Augustus Road

"If you have children, you understand the intensity of love for them." - A woman in medieval Florence

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"Are you still serving Malcha?" Karabis asked when his eyes moved to the Tifo shield hanging diagonally on the opponent's saddle.

The other party stood up in the saddle, nodded, and then took off his face shield. He had red wavy hair, antelope-like eyes, fair face, and an ambiguous expression, "I heard there was a Roman legion." Heading towards Khersones, I was about to tell them the location of the Pontus baggage, but I didn’t expect that it was you who was leading the team. "

Then, the Queen of the Amazons, Helenputina, put her finger to her mouth and made a sound like a turtle dove. Behind her, the tall "Stormy Ella" came out of the darkness of the woods on a horse, holding a sword in her hand. Carrying a string of lead balls ready to be thrown, Elcapa slid down gently from the tree canopy, carrying his bow and arrows, like a bird about to wash its light feathers.

After a moment of silence, Helenputina spoke up. She turned the horse's head and said, "I know the specific location of Pontic's baggage. Come with us."

When the queen walked in front, Calabis couldn't help but admire her horse. Its very light and delicate steps were not affected by tree roots and branches at all. It was completely different from the horses in Rome. These horses only liked to walk rough steps. The pace often gets stuck, requiring the rider to constantly pull to get back on track.

Finally, Calabis could see through the branches and see the Pontus cavalry baggage camp under the hill - indeed there were many mules, horses and donkeys pulling two-wheeled baggage carts, some of which might be serving as scouts. Scythians covered in animal skins were wandering around. The men and drivers formed a large circle around the baggage cars, and sat in piles to warm themselves over the fire.

"They will continue to move forward tomorrow, but look, camp officer." Arminius pointed at something with his hand and clicked. There were several Pontic cavalry carrying trumpets and flags, obviously warning of danger. It seems that Tucker Schiller's arrangements are still thoughtful, and the main force of the team must not be too far away.

Karabis stared for a while, then glanced twice at Helen Putina next to him. The other party understood and nodded.

All their men and horses were waiting in this hillock until dawn the next day. From time to time, a group of Pontic cavalry ran in. After a short supply break, they rushed to the battlefield again. Calabis looked back and saw that his cavalry were holding their horses down. Some took out barley and gently let the horses eat. After that, they put on the bit again, while the infantrymen coughed twice in a low voice. , after constantly fidgeting with the camouflage branches on his helmet, Calabis finally felt that he could not wait any longer, so he waved, and the flag officer slowly raised the team flag high, and then quietly lowered it.

Taking this as a signal, El Capa climbed up to a tall tree crown with a bow and arrow on his back, swinging his golden braids around, while Ella stayed close to the queen's side and drew her sword. , just when everyone was waiting for the horn of the attack, Calabis suddenly asked: "Where is my child?"

"Fostered in the city of Ponticabion." The queen, who was holding her breath before the war, was unexpectedly "surprised" by Calabis and blurted out. Then the two looked at each other. The queen saw that Calabis smiled. stand up.

"It's a daughter, Calabis, you have a daughter." Ella couldn't help but shouted in a low voice.

"Stop talking!" The queen pointed to the edge of the hill. Two military slaves, a man and a woman, were holding a sacrificial brazier, talking and laughing, and walking towards the hillside where they were lurking. Karabis Looking at it with some fascination, it seemed as if I saw myself and Bodi three years ago.

There was a sharp trumpet and a restless chirping. The frightened birds in the woods flapped their wings and flew out. The two military slaves raised their heads and watched in wonder as the birds flew away. Then the woman came back to her senses. When she came, she covered her mouth in panic - she saw a group of people suddenly walking out of the woods, holding swords shining with cold waves, with ferocious faces, covered with strange branches and leaves, like people walking out of hell. Ghostly.

Before the pair of military slaves could scream, they were stabbed to death by the soldiers in front. Their bodies lay horizontally in the grass. The soldiers behind them walked over one by one. When Calabis walked over, he looked down. After laying it down, the sacrifices were scattered on the floor. The female slave's face was lying on it, her eyes were wide open, and her hand was still tightly holding the hanging arm of the male slave's body...

The Roman surprise team formed a fan shape that went downhill rapidly, split open the wooden fence silently, and rushed into the Pontic baggage camp. They stabbed anyone they saw, and those who followed behind raised their hands to burn the baggage. The mules and horses in the camp instinctively screamed and fled. The few Pontic cavalry on the other side of the wooden fence saw the scene of the Roman attack. A man specializing in military trumpets hurriedly raised the bugle to his mouth. , puffed up his cheeks, ready to call all the people to fight and warn the distant team.

A fatal arrow flew from the big tree crown in front of the hill. The arrow cluster made a precise spiral movement in the air, and penetrated the bugler's throat. His body jerked upward, and the bugler He made a dull and weird sound and fell down from his horse.

The two riders next to them were just about to get on the saddle, but they were also killed by arrows with the scream of death. The flags of the entire camp fell to the ground and could no longer be erected. Many of the hired The Scythians jumped on their horses in panic, abandoned their task of guarding the baggage, and ran desperately along the passage sandwiched between the hills and cliffs, towards the outside of the pocket killing formation.

But in the light of the fire, the Roman cavalry coming downhill from the woods also mounted their horses from one side, unsheathed the handles of their Celtic swords, and shouted battle chants. Their horse hooves turned up the white and yellow soil behind the snow, and everyone Like an arrow from the string, he held his long sword horizontally, knocking over the cart driver and the escorting soldiers who were running on the road. Calabis pulled an officer who was carrying food out of the car, and then the two soldiers held each other down. , pierced the fighting sword into the officer's back, "Burn it as much as you like, don't pick up the loot, just take a large amount of money, Governor Malcha will reward us!" Karabis jumped on the car, "Don't kill the mules indiscriminately Horses, cut off their harnesses."

Some veterans picked up the leather, saddles, and daggers scattered on the ground. These were originally used by the Pontic cavalry. Now they were randomly placed on the backs of the captured mules and horses, and they made do with it. The whole camp was burned. Devoured, food and treasures were either burned or robbed. At the side corner of the hill, Ella and Helenputina were watching the battle. Seeing the scene of Calabis's victorious surprise attack, Ella shouted: "This guy has become stronger." ”

"Yes, yes, it's too strong!" Ella turned around and saw several tax collectors who were rubbing their hands next to her, she was extremely excited. (To be continued.)