CHAPTER 400: CHAPTER BETWEEN 276 AND 77: MARCHING TOWARDS SEGESTICA TERRITORY (PART 1)

"Leader, we have captured all the Segestica people in the village and occupied the entire village, gaining all the food and supplies stored by the Pannonian army in the village!..." Fesaros excitedly reported, adding: "Leader, you’re truly impressive, having anticipated their escape plans so early on!"

The Segestica people in the village, having witnessed the tragic defeat of their reinforcements and the capture of many comrades, and later learning of the major defeat of the main Alliance forces, naturally realized there was no hope in continuing to hold the village. Hence, their leader proactively proposed for the tribe to surrender to the Nix, but after I refused, he nervously asked for more time to discuss, clearly looking for an opportunity to escape—which anyone with some intellect could figure out... Maximus glanced at the silly grin on Fesaros’ face: Your flattery skills are lacking!

He cleared his throat and asked, "How are our casualties?"

"When those Segestica people saw us charging from the darkness, they fled in all directions, without any resistance, so we have minimal casualties," Fesaros replied with a smile.

Maximus’ expression suddenly turned solemn as he asked sternly, "Are you sure all Segestica people in the village have been captured? None escaped?"

"We can—" Fesaros had just started speaking when Oluus interrupted loudly, "Leader, amidst the darkness, blocking off tens of thousands of enemies, we did our utmost to capture every visible enemy. As we rushed to report the battle’s progress to you, we haven’t yet been able to count all the captives, but we’ve stationed enough soldiers at the river’s fording points and hidden forest paths. Thus, even if a very few enemies managed to hide and escape ultimately, they wouldn’t return to their territory in time."

Maximus pondered for a moment and nodded.

"Oh, right." Fesaros remembered something and said loudly: "Leader, these Segestica people didn’t entirely not resist; their tribal leader and some nobles fought fiercely with weapons, attempting to break through our encirclement, and were killed by the soldiers..."

"What a pity." Maximus calmly responded.

This marked the first time the Nix had captured the entire Segestica tribe completely. To ensure these captives would better follow orders and integrate into the new tribe quickly, Maximus secretly instructed Fesaros beforehand "to find an opportunity to eliminate those tribal leaders and nobles who could be an obstacle during the chaos," and Fesaros succeeded.

Maximus looked at the two men and solemnly said, "Fesaros, tomorrow morning, take part of the First Legion and head east along the Kupa River to capture the remaining Segestica village. According to captives’ accounts, that village has less than 5000 people, with only about four to five hundred warriors. It was initially established by their Andres Chief after defeating the Aldeans to prevent Brochi from taking advantage through the Kupa River. I believe you should capture it easily."

"Leader, rest assured, the First Legion will certainly complete the task assigned by you!" Fesaros asked with a grin, "Should we advance further along the river into the Brochi territory after capturing that village?"

"No!" Maximus sternly warned, "The tribe needs to concentrate its strength on attacking Segestica now; we must not provoke the Brochi! Instead, after the First Legion captures the village ahead, you must hold it properly to prevent the Brochi from invading our newly occupied land!"

"Understood!" Fesaros repressed his smile and replied earnestly.

"Oluus, tomorrow morning, you lead the Fourth Legion and part of the First Legion to oversee the camp and all prisoners in the village. These are over ten thousand captives, so no mistakes are allowed!" Maximus solemnly instructed.

"Yes, leader," Oluus couldn’t help asking, "Leader, how long do we, the Fourth Legion, stay here?"

"Until Volenus and Capito arrive with the Second Legion. Fesaros, you leave the defense of that eastern village to Torrelugo and then take the First Legion to join me in the Segestica territory."

Maximus said, "The Fourth Legion will remain here, together with the Second Legion, obeying the Political Affairs Hall’s arrangements, taking care of the captives from these two major battles and upcoming ones in the Segestica territory—"

As Maximus saw Oluus wanting to speak, he gestured to stop him: "Through these two battles, we have decisively crushed the Pannonian Alliance Army. Our next attack on the Segestica territory should not encounter major battles, leaving little opportunity for the soldiers to earn merit.

In the previous battles, the Fourth Legion suffered significant casualties. As you guard the captives, the soldiers should take this time to rest well. Due to the great merit established by the Fourth Legion this time, I can allow you to prioritize selecting soldiers from the captives so that the Fourth Legion can quickly reach full complement after the war; you will have plenty of time to choose carefully while guarding captives, unless you are unwilling—"

"Leader, we, the Fourth Legion, are willing to stay and guard the captives well!" Oluus responded loudly.

Maximus smiled, "Alright, both of you hurry to the village to wrap up the remaining matters. I need to get some rest, recover more energy, and lead the Third Legion to the Segestica territory early tomorrow.

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

At dawn the next day, light fog gently covered the river, while distant mountains remained shrouded in darkness.

After a hurried breakfast, Maximus, accompanied by Fesaros and Oluus and surrounded by the Guard, inspected various prisoner camps in the military camp and then toured the village.

He did not speak with any prisoners, but seeing him, many captives peered anxiously, guessing that he was the Nix Leader.

Thus, they all saw Casinos, following closely behind Maximus, respond very deferentially to every inquiry, presenting the image of a faithful Nix Leader follower, shocked to receive any praise from Maximus.

This caused great turmoil among the captives: this son favored by Cabdes, heir of the Segestica Great Leader, previously vowed to crush the Nix Tribe—how could he suddenly become one of the Nix?

As Maximus finished his inspection, the Third Legion was fully assembled, with each soldier carrying 2 to 3 days’ worth of dry rations (supplied by the remainder provided by First Legion soldiers).

Maximus led them to set off immediately. Without the supply team, marching proceeded quickly, crossing the Kupa River on foot, through forest paths, reaching Lin Kou Village by afternoon.

The forest path was created centuries ago when the Pannonians migrated northward, while Lin Kou Village was established much later.

During the decades when the Skodisqi people conquered the Pannonians, the Aldeans, out of kinship, occasionally sent troops north through forest paths to assist. To counter this, the Skodisqi people built a village at the forest path’s exit as a thorn, rather than a blockade, preventing the Aldeans from confidently entering the Sava River Plain, threatening their supply routes. When the Skodisqi rallied their forces to counterattack, Lin Kou Village’s forces would cut off their retreat and launch a front-and-back assault... After suffering several setbacks, the Aldeans ceased aiding their kin.

In subsequent decades when the Skodisqi occupied the Sava River plain, Lin Kou Village merely served as a scout post monitoring the Aldeans to the west. A decade after the Pannonians overthrew Skodisqi rule, the Segestica Great Leader Andres made it an offensive outpost against the Alde and later, after capturing the mid-Kupa River plain, made it an important logistics hub.

However, after Andres passed, though Lin Kou Village did not border the Nix territory, it was still reinforced by Cabdes for caution, bolstering its defenses.

"When we led the army away, there were 300 warriors in the village, and Leader Milucus has a good relationship with me. Perhaps—" Casinos quietly requested Maximus: "Perhaps I should go in and persuade him to surrender?"

"No need." Maximus merely glanced at the wooden village ahead, turning to Camillus and saying, "Have the soldiers loop around on both flanks."

"Yes, Leader."

Although Lin Kou Village blocked the forest path’s exit, a forest is not a mountain range. Despite the many trees, the terrain is relatively flat, allowing passage.

Thus, the Segestica sentinel atop the wooden walls suddenly saw two steel currents quickly bypass the village’s sides, converging at the rear, composed of over 5000 armored, large-shield-armed soldiers...

The sentinel’s heart sank, and he screamed in terror: "Enemies have come! Enemies have come!"...

Maximus emerged from the forest and felt a broad expanse before him: beneath the azure sky lay vast flatlands dotted with villages, crisscrossed by fields and roads, teeming with livestock, fields in neat rows, children playing, adults working, and travelers passing—a scenic and prosperous plain.

Maximus felt invigorated, the fatigue of the march dissipating as he surveyed the equally excited soldiers. Pointing ahead, he loudly proclaimed, "Nix soldiers, behold! This land is larger and better than where we live! Now, I need you to overcome your fatigue and push forward at a faster pace to make this land our Nix homeland!"

"Ho!!! Ho!!! Ho!!!..." the soldiers roared in unison.