“Your Majesty,” Mithridates suddenly interjected with some concern, “If we hold onto the city of Rome when the Roman army arrives, the Romans will take control of the banks from the Tiber to the city of Ostia, resulting in the slaves unable to pull our ships. Without the slaves, our ships cannot reach Rome alone from Ostia unless there's a strong east wind, resulting in Rome's access to the outside cut off and turning Rome into an isolated city.”
Mithridates' words surprised the legates.
But Davos just smiled and said, “I had already considered this issue. There's no need for you to worry since you can make the slaves pull the ships on the north bank of the Tiber instead.”
“North bank?”
“From our previous intelligence report, the section of the Tiber from the city of Rome to Ostia is both deep and wide, making it impossible to traverse on foot. In addition, the Romans only built two bridges on such a long stretch of the river, the Pons Aemilius, where the Third Legion camp was, and a wooden bridge(actually two bridges) built on Isola Tiberina in the centre of the river, which the Romans destroyed themselves. I reckon the reason there are so few bridges is to prevent the Etruscans, Rome's former enemies, from easily crossing the Tiber and invading Roman territory. Now that the fleet had taken control of the coast here, the Roman army wouldn't easily reach the north bank to threaten the slaves pulling our ships.
Furthermore, we had defeated the reinforcements from the Roman colonies on the north bank of the Tiber, as well as their Etruscan allies. We even took a number of them as captives-” Davos looked at Litom approvingly and said, “Next, we will take some actions against the city-states on the north bank to wipe Rome's influence on the north bank of the Tiber and secure the waterway.”
The legates cheered up after hearing that. After all, there aren't any generals who like to get beaten passively, and Davos' words implied they would take some military action on the north bank of the Tiber.
“Your Majesty, I read the information about the Latium region, and it seems there is a pontoon bridge connecting the banks of the Tiber to the city of Fidenae.” Phryntor suddenly reminded.
Davos nodded, affirming it and said, “Yes, there is indeed a pontoon bridge there. However, it is narrow and favourable to the passage of a large army. I also ordered the scouts to watch the pontoon bridge in Fidenae day and night. Once there were any enemy movements, Litom would immediately send an army to the north bank of the pontoon to intercept the enemy crossing the river. And if a large Roman army were to move out, then you, Olivos, would gather your Fourth Legion first and rush there. Still, I don't think Camillus will make such a foolish mistake ordering his mixed army head towards a narrow pontoon bridge for us to slaughter.”
“I understand, Your Majesty.” Litom and Olivos responded simultaneously.
Mithridates also felt relieved. Then he immediately said, “Your Majesty, when can our Third Fleet leave Rome and return to the sea?”
For a warship that traverses the sea to come to the river is just like a dragon swimming in shallow water without any way to use its full ability. And Mithridates, as the navarch, was unwilling to let the fleet turn into a subordinate of the army and only play a supporting role in the whole war.
Davos obviously understood his thoughts and said, “The fleet's crew had also made a great contribution in today’s battle and must also be tired. So you must have them rest in the camp tonight and recover their strength first, then you can lead the fleet to leave Rome early tomorrow morning and ensure the safety of the army at sea. However, you must leave five fast-sailing ships and two thousand marines behind.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Mithridates replied without hesitation.
Davos continued to ask, “Would it take you three to four days to reach Terina from Ostia?”
“It would only take a day or two if there’s a favourable wind.”
“Since your Third Fleet's naval base in Terina has enough men.” Davos looked at him and continued, “I'll allow your Third Fleet to recruit another two thousand marines to participate in this war against Rome and Carthage.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Mithridates stood up with a joyful expression and saluted.
It should be noted that the men of each legion and fleet are fixed, and its head isn't allowed to expand its army without authorisation, which is only in the hands of the king. If anyone violates it, besides receiving a sentence according to the military law once discovered, their citizenship might even get deprived. Although the legates and regional commanders fighting on the battlefield during wars have the right to call the citizens of their region to fight, they must disband these temporary troops after the war ends. Hence several legates cast envious gazes at Mithridates.
“Since we can't preserve the river port outside, we also can't preserve the granary.” Davos turned to look at Tolmides and asked, “So have you brought all the grains outside the city inside?”
“The logistics camp is stepping up their transportation.”
“Where did you store them?” Davos continued to ask.
“Here.” Tolmides pointed to a hill south of the Roman Forum, “Collis Palatinus had a relatively low and flat terrain, with wide and flat roads. Furthermore, there are a lot of vacant courtyards and ready-made granaries where we can easily store food and grain, from which we managed to find a lot of grains that were left behind.”
“The people living on this hill are all descendants of the colonisers who came to build the city together with the first king of Rome and have now all become nobles. Since this hill is the closest to Mons Capitolinus, most of them must have already fled.” From the previous intelligence they received about the city of Rome, Davos had already guessed the movements taken by the residents on Collis Palatinus after the city fell, “Tolmides, send your men to lead the troops to collect all the grain stored in the homes of all the nobles in the city of Rome for military ration.”
“Just the nobles?” Tolmides asked in surprise.
“Yes, only the nobles! And if they haven't left for Capitolinus, leave them enough food for ten days. However, you are strictly forbidden to invade the homes of the plebeians, let alone seize their food and possessions. Anyone found violating my order will face severe punishment!” Davos looked at everyone and said in a stern tone.
“Your Majesty, you can feel at ease since the soldiers had strictly complied with your prohibition after they entered the city…” the legates each gave their promises one after another.
“Now then, since I have all made your task clear, hasten up to carry it out.” Davos stood up and said, “I fear the approaching Roman army will arrive the day after tomorrow. But before they arrive, we must fully prepare to defeat them and expand our victory! And we will make this land belong to the Kingdom of Theonia once and for all!”
The legates, filled with fighting spirit, saluted Davos and departed.
Steichicodas and Orophes also departed equally in high spirits.
Meanwhile, Davos had Phryntor stay when everyone was leaving.
“Your Majesty, I have a responsibility for the massive casualties suffered by the First Legion…” Phryntor, with guilt on his face, tried to confess his mistake.
Davos waved his hand and said, “I understand the situation, and I know it's not your fault. So don't take the responsibility all on your own.”
Phryntor immediately felt relieved hearing that.
“Now I would like to give you a task,” Davos looked at him and said seriously, “Take a few staff officers and a hundred palace guards to raid all the noble houses in the city, collect and register all the gold, silver and other valuable things. With the drought almost depleting the treasury, we must ship these treasures back to ease the kingdom's deficiency.”
Phryntor immediately expressed his understanding, and after a moment of thought, he said, “What about the temples?”
The temples are the wealthiest in a city-state because the people revere and fear the gods, so they would always offer the best to the gods, hoping to receive their protection and blessings. Apart from the temples of several major deities on Mons Capitolinus, there are also temples in other parts of Rome.
“Not for now!” Davos remained hesitant about this.
Phryntor seemed to have understood what Davos meant even without him explaining more. After accepting the order, Phryntor turned around and left.
Davos looked at the empty hall and relaxed temporarily. After looking at the map on the table for a while, he decided to go to the medical camp to check on the wounded soldiers.
But just as he exited the gate of the Senate, he bumped into Crotokatax.
“Father!” Although Crotokatax looked exhausted, he was a little bit excited.
Davos naturally knew the reason: In the final stage of the battle to block the Roman reinforcements, his son managed to cut down two enemies and overcome the discomfort of killing someone for the first. Then he followed the army to break through the city of Rome, chased down the routed defenders and then joined the other soldiers in clearing the many wounded, bloodstained and messy Roman Forum.
Davos was satisfied with his son's performance on the battlefield. But it was clear that he was now excited like a child getting a new toy and needed to cool down. Thus Davos said calmly, “Come with me.”
“Where are we going?”
Henipolis, following behind, said, “The medical camp!”
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Quintus and Furius, each with three thousand soldiers, began their return to Rome at dusk yesterday. However, the ill-prepared men, lacking experience in marching at night, soon encountered difficulties such as soldiers falling and getting separated, disturbances in their ranks,…and so on. As the night grew darker and the situation became more and more out of control, Quintus and Furius no longer dared to hurry any further. Instead, they had ordered the soldiers to camp along the river to rest and recuperate.
The following day, the army set off early again.
But they ran into another problem shortly after. Although they didn't encounter any attacks from the natives, the roads along the river were either damaged or blocked with logs and stones, forcing the army to stop and clear the roads… As a result, they had to march and stop until they managed to get out of the valley at dusk and arrive at the city of Praeneste.
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