"Sekras, take two squads, go to that high ground, take it down, and build the watchtower right away. Pen ~ fun ~ Pavilion www.biquge.info Klein will support you. ”

As soon as the rebels' attack came to an end, Apis did not sit idle, and immediately seized this short but precious time, and ordered the centurion of the three companies, Sekras, with two centurions, to rush to the high ground behind him, and build fortifications in the shortest possible time, while the legion's position was still ahead, and when it was dawn, the legion would not be able to protect the small high ground behind it after the legion withdrew into the camp.

"Appis, why don't we build a camp on the heights? The slopes are good for us defending. ”

Sekras asked another question before receiving the order, and Appis immediately explained-

"Although the high ground is conducive to defense, but it is too far from the water source, we must find water sources as soon as our camp is built at night, if during the day, the enemy surrounds the whole high ground, then our soldiers will have no water available, although they can break through again, but the fear of scarce water will greatly affect the combat effectiveness of the soldiers, and everyone will be terrified in the camp. So, you go right now. ”

Appis commanded loudly, and then, like a compressed spring, Sekras rushed to the backfield, called his triad, and rushed directly to the high ground.

The first time he entered the territory of Pharnacis, he was brutally surrounded and suppressed by the rebels, which really surprised Appis, who originally thought that Pharnassis was just a bandit leader, but now it seems that his strength is indeed not to be underestimated, a person who kills his father to please the enemy, is not a normal person in the first place, he is as formidable as a wasteland wolf. Or was it true that many of Misius had to wait for reinforcements from Lepida? Appis began to think.

The development of events proved Apis's suspicion that by daybreak the Roman legionary camp had been established, but the aqueduct connecting the river had not yet been opened, and the eastern militia of Pharnasis was heavily blocked between Appis's camp and the nearest water source.

Towers have been erected on the heights, scorpion cannons have been erected, and the sappers of the 10th Legion have been at their posts day and night, firing deadly ballistas at the approaching enemy. At this time, what needed to be solved urgently was the problem of water in the legion camp, and as soon as the war began, it fell into an extremely passive situation, and Apis didn't even know if it was Pharnassis himself or his subordinates who were facing him today? However, the tactics chosen by the rebel legions were very wise and effective, not to go head-to-head with the Roman legions, and to use this method of cutting off food and water. obstruction of the construction of fortifications and other means.

In such a situation, Appis knew that the next step might be to wait until Lepida's legion went north to attack the rebels' lair, and there might be a way out of the current predicament. Otherwise, they will be consumed on the march by the rebel militia of infinite harassment.

One morning, Apis was discussing the digging of the aqueduct with several senior centurions such as Seklas and Osk, and although the distance from the barracks to the nearest tributary of the river was very close, there was also a distance of a lorry (about 1.5 km) in this short slit, which was now crowded with a large number of rebels of Pharnasis, and even a dozen heavily armored chariots patrolled around, whistling and rolling up a large amount of dust, declaring their supremacy and keeping the Roman legions from approaching.

"We must distract them so that the enemy's main forces are not all on this plain, and only by dispersing their forces will we have the opportunity to dig aqueducts and build simple fortifications on this front."

At the Provisional Military Council, Apis frowned and offered his opinion, and all the centurions present agreed with the Legion Commander, but there were different opinions on how to divert the animals, and some thought that they should first make peace with them, pretend to compromise, and then send their elite troops to break through and kill the rabble guarding the river while their main general was negotiating with us. But both Apis and Sekras disagreed, and the Romans could not do such a vile and inferior thing, and it was the worst habit of the Romans to despise without trust. They may die a glorious death, and they will not tarnish the glory of their ancestors. Respecting the traditions of the ancient Romans, Apis also opposed such practices.

The centurions, led by Klein, thought that they should simply take their elite squads and rush out to fight their way through the crowd, and then let the slaves and recruits follow and build fortifications and aqueducts. But this plan was also opposed by Appis.

"In that case, we will suffer heavy losses, the enemy is waiting for us outside the camp, they are more than five times our number, last night's action was because we temporarily lined up a defensive circle, but not every battle will be so lucky, in case the centurions cannot organize the formation again at the first time after leaving the camp, we will also be defeated, and every time we are defeated, we will lose some brethren, and we will not dare to make such a risky attempt again, and besides, it will be a great blow to the morale of the legion, besidesI will not let the blood of the soldiers flow in vain, I must be responsible for every soldier. ”

Appis spoke loudly at the conference table, suppressing the recklessness.

Then, there was a long silence in the room, and even a fly flying by could make everyone notice its annoying buzzing.

……

"Deceive them, yes, deceive them."

It was a long time before Appis had inspiration to plunder in his mind. The centurions cast attentive and curious glances.

"We can't afford to lose every soldier, so let's let the slaves dress up as soldiers to attract the attention of the scum. My idea is that we liberate the slaves in the Legion*, let the recruits take off their armor, let the hands-free slaves put on, and then, led by an experienced centurion, rush out from the rear of the camp, pretend to break through, go looking for reinforcements, act semi-covertly and half-openly, attract the attention of the rebel leader, let him transfer part of his forces off the river, go after our group of slaves, and then, when they are far enough away, we will fight out of the barracks and go straight to the river. While killing the scum of the rebels, dig an aqueduct. ”

Appis's sudden shout soon aroused the approval of the other centurions again, the Roman legions freed the slaves to die, this kind of thing has not been done before, it should be said that many Roman officers in a desperate situation will do this kind of thing, and these slaves, they have no choice, only cooperation. It's cruel, but it's better to survive and you get free than to live for the rest of your life and not be free. (To be continued.) )