"Precisely because these new slaves are familiar with military affairs, they shouldn’t be used as ordinary soldiers," Maximus asserted confidently. "They can cook, which the kitchen of the Supply Team needs; they can transport supplies, which the transport of the Supply Team needs; they can care for the wounded, which the convalescent camp the Supply Team is about to set up needs; they can also maintain and repair weapons, which is something our team urgently needs..."
"They also know how to conduct military training and how to build a camp... We need them even more to teach our new recruits who know nothing!" Cross reminded assertively.
"It seems these new brothers are quite popular," Spartacus said seriously, looking at the two of them. "Each battalion needs them to improve combat strength, and the Supply Team needs them to better assist us. I think we can first assign thirty people to the Supply Team; if more join in the future, we can give more to the Supply Team. What do you think?"
No one else objected, but Maximus looked aggrieved. "Only 30 out of more than 200 for our Supply Team? That’s too few!... Well, for the sake of our entire team, I agree."
He paused and then continued with a serious expression, "I have one more suggestion. I hope the Supply Team can have its own Guard."
As soon as he said this, Cross immediately opposed, "Absolutely not! The Supply Team isn’t responsible for combat. Your safety is protected by us, and there’s no need to allocate a Guard to you!"
"We used to think the same. With your protection, we didn’t have to worry about our safety," Maximus said with a look of regret. "But because of this, when you were fighting below the mountain, our Supply Team was fighting fires in the camp. When you were defeated, throwing away weapons and armor to escape desperately, did anyone think of holding back the pursuers for our Supply Team?
While we were panicking, we were also trying to drive the carts up the mountain so you wouldn’t starve when defending it. As a result, time was delayed. Our Supply Team consists of the elderly, women, and children. How could they outrun you? In the end, over thirty were caught by the enemy and died in that Thousand-man Pit..."
Maximus sniffled with a sad expression.
For a moment, Cross didn’t know how to respond.
Maximus intensified his tone and continued, "We barely managed to drive the carts up the mountain, and because the road was narrow, we stopped halfway, hoping you’d send troops to guard it and prevent the enemy from taking it away. But what did you say, ’Impossible, the brothers have just escaped pursuit, how do they have the strength to watch your carts’..."
Maximus sneered with a cold look and said angrily, "Now, we’ve won the battle, and everyone is celebrating the victory, but don’t forget it was our Supply Team who proposed a way to descend the cliff when you were in despair! It was also our Supply Team that spent half a day to spin enough ropes for you to descend smoothly! And it was our Supply Team that exerted all efforts to make enough food so you could have the strength to fight the enemy! For the Supply Team, which played such a critical role in this war, having its own Guard is entirely justified!"
Cross looked pale, and Enomai and Antonix looked ashamed... For a moment, the living room fell silent.
Spartacus looked around and said sincerely, "The Supply Team is indeed important to us and has achieved great merit in this battle against the Romans. While we’re committed to fighting with the brothers, sometimes there’s no energy left to look after the Supply Team, and that’s my mistake! Now it seems the Supply Team indeed needs a Guard to ensure its safety. Let’s temporarily set the number at 100 people, and when the Supply Team expands in the future, we’ll increase the number of this Guard. What do you think?"
"I agree!" Maximus responded loudly and immediately, though he regretted the number of guards was too small. But once the Supply Team had its own armed forces, things would become easier to handle.
After Maximus’s outburst, Cross, Enomai, and Antonix didn’t dare oppose, and the matter was settled.
"I want Fesaros to lead this hundred-person Guard," Maximus looked at Spartacus and further requested since Fesaros now belongs to the First Battalion under Spartacus’s command.
Spartacus felt that Maximus made this request because he was on good terms with Fesaros, and only Fesaros responded to Maximus’s request to guard the carts yesterday on the mountain. So having Fesaros take the role of Guard leader would mean he would follow orders, and Spartacus was happy to agree without hesitation.
After the meeting ended, Maximus caught up with Hamilcar and said softly, "Teacher, thank you for your help just now!"
Hamilcar turned to look at him, concerned, "Now that the Supply Team has a Guard and must also take care of the wounded, things will be more than before, and there’ll be more people than before. Can you handle it by yourself? And be sure not to make any mistakes for others to seize on."
Maximus understood whom he was referring to and immediately assured, "Don’t worry, teacher; I’ll do my utmost to manage the Supply Team well and provide our team with the best help possible!"
Hamilcar nodded, "Let’s go, we’ll choose those thirty new recruits now."
Over 200 Roman Army slaves had just joined the rebel army and hadn’t been assigned to each battalion, temporarily under Hamilcar, who had just taken over military affairs. Most of them were young men in their twenties or thirties, with only a few being middle-aged over forty. They were all healthy and had ruddy complexions.
As Roman public slaves, they apparently had a good status in the Roman Army. However, compared to other slaves who joined the rebel army, many seemed overly cautious. When Hamilcar assembled them, most kept their heads down, looking dispirited.
Seeing this, Maximus said loudly, "I am selecting thirty people from you to join the Supply Team. Those who join the Supply Team don’t have to fight the Romans and can eat well and spend time with women every day. Who wants to join?"
The slaves perked up and shouted, "Me!... Me!... I want to join!..."
A few people who didn’t speak out also raised their heads.
Maximus frowned and said, "The Supply Team only needs thirty people, and there are too many of you who want to join, so I have to choose carefully. Among you... who are good at carpentry? Preferably those capable of making siege weapons."
"Me!... Me!..." More than twenty slaves shouted simultaneously.
"So many?!" Maximus looked surprised and pointed to his right side, "Then come over to this side."
After these slaves stood out, he stared fiercely at them and said, "I will test your carpentry skills in a moment. If anyone lies and I find out, next time we fight the Romans, they will be placed at the forefront of the army!"
Hamilcar hesitated to speak because he saw that many slaves who stood out looked uneasy.
Maximus took the opportunity to say, "Now, I’ll give you another chance to correct your mistake. If you think your carpentry skills aren’t good enough, return to the group."
Immediately, more than half of them bowed their heads and returned to the group.
"Who among you knows the most about camp construction? Preferably knows how to build roads," Maximus said, and then looked at the slaves on his right again, "If any of you feel you are good in this area, step forward. The more you know, the easier I’ll choose you."
After the last lesson, this time, a dozen people spoke up, and some who had previously stood out also responded.
"Who among you knows the most about maintaining and repairing weapons and armor? Preferably can operate crossbows skillfully... Who among you understands military training, deployment? Even has ample battlefield experience... Who among you has rich experience caring for the wounded? Those who can treat wounds are even better..."