Chapter 811
Cloto Catax looked thoughtfully at the adjutant of the Rome administration who had just been appointed last night.
At this moment, Martius caught up and reported to the Devers, "Your Majesty, the fleet from Ostia has arrived at the river port."
When the Devers heard this, they were overjoyed. "Asistes, Nicomacus, Antrápolis … They have finally arrived. The governance and transformation of Rome can finally be put on the agenda!"
The Devers glanced at the messy crowd on the square, which had begun to become a little orderly. So, they said to the people around them, "Let's go! Go to the river port outside the western part of the city and welcome the new senators and officials! "
… …
While the Devers were rushing to the river port of Rome, the Roman army led by Camillus was on the way back. Their vanguard had arrived at Cigna.
Camillus rode in the middle of the army. According to the military tradition of Rome, the general who led the army had to march on foot like the soldiers. He was not allowed to ride a horse. However, Camillus's situation was special. Not only did he have outstanding achievements, but he was also too old (he was over 60 years old). Of course, he could not march on foot with the soldiers. So, the Senate specially allowed him to ride a horse.
Even though he was riding a horse, the two consecutive days of rapid marching were a little too much for his old body. He looked at the equally tired soldiers around him and made up his mind. When they arrived at Prieniste, he would let the army camp and rest to ensure that the soldiers would be full of fighting spirit and energy to fight the Diónia who attacked Rome tomorrow.
Just as Camillus was thinking about all the possibilities of a battle between the army and the Diónia, a messenger from Rome came galloping from the north to the south.
Looking at the anxious eyes of the messenger, Camillus took the urgent letter from Mecius and felt a little uneasy. He then scanned the contents of the letter, and the words "the fall of Rome" immediately made his heartbeat and breathing stop in an instant. Regret, sadness, self-blame, exhaustion … All kinds of negative emotions surged into his heart at the same time. In an instant, he felt dizzy and fell off the horse.
"Father!"
"Sir Camillus!!"
"Lord Dictator!"
…
The anxious shouts brought Camillus back to his senses. Looking at the guards and soldiers gathered around him, he subconsciously clenched his right hand. The letter was still in his hand! He quickly said, "Don't worry, I'm fine! Maybe it's because I'm too tired … "
"Sir, it seems like you need a good rest!" The guard captain said with concern.
"Yes, I do need to rest for a while!" Camillus went with the flow and said, "Lucius, let the soldiers continue to march. I'll rest for a while, and I'll catch up soon."
Lucius looked at his father lying on the grass, and then at the messenger who stood by the side in silence. He was very puzzled, but he did not ask and obeyed the order.
The soldiers returned to the team under the supervision of Lucius.
Under the protection of the guards, Camillus closed his eyes to rest.
But no one knew that at this moment, his heart was in turmoil.
The Diónia had broken through the city of Rome. What was the situation of the people in the city?!
What kind of siege method did the Diónia use to occupy the sturdy city of Rome so quickly?!
The rescue operation of Quintus and Frius was easily repelled by the Diónia. Did the Diónia stabilize in Rome so quickly?!
If the soldiers learned that their homeland was occupied by the Diónia, how would they react?!
… …
Countless thoughts emerged in Camillus's mind at the same time, squeezing his already dizzy brain. He had to force himself to calm down and try his best to sort out the chaotic thoughts in his mind.
After a long time, he opened his eyes and called Lucius with a determined look. He asked him to inform the troops to stop advancing when they reached Signia and wait for his next order.
Then he sent someone to inform the senior generals to come immediately for a meeting.
Not long after, Publius Licinius, Titus Quinctius Chinchinatus, Aulus Cornelius, Servius Sulpius … and Minucius Cornelius, who delivered the order for the Senate, arrived one after another.
Camillus glanced at each of the generals solemnly and said in a deep voice, "Before I tell you an important news, you must promise me that you must remain calm. You must not show any obvious panic, anger, or shouting. Can you do that?!"
The generals looked at each other. They did not know what was going on, but they could clearly feel that the situation was not good.
Titus hurriedly asked, "Sir Dictator, could it be that Rome —"
Camillus did not respond. Instead, he asked again in a deep voice, "Can you do that?!"
At this time, Camillus was completely unlike the old man who always had a smile on his face and loved to discuss military affairs with them peacefully. Instead, he was like a beast ready to devour people at any time.
Everyone's heart skipped a beat, and they immediately responded in unison, "Yes!"
Camillus glanced at them again and said in a deep voice, "I just received a battle report … Yesterday … Rome fell! It was occupied by the Diónia! "
Although the generals present were mentally prepared, they still clenched their fists at this moment. Shock, doubt, pain, anger … All kinds of extreme emotions were expressed from their distorted faces, widened eyes, and rapid breathing.
"Sir Dictator, is … is this news true?!" Licinius asked in a trembling voice.
"The messenger sent by Mejus brought an urgent letter written by him in his own handwriting. The letter also said that the troops led by Quintus and Frius had also failed in the rescue attempt. Now the defeated soldiers are gathered in Prinister, and a large number of people who were lucky enough to escape from Rome are stranded in the area between Gabi and Prinister …"
"We must retake Rome immediately!" Servius tried his best to lower his voice, so much so that his fists were bleeding.
"Of course we must retake Rome! But first of all, we must prevent the soldiers from falling into chaos after receiving the news. We must stabilize the army! " Camillus voiced his proposal.
After a round of discussion, the generals hurried back to their troops with heavy hearts.
"Father … Mother and sister, they —" Lucius, who was full of worry, stopped halfway through his sentence.
"Sigh …" Camillus sighed heavily and did not say anything else. He staggered towards the War Horse that was being led by the guards not far away.
Lucius hurriedly stepped forward and supported his elderly father.
… …
When they arrived at Signia, Camillus once again saw the messenger sent by Mejus.
Most of the elders and some of the people had retreated to Capitoline Mountain! This news made Amilus feel pleasantly surprised, and he felt a little more confident.
That afternoon, the generals of Rome and nearly 60,000 Roman soldiers gathered between the city of Signia and the Tulerus River.
Dictator Camillus stood at the top of the city of Signia. The mountain wind blew his white hair into a mess, but his elderly body stood straight. Facing the dense and endless troops below the city, he said loudly, "Citizens of Rome, warriors of the alliance, you have not fully enjoyed the victory of conquering the Hernici, but you are rushing back because your mother state, the center of Latin, Rome, has been attacked by the enemy! But unfortunately, before you could arrive to help, Rome has been occupied by the Diónia yesterday! "
Hundreds of messengers who had been solemnly instructed by Camillus in advance lined up along the formation of the army and spread Camillus's words to the entire army.
Suddenly, a huge wave was set off in the army like a gust of wind.
"Oh my god, the city of Rome has been breached! My wife and children are still in the city! "
"It wasn't easy for me to save up the money to buy cattle and sheep. It must have been robbed by those damned enemies. What should I do?!"
"Jupiter, what did we do wrong? Why are you punishing us so cruelly? This is the second time that Rome has been occupied. What should we do? "
"Rome has been occupied. Why are we still standing here like idiots? Hurry to Rome, drive away those enemies, and take back our home! "
…
Licinius, Titus, and the other generals had told the platoon jarls about the fall of Rome in advance and asked them to do their best to stabilize the emotions of their soldiers. But despite the platoon jarls' best efforts, the emotions of the soldiers were like boiling water, boiling uncontrollably. The whole army was on the verge of collapse.
Just then, a group of defeated soldiers came from the north. Their armor was not in order, and many of them were even wounded. They passed through the gaps in the formation and came to the city of Signia.
Their miserable appearance attracted the attention of many soldiers.
Isn't that Ligurus?! I remember he went to Rome with General Quintus a long time ago! "
"It looks like they were defeated by the enemy, and I'm afraid they were defeated so miserably!"
"The soldiers led by General Quintus and Frius are our bravest citizens! Many of them have been crowned citizens before! Could it be that the people of Diónia are as terrifying as the Celts? "
…
Just as the soldiers were guessing and feeling uneasy, the messengers sent Camillus's voice into their ears, "The people of Diónia are very powerful. Not only did they occupy our motherland, but they also defeated the reinforcements led by Quintus and Frius. Therefore, if we want to take back our homes and save our loved ones, we must unite together and exert our greatest strength in order to drive away the powerful enemy! … "
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