Chapter 17: The Head of Catiline (Part 1)
"Please allow me to add that Carthage must perish." - Old Cato would add this sentence at the end of every speech he gave in the Senate, no matter what the topic was.
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Here, in front of Neruda's legion position, the soldiers have also set up their positions, waiting for the coach's instructions. The two brigades of Calabis that have just been reorganized were placed on the left wing of the team because of their excellent performance in the previous battle. At the front, Calabis was in full military uniform, standing next to the flag officer, in the first row of the team. The wind kept blowing down and blowing up the feathers on his helmet.
Because as expected, the consul Neruda was still lying in the camp due to gout. The highest commander in this battle was deputy commander Petheneus, and the person in charge of commanding the left wing where Calabis was was deputy general Crow. Di.
Petheneus rode a white horse, accompanied by his followers holding staffs and staffs, and walked from one end of the array to the other. "Soldiers, your battle today is not only to protect the noble republic. It is also the shrine and stove that protects your own family. The enemies are all unarmed gangsters who are dissatisfied with the Republic and want to seize your property and family through chaos and bloodshed. They are the filthiest people in the sewer. A group of bugs have no ability except to increase your military merits and rewards. They are born with this value. Pyrrhus, my closest centurion, we fought together twenty years ago - Huo. Tensius, you and your child are standing in the same queue today. Maybe you can talk to the little guy about how we fought side by side to kill the barbarians. Milu, I heard that when you were in Spain, you asked Sulla to The soldiers are frightened. Today they can end this painful day, because their heads will soon stop thinking. Calabis, I heard that before this war, you were still a wealthy free man in Rome. , Now your battle in front of the valley pass has proved that you can not only use money, but also use the sword to fight for your rights." Petnaeus had obviously made sufficient preparations in advance, and he spoke with familiarity or familiarity one by one. "Many of you, as veterans, have spent thirty years with me in the military camp, supporting me from military tribune, battalion officer, and legionnaire," he said. Lieutenant generals, commanders, and deputy commanders have come step by step. Today, many of you have returned here after exceeding the service age to serve as my strong arms. You all can enjoy the salary of a senior centurion. Today we are still fighting. Together, we will definitely still win!”
"God bless Rome!" The soldiers in all arrays raised their weapons amidst the deafening sound of trumpets. Following the pattern of columns of centurions, they marched towards the rebels step by step with a pace that could make the entire Pistonian wasteland tremble. Enter.
The rebels there also used eight selected centuries to form a horizontal battle formation with left, right, center and three wings. Catiline was in the center, Manius was on the right wing, and another veteran from Fesulai The senior centurion commanded the left wing. They are also walking in step, facing each other. Pistonia is a long and narrow battlefield sandwiched between rocky hills and barren mountains. Due to this terrain restriction, the front lines of troops on both sides could not be spread out, so Catiline deliberately added additional troops behind the front line. A dense reserve force was formed.
After entering the shooting range, the lightly-armed skirmishers from both sides jumped out of the formation like a pack of wolves, throwing hunting spears and flying stones at each other. Some people around Karabis were constantly hit, and some were staggered everywhere. , resisted and continued to advance in formation, some were hit in vital parts, and fell silently, submerged in the ranks of their successors, and could not be found when looking back - Petheneus The teams of new recruits and veterans were deliberately mixed together and linked to each other to prevent the new recruits from retreating timidly in the face of battle.
"Comrades, isn't the previous battle in the valley pass not enough to prove that we are a solid team? Although you have been on the battlefield not long ago, the blood of Roman soldiers has awakened in your bodies. Don't be afraid of those old guys. They just ate barley rice mixed with sand for a few more years than you. They have lost their minds in the countryside. You are different. You are bold, flexible and fearless. How can you not stab someone who is about the same age as your grandfather? What a big enemy!" Calabis stood at the far left of the team, waving the money box and shouted, "After the victory, each person will receive two hundred owls, kill the enemy, and make it to the battlefield alive, that's it. Your mission today!”
The dust stirred up in the sky obscured the daylight, but the formations of both sides were getting closer and closer. Under the helmets, you could see the eyes of the opponent with the same hatred and bloodthirsty - rows of heavy javelins, gradually approaching. They leaned together, touched briefly, and then, amidst the battle cries, they began to pierce each other feverishly.
There were figures of people slashing at each other with swords everywhere. Because the battle line was too short and the formation was too dense, the traditional legion stabbing tactics had been abandoned and entered a melee where the enemy and ourselves were intertwined. Karabis and Tagus stood side by side, He screamed, constantly cutting down the enemy, and charging deep into the enemy's depths.
One of our own recruits was stabbed to death by a gray-haired old guy from the other side. Before he died, he tore off the old guy's helmet. Calabis yelled, jumped over his companion's body, and faced the old guy from the side. The guy just hit him, but the old guy blocked it with his backhand, sending Calabis' fighting sword flying. Then he hit Calabis with his shield. The scale officer was knocked several Roman feet away from his side, and his helmet was also hit. It's gone, it seems that the opponent is definitely a tough guy.
He decisively grabbed a small shield on the ground, turned over, blocked the old man's flying stab, and then kicked the man with his foot, hitting the man's knee. The man lost his balance and his upper body hit the small shield directly. He was severely injured with a bang, and then bounced back to the ground.
Carabis raised the small shield and flew forward. The old man lying on the ground was indeed a veteran with many years of experience. Although his face was covered with blood, he still tried to struggle to get up, groped for his dagger, and prepared to fight back. Carabis didn't give him a chance. He used a fierce boxing move without a sword. He came quickly, first stepped on the opponent's chest with his left foot, then raised his right foot, and with a crisp sound, he directly stepped on the opponent's throat. The old man's head gurgled and fell to one side weakly, and his gray short hair danced in the air wave of shouting and killing.
"Gaius Mannius" - when Carapis stripped off the opponent's gold ring, he knew that this guy was Catiline's right wing commander, Mannius.
Catiline's right wing army, which had lost its commander, began to fear fighting, and many veterans began to leave the ranks, causing their formation to become increasingly sparse. On the Neruda Legion side, the veterans who had been following behind Carapis' two battalions suddenly shouted, surpassed the front, and slashed into the already weak right wing of the rebels.