Read Online Legatus Legionis: Book Two in the Gaius Claudius Scaevola Trilogy by Ian Miller - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Ian Miller
Tags: General Fiction
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instead of following they made better use of the space and their heavy axes and spears often struck home. It was also difficult for the Romans to rescue a wounded soldier, particularly if the wound was in the leg and the soldier could not fluently make the interchange with a soldier behind him.
Most of the Iazyges did not know what was happening at the front and they pressed forward. Occasionally the horn would blow and a more significant fall-back would be carried out, more Iazyges would surge forwards, again make a minor gain, then find themselves at some disadvantage. While the third cohort quietly carried out its orderly retreat, the Iazyges continued to shout encouragement while they pressed forward, at the same time pushing the front line into close contact with the Romans, which was exactly what the Romans wanted. What the Iazyges did not realize was that this enthusiasm from those not actually fighting was taking away what advantage there was for those that were.
The third cohort worked its way around the bluff, gradually expanding the breadth of its lines as a higher fraction of the troops were brought into the action. The retreat was now proceeding faster, and the Iazyges were pressing forward more furiously, totally confident of victory, but their column was also becoming more extended, and more importantly, the front had turned around the bluff and was out of sight of those at the rear.
Gaius now gave the signal. The first had divided into two, and two wedges now marched down the slope, but on different angles such that the bluff prevented most of the Iazyges from realizing there were two attacks. With no choice, the Iazyges turned to face the Romans descending on them. Their open file to this flank meant that most of the two flights of pilii struck victims, and before the Iazyges could regroup, the two wedges embedded themselves into the column.
The horn blew again, then those at the front noticed, for the first time, that the retreat in front of them was not through fear but was part of a plan. Now the wall of locked shields began its advance, closing the gap so that the shields were thrust into the bodies of the Iazyges and the remorseless thrusting recommenced. Those Iazyges at the front had no alternative but to fight for their lives, but those behind them had time to look around. Retreat was difficult now that some other attack was proceeding behind them. Some began to panic, and ran in the only available direction other than their own reserves. These found the Roman cavalry.
Then Gaius, from his position on the hill, noted the party at the rear with the enemy chief. He signalled for two cavalry detachments, and rode forward along the ridge, then led the charge downhill.
The Iazyges in total outnumbered the Romans three to one, but in this tiny sub-battle, the odds were reversed, and in the initial charge, most of the Iazygian horsemen saw this and simply turned and fled. The leader tried to stand his ground, but was soon surrounded, his remaining soldiers dispatched.
"Surrender now!" Gaius ordered, "and stop the slaughter."
"You'll kill us anyway," the chief offered, and added, without much conviction for the prospect, "It is better to die in battle."
"It is better to live with your family!" Gaius countered. "Surrender!"
"And if I do?"
"If you wish to continue fighting," Gaius announced, "we raze your villages to the ground, and take your food, women and children back as tribute or as slaves. If you offer to live in peace and pay tribute then we can forget what has happened, and you can act for Rome, as a buffer. You may cross the Danube at designated points and trade at our markets. Choose."
"Pay you tribute?" the chief growled.
"I already have more than enough," Gaius pointed out. "What I am offering is to give you your village back, with some but not all of your possessions. I shall also take the families of your leaders. They will be treated well, and live as they please, and be educated in
Most of the Iazyges did not know what was happening at the front and they pressed forward. Occasionally the horn would blow and a more significant fall-back would be carried out, more Iazyges would surge forwards, again make a minor gain, then find themselves at some disadvantage. While the third cohort quietly carried out its orderly retreat, the Iazyges continued to shout encouragement while they pressed forward, at the same time pushing the front line into close contact with the Romans, which was exactly what the Romans wanted. What the Iazyges did not realize was that this enthusiasm from those not actually fighting was taking away what advantage there was for those that were.
The third cohort worked its way around the bluff, gradually expanding the breadth of its lines as a higher fraction of the troops were brought into the action. The retreat was now proceeding faster, and the Iazyges were pressing forward more furiously, totally confident of victory, but their column was also becoming more extended, and more importantly, the front had turned around the bluff and was out of sight of those at the rear.
Gaius now gave the signal. The first had divided into two, and two wedges now marched down the slope, but on different angles such that the bluff prevented most of the Iazyges from realizing there were two attacks. With no choice, the Iazyges turned to face the Romans descending on them. Their open file to this flank meant that most of the two flights of pilii struck victims, and before the Iazyges could regroup, the two wedges embedded themselves into the column.
The horn blew again, then those at the front noticed, for the first time, that the retreat in front of them was not through fear but was part of a plan. Now the wall of locked shields began its advance, closing the gap so that the shields were thrust into the bodies of the Iazyges and the remorseless thrusting recommenced. Those Iazyges at the front had no alternative but to fight for their lives, but those behind them had time to look around. Retreat was difficult now that some other attack was proceeding behind them. Some began to panic, and ran in the only available direction other than their own reserves. These found the Roman cavalry.
Then Gaius, from his position on the hill, noted the party at the rear with the enemy chief. He signalled for two cavalry detachments, and rode forward along the ridge, then led the charge downhill.
The Iazyges in total outnumbered the Romans three to one, but in this tiny sub-battle, the odds were reversed, and in the initial charge, most of the Iazygian horsemen saw this and simply turned and fled. The leader tried to stand his ground, but was soon surrounded, his remaining soldiers dispatched.
"Surrender now!" Gaius ordered, "and stop the slaughter."
"You'll kill us anyway," the chief offered, and added, without much conviction for the prospect, "It is better to die in battle."
"It is better to live with your family!" Gaius countered. "Surrender!"
"And if I do?"
"If you wish to continue fighting," Gaius announced, "we raze your villages to the ground, and take your food, women and children back as tribute or as slaves. If you offer to live in peace and pay tribute then we can forget what has happened, and you can act for Rome, as a buffer. You may cross the Danube at designated points and trade at our markets. Choose."
"Pay you tribute?" the chief growled.
"I already have more than enough," Gaius pointed out. "What I am offering is to give you your village back, with some but not all of your possessions. I shall also take the families of your leaders. They will be treated well, and live as they please, and be educated in
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