Chapter 135 Storming the City of Rome (7)

But Megios was more cautious. He first reminded Paulus that it was when the Dionysians landed that they had suffered a rush to attack and suffered a disastrous defeat that led to the dangerous situation in Rome today, so he suggested: just because of this The support army is the greatest hope of the Roman people in the city, but the number of 8,000 soldiers is still not enough. It is necessary to gather more soldiers to be able to defeat the Diorians in one fell swoop. This will not only save Rome, but also may bring the wearer. The Onians were driven out of the interior, so they should continue their march east to join reinforcements from the city-states of Prinister, Gabi, and Bonnet.

The two sides held their own opinions, but were unwilling to divide the team into two, because that would only weaken the attack power of the army and lead to the failure of their respective plans. In order not to waste precious time, they can only make a decision and let the soldiers make the choice.

Nearly 3,000 Latin reinforcements don't matter, but although more than 5,000 Roman citizens have been relocated to the three towns west of the Latinum area due to the allocation of land, there are still relatives and friends they care about in Rome, and they know in their hearts: There were not many civilian soldiers in the city of Rome. If the time was delayed and the city of Rome was breached, the land they had just owned would eventually be wiped out, so most soldiers were eager to thwart the siege of the Dionysians. So support Paulus' opinion.

Majors felt sorry, but blessed Paulus with sincerity, and rushed to the east with only one escort.

Paulus quickly assembled his team. Although he was anxious, he remained awake. He knew that although the Dionysian camp ahead was still very simple, it might cost a lot to break through it. Soldiers were the most precious to him, so he decided to bypass the camp and approach the city.

On the way of the army, the reconnaissance cavalry who risked to escape the interception of the enemy cavalry and returned with injuries brought back bad news: there were five or six thousand Dionian infantry in front, and many cavalry.

Paulus was shocked, he did not expect that while the Dionians were attacking the city, they still retained so many soldiers for defense.

But he immediately calmed down: the situation has developed to this moment, and there is no possibility of retreating. He can only lead the troops, attack forward without hesitation, and repel the enemies who are in the way. Only then will there be hope for the city of Rome!

He gave the order: the army to stop advancing, immediately begin to form.

Considering that there are many cavalry on the opposite side, and the failure of the previous battle was caused by Dionia's powerful cavalry attacking the flank, Paulus learned a lesson this time, and he prudently shortened the length of the array and increased it. The thickness was increased, and more than a thousand light infantrymen from the Latin reinforcements were arranged in the center of the army formation, protected by heavy infantry... After the formation was completed, the entire army formation resembled an oval.

When the Dionysian army came into view of the Roman soldiers, the high-pitched bugle sound came from the opposite side.

The Dionians even preemptively attacked the Roman army.

The cavalry corps on the two wings rushed forward, thousands of horses galloping, thunderous hoofs, stirring up the dust and fog, and the distance of several hundred meters was coming in an instant.

Watching the behemoths rushing forward with strong force, the Roman soldiers on both wings felt fear in their hearts.

But in fact, this was just an illusion. The Dionysian cavalry did not have the ability to punch through the heavy infantry formation frontally. When they brushed past the flanks of the Roman formation, they threw their short spears hard.

After all, these Roman soldiers had fought against the Dionian cavalry once before, and under the reminder of the squadron leaders, they raised their shields to defend.

At the same time, the light infantry in the army also shot arrows in their hands towards the Dionysian cavalry galloping past.

For a time, Roman soldiers fell to the ground with gunshots and Dionian cavalry fell from their horses with arrows from time to time.

Just as the Dionysian cavalry passed the flanks of the Roman army and rushed to the rear, the Dionysian infantry army was approaching, and the Roman squadron leaders hurriedly shouted: "Be careful with the javelin, raise your shield to defend. !"

Clotokatax followed the surrounding comrades and threw the javelin in his hand, and then hurriedly threw the second javelin almost without breathing.

At this time, the screams from the opposite made him excited when he was just entering the battle, but before he could savor the so-called sense of accomplishment, the soldiers in front began to charge the enemy, and he brought the palace guards with him. Immediately follow.

Even though the rain of javelins caused some confusion in the Roman army, when the Dionian soldiers began to charge, the Roman soldiers also held their shields and guns and strode forward.

With the belief of defending the homeland and driving away the invaders, one side marched forward bravely; The two armies collided violently, and then each stabbed the enemy with their lances and spears.

At the same time, Dionia's cavalry turned around and rushed to the rear of the Roman army.

"Turn back! Turn back!" Under the command of the Roman squadron leaders, the heavy infantry squadrons lined up at the rear of the Roman army turned around one after another, raised their long shields in front of the cavalry, and assumed a defensive posture. And the Roman light infantry in the center of the army also turned around to bend their bows and arrows, and the javelins and arrows staggered in the air again...

………………………………

The Roman soldiers fought bloody battles at the top of the city, and the people in the city were not idle. They were organized by the elders to continuously transport various consumed defense materials to various sections of the city wall, and at the same time, they continued to carry the wounded into the city.

Seeing their loved ones injured or even dead, the Roman people were sad, but had no time to cry. They had to seize all the time and do their best to help the army defend their homes, because the situation changed within an hour after the enemy started to attack the city. Somewhat grim.

"General Magus came to report. The enemy's offensive was fierce. In order to prevent the enemy from attacking the city, the soldiers paid a lot of casualties. I hope they can get reinforcements!"

"General Servius came to report that the army he led was trying his best to defend the enemy's siege, but he could not stop the enemy from continuing to destroy the city wall with siege equipment. I hope to send more soldiers behind the city to form a defensive formation to prevent the city wall from collapsing. After that, you can block the enemy's breakthrough!"

"General Purlo reported that the enemy used warships to build many pontoon bridges on the Tiber River, so that their attack was not limited to the Shibashi Bridge. Now the soldiers are defending the entire embankment with all their strength, but the enemy's offensive is fierce and the battle continues. Going down, the soldiers' physical strength can't support it, I hope to get more support!"

...

The Roman Senate originally asked Scipio the Great to be in charge of the defense of the entire city, but after the siege began, Scipio the Great found that it was difficult for him to control the battle defense of the entire city of Rome, because the city of Rome was too large and the city walls were thick. It's too long, and the roads in each block of the city are tortuous. Whether it is to convey orders or send reinforcements, it is time-consuming. So he decisively handed over command to the Senate, and concentrated his energy on dealing with the siege of the Dionians due south.

The Senate quickly completed the handover of command, and even in order to coordinate and organize the whole city to defend the city more conveniently, the elders came to the Roman Forum to work, and the military command was mainly handed over to Portitus and Marugineensi. Si and several other elders who have served as consuls many times, not only because of their seniority, but also because as consuls, they often have to lead troops to fight, so they have rich combat experience.

But even Portitus, who had been consul five times and had promoted Camillous many times on the battlefield, had never experienced and witnessed such a siege battle: the ballistas of countless powerful men, the huge attack City towers, spliced ​​wooden carts that can hide people and strange ways of filling trenches, terrible abdominal bows, warships building pontoon bridges... What is even more frightening is that the Dionian soldiers who attacked the city were not only well-trained, but also brave and powerful.

According to Portitus and their previous experience in sieging cities: a large city like this is guarded by tens of thousands of soldiers, and without a hundred thousand people, it is impossible to win without attacking for two to three months to half a year.

But less than two hours after the start of the war, the defending army seemed to be unable to stand it.

The elders were also panicked. At this time, they could no longer consider any clan rights and private interests. They organized the slaves in their respective families. At the same time, they also notified their clans to take action, and all those who could pick up a shield and spear would take action. The men and slaves were all summoned to the Roman Forum, about 10,000 people, urgently formed formations, distributed weapons, and then sent them to the much-needed battlefield in waves...

The usually expansive Old Roman Forum was crowded and noisy at this time: on the one hand, the elders were urgently training the newly formed troops, and on the other hand, the people were helping the wounded lying on the ground.

Looking at the nearly 10,000 troops in the audience not long ago, there were only more than 1,000 people left. Those slave soldiers were not quite used to wearing helmets, shaking their heads from time to time, holding weapons and staring blankly... An uncomfortable feeling suddenly surged in Si's heart. He tugged the back of the chair with his hand and said with difficulty, "Send the last thousand or so people to Scipio the Great. Although he did not send anyone to ask for help, he said with difficulty. The other armies have encountered difficulties, and it is impossible to defend easily in the south. I know Scipio the Great, and he must be doing his best to avoid embarrassing us..."

"Alas, Rome has not been attacked by the enemy for decades, and the people lack experience in defending the city! What's more, the enemy is Dionia!..." Ambostus sighed regretfully: "We only blame us. All these years, I have only been focusing on expansion, and I have not properly re-planned and repaired the city defense!"

When the elders next to him heard this, they all felt the same way: if the crooked Roman city wall was pulled out and repaired in all directions; Fill it in; if a city wall is built on the embankment on the north side of the city of Rome; if deer villages have been arranged on both sides of the trench; if the streets in the city have been planned early to facilitate traffic... I am afraid that defending the city today will not feel so difficult!