Augustus Road

"We now have a dilemma, that is, we cannot control Scipio's movements to a certain extent. I think it is not a big problem for His Excellency Caesar to enter Ephesus. According to the returns from the patrolling Macmillan fleet, Caesar has succeeded Breaking through the blocked sea area and capturing Cassius and Brutus, this shows that the enemy's fighting will is very low. Scipio will not be trapped in the city of Ephesus. Although this man has some battlefield experience and skills, he lacks it. With perseverance and determination, I suspect that he will most likely abandon the city, but in which direction will he flee?" In the meeting hall of the tower, the gilded baton in Lepider's hand was hanging in the air, accompanied by questions, and he could not fall down.

"To a certain extent, we and Caesar formed a pincer attack on Scipio's escape route, but conversely, Taxon was also under a pincer attack by the two groups of Menander and Scipio. Moreover, , If according to what you said, Calabis, Caesar only brought four thousand people to Ephesus, even if the enemy troops surrendered to him, it would be difficult to form a situation to annihilate Scipio's legion. "Adiana also looked at it. Looking at the sand table in front of him, he analyzed it carefully, "Calabis, how many legions did you bring?"

"Five legions, but four are staying at Lepider Castle. I only brought the cavalry and the twelve legions."

This sentence almost made Adiana angry. She first asked what Lepidus Fortress was. After learning that it was actually a new fortress built on the original site of Byzantium, especially when she thought that Lepidus knew that the enemy was ahead and would use most of his military power. He stayed there to dig mud and build a wall, so he said angrily, "Menander's Bronze Shield Army now has two divisions, the 'Left Ear' and the 'Right Ear', each with 6,000 men, and a thousand soldiers." Ermatian cavalry and two thousand archers and slingers; I think Scipio's army is at least two or three legions. Then I would like to ask the respected cavalry commander in Rome about our current strength. It is very difficult to eliminate one of them. What if Scipio advances north and the two sides join forces to squeeze Tactun? "

Lepidus also became silent. It is true that the Twelve Legion now has one thousand cavalry and five thousand heavy infantry. After that, he also had a cavalry team composed of four to five thousand Mattias and Vibicinas under his independent jurisdiction, and the entire Taktun of Adiana could only mobilize about three thousand mobile troops. , so he must not trust anyone. After pondering for a while, he asked Calenus, the deputy general assigned to assist him, to lead the 12 legions north to monitor the Menander Bronze Shield Army that might come out of the Amasya Valley; Lepidus led the cavalry to search south for traces of Scipio and determine the opponent's strategic goals; Sabo led a group of cavalry. Rushed to Fort Lepidus and asked for the 15th and 28th legions. Led by Pethenius and Selha, they went to Taktun to support the battle that might occur at any time.

In this way, Lepidus' subordinates deployed on three sides, "defending the north, blocking the south, and spreading to the west."

But this does not mean that he will share the military strength equally. "The key to this battle lies in the use of cavalry. According to the queen's intelligence, whether the enemy is the Bronze Shield Army or Scipio's legion, they do not have many cavalry. , and they are mixed among the infantry to maintain the formation, and will not attack independently, and I have five thousand elite cavalry, which can completely defeat the enemy's formation three or four times!" When Lebida mustered up his confidence, his armor rang, and he held the command in his hand. After the stick stood up, the generals and staff around him, whether it was his or Adiana's, were slightly amazed, because in this era, it seems that only nomadic people like the Scythians were able to separate the cavalry from the infantry regiments and fight alone. Only the nation will adopt it.

But Lepidus discusses clearly below, what is cavalry and what are its advantages? The biggest advantage of the cavalry is not that it is covered with armor. In that case, it will not be able to defeat the infantry legions with better armor and more solid formations, especially the first-class elites such as the Roman Legion and the Bronze Shield Corps. The nature of cavalry is that it has four more horseshoes than infantry, which is the speed of the battlefield and the range of attack. It can carry out killings in places that are beyond the reach of infantry, and can make roundabout raids on the enemy's heavy baggage team. And the execution of this kind of task , the cavalry must be used together, and mixing it with the infantry will drag it down.

"So in this battle, Hanske and Dusonville are following me, and I want to promote more brave and clever guys from the cavalry to serve as cavalry captains, centurions, and tenthions. If Scipio dares to offend, I will first Give him a head-on attack, and then turn back to help Carenus defeat the Menander Bronze Shield Army coming from the north. This is the power, speed and swiftness of the cavalry!”

"Amphorae, I will place all the 800 Cappadocia cavalry that can be mobilized in the city under your command." At this time, Adiana also stood up decisively and made an impassioned speech, and then the two of them looked at each other. After a brief exchange, the state of "Calabis and Calabia united" returned.

At this moment, winter has not yet left, and spring has not yet arrived. Leaden clouds shroud Taktun, and even the wilderness of Ephesus. The cold wind blows up sparse snow particles. Everywhere is brown and yellow, brown and yellow withered grass, brown and yellow fields, and brown and yellow pools. In the blue-gray Taktun camp, a long horn was blown, and a team of cavalry holding the portrait of King Numa and the flag walked at the front of the team. Behind them were the Gauls with water drop shields and swords, and the Matians with bows and lances, and the Cappadocian cavalry sent by Adiana. Their attire was similar to that of the Persian cavalry, with high-collared short armor, holding sharp spears, and the front half of the horse was covered with linen armor, which can be said to be both sharp and fast. In this way, nearly 6,000 cavalrymen of various shapes formed a huge southward group, which was almost equivalent to the quota of a legion. Then Li Bi Da rode down from the high ground next to the camp. Seeing that the commander-in-chief was moving forward rapidly, all the cavalrymen followed suit and trotted. The sound of horse hooves was like thunder in winter, rolling over the entire field.

"General Biduita, you take another 3,000 soldiers and take my Galatian Guards with you to reinforce the 12th Legion of the Cavalry Commander on the northern line." In the wind and snow, Adiana, standing on the terrace of the tower, watched the cavalry commander go farther and farther, and instructed the Galatian Indigo Warrior next to her.

"But in this case, the garrison of Taktun will be weak."

"Don't worry about such things. My army is amphora, and his victory is my glory. Follow the order." There was no confusion or hesitation in Adiana's chestnut eyes.

Biduita bowed deeply to the queen, and then took the order and left. (To be continued...)