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Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece (Web Novel) - Chapter 799: The Siege of Rome (XVII)
Chapter 799: The Siege of Rome (XVII)
This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml
With Rome's defensive line on the embankment collapsing, Cassius couldn't even fight to the death, even if he wanted. So the fleeing soldiers carried him and ran towards the city. However, as the general in charge of defence, his attire was too prominent and got intercepted quickly by the oncoming mountain reconnaissance soldiers.
Terentus let out a roar as he easily used his short sword to pierce the chest of the disheartened Cassius.
As Cassius fell, he kept thinking that the city of Rome had already fallen, and these were the enemies who had breached from the other direction and believed he had held on until the very end.
It never occurred to him that these enemies were hiding underground near them…
And the soldiers of the Third Legion quickly joined the Mountain Reconnaissance Brigade after rushing over the bridge and onto the embankment. Then they began pursuing the fleeing soldiers, charging into Rome's residential area…
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In the eastern section of the southern city wall, while Kailkous' mixed force intercepted the reinforcements of older Scipio, another group of soldiers made their way up the walls via the staircase to disrupt the defenders at the top of the city wall. Seeing this, the soldiers of the Sixth Legion attacking the wall also took the opportunity to start climbing up.
Meanwhile, five hundred more troops managed to climb through the southeastern corner of the city wall through the grappling hooks and detoured to attack the flank of the older Scipio's reinforcements.
As a result, they swiftly defeated the Roman reinforcements, crushing the morale of the city defenders and causing them to flee.
With Kailkous' force cutting off the eastern part, the fleeing Romans could only head westward, which naturally affected the defenders under the older Scipio. Since they were already struggling to support themselves against the attack of the Second Legion intensifying due to the addition of Tolmides and Epiphanes' reinforcements, they also gave up resistance and prepared to flee.
But the Theonian soldiers who had reached the top of the city wall through the siege tower but got blocked in the pathway became their roadblock on their escape to the west. Furthermore, enemies were blocking the bottom of the staircase, so the desperate Roman soldiers decided to jump from the top of the wall, which was more than ten metres high…
On the other hand, the older Scipio had already decided to leave when he saw the situation turned terrible and fled to the Roman Forum.
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At the southwest corner of the city wall, another section of the wall collapsed and allowed the Fifth Legion soldiers in a neat formation to pass through the gap orderly, resulting in the Roman soldiers responsible for blocking them below the wall feeling the pressure double. Just as their spear formation kept getting forced to retreat under the attack of the Theonian soldiers, an emergency message came, informing them that the enemy had completely breached the defensive line in the south!
Recognising the dire situation had no hope of salvation, Servius Mucius reluctantly ordered to retreat. He understood that if his troops continued fighting, the enemy that had stormed the city through the southeast could easily encircle his troops completely within the southwestern corner by advancing to the west.
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Despite having the west, south and north side of the city of Rome falling, only the defenders in the northeast remained fighting since they were close behind Rome's sacred land – Mons Capitolinus.
Meanwhile, Amintas felt an overwhelming sense of anxiety. So when the scouts brought him the news of over a thousand Roman reinforcements approaching the camp from the east, he responded angrily, “Report back to me once the enemy has broken through the camp!”
Hearing that, the people around him remained silent for a while, with only Phryntor saying, “Legatus, our soldiers have reached the top of the city wall!”
“It's not like it's their first time reaching the top; they'll just get repelled soon!” Amintas said angrily.
“However, the defenders are already in a mess!” The attentive Phryntor said while staring ahead.
The defenders at the top of the city wall were indeed in a mess. It was because Rome's Pons Aemilius and embankment were not far from Mons Capitolinus, so most of the defeated soldiers to the north ran towards the Roman Forum next to Mons Capitolinus, and the soldiers of the Third Legion that followed them closely had also rushed into the Roman Forum.
In the Roman Forum were wounded soldiers needing urgent treatment, citizens with their families and supply teams carrying rations…as a result, the people overcrowding the Roman Forum panicked as they fled towards Mons Capitolinus.
The soldiers of the Third Legion were like tigers pouncing into a flock of sheep, brandishing their swords into this sea of people and immediately causing chaos to descend in the Roman Forum.
The defenders at the northeast city wall turned around and saw enemies with black helmets and armour not far from the city had cut off the passage to Mons Capitolinus, chasing the people like livestock. Worried about their family, the defenders no longer had the will to fight, so they turned around and fled…
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With positive news arriving one after another, the people in the main Theonian camp kept cheering.
Davos silently left the command tent and gazed at the top of the city wall, watching the Theonian flag flying there in a daze while hearing faint screaming from within the city.
“Your Majesty, why do you not appear happy even after conquering this magnificent city?” Asked Henipolis relaxedly. He is the only one who could speak to Davos in such a tone.
“I am certainly happy,” Davos said lightly. He didn't lie as he felt the weight on his chest being lifted, bringing him an inexplicable sense of relief. However, he still suppressed his excitement and said, “But it is still not the time to celebrate as there are still seventy thousand Roman soldiers outside and are on their way to us.”
“Now that we have occupied their homes, do they still dare fight us?!” Henipolis asked, somewhat sceptical.
“Heni, you must always go all out in a war and never take any chances,” Davos said sternly.
“Thank you, Your Majesty. I will take note of your reminder,” Henipolis indeed picked up a slate and began writing on it.
Davos smiled helplessly, turned around, and faced Asinaros, “Have you told Epiphanes and Tolmides to set out with their armies?”
“Your Majesty, they have already departed about…ten minutes ago,” The most important thing for a staff officer is to try to be as accurate as possible and not be vagued. So Asinaros ran back to the tent, looked at the hourglass, and returned to answer.
After learning of the city falling, Davos immediately ordered Epiphanes to lead a thousand five hundred soldiers and two hundred cavalries to the east to assist in intercepting the defeated Roman reinforcements.
Then he ordered Tolmides to lead two thousand soldiers to take a ship from the river port to the opposite bank, detour around to the flank of the oncoming Roman reinforcements from the north and surround them.
Davos nodded and asked concernedly, “Has the medical camp begun treating the wounded below the city wall?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Davos looped up the sky and said, “Notify the logistics camp of each legion to disassemble the camp, load the supplies and prepare to enter the city.”
“Yes!”
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Two hours later, when dusk approached, the sounds of fighting and screaming within the city had subsided. After finishing clearing the stones and dirt blocking the gates facing the Roman Forum, the Theonian soldiers opened the gates wide and lined the road to welcome their grand legatus, the King of Theonia, into the city of Rome.
Amidst the powerful sound of the military salpinx, Davos, surrounded by the palace guards, led all his attendants into the city of Rome on foot, which of course, caused confusion among the soldiers.
“Why didn't His Majesty Davos ride his horse?”
“…how do I know? Perhaps it's because the streets here are too narrow?”
“Don't be stupid! Legatus Matonis said that His Majesty felt it was disrespectful to ride a horse into the city after capturing this city through a fierce battle!”
“His Majesty is too kind to us soldiers!”
“Quick! Quickly! Stop talking!”
When Davos reached the soldiers by the roadside, these chattering soldiers immediately became nervous.
Davos walked up to one of the officers and asked in a gentle tone, “What's your name?”
Before the officer could reply, Matonis, following behind Davos, immediately said, “Your Majesty, he is Thyamus, the squad leader of the fifth squad of the fourth platoon of the third brigade of the Second Legion and had come from Roscianum.” Matonis appeared to praise him, but his eyes told him, “I'll deal with you later.”
“I can tell you are a brave warrior!” Davos' praise immediately made Thyamus straighten his chest.
Davos pointed to Thyamus' right hand, holding a short sword, and asked, “Are you wounded?”
“Your Majesty…it's just a minor wound…and it's already healing.” Thyamus subconsciously hid his right hand behind his back.
Matonis hurriedly stepped forward and grabbed his right hand, revealing a slashed wound running from his arm to his forearm, with the skin opening up and showing the red muscles. Although the bleeding had stopped, the long and terrible wound had frightened the people.
“Why didn't you go to the medical camp to have it bandaged?!-”
Davos then stopped Matonis and spoke seriously to Thyamus, “Do you know why the kingdom's military code demands bravery in battle and treating ourselves after a battle? Because only with good health can you continue fighting and earning achievements! Although you would receive rewards for your military achievements, it would be even better if you could enjoy these rewards after the war! Now that we are fighting far away from our homes, you must care for your body even more! And with more fierce battles awaiting us, we need warriors like you to win again for the kingdom!”
After saying that, Davos turned around and said to the several legates, such as Matonis, “The soldiers shouldn't remain here in their exhausted state after today's siege. Quickly, let them return to rest and regain their strength. Furthermore, all officers must ensure they send the wounded under their command to the medical camp for treatment! If any soldier is overlooked or neglected and falls ill as a result, the responsible officer will be held accountable and face punishment.”
