Rome Must Fall

In fact, they don't understand each other's language at all, but it doesn't affect their ability to understand each other's meaning.

"Casaridoa, it's not bad, we are all veterans now." A comrade next to him joked.

Casaridoa ignored him, quickly returned to his defensive position, inserted the dagger back into his waist, picked up the stone, looked at the target, and smashed it down hard.

Skordischi's new recruits stabbed two Pannoni heavy-armed warriors with spears one after another, and someone shouted: "Attention, everyone, there is a tough one coming up!"

This is the voice of the ten-capion! ... Casaridoa quickly looked down.

I saw an extremely burly enemy wearing thick armor, lying on the wooden ladder. He did not bring a shield, only a big sword. There was no reaction at all when stones hit him. He just grabbed the ladder and climbed up quickly. We are almost at the top of the ladder in a blink of an eye.

The tenth captain shouted: "Double team!" Then he and his comrades next to him moved a step to both sides at the same time.

The wooden wall walkway is narrow and crowded with people. When there is such a gap, the enemy who comes up steps on the wall stack and jumps there subconsciously.

As soon as he landed, several square shields came from all directions, blocking the sword he swung and briefly imprisoning him in place.

Before he could push him away, Casaridoa jumped up from behind him, and the dagger in his hand pierced his neck like lightning.

The enemy suddenly became stiff.

Casaridoa quickly pulled it out, and then struck another sword straight into the back of the neck.

The enemy's eyes immediately turned white, and he fell straight down without even making a sound...

The heavy infantry and spearmen of the Nyx tribe cooperated with each other. The heavily armored Pannoni warriors who attacked the camp were either stabbed down the wall or killed on the city walls...

Andres stood at the back, staring at the battlefield. Whenever he saw a soldier climbing up the wall, he started to get excited, and then felt disappointed... This happened too many times, and his face seemed to be covered with a thick layer of The dark clouds are so gloomy and terrifying.

At this time, Temagis came over and whispered: "The attack on the camp has stopped over there."

"What?!"

"My cavalry just told me that Broch and Maziyi's troops have stopped attacking!"

"We made an agreement in advance, how could they break their promise and make an unauthorized ceasefire!" Andres's eyes widened with anger.

"It should be because the casualties are too great." Temagis sighed softly: "The casualties on our side are also very large. In so many years of fighting, this is the first time I have encountered such a difficult village! "

"What do you mean?!" Andres' eyes were dark and his voice was low.

Temagis was not afraid and looked at him calmly: "I also think that we can't fight anymore today. If you don't believe me, just look at them."

Andres glanced over, and the surrounding soldiers lowered their heads, not daring to make eye contact with him. Even the subordinate tribal leaders and patriarchs who had been driving their tribesmen forward to attack had stopped shouting at this moment. , all looking downcast...

Looking ahead, many soldiers were hesitant to move forward, but more and more people were returning. They either used their spears as crutches and limped back, or they supported their injured companions...

What he paid most attention to was the heavily armored warriors under the wooden wall. Since Temagis did not bring heavy infantry this time, the heavily armored warriors fighting east of the enemy camp were all from his tribe, Segas. The only elites left in Tikka, and he now saw that there were fewer heavy infantry in front than when he first entered the field...

The anger in Andres's eyes was fading. He was silent for a moment and said softly with some reluctance: "We can stop the attack, but we can't withdraw to the camp... We got so many soldiers today and finally destroyed their trap. , filled up their trenches, and even greatly consumed their javelins, short spears and stones. You see, it takes a long time for their wooden buildings to fire a short spear. They seem to have fewer javelins... …”

"That's true. I've also noticed it." Temagis continued: "These mercenaries have just come here and they definitely don't have many weapons reserves..."

"So even if we want to stop the attack, we have to clean the battlefield first. Whether it is us or they, we should try to take away the weapons, including the stones, left on the battlefield...

We could not retreat back to our original camp, or the enemy would come out, repair their trenches and traps, and picket stakes, and have to start all over again the next time we attacked.

Therefore, we must move the camp here and surround the enemy's camp. We must also send people to keep an eye on the other side of the river. As long as the enemy dares to come out, we will send troops to fight them back...

As long as we completely trap the enemy and launch a fierce attack after we are fully prepared, we will definitely be able to break through this camp and wipe out this enemy! "Andres said through gritted teeth and waved his fist vigorously to vent the hatred in his heart.

"I agree with you." Temakis said, "But we still have to convince those two."

"Then invite them both over, and I will talk to them carefully. I believe that Maitilis and Brix will never allow the reinforcements they send to just show up, but cannot play any role!" Andres said in a deep voice, with a trace of ridicule appearing on the corner of his mouth.

……………………………………………………………………………………

At dusk, the Aldi spy who was sent to the mountains to watch the battle made a big circle and returned to the village. He was immediately called to the wooden wall facing the temporary camp of the Nyx tribe. Not only the tribe was waiting for him. The leader Budokaribas, as well as the leaders of several neighboring Aldi tribes.

Before the spies could speak, Ciceliotes asked anxiously: "Who won?"

It’s no wonder that the leaders were anxious. Although they were standing not far from the Nix tribe, the Pannoni did not launch an attack on the Nix camp in this direction. They also sent cavalry to position themselves in front of the Ardei stockade. With a look of eagerness, Budokaribas was so frightened that he closed the gate of the village tightly and summoned the people to prepare for defense. He dared to send spies directly.

But today's battle is not only related to the life and death of the Nix tribe, but also related to their own safety. Therefore, a group of Aldie leaders have been standing on the wall of the village, looking towards the east, although they cannot see the battlefield clearly. But one could see that the east side was always filled with dust and mist, and the sound of killings was loud, which showed the fierceness of the war. But now the silence had returned there, and it was obvious that the winner and loser were decided.

"The Pannoni did not break through the camp of the outsiders, they retreated!" The spies' words made the leaders let out a sigh of relief, and then showed a look of joy.

Budokaribas laughed and said: "Didn't I tell you a long time ago? Don't worry. Last time our allies dared to go out to fight and defeated the Segestika army with less. . This time they rely on camp defense, and even if the Pannoni army has more soldiers, they can't break it!"

"Budokaribas, since you believe in those outsiders so much, why did you desperately ask for help from us before?" Ciceliotes teased.

"That's right, I was by his side before, and I heard him muttering something like, 'It's all because of those outsiders who have attracted so many Pannonians and will bring disaster to us'..." Another The leader was doing some finishing touches.

"Nonsense! I...I never said these words at all!" Budokaribas' face turned red and he denied it.

"I heard it too, and you said..." Another leader interjected.

Seeing the embarrassment on his leader's face, the spy raised his voice and said: "Although the Pannoni have withdrawn, they have now moved their camp southward, closer to the camp of the outsiders. It seems that they are preparing to move the outsiders surrounded by the camp."

"What?!" Upon hearing this, the leaders suddenly changed their expressions and turned their heads to look east.

However, all they could see were the hundreds of Pannoni cavalry in the distance, and they could not see the Pannoni who were camping further away.

A leader said with some worry: "Although the outsiders repelled the Pannoni this time, if the Pannoni are allowed to besiege the camp for a long time and repeatedly attack that camp, I am afraid they will eventually be wiped out!

When the time comes, the Pannonians turn their heads and deal with us with all their strength, they will be in trouble! Since our two families are already allies, why not quickly send someone to ask the big leader for instructions and... give them some support in a timely manner? "

"Support? Send our soldiers to venture out of the stronghold to fight such a huge Pannoni army?! Don't forget! We invited those outsiders to settle here so that they can help us defeat the vicious Pannoni. , instead of sacrificing our soldiers and helping them live a good life here!" Another leader reminded dissatisfied.

His words immediately won the approval of most of the leaders. In the past few years, the Ardie people suffered many tragic defeats, which made these leaders full of fear of the Pannoni. Some even complained that these outsiders were too warlike and died within a few days of their arrival. Attracting the Pannoni's joint army, the battlefield is so close to the core territory of the Ardei people, and it may trigger another large-scale attack by the Pannoni on Ardei at any time.

"Let's stop fighting and wait and see." Budokalibas came out to smooth things over: "Before the Pannoni army attacked, I went to see their leader Maximus and expressed my willingness to give him Some help, but he refused, and he confidently told me that they would defeat this Pannonian army just like last time!”

…………………………………………………………………………

In the first camp attack of the Pannoni army, even though Andres did not understand the situation at the Nix camp and even though the soldiers lacked experience in attacking regular military camps, he still launched a full-scale attack, resulting in as many as 3,000 casualties. Although there were many injured, most of the injured had either punctured feet or fractures, and it was impossible to regain combat effectiveness in a short period of time.

Such heavy casualties forced the Pannoni army to be unable to launch another offensive in a short period of time, and Andres had to allow the army to repair while besieging the enemy's camp.

In addition, he also actively discussed with Temagis and other reinforcement generals how to break through the enemy's camp.

…………………………………………………………………………

Pulikas used his feet to pull a pile of ashes on the ground. An old hunter next to him saw this and said: "Chief, this pile of burned firewood should have been left yesterday. I just walked around. I haven’t seen any updates.”

"That is to say, the enemy ran away yesterday!" Pulikas looked around and saw nothing else in the large open space beside the stream except the piles of ashes and the simple wooden fences around it. to other traces of human habitation.

"These damn bastards run pretty fast!" Pulikas kicked him down angrily. The dew-wet firewood ash not only did not get kicked away, but stuck to his feet, causing him to stamp his feet again and again. He failed to shake it off, so he was so angry that he walked to the stream again.

At this time, another search team came back.

"Chief, this group of enemies must have run to the southwest. We saw a lot of human feces on the mountain road there, as well as pieces of clothing hanging on branches and weeds...

"Towards the southwest?" Pulikas looked at the old hunter.

The old hunter said: "Chief, the mountains to the southwest are low and the road is easier to walk. Beyond the mountains, continuing to the west is the Korana River, which is the territory of the Aldi people."

"It seems that these enemies want to escape back to their own camp." Pulikas gritted his teeth and said.

"Chief, are we still chasing him?"

Pulikas did not answer immediately, but first asked the old hunter: "How long does it take to reach the Korana River by walking southwest from here?"

"If you go fast, it only takes a day and a half."

It seems that the enemy has fled far away, and he can't catch up anymore... Pulikas looked back at the team of thousands of people he brought with him, thinking about the most important task Andres gave him: to protect the rear with all his strength. Safe! If you lead your team to continue to pursue the enemy and stay away from the banks of the Kupa River, if new enemies appear to attack the grain road, you will be in trouble!

Thinking of this, he decided to lead his army back to the station. However, considering that this enemy might return quietly after he left, he asked a search team to lurk here and report back at any time if any abnormalities were found.

…………………………………………………………………………

Just when the Pannoni found the temporary camp of the Knicks in the mountains, Pequot had already led the team out of the mountains.

When he decided to attack the Pannonian convoy, he had already planned to abandon the camp. Although the location of the camp is secretive, as long as they show their presence, the Pannoni will definitely send a large number of manpower to search, and they will definitely be found. After all, more than 2,000 of them (including nearly 2,000 Skodisci slaves) go in and out of the mountains. It's hard to hide one's tracks... Pecot, who was born as an Illyrian mountaineer, knew this very well.