CHAPTER 387: CHAPTER 266 CROSSING THE RIVER

"Oluus, what do you think I’ve been taking people across the river to patrol every day these past few days for?" Pequot smiled confidently, speaking with assurance, "I’ve already figured out the terrain of the river sections where we can ford on foot and have grasped the range of the enemy scouts’ reconnaissance. More importantly, I’ve secretly sent people to survey the dense forest and found a good spot for one or two thousand soldiers to camp without easily being detected by the enemy.

This time, I’m bringing a team to ambush, including many soldiers who followed me in the raid on Brochi Territory last time and who have the experience of hiding and living in the mountains and forests. I believe that this time, they can better help the entire team execute a woodland ambush for a day and two nights...

Moreover, even if our ambush is discovered by the enemy, I will lead the soldiers to quickly retreat to the west. The enemy won’t be able to catch up with us as we are familiar with the terrain. It would merely be a failed ambush without any loss, and everything will just return to the plan originally set by the leader..."

Oluus was somewhat moved, but as the Legion Commander, he was burdened with a heavy responsibility and had to be cautious: "Even if you deceive the enemy’s vigilance, considering that the enemy’s leader is very cautious, they will certainly be prepared. Even if our raid achieves some results, if we can’t completely confuse the entire enemy in the end, once the enemy reacts, we could be in danger."

Pequot laughed: "Oluus, don’t forget that we have reinforcements. Since the leader has dispatched messengers to notify us, it means he has already started leading the army back. The hilly area east of the Kolana River is not far from here, and if they move quickly, they can arrive in a little over a day.

And the enemy will discover this empty camp by tomorrow morning. The Lin Kou Village is a bit closer, but the path is quite difficult to walk, taking nearly the same amount of time to reach here. It’s possible that by the time we raid the enemy, the leader will have already led his team here."

Oluus finally nodded and said: "I think your plan is worth trying. After all, the enemy is cautious, and they have ample cavalry. If they scout in advance and discover our main force’s reinforcements, and escape early, wouldn’t that be a pity? Your plan can precisely cut off the enemy’s retreat, leaving them nowhere to escape!"

Oluus’s point was something Pequot had not considered. At this moment, he seized the opportunity to say: "Precisely because of this hidden danger, which might prevent us from winning the complete victory in this war, we should implement this plan even more firmly!"

"However, the two of us must first send a messenger to inform the leader of this plan!" Oluus reminded in a deep voice: "You also don’t want to be deemed by the leader and the Military Department as a leader who likes to take action without orders, do you!"

Pequot was stunned for a moment and said hesitantly: "If we first notify the leader and wait for his permission before acting, I’m afraid it’ll be too late!"

"We’ll send someone to inform the leader while we implement the plan. The leader is wise and discerning; I believe not only will he not blame us, but he will also coordinate well with us. How could it be too late!"

Among the Roman veterans who joined the rebel army in Lukelia, Oluus was known for loving battle and being action-oriented. After hearing Pequot’s plan, he had already fully recognized it. However, having served in the military for decades and understanding some of the taboos within the army, he specifically brought up this point to address the plan’s deficiencies and subtly remind Pequot, who was solely eager for merit.

Pequot was pensive.

"It’s getting late; we must hurry and call all the team officers to discuss this plan together. After that, we must take action immediately!"

"Yes!"

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

The Segestica and Desitia Alliance Army camped at the Lin Kou Village camp for several days. The scouts reported daily that the Nix Army was still besieging the Anrotas Camp.

Later on, Temagis couldn’t stay put and believed: The army of Bricks could not possibly have not attacked the Nix Tribe for this long, so could it be false that the Nix Army is still surrounding the camp over here?

On the contrary, Cabdes remained calm and reminded him: Outside the western Brochi Territory is all hilly, with the four great chiefs leading a massive army, requiring sufficient material supplies each day, meaning their march speed won’t be fast. Plus, passing through the territory of the Aldeans could meet some resistance, and minor accidents or additional time expenses are normal...

He advised Temagis to wait patiently. Temagis initially listened, but after a day, he couldn’t help arguing with Cabdes again.

Just then, the scouts reported: The Nix people besieging the camp were gone, and the entire enemy camp was empty, but the enemy destroyed the pontoon bridge before retreating!

Temagis immediately clamored to advance, and Cabdes did not oppose anymore, but he demanded the scouts penetrate deep into the Nix Territory to investigate the enemy’s movements.

The Alliance Army finally broke camp and set out, advancing towards the Kupa River along the forest path. Fearing an ambush, Cabdes dispatched numerous scouts to search the dense forest around the marching column.

Nothing abnormal was discovered, and the army smoothly reached the north bank of the Kupa River. For this, Cabdes was ridiculed by Temagis, who said he was timid like a mouse, lacking the grandeur of a great chief who commands various tribes.

Cabdes felt a deep hatred but had no way to counter it. Now, Segestica was the weakest of the seven major tribes of Pannonia, often needing the help of nearby Brochi and Desitia in many areas.

However, Cabdes firmly opposed the army’s immediate crossing of the Kupa River. The reason was: It was already dusk, the pontoon bridge was dismantled by the enemy, and wading through the river would take some time. By the time they crossed, it would be dark. The warriors had walked for most of the day, their feet soaked in river water, cold, and hungry, with some distance still to Anrotas’s camp. Marching at night is challenging, and if they suffer a surprise attack midway, the column might collapse, so it’s better to camp here and rest, crossing the river tomorrow morning isn’t too late.

Though Temagis ridiculed Cabdes for being overly cautious, he also acknowledged there was some truth in his words, so the Alliance Army camped and rested on the north bank of the Kupa River.

Fearing a night-time attack on the camp, Cabdes personally deployed multiple patrols and sentries.

The night passed uneventfully.

On the following morning, a light drizzle began, and a thin mist covered the surface of the Kupa River.

The Alliance Army reached the original crossing point, where the pontoon bridge had indeed been dismantled. Clearly, the Nix people intended to cut off the Segestica Army’s route into their territory, but it was ineffective. After the Alliance Army walked a short distance downstream, the river suddenly widened, and the riverbed was clearly visible, composed of hard gravel—an ideal fording point. At the end of autumn, the river’s water level had decreased, and the deepest part was no more than knee-high.

Feeling constricted after staying at the Lin Kou Village camp for too long, Temagis impatiently requested to lead the way crossing the river, and Cabdes readily agreed, hoping the other side would lead and scout the path.

First went the cavalry, followed by the infantry... Despite the shallow water, the currents were swift. Many rocks on the riverbed were covered with algae, making it hard for the warriors to maintain balance as they held wooden shields, long spears, and Longswords. Once some slipped and fell, they barely had time to rise before being swept away downstream by the current...

Occasionally, both cavalry and infantry fell into the river, prompting those crossing afterwards to be more cautious, slowing the crossing process.

During this, scouts previously sent deep into the Nix Territory returned with news: No traces of Nix Army were found, but the nearest enemy camp (referring to Westeni) had its gates tightly shut, with the enemy on guard on the wooden walls.

Upon hearing this, Cabdes relaxed his vigilance considerably, though a sense of urgency grew. He knew the "enemy camp" described by the scouts was the territory he had once lost. Even though he now possessed the Main Camp, having lost land from one’s own tribe to the enemy was a disgrace for a Great Chief, detrimental to his prestige; it had to be reclaimed as soon as possible!

Once all Desitia warriors had crossed the river with difficulty, he began urging the Segestica Warriors to cross.

The Segestica Warriors began rolling up their pants, securing their long spears at their waist behind them, holding tightly onto the wooden shield with their left hand and clutching the wooden shield edge of the person in front with their right, forming long lines as they crossed the river together... This was a river-crossing method devised by the Desitia Warriors, significantly reducing slips in the river.

By this time, it was mid-morning. The rain had stopped, the mist was dissipating, and the sun had come out, with the gentle sunshine warming the drenched warriors, driving away the chill within them...

Cabdes looked ahead: On the other side of the river, Temagis was gathering the warriors, assembling the forces, not immediately abandoning him, who had yet to cross, to rush to the enemy’s abandoned empty camp.

This reassured Cabdes, and just as he was about to urge his tribesmen to hasten their crossing, he suddenly heard terrified shouts from behind: "Enemies! The enemies are coming! ..."

Startled, he turned around and saw two scouts with frantic expressions bursting out of the dense woods not far from the riverbank, running for their lives, and behind them, innumerable soldiers wielding shields and short swords, fierce and aggressive, were charging madly towards his direction...

It’s the Nix people! They were hiding right behind us! Why didn’t the scouts discover this! ... Cabdes was both shocked and furious, but there wasn’t time to think. The sudden enemy attack immediately threw the Segestica Army into chaos. Some warriors instinctively scrambled to jump into the river to evade the enemy’s attack, which immediately disrupted order, causing comrades crossing the river to fall in chain-like successions amidst cries for help filling the air...

"Stop crossing! Stop crossing now!" Cabdes shouted anxiously: "Form up quickly, prepare for battle! ..."