"Bang!" A strong force suddenly struck the head, and Kadesos’ head buzzed, leaving him unconscious.
Then, the tent was lifted, and Sistos led the blacksmiths as they rushed out, each racing towards the nearby tents, shouting as they ran, "We’ve lost!! The Romans are coming to kill us!! Run away!!..."
"What did you say?! There’s chaos in the camp?!" Maximus charged towards the messenger cavalry, urgently asking.
"Yes... it’s those blacksmiths. They disobeyed orders, burst out of the tent, spread rumors, causing some panic, then they tried to escape the camp amid the chaos, Capito is currently leading troops to intercept them—"
"Is the whole camp in disarray?" Quintus immediately asked.
"No, the transport and kitchen personnel aren’t panicking, mainly the area where those Sarabians live near the warehouse is somewhat chaotic..." the cavalry responded.
Quintus regained his composure and comforted, "Leader, don’t worry. With Capito there, the camp’s disturbance will soon be quelled."
At this point, Maximus no longer appeared anxious as before. He nodded and said, "Capito has always been in charge of logistics during the march, I also believe he has the experience to restore normality in the camp quickly and minimize losses. Also, I have to thank you, Flanitnus."
"Thank me?" Flanitnus was taken aback.
"I think if it weren’t for you consistently training the logistics personnel, how could they maintain order when unexpected incidents arise in the camp!" Maximus said seriously.
"That was your suggestion, leader. Initially, I had some objections to it." Flanitillus responded candidly, then added, "However, leader, if you hadn’t forced those Sarabians who were unwilling to join the team to leave, today’s chaos in the camp might not have happened."
Maximus casually replied, "It’s a bit of a hassle now, but maybe it will bring benefits in the future, just like having you train the Supply Team earlier."
After speaking, he turned his gaze towards the battlefield ahead.
The hill was full of routed soldiers.
Attutmus didn’t know how long he had been running in the mountains, he only knew that at the very moment the troops truly collapsed, his mind went blank, and he involuntarily fled along with the soldiers around him...
He was starting to regain his senses now, first halting his already numb feet, then turning to look back at the foot of the hill.
"Leader, don’t... don’t stop, otherwise... otherwise, the enemy will catch up!" A guardsman behind him breathlessly reminded.
"Where are... the enemies behind us! Damn it, all of you just... just stop!" Attutmus gasped and cursed.
The warriors hesitantly looked back: the Roman soldiers who were previously shouting and fighting from behind had at some point ceased their pursuit and were reforming their lines to retreat, now somewhat distant from them.
The Romans finally left! ... The guard soldiers, relieved, stopped fleeing, with some collapsing to the ground, and some even shedding tears of relief...
Yet, Attutmus, ignoring his exhaustion, began to gather the scattered routed soldiers...
It took some time to assemble over 3000 men.
Recalling that there used to be a massive army numbering over 20,000, now reduced to a mere fraction, each looking dejected and defeated, Attutmus felt like crying.
"Leader, what do we do now?" One subordinate anxiously asked.
What to do? ... Attutmus himself was a bit lost, he knew clearly that his troops’ premature defeat inevitably increased the defensive pressure on Maximus’ army, out of responsibility, he should lead the troops to support them. But given the warriors’ current state, they might lack the courage to face the Romans again...
"Let’s go down the mountain first..." Attutmus said dispiritedly.
Before long, Attutmus’ troops found their way back on the mountain road, and during this process, more routed soldiers rejoined the ranks.
The mountain path they were on was not the usual rugged and steep mountain path one might expect, as the Romans’ pursuit for road facilities was unlike any typical City State could compare with, apart from the road being narrow and lacking drainage ditches, sidewalks, and street trees, the road surface was as level and solid as a main road, only undulating with the terrain... The Roman Senate had improved the traffic of Italy’s eastern mountainous areas through such roads, strengthening its governance over its inland. Of course, such a mountain road also allowed Attutmus’ army to keep up with the Maximus Army who marched on the flat coastal roads earlier.
"Leader, there’s cavalry!" A soldier suddenly shouted, scaring the others into immediate panic.
"Don’t... don’t panic!" Attutmus was a bit flustered himself, but he forced himself to look calm, staring at the cavalry emerging from the southern mountain path bend,
some were armored, some dressed in plain clothes, their weapons varied.
"These should be our cavalry!" Once Attutmus said this, the warriors began to cheer: "Reinforcements are here! Reinforcements are here!!..."
The cavalry unit also noticed them, slowing their advance, and then one of the leading cavalry shouted, "I’m Okmar, whose leader’s troops are you?!"
Attutmus stepped forward and shouted, "Okmar, it’s me, Attutmus!"
The cavalry immediately quickened their pace, Okmar arrived in front of Attutmus, took one look at the state of the warriors behind him, and understood, saying, "Spartacus will soon arrive with the troops, where are the Romans?"