Jin Zhan said solemnly: "It's not so simple, there is actually a key purpose of his plan, which is to let his father-in-law, who is in the upper echelons of the Roman Senate, that is, Illia's father, also participate in the fight against the rebel army. ”

So as long as Illicia is brought by us to the rebels, then naturally we have one more enemy. Jin Zhan has helped Batitas participate in the political operation for a period of time, so he is also familiar with these personnel relations at Roma's top management.

"Won't we be done with Illicia returning to his father in good condition?" Gannix said anxiously.

Jin Zhan shook his head and said, "First of all, this plan Illicia is also kept in the dark. I am afraid that she would not have believed that his husband would have devised such a vicious scheme, and that she would have believed that it was our odious rebels who had taken him away. Even if she is allowed to go back, it has objectively contributed to his father's anger against us. ”

"There is also a terrible situation. I'm afraid that by the time you set out, Graeber had already spread the news to the Roma higher-ups. Maybe now Illicia's father has recruited troops and the army has come to kill him. ”

"And Graeber is in case we send Illicia back in unnecessary trouble. He probably killed his father-in-law on the way, as long as he disguised himself as a subordinate of our rebels. Then he can logically integrate the entire army. Since he can even sell his wife, let alone his father-in-law. ”

"So this Illicia that you kidnapped Gannix will do us more harm than good."

Hearing these words, everyone also suddenly realized.

Gannix also blamed himself again and again. "This is really something I didn't expect, Jin Zhan, you are too powerful. No wonder Azul had to take Illicia as a hostage at that time, the consequences were so terrifying. ”

Hearing Asur, the hearts of the rebel army were also shocked. Jin Zhan muttered for the first time: "Asur? Is that the lame gladiator Azul of the Battitas family? ”

Gannix nodded yes.

Everyone exclaimed in unison, this Azul and them are really enemies, and all kinds of memories began to flood their hearts.

At this time, less than a few dozen kilometers from the manor where the rebels were stationed, the two Roma armies successfully joined together.

In a tent less than 50 kilometers from where the rebels were stationed, Graeber was discussing the next march with Elixia's father and the young official Sepsius.

At this time, Graeber still showed a state of deep mourning and low eyebrows. After all, his father's anger at Illicia's capture was more on him, Graeber. With such a huge army in his hand, since he can let a few thieves take away his precious daughter and his golden body.

Therefore, he kept as low a profile and silence as possible throughout the journey.

When Elixia's father received Graeber's message, it was dark. He has accumulated countless resources for most of his life, but he has no children under his knees, and the most cherished thing in his life is his precious daughter.

I didn't expect such a thing to happen. In addition to his anger, he immediately took action. Taking advantage of his connections and influence in the Senate of the Republic of Rome, he mobilized a group of personnel and supplies for the crusade against the rebels.

At the same time, he urgently contacted several young talents in the vicinity who had a good relationship with him, Septios and Varilius. In fact, these two people were originally his favorite son-in-law candidates. Whether it is in terms of family status, figure, and appearance, they are the best choice in a hundred, and they are also very coveted for Illicia's beauty.

It was a pity that Graeber was the first to take the lead, but Septious and Varilius did not give up the pursuit of Illicia. Due to the very open relations between the sexes at that time, marriage did not necessarily bind Illicia and Graeber completely.

So seeing Illicia captured at this time, Cypsius and Varilius were naturally very willing to help. One can defeat Graeber, a rival in love, and make him disgraced. Second, if they defeat this rebel army together, their political prestige will reach a new level.

For Varilius, it was even more motivating. After all, the previous crushing defeat in the valley made it difficult for him to let go, and he needed a big victory to regain his confidence and restore the morale and fighting spirit of the entire army. And this knot can only be untied by defeating the rebels.

If he was allowed to act alone, it would be difficult for him to confirm the shadow in his heart, and he would definitely retreat from the rebels. But now this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is really hard-won.

Because of Illicia, Graeber had an army of 15,000 to fight. Together with Illicia's father, Septus recruited more than 20,000 troops. There were also 15,000 troops on the side of Varilius. That's a total of 50,000 troops.

According to the latest intelligence, at the time of Graeber's new defeat, the rebel army was only a few thousand men. Among them, those that can be used to directly go into battle to kill the enemy may have to be discounted a lot, so it makes sense that this battle will inevitably be participated in by Valerius.

Septius received a double promise from Illicia's father. After rescuing Illicia, he will not only be able to hold the beauty, but also gain a fast staircase to the Senate of Rome.

Such generous conditions made it impossible for Septios to find a reason to refuse. Plus he didn't actually go to much war. There is not much concept of the rumored brave and invincible rebel army.

And Graeber's defeats will only make him hold on to his nose and laugh at the weakness of his rival's means. However, he is not blindly optimistic, after all, such things as fighting wars are not his mastery of people who are involved in politics. So he didn't actually invest too much in the cost.

With the massive resources and wealth mobilized by Illicia's father, he just pushed the boat to help him collect personnel and materials. This army of more than 20,000 people is more like an empty glove white wolf appearing out of thin air.

If he wins, he will inevitably open a new chapter in his life. If the loss is heavy, it will basically not hurt the foundation of his family, and it can be regarded as an experience to expand his resume. What's more, 50,000 people fight thousands of people, no matter how you look at it, it will not be easy to rout.

In the tent, the high-spirited Sepseus said in a swagger: "Don't be in a hurry, old man. This time, we marched so fast, and the secrecy of the news may have already exceeded the expectations of the other side. I'm afraid we haven't made the slightest preparation for this 50,000-strong encirclement of the rebels, right? ”

"By General Graeber, our enemies will inevitably feel proud and slack after victory. Thanks to General Graeber, they were too busy celebrating their victory to be wary of our plans. So I think General Graeber still has a lot to offer. ”

Looking at Sepseus's naked ridicule of himself, Graeber couldn't hold it on his face, and his heart was even more angry. But now what do you have to refute it? A previous defeat brought him to notoriety at the top of the entire Roma Republic. And the news that his wife Illicia was captured by the rebels made him a laughing stock.

He had no choice but to glare back at Septius with a blue face, and then give up.

Illicia's father had no intention of easing the conflict, and he continued with Septus's words: "You are right, nephew, but we must not underestimate the enemy. It is no coincidence or accident that this uprising has the scale and achievements it has today. ”

"And I repeat it again. The purpose of our trip was to rescue my daughter Illicia, and to defeat the rebel army was a matter of course. First of all, my daughter's absolute safety has to be guaranteed, understand? ”

"Sir, I naturally know that Illicia's safety is paramount, and I have always treated Illicia as a relative." He glanced at the green-faced Graeber again mockingly, and continued, "Actually, I think the key to this battle is not how to fight, but how to combine this encirclement. ”

"As soon as the other side is completely surrounded by us, Illicia will be the only hole card that the other side can negotiate with us. They let them go, and we let them go. ”

Illicia's father thought so: "Yes, yes, young and promising, the old man thinks so too." The key to this battle is not to fight, but to encircle. As long as the rebels were given enough psychological deterrence, Illicia was very safe. ”

"What do you think, Graeber?" After all, Graeber has an army of 15,000. Even if the reputation is bad, it is impossible to have no voice at all.

Graeber coughed and said, "What my father said is very true. As long as we have sufficient strategic deterrence against the rebels, then Illicia can be safe, and I agree with the strategic deployment of encircling but not fighting. But I would like to ask General Sepsius, how did you complete the siege of the rebels? ”

Sepsius didn't seem to bother to look at Graeber and replied without hesitation: "That's naturally a division of troops." At this time, I estimate that Varilius has already reached their southward direction, and now as long as you outflank them to the northwest with your men and horses, and we continue to approach them in the northeast direction, we will naturally be able to complete the entire encirclement. ”

"Oh, is it really that simple? I ask a few simple questions, I wonder if General Septios can answer? First, do you know the composition of the rebel army? ”

"Second, have you estimated the speed of the rebels?"

"Thirdly, have you calculated the range of interception of the marching speed of several armies of our troops?"

"Fourth, have you inspected the terrain of the battlefield where the entire encirclement plan was implemented?"

"This ......" Sepsius suddenly felt his head as big as a fight. Basically, he has no experience in the military, how can he have such a systematic military analysis ability? For these questions, he also realized at once what he lacked, and he almost completely did not consider the actual operational details of how to carry out the encirclement.