Maximus observed closely from the side and found that the Scodisqi slaves in this Segestica Village seemed to be scattered like loose sand. Unlike the slaves in the village to the west who could take advantage of the chaos to organize their people and start a revolt, this showed that the Segestica people in this village effectively controlled these slaves, which was somewhat beneficial to the rebel army.
The more than 3000 rebel soldiers who captured this village remained fully armed. Most of them were responsible for escorting thousands of prisoners, and they maintained a high level of vigilance, ready to mercilessly use their short swords to teach the restless prisoners a bloody lesson if anything unusual was detected.
Another group of soldiers acted as the rear guard, preparing to defend against any other Segestica tribal armies that might come from the east.
The rebel army had fiercely charged earlier, and a few hours later, the attack turned into a mass migration: some members of the supply camp drove carts loaded with goods, others controlled boats laden with supplies, and some herded bleating sheep, grunting pigs, and erratic poultry... All had cheerful expressions on their faces;
Some Segestica people carried their injured compatriots, some bore heavy goods, and others assisted the elderly and young. They hid their hatred in their hearts, letting terror and sorrow mix on their faces, moving forward with difficulty amidst the cries of women and children;
The Scodisqi slaves, though some of them also carried goods, looked somewhat happy. Yes, seeing the enemies who had oppressed them for years in such a miserable state now, how could they not be pleased! So, whether men, women, young or old, their steps seemed lighter, though a little fear lingered in their hearts because they didn’t know where this strange army would take them to or how their future lives would unfold...
A mixed group of more than ten thousand people stretched over two miles, moving slowly toward the western sun...
Meanwhile, western this village was also undergoing a large migration of goods and people, leaving behind rebel soldiers and supply camp personnel to transfer the population and goods from the village to a temporary camp. This was all pre-planned, primarily led by Capito and Volenus.
Since this village had been captured in the morning, the migration operation began earlier. By afternoon, the leading unit transporting goods had already reached the temporary camp.
The personnel staying at the camp had been on edge for most of the day, and upon hearing the news of the rebel army’s great victory, the entire camp erupted in cheers.
Besides the rebel personnel guarding the camp, there were also some outsiders, mainly the Aldeans led by Karsipengpas and Budocaribas.
Karsipengpas had initially decided to return to his pirate camp on the island but temporarily halted his trip because the rebel army was going to launch a war. He even requested Maximus to let him personally go to the battlefield and witness the rebel army’s first battle in the mountains, but Maximus tactfully refused him.
The main reason Maximus refused was that the battle against the Segestica Tribe was based on a series of tactics such as luring, deception, and ambush. As far as he knew, the fierce Illyrian Mountain People prized direct, bloody confrontations. If they learned about the entire battle process of the rebel army, they might not only fail to gain respect but also have other thoughts.
Budocaribas waited here not only due to concern over the loss of the thousand long spears and shields he lent out but also out of fear that the rebel army’s defeat would extinguish the newly rising hope of the Alde Tribe, and his village would face the wrath of the Segestica people.
Watching the endless flow of carriages loaded with grain enter the temporary camp and hearing the sustained cheers of the rebel army, Budocaribas seemed in a daze and muttered, "They won?..."
"Of course they won! I told you they would win!" Karsipengpas cheerfully slapped his back soundly, "Now you can rest assured!"
Budocaribas snapped out of it and asked, "How did they win?"
"I also want to know," Karsipengpas’s eyes were full of curiosity. He pointed to the carriages passing by, "And they not only defeated the Segestica people but also broke into their village, otherwise where did all the things in these carriages come from!"
Prompted by his reminder, Budocaribas’s eyes grew even more astonished.
At this moment, Alakosia walked towards them, the newly appointed Deputy Officer of Commerce, smiling and said, "Elders, sorry to keep you waiting. I have been ordered by the leader to return the long spears and shields borrowed earlier, and also to fulfill the promise to give your tribe - 1000 long spears and 1000 shields."
After speaking, he waved his hand, and ten cattle-drawn carriages bypassed the temporary camp, heading towards the Alde Village behind the camp, each carriage loaded with long spears and shields.
Before Budocaribas could respond, Alakosia continued, "The leader also sent you a gift!"
"Gift?" Under Budocaribas’s puzzled gaze, two rebel soldiers lifted a corpse from a carriage and placed it on the muddy ground before him.
The corpse was extremely robust, with a large gash on its neck, its right eye missing, and the blood-red eye socket was still oozing a yellow-white mixture, looking gruesome and terrifying...