A week later, outside the barracks, hundreds of barbarians, cloaked and disheveled, like a group of wandering beggars, carrying not a single shield or weapon, submitted to the Roman legions. It was the Sveti who had attacked the Roman conscription several times before.

Apis didn't know how the Senad patriarch persuaded the tribe to surrender, and perhaps used some threats and intimidation, but these Apis didn't care, and the important thing was that they had indeed surrendered. These hundreds of people are the auxiliary troops of the new legion, and they are also equivalent to hostages.

However, to the surprise of the Sketti, the commander-in-chief of the Roman legions, Appis Gnaeus, did not ask for so many people. Apis wanted only a hundred forest hunters who were proficient in ambushes and reconnaissance. Because the legion can't afford too much, unless these new soldiers bring their own rations and fight the war. But apparently, the Sketti had abandoned their homes in their previous flights, and had little rations, and it was obviously impossible for them to bring their own food to fight the entire autumn campaign.

Thus, a dramatic military selection unfolded in the barracks......

The best warriors were selected from among a group of "refugees", and the winners could become auxiliaries of the Roman legions, who would guarantee their rations and even send them salaries, but the good treatment came at a price. These hundreds of people had to compete with their peers for these hundred places, and the content of fighting with each other was indispensable.

Sprinting, spear throwing, archery, and gladiatorial fighting have become essential items.

The legionnaires sat on the periphery and watched the excitement, just as they watched two gladiators fight each other from the stands of the arena. The noise and fighting filled every corner of the barracks.

In the end, in the course of one morning, the results of the selection were available. Ninety-eight Scotti hunters were selected for the auxiliary legion. The other two hunters were injured during the race and did not make it to the Legion, although they defeated their rivals. It was only by this time that the tribes of central Britain had almost surrendered to Appis again.

However, the barbarians who slaughtered the city of Caesto have not yet been found, that is, the same tribe that killed the Roman tax collectors in the first place, and it was reported from afar that the "ghost wolves" had sheltered many of the revolting tribes and were entrenched in the vast land behind the Black Forest. Appis knew that it was the Scotland of the future. In this age of barbarism, it is almost impossible to lead the legion deep into the true north. Supplies are a big problem, and the battle line is stretched too long, and logistics are vulnerable to enemy sneak attacks.

However, since the rebellion has already occurred, it is not possible to destroy it, otherwise, the local barbarians will not be deterred, and once the legion leaves, they will still make a comeback. Standing on the high ground of the barracks, overlooking the endless green forest ahead, Appis knew that in three months, he might not be able to return to Gaul, the autumn in Britain was really less than two months, and after October, the cold winter had actually arrived.

With no supplies to find food on the march during the winter, the legion was practically struggling.

……

"It's this little thing that has changed the situation on the entire Western battlefield! Now, even Octavian's legionary cavalry began to equip this thing. ”

In October, it was already a very cold season for North Britain, but in Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean, it was a different story, and General Mark Antony was sitting in a comfortable soft chair, letting the sea breeze gently blow his breathable silk robe. From time to time, the servants would stir up a fan and bring delicious fruit for the Roman king of the world to enjoy.

Standing in front of Antony and Cleopatra, Domitius presented the stirrup with a little pride.

"What is this?"

Antony sat on the lion's chair with a look of disdain, but Cleopatra, interested in what was in Domitius's hand, asked with curiosity.

"Stirrups! They all call it by that name. ”

Domitius enthusiastically introduced.

"Just such a simple thing is enough to change the entire Western theater? You're making too much of a fuss, General Domitius. ”

But Anthony was still not interested in this thing in the hands of his men. He hurriedly glanced at the stirrups that Domitius had handed him. I just think it's just a toy in the hands of a child. How could a cavalryman with such a tall and mighty existence need such a small tool to win victory on the battlefield?

"General, I don't make a big fuss, this tool can fix the cavalry on the back of the horse, so that the rider can control his war horse more flexibly, and most importantly, it is this small thing, so that the cavalry's feet can also exert their strength when riding a horse, and they can free up their hands to fight."

"Go on."

Under the gentle breeze, Mark Antony was drowsy, but it was Cleopatra who took a keen interest in Domitius's introduction. Although the queen was not a military strategist herself, Cleopatra attached great importance to all kinds of novel inventions and creations in the kingdom.

Appis invented it against Octavian's heavy infantry legions, and then, in the decisive battle against Agrippa, the Germanic cavalry used stirrups to attack the Roman legions' defenses, causing Agrippa's first line of defense to collapse shortly after the battle. It can be said that the invention of this little thing made it possible to carry out shock cavalry. ”

Unable to receive confirmation from Antony, Domitius turned to Cleopatra and introduced himself to his "spoils of war". It was a confession from a group of captured Octavian's cavalry. These Roman cavalrymen told the secret of the stirrups.

"Rely on the strength of your legs to stabilize your body? And, if I'm not mistaken, these two pedals were the tools for cavalrymen to get on their horses? ”

Cleopatra continued to ask with interest.

"Yes, in the past, our cavalry needed a servant to help them mount, or to get their horses to kneel down and the riders to go up. This process of getting on the horse was very slow, and on the battlefield, there was no time for our cavalry to operate like this. And with stirrups, it was different, and only one action was required for the cavalry to mount. In addition, the shock cavalry can charge more confidently without worrying about shaking off the horse due to the recoil force during the charge. ”

Domitius explained in detail that the role of the stirrup was shown in front of Queen Cleopatra, although from the bottom of his heart, Domitius did not have much affection for this woman. But for now, Cleopatra clearly cares more about this cavalry tool than Antony.