CHAPTER 410: CHAPTER 288: CONQUERING SEGESTICA

"...There are quite a few Segestica tribes in the east, and most of them are blood relatives of the Great Chief’s family. This needs our vigilance. I have already ordered Camillus to lead the troops stationed in the East Village to quickly complete the attack and conquest of the eastern tribes to prevent them from uniting and causing trouble for us.

To the south of Segestica, the Sava River forms a large lake there. Although the terrain is flat, during the rainy season, the rising waters often create small swamps that severely affect farming. Therefore, the Segestica tribes there are significantly fewer than those in the west and east.

To the south, it borders the two major tribes of Pannonia: the Brochi and the Mazi. You are all familiar with the Brochi; last year, Pequot caused a great commotion in their territory, taking away many Skodisqi slaves. This time, the Pannonian Tribe Alliance’s formation of an alliance army to attack us has been driven by the Brochi Leader Bricks, and it seems that Bricks has already regarded us, the Nix, as mortal enemies.

Moreover, the terrain between the southern Segestica and the Brochi territory is flat, making travel convenient. Thus, whether we attack the Brochi or the Brochi harass us, it is very convenient. The southern Segestica is likely to become our main battleground with the Pannonians in the future..."

Maximus briefly introduced the situation of the Segestica territory, and everyone pondered while looking down at the map.

"Leader, what about the Mazi?" Quintus inquired.

"The Mazi is east of the Brochi." Maximus pointed roughly on the map and said, "To the north, it borders the southern Segestica, but it’s all mountainous, with some hills and swamps in between. Therefore, for them to attack us, it is more convenient to go through the Brochi territory, although we cannot rule out them sending a few warriors over the mountains and through the swamps to raid the south..."

Quintus, after hearing this, pondered and said, "Leader, it seems like we should first occupy the western lands of Segestica, concentrate our efforts to develop it well, while also keeping an eye on the east. Once the west is stable, we can develop towards the east and temporarily ignore the north. As for the south, it is the area we need to focus our defenses on..."

"Hmm, you’ve summed it up well!" Maximus praised, holding up a piece of bread, and addressed everyone: "The Segestica territory is like an ox, and we are like a snake. A snake trying to swallow an ox in one bite will choke itself, but biting it bit by bit, one bite at a time, though slower, is much safer, and eventually, we can consume the entire ox..."

Maximus tore off a small piece of bread and put it in his mouth, chewed it, and continued, "Last night, I persuaded the Segestica citizens who escaped to this village to join our tribe. Although very few responded, those Segestica people whom I released should return to their villages and tell others about my goodwill. That’s why when you arrived, they neither attacked you nor fled in panic; they are still observing. Unless absolutely necessary, no one wants to leave the home they’ve lived in for ten or twenty years.

Tomorrow, have Fesaros divide the First Legion into centurions and quickly station them in all the villages from the West Village to near Lin Kou Village. If there are any extra centurions, continue to station them in other villages. The three brigades of the Third Legion and the Crossbow Soldiers will be concentrated in this village, ready to respond to any potential threats.

Each centurion stationed in a village must have one Segestica recruit, primarily to explain our recently revised Twenty Peerage System to the Segestica citizens, patiently persuading them to join the Nix Tribe as Reserve Tribe Members—"

"Three days!" Maximus held up three fingers and said solemnly: "I only give three days. Anyone who is unwilling to join us, or verbally agrees but refuses to swear allegiance after three days, will all become Foreign Auxiliaries and will be directly escorted to this village for centralized management. Their houses, property, land, and grain will all directly belong to the tribe!—"

"Leader, there might be resistance among those Segestica citizens who are forced to become Foreign Auxiliaries and lose their property," Volenus reminded.

Maximus’s eyes flashed with a sharp light: "For any hostile action by the Segestica citizens, the First Legion Soldiers must respond with severe punishment. They must know that the Nix treats them not only with gentle rain but also with thunderous storms. They must make their choice to continue living on this land."

"Leader, with the First Legion Soldiers spread out across various villages, it increases our food supply challenge..." Lebilus, the Arms Officer, gently reminded.

"The centurions dispersed to various villages do not require us to provide food, nor will they consume our grain. They will confiscate the grain and property stored by the village leaders and Nobles and reside in their estates,

During previous battles, we captured many Segestica leaders and Nobles. If a centurion encounters any remaining Segestica leaders or Nobles in a village, they must capture them, just like we did in Pompey and Sarabia, and publicly try them before the Segestica citizens. Even if they are of the same tribe, these high-and-mighty leaders and Nobles must have committed some wrongdoings or serious mistakes...

Leaders and Nobles who have aroused public hatred will be executed in public; those who have committed minor offenses will be sent to our territory by the Kupa River, and, along with other captured Segestica leaders and Nobles, sent to the Alde Tribe as slaves or miners, which is not our concern."

Maximus said coldly: "As long as these Segestica leaders and Nobles remain on this land, their people will unconsciously gravitate toward them and be influenced by them, which will severely hinder their integration into the Nix Tribe, so they must be eradicated!"

No one objected to this. In fact, after defeating the Segestica Army last year and capturing many prisoners, they had once done so to disrupt the upper echelons of the Segestica tribe and then released the captured leaders and Nobles, but this time, it’s clear there’s no need to do so.

Maximus looked at Gaius and said, "The grain stored by the leaders and Nobles of various Segestica tribes, as well as those who refuse to join the tribe, and sixty percent of the grain from those who become Reserve Tribe Members... Add this to the grain tax the tribesmen will pay this year, and if we save a bit, it should be enough to last until next year’s autumn harvest, right?"

Gaius calculated in his mind for a while before hesitantly saying, "Leader, the grain will certainly increase significantly, but the Foreign Auxiliary and the newly added Skodisqi people have also increased significantly. I think... it might still be a bit short... However, at that time, we can borrow grain from our ally, the Alde Tribe. Also, we can borrow grain from our tribesmen. Everyone will certainly be willing to lend grain for the sake of the tribe, including myself. The grain problem will definitely be solvable!"

"Hearing you say so puts me at ease." Maximus’s expression softened slightly, and he continued, "After the centurions of the First Legion send the Foreign Auxiliaries from the villages here, they will proceed to other villages and continue to implement these measures... By expanding outward continuously, strive to comb through all the villages in the western Segestica within a month and initially stabilize the entire western territory."

"Leader, during the clearing of various villages in the west by the First Legion, some Segestica might flee out of fear..." Quintus reminded.

"Not might, but definitely." Maximus said dismissively, "If ordinary people want to escape, let them, but they are not allowed to take grain with them. The tribal leaders and Nobles, however, cannot be allowed to escape; capture them and execute them on the spot...

Most fleeing people will go south or even flee to Brochi territory, thus reducing our burden and making the territory more stable. And when they find that the people who didn’t flee have received much land and are still living well and regret their decision, we still welcome them back. By then, they will more actively become our tribesmen."

Maximus took a sip of wheat porridge and continued, "Now that Flanitnus is on the Kupa River territory, the military affairs on the Sava River side, Quintus, will be your full responsibility. Not only the First Legion but also the Third Legion, supervise them to complete the conquest of various Segestica villages, crush any potential resistance, and finally occupy the entire Segestica territory!"

Maximus’s appointment put great pressure on Quintus but also excited him, as he was well aware: once the Nix Tribe successfully annexed Segestica, they would no longer worry about other tribes coveting them. They would develop and grow rapidly, and their power, status, and wealth would rise...

Thinking of this, this 50-something old man responded loudly, "Leader, rest assured! Tomorrow morning, I’ll head to the First Legion to make sure every Soldier understands our newly modified Twenty Peerage System and assist Fesaros in training each centurion Soldier sent to the villages to better persuade the Segestica citizens.

Then I’ll return here to constantly monitor the entire territory, ready to mobilize the army to eliminate any potential enemies. Therefore, I hope you will grant me half of the cavalry so I can command the army more conveniently."