CHAPTER 39: CHAPTER 38 HOPE

"The Roman Elders and Nobles are like a great mountain pressing down on the common people of Italy and the Mediterranean. The only way to avoid their oppression and live freely is to take up arms and resist. Only by overthrowing them can we achieve freedom!

Although the Roman Elders and Nobles are very powerful now, there are still more commoners than nobles in this world. Everywhere in Italy, you can see slaves and impoverished people who have lost their land, living in a daze...

Now, we have bravely stood up and declared war on the Roman Elders and Nobles, like igniting a torch in the dark. This has given them hope and is why in just one month, we have rapidly expanded from over 200 people to 5,000! As news of our uprising spreads further, more people who harbor hatred towards the Roman Elders and Nobles will join us. And when all the slaves and impoverished people in Italy are mobilized, can the Roman Army still withstand our mighty force?!"

Maximus raised his fist, speaking passionately, "So in the end, we will surely defeat the Romans, escape Italy smoothly, and create a home of our own elsewhere! In this new home, there are no distinctions of race or class. Anyone with talent can become an official and earn promotion! In this new home, we all have our own land, and as long as we work hard, we can lead a fulfilling life! In this new home, we ordinary people can also participate in politics. We can oppose proposals that harm our interests, and even propose laws beneficial to us and find ways to have them passed! Our elders can be cared for, our children can study, and when we fall ill, we can receive affordable treatment. When we face disasters, our home will offer some assistance..."

Everyone listened, captivated and longing.

"Amazing! It’s like an Elysian Paradise!"

"If such a beautiful home could be established, it would be worth dying for!"

...

"Captain Maximus, can we really build such a beautiful new home for ourselves?!" someone asked excitedly.

"As long as we work together and strive tirelessly towards this goal, we will eventually succeed!" Maximus said with great confidence, which inspired those around him.

As they were cheering joyfully, Maximus, who was already slightly tipsy and made even more passionate by his speech, continued, "I want to tell you a story. Do you want to hear it?"

"Yes!!!..." the veterans of the Supply Team responded in unison, as the "Maximus night storytelling" had become their rare evening entertainment before sleep.

The new Guard soldiers were also intrigued, having heard long ago that Maximus was a great storyteller, and now they finally had the chance to hear him firsthand.

The military slaves were a bit confused, not understanding why a story would make others so excited.

Maximus took a sip of wine, looked up at the night sky, and slowly began, "This story takes place far, far away in the East, where there are vast fertile lands, inhabited by tens of millions of people in dozens of kingdoms. They waged wars and merged for hundreds of years until one kingdom eliminated the other powers and unified the far East.

In theory, without enemies, the King should have provided a peaceful and stable life for the people exhausted by war, allowing them to rebuild their homes. However, he initiated massive labor, forcing the people to relentlessly build city walls, construct tombs, and dig canals. He also instituted harsh laws, where minor offenses were punished by eye gouging, hand cutting, and foot chopping.

The suffering commoners finally could not bear it anymore and revolted against the tyrannical rule of the King, fighting the enormous and powerful Kingdom Army. At that time, there were about a dozen rebellious factions, mostly led by the former Nobles of the conquered states. Only one group was led by a nomadic person, whose subordinates included farmers, butchers, herders, robbers, henchmen... all composed of lowly commoners. I will primarily talk about his story..."

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

At night, the banquet had ended, and all the bonfires were extinguished. The farmstead returned to tranquility as people began to sleep.

In Maximus’s quarters, an internal meeting of the Supply Team was just starting.

Participants included Maximus, Acronis who was in charge of kitchen affairs, Pigeris responsible for the transport team, Gaius managing the supply warehouse, Fesaros of the Guard, Seksepis, a livestock expert recommended by Pigeris, and Casius Flantinus specially invited by Maximus. Also present was Volenus, whom Maximus had assigned the role of record keeper.

In his previous life as a freelancer, a homebody, evenings were when Maximus was most energetic. This habit hadn’t changed in this era, though without computers or the internet and other modern entertainment, he expended his energy on teaching, storytelling, and holding meetings to avoid being idle.

He glanced at the people in the room: cooks, down-and-out merchants, farmers, house slaves, gladiators, retired veterans... His subordinates included people of all sorts and modest backgrounds, but each had their own competencies to a certain extent.

Their eyes were all on Maximus. If, earlier, Maximus’s good relations from working with Acronis and Pigeris made them welcome his takeover of the Supply Team, after yesterday’s battle and tonight’s public speech, they now looked upon Maximus with respect, including Flanitinus. His wisdom had dispelled confusion for the military slaves and illuminated their path forward, something not everyone could accomplish.

"Time is tight, so I won’t be verbose," Maximus said directly. "Our Supply Team needs to establish a Medical Team, and all the wounded will be under our care—"

Acronis immediately exclaimed in shock, "Ah, but that’s hundreds of injured! We don’t have enough people to take care of them, nor do we know how!"

"The leaders have already set it, and we must implement it!" Maximus feigned helplessness, unwilling to reveal that he actually volunteered for this task. "Don’t worry, taking care of the wounded isn’t complex and doesn’t need too many people. Besides, the leaders have promised to allocate more people to our Supply Team in the future."

Not intending to give them more room to debate, Maximus promptly asked, "Flanitinus, among your people, who knows best how to care for the wounded?"

Flanitinus paused before responding, "Putrius Horace. He is kind and patient. After our battles, he always took the initiative to care for wounded comrades."

"Then let him temporarily handle the Medical Team’s affairs. If he doesn’t perform well, we can replace him. He can also select a few suitable individuals from your people as his assistants."

Maximus finished speaking and looked at Acronis, "As for helping to clean wounds, apply medicine, and bandage the injured, I hope more women will do this, so your kitchen will need to allocate some women, preferably young and unmarried, to the new Medical Team to take care of the wounded."

"Ah! You’re asking us women to take care of those men, and the unmarried ones at that?! No, no, this is too much! Moreover, we are understaffed in the kitchen, and if we lose more people, we won’t be able to manage our tasks at all!..." Acronis loudly opposed, shaking her head like a rattle, her attitude seemingly determined.