Chapter 766: Latium Landing (II)

Finally, the motionless Theonian formation began to move, with the light infantry of each legion quickly advancing to rain javelins and arrows down upon the advancing Roman soldiers. By then, the cavalry legions on both flanks had also galloped forward and soon clashed with the Roman cavalry...

In just a moment, the cavalry legion overpowered the small number of Roman cavalry and began to pursue them. At the same time, the light infantry retreated smoothly to the rear of the formation.

"Javelin ready!" The officers ordered one after another.

The Roman soldiers, already aware of Theonia's tactics, raised their long shields in the face of the flying javelins...

After two rounds of javelins, the Theonian soldiers charged forward and collided with the rapidly approaching Roman soldiers...

The sound of battle has become the only sound on this battlefield.

Crotokatax felt as if his breathing had stopped. He tried to open his eyes wide to look through the scattering dust: What he saw was the sight of fierce fighting, with a nervous yet excited expression appearing on his face.

Beside him stood the kingdom's Army Staff Officer - Tolmides, the Court Clerk - Henipolis, the legatus of the Fourth Legion - Olivos, the legatus of the Fifth Legion - Giorgris, and so on. All of them who took part in this expedition were closely following the battle, as they knew the importance that Davos attached to Rome. Therefore, they had come to witness the battle beforehand and learn how well the Romans fought so that they could make the right judgments in future battles.

The heavy infantry in the forefront of the formation was still in a fierce stalemate when the mounted scouts rushed to report, "Report! After the First Cavalry Legion completed their pursuit, they returned to attack the enemy's right flank!"

"Reporting! The Second Cavalry Legion is attacking the rear of the enemy's left flank!"

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After listening to the report, Davos gently patted the neck of his warhorse and said, "Amintas, you must boldly pursue the Romans once they are routed. Split them up and drive them south so they cannot impede our movements tomorrow. It would be better if you could take Lavinium so that your soldiers won't need to build a camp and just spend the night there so they can rest."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Amintas responded and saluted.

Davos saluted back, turned his horse around and headed straight to the beach.

The palace guard followed closely behind.

Crotokatax looked reluctantly at the battlefield before also leaving.

Olivos, Giorgris, and the others also hurriedly left after congratulating Amintas. To them, the soldiers of the Theonian legion holding off the enemy's attack from the front and having a slight advantage while the cavalry had detoured to the enemy's flank meant that victory was not far off in such a favourable situation, even though the battle was still ongoing.

And just as they expected, the Roman soldiers began to retreat after another ten minutes of battle, quickly turning into a major rout.

The reason they trounced the Roman army had to do with the origins of the Roman soldiers. Most were born into Rome's plebeian class and had only recently received lands in Velitrae, Satricum and Antium. In addition, they had only fought as light infantry previously and had just received heavy infantry equipment and heavy infantry training recently from the Roman Senate due to the Roman military system's reform and the generous aid of Carthage. As a result, they lacked skill and experience and, unfortunately, faced a powerful enemy in their first major battle.

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While Amintas led the First, Second and Third Legions, as well as the two cavalry legions, to pursue the defeated enemy soldiers, King Davos led the already assembled Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Legions to advance north along the coast, with the port of Ostia as their goal. As Rome's only port for maritime trade and vital supplies, they would cut off Carthage's aid to Rome and provide a foothold for the Theonian army's expedition into Latium by capturing Ostia. It would also be very convenient for military logistics and transportation of material, killing several birds with one stone. Hence Davos made it their first target before the army even set out.

Ostia had served as Rome's colonial city-state for decades. However, only after establishing closer ties with Carthage in the last decade did it receive the attention of the Roman Senate because the Carthaginians suggested to the Roman Senate to strengthen the city's defence and port to protect the supplies they provided to Rome. And when the war with the Theonians began, the Senate sent additional troops to Ostia as they were frightened at the Theonian fleet's strength. Still, they never expected Theonia to lead a large army to attack at this moment by bypassing Rome's land defence using the sea to attack Ostia directly.

So, Ostia only had three thousand defenders when Davos' army arrived outside the city. But they had already learned of the enemy attack and sent a messenger to Rome asking for help while the soldiers prepared for defence. However, they were frightened upon seeing many Theonian troops outside the city.

The defending general loudly encourages them, "Citizens, it's already getting late, and the enemy's attack won't last long. So you should show your courage and repel the enemy's attack because our reinforcements from Rome will arrive tomorrow!..."

His words encouraged the Roman soldiers, for it is true that the Theonians didn't have enough time to attack the city.

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Once the three Theonian legions had taken up their positions, Davos ordered the attack immediately.

Davos had brought a team of over five hundred engineers on this expedition. However, they didn't have enough time to make siege equipment, and the prefabricated siege equipment they brought aboard the ship was only a few dozen ballistae and several siege ladders. After the engineers assembled them quickly, these ballistae were pushed to the front of the battlefield and began bombarding the city walls.

So for a while, stone projectiles howl nonstop in the air as they constantly smash into the city wall, and stone debris flies randomly.

The Roman soldiers had never experienced such bombardments, so they hid behind the battlements in fear, with almost no one daring to move. As a result, their morale plummeted.

After more than ten minutes of continuous bombardment, a high-pitched salpinx rang out, and the ballistae's attack ceased.

Just as the Roman soldiers breathed a sigh of relief and poked their heads out of the walls, they saw the black-armoured Theonians, a hundred metres away from the walls, roar like a raging tide as they rushed towards the city of Ostia from the east and south.

"Citizens, the Theonians have stopped firing stone projectiles now that their army has attacked. So take courage, grab your weapons and teach them a good lesson! Let them taste the strength of us Romans!..." The defending general continued shouting to encourage the soldiers, and the fact that the Theonian ballistae had stopped firing stone projectiles had eased their minds somewhat.

"Archers! Archers, prepare to shoot!..." The Roman officers also issued their orders.

Davos didn't allow the ballistae team to raise the angle of elevation, which would have allowed the stone projectiles to be hurled above the city wall and bombard the city. He was worried they would damage the many port warehouses inside the city and affect their future uses.

While Davos sat in the rear and calmly watched the battle unfold, Crotokatax couldn't sit still. So with his father's permission, he rode closer to the battlefield to watch it more clearly. Of course, Martius followed him closely with some palace guards to ensure his safety.

A defensive position in a siege battle is different: Although the scale and sound of fighting are bigger and louder, it is difficult to see the casualties during a fierce battle because their vision is obstructed. On the other hand, the attacking side allowed you to see your own soldiers falling from the top of the city wall, javelins or stones hitting the climbing soldiers, or the defending side pushing down the entire siege ladder... These images were clearly reflected in Crotokatax's eyes, making him feel a pang of sorrow as he clenched his fist tightly and muttered softly, "Go up! Attack! O Hades, bless them that they may quickly take the city!..."

But Hades didn't seem to hear his descendant's prayers. Crotokatax was so frightened that he dared not look at the battle. Instead, he turned to look at Davos, who was still sitting under the military flag in the distance. Then he glanced at the Fourth Legion, still standing in formation, and asked doubtfully, "Why hasn't the Fourth Legion gone up to reinforce the offensive?"

Martius, beside him, explained, "Ostia is a small city and couldn't accommodate too many attacking soldiers. If we send them all, it will just increase casualties due to congestion."

Not only was Crotokatax a soldier in the reserve legion, but he had also spent a year on the army staff. So he naturally knew that the Fourth Legion was known as the army best at attacking a city. But he couldn't do anything besides stomping his feet in annoyance, "We should've sent the Fourth Legion to attack the city first!"

Crotokatax continued questioning his father's military arrangements, but the devoted Martius couldn't allow him to go on. So he can only reassure him by saying, "Siege battles are time-consuming. We cannot be too hasty since the battle has just begun, and the Romans are still defending tenaciously. I believe His Majesty has a clear tactical arrangement for the Fourth Legion..."

"Really?!" Crotokatax's eyes brightened.

"Of course! His Majesty never fights uncertain battles!" Martius was clearly full of confidence in King Davos, even if he didn't know the exact battle arrangements.