Thanks to the command of Crixus, nearly a third of the rebels who were defeated in the battle barely survived.
The horse is one-third, and the death toll in one battle was over 50,000.
"Should I say that I'm glad I'm alive at least this much...…."
Crixus' voice was full of melancholy.
The subordinates who wanted to fight so much couldn't even speak.
Most of those who were confident of winning was not present.
Crixus did not want to blame them. They paid the price for their recklessness with their lives, so they took their own responsibility.
"Now it is impossible to fight them within the realm of Rome."
"...."
"... I'm sorry."
"It's all because of us...…."
The rebel commanders felt like they were having a nightmare.
Obviously, there was an absolute superiority in numbers, and the morale of the army was higher than the enemy but not lower.
However, they pierced the center instantly, the army was divided, and the left wing suffered damage close to annihilation.
He had no choice but to run away even as he watched his surrounded comrades scream and die.
Not only were they being trampled by the monstrous cavalry, but the basic combat power of the infantry was greatly different.
They realized.
That's what the original Roman army looked like.
Perfectly balanced and orderly. The ferocious aggression and murderous intent contained within it.
The more well-trained an army is, the more explosive it maximizes by blending these two opposing elements.
"The reputation of the Roman army was not in vain. It's just that when they first fought with us, they didn't go all out...…."
"I was foolishly blinded by victory...…."
Some commanders bit their lips and shed tears. It was tears of remorse for choice and apology for dead colleagues.
Nearly 40,000 combatants were still left, but they did nothing.
As the results of the rotation spread, the daily joining of the slaves suddenly stopped.
The villages in the south, which had been forcibly stamped on them, rose in unison.
Fortunately, there were not many deserters, but Crixus judged that it was only a matter of time. If they stay still like this, they will destroy themselves from the inside before they can even engage in a final battle.
"Leader... What should I do...…."
"Just as I planned. Let's move on to Sicily."
"Yes, yes. All right!"
Crixus never gave up. The mere fact that the captain had not yet despaired rekindled weak hopes in the eyes of the commanders.
Ashre quickly opened the map and drew a line with his finger.
"The pirates who have already contacted us in advance are preparing their ships. If you go the shortest distance, you will be able to cross it before it is too late."
It cannot be expressed as a relief during the misfortune, but the number of ships needed has also decreased significantly due to a large decrease in the number of people.
The overall movement speed of the troops has also increased, so it is possible to flee to the coast faster than the Roman army.
A comeback in Sicily would not be just a dream if you could successfully get a ship.
The most important thing in this situation is the time above all else. In other words, if you have made a decision, you must move immediately.
Crixus was the first to rise from his seat and step out of the tent.
The commanders hurriedly grabbed their weapons and followed.
But there was one thing on his mind.
It is the existence of Spartacus last seen right before he fled.
Crixus believed that Spartacus was responsible for the disposition of the rebels and was read to the enemy.
Most of his knowledge comes from Spartacus, so he can't help it.
Just as Crixus knows Spartacus well, Spartacus must be looking through Crixus.
If so, even the plan to flee to Sicily may have already been seen through.
This was a serious matter.
'However, just because you are suspicious, you can't turn the escape plan into nothing.'
Crixus's face, which collected the remaining troops and headed to the coast, showed a deep look of anguish.
* * *
Crixus' concerns are exactly right.
Upon hearing Spartacus' expected escape route, Crassus dispatched the commander as soon as the turn was over.
The only way for the rebels to cross into Sicily is with the help of pirates.
Centurion Lucius followed Crassus' orders and contacted the pirates.
He thought finding pirates who came into contact with the rebels would be difficult, but it was a lie. This is because he opened his mouth smoothly when he squeezed some money.
Lucius, who summoned the captains who promised to give the rebels a ship, immediately brought up the main point.
"Call the rebels to a designated place, but do not lend them ships."
"Are you telling us to break the contract?"
"Yes, the rebels are the enemies of Rome. Helping them means that you will become enemies of Rome."
"Ha! How can a man who is scared of Rome do pirate so far? And if you think you can't do it here, you can just jump towards Greece. I heard that the money is good these days."
The pirates chuckled and turned down Lucius' offer with a single stroke. Pirates of this era were not very afraid of Rome, as bandits might know.
Contrary to the magnificence of calling the Mediterranean an inland sea, Rome did not properly root out Mediterranean pirates.
Even the aristocrats who went to Greece to study were caught by pirates, paid the ransom, and released.
Of course, pirates were also in trouble if Rome decided to chase them, so they never crossed a certain line.
They always seek the greater advantage in securing their own safety by the edge.
Neither Lucius nor Crassus, who sent him, thought that a simple threat would make them follow them in the first place.
It takes carrots as well as sticks to coax pirates.
Lucius smiled and placed the contract on the table he had made.
"Our Rome will take care of the remuneration promised by the rebels. So let's make a deal with us."
"Oh, my."
"You're going to give me money?"
The pirates' reaction changed dramatically. Some of the captains reacted openly and harshly. As the atmosphere turned strangely, the bearded one-eyed pirate tapped the table with his fist.
"Are you telling us to break the agreement we made first?"
"Yes."
"Ha! That's funny."
The One-Eyed Pirate was known among pirates for his cunning. Other captains usually followed his advice on occasions like this.
Lucius did not panic and turned to him.
It is rather more convenient if there is a clear partner to negotiate with.
"Why are you saying it's funny?"
"Even if we are pirates, we live with our own rules. If there are no rules at all, it is impossible to run an organization."
"So what?"
"We don't break our promise for money, either. It's the least trust we have...…."
"1.5 times."
The son-in-law fell silent.
When one of the hasty captains suddenly tried to answer, the one-eyed pirate raised his voice.
"Do you think all pirates can be bought with money? Making fun of us...…."
"Double. If this doesn't work, I'm sorry, but I have no choice, so I'll leave."
It's too much money to find the trust that didn't exist in the first place. The eyes of the pirates turned upside down at the brilliant color of the silver coins shimmering in front of them. The one-eyed pirate dissuaded Lucius from standing up and cleared his throat.
"Hmm, hmm, well, the principle is that. However, there are always exceptions to things in the world, but if this is rumored again, it can adversely affect our reputation."
The one-eyed pirate, who had been talking to him, concluded.
"So I'll pretend I didn't hear your request."
Contrary to what he said, he received a contract drawn up by Lucius and wrapped it up in his arms.
Lucius burst out laughing.
It's not him who doesn't understand what the action means.
He got permission from Crassus in advance to use it up to 3 times, but he saw the solution only two times.
Lucius successfully completed the mission and stood up from his seat with a light smile.
"Even if you give an additional fee, the attitude to keep the contract you signed first is great even though it is a pirate. I'm afraid I have to go back."
"Hmm, I won't see you off. Rome and we have never met, and we have never made a backdoor deal."
The pirates also grinned and stood up.
The talks did not break down. They had never even met in the first place.
With such a behind-the-scenes contract, the rebels lost even their last escape.
* * *
Crassus was convinced that if the pirates' bribe was successful, he could completely end the rebels.
The pirates led the rebels to the place where the Roman army camped, not the coast designated by Crixus, under the pretext of bad waves.
Crixus was already concerned about the planned exposure and felt quite uncomfortable here.
He sent 5,000 advance troops first to ensure safety, and the main team followed with a considerable distance.
As a result, this judgment saved his life.
The advance team was caught in a Roman trap and suffered near annihilation.
Crixus immediately turned his troops around and headed east toward Brundisium, rather than Rhegium, where they could cross into Sicily.
Crassus drove his legions and pursued the rebels.
"Now the rebels are rats in a trap! Let them pay for what they've done so far!"
"Waaaaa!"
The Roman army, which gained momentum with the victory of the rotation, regained its former dignity.
The numerical superiority, in which the rebels were the only ones to have the upper hand, has long been reversed.
The Roman army possessed more than 50,000 troops, but the rebels now had fewer than 30,000.
Due to repeated defeats and frustrations, deserters continued, and some even said they wanted to leave officially.
Crixus sent them all away.
There was nowhere for them to go if they ran away in common sense, but not many people can endure the fear of death that is tightening every minute.
All those who had lost their will to fight have left.
In other words, it also means that there are still 30,000 people who will risk their lives to resist no matter what.
Crixus was proud of this.
"Thank you. You trusted the ugly captain and followed me well here."
When they were overtaken by the Romans at Metapontum, west of the Gulf of Tarentum, Crixus had a hunch that this would be the end.
He calmly told his men the fate ahead.
"I'm sure everyone knows, but it's too much to keep running away from here. There are too many open plains to Brundisium, so it is inevitable to be exposed to enemy attacks. So we have two choices left. Will you continue to move east in the hope of luck and be trampled by the horseshoe of the Roman cavalry, or will you preoccupy the advantageous terrain and burn your life heroically until the end?"
"I will do as the captain wishes."
"Do as you please. I'll risk my life to follow."
None of the soldiers suggested running away.
None of the people left here now wanted to continue their lives miserably.
They were not afraid of fighting.
It differed from when he raised his voice to fight on the plains in conceit.
A detached will, not a vain confidence, was with them.
After confirming his men's determination, Crixus led the troops to camp on a low hill.
Of course, you can't come down again if you go up here once.
The Roman army needs to surround the hills until the rebels can't hold out any longer.
Crixus knew that, but he dared to go upstairs.
It wasn't because he was a fool who liked high places.
This is because, in order to prevent the Roman army's monstrous cavalry charge, they had no choice but to fight in a forested area.
The entrance to the hill was thick with forests, making it difficult for cavalry to enter.
No matter how much you lose, at least you will die after a fight.
That was Crixus' resolution and final pride.
After confirming that the rebels had climbed up the hill, the Roman army camped directly around the area as expected.
Engineers piled up facilities using soil and wood in the forest and quickly completed a plausible position.
They did not look down on the rebels but built up their positions according to the rules.
It has a little distance from the forest to avoid ambush and has proper defense facilities.
Crixus looked down at the Roman position from a high place and admired it frankly. It was a new realization that the basic capabilities of the military itself were different.
Looking at the flag of the Roman army flying magnificently down there, he even felt relieved in every corner of his mind.
Those powerful men who can never be defeated will not continue to reign for a thousand years.
The person who breaks that flag doesn't have to be himself, and it's enough.
A longing for freedom that will go down in history.
If he could leave something like that behind, wouldn't his life be worth enough in itself?
If so, he will only walk the path he believes in with his back straightened until the end.
From a symbol that concentrates anger toward Rome, he returns to being a single human being.
Crixus moved his body.
Coming down the forest alone, he approached the Roman army standing guard in the distance.
Jerk, Jerk.
There was not even a handful of turmoil in his heart as he headed toward the camp lined with tens of thousands of troops.
Instead, there was a buzz from the Roman camp that found him.
"Stop!"
"What kind of guy are you!"
The guards aimed their spears and bows in unison.
Crixus, who stopped in place, opened his mouth calmly.
"This is Crixus, who is in charge of the general command of the Liberation Army. I want to face the commanders of the Roman army before the battle. I won't move a step from here, so you can take the escort out as much as you want."
This absurd report went straight into Crassus's ear.
Just order the soldiers to pull the bow, and Crixus would die, but Crassus did not.
Coming single-handedly to the enemy camp and killing an opponent who asked for a face-to-face meeting is tarnishing Rome's honor.
He decided to go directly to the position with reliable soldiers.
"I and Spartacus will join you."
Marcus, who ran after hearing the news belatedly, gasped and asked. Spartacus also bowed his head and pleaded to let him go with him.
Crassus acknowledged Spartacus's achievements so far and allowed the two to accompany him.
He walked out majestically, escorted by heavily armed soldiers.
Crixus was still standing alone with his eyes closed in the place where he declared he would wait.
"Are you Crixus, the leader of the rebellion?"
Crassus disapproved of the term liberation army. To Roma, they are nothing more than rebel weightlifters.
"Yes, I am Crixus."
Crixus did not hesitate to reveal his name in front of the commander-in-chief of Rome.
The gaze, full of confidence, was directed once at Spartacus, who stood next to Marcus. Crassus soon asked him, turning his eyes again.
"Yes, why did you want to see me? I'm telling you in advance, there's no room for negotiation with you."
"I don't intend to continue my life lamely. We will all fight back and forth heroically to the end. Don't think you can simply trample on it."
"We will know if it will be simple or difficult by then. But if you're not going to negotiate, why did you come all the way here and call me?"
"I just wanted to know. The Roman soldiers who will take our lives, and the people who command them, have a voice and what they think."
Crixus, who looked around for a while, smiled and continued.
"In addition, you will have no choice but to remember now. The name of this Crixus, who was not afraid of death and faced proudly until the end."
Despite the desperate situation, there is even a smile around the mouth.
Marcus was genuinely disappointed.
How reassuring would it have been if he could have brought that man down following Spartacus?
However, he shook his head immediately to shake off his lingering attachment.
Crassus also showed signs of wanting Crixus for a moment but soon clicked his tongue and swallowed his regret.
"You are just a man too good to kill. If you had been a Roman, you would have been a better soldier than anyone else."
"Even if I were born again, I would never be as Roman."
"I see. Then die with only that bravery. As you wish, I will remember your heroic end until the end."
Crassus turned as if he had nothing more to say.
Spartacus's desperate voice came to his ears as he tried to return to the position.
"Commander, please give me the last chance to speak with him."
"Yeah... well, it'll be fine. Feel free to talk back if you want. It won't matter if you give this much mercy to the enemy who will soon die."
Crassus entered the camp with his men, leaving only Marcus and Spartacus behind.
Of course, the soldiers who were aiming their bows from afar were not bitten in case of an unexpected situation.
Marcus stepped back and allowed Spartacus to speak with Crixus.
The two looked at each other for a while but didn't say anything.
Finally, Spartacus broke the silence and opened his mouth first.
"The atmosphere has changed a lot from before."
"Because I've been through such things."
"Don't you blame me?"
"You just did your best in your position. I have no intention of resenting that or blaming you for my shortcomings."
There was not a single lie in Crixus's words, but he instead tapped his old friend on the shoulder with a pleasant smile.
"In fact, the reason I came here is because I thought I could talk to you for the last time. If you show yourself close to me, it could be a problem later."
"I've already made a contribution in this war, so you don't have to worry about that."
"Really? That's good. Then there's only one thing that's going to get caught now."
Crixus' soft tone suddenly changed.
Not only did Spartacus' face stiffen when he felt the unusual air, but even Marcus, who was backing away, stiffened in shock.