Rome Must Perish
Chapter 78 - 73: Raid on Pompey (Continued)_2

Chapter 78: Chapter 73: Raid on Pompey (Continued)_2

The road running parallel to the district and the port is primarily used for transporting goods, so it is quite spacious, wide enough to accommodate six to seven people side by side, and fairly smooth. Torrelugo led his team forward without much reduction in speed.

On the west side of the road was the city wall, from which sporadic sounds of killing could be heard. Those were the soldiers under Camillus hunting down the remaining sentries atop the wall.

On the east side of the road were rows of houses, their lights gradually being lit. Awakened Pompeians peered through the windows, observing the rebel soldiers walking past their homes, while the rumbling footsteps and noisy shouts made their hearts pound with fear.

The faint indoor lights also illuminated the path ahead. After advancing a distance, Torrelugo saw countless silhouettes moving in front, with someone shouting loudly, "Citizens of Pompeii, drive the robbers out, protect our families!"

The people coming towards them were City Guard soldiers urgently assembled by the Pompeii City Mayor. Encouraged by the City Guard Captain, they roared and charged towards Torrelugo’s troops.

Torrelugo, undaunted, excitedly shouted, "Brothers, kill with me!"

Under his command, the Second Centurion and the Pompeii City Guard clashed head-on, with the sounds of fighting instantly tearing through the darkness and reverberating throughout the district.

No matter how wide the road was, no more than eight people could engage head-on. The army couldn’t deploy, instantly causing congestion. Those at the front couldn’t retreat, while those at the back couldn’t advance. Fortunately, the previous three battalions, under repeated reminders from the military advisory group, maintained a certain distance from each other. Once faced with the enemy, Flanitnus promptly stopped the reckless forward push by the subsequent two Centurions.

"Can we bypass here?" Flanitnus inquired of the guide Valerius, glancing at the houses beside the road.

"We can, there’s a square not far ahead," Valerius replied.

"Then let’s bypass and attack the enemy from the side and rear!" Flanitnus suggested to the Centurions of the Fifth and Eighth Centurions.

The two team officers, having been promoted by Maximus due to their outstanding performance in the Guard, though they had also participated in the first battle against the Romans and the night raid on Vesuvius, this was their first time commanding troops in battle. Particularly daunting was that their direct superior, Torrelugo, was stuck in the fight unable to issue orders. At this moment, having seasoned veteran Flanitnus give a suggestion, they both instantly agreed, saying, "Alright, we’ll follow your lead."

With Valerius leading the way, the soldiers cautiously maneuvered through the narrow paths between residences. Yet, as the vanguard hadn’t entered the square, they were spotted and intercepted by Pompeian soldiers, with the soldiers behind continuing forward only to be blocked...

The Pompeii City Hall was located on the south side of the square, not far from the Apollo Temple. The temple had high foundations, and from there, the Administrative Officer Casius Cominia Silo overlooked towards the west, vaguely spotting rebel soldiers moving through the residential district.

"The enemy is bypassing towards that small path forward! Quick, quick, quickly send troops to stop them!" Silo pointed forward and shouted anxiously.

Since these despicable slaves had successfully ambushed the Roman Army at Vesuvius and greatly increased their power, he had been worried about them coming to disturb Pompeii. Thus, for the past two to three months, he had been strengthening the city’s defense repeatedly. Yet despite the thorough warnings, the enemy still breached the city. Alas, these timid and incompetent Pompeians!

In fact, Silo’s instructions were unnecessary; Pompeian citizens gradually arriving at the City Hall to receive weapons and equipment hastily dressed and rushed to the battlefield, but their numbers were not great, causing him anxiety. Shouting loudly, he commanded, "Quick, send someone to urge Areyous! Tell him if he doesn’t send reinforcements, the City Hall will be taken, and his luxurious mansion will be the next target!"

While Silo’s attendants hurried towards the affluent eastern residential area, Maximus and Camillus, having entered the city, had already met up. Upon learning that Torrelugo’s troop was obstructed ahead, he heeded Quintus’s advice not to rush to assist but instead led over 500 soldiers along the road beside the city wall, quickly heading east. Upon reaching the Vesuvius Gate, they turned toward the central axis of the Pompeian District. Along the way, they scattered some Pompeian citizens rushing to the square. Just as they reached the district center, preparing to turn west, loud noises erupted from the front side.

"It’s likely the reinforcements organized by the Pompeian wealthy; they have many guards and slaves," Quintus urgently reminded, "We should leave some soldiers here to block them!"

Maximus gazed towards the numerous silhouettes in the front side, once again heeding his advice, "Camillus, take your men and block this intersection for me!"

"Yes, Leader!" Camillus hastily gathered soldiers from the Third and Sixth Centurions.

Just as Maximus was about to lead his troop away, he suddenly remembered something and asked, "That Aurelius Vettius should be among these reinforcements, right? Aren’t you going to stay with your men here?"

Quintus calmly responded, "The key now is the enemy at the square. Once they are quickly defeated, the city will fall. Since Aurelius hasn’t fled yet, soon he won’t have a chance to escape."

This old man is indeed calm enough on the battleground; he’s truly worth learning from! ...Maximus admired in his heart, immediately stopping talking and led the run towards the western road first.

The soldiers of the First, Fourth, and Seventh Centurions closely followed. Even if they weren’t wearing armor, they held wooden shields and spears, having run from the ambush point until now, a full three miles. By then, everyone was somewhat winded, but after breaking out of the intersection, there was a vast square before them, and beyond a hundred meters was the battlefield roaring with cries of slaughter. The excitement overwhelmed the fatigue in the soldiers’ hearts. Led by Maximus, they headed straight for the enemy fiercely blocking the edge of the square.

Maximus led his troops around most of the district, appearing on the south side of the square. At first, Silo was jubilant, thinking reinforcements had arrived. Only later did he realize it was the enemy, leaving him in shock. However, he had no soldiers left to dispatch, only able to watch with horror as these enemies, armed with simple weapons, ferociously charged towards the fighting Pompeian citizens...

He still held a sliver of hope that the fully armed Pompeian citizens could withstand the attack from behind.

However, the fact that Pompeian citizens could muster up to answer the call and join the combat was already their utmost effort inspired by defending their homes. Facing the fierce offensive from the rebel army, their skills in defense were already struggling. At this time, with a deafening roar coming from behind, some people instantly cowered, turning to flee without engaging, thus triggering a massive rout among the Pompeian citizens.

The two rebel army forces took the opportunity to unite, then aimed to encircle the Pompeii City Guard still defending on the road.

Subsequently, the Pompeii City Guard swiftly dispersed before the rebel army fully encircled them, with their captain and some soldiers captured.

By this time, Maximus had gained a deeper understanding of Quintus’s words before the battle: the assault on Pompeii must be swift and decisive to quickly defeat them. Otherwise, even though the Pompeians might be timid, if the time drags on and they begin to adapt to the battlefield, inspired by defending their homes, they could potentially mount a drawn-out resistance. This would inevitably attract more Pompeians to join the fight, posing a disaster for our already outnumbered troops...

"Report to the leader, we’ve occupied the City Hall and the arsenal beside it, and caught a big fish—this is the administrator of Pompeii City!" Fesaros said, tossing the man in his hand to the ground.

Silo rolled to the ground, looking up at Maximus with a pleading expression, but he couldn’t utter a word of begging.