CHAPTER 385: CHAPTER 264 ALISTACAS’S HESITATION

The clever Bricks did not flee in panic to the east like his thousands of tribesmen, but instead fled south, believing it was undoubtedly safer.

Shortly after the attack horn sounded in the center of the Nix Formation, the left wing also sounded the horn, and the Nix Army launched a full counterattack across the line!

Third Legion Commander Carmillus hesitated upon hearing the horn from the center, unsure whether to immediately sound the copper horn to attack because the far right of the Third Legion was under attack from both front and rear. However, the Centurion Formation’s defense was tight, the soldiers held the line, preventing the enemy from gaining any advantage, but making it difficult to turn defense into offense as well.

But while he hesitated, the horn on the opposing side sounded first, and the Pannonian Army’s various long spear shield formations stopped fighting and began to retreat...

Upon realizing this, Carmillus immediately understood: the enemy was fleeing!

He decisively gave the order to attack, and the Third Legion began its counterattack.

Originally, the Pannonian Cavalry had suffered significant losses due to sniper attacks by the Nix Crossbow Soldier Team and did not dare to rashly attack again. They turned to the hills across to seek opportunities but ended up witnessing the rout of the Brochi Army.

Seeing this, the cavalry dared not linger and fled eastward, returning much faster than they arrived, not caring at all about potential warhorse injuries. Upon returning to the right wing, they informed the Great Chiefs Demikas and Pagiras of the situation.

These two had been reluctant to deploy forces against the Nix and immediately felt the urge to retreat upon learning of the left wing’s defeat and their own side’s lack of progress in battle so far.

To avoid being affected by the western defeat and causing more losses to the army, they hesitated not a moment in issuing a retreat order.

The retreat of Disone and Perustai’s armies, however, was catastrophic for Mazi and Brochi’s armies, because along with the attack order, Carmillus instructed the closest Sixth Battalion to assist the First Legion in flanking the middle still engaged enemies after defeating their immediate foe, without pursuing them.

With both wings of the Panoni Alliance Army defeated, the middle could no longer withstand the fight and quickly routed. Only parts of the Second and First Legion Soldiers drove the rout east, while parts of the Third and First Legion Soldiers drove them west, nearly encircling the routs of the two major tribes.

Many Pannonian countless soldiers, like headless flies, ran wildly during the encirclement by the Nix Army, eventually surrendering in despair...

This battle on the hills north of the Kolana River ended with a victory for the Nix Army.

According to post-war statistics, the Nix Army suffered nearly 2,000 casualties, mostly injured; while the Panoni Alliance Army suffered over 5,000 casualties, with more deaths during the rout, and over 7,000 captured. For the Nix, this was indeed a complete victory.

By the time dusk approached, Torrelugo led three battalions of the Second Legion and five Centurions of the Third Legion’s First Battalion to the Panoni Alliance Army’s temporary supply and baggage camp, only to find no enemy presence, just nearly 4,000 anxious Scodisqi slaves.

Bricks had preemptively fled back to the camp and on the way realized that staying here was not viable, as the Nix would surely capitalize on their victory, and if the news of the Pannonian Army’s disastrous defeat reached the Aldeans, they might even come for revenge...

So he persuaded the 3,000 stationed Pannonian warriors, without alerting the Scodisqi slaves in the camp to avoid chaos that might interfere with their escape, to carry only a small portion of dry rations and quickly led the team to flee east, recalling that some supplies remained at several temporary camps set up along the route west, which might barely support their return to Brochi Territory.

The Scodisiqi New Soldiers quickly put these fellow tribesmen in the camp at ease, and Torrelugo easily occupied this camp, critical to the Panoni Alliance Army, dealing yet another blow to the countless Pannonian soldiers fleeing into the wilderness.

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

In the hall of the Aldean Main Camp, acting Great Chief Alistacas and leaders from various tribes were in urgent discussion on how to respond to the Panoni Alliance Army, which had already occupied the banks of the Kolana River and begun advancing north.

Most southern leaders, led by Ambrosius, believed: the Panoni Alliance Army must be targeting the Nix Tribe this time. Aldeans had already suffered significant losses, and the most pressing need is to mobilize all warriors to firstly safeguard the riverbank tribes of the Murenica River; then once the outcome of the Pannoni and Nix conflict is clear, decide on subsequent actions.

Leaders of the western region, led by Bodocaribas, argued: the Pannonian Army’s strength is too great, and while the Nix people are resilient in battle, they are unlikely to withstand this time. Alde should dispatch forces to assist the Nix in defeating the Pannonian Army. Otherwise, once the Nix are defeated, the Pannonians can fully focus on attacking us. Moreover, as allies, the Alde have an obligation to send aid to the Nix...

Ambrosius sneered at this, sarcastically commenting, "Yes, we are allied with the Nix, even the Nix’s leader is our Great Chief’s granddaughter’s husband, but when the Pannonian Army invaded the Kolana River, despite our repeated calls for aid, they never sent any reinforcements, leading to our loss of land along the river and so many tribesmen. And now they want us to send troops to rescue them, do you all think this is fair?!"

"Of course, it’s not fair!!" a group of southern leaders echoed in unison.

Bodocaribas argued, "Ladies and gentlemen, you have already known the reason why the Nix did not send reinforcements immediately! The Segestica people also attacked them from the north, and the Nix leader was leading his army to intercept. Later he promised to swiftly lead his army to our side...

This afternoon, when our spies returned with the news that the Nix Army had already appeared on the northern bank of the Kolana River, indicating they might have engaged with the Pannonians already... this precisely suggests that the Nix keep their promises!

Now is the critical moment concerning our tribe’s life and death, we should immediately dispatch forces to assist the Nix in repelling the Pannonian Army to ensure Alde’s safety!"

These last words were loudly proclaimed by Bodocaribas as he directly faced Alistacas on the main seat.

Alistacas felt moved; he had always aspired to lead troops against the Pannonians to demonstrate his valor to his tribesmen. He slapped the back of his chair forcefully: "Bodocaribas Elder is correct—"

"Everyone!" Seeing the situation unfolding poorly, Ambrosius immediately interrupted, "The Nix leader said that the Segestica Army invaded their northern territory, hence they couldn’t send troops to assist us in time...

This is his narrative. In fact, we don’t even know if the Segestica are truly attacking the Nix. We only know that after suffering a series of defeats last year, they have not sent troops onto the banks of the Kupa River again!

The Nix Army has now reached the east bank of the Kolana River, but is it genuinely to fulfill our alliance for rescue? It’s likely more due to the imminent invasion of their territory by the Pannonians!"

Ambrosius surveyed the crowd and finally looked at Bodocaribas, righteously stating: "The Pannonian Army advances north along the east bank of the Kolana River; they can invade Nix territory or pass through the shallow river section north of the Kolana again to attack us!

We’ve already suffered significant losses before; our remaining strength may struggle to even hold off the Pannonians at Bodocaribas’s camp, let alone keep them beyond the Murenica River.

If we forcibly dispatch troops to face the Pannonians head-on and fail, we may no longer have enough warriors to defend our homeland! Bodocaribas, your tribe might be the first to be destroyed by the Pannonians at that time; you’d better think carefully about that!"

Bodocaribas’s face shifted between expressions; at this moment, he hesitated.

Seizing the opportunity, Ambrosius stepped next to Alistacas and whispered: "Great Chief, have you forgotten what I mentioned last time! The Pannonian raid along the Kolana River incurred great loss to us. At the time, your father was alive, so he bore the responsibility! But if you lead warriors to battle the Pannonians and fail, putting the tribe in danger, this responsibility will fall upon you!

In this way, although there had initially been little controversy regarding your succession as Great Chief, some leaders might now have reason to oppose, and the tribesmen may also be greatly disappointed in you..."

Hearing this, Alistacas felt anxious: Yes, due to the Pannonian massive invasion, his father’s sudden passing, the tribal assembly to elect a Great Chief had not yet convened, leaving him acting in the capacity...

Resentment and concern alternately flashed across his face, and Alistacas abruptly stood, loudly declaring, "Ambrosius is correct; given our tribe’s current state, we indeed should not send troops on this risky venture!—"

As soon as Alistacas finished speaking, someone outside the hall suddenly shouted, "Good news! Good news!"

Accompanied by these joyful cries, Cleobrotas swiftly entered the hall, excitement plainly visible on his face: "The Nix Army has engaged in a fierce battle with the Pannonians in the hilly area on the north bank of the Kolana River, and the result—"

Cleobrotas gazed excitedly at the audience, loudly proclaiming, "The Nix Army defeated the Pannonians despite being outnumbered, and our spies reported that Nix Soldiers are now pursuing the Pannonian routs!

According to the spies, those damned Pannonians are crying and wailing, desperately fleeing as if they’ve lost their parents! Hahaha..."