Maximus nodded and turned around, saying, "Akegu, go immediately and summon that... the man called Demolius for me!"
As he watched Akegu leave the military tent, a thought arose in Maximus’s mind: Although both Quintus and Flanitnus made reasonable arguments, this passive compliance with their demands felt utterly terrible! Perhaps in the future military councils, I should include more civilian officials like Volenus. This way, diverging viewpoints could emerge, allowing me to make decisions more deliberately...
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Cneius Cornelius Lentulus Crodianus, born into one of Rome’s distinguished families, had a relatively easier task compared to the less privileged Governor Publilius when executing the plan to eradicate the rebel army. His mission required him to merely guard the Ascoli line and wait for Publilius to pursue the rebel army across mountains and rivers into the encirclement. They would then launch a joint attack, utterly annihilate the rebels, and share the glory of victory.
However, when news arrived that Publilius had single-handedly destroyed one faction of the rebel army, Crodianus could no longer sit still. The original agreement was for everyone to act together, yet here was Publilius secretly claiming part of the victory. Now, all of Rome sings praises for your gallantry while scorning me as a coward for keeping my troops immobile! And you had the audacity to say those filthy slaves were ferocious and stubborn, causing significant losses to your forces, thus advising me not to act recklessly... Do you take me for a fool? To watch helplessly as you seize all the remaining battle merits, reducing me to a laughingstock of Rome?!
Crodianus was furious, but he did not openly confront Publilius. Instead, he devised a cunning plan: first, send a letter to Publilius, assuring him that he would continue executing the agreed strategy and asking him to rest assured. Meanwhile, he closely monitored the rebel army’s movements and secretly developed his own independent strategy to annihilate the rebels. Leveraging his status as Governor and the prestigious influence of the Cornelius family, he commanded Brindisi’s fleet to fully cooperate with his actions...
At this moment, as he rode his warhorse advancing with his troops, he was still delighting in the ingenious maritime maneuver executed last night. Although there had been minor hiccups along the way, overall the operation went smoothly. When the rebel army is destroyed, this will surely become a tale relished by Rome’s citizens, and it will greatly elevate his prestige.
He was even contemplating how to showcase his glorious achievement upon returning to Rome when a reconnoiter reported from the front: "Governor, the rebels have arrayed themselves on the opposite bank of the river!"
The rebels hadn’t fled!... Crodianus’s first reaction was joy. Earlier in Castellum, upon hearing reports from his subordinates that enemy cavalry had been scouting, he had pressed his troops to march faster out of fear the rebels might escape.
Hearing this news, he let out a deep sigh of relief and immediately issued an order: "Notify the entire army to slow the marching pace!"
Crodianus turned to address Bubius: "These rebels are remarkably bold. Do they actually think they can withstand my assault?!"
Crodianus’s staff Bubius responded with disdain: "Governor, lowly men often lack self-awareness. They may believe the Womans River serves as a barrier, forcing us to attack them via that stone bridge, which favors their defense and allows them to endure until their reinforcements arrive... However, while the rebel main force is not particularly formidable in combat, their sheer numbers could pose a significant trouble if they reach us before we’ve crushed this contingent."
"No need to fret; the rebels won’t hold out that long. They will become my first ripe fruit of victory!" Crodianus said confidently with a grin. He then shouted loudly, "Messenger, go summon Antonius immediately."
Antonius was this Roman Army’s cavalry commander, a veteran of many years fighting rebellions on the Iberian Peninsula. Despite Rome’s frequent defeats to Sedulius before Pompey’s arrival, Antonius demonstrated commendable battlefield performance. Furthermore, as a client under the patronage of the Croidianus family, Crodianus purposefully transferred him to his own legion as his deputy, hoping Antonius’s considerable war experience could help ensure their victory.
"Antonius, those rebels haven’t fled; they’re stationed on the opposite bank, preparing to resist our attack. Looks like we can proceed with the second plan." Crodianus seemed relatively courteous toward Antonius: "I will pin down the enemy downstream at Womans River while you lead the rear troops through the mountain trail, striking at the river segment that is shallow and easily fordable. How does that sound?"
"I will carry out your orders." Antonius had no objections because he had been involved in drafting this strategy: "I only have one request—hand over all the crossbow cannons to me."
"That, of course, is no problem."
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There were only two bridges spanning the Womans River.
One was a stone bridge, over 30 meters long and 4 meters wide, located to the north of Mateninum City, roughly one mile from the river’s mouth, connecting the coastal road. East of the bridge, the Womans River was deep and muddy, making it unsuitable for wading, while heading further west, the river grew shallower and narrower.
The other was a wooden bridge, less than 20 meters long and 2 meters wide, linking the southern mountain path in the river’s midsection. The river here had a depth reaching only up to the knees, with a gravel riverbed that made it quite easy to wade.
The two bridges were approximately eight miles apart.
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