Rome Must Perish
Chapter 72 - 70: Preparing for the Raid (Requesting Subscriptions)_2

Chapter 72: Chapter 70: Preparing for the Raid (Requesting Subscriptions)_2

Scapula and Oluus exchanged a glance and finally said helplessly, "Alright, we’ll do as you say."

Maximus observed this, and with a plan already in mind, he said, "You don’t need to rush. I need to discuss it with my subordinates first. Only when everyone agrees can we implement this plan."

"When can you give us a clear answer?" Oluus asked urgently.

"Tomorrow."

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

Once Quintus and his companions had left, Maximus immediately gathered Fesaros, Torrelugo, and Camillus, the three Chief Centurions (earlier, when the number of the Guard soldiers increased from over 300 to 700, Maximus had these three each oversee at least two Centurions. By rights, their positions should be promoted to Great Captain, but leaders like Spartacus, Cross, and others, despite commanding far more than a thousand soldiers, still held the rank of Great Captain. To avoid criticism, Maximus temporarily borrowed this name) and the head of the military advisory group, Flanitnus, for a discussion.

Upon hearing Maximus say he wanted to lead the Supply Camp Guard independently to attack Pompeii, the four were a bit surprised. However, after listening to the sea raid plan, they all fell into contemplation.

Having spent many years at the Napolet Port and having traveled to Pompeii’s port several times, Camillus personally confirmed the authenticity of Pompeii Port Area’s situation as described by Quintus, which further proved the feasibility of this plan.

Flanitnus was surprised that the Lukaiya people had joined the rebel army. Amid his schadenfreude, he lamented the irony of two armies that once fought each other savagely due to following different Roman commanders now working together for the rebel army.

After a moment of thought, the three Chief Centurions unanimously agreed to implement this surprise attack plan. This outcome wasn’t surprising, as during this time, they watched other battalions boast about defeating the Roman Army, while their troops trained even more rigorously, yet mostly remained confined to the camp, feeling frustrated. They all yearned to prove themselves.

After reaching a consensus, the next crucial task was to secure the ships.

Maximus dispatched Vorenus to the Fifth Battalion camp to inquire about the ships from Attutmus, claiming that the Supply Camp wanted to try sea fishing to diversify the soldiers’ food sources.

Attutmus did not doubt this, as he had previously considered it himself and had instructed his soldiers to maintain the ships stranded on the beach. However, being competitive by nature, he was busy with training to ensure his battalion wouldn’t fall behind others, so the few ships never went to sea, inadvertently lowering the guard of the nearby coastal towns.

Vorenus borrowed five single-masted cargo ships from the Fifth Battalion, and Maximus sent soldiers with a seafaring background and carpenters quietly to the beach to inspect and repair them, ensuring they were seaworthy, and instructed the construction team to create five-meter-long wooden ladders.

The next day, after Maximus informed Quintus that the Supply Camp was ready to implement his proposed raid plan, Quintus and his companions were overjoyed and soon, on the third morning, they brought their families to the Supply Camp to fulfill their promise.

The surprise attack on Pompeii was a bold adventure by Maximus and concerned the life and death of the Supply Camp Guard. He was, of course, very cautious, reconvening with the three experienced Centurions, Flanitnus, and Quintus for further discussion. They confirmed every detail of the operation and finally decided to launch the surprise attack at midnight with the moon and north wind, as the Pompeians would be less vigilant. Even if they discovered the invasion and attempted to muster the troops, it would be slow. Moreover, with the help of the north wind, the transport ships could quickly reach the port of Pompeii along the coast.

The seaborne troops were made up of most of the soldiers from the Third and Sixth Centurions led by Camillus, who were experienced seamen from Napolet Port and could navigate at night without issues.

Additionally, thirty Lukaiya people led by Oluus would participate in the sea raid. Although slightly older, they were seasoned Roman veterans who could compensate well for the inexperience of Camillus’s troops.

A total of 200 soldiers would carry out the seaborne raid on the port, with an average of 40 per ship, well below the carrying capacity of a single-masted merchant ship, thereby ensuring sailing speed.

Maximus was a meticulous person. After the action was determined, he outlined several key points, requiring the soldiers participating in the raid to undergo simulated training until they were completely familiar and proficient.

Simulated training? Even Quintus, with twenty years of military experience, had never heard of such a term, let alone others who were curious.

Maximus called in the construction team and spent half a day meticulously setting up on the training field. So, when Camillus led the soldiers participating in the raid to the training ground, Maximus surprisingly had them sit fully armed on the ground repeatedly making rowing motions, stopping only after a set period. Then, the first six soldiers in line had to carry a ramming wood from the ground, run dozens of meters forward, and smash into a wooden board firmly anchored in the mud and standing tall. The whole team then had to run over 100 meters along a designated route and knock down another wooden board with the ramming wood before arriving at two mounds about three meters high and four meters apart, climb one mound, position the long wooden ladder over the gap, and walk across it to the other mound. Then, they had to run nearly 200 meters to engage in combat with waiting soldiers and ultimately win to finish the exercise...

After a round, the soldiers were all panting heavily, some puzzled and even grumbling in their hearts: Leader Maximus was deliberately tormenting them!

But Quintus, watching from the side, suddenly understood: this was to have the soldiers train for the entire process of raiding Pompeii.

"What’s the use of such training, it’s like child’s play. On the actual day of the raid, the pressure of death will make them incapable of moving a muscle!" Oluus mocked nearby.

"No, I think it does work," Quintus earnestly replied. "Look at them; they don’t know how to effectively use the ramming wood to break doors, get nervous and fall off the suspended ladders, and at the end can’t even lift their sword and shield... Although this isn’t the real battlefield, if they can keep training this way, when the day of the raid comes, they should be able to perform to some extent."

At this moment, they saw Maximus walking to the front of the team and loudly saying, "Brothers, I heard that everyone in your Third and Sixth Centurions actively requested to join this raid, with no one backing out. Some even pestered Camillus after not being selected. I’m very pleased; you are truly men unafraid to fight the sea!"

Despite being drenched in sweat, the soldiers lifted their heads proudly.

Maximus then changed his tone: "However, your performance just now disappointed me. This training is not to mess with you but to simulate the entire process of raiding Pompeii. At that time, you will set out fully armed, row the sails for over ten miles, and storm into Pompeii Port. Your actions will inevitably alert the sentries at the port. While they sound the alarm and gather the troops, you must quickly climb onto the docks, use the ramming wood to break through the port’s gate, rush into the port area, swiftly traverse narrow alleys, reach designated buildings, break through the doors, rapidly climb to the rooftop, set up the ladders, and cross over a ten-meter-deep cliff to enter the city..."