"You're welcome, Lord Tellis, in this strange land, we should have united and helped each other!" Assistes hurriedly said.

"Yes! Oh, yes! "The others should do the same.

"It is precisely because we have to govern a new region that we can be more interested and motivated." Antrapolis also said.

"It's a great joy that we're here in Latim, and that Lord Theliss has been appointed first! Although the situation is not suitable now, Telis can owe us a wine feast first! Nico Marcus said half-jokingly, half-seriously.

"Of course, there is no problem, just as you are paid for your work." Theliss immediately picked up the conversation.

"Then this banquet can't be cheap for you, the cost of hiring us is very expensive." Arcistes also teased.

The crowd laughed.

In the midst of laughter, Telis nodded slightly at Nicomarcus, thanking him for dissolving the possible jealousy in everyone's hearts in this way, after all, it was all Radin who came together, but he was the first to be appointed and placed in such an important position.

Niko Marcus responded with a smile.

Theliss looked back at the many disembarking officials, and at the cargo ships approaching the docks, the long queue leading out of the harbor......

He immediately felt the weight of his duties, and said in a loud and urgent voice, "Ladies and gentlemen, we must hurry to the town hall!" ”

…………………………………

The sun was setting in the west, staining the sky a blood-red color.

After a day of fierce fighting, the city of Ferentirum finally stopped fighting, and in its place was the cheers of the whole city, and a bright red Roman flag fluttered over the head of Ferentirum.

"!! of the dictator of Camillus"

"The Great Camillus !!"

"Lord Camillus, !! of victory"

……

When the Roman dictator Camillus walked into the city of Philentirum in full armor, every soldier who met or saw him stood still, saluted, and paid his respects, because this veteran of great achievements had once again won a brilliant victory for Rome.

With a kind smile on his face, Camillus praised the bravery of every soldier he met, but in fact his heart was not as happy as he seemed, because although he took the city, he did not completely destroy the defenders in the city.

Last night, some of the defenders of Ferentirum had broken through the Roman siege during the night. Because the city of Ferentirum is located at the foot of the Helnihivian Mountains, it is a large mountain city, although the Roman army has nearly 70,000 people, it is impossible to surround it as closely as on the plain, and the Helnikians have been defending with all their strength for more than ten days, and have never tried to abandon this central town, so the Roman soldiers relaxed their vigilance, and as a result, the enemy successfully broke through and fled into the mountains, which forced Camillus to launch a general attack on the city of Ferentirum today.

At this time, Frius hurried in.

"How's the interrogation of the captives?" Camillus asked.

"Some prisoners admitted that last night there were reinforcements from Wolsey and some fighters from the Helnihian tribe who chose to break through, and about 3,000 people ......"

3000 people! Camillus frowned: 3,000 men was indeed insignificant for a Roman army of nearly 70,000 men, but it was impossible for the Roman army to stay here for long, and these remnants of the Helnihivians and the Wolsy people could cause a lot of trouble for the Romans who would colonize it in the future.

When Camillus was having a headache about this, Frius said with a solemn expression: "Dictator, I also know an important thing from the mouths of those captives - when the Wolsey persuaded them to break through the siege, they said, 'Reinforcements from the Dioonians are coming, and there will be a great battle with the Romans, so they are advised not to defend the city of Phirentirum, but to preserve their strength first, and then take it back when the Romans go to meet the Dionians.' It's just that they were reluctant to abandon Ferentirum, so they didn't choose to break through......"

When Camillus heard this, his face changed, and he immediately asked, "Dionian reinforcements are coming again?!" How many people are coming?! ”

Frius shook his head: "The captives don't know about this, and it may be a lie made up by the Wolsey people to get them to break through. ”

Camillus pondered for a moment, his face a little melancholy, and he quickly decided: "We've been out of Rome for too long!" Now it seems that the city of Rome and its western forces are somewhat empty, and from tomorrow the army will gradually return to Rome—"

As Camilus was speaking, she heard Lucius shouting, "Father! Father! ……”

He looked up and saw his son hurrying from the city gate, followed by a few people who looked familiar.

Camillus blinked his cloudy eyes and said uncertainly, "That seems to be Milucius?" ”

Frius gave him an affirmation: "That's right, that's Milucius." ”

The prefect of Rome's city guard actually came to the city of Ferentirum! Camillus and Frius looked at each other, and both felt uneasy in their hearts.

Milusius had a hundred cavalry escorted from the city of Hignaia, and hurried south, and on the way he fought twice with the few Helnikians who had come to intercept them, and finally arrived at the city of Philentirum at dusk, and learned that the Roman army had captured the central town of the Helnikians, and Milutius could not help but rejoice for Camillus, because this merit was enough to offset the previous accusations of the senators against him.

He staggered to Camilus, gave a reluctant military salute, and then said breathlessly, "Your Excellency the dictator...... The Dionian army landed on the coast yesterday...... and captured Ostia...... Today is a major march towards the city of Rome...... The Senate asks you to...... You are asked to return with your army immediately to the rescue of Rome! ”

When Frius heard this, he was taken aback: "What?!" Rome—"

"Shh Camillus looked at him with a serious expression.

Frius immediately understood, immediately stopped talking, and looked at the soldiers around him, as if he didn't notice anything unusual.

"How many people are in the Dionian army?" Camillus was much calmer than Frius, and he asked in a deep voice.

According to ...... According to the return of the scouts, there may be more than 50,000 people. Milutius replied.

More than 50,000 people, that's a lot of numbers! Camillus was surprised, mainly because he had received the exact news some time ago that "Carthage had fought against Dionia. ”

With the Carthaginian army advancing in Sicily, shouldn't Dionya fight the Carthaginians with all their might?! Rome has obviously made a truce with Wolsey, and the Helnikians who turned to attack are still in the hinterland of the interior, so it shouldn't have any impact on Dionia, and it shouldn't cause the Dionians to make a move?! It is unconscionable that the Dioonians should ignore Carthage, which was a clear threat to it, and instead attack Rome, which was not a threat to it at this stage! …… Camillus was bewildered and annoyed that his mistake had put Rome in a dangerous position.

But now was not the time to regret it, he had to make a quick decision, he stabilized his mind, and immediately gave the order: "Frius, you immediately go and inform Quintus, Licinius and other generals to convene an urgent military meeting in the Great Horde!" ”

"Yes!"

"Milucius." Camillus looked at the haggard young man and said apologetically, "I know you're tired, but now the situation is urgent, and I still need your help." You sit down first, regain a little strength, and drink saliva. ”

"Dictator, I'm fine, I can still hold on!" Milusius immediately puffed up his chest and said.

Half an hour later, the main generals of the Roman army gathered in the tent of the barracks, and after listening to the order of the senate brought by Milucius, the whole tent exploded.

Camillus coughed, and his son Lucius immediately cried out, "Quiet! Please be quiet! ”

"Generals." Camillus said solemnly on the main seat: "Rome has been attacked, we must return as soon as possible!" But now that the soldiers have just captured the city of Ferentirum, they need time to rest, and it's night, and it's very dangerous for the army to march in the dark, so I've decided to lead the army back tomorrow—"

Quintus immediately stood up and objected: "Dictator, now there are only a few thousand soldiers stationed in the city of Rome, and the enemy has tens of thousands, the Senate has to conscript both the old man and the children as soldiers, and it usually takes two to three days to return to Rome from here, and if we delay for one night, many people will die in the city of Rome!" We'd better hurry up and get back right away! ”

"Returning at this time, not to mention that the soldiers are already very tired, just these tens of thousands of people marching in the dark night, how to control the army is a big problem. In the unlikely event of an attack by the Helnihians or other enemies, they will be able to cause chaos or even rout among tens of thousands of us with just a handful of men! Who will be responsible for this defeat then! "Titus. Quintis. Chinchinatus spoke out against it.

"Okay, don't argue, I haven't finished what I just said." Camillus stretched out his hands, pressed down, signaled everyone to regain their composure, and said, "Although the army cannot march at night, it is still possible with a small number of troops with careful arrangement. Quintus! Licinius! Each of you will lead 20 elite squadrons, and set off at once and return along the Tullerus River, with a view to reaching the vicinity of Rome tomorrow night! ”

In order to prevent the Helnikians and their allies from attacking the Roman baggage transport, Camillus set up a small defensive camp every five or six miles on the east bank of the Tullerus River, usually with two or three squadrons stationed to escort the baggage transport, but now it may become the greatest aid to the Roman army on the night march.