Even though Maximus doesn’t believe in gods, he couldn’t help but pray silently in his heart at this moment, while hoping that the resilience and immense trust developed by the rebel soldiers over the past year would support them.
In fact, the current situation of the rebel army’s formation had already started to deviate from what Quintus and the others had initially planned.
In the original plan, the right wing served as the root, and it needed to remain as stationary as possible so that the center and the left wing could retreat, using it as an axis, to keep the formation intact...
However, in the reality of battle, the center began to retreat, and the soldiers on the right wing nearest to the center naturally also retreated to avoid exposing their flank to enemy attacks, connecting with their comrades in the center. Moreover, under the enemy’s strong pressure, what was supposed to be a gradual retreat turned into larger steps due to the chain effect...as a result, the soldiers at the end of the right wing couldn’t merely pivot to link with their adjacent troops, and were forced to retreat to maintain the integrity of the formation...
This led the entire formation of the rebel army to continuously move north while retreating, and even when the red flags on the hill were swung, signaling the copper horn to stop sounding, the retreat persisted...
"Leader...rest assured, they can hold steady!" Quintus reassured Maximus, though his voice was trembling slightly.
"I believe they can complete the plan!" Maximus appeared more composed at this moment, confidently saying, "We’ve struggled to get here, and we finally have new hope. We are unwilling to let it be snuffed out halfway!"
Quintus was taken aback, then his old face flushed red as he shouted, "Yes, Leader, they will definitely withstand the enemy!"
He hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Leader, should we notify Pequot to start the operation now?"
Why was Quintus hesitant?
Because once the rebel army completed their formation change, they would no longer be able to block the Segestica Army, allowing the Segestica Warriors to outflank the rebel army’s side. If they managed to outflank successfully, the subsequent plans of the rebel army couldn’t be carried out. Therefore, after the formation change, the rebel army needed to quickly move to the next step. But in an unstable formation, acting hastily could easily lead to the collapse of the entire army.
If they informed Pequot at this time and the forces he led arrived on the battlefield without a solid formation, it would be impossible to take the next step. The enemy outflanking the sides would inevitably discover Pequot’s troops. Once they become cautious and prepared, the entire military plan would fail.
Therefore, Quintus felt tremendous tension and deep guilt at the moment...
Maximus overlooked the valley below; the battlefield was much closer than before, and he could hear the blood-pumping sounds of fighting more clearly. The mountain wind rushed up along the cliff, hitting his face. Strangely, he felt more serene than ever, and his voice was steady and powerful: "Execute according to the plan and notify Pequot! Since everyone agrees with your bold plan, they will work hard to make it happen!"
"Yes...Leader!" For some reason, Quintus found his eyes moist.
........................
On another hill, Budocaribas and his group’s expressions were much more intense.
"Ciciliotes, the outsiders...lost!"
"They’ve done quite well to hold off the Segestica people with so few troops! Besides, they haven’t lost yet, they’re just being forced to retreat."
"Only retreat when they can’t withstand it; the Segestica people will take the momentum to attack fiercely, and they will soon collapse!"
"Budocaribas, do you think we should immediately send out our tribe’s warriors to support the outsiders and help them reverse the defeat? The combat prowess of the outsiders is quite strong; they’re our shield for breathing space."
"Are you insane! If we rush to rescue them now, they might collapse before we even arrive. Countless fleeing soldiers could disrupt our ranks, and if the pursuing Segestica people burst into our camp amidst the chaos, you’d... you’d be the tribe’s traitor! Budocaribas, don’t listen to him!"
"Everyone, quiet!" exclaimed the anxious Budocaribas, halting the other leaders’ quarrels. He solemnly instructed his subordinates: "Immediately return to the camp, gather the warriors to strengthen the defenses, and keep a close watch on those prisoners. If anything unusual occurs, kill them all!"
Budocaribas then turned to the other leaders and said gravely, "Gentlemen, the situation is dire. I hope you can return to your tribes, gather your warriors, and quickly lead your troops to my camp as a precaution!"
"Even without your notice, we would do so! Guarding your camp protects us all!" responded Ciciliotes decisively.
"Exactly! Our tribes are united as one!..." echoed the other leaders.
"Thank you! Thank you!" Budocaribas expressed his gratitude repeatedly, then continued: "If these outsiders are defeated, we won’t risk sending troops to assist them. The camp gate will not only remain shut but also barred firmly, with warriors stationed on the wooden walls ready for defense.
However, we will dispatch boats to their camp’s riverbank to rescue them as much as possible, prioritizing the transport of materials from their encampment."
With these words, everyone understood the situation.