In the kingdom, the first to know about Salzburg's actions was, of course, the Roman king Aloyos, and the first to attack northern Italy.

Just over a month ago, when he was training in the Latin border barracks, he was aware of the movement of Northern Rome. The opposing line of defense had increased significantly, and he had a hunch of what the opponent would do. I have to say that Rome's secrecy and intelligence work is absolutely first-class, their secret letters are all overcoded, and counter-espionage is even more severe.

Aloyos only learned from secret reports: a massive movement of the Roman army from north to south. He immediately began to gather the troops, and it seemed that the "code name Thunder", which had been planned for many years, could finally be implemented.

Aloyos was not worried about Salzburg to the north, where there was a strong Aegean naval regiment. Rather, he considered if the Roman army could follow the path of the Gauls, break through the weak Dalmatian defenses, and attack the lower abdomen of Macedonia itself through the Dinara Corridor. "Alone in the depths of the army is not a real threat." As for the southern front, "Hmph, just their military power." With my three-way army taking the initiative, the Romans are waiting to be beaten. ”

The result was a surprise to him and the enemy directly laid siege to Salzburg. Aloyos, Italy, in the middle, can't help directly for a while. What can be done now is to turn his "Thunder" campaign plan into a military operation.

Rome's quadrangular avenues are open and flat, especially suitable for marching. After the order for the mobilization of the army of Aloyos was issued, the three main regiments were assembled in less than a week, as well as auxiliary troops. They were the Second Roman Legion led by Thessarus, the commander of the main Campania regiment was Ducarros, and the newly formed Roman Ninth Legion, half of which were Romans, and the supreme military commander was Podare Ríos. The army with such a lineup is strong, with advanced weapons and equipment, long-range firepower, excellent cavalry, and high-quality infantry phalanxes. It can be said that Aloyos has full confidence to launch a fast attack.

Everything was ready, so the three Macedonian armies crossed the border at the same time, divided into two assault directions: Aretion and Arimiron, trying to tear through the Latin line in one fell swoop.

Ever since the division of the northern and southern borders of Rome, the Julius family has been working against Macedonia. In addition to strengthening the army, fortifications were also built on the Latin border. Stone walls, arrow towers were built on the main roads, and wooden barricades were erected on any road that was easily accessible. The Romans had faith in these fortifications.

Aloyos had been prepared for this, and according to Podarerios's suggestion, the three armies were united. Concentrate all the catapults and ballistas on the road obstacles, and take turns bombarding them. Stone bullets and fire bombs slanted down, completely smoothing out the obstacles, and the defenders after the fortifications were also blown up and fled. Aloyos easily took the pass and continued to move forward.

The Macedonian army poured into Etruria and launched a full-scale offensive. As originally planned, both wings advanced at the same time. Aloyos and Ducarus joined forces to attack the main attack and march directly to the enemy's capital, Arettien. Podarérios personally led the Ninth Army in a joint attack with the intention of capturing the coastal city of Arimiron.

On the way, the 2nd and 3rd coalition armies encountered an auxiliary force that had come to reinforce the pass and defeated them overwhelmingly. This was followed by another encounter with the enemy, this time the main Roman force, a regular Roman legion.

The two armies lined up opposite each other, and the troops were arrayed. Aloyos was so confident in his legion that he asked Ducarus to retreat to the second line as a reserve and not to fight for the rest of the day. Only ranged units are left to join the battle. It seems that the king of Rome wants to have a close contest, and perhaps he wants to test the combat effectiveness of his legions. After many years of rest, military thinking has been developing, and the equipment and tactics of the troops have changed. But it hasn't been practiced yet.

The Macedonian military is more complex and is divided into four main categories. Ultra-long-range attack forces - catapults, Cretan archers, medium and short-range projection and response forces - light infantry, Shenji battalion, the backbone of the defense line - Macedonian royal pikemen, phalanx pikemen, assault forces - heavy cavalry. The arms cooperate to maximize efficiency, advance and retreat as a whole, and strive for complete victory.

It is obvious that this kind of fully functional legion is often more active on the battlefield, and will use its long-range attacks to kill and injure the enemy, and when the ammunition runs out, the enemy will suffer trauma, and there will be holes in the front. Then make a focused assault from this weak point. Of course, some of the stronger enemy forces will not wait to be bombed and rush over for melee combat, but that is just right. Because the Macedonian phalanx is very good and has never been afraid of the opponent's frontal impact. This undoubtedly had the effect of luring the enemy to attack.

The tactics of the Aloyos Legion are changeable, and if the opponent is on the field, they will fight hand-to-hand battles. Then the formation can be quickly changed, the front team is the rear team, the white blade troops of the whole army turn defense into offense, and force a counterattack, and the cavalry will outflank and fight out the enemy cavalry.

The Roman army on the opposite side looked much more homogeneous, dominated by infantry. The majority of the squares were ordinary infantry, with Roman youth troops, Roman hoplites, elite infantry, and javelinmen, and the advanced units were Roman legionnaires and Roman elite garrisons, with only three phalanxes. The cavalry was divided into two wings, a small number, a team of archers, two stone crossbows.

Aloyos used a catapult to shoot at the Romans, outnumbering them by three to one, and then firing at the infantry. In the ensuing battle, both sides launched an attack, and the weakened Roman army suffered a significant loss.

So Macedonia defeated the enemy in one fell swoop. The cavalry pursued for some distance. The Roman legion was wiped out.

The Second and Third Legions defeated the Roman army twice with absolute superiority and did not suffer much attrition. Aloyos knew that his own military strength had surpassed that of his opponents, and that the Roman army could no longer stop the Macedonian legions. He resolutely ordered the whole army to continue to advance northward, and all the way to the capital of Julius's camp, Arethion.

The other Macedonian legion, led by Podarerios, used the same tactics to defeat the main enemy regiment in Ubria, and it went well. Podare Ríos had already excelled in the war against Gaul, and this time he was even more comfortable in commanding a legion on his own. The Ninth Legion he led was a new legion formed in Rome itself, and Aloyoste meant to be a personal legion created for him. In addition to the fact that it was exactly the same equipment and training as the Second Legion, Aloyos also deliberately handed over his Praetorian Guard to Podare Rios to ensure his safety.

The Julius family was shocked to hear the news from the front, and they couldn't imagine that Aloyos's troops were usually unknown, as if they were hidden deep under the Nine Lands, but now they couldn't avoid it like thunder. Immediately gather the scattered garrison forces around the city of Aretion to deal with the mighty Macedonian army.

(End of chapter)