± Frontinus asked the guide, Valerius, as he nced at the houses along the road.


    ¡°Yes, just ahead is the square,¡± Valerius replied.


    ¡°Then let¡¯s circle around and attack the enemy¡¯s nks and rear!¡± Frontinus suggested to the centurions of the Fifth and Eighth Centuriae.


    These two centurions had been promoted by Maximus for their outstanding performance in the guard unit. Though they had participated in the first battle against the Romans and the night raid on Vesuvius, this was their first timemanding troops in battle. To make matters worse, it was a night battle, one of the most challenging situations for amander. With their senior centurion, Tolerugo, stuck in the fray and unable to give orders, they did not hesitate to follow the advice of the seasoned veteran, Frontinus. They both said at the same time, ¡°Understood, we¡¯ll do as you say.¡±


    Under Valerius¡¯ guidance, the soldiers cautiously maneuvered through the narrow paths between the houses. However, before they even reached the square, they were discovered and blocked by Pompeian soldiers. The soldiers who followed also tried to find alternate routes, only to be intercepted again.


    The Pompeii city hall was situated on the southern side of the square, with the Temple of Apollo nearby. The temple stood on a high foundation, where the praetor Cassius Cominius Silo, stood overlooking the scene to the west. He could barely make out the rebel soldiers weaving through the residential area.


    ¡°The enemy is circling around to the next alley! Quickly, send more troops to block them!¡± Silo shouted urgently, pointing ahead.


    Ever since these despicable ves had seeded in their surprise attack on the Roman army at Vesuvius, significantly boosting their strength, Silo had been worried that they mighte to attack Pompeii. For the past two or three months, he had been reinforcing the city¡¯s defenses. But despite all his warnings and preparations, the enemy had still managed to break into the city. s, these cowardly and ipetent Pompeians!


    In fact, Silo didn¡¯t need to give any further orders. The Pompeian citizens who hade to the city hall to receive weapons and equipment hurriedly armed themselves and rushed to the battlefield. However, their numbers were insufficient, which made Silo even more anxious. He shouted, ¡°Quick, send someone to urge Areius again! Tell him that if he doesn¡¯t send reinforcements soon, the city hall will fall to the enemy, and his luxurious mansion will be their next target!¡±


    As Silo¡¯s aide rushed toward the wealthy residential area in the east, Maximus, having entered the city, had already met up with Carminus. Upon learning that Tolerugo¡¯s troops were being blocked ahead, Maximus heeded Quintus¡¯ advice not to rush to their aid. Instead, he led over 500 soldiers swiftly along the road by the city wall to the east. After reaching the Vesuvius Gate, they turned onto Pompeii¡¯s main central road. Along the way, they scared away some Pompeian citizens who were heading to the square. When they reached the city center and were about to turn west, they heard amotion from the left front.


    ¡°It¡¯s probably the reinforcements organized by Pompeii¡¯s wealthy citizens¡ªthey have plenty of guards and ves,¡± Quintus warned urgently. ¡°We should leave some soldiers here to block them!¡±


    Maximus stared at the countless vague figures in the distance and decided once again to follow Quintus¡¯ suggestion. ¡°Carminus, take your men and block this intersection!¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir!¡± Carminus quickly gathered the soldiers from the Third and Sixth Centuriae.


    Just as Maximus was about to lead his troops away, he suddenly remembered something and asked, ¡°That Areius Vettius should be among those reinforcements, right? Don¡¯t you want to stay here with your men to personally deal with him?¡±


    Quintus calmly said, ¡°The key now is the enemies at the square. If we can quickly crush them, the city will be ours. Since Areius hasn¡¯t fled yet, he won¡¯t be able to escape once we finish here.¡±


    <em>This old man is really calm enough on the battlefield. He¡¯s worth learning from!</em>


    Maximus admired Quintus¡¯ calmness in his heart. Without saying another word, he led the charge down the road to the west.


    The soldiers from the First, Fourth, and Seventh Centuriae followed closely behind. Though they weren¡¯t wearing armor and were armed only with wooden shields and spears, they had been running from their ambush point all the way here, a distance of about 1.5 kilometers. Despite their heavy breathing and fatigue, the sight of the open square ahead and the fierce battle taking ce just 100 meters away fueled their adrenaline. Under Maximus¡¯ leadership, they charged straight at the Pompeian citizens desperately fighting on the edge of the square.


    Maximus¡¯ army had circled around much of the city and now appeared on the southern side of the square. At first, Silo was overjoyed, thinking reinforcements had arrived. But when he realized they were enemies, he was shocked. With no soldiers left to deploy, he could only watch in terror as these enemies, armed with crude weapons, charged towards the battling Pompeian citizens.


    He still clung to a sliver of hope, praying that the fully armed Pompeian could hold off the attack from behind.


    However, the Pompeian citizens had already done their utmost by answering the call to arms and fighting to defend their homes in the dead of night. Lacking proper training, they were struggling with frontal defense. When the deafening roar of the approaching rebels reached them from behind, some panicked and fled before even making contact, triggering a massive rout among the Pompeians.


    Seizing the opportunity, the two rebel forces joined together, attempting to encircle the Pompeian city guards still defending the road.


    Soon after, before the rebel army couldpletely encircle them, the Pompeian city guard quickly dispersed. Their leader and some of the soldiers were captured.


    At this moment, Maximus gained a deeper understanding of what Quintus had said before the battle: The raid on Pompeii must be swift, and they must defeat them as quickly as possible. Otherwise, although the people of Pompeii were timid, if the battle dragged on and they began to adapt to the battlefield, motivated by the defense of their homes, a stalemate could likely form. This would attract more Pompeians to join the fight, which would be disastrous for them, given their already small numbers¡­


    ¡°Report, Sir! We¡¯ve captured the city hall and the armory next to it, and we also caught a big fish¡ªit¡¯s the praetor of Pompeii!¡± Phaselus reported, throwing the man he was holding to the ground.


    Silo rolled onto the ground, looking up at Maximus with a pleading expression on his face, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to utter words begging for mercy.

 Chapter 75: Gains and Military Affairs Officer

    Chapter 75: Gains and Military Affairs Officer


    Maximus didn¡¯t spare Silo a nce and said with a smile, ¡°Well done, Phaselus! Now, leave one century here to guard the armory, and the rest will follow me to support Carminus.¡±


    ¡°Yessir!¡±


    This time, Maximus turned back to provide reinforcements, but unlike before, he didn¡¯t force his soldiers to march at a rapid pace. Instead, he allowed them to proceed at a normal pace, giving them a chance to recover some of their strength.


    The reason Areius¡¯ reinforcements from the wealthy district were slow to arrive was that the district was located in the southeastern corner of Pompeii, farthest from the Heeum Gate. Upon receiving news that ¡°a group of rebellious ves hadunched a surprise attack through the port and entered the city,¡± the first reaction of Pompeii¡¯s elite was not to send reinforcements immediately but to first gather their own ves and put them under strict control. Only then did they have their household guards assemble in front of Areius¡¯ residence.


    Although the 500 guardsmen led by Areius was a ragtag force, cobbled together from various sources, they were well-equipped and possessed considerable courage (otherwise they wouldn¡¯t have been able to intimidate the ves). Thus, Areius was confident in his ability to defeat the enemy force, which was clearly smaller in number.


    However, the 200 soldiers led by Carminus were fully armed, and their morale was high due to the sess of their surprise attack on the port. Among them were over 20 experienced Roman veterans led by Aulus. They held their ground at the crossroads, preventing the superior numbers of the Pompeian reinforcements from overwhelming them and effectively repelling Areius¡¯ fierce assault.


    As the battle dragged on, the intensity of the Pompeian reinforcements¡¯ attacks began to wane. After all, they were merely guards ustomed to bullying ves, not soldiers hardened by military training.


    Carminus consideredunching a counterattack but was stopped by Aulus, who didn¡¯t want to scare the enemy off too soon.


    Areius was shrewd in politics and business butcked military experience. He had organized this force because of his significant influence in Pompeii. Concerned for the city¡¯s safety, he repeatedly urged his soldiers to press the attack when he saw the enemy was on the defensive and unable to mount an offensive.However, just then, under the cover of darkness, Maximus, again taking Quintus¡¯ advice, chose to nk the enemy with reinforcements.


    When the rebel soldiers¡¯ shouts were heard from the rear of the Pompeian forces, Areius¡¯ face instantly turned pale. Thest armed force within Pompeii was now trapped like fish in a barrel, and this ragtag force, losing all their will to fight, quickly surrendered.


    Areius, seeing the futility of resistance, prepared to surrender, but then he heard a voice from behind: ¡°Areius, we finally meet again!¡±


    The somewhat familiar voice sent a shock through Areius¡¯ heart. He widened his eyes as he saw the old man emerging from the darkness. The unease on his face quickly turned into anger, causing him to forget his situation. ¡°¡­Quintus, it¡¯s you! It must be you who¡¯s behind this, allowing these ves to conquer Pompeii! Don¡¯t forget you¡¯re a Roman; this is a betrayal of Rome¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, Rome betrayed me first!¡± Quintus replied coldly. ¡°It ignored the loyalty we gave, shedding blood for decades, and sent dogs like you to seize ournd and trample on our dignity! Areius, I¡¯ve tried several times to bring you to justice for murdering my son and daughter-inw, but you always managed to escape punishment. Tonight, you can try again!¡± As he spoke, he drew out a dark, gleaming dagger.


    Areius was terrified, turning to flee, but Quintus grabbed him by the cor.


    ¡°Quintus, spare me! It wasn¡¯t my fault! It was all Su the Younger¡¯s doing! He wanted yournd, and I had no choice¡ª¡ª¡± Areius trembled all over, copsing to his knees, with snot and tears streaming down his face.


    ¡°So this is what ¡®The Protector of Pompeii¡¯ looks like? It seems that all the talk of w and justice¡¯ is nonsense. Only force can reveal your true nature¡­¡± Quintus sneered, thrusting the dagger forward, piercing Areius¡¯ chest. The pleas for mercy stopped abruptly.


    Quintus pulled out the dagger and, with a powerful swing, severed his enemy¡¯s neck in one blow.


    He raised the head high, showing it to Aulus and the other Nucerians, who roared in excitement.


    ¡°Leader Maximus, the elite of Pompeii live not far ahead. We must do everything we can to capture them all if we are to truly take control of this town!¡±


    Maximus felt a twinge of difort seeing Quintus holding Areius¡¯ bloody head. He understood that Quintus had personal reasons for saying this since many Pompeian elites, not just Areius, were enemies of the Nucerians. But regardless, their goals aligned.


    With that in mind, Maximus surveyed the surroundings and shouted loudly, ¡°Brothers, hang in there a little longer! Follow me and let¡¯s capture all those rich Pompeians who have oppressed us, ves!¡±


    ¡°HAHH!!!¡± The soldiers roared in unison, full of excitement.


    ©¥©¥©¥©¥ ? ? ? ©¥©¥©¥©¥


    ¡°Leader, after a rough count of the spoils, we have now obtained 450 sets of leather helmets and armor, 498 round shields, 515 short swords, 722 spears, 988 pairs of leather sandals, and 1,130 linen tunics¡ª¡ª¡±


    As Vorenus was speaking, he was interrupted by Capito, the military warehouse supervisor: ¡°We likely got even more weapons and equipment because many soldiers stripped the armor from their enemies and used their weapons themselves after killing or capturing them, so it¡¯s hard to get an urate count.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter; it all stays within our ranks,¡± Maximus thought for a moment and said, ¡°Vorenus, send someone to inform the three senior centurions to have any soldiers who stillck equipment report to the city hall for a change of equipment.¡±


    Vorenus quietly reminded him, ¡°Leader, should we inform Spartacus and the others about these captured weapons and equipment?¡±


    Maximus red at him, ¡°Spartacus, Crixus, and the others won a major victory earlier and captured enough Roman legionary weapons and equipment. They wouldn¡¯t care about this little bit of loot, so there¡¯s no need to mention it. By the way, Vorenus, how many ves in Pompeii are willing to join us?¡±


    ¡°Um¡­ Leader, since entering the city, I¡¯ve been busy with Capito inventorying the supplies, so I haven¡¯t had time to learn about the situation with the ves in Pompeii,¡± Vorenus exined.


    Maximus then remembered that due to the old warehouse supervisor Cornelius not following the army to Pompeiist night, iming he was too old and weak, he had temporarily assigned the task of inventorying supplies to Vorenus.


    <em>Is it time to rece the warehouse supervisor with someone more proactive?</em>


    Maximus pondered as he spoke, ¡°In a moment, go and focus on handling this matter. Get a clear understanding of the situation of all ves willing to join our logistics camp. As quickly as possible, pick out those young and strong male ves who don¡¯t have any special talents, and assign them to the guard unit¡ª¡ª¡±


    At this point, Maximus suddenly asked, ¡°Where is Frontinus?¡±


    ¡°He might be at the temple guarding the prisoners,¡± Capito replied.


    ¡°Go get him right away,¡± Maximus said and then turned to Vorenus, ¡°What about other supplies besides the weapons and equipment?¡±


    Vorenus carefully looked at his records and said, ¡°We also obtained over a hundred kilograms of papyrus, enough linen to fill arge warehouse, many sheets of cowhide, many woolen nkets, many different-sized earthen jars, many jars of wine, many jars of olive oil, and arge quantity of grain and smoked meat¡­ Additionally, we seized sixrge chests full of denarius (silver coins) and tworge chests full of aureus (gold coins). Since we were pressed for time, we haven¡¯t had a chance to make a detailed count, but these supplies are just what we looted from Pompeii¡¯s city hall, treasury, temple, and the homes of the captured wealthy people. We haven¡¯t even searched the shops and warehouses at the port yet!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s already quite a lot!¡± The previously weary Maximus suddenly became energized, his excitement making him a little careless with his words, ¡°We¡¯ve really hit the jackpot this time!¡±


    ¡°Hit the jackpot?¡± Vorenus didn¡¯t understand the meaning of the phrase.


    Maximus didn¡¯t bother to exin and thought of another issue: ¡°We¡¯ve obtained so many supplies that Pigres¡¯ transport team will probably have to make several trips, and there¡¯s not enough space in the camp to store everything¡­¡±


    Pigres¡¯ transport team hadn¡¯t apanied the troopsst night. After all, driving wagons in the dark was risky, and it was easy to be detected. If the people of Pompeii were alerted, the surprise attack would likely fail. So, Maximus had originally nned to notify them toe over the day after capturing Pompeii.


    ¡°Leader, why don¡¯t we just make Pompeii our new camp?¡± Vorenus suggested.


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Maximus tapped the long wooden table in front of him with his fingers. Vorenus¡¯ suggestion was tempting, but the special nature of the logistics camp made him consider more carefully: ¡°We might need to discuss this with Spartacus and the others. Unless they¡¯re willing to move here, it would be difficult for our team to camp so far from the main force¡­¡±


    As Maximus was pondering, Frontinus walked in. ¡°Leader Maximus, you wanted to see me?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Maximus looked at the old man in front of him. Three months in the rebel army had washed away much of the weariness from him. Even though he had been busy all night and hadn¡¯t rested, he still appeared vigorous, and most importantly, his eyes now held respect for Maximus.


    ¡°Cassius Frontinus,¡± Maximus announced solemnly, ¡°In recognition of your many contributions to the logistics camp, I have decided¡ªto appoint you as the Military Affairs Officer! From now on, you will be responsible for handling the military affairs of the logistics camp, but you will not have the authority to mobilize ormand troops.¡±


    Frontinus understood that this was a position simr to the Camp Prefect of the Roman legion. He felt a bit excited. After living in the logistics camp, where the order and operations were somewhat simr to a Roman camp, for three months and overseeing the training of the guard unit¡¯s soldiers daily, he had developed a sense of belonging. However, besides supervising training and offering suggestions, he hadn¡¯t been able to contribute more to the logistics camp, which made it hard for him to fully integrate into the group. Now, Maximus had given him real power, resolving the regret he had felt in his heart.


    ¡°Thank you, Leader!¡± Frontinus said gratefully.


    ¡°You can choose five people from the military advisory group to be your assistants,¡± Maximus said seriously. ¡°Among them, there must be someone who can read and do calctions. From now on, the experiences of the soldiers and officers in the guard unit must be recorded in detail. After each battle, the soldiers¡¯ achievements must also be documented¡­ All of this needs to be archived. Do you understand?¡±


    Frontinus was a bit taken aback: this requirement seemed even higher than that of the Roman legion! While there were tworades in the military advisory group who were literate, they might not fully meet Maximus¡¯ standards. Capito could, but he was already the military warehouse supervisor¡­


    Seeing that Frontinus didn¡¯t respond, Maximus understood his difficulty. Since Frontinus himself was illiterate, he wasn¡¯t ideally suited for this role.


    However, after observing him for some time, Maximus had noted that Frontinus was, first and foremost, a man of deep loyalty. Otherwise, when the dictator Su¡¯s army approached the city of Rome and many of Marius¡¯ old soldiers chose to hide, he would not have chosen to face the challenge, knowing it would likely end in failure. He had a very good rtionship with hisrades among the army ves, and even the proud Capito respected him. It was said that he often helped theserades in the Roman ve camps¡­ People who value rtionships tend to be more loyal. Secondly, he was very diligent in his work. He had been conducting military training for the guard unit continuously for three months. While some members of the military advisory group had be statues at the edge of the training ground, he was still shouting at poorly performing soldiers every day, demonstrating his seriousness and persistence. Managing military affairs requires someone who can get things done¡­ It was because of these qualities that Maximus decided to share part of his hard-earned military authority with Frontinus.


    This was a necessity. When the guard unit had only one or two centuries, Maximus could manage it easily. However, when the number of soldiers exceeded 500, military affairs became moreplex, especially after capturing Pompeii, which added even moreyers ofplexity to the tasks. As the leader of the logistics camp, Maximus couldn¡¯t devote all his energy to handling military affairs, so he needed someone to help, which meant sharing power.


    Maximus had even considered the administrative side of things.


    When he first appointed Vorenus as the scribe, it was only to record the situation of the entire team so that Maximus could check it at any time. Butter, it evolved into the heads of various departments reporting to Vorenus, who would then report to Maximus. And sometimes, to save time, Maximus would send Vorenus to resolve issues in the subordinate departments based on his instructions, and even had him oversee adult education in the logistics camp¡­

 Chapter 76: New Appointment

    Chapter 76: New Appointment


    If Maximus hadn¡¯t just realized, while instructing Vorenus to select the newly recruited ves of the logistics camp and form a new century, that Vorenus, already holding considerable power in administrative matters, would be the most powerful person in the logistics camp after Maximus if he were also given military responsibilities¡­ With Melfina as an example, the marriageable age in this world was quite early.


    As the Roman soldiers marched out of the camp, the rebel army also began to move.Maximus, having been reborn in this era, ced great importance on power, as it was directly tied to his survival. While Mei Fang and Lin Youxi were conversing, Yue Xinyi suddenly stood up, covering her mouth, and made a face as if she was about to vomit.


    Drawn to the unexpected sight, Yukino entered further into the room.This realization prompted him to quickly establish the position of Military Affairs Officer, assigning Frontinus to handle military affairs specifically. However, not everyone was in that situation.


    Although Lin Youxi¡¯s dad is busy, whenever he has time, he always invites Mei Fang to their house and cooks for him.Maximus nced at Vorenus. Although this diligent clerk wasn¡¯t an ambitious person, too much power concentrated in his hands might change him. His thick beard made him look old, but from the tone of his voice, he seemed to be still in his prime.


    In fact, they had already reached a unanimous agreement earlier, so the vote now was just a formality.<em>So, it won¡¯t work to take the easy route and rely on one person for everything; power still needs to be distributed!</em>


    While Maximus reflected on this, he said aloud, ¡°Vorenus, assign one of your experienced men to Frontinus to serve as the Military Affairs Officer¡¯s scribe.¡± I never liked shouting out of emotion.


    Marie turned herrge eyes towards me and smiled slightly.¡±Let Latimus do it,¡± Vorenus suggested. Now, back to Aisha¡¯s expression. The reason for this change was undoubtedly Yukiho¡¯s presence.


    Xia Yuan enjoyed breathing in the fresh air on the road. When passing by Lin Youxi¡¯s house, she looked around.¡±Latimus?¡± Maximus thought for a moment and then remembered, ¡°Oh, the freedman from the port of Naples. Yes, him. Frontinus, bring him topile the casualties and performance records of each century. After that, organize the young and strong male ves who are willing to join our logistics camp into a new century, and quickly distribute the weapons and equipment we¡¯ve seized¡ªoh, and have the soldiers had breakfast yet?¡± In this world, paper books were extremely valuable and considered treasures.


    The names Crixus mentioned were all Gaulish diators and close friends of his.Caught off guard by this sudden question, Frontinus wasn¡¯t sure how to respond. Vorenus stepped in, ¡°Phaselus followed your orders and organized the ves from the wealthy district to cook. The soldiers should have eaten by now.¡± After a while, the Roman legionpleted its formation but remained stationary.With all the preparations in ce, they chose a weekend to shoot the promotional video at school.¡±Good. Frontinus, go check on that. Since Agnes, the kitchen supervisor, won¡¯t being with his team today, and we¡¯ll likely be here for a Since the master bedroom was also closed off, I opened the windows.few more days, it¡¯ll be your responsibility as Military Affairs Officer to ensure the soldiers are fed!¡± After seeing Liang Meijuan and Lin Youxi off, Xia Yuan finally rxed her previously tense mood.


    His thick beard made him look old, but from the tone of his voice, he seemed to be still in his prime.¡±Leader, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll handle it,¡± Frontinus promised without hesitation. Support the trantor by reading @ gemnovels {dot}


    When I sat down at the table, everyone had ufortable looks and didn¡¯t move to sit.¡±I¡¯ve already put Phaselus in charge of guarding Pompeii¡¯s three gates. Check in on that too to make sure everything¡¯s in order. I also overlooked the port earlier; have Carminus send some men to seal it off to prevent any merchant ships from escaping¡­¡± Maximus¡¯ mind was racing with problems that needed urgent attention, and he was speaking whatever came to mind: ¡°Also, the soldiers fought all night and must be exhausted. It would be best if you found a way to let them rest in shifts to recover their strength¡­ Hmm, what else¡­ I can¡¯t think of anything else right now. Do you have anything to add?¡± With all the preparations in ce, they chose a weekend to shoot the promotional video at school.


    ¡°Leader, Phaselus, Torelugo, and Carminus aren¡¯t aware of your appointment of me. If I go alone, they might not follow my orders,¡± Frontinus directly reminded him. Hearing that the farm had a considerable number of guards, Maximus was not surprised.


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re right!¡± Maximus pped his forehead. ¡°That is indeed a problem. It would be ideal if I had someone who could represent my authority to convey these orders¡­ Looks like I need a few attendants and even get everyone used to my written orders.¡± Although I had no intention of getting deeply involved and was about to leave her behind, I couldn¡¯t say that.


    Thinking of attendants, Maximus recalled o and the other children, but unfortunately, he hadn¡¯t brought them along on this dangerous raid. So, he told Frontinus, ¡°Go summon those three senior centurions. I¡¯ll announce your appointment in front of them.¡± His mindset changed after watching a certain performance in his second year of high school.


    ¡°Understood.¡± As the Roman soldiers marched out of the camp, the rebel army also began to move.


    ¡°Any other suggestions?¡± Support the trantor by reading @ gemnovels ,


    ¡°Leader, our forces are already limited, and we still have to assign some soldiers to guard those hundreds of prisoners, even providing them with food. I suggest we release the Pompeians among the captives and let them return home. They¡¯re naturally timid, and after this defeat, they likely won¡¯t dare to oppose us. As for the guards and wealthy captives¡­¡± Aisha, Natsumi, and Roy should be somewhere in this line.


    Frontinus knew that both these groups were particrly hated by the rebel soldiers and ves, so he suggested a method the logistics camp had used in the past after capturing farming estates: ¡°We could gather the Pompeian ves and conduct public trials and executions in front of them.¡± Xia Yuan enjoyed breathing in the fresh air on the road. When passing by Lin Youxi¡¯s house, she looked around.


    ¡°Quintus and his men have probably already executed most of Pompeii¡¯s elites,¡± Maximus replied with a nonchnt smile, pleased with Frontinus¡¯ proactive stance. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll leave this task to you.¡± It seemed that Yukino had grown closer to Aisha.


    ¡°Leader, after I leave the military advisory group, who will take over as its leader?¡± Frontinus asked next. Mei Fang, who has the mindset of an adult, can understand Lin Youxi¡¯s father¡¯s intention to remarry at this time.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that. I have my own arrangements,¡± Maximus replied with a slightly cold tone, then shifted the conversation, ¡°Horatius has set up the medical team at Areius¡¯ residence. Go check on how they¡¯re treating the wounded, and see if there¡¯s anything you can assist with. That¡¯s what you should be focusing on as the Military Affairs Officer.¡± It seemed that Yukino had grown closer to Aisha.


    Hearing the warning in Maximus¡¯ words, Frontinus felt a chill in his heart. In fact, they had already reached a unanimous agreement earlier, so the vote now was just a formality.


    ¡°Also, once you¡¯ve finished all your tasks, find out if there are any cksmiths in Pompeii. If there are, use any means necessary to recruit them into our ranks.¡± Next came the moreplicated task of contacting everyone. Mei Fang asked about everyone¡¯s avability in the Ximilu Studio group chat.


    Being a cksmith was a fairly lucrative profession among themon people in various city-states. It¡¯s unlikely that someone in such a position would willingly join a group of ves. Frontinus understood exactly what Maximus meant by ¡°any means necessary.¡± After all, the two physicians from the Capua diator school currently in the medical team were coerced into serving the rebel army under the threat of the sword, along with their families. Frontinus felt no qualms about this; he had seen far worse during his youth while campaigning with Marius. While Mei Fang and Lin Youxi were conversing, Yue Xinyi suddenly stood up, covering her mouth, and made a face as if she was about to vomit.


    ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll take care of it as soon as Iplete the other tasks.¡± While Mei Fang and Lin Youxi were conversing, Yue Xinyi suddenly stood up, covering her mouth, and made a face as if she was about to vomit.


    ¡°And don¡¯t forget to bring Capito along. Once the cksmith joins us, he should be ced under Capito¡¯s management.¡± As if indicating that she had finished speaking, Marie fell silent again.


    ¡°Yessir.¡± We didn¡¯t have many opportunities to talk during the five-day journey, so today was the first half-day I really got to interact with them.


    Maximus remembered something else and added, ¡°Oh, and Frontinus, once the soldiers have secured the port, you can detain the merchants, but don¡¯t harm them. Vorenus, when you send people to inventory the goods at the port, make sure they only confiscate the possessions of Pompeii¡¯s wealthy and Roman merchants. Leave the other merchants¡¯ goods untouched for now.¡± It wasn¡¯t not me who died, but the character I was controlling on the game screen.


    However, it was impossible to keep a rebellion involving over two hundred diatorspletely secret.¡±Understood,¡± they both replied in unison. The names Crixus mentioned were all Gaulish diators and close friends of his.


    ¡°You mentioned that someone in our logistics camp used to be a merchant, didn¡¯t you?¡± Maximus looked at Vorenus, racking his brain but unable to recall the person¡¯s name. Baimei County was a small county, and the senior officer immediately recognized some of the people as local officials.


    ¡°Yes, the transport team supervisor, Pigres. He used to make a living by trading horses in Asia Minor,¡± Vorenus reminded him. In the game, Cedric was the Knight Commander of the Royal Knights as well as the head of the Count house.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, Pigres! How could I forget?¡± Maximus pped his forehead again. He remembered being surprised when Vorenus first mentioned it, saying, ¡°I never would have guessed that Pigres, with his burly appearance, was once a merchant.¡± In this world, paper books were extremely valuable and considered treasures.


    In fact, Pigres¡¯ outgoing personality, active mind, and willingness to take risks fit the profile of a merchant. Though he was doing a fine job as the transport team supervisor, the position didn¡¯t require much skill. He just needed to manage his subordinates, care for the horses, and didn¡¯t even have to maintain the wagons (as the carpenters in the logistics camp¡¯s construction team were responsible for inspections and repairs). His daily tasks mainly involved waiting for orders in the camp, then leading the transport team to the plundered sites and bringing the loot back to camp. Since there were no enemies in the surrounding areas, the job was both safe and stress-free. Bathed in the white moonlight, she looked at me with a faint glow.


    <em>But might Pigres find this work too dull? Should I reassign him to oversee the trading of goods?</em>


    Maximus pondered this, then noticed the two men still standing there. He quickly waved them off, saying, ¡°Vorenus, go and start gathering the Pompeii ves who want to join us. Frontinus, go fetch Phaselus and the other two senior centurions so I can announce your appointment!¡± Support the trantor by reading @ gemnovels


    After the two men left, Maximus looked around the empty office of Pompeii¡¯s administrative governor and suddenly let out a self-mockingugh. In his previous life, he had been nothing more than a frencer, but now he found himself as one of the leaders of the ve rebels, with more than 2,000 people (including personnel in the support departments) under hismand. How to manage so many people and make the entire operation more efficient was something he had been constantly learning and exploring. Fortunately, the environment he was in was lenient enough¡ªif he made mistakes, no one mocked or undermined him (the leaders of the rebel army each managed their own affairs and rarely interfered with others¡¯ affairs. Moreover, they were not particrly knowledgeable and did not fully grasp the significance of the changes Maximus was implementing in the logistics camp). Through continuous trial and error, Maximus felt that he had managed the logistics camp quite well, but after capturing Pompeii, he realized that the system he had set up had many ws. Support the trantor by reading @ gemnovels {dot}


    He didn¡¯t feel discouraged by this. Although he still considered himself a novice in this area, he was confident he could correct these errors by drawing on the lessons from China¡¯s thousands of years of political history. Mei Fang, who has the mindset of an adult, can understand Lin Youxi¡¯s father¡¯s intention to remarry at this time.


    <em>Perhaps upying Pompeii for a while and attempting to manage it¡ªusing it as a training ground for my team¡ªmight be a good idea¡­</em>


    Exhausted from a night of hard work, Maximus leaned back in a wooden chair and unknowingly fell asleep. After a while, the Roman legionpleted its formation but remained stationary.


    ©¥©¥©¥©¥ ? ? ? ©¥©¥©¥©¥


    ¡°What did you say? Maximus led the logistics camp¡¯s guard unit to capture Pompeii?!¡± Spartacus was shocked after hearing the news brought back by Hagueux, the head of the logistics camp¡¯s cavalry unit. Since the master bedroom was also closed off, I opened the windows.


    ¡°Yes, Leader Maximus had some of the soldiers take the risk of rowing into Pompeii¡¯s harborst night. After sneaking into the city, they quickly took control of one of the city gates. He then led the main force to enter Pompeii through this gate. After fierce fighting, they defeated the city guards and ultimately upied the entire city¡­¡± Hagueux recounted, following a script he had prepared in advance to meet Maximus¡¯ requirements¡ªneither overly boasting about their achievements nor downying the cunning and bravery of the logistics camp¡¯s guard unit. The results of today¡¯s written exam will be announced one weekter.


    Hagueux paused, giving Spartacus and Hamilcar a moment to digest the news before continuing, ¡°Leader Maximus is now working hard to secure control of Pompeii and is unable to leave at the moment. He requests that Leader Spartacus, Leader Hamilcar, and the other leaderse to Pompeii to discuss how to handle the city together.¡± Next came the moreplicated task of contacting everyone. Mei Fang asked about everyone¡¯s avability in the Ximilu Studio group chat.


    After a moment, Spartacus, who had regained hisposure, looked at Hamilcar and asked, ¡°How many soldiers does the logistics camp¡¯s guard unit have?¡± As Mei Fang searched for the photos on his phone, Xia Yuan and Lin Youxi quickly grabbed it to look.


    In this world, paper books were extremely valuable and considered treasures.¡±About 800,¡± Hamilcar replied. When I sat down at the table, everyone had ufortable looks and didn¡¯t move to sit.


    ¡°We¡¯ve both seen Pompeii. With our current forces, a direct assault would be extremely difficult! For Maximus to capture it, even by surprise attack, with just 800 men is truly remarkable!¡± The meat they bought was chicken, with a clean, fresh pink color.


    Hamilcar nodded, although he was slightly more prepared than Spartacus for this news. This was because Maximus had previously met with the Nucerians through him privately, indicating that Maximus had thoughts of capturing Pompeii. However, there had been no news since then, and Hamilcar had assumed his impromptu student had given up on the idea. He never imagined that Maximus had quietly aplished this impressive feat on his own. Thus, the surprise on Hamilcar¡¯s face was no less than Spartacus¡¯: ¡°I noticed that their camp was unusually quiet this morning, and there was no one training in their practice field. So that¡¯s where everyone went¡ªto Pompeii!¡± While Mei Fang and Lin Youxi were conversing, Yue Xinyi suddenly stood up, covering her mouth, and made a face as if she was about to vomit.


    ¡°I never expected it! Not only can Maximus manage the logistics effectively, but he¡¯s also so skilled in battle!¡± Spartacus said with genuine admiration, a smile of satisfaction spreading across his face. When I sat down at the table, everyone had ufortable looks and didn¡¯t move to sit.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re nning to go to Pompeii?¡± Hamilcar asked. As if indicating that she had finished speaking, Marie fell silent again.


    ¡°Of course!¡± Spartacus responded excitedly. ¡°The logistics camp capturing Pompeii is a major event, not just for our army but even for the Romans! We must take this seriously and have a thorough discussion about it. It will be crucial for our future development!¡± Support the trantor by reading @ gemnovels {dot}


    We shook hands, lightly shaking them once.Spartacus then sent the cavalry unit under Ogmar to notify the other leaders. Drawn to the unexpected sight, Yukino entered further into the room.


    When the messenger found Crixus, he was leading his forces in raiding the farms around Suess. Aisha then lowered her gaze, looking somewhat worried.


    When the various battalions split up, the Second Battalion chose to camp on the northeastern edge of the Vesuvius region, the furthest from the main camp, and now his raids had extended far beyond the Vesuvius area. Support the trantor by reading @ gemnovels


    ¡°That kid Maximus actually captured Pompeii?! That¡¯s impossible!¡± Crixus was even more shocked than Spartacus when he heard the messenger¡¯s news. He had always underestimated Maximus, so the news hit him hard. Now, back to Aisha¡¯s expression. The reason for this change was undoubtedly Yukiho¡¯s presence.


    After listening to the messenger¡¯s brief ount of how the logistics camp had captured the city, he dismissively remarked, ¡°So it was a sneak attack. I thought so. There¡¯s no way he could have taken Pompeii by force with just that many men!¡± Thinking of Xia Yuan¡¯s father crying in front of him years ago, Mei Fang just smiled and said nothing.


    Despite his words, Crixus had already lost interest in piging farms. He quickly ordered his men to gather the troops and return to their camp, while he himself mounted a horse and followed the messenger to the main camp. The meat they bought was chicken, with a clean, fresh pink color.


    As he passed through the town of Suess, built by the Samnites on the in, he couldn¡¯t help but observe it closely, with one thought in his mind: <em>Perhaps I should try leading my army to capture a town myself.</em>After seeing Liang Meijuan and Lin Youxi off, Xia Yuan finally rxed her previously tense mood.


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