Chapter 26 Public Outrage (Part 2)
"Despicable Roman dog!" Ptolemy XIII in the palace, his ears, nose and mouth were almost all misaligned due to anger. The eunuchs and slave girls were screaming and running back and forth in front of the Pharaoh's chair. Ptolemy XIII was lost. Patience - he requested that the two commanders Sebekhu and Serapion be summoned urgently.
When the two generals arrived at the steps of the palace, the young pharaoh asked them angrily, "Why did you let Caesar's soldiers occupy the theater opposite the palace?" Sebekhu remained silent, while Serapion explained , I hope your majesty can calm down, because the protection of the entire palace is very strong, and Caesar's method is just a method of intimidation. In addition, in order to avoid making Caesar suspicious, the Gorta Army has withdrawn to the area between Lake Maleotis and the canal. Hidden, as long as His Majesty can mediate with Caesar for two to three days, we can complete the preparations for battle, and then Caesar will be unable to fly even if he has wings!
"I don't want it to happen two or three days later, I want you to attack the Roman dog that insulted the dignity of the Pharaoh now!" Ptolemy XIII shouted like he was losing his mind.
Serapion earnestly asked the angry young man in front of him to calm down. You must know that there are countless examples of military failures caused by recklessness and lack of calmness. In this way, an almost crazy plan was finalized. Since the Gorta Army was not in place yet, the Pharaoh's cronies encouraged the people in the city to besiege Caesar's camp. Their deployment was to block the main entrance to the east of the city, and then It smashed into the street between the Grand Theater and Cape Nochias, dividing Caesar's Tenth Legion. Wait until the Gorta Legion arrives. Then implement the tactics of defeating each one. Ptolemy Thirteen also encouraged everyone. "Now is the season when the south wind blows. Caesar's reinforcements will not be able to arrive from Minor Asia at all. Everyone can go ahead with peace of mind!"
Late at night, the entire city of Alexandria seemed to have received God's will. Everyone took action. Many slaves came out in groups from the noble master's mansion, carrying torches and carrying furnaces and anvils. With. They gathered in the Temple of the Great Goddess Isis on the north bank of the canal and turned the temple into a huge weapons workshop. The roaring of flames and the clanking of weapons being forged illuminated and resounded throughout the night sky. Spears, short swords, and simple shields were constantly being made and distributed to the bustling citizens who gathered under the temple steps, and then they roared towards the Roman army camp in Nochias with their weapons raised. The first person to receive the alarm was General Sekedilius, who was stationed at the Grand Theater. Just as he was about to check the centurions' night patrol, he heard a roar like a sea wave outside. The chief brigade of the Tenth Legion immediately sent out four centurions. The troops followed the fan-shaped stairs in front of the theater, treating it as a hillside, forming a three-line horizontal formation, holding all the shields and javelins in their hands. This was thanks to their centurions who still remained after entering the city. We did not slack off, but required our soldiers to remain ready to fight at any time.
Enemies kept coming out of the darkness at each street corner. Stones and spears flew like raindrops. Some soldiers were knocked down and injured, but more people still stayed at their posts. At this time, Cedelius and the tribunes After climbing to the rain gallery at the highest point of the theater and looking down, they realized that their stronghold was besieged by tens of thousands of people, and more pine trees gathered into a fire dragon, swimming towards Cape Nokias, "using a crossbow." "Fire down the cannon," the commander gave the order, and then a tribune asked him, "Are these thugs the spy in the palace?"
"You must call him Pharaoh, you must call him Pharaoh." The commander did not forget to correct the title.
"Yes, some pharaoh instigated it. If so, the theater happens to be between the palace and the street, so we will be alone." The tribune was worried.
But Scydelius was worthy of his nickname "the fool". He struck the young tribune on the helmet and shouted, "Then take half of the ballistae, bring the fire bombs, and give them to the palace of Ibos." Shoot!"
At this time, Caesar's two camps, which had offended the public, became completely lively. They were attacked by tens of thousands of mobs, with many Gorta legion soldiers mixed in, from night to early morning, and Sexdelius was in the theater The army directly hit the palace of Ibos with stone fire bombs. Now Ptolemy XIII's worries came true. After the morning fog dissipated, the walls of the moon city of Ibos Palace looked like a rickety old woman. , full of bullet marks like teeth.
Many of Ptolemy XIII's female slaves and palace attendants were beaten to death and smashed to death. Their corpses were all lying in the courtyard. In the early morning, many mobs rushed into the palace, picked up these corpses, and wandered the streets as evidence of Caesar's oppression of the Pharaoh. , encouraging more people to join the siege team.
As a result, when the frontline soldiers of the Gorta Legion rushed to the front line, they found that the streets leading to the Grand Theater and Nokias were all occupied by unorganized thugs. This group of soldiers could only sit and camp in the large square in the center of the city. Where the fighting is fierce, the reserve team is responsible for filling in.
At this time, in the Nochias camp, Caesar was squinting, hiding behind the gate gate and tower, watching the enemy approaching step by step in the smoke. The enemy's troops filled the entire street in front, waving various weapons. They also stripped the dead Roman soldiers of their armor and put their bodies on mule carts to drag and humiliate them. They actually also pulled out old ballistae and trebuchets from the city's military camps and warehouses. Many skilled craftsman slaves gathered together, and after making slight improvements, they also threw flaming stone projectiles at the Nokias camp.
"It seems that I should not look down on this nation. At least they are extremely smart. If there is a suitable leader to guide them, they can master the Romans' equipment technology within three years, no, even surpass us." Caesar shouted to the pale-faced shield slaves with javelins and stone bullets whizzing over his head.
"It's too dangerous here, sir. We must rush out and meet General Sextalius in the theater." Milu ran over and advised.
At this moment, suddenly a dozen thugs found a trail from somewhere. They were so familiar with the geography here that they could move forward freely with their eyes closed. They climbed over the wooden fence and trenches, and bravely rushed to Caesar with swords raised. Milu was quick-witted and hurriedly took Caesar's shield slaves and messengers forward to kill all those who infiltrated.
"I repeat again, sir, it's too dangerous here, we have to rush out!" Milu said, holding the sword that was still dripping with blood.