"I trust you so much, yet what do you do to my legions, to my soldiers? Looking at the wounds they were wounded, and the seventeen soldiers who died in that battle, all veterans who had followed me for many years, what else do you have to say? Patriarch? ”

After the requisition was ambushed, Apis placed the wounded soldiers in a field hospital, paid a pension to the fallen soldiers, and then rushed with his army to the territory of the Sennard tribe, where the incident occurred. As soon as the legion arrived, the local tribal leaders and elders respectfully went out of the town to greet them, and they also knew the news that the Roman conscription had been ambushed on their territory, and at this moment, they were thinking about how to give Appis an explanation, a satisfactory answer. It's okay to even hand over the hostages, weapons or something. And Appis did not surprise them, and as soon as they met, he rode on his war horse and reprimanded and scolded the elders of the tribe. Frightened, several elders and the leader of Senard stood in place and trembled.

"Honorable General Appis, please listen to me explain that we did not ambush the conscription party, it was done by the people of the Sketi tribe."

The leader of Senard replied tremblingly after being reprimanded by Appis. I was afraid that if I didn't say the right thing, the soldiers under the Roman general in front of me would raze their towns to the ground.

"Sketti? How did the Skites end up on your territory? ”

Appis paused, continuing to press harshly. In fact, before coming, from the descriptions of the soldiers, Appis already knew that it was not the Senadians in front of him who attacked the grain convoy, but the more savage Scotti tribe. It's just that interrogating the Senards with questioning can force them out more benefits, and nominally so justifiably. My people are injured on your turf, and of course you are responsible. So Appis kept asking with a posture of not knowing the truth, and from time to time he pressed the poor chief of Senard in front of him. The pathetic tribal chief trembled with nervousness almost the whole time.

"Dear General Appis, the Sketis are moving quickly, and it is estimated that they will not be more than five days before they come to my territory, otherwise, it is impossible for my people not to discover them. The speed with which these men moved proved that they would not have a lot of food supplies with them, so they had to attack the general's legions and conscription teams to get a reserve for the winter. ”

"I'm asking, how did they get to your territory? If you can't even answer this question, it's a sign that the enemy has arrived in your territory and you can't find out. Then, since you cannot protect your people yourself, then it is up to my army, my soldiers, to protect your people. ”

Appis yelled. The words revealed threats and domineering, which made the clan leader even more nervous. The Roman legions had been stationed in the town, and they had turned to the Romans to save their freedom and their lives, and now the lives and freedoms of the whole people, including their own, were all in the words and deeds of the Roman general in front of them. The leader of Sennard knew that the slightest mistake on his part would have terrible consequences.

"No, no, no, General, these Sketis are just a bunch of roving bandits, sparsely numerous, lightly armed, and adept at nocturnal, so they are hard to spot. But the soldiers and I can protect the territory, because the Sketis are too few in number to be a threat. As long as I can protect the interests of this land, our covenant will remain in force. Checkmate. ”

Chief Senard replied anxiously.

"Then it depends on your ability and sincerity."

Appis continued to sit on the tall standing horse and speak. Chief Senard could only keep looking up the whole time. Although some young tribal nobles were not accustomed to the arrogant posture of the Roman legionary generals, they had to admit that they had no opportunity and no power to resist.

"What do you need me to do for you?"

As soon as Appis's words fell, the patriarch on the other side immediately understood the meaning. Leaned over and asked.

"Not for me, it's for the Roman legions."

"You say ......"

"Find out those Sketti, I need them to serve me, and tell them that if they are willing to join my side and join the legion, I can pardon the unpleasant incident that happened a few days ago, and I only need a hundred men, a hundred hunters who are good at ambushes and reconnaissance. If I am not willing to cooperate, I will mobilize more tribes to participate in the search for them until their heads are nailed to the city square of Karentum. If they are willing to cooperate, like all the Allied tribes, I will not enslave, let alone let the soldiers plunder their property. Damn, I didn't have much property in the first place. Also, if you can recruit them, I will reward you and your clan with a large amount of assets. ”

Appis spoke loudly on horseback so that all the elders around him could hear that if the patriarch of this tribe really had any friendship with the Sketis, the other elders would be smug against it. Otherwise, you don't even know the content of the conversation, and all the chips will fall on one person, which is a bit risky. Although it seems that the patriarch in front of him is still very loyal to him. I'm also very afraid of myself.

……

"A hundred hunters? Can you believe it? Would the Romans let us go so easily, and only a hundred hunters? It can't be, they're just trying to trick us, make us show up, and then slaughter us. The Romans have always been like this, and they have not believed in their words. A bunch of cunning dwarves! ”

When the Senad patriarch approached the leader of the Sketti, the Svetti were still unwilling to believe the "sincerity" of the Romans. In their eyes, the Roman legions went to only slavery and conquest. Despite the fact that the Senad patriarch actually had a good relationship with the Sketti chieftain. But the Sticks, who had already rebelled against the Roman legions, knew that the Romans would never spare them so easily, and at the cost of only a hundred hunters who were proficient in guerrilla and ambush tactics.

"Yes, they have always been, but Apis is different, unlike other Roman generals, he has promised us what he has done, and I believe this time will be no exception. Come, friend, join me in the Romans' side, and don't live in hiding anymore. If you are not at ease, I can vouch for you to send my child to the camp of the Romans so that the Romans can raise him. ”

The leader of Sennard sat down in front of the leader of the Sveti and spoke sincerely. He had to convince the Sketti tribe to join the Roman legions, but he couldn't tell him everything. He tried to persuade because the Sticks had killed seventeen Roman soldiers on their territory and ambushed the convoy. Apis used this as an excuse to force the Sennards to find the murderer, or the covenant would break down. Appis had a point, even if he enslaved an entire tribe, the other tribes would have nothing to say. So, under pressure, the Senad leader could only do everything in his power to convince the Skites to join the Roman legions. Even if you let your children be used as hostages.