Chapter 119 The Roman Crisis

The elders were awakened from their sleep and rushed to the Senate to hold a meeting to discuss countermeasures.

As a result, in the morning, another scout hurried back to Rome, with even worse news: "We found that Dionia's army set out from Ostia and marched east along the Tiber River! "

"Found that Dionia's army set out from Ravenim and was moving eastward fast!"

There is no doubt that Dionysian's army was clearly heading for the city of Rome! The flukes in the hearts of the elders were shattered, and they all felt nervous.

"How many people are in the Dionysian army?" The interrogator was Publius Cominelius Scipio, the father of Muliusius, also known as "The Great Western" by the people. Pia".

Muliusius, appointed as a messenger by the Senate, had set out for Herniki, to send orders to Camelus. The post of city guard he left was appointed by the Senate to be taken over by his father, not because the position was hereditary, but because Scipio the Great was a veteran with outstanding military exploits. He served as the deputy cavalry commander of the commander-in-chief Camillous. In the current critical moment of the enemy, it is natural that experienced veterans are needed.

"Because the Dionians sent cavalry to cruising around the army, the reconnaissance cavalry could not get close to observe, but according to their experience, the two armies together may have 40,000 to 50,000 people."

This number made many elders take a deep breath and exclaimed: "So many enemies! And there are only 3,000 soldiers in our city! The city of Rome... the city of Rome—"

"There are more than 3,000 soldiers in the city of Rome, plus the citizens who were mobilized last night, there are already more than 10,000 people!" Ambustus said loudly, trying to dispel the anxiety in the hearts of his colleagues.

"But they are all old people and children!"

"Shut up!" Portitus roared: "At this time, Roman citizens are only those who died in battle and those who are still fighting, and there is no distinction between the elderly and children!"

Having said this, he tore off his clothes, bared his thin right hand, raised it, clenched his fist, and said, "I propose that citizens over 65 years old and teenagers over 13 years old be recruited as auxiliary soldiers to participate in the defense of the city. One sign up!"

"How can this be possible! A 60-year-old man can't even hold a shield—" Apuleus was about to object, but Potitus glared at him, and Apuleus stopped talking.

Portitus glanced at Marugine Ensis, who was beside him, suppressed the anger in his heart, sighed lightly, and said in a deep voice: "It has been more than 100 miles from here to Ferentirum City,

And the road is not easy to walk, the messenger is riding at full speed, it will take at least half a day to reach the Roman camp, and it will take two days for the army to return to Rome, no matter how fast, you have to let Camillous spend one day , to attack the city of Ferentirum, then tell me, how many days will the army led by Camelus be able to return? ! "

"Four days! Four days at the earliest!" Ambustus took the opportunity to answer loudly: "Judging from the current situation, the Dionysians have tried their best to attack the city of Rome, and the current situation in the city you Have you seen that, can Rome resist the attack of the Dionysians and hold out until Camelos leads his army back?! Even if we can defend the city, how many casualties will we have to pay for the garrison of old and young men? ?! It wasn't long before Meliusius left, and the messenger rushed to catch up, so I propose to cancel the previous proposal to Camelus and let him return to Rome immediately with his army!"

There was a momentary silence in the Senate. After all, the elders here knew that if Camelus returned with his army and then fought against Dionia's army, he would not be able to attack Herniki for a while. It will make the Herniki people who have fallen into a desperate situation revived, and make the hard work that Rome has made for more than a month to come to nothing.

At this time, the old patriarch Lucretius stood up and said emotionally: "The land is gone, it can be obtained again, and Rome is gone, but everything is over! I don't want to see the city of Rome outside. Clan ravaged!"

His words evoked the painful memories of the elders, and many people were moved and shouted: "Agree! Agree to let Camillous return immediately to defend Rome and repel the enemy!"

In the midst of this cries, Marugineensis silently looked at Scipio the Great, and Scipio the Great shook his head slightly at him. Although Marugineensis did not agree or object, he remained silent.

At this time, Apuleus stood up and said, "Ambustus, didn't you go to inform our allies to send reinforcements last night? Why haven't you seen any movement?"

"I sent messengers to Gabi, Tustron, Rabbi Kum, Pendum...their reply was, 'Their young citizens had answered the call of Rome a month ago to follow Cammy Luce went to Herniki and now has no reinforcements to send.'"

"So... Prenister, Bonnet, Tibur... Have you asked all these city-states?" Apuleus asked again.

Ambustus was a little angry. As a respected elder, being asked in such a tone, he felt a kind of humiliation, and immediately said angrily: "Unless you are not a Roman, you should not be unaware that these city-states How far is it from Rome, I am afraid that it is already late at night when our messenger arrives there, and the senate of any city-state will not handle political affairs at that time, even if we are Rome, it will be ridiculed!"

Apuleus smiled awkwardly and muttered, "Look, it's all Camelus' fault..." But he didn't dare to ask any more questions.

"Before the arrival of the Dionians, should we inform the people of the villages outside the city to withdraw to the city, so as to ensure their safety and strengthen our defenses." Abinius propose.

At this time, Marugineensis spoke: "It's better not to do this! The young and middle-aged citizens of the entire Roman region either went to Herniki, or went to Antium and Villitre to the west. , Satnicum, the villages outside the city are either old people, women or children, as well as some slaves, who come into the city not only will not help defend the city, but will increase chaos... uh... also There's... uh..."

Scipio the Great went on to say: "There are many residents outside the city. Once they get the news, they will rush into the city in panic. I am afraid that they will not be able to enter the city for two or three hours. Instead, the city gate is always open. Knowing that the Dionian army is accelerating its march now, it is likely to arrive here in two hours... By then, it will be a disaster for the city of Rome, and for the people gathered at the gates! I suggest ——Send cavalry immediately, and inform the people of the villages outside the city to bring food to evacuate towards Gabi City or Prenister, and come back together after Camelus returns with his army.”

Portitus looked at Marugineensis, did not express any objection, and reached a rare agreement with him.

Not only him, but most of the elders agreed. Although they all lived in the city, they all owned a lot of land outside the city, so they also had their own houses, even villas, and of course their own families and clansmen lived there. , letting them evacuate Rome is also a safe way to spread risks and preserve the family, and the elders are tacit to each other.

"At the same time as notifying Camillous to lead his army back to Rome, we also have to send messengers to inform Paulus, Megios, and Pantheus, and ask them to regroup as soon as possible and lead the soldiers back to Rome! In addition, , Tustron, Tibur, Prenister... These Latin allies still have to send messengers to them to ask for reinforcements, even if only a few soldiers can come, it will also help defend our city of Rome." Onishi When Pia said these words, his eyes were fixed on Ambestus.

This time, Ambestus made no objection.

"You don't forget our colonial city Weiai, and the Etruscan allies on the north bank of the Tiber River, we should also ask them for help immediately! Although before, they also sent reinforcements to participate in the attack on the Helniki people. The war, but compared to the Latin allies, they should have the spare capacity to send reinforcements." Portitus reminded loudly.

"Respected Portitus, you are right!" Scipio the Great responded politely, more skillfully than Apuleus: "But in this case, we must preserve the vertebral bridge on the Tiber, and We will also send heavy troops to guard it.”

"Could it be that my family used a few hundred people to defend the bridge, but now we have tens of thousands of soldiers, but we dare not defend it and can only destroy it?!" Intention, immediately asked loudly.

A hundred years ago, the entire Fibius clan was dispatched to guard the Roman vertebral bridge and resist the attack of the Wei lover. In the end, the entire army was almost wiped out. This became an unforgettable painful memory for the Fibius clan, but it also became their mission to Rome. The capital of the people's boast, as the patriarch of the current Fabius clan, how could Ambustus allow this bridge to be easily destroyed.

"Of course we have to defend the Shibashi bridge! But the two wooden bridges on Tiberina Island must be destroyed, and the people on the island must withdraw to the city of Rome!" Marugine Encis was a little hesitant to see the Great Scipio, in order not to let There was a gap between the Cornelius clan and the Fibius clan. He immediately expressed his opinion. He felt that with the current strength in the city of Rome, defending one bridge could be tolerated, and the troops needed to defend two bridges were enough. .

Ambestus agrees.

After that, the discussions went much smoother, and the Senate quickly reached some resolutions and acted quickly. They began to mobilize the people of the whole city, encouraging them to resist the attack of the Dionians and hold on until the army of Camelous returned to avoid the city of Rome being sacked again.

Note: The Fabius clan, some also translated as "Fabian", came from this clan of the Fabian consul who adopted the delaying tactics to save Rome in Hannibal's war with Rome.