After the grand strategy was determined, the Roman legions stationed in Asia Minor and Syria set out again. The Roman military route from Pergamon and Pontus to Armenia was busy again. It is an unchanging truth that the soldiers and horses do not move the grain and grass, and the preparations are carried out day and night, as if the Parthian War two years ago was repeated, and the granaries along the way were full of grain, and the supplies were piled up, and a fierce battle was just around the corner.

And on the border between Armenia and Parthia, the fighting seemed to be unfolding sporadically.

The Parthians attacked Roman caravans in groups and even attacked Armenian towns. As an ally, Parthia's actions also made the Roman side "unbearable".

"Your Majesty, we have just formed an army, recovered Ctesiphon, the city needs to be rebuilt, the army is not yet stable, is it too hasty to attack Armenia at this time?"

The fighting that had been going on for days had left the generals under Orodus a little incomprehensible. They originally thought that the king only wanted to unify Parthia, but now it seems that he was not small and still wanted to continue to fight Rome. However, the Parthian vitality that had just been sacked from the winter capital had not yet recovered, and the actions of King Orodes attracted a lot of criticism.

"Eager for quick success? My great general Anukis, you do not understand the significance of Armenia to Parthia. In fact, I attacked Armenia precisely to protect Parthia from the Roman legions. ”

In the barracks, in the face of the curious and even questioning eyes of many generals, Orodus explained unhurriedly.

"Protect Parthia? So why go and annoy Rome? ”

Anukis asked first.

"This question cannot simply be seen as an opposition to Rome. Take a look at this map, and you'll know. Parthia and Rome were separated by two continents, one was the Mesopotarian plain, which was a desert, a desert with no people. It was difficult for the Roman legions to cross there unless they risked supply difficulties, drought and lack of water, and being surrounded by cavalry. They have already suffered two losses there and there will not be a third. Then, the Armenian plateau, where we had another junction with Rome, became the only way for the Roman legions to advance. In fact, Apis spent two years repairing the military road in order to get the army and food and grass to Armenia more quickly. In fact, Armenia was halfway between Parthia and Rome and acted as a buffer zone. ”

Orodus took a sip of water and continued—

"This buffer zone is extremely important, without it, in the future, when Rome sends troops against us again, we will be able to reach Ctesiphon, and there will be almost no natural barrier in between. However, if Armenia does not belong to Rome, then we have this buffer zone, and once Rome sends troops, we will have time to prepare our army to confront them in Armenia, and not be destroyed by Appis all the way south and destroy large central cities like Ctesiphon, as he did two years ago. ”

"So we're actually moving forward and retreating?"

Anukis asked.

"Yes, as long as Armenia is separated from the Roman League, then, in the future, we will have this natural buffer zone. And, one more thing, now that Armenia is part of Rome's allies, the Armenians will provide the Romans with a large number of high-quality heavy cavalry in wartime, which is also a great threat to us. If Armenia can be won, then the balance of war will be tilted in our favor. ”

Sitting on the king's throne, Orodus swore solemnly.

…………

A drizzling rain fell to the ground, causing countless small ripples. Days of fighting have left both sides a little tired. Commander Publius, who had just held off a wave of offensive, stepped down from the defensive wall of the camp, took off his heavy armor, and entered the tent.

"Damn, how long are we going to have to stay here?"

As soon as the account was entered, the commander of the Eleventh Legion, Cetius, complained dissatisfied.

"What's the matter, my brother, brave General Setiaus, are you complaining about this war again?"

"Instead of complaining, I'd rather rush out and fight these Parthians than suffer in this foreign land."

Cytius said, taking a sip of the wine on the table, revealing an impatient irritability.

"Calm down, my brother. No matter how patient he was, Apis was afraid that he had bypassed the Armenian plateau and penetrated deep into the hinterland of Parthia. ”

Faced with the complaints and dissatisfaction of his colleagues, Publius said with a smile.

"But how much longer will he have? We don't even know where he is now? It's so mysterious every time. ”

"Be considerate and considerate of him, after all, this is an absolutely confidential operation."

Publius said, his heavy armor had been removed and placed casually on the table beside him. He walked over to Cetius and sat down.

"Do not complain, brother, as long as you can achieve the final victory, it does not hurt to wait any longer, do you want to go back to Rome so much, you want prostitutes and beautiful slaves, here and there are many places, we have captured the Parthian baggage caravans, and we have taken their slaves in the army. That's enough for you. Appis has given us the task of defending here, creating the appearance of nervous preparation, and we can do that. As for the expeditionary force, why should you think about it, that's not something we are worried about. ”

Publius said, smiling and putting his hand on the shoulders of his colleague Cetius. He took a bite of the roast venison on the table. Commanding the legion to fight all morning, he was also a little hungry at the moment.

"I wonder if Apis has thought too much, the Legion has not yet fully conquered Parthia, how can he conclude that we can't manage this land? The rebellion may have been just an accident. ”

"No, no, no, you're thinking a little simpler, brother. Do you know how many years we fought the Germanic Wars? ”

Faced with the nagging of his colleagues, Publius swallowed the roast meat in his mouth and turned his head to speak.

"Three years? It is said to be so. ”

"That's popular opinion, and Apis, for the sake of the glory of the legion, did not tell the world the truth of the matter. In fact, we fought that war for six years. Even during the years of Apis' struggle with Octavian, North Germania remained unstable. The legions repeatedly crossed the Elbe to exterminate the barbarians there. But every time it was in vain, because the logistics could not keep up. We erected three pontoon bridges over the Elbe, all of which were eventually dismantled, and each time the Roman legions entered north of the Elbe, they could no longer go deeper. This is the reality. Just imagine, Germania was not far from Gaul, such a distance, we could not completely conquer them, let alone Parthia, which is now so far away from Rome? Many people may say that Apis was too conservative, but in fact, we have experimented, and Germania is the best proof of this. Too far from the capital of the empire, without the sea, we can't rule that land for too long, and, as Apis says, the gains outweigh the losses. ”

Publius said, taking a sip of the inferior wine on the table. Far from Italy and Greece, high-quality wines are already in short supply.