Chapter 772: The March to Rome

"We haven't collected that much. The Ostians didn't have that much food reserve, and we didn't find any stored grains in the port warehouses. Fortunately, the rations carried by the soldiers would last two more days, which should be enough until the arrival of the transport fleet."

"It seems they concentrated all their reserves in Rome, especially since they have to supply the Roman army attacking Hernici," said Davos in a deep voice.

"But on the other hand, we managed to collect nearly two hundred wagons, pack animals in the city, and some fodders. The warehouses also have a lot of wood stored, and the engineers began using them to make siege equipment..." continued Tolmides.

"That's good news." Although he said it was good news, Davos' face had no trace of joy. On the contrary, his expression was particularly gloomy when he began talking about tomorrow's battle, "We need to urge the engineering brigades to speed up their production since the more they build, the greater our chance of victory!"

"Your Majesty, the over five hundred highly skilled engineers and craftsmen you brought from Thurii, combined with the engineering brigades from various legions, add up to over a thousand men. With the soldiers' assistance, they can undoubtedly produce enough siege equipment to meet our needs." Tolmides said to appease Davos.

"I hope so," Davos chuckled. He then quickened his pace and entered Ostia's city hall.

"Your Majesty!" Olivos, Giorgris, Trotidis, the three legates, Miltiades, and Izam, were waiting for him inside the city hall.

"Have you settled your legions?" Davos asked casually.

"Your Majesty, we've arranged everything and eagerly await the battle to start!" Olivos said first.

"I think you are the one who can't wait to fight, right?" After entering the city hall, Davos' expression relaxed, and his teasing made everyone laugh.

Amid the laughter, Davos walked towards the seat of honour, with Crotokatax standing quietly behind him. His mood inexplicably calmed down as he swept his gaze over the generals who had followed him since Persia and had made countless contributions, such as Olivos, Giorgris, Trotidis, and Izam.

He glanced at the crude map of Rome, which was placed on the table in the centre of the room and drawn by the Ministry of Military based on their intelligence. Then, he said aloud, "Before we discuss tomorrow's strategy, let's invite one of the former Roman citizens to give a detailed introduction about the city of Rome. And if you have any questions, you can ask him directly."

"That would be great!" Olivos said happily.

Valerius entered the city hall with a bewildered expression as he felt nervous seeing the Theonian generals, who wore bright armour and gorgeous helmets, as well as King Davos.

But as their questions about the city of Rome become increasingly detailed, his nervousness gradually turns into shock, 'Are the Theonians going to attack the city of Rome?!!'

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Late at night, Crotokatax awoke with the urge to urinate. But just as he was about to return to bed after peeing in a daze, the candlelight from the next room drew his attention.

He pushed open the adjoining door gently and saw Davos sitting at the table, his eyes fixed on the map of Rome, pondering about something. A corner of the map hung down from the table, and he could vaguely make out some dense notes that were added as a result of Valerius' report.

As far as he could remember, Crotokatax often saw his father in the study late at night, diligently dealing with political matters. Even now, while following the army, his father still maintained this habit when dealing with military affairs. Everyone had said that his father was a wise king and great commander, believing it to be a gift from Hades. But what they didn't know were the hardships and efforts his father had put in over the years!... After admiring his father's unusually broad back for a moment, Crotokatax quietly closed the door.

Davos remained unaware that his son had peeped outside the door, as his mind was immersed in the map, with the strings of numbers turning into countless vivid soldiers in his eyes. Although the battle would only begin tomorrow, thousands of troops had already started to fight in his mind at that moment...

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Caerulus, Potitus' trusted servant, immediately took two slaves and left the city after receiving an order.

Fortunately for Caerulus and his party, Apuleius had just conveyed the Senate's order to the city guard prefect, Milesius, so Milesius had not yet had time to relay the order to the guards at the various gates, allowing Caerulus and his party to leave the city unimpeded.

Then the three galloped southeast that it was well into the evening by the time they passed Praeneste. The constant galloping had left the horses gasping for breath, and their behinds were aching with blood oozing from their inner thighs.

"Caerulus, we cannot continue. It is already dark, and there is no moon tonight. The terrain in the valley ahead of us will become increasingly uneven, and we can hardly see the road. If we are not careful, we could fall from our horses. It is too dangerous!" advised a slave to Caerulus, suggesting not to proceed.

But the younger slave exclaimed, "We can light torches-"

"Idiot!" Before he could finish, the other slave interrupted, "Apart from the beasts that roam here at night, there are also the natives. And we who light the torches would be easily spotted by them in the dark and become their targets!"

Caerulus hesitated after his words. After all, this slave was a Fidenates located east of the Aequians, so he was familiar with the terrain here, and that's why Caerulus brought him along. After looking at the darkness ahead, he pondered momentarily and reluctantly said, "There should be a Roman military camp not far ahead. We'll rest when we get there."

The three then tightly grasped the horse's rein as they continued moving slowly. Suddenly, they heard a harsh wolf cry, and pairs of green eyes appeared around them.

"Quick! Run back!..." The slave immediately shouted nervously.

Caerulus reacted quickly, turning his horse around. The young slave was about to say something when his horse suddenly neighed in panic and lifted its front hooves, throwing him from the horse as he was caught off guard...

While the wild wolves devoured the slave and horse, Caerulus and the other slave continued to ride their horses, galloping all the way to hide in the city of Praeneste.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

As soon he woke up, Miltiades asked the guard, "What is today's weather?"

"Navarch, we have fine weather with no rain and a light southeasterly breeze!"

Miltiades was thrilled that he almost jumped up, "Those old sailors at the port were right! There was indeed an east wind today! Tell the adjutant to order the crew to be ready in half an hour and then assemble in the port and take the warship to Rome!"

"Yes, Navarch!" The guard immediately turned around to inform the adjutant.

"Wait! Err...don't forget to inform the labourers and slaves at the port to get ready to be relocated!"

Since establishing Theonia's fleet, they had never experienced towing a ship upstream, which made them uneasy. After all, Thurii was relatively close to the sea, and the downstream river of Crati was straight, wide, and had a slow water flow. Hence, rowing upstream was relatively easy, as was navigating the lower reaches of the Neto River. However, from the intelligence they received, Rome was more than twenty-five kilometres away from the estuary of the Tiber, and its water flow was tortuous, sometimes going fast and slow. Thus, they needed to pull the ship upstream to travel from Ostia's port to Rome. And because of that, the merchant ships usually unloaded their goods at the port of Ostia and transported them to Rome by land.

For this reason, the Romans constructed a flat and broad road between Rome and Ostia. However, the Theonian army is now making its way along this road and has departed from Ostia much earlier than the fleet.

After leaving three brigades of Thurii's reserve soldiers to guard the city of Ostia*, Davos led the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Legions, the mountain reconnaissance brigade, the engineering brigade, the medical camp, and the logistics camp carrying the siege equipment. Davos had arranged the entire army in a dozen columns as the area was relatively plain and marched eastward along the south bank of the Tiber. (This reserve unit would be used to replenish the First and Second Legion if they suffer any losses.)

Davos was in the middle of the formation, surrounded by two hundred and fifty cavalries and palace guards, over twenty officers of the army staff, as well as heralds, buglers and even a marching band.

While marching, Staff Officer Tolmides came over to report, "Your Majesty, Amintas sent some scouts to report that he would lead his army to Rome first and wait for us there."

"It seems Amintas' will to fight was so strong that he wants to arrive in Rome before us!" Davos smiled and looked around, "But are we going to lose to him?"

"We will definitely arrive in Rome first!" Crotokatax and the young officers of the army staff shouted simultaneously. Although the palace guards didn't speak, their eyes shone brightly.

"Great!" Davos then said loudly, "Have the band play the and order the soldiers to speed up their pace!"

As the stirring melody rang out through the ranks, the soldiers' morale surged and shook off their still somewhat drowsy state. No one knew who began singing the Ode of Hades, but soon the song echoed throughout the ranks while the soldiers marched in great stride against the morning sun, their feet treading on the dew-drenched soft ground.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Of course, there was no hiding the great commotion caused by the Theonian army from the Roman scouts. So, before dawn, the Roman scouts brought the news of Theonia's occupation of Ostia back to Rome.