CHAPTER 34: CHAPTER 33 MAXIMUS’S REQUEST

"Why?" Antonix was somewhat puzzled, "This place is so good, it’s convenient for our defense, and if we really can’t hold out, we can retreat to the mountain behind. Isn’t it because of this unique terrain that we defeated the Romans? This is a place blessed by the war god Ares! Why give it up? Furthermore, if you move to that farm to the north, the terrain there is flat, it’s very easy for the Roman Army to launch a surprise attack, and if we’re defeated, it’s not easy to retreat, our legs can’t outrun the Roman cavalry."

Cross immediately said loudly, "I agree with Spartacus’s opinion, we shouldn’t stay on this mountain any longer! Yesterday’s battle has already told us that relying only on defense and waiting won’t defeat the Romans, and the way we defeated the Romans this time can’t be repeated. The Romans will learn the entire battle process from the stragglers, and next time they come to attack us, they won’t make the same mistakes again.

Defense requires skill, new soldiers can’t learn it in a short time, attack mainly requires courage, and our brothers do not lack hatred for the Romans, hatred will fill them with power, so taking the initiative is our best choice, and building a camp on flat ground without natural defenses means we can only secure safety by defeating the enemy, while staying on this mountain may soften our fighting will!"

"I also agree with Spartacus’s opinion." Hamilcar nodded to Antonix, speaking in a gentle tone, "Not to mention anything else, the farm to the north is surrounded by trenches and earth walls dug by the Romans, in fact, its defense is better than our camp here. Moreover, on flat ground, we can train our soldiers better, and once our forces expand, it will be easier to expand the camp outside as well. Also, it’s easier for the Supply Team to transport supplies on flat ground..."

"Let’s relocate the camp quickly, there’s nothing good here!" Enomai complained, "The surroundings of the camp are all scorched, there’s a burnt smell everywhere. And there’s that pool of corpses, although they’ve been cremated, just thinking about it makes me uncomfortable, we might as well quickly change to a new place."

The suggestion to relocate the camp was passed and it was quickly decided to act on it the next day.

After making this decision, a few leaders had nothing more to say, as usual, Spartacus asked as a final question: "Does anyone have any other suggestions?"

"I do." Maximus, who had been silent in the corner, spoke, "From yesterday to today, we have more than 240 people injured to varying degrees, and judging from the previous recovery of the wounded, I’m afraid that more than half will die from wounds festering and high fever. I learned some medical skills when I was young, and I believe that if the wounds are cleaned and bandages are changed regularly, keeping the wounds clean, allowing them to get adequate rest, and providing them good enough food... as long as the external injuries are not too severe, most of them can eventually recover."

"But our current care for them is really insufficient!" Maximus said painfully, "Causing those brothers who fought alongside us shoulder to shoulder (referring to those gladiators who were injured during the escape) to lack sufficient treatment and die, we can’t go on like this! I suggest putting these wounded entirely in the care of our Supply Team, I will have my men take good care of them, doing our best to let them heal and return to the team!"

"You know medicine, why didn’t you say so earlier?!" Cross glared at him, voicing his complaint loudly.

Maximus shot back immediately, "I have learned some medicine, but I have never treated anyone before, and taking care of the wounded is a very troublesome matter. If it weren’t for the fact that I noticed so many of our wounded have died during this time, and since I just became the Supply Team Captain, having the conditions to do something about it, otherwise, I wouldn’t want to meddle in it!"

"You—"

"Alright, alright, treating the wounded is indeed a very troublesome matter, we all have deep experience of this at the Gladiator School, it’s great that Maximus is willing to let the Supply Team take care of the wounded, we all should thank him! Don’t you guys agree!" Spartacus immediately affirmed Maximus’s suggestion.

"Maximus, I really must thank you, you’re doing me a great favor this time!" Antonix expressed his gratitude sincerely, knowing that the current regulation of the rebel army is that whichever team’s soldier gets injured, their own team takes care of them. Once, a Thracian gladiator in Antonix’s team had a wound festering on his chest, repeatedly having high fevers, often uncontrollably wailing, almost driving the entire team’s soldiers insane, in the end, everyone strongly requested to give him a quick end.

Knowing that the wounded was Antonix’s fellow countryman, they had a good relationship, he eventually had to put him down, so he shouted without hesitation: "I support it with both hands, let the Supply Team be responsible for caring for the wounded!"

Cross and Enomai also had similar experiences, and they too quickly expressed their agreement.

At this moment, Hamilcar said, "I remember when we were at the school, the doctor called Valerius had quite good medical skills, many brothers could be healed by him after being injured, this might be related to his long-term responsibility for treating wounded gladiators, having rich medical experience. This time when we go to Capua, it’s best to invite a doctor from the Gladiator School, let him join the Supply Team to treat the wounded."

Maximus’s eyes lit up, "That’s a great idea! It’s just that these doctors are paid well, I’m afraid they won’t join us."

"They won’t join but they have to join!" Cross said coldly, surprisingly, no one opposed, including Spartacus.

I thought you guys always insist on the principle of voluntary joining for anyone, just like those farm slaves, turns out you’ll resort to any means for truly needed talents! ... Maximus looked at the four of them, feeling like he learned a new trick.

"I also agree with the Supply Team taking care of the wounded. But the Supply Team is responsible for providing food, transporting supplies, managing the warehouse for the soldiers, manpower is already tight, and now taking care of the wounded, is there enough manpower?" Hamilcar asked seriously.

The teacher coming just when you need help!... Maximus inwardly rejoiced, and immediately replied, "Indeed, manpower is a bit lacking! There are currently more than 240 wounded, needing at least thirty to forty people to take care of them all day. And you all should know, most people in the Supply Team are physically weak, they can’t even lift the wounded, so how could they possibly take good care of them, so we don’t just need people, we also need strong men!"

Spartacus looked troubled, "But right now, all the major teams are lacking people... How about this, when more people join in future, we’ll try to allocate more to the Supply Team."

Maximus replied with a hint of complaint, "That would be great, should have done it long ago. But long term solutions don’t quench current thirst, the wounded urgently need people to care for them, there’s no way to delay, I think we should assign that batch of captured slaves to our Supply Team."

"That won’t work! These slaves are different from those previous ones who only knew farming, they’ve undergone military training, and have some combat experience, giving them to your Supply Team would be a waste!" Cross immediately objected.

The batch of slaves they were referring to came from the recently defeated Roman army. According to the current Roman military system, the smallest unit of the Roman Army is a squad, consisting of 10 people, of which two are slaves, they do not participate in combat, but are responsible for miscellaneous tasks, such as carrying items for the other eight soldiers, cooking, pitching tents, repairing weapons, taking care of the wounded...,

This time, the Roman Army came to fight at Mount Vesuvius with a total of 560 such slaves, the rebel army eventually captured more than 200 after a surprise attack on the Roman Camp. They belonged to Rome’s public slaves, many coming from war captives, after working hard for Rome for many years, they had the chance to be released and become freedmen, thus not all slaves were willing to join the rebel army, but the rebel army’s slaughter of all Roman captives frightened them, so they all expressed their willingness to join.