Augustus Road

"Send out the messenger cavalry and tell General Scipio to come back as soon as possible, otherwise I will give the entire army's baggage and luggage to the enemy." Apis was on the tower of the camp, watching the opponent's movements, and said to his subordinates like this The cavalry captain ordered.

The cavalry captain named Marcus Opimius galloped across the Andabucia Mountains - where Lepidus' fifteenth legion, whether cavalry, chariots or infantry, was perfectly concealed and could not be seen at all. The anxious cavalry captain did not detect anything amiss. When he handed over the latest battle situation to Scipio, the commander was looking at the columns on the hillside five Roman miles away opposite him with a sad face. Caesar's Thirteenth Legion was waiting. Under the arrangement of Lepidus' lieutenant Petheneus, the Thirteenth Legion was almost impeccable. Archers and slingers were scattered on key highlands, surrounded by troops with bright armor and high morale. Light and heavy infantry, and on the frontline plains below, there were guard cavalry galloping back and forth, raising dust and making loud noises in show of force.

Even if Scipio had two legions, it would be extremely difficult to defeat such a defense head-on, and it would be impossible to get around it. "It seems that the enemy has been prepared for a long time." Scipio said bitterly Said, "Go back quickly and tell Apis that he is not allowed to abandon my luggage. All the money that the entire army has demanded in Asia Minor is in it. If he escapes, the entire army will not have to fight and will completely collapse - okay , OK, why don’t I give up on Macedonia and go back with the cavalry to rescue him immediately?”

Then, Scipio pulled the reins of his mount, but found that the horse was a little stubborn and kept digging in the ground with its hooves. He subconsciously looked at the rushing Alyakmon River. Looking at the vague shadows of distant mountains. I murmured in my heart, "In front of me is an enemy legion that is waiting, and in the camp behind, an enemy legion also appears. How does the enemy use the army? Is it just to mobilize me back? So Simple?"

So Scipio called out the name of Sarada, Prince of Thracia, "Take your cavalry with you. Serve as a wandering guard on the periphery of the infantry. When you encounter every lateral valley and street, you must separate your troops to scout." In addition, all the infantry formed a long column, fully armed, and marched in a fighting posture! "

In the canyon of the Andabukia Mountains, four hundred cavalrymen led by Prince Sarada were nervously following the narrow road and looking up at the desolate and rugged mountaintops on both sides. It happened to be sunset. Various unknown birds and bats made eerie calls. Flying around and circling in the sky, "If you go one more Statia, you have to leave this damn ghost place, you have to!" Prince Sarada complained in her heart, her palms and forehead were covered with sweat, suddenly He heard the slight neighing of the horses, which came faintly along the wind across the valley. Although it was not very clear, he was very familiar with the horses and he suddenly smelled the smell of danger. "Quickly, turn the horse's head quickly. Get back!" But the entire hillside on both sides screamed wildly and horribly. Countless figures flashed above Sarada's head. Arrows and flying stones flew down like a downpour. At the exit of the valley, trees and giant rocks appeared. Being rolled back, their way out was cut off!

At the end of the valley, the sound of horse hooves and the sound of battle trumpets were getting closer and closer. Sarada, who was surrounded by wounded men and horses, had her eyes darkened. It seemed that the enemy had ambushed the cavalry in the valley.

"Who launched the attack without authorization? Bastard!" On a more secluded hillside somewhere, Lepidah heard the sound of trumpets and charges and shouts of death. He was so angry that he held his riding whip and shouted at his followers, "Western Pia first stayed in the plains for a long time, and then set off in the afternoon. He was afraid of an ambush on our side and planned to escape at night. If he had remained silent, he could have completely annihilated his rearguard. "

Sabo next to him explained: A legion of 6,000 people, plus a thousand cavalry, are scattered on these mountains. It is too difficult to ambush accurately. In addition, Scipio is also on guard, sending Terresian cavalry on all sides. Exploring the sentry, it is normal for our ambush troops to lose their composure and take the lead in attacking.

At this time, the battle had reached its most intense level before the last rays of sunlight dissipated in the dusk. The small groups of cavalry and archers that Lepidus had ambushed on various hillsides rushed out to face the Scipio legions running wildly along the river below. They were shooting arrows and killing, and there were clouds of smoke and dust everywhere. "Don't worry about these people, it will be night soon. They can't outflank and fight, just charge forward for me!" Scipio was riding his horse at the same time. , constantly shouting these slogans to boost morale, the newly recruited Seventh Macedonian Legion ran at the front. Many people threw their equipment all over the ground, and some were killed, captured or shot to the ground in a panic. On the other hand, there were many veterans in the "Twin Legion", and they set up rearguards to fight with the ambush troops, while the rest of the soldiers still ran calmly with heavy loads.

Farther away, the Thirteenth Legion also pursued them. Petheneus asked his subordinates to blow the trumpets in an attempt to echo Lepidus's troops and pursue and annihilate Scipio. Scipio suddenly became wise and called all the trumpets around him. They blew the trumpets with their hands, and the scene in the dark night became even more chaotic, full of trumpets, regardless of friend or foe.

The melee continued until dawn. Scipio's panic-stricken army finally ran out relatively intact. However, the Seventh Army lost almost all its equipment, equipment and pack horses. However, the Eighth Army was still strong and divided into large groups and rushed out in twos and threes. However, many officers and soldiers were injured, their clothes and armor were disheveled, and they obviously suffered a great blow to their morale.

"Don't stop, keep charging forward!" Scipio did not allow his troops to rest, because he also knew that now was the critical moment to escape, so he ordered to abandon the wounded and not set up camp, and just move closer to Apis's Sixth Legion.

At this moment, Lepidus was also riding a horse, gathering troops everywhere. Many people had been scattered far away, and they could only regroup before they could launch the pursuit again. At this time, his main force was nearly 20 Roman miles away from Scipio, and the captured Thracian prince was also escorted to him. Because of the urgent military affairs, Lepidus only told his followers to treat the prince well, "Use him to exchange for Antony's brother Gaius, and also to win the goodwill of the King of Thrace to divide and disintegrate Pompey's camp." After a day and a half, after reorganizing the team, Lepidus's vanguard Matthias cavalry only caught up with hundreds of abandoned wounded soldiers of the other side, "It seems that Scipio has run further! But it doesn't matter, there are still Angantinus's Sixth Legion blocking the way ahead, we can still encircle and annihilate him." Lepidus jumped back on his horse and said confidently. (To be continued...)