Crassus felt as if he was flying because he thought everything was going according to plan.
A Roman legion usually consisted of 6,500 men.
It is an enormous army with over 50,000 troops in 8 legions.
Only a few people are allowed to command regular troops of this size.
Crassus will go down in history as one of the few such commanders.
This brings us one step closer to his goal, the consul.
No, it is not an exaggeration to say that it is virtually inevitable if the rebellion is suppressed.
The damage the Crixus rebels did in the cities south of Rome was now severe.
Unlike history, Crixus did not move north but stayed in the southern region and plundered.
Like his declaration, he was becoming a symbol of his anger toward Rome.
It was, instead, a good situation for Crassus.
The more Crixus rampages, the more Crassus' stock price rises.
A trump card for this expedition was perfectly prepared.
He was so proud and loving of his son, who was predicting this situation.
Now, he decided that no matter what his son asked him to do, he would not doubt or refuse.
However, as soon as he entered the house, the pledge disappeared beyond the Rubicon River.
It was because a request came out of Marcus' mouth that he couldn't afford.
"What? You want to go with me before this subjugation? Are you kidding me?"
"How can I joke about this? I'm asking you from the bottom of my heart."
"Nonsense! No matter how much you ask, it will never happen. A child who will be only thirteen or fourteen next year will go to war? I will never allow it!"
Crassus' response was perfectly normal. Rome never conscripted minors who were not 17 years old, no matter how at war they were.
This iron rule of Rome was followed even when Hannibal invaded in the old days.
Marcus had already expected this kind of reaction from Crassus.
He went on persuading slowly without rushing.
"I'm not saying I'm going to go to war. I'm just trying to watch the direction of this fight up close. In addition, I have to see how the new cavalry I came up with fights in practice to find improvements."
"That's true, but... But it's still too dangerous. It's an improvement in cavalry. If you hear the opinions of those who have fought in person later on, it'll be enough."
"Anyway, I will be in the rear where I will never get into a fight. Besides, Spartacus will be by my side, and I promise to run away immediately if there is danger."
"How could I trust that Spartacus and entrust you to him?"
"You just have to trust him as much as you trust me. Because he is mine."
Crassus tried to spit out the unconditional no-no, but he swallowed it. It was because he knew that if he said no emotionally, he wouldn't listen. He had to be persuaded somehow logically.
"The battlefield changes every moment. It is a place where victory or defeat is determined by the judgment of the moment. There is a risk that everything will be distorted if there is any foreign matter in the command system. In other words, your presence inside the military itself can lead to a decline in the strength of the soldiers."
"On the contrary, because I follow, there is also an element that can have an absolute advantage in war."
"What? What the hell is that?"
"It's Spartacus. I told you before, right? All of Crixus' military tactic comes from Spartacus. That is, Spartacus can predict how Crixus thinks and how he moves the army. He will be able to give father great advice than anyone else."
A hint of hesitation flashed across Crassus' face.
According to Marcus, he thought it would be of great help.
Of course, he had no intention of fully believing Spartacus' words, but it was acceptable to listen to his opinions.
Marcus' persuasion did not stop there.
"In addition, the existence of Spartacus itself will help to demoralize the enemy. Now the center of the rebels is the gladiators who escaped from Kapua. Spartacus was almost a spiritual support for them. If such a person is in the enemy's army, wouldn't they naturally lose their morale?"
"Um... Then, why don't I just take him with me?…."
"Didn't my father say he couldn't trust Spartacus completely? And I'm the only one he's completely loyal to. Without me, Spartacus wouldn't be on the battlefield either."
Crassus raised a hand and touched his forehead with a tired face. He tries to persuade his son, but he is about to be persuaded.
He felt a similar perplexity as when he fled to Hispania to escape the persecution of the Marius faction.
Being pushed back by logic, he is now beginning to appeal to emotions again.
"Don't do that and think carefully. If you are still young and follow the war, how much will your mother be anxious? And what about your brother? Danae, who follows you like a shadow, will not be able to sleep with worry. So it would be better to calm down and stay here quietly, even if it's because of the people who cherish you.
"I know you'll be worried. And of course, my safety is the most important. I'm not being reckless at all, but I'll do everything I can to protect myself."
"Do you think it will be enough to have Spartacus next to you?"
"Of course that's not enough. I've already hired soldiers who will give their lives to be my shield in case of a situation. They will always stay with me, and in a dangerous situation, they will give up their life and buy me time to run away."
There's no way Marcus isn't afraid of the battlefield. In fact, he didn't want to step out of the safe place if he could.
But if you think about the future, you must get out now.
In order to survive to the end in Rome and go up, war experience is essential.
Historically, the war that one confirmed to win was like the best training ground to gain experience.
In addition, Spartacus also had to participate in this war and make a contribution if he could.
If the rebellion is suppressed as it is, Spartacus may suffer damage due to the prejudice that he is a gladiator from Capua.
But who can blame him if he contributes to suppressing the rebels?
Instead, he will be praised as a hero who aimed his sword at an old colleague for Rome.
It may sound heartless to Spartacus, but he has to fight this war for his future.
Sensing Marcus' firm will, Crassus' face hardened.
He looked like he wanted to scream immediately, but he calmed down and sighed.
"What are you going to do if I won't let you go all the way?"
"I'll follow you at all costs."
"I don't understand. I can't understand why you want to go to war even though you're not in a situation where you can build a military merit."
"It will definitely help me to follow this war. It can bring tremendous benefits not only to me, but also to the family business. Please trust me just once."
Crassus was silent for a while. He looked up at the sky, bit his lip, and sighed as the ground went out.
After thinking for a long time, he eventually nodded helplessly.
"If you decided to go by any means, it would be useless if I stopped you. Rather, it may become more dangerous if you do something reckless. Yes, good. If you promise to follow my orders thoroughly, I'll allow you to join the army."
"Really? Thank you!"
"Instead, you should always be next to me. Never come out of my barracks without permission even when you're in a position. Still, if something dangerous happens, you'll never be on the battlefield until you're an adult. It's going to be okay, right?"
"Of course."
Anyway, after this war, there was the only reason to go to other battles once Marcus came of age.
What mattered to him was the opportunity now rather than the next.
For now, the biggest crisis of Crassus' permission was unexpectedly easily overcome.
The battlefield where you go out for the first time in your life.
He had all the plans he could do, but when he thought he was going to the battlefield, my heart pounded lightly with a slight sense of tension.
It is an emotion that anyone alive has no choice but to feel.
Marcus took a light deep breath. Then he took steps to match the final piece for his idea.
* * *
"Are you going to the battlefield?"
"Yes, that's what happened."
Spartacus nodded calmly.
The reaction was that he had already guessed that Marcus would say such a thing.
"Then I should go with you."
"Will you be okay?"
Spartacus seemed so calm that Marcus, who was preparing for a deep persuasion, was embarrassed.
He has to point a knife at his colleagues who have gone through difficult times together.
Common sense wouldn't be all right.
He could understand even if he said he couldn't catch up this time.
However, Spartacus even seemed relieved, as if he had already made up his mind.
Not because he is cold-blooded.
How long did he think about this and find the answer?
In the meantime, he must have been hurt and struggled with pain.
It must have been an unimaginable time of pain for Marcus.
"From the day I talked with the young master about Crixus, I have never regretted a day. No, I've been regretting it ever since I heard of the rebellion."
"Are you regretting following me to Rome?"
"No, I'm confident that this is the right path I'm taking now. However, I regret that if I had spoken to Crixus a little stronger and more confident when I left Capua, he would have listened to me. At that time, I still didn't fully believe in you. It was close to what I wanted to believe. Crixus probably saw through my mind."
Spartacus smiled bitterly and shrugged his shoulders. A voice filled with remorse continued to flow from his mouth.
"Too many people have already died, and more will die in the future. Crixus seems to be doing well now, but he's already waiting to die. Until I came here, I didn't feel the great potential of Rome. I just knew it by head."
Spartacus knew Crixus well, and now he understood the country of Rome as much as Crixus.
Crixus' local victory can never continue.
If Rome were a country that collapsed after one or two defeats, it would have already been destroyed by Hannibal or Pyrrhus.
"So does it mean that you will take responsibility for your own failure to stop Crixus? I don't think anyone would think so."
"Yes, but I can't forgive myself if I don't do anything like this."
"Even if it's a matter of putting the blood of an old colleague on your sword?"
Spartacus' lips trembled.
No matter how firmly you have made up your mind, expressing that determination in words is not easy.
After two or three breaths, Spartacus let out his determination with a heavy breath.
"I will never forget how I feel for the rest of my life by looking at my colleagues' blood on my knife. So that their sacrifices will never be in vain...…. I will certainly change the lives of Roman gladiators."
"I'm so grateful for that. But you won't have to fight directly with your old colleagues. You have to stand by me for now, and I'm only going to watch the war from afar. You don't have to feel too pressured because you won't be directly involved in the fight. Your participation in this fight alone will make your position in Rome impossible for anyone to shake."
Marcus had no intention of colliding with Spartacus with his old colleagues from the beginning.
Because I thought it was too much, no matter how much.
For now, all you need is the fact that you participated in the fight.
And it's enough to cut down some rebels from bandits, not gladiators.
He could solve anything after that with money.
There was no need to wield a sword against Crixus or the gladiators of Capua.
However, Spartacus' determination was not only that.
He shook his head and said.
"No, if you don't mind... Allow me to fight Crixus."
"What?"
Marcus was so surprised that he thought he had heard something wrong.
If Spartacus asks for something, he thinks it would be about not fighting Crixus.
But he never really imagined it would be the other way around.
"You didn't hear it wrong. Allow me to settle with Crixus if the situation permits. He probably won't refuse if I come forward myself."
"No, why on earth...… You don't have to go that far. Aren't you like your best friend and teacher?"
"That's why I have to finish. To be honest with you, Crixus...… I don't want to see him die by the Romans."
"Ah..."
Marcus was speechless.
At the same time, he clearly understood how Spartacus felt about this battle.
If your subordinate's resolution is that firm, you must listen to it. That's what one deserves as a lord.
"All right."
In this situation, there was only one thing Marcus could say after all.
"Do as you please."
"Thank you."
Spartacus knelt and bowed his head.
His eyes, shining brightly, contained a firm belief that one would never shake.
Marcus took his eyes off Spartacus and looked up at the darkening sky.
The ripening night of Rome, the end of winter, is approaching in the new year.
All the actors are ready to go on stage.
The time for a decisive battle was approaching.