Chapter 25 Reckless Battle (Part 2)
The final result came out, between the camps and mountains where Anthony's army was formed, there was a narrow pass that seemed unguarded, and it could lead to the city of Mutina.
After hearing Agripa's return, Octavian's eyes were glowing. He had already made up his mind to make a fuss on this pass, but when he gathered all the commanders of Ghost and made his plan public, he was full of booing. People did not believe that Anthony did not arrange troops on this pass. Octavian, who was ridiculed, had a temper. He ordered the chief centurions of various legions to step out and follow Agripa to do a second reconnaissance work to convince the public.
In the evening, all the chief centurions came back, and they had sworn to each other not to lie: there was indeed a narrow road, and from then on, they could pass through elite troops and get in touch with Mutina City, and work together inside and outside to break Anthony.
"How?" Octavian said to everyone, meaning that he asked the other party to express his opinion as soon as possible.
As a result, the commander of the 12th Legion, Karenus, said straightforwardly, "We believe in the reconnaissance results of our subordinate centurion, and we also believe in the cavalry captain you personally served as the captain of Caesar, but what we do not believe is your decision and fortune."
"What decisions and luck? Why do you use such illusory words?" Octavian said with an angry face.
"To put it bluntly, the soldiers and centurions do not obey your command. I understand Caesar. They think you are a child and just a child, so your hasty and recklessness on the battlefield will bring disaster to the entire army." Karenus's explanation below is even more unpolite.
Octavian blushed and white, and he stroked his fingers on the map table. "There is no perfect old man, nor is there a completely wrong child. That's why I need all of you to work together, right? So, my guard is at the front, and General Karenus's 12th Legion and Pansa's 42th Legion; General Angandinus's 6th Legion maintains a frontal attack, while Hegius's 43rd Legion serves as the swimming bait, walking to the left of Mutina City, attracting Anthony's attention and not knowing about our surprise attack."
This arrangement is equivalent to asking all the hills and factions in the army to contribute, and Octavian wants to set an example and take the lead.
Finally, everyone passed the plan of Young Caesar, and they found the local guide. Then, five brigades of Octavia were all formed by veterans, and they all advanced at the second stairs at night, led by Avenus; and the two legions of Pansa and Karenus followed closely behind.
When they went to war, the inconsistency between these armies was revealed. The veteran guards were on the pass at night and the 12th Legion did not give in. They followed closely, but the 42nd Legion, dominated by new recruits, had difficulty in moving. They seemed very uncomfortable. The soldiers could not find the centurion, and the pack beasts also liked to walk around, which delayed for a long time.
When he crossed the pass and reached the highest point of the hillside, according to the prior agreement, Avenus tied a red legion sweatshirt on the tallest tree above, like a signal flag, informing all the troops behind and Octavian's main business of success.
At this moment, Octavian, who was praying in front of the statue of the camp, was ecstatic, and then Hejius followed the plan and led the Forty-three Legions out of the camp and marched in the opposite direction.
"Wentitus, the enemy has indeed used a boring strategy." Anthony, who was standing in the high ground by the camp and observing all this, laughed and said to his generals, "Anyone can send out three brigades from the Eighth Legion and parade with these people. Then, the command over there will be handed over to you, Wendys."
"Yes, I will kill the opponent without leaving any armor." Wendys responded, and then rode away.
At this time, on the pass, Karenus suddenly said, in order to be on the safe side, I must leave six brigades in the legion to build a small camp here to advance. If the war is unfavorable, I can still retreat and not evolve into a defeat.
At this time, Avenus, who was carrying the veteran guard, looked down at the ground. It was completely long grassland and some fragments of irrigation canals, which seemed to have dried up. It seemed that the land was under the pass before, but it was abandoned later. "Just just pass through it. Since it was a surprise attack, it would be a joke. It also made others underestimate our loyalty to Young Caesar." Avenus said enthusiastically, and then ignored Karenus. "He likes to give me four brigades, so four brigades are fine." Then he ordered five brigades to line up in a column and walk down the mountain road, because Mutina was faintly in front of him, and it could be touched with the naked eye. There was no Anthony's camp in front of him, nor patrolling cavalry. The terrain here made Anthony unable to form an iron wall encirclement.
Pansa's forty-two legions, because most of the new recruits were still walking on the pass, Pansa, anxious, also took the four brigades that arrived first and went down with Avenus.
When he was halfway through, Avenus realized in surprise that the grass was not dry ground at all, but wet sludge. What scared him was that the soldiers' military shoes were stained with more and more sludge, and the movement became more and more difficult. It seemed that the grass was simply a swamp.
At this time, he, who was walking in the front, was facing the hot sunlight and mist, and smelled the unpleasant smell coming out of the mud under his feet. A commander who abandoned his mount walked to him with difficulty, "Master, what should I do?"
"Don't rush to retreat. Let us be placed on the front. The four large groups of the 12th Legion and the 42th Legion are on the rear wings, supporting each other in triangles, and then slowly retreat. There may be enemy ambush here." Avenus shouted.
Then he heard the sharp whistle and remembered it all the way - behind the barren dam, in the bushes and in the reed marsh, many soldiers stood up one after another. Their original hats and helmets were carrying willows, and their shields and flags were covered with cloth, but now they were all removed, shining everywhere in the sun. Some soldiers had elephants on their shields, and some soldiers had grapes on their shields.
"The Fifth Legion and the Tenth Legion... are the Elephant Legion and the Bucks Legion!" The soldiers who were catching goods in front shouted out in panic, and then this emotion spread throughout the position like a strong wind.
"Don't panic, set up a battle formation." The veterans of the five brigades led by Avenus were the oldest guys. They were already numb to death and injuries, so they were closely tied together, holding the daggers in their hands, and shouting at the Fifth and Tenth Legions who had surrounded them from all directions, "Caesar's traitor."
The soldiers on the opposite side also shouted, "The rebellion of Julius's career."
Anthony's centurion guard also walked in the front, and soon he slammed the ground and fought with Octavian's guard in the swamp. (To be continued, please search for Piaotianyi, the novel is better, updated and faster!
Chapter completed!