"Build a camp and defend the fortress! To survive, Rome needs us, our families are still waiting for us in that distant homeland, we must live! ”

In the mountains and forests of northern Britain, where the wind and snow were raging, the barbarian attacks were like a tidal wave, and Appis had to order to stop the retreat and march and build a camp and fortress in place to defend against the barbarians' frenzied raids.

The Celtic infantry were like hungry wolves in the cold of winter, pounced on the retreating Roman legions, perhaps for too long without food, and Appis saw that after each defeat and killing of a legionnaire, the barbarians took their rations from the dead soldiers, grabbed them like wild beasts, and ate them on the spot. It was not like a war between humans, but a fight between beasts, fighting for survival.

Hundreds of heavy infantry of the 10th Legion formed a human wall to stop the barbarians from the frenzy of slaughter on the front line, and in the rear, on the gentle slope, the surviving soldiers were digging trenches in the cold snow and building the walls of the fortress. Even the low temperature almost froze the fingers of the soldiers.

Dense arrows flew over, and the soldiers in the back row covered their shields over their heads, and the next second, a rain of arrows swept overhead, making an incessant tinkling sound. In times of crisis, Apis dismounted and stood with the lowest-ranking soldiers, holding shields together to defend against the onslaught of the barbarians. As dozens of barbarians rushed forward, through their shields, the soldiers stabbed their short swords into the barbarian's abdomen and thighs, causing blood to pour out and solidify into bright red clots in winter.

The battle raged with the repeated shouts and shouts of the Celtic infantry, and the surviving soldiers of the Legion took advantage of the high ground to throw spears and javelins downward, shooting at the barbarian soldiers who rushed forward until all were left with throwing weapons.

Screams, screams and roars rang out in the snowy forests of Britain.

Eventually, by the time the fortress was built, the dead soldiers had already lined up in a circle of corpses outside, while the barbarian soldiers still gathered around the camp like wild beasts, reluctant to leave for a long time. Appis could see their eyes like a pack of winter wolves, eager to tear the Roman soldiers in the camp apart.

……

"What do we do next? After the camp was built, we couldn't leave. ”

After a hard battle, Crane came over with a scar, and stood on the lookout with Appis, looking at the endless snow forest in front of him.

"What to do? I don't know. I now have three thousand five hundred hungry soldiers, all exhausted and wounded, ready to consume us by cold and disease. Outside the camp, there are tens of thousands of fierce and brutal barbarian soldiers, you ask me what to do, I don't know, brother......"

Standing on a high place, overlooking the land, Apis replied sadly. Klein could see the desperation of his old friend, and war always made people so desperate. Cornering people. Of course, they have also been cornered more than once.

"Hope...... There is no hope, Klein, I don't see hope, it's been a long time since I've felt the warmth of the sun. Every day in the dead I pretend to be confident in front of the soldiers, but you know it's just a disguised mask...... Glory and freedom, wealth and status, in front of life, are not worth mentioning. ”

Without waiting for Klein to ask, Apis muttered to himself. The gray sky and the howling cold wind make people feel hopeless.

"Yes, this time, you are too risky."

It took a long time for Crane to spit out a few stiff words between his teeth.

"Risky? Fighting always requires risk, but in the past, we have won bets, and this time, we lost the bets......"

Appis replied with emotion.

Klein understood what that meant. Appis, his old comrade-in-arms had no illustrious background and status from the beginning, let alone wealthy property, if he wanted to climb up, he could only take risks again and again, every promotion, every battle, almost full of gambling nature. Just like Caesar when he was young, in order to win the election, he did not hesitate to borrow usury, and he became heavily indebted and bankrupt. In Alesia, in Fassalus, with a very small number of troops, against a huge enemy army, this is the life of a gambler. Appis is one of them.

"Maybe not quite lost yet."

After pondering for a long time, Crane spoke again.

"You mean Maxim?"

Appis asked with a wry smile.

"Isn't it? Maxim could have returned to Gaul and brought in the rescue of the troops. Perhaps by now, he is already on his way to Lugdunum. ”

Klein said, a glimmer of hope burning in his heart.

"We all know the loyalty of Maximus, and I believe in Livius, but you must know that Gaul is not what they say, and I suspect that at this time, the aristocracy of Gaul, as well as the undercover spies of Octavian, may be touting the 'glorious' deeds of the death in Britain. When Maximus returns, he may not be able to mobilize the legions, unless Crassus the Younger lends his legions to Maxim's command, or he himself comes to Britain to rescue us. But ......"

Appis spoke, wanting to speak.

"You don't trust little Crassus?"

Klein sensitively asked.

"Brother, when you sit in my position, you will find that all the people around you may not be trustworthy, familiar faces will become unfamiliar, you will become lonely and helpless, there will be fewer and fewer people who can help you, and more and more people who want to devour you. Little Crassus may be worthy of your trust, but there is a weak side to his character, and when everyone is in favor of a certain aspect, he will be unconsciously pushed by the tide and confused by lies. Also, it is a human being, always ambitious, and I cannot guarantee that my old comrade-in-arms will not betray me at a critical moment, after all, without me, Gaul, Great Germania and Spain are his. ”

Appis said melancholy, a hint of despair and pain on his face. Appis felt completely out of control of what was about to happen. For a moment, Apis suddenly understood why the ancients were so superstitious about gods and gods. When you are fragile and desperate, no one can help you, only those ethereal things, which may give the soul a little comfort.

Two days later, Maximus, who could not wait for news of Appis, finally decided not to wait any longer, leaving his lieutenant at the fortress of Ulenica, and with a few guards, he went south alone, preparing to venture across the rough straits and land in Gaul in winter, and tell the officials there about the situation. I hope that the best friend of Appis can send a legion north at a critical moment to find and rescue his companions and comrades-in-arms who are uncertain about their lives and deaths......