Rome must fall.

Chapter 439: Battle of Aquileia (II)

Fortunately, at this time, Antony's messenger rushed over: "Lord Trebonius, Commander Antony ordered that the left wing does not need to flank to the east of Aquileia for the time being, but to protect the flank of the center and maintain a good defensive formation. Wait for new orders to be conveyed before taking further action."

Trebonius was confused and a little angry: "Why did Anthony suddenly change the scheduled plan?!"

The messenger had to explain: "Sir, Commander Anthony discovered that the barbarians have conquered the city of Aquileia. They even pretended to attack the city to lure us into attacking. In fact, the barbarian army has already formed a battle formation...so we must be vigilant!"

"Is this a trap set by the barbarians?!" Trebonius was shocked and blurted out: "Why don't we retreat quickly--"

As soon as he said this, Trebonius quickly swallowed it back. The deafening sound of fighting coming from the south reminded him that it was impossible to retreat safely under such circumstances.

"Commander Anthony asked me to tell you, sir—" The messenger raised his head, "Even if the barbarians played tricks, the Roman legion is not afraid of any opponent in a face-to-face battle! However, the left wing is weaker, so you must remain cautious. Wait until you defeat the enemy on the right or center before you join the battle!"

Trebonius calmed down, thought for a moment, and said, "I will obey Antony's orders, but you go back and tell him that it would be best to send me both the cavalry and light infantry to strengthen the defense of the left wing!"

The messenger's mouth curled up slightly: "The commander has already thought of this. The cavalry and light infantry are heading here!"

Trebonius had nothing to say. He suppressed his anxiety and led his troops to the flank of the center. He took the time to rearrange the formation. While waiting for the arrival of cavalry and light infantry, he sent people to understand the battle situation in the center.

He thought that the left wing would have a relatively ample time to adjust, but the troops he led had just reorganized their formation and had not yet completely stood firm when dust began to fly in the distance ahead.

The barbarians are coming! ... There was a commotion among the troops on the left wing.

Although Trebonius had sent people to investigate the situation of the barbarian army many times before, he had never seen it with his own eyes. With some curiosity, he rode to the front of the battle.

Although he already knew that the weapons and equipment of the main force of the barbarian army, the Nyx soldiers, were very similar to those of the Roman legions, the scene that came into his eyes still surprised him.

The barbarian soldiers were wearing heavy armor and were arranged in tight square formations. They strictly followed the front and back spacing of the Roman army when marching. They held large shields and daggers, and the shields were closely connected to form a solid line of defense, while the daggers emitted cold rays of light under the sunlight.

They marched in unison, like a series of iron walls. More importantly, facing the upcoming battle, they did not like to shout to intimidate the enemy and boost morale like the barbarian warriors in the past. On the contrary, they were all silent, and no shouting could be heard in the entire army. Only the continuous and rhythmic sound of heavy footsteps like thunder.

It was not because these barbarian soldiers were timid. On the contrary, their expressions became somewhat ferocious due to excitement. Trebonius was very familiar with that bloodthirsty look because he had often seen it on the veterans who had fought in Gaul for many years.

This is not a barbarian army, it is clearly a Roman legion that has experienced many battles! ... A chill rose in Trebonius' heart, and he involuntarily took a few steps back. Suddenly, he found that the approaching barbarian formation was a little short, and it seemed that there were not too many people.

Trebonius turned his horse around and galloped back to the rear of the army. He immediately called for a messenger: "Go tell the captains of the 15th Legion (the legion that Trebonius formed was the same number as the 15th Legion that was ambushed and annihilated by the Gauls) to tell the soldiers to be alert and prepared for defense. Do not launch an attack rashly! Anyone who violates this will be punished by military law!"

"Yes!"

"Go and inform the captains of the mixed legions that once the barbarians launch an attack, they must lead their soldiers as soon as possible to cooperate with the 15th Legion and attack the barbarians' flanks!"

"Yes!"

After giving the order, Trebonius felt relieved, but a moment later, a scout came galloping over: "Sir, a large group of enemies is coming up ahead!"

Trebonius was startled again and urged his horse to the front of the army. He saw dust and smoke billowing from the sides and rear of the barbarian army and countless figures came into his sight.

These people were tall and strong, with blond hair and white skin. They wore horn leather helmets and simple leather armor. Most of them held a big axe in both hands, and a few held wooden shields and spears. They did not form a strict formation, but waved their weapons and shouted loudly, rushing towards the mixed army formation in a chaotic horizontal column...

It's the Germans! ... Trebonius narrowed his eyes and became nervous again.

……………………………………………………………………………………On the top of a tower near the north gate of Aquileia, the siege soldiers here have stopped firing crossbows as the Roman army and the Nixen army have been engaged in a full-scale battle.

Besides them, there were a few more people here—King Maximus of Nyx and his attendants.

Maximus was concentrating on overlooking the battlefield to the north when Chief of Staff Pequot came up.

"How's the battle situation in the west?" Maximus asked with concern.

"It's still a stalemate." Pecot said seriously: "I've been observing for a while. The Roman army in the west is attacking fiercely and has a good formation control. It seems to be quite powerful...

However, you don't have to worry. The soldiers of the First and Second Legions are holding on very well. I estimate that it may take some time until the Romans are completely tired before we can gain the upper hand and launch a counterattack."

Maximus understood what Pequot meant: the Roman army had marched all the way here without much rest, and was certainly not as physically fit as the well-rested Nyx soldiers.

Maximus nodded. "It seems that just as we expected, Antony wants to defeat our west first, so he sent his strongest army there."

"Look here..." Maximus pointed to the city and said calmly, "In this direction, the Roman army's combat effectiveness is not weak, and the attack is also fierce, but the Third and Fourth Legions are also defending very firmly. Now the only place where we take the initiative to attack is there-"

Maximus raised his right hand and pointed to the distance ahead: "Antony should have realized that he was fooled, so he stopped his left wing from advancing to protect the flank of the center. I have ordered the Fifth Legion to attack them. In addition, the Germanic army has regrouped outside the east gate. I have ordered them to join the battle as well. When you came up, the Germanic warriors had already engaged the enemy..."

While listening to Maximus' introduction, Pequot stared at the battle situation outside the city, and gradually formed a grand picture of the entire battlefield in his mind, from the beach outside the west gate to the city outside the north gate, and then extending to the foothills in the north... The fierce fighting line between the enemy and us was like a huge "Z".

"Your Majesty, according to the intelligence we obtained earlier, the strength of this Roman army is not much different from ours. Most of them are veterans who have participated in the Gallic War for many years, but some are new recruits who surrendered after being defeated in the war...

Judging from the current situation, the Romans should have deployed their weakest army on the left wing! This is just right. In our previous plan, the key to victory is also on the left wing. I think we can send the cavalry corps now!"

Maximus understood.

The reason why the Nyx army used a fake siege to lure the Roman army into attacking was: on the one hand, to lure the Roman army into a hasty attack and greatly consume their physical strength, while their own side had the advantage of terrain, was able to conserve their energy and had an advantage in physical strength; on the other hand, to avoid a formal battle with the Roman army, because the Nyx army's cavalry was stronger than its opponent.

The Romans should be well aware that although the Aquileia region is flat, it is not vast. Antony is considered the most capable fighter among the three giants in the late Roman Republic. In a formal battle, he would inevitably line up his troops with his back to the west and facing the east, with tens of thousands of soldiers lined up from north to south, with the foothills to the north and the bay to the south. The Nyx cavalry would lose the advantage of outflanking its flanks and could only rely on head-on confrontation with the infantry to decide the outcome.

Now most of the Roman army was pressing towards the city of Aquileia on the bay, leaving enough space for the cavalry to gallop in the north!

Maximus hesitated a little and asked, "Should we wait a little longer? Let the cavalry attack after the Roman soldiers are more tired. This will make it easier to wipe out the enemy."

"Your Majesty!" Pequot said anxiously, "You and I have seen that Anthony did not hold back and sent his entire army forward. He obviously lacks the experience of independently commanding a large army.

As long as we send out the cavalry to bypass their left wing, the Roman left wing will surely be defeated! By then, this inexperienced Antony will definitely be confused, and we will definitely win a great victory!
If we let the cavalry launch the attack later, we can still win, but there will be more casualties during this period. This battle will not be our last with the Romans. We need to reduce casualties as much as possible so that we can better deal with future wars with Rome. "

Maximus was convinced: "You are right, go inform Harguchus and let the cavalry corps attack!"

..........................................................................................

When the messenger found the cavalry commander Hargux, he was leading the Nix cavalry, which had regrouped outside the east gate of Aquileia, and was following the German army at a slower pace...

(End of this chapter)