Chapter 19: 19

——Chapter 19: Slave Revolt (3)——

 

Crassus was pleased to think that everything was going according to plan.

 

A legion in Rome usually consisted of 6500 men. So it was an enormous army with over 50,000 troops in the 8th corps.

 

Very few men were permitted to command an army of this size. Because of this Crassus will go down in history as one of the few such commanders.

 

And this also brought him one step closer to his goal of the consulship.

 

It was not an exaggeration to say that if suppressed the rebellion, his goal will be virtually confirmed.

 

The damage caused by the rebels of Crixus in the cities to the south of present-day Rome was truly catastrophic.

 

Unlike history, Crixus did not go north, but stayed in the southern region and plundered.

 

Like his declaration, he was becoming a symbol of his anger toward Rome.

 

It was a rather good situation for Crassus.

 

The more rampant Crixus gets, the more the value of Crassus, who will subdue him, rises.

 

A trump card for this expedition was perfectly prepared.

 

All of this was possible because his son had predicted this situation.

 

Now, he decided that no matter what his son asked for, he would never doubt or refuse.

 

However, that resolution disappeared as soon as he entered the house.

 

It was because a request came out of Marcus' mouth that he couldn't afford.

 

"What? Do you want to go with us for this subjugation? Are you kidding?"

 

"I can't joke about something like this. I'm asking you from the bottom of my heart."

 

"It's nonsense! No matter how much you ask for it, absolutely not. A child who will be only 13 or 14 next year will go to the battlefield? I will never allow it!"

 

Crassus' reaction was perfectly normal. Rome never conscripted children under the age of 17, even during wartime.

 

This was an iron rule of Rome that was followed even when Hannibal invaded in the old days.

 

Marcus had expected this kind of reaction from Crassus.

 

He continued his persuasion slowly, without haste.

 

"I'm not saying I'm going to the battlefield. I'm just trying to keep a close eye on the direction of this fight. Besides, I'll have to see how the new cavalry I devised fights in real life, so I can find some improvements."

 

"That's true... but it's still too dangerous. If it's for an improvement for the cavalry. It should be enough to listen to the opinions of those who have fought in person later."

 

“No, I have to see it for myself and anyway, I will be in the rear where I will never get into a fight. Besides, Spartacus will be by my side, and I promise to run away in case of danger.”

 

“How could I trust that Spartacus and entrust you?”

 

"Just trust him as much as you trust me. He's my subject."

 

Crassus tried to spit out the unconditional no-no, but he managed to swallow it. It was because he knew that if he said no emotionally, Marcus wouldn't listen. He had to be persuaded somehow logically.

 

“A battlefield is a place that changes every moment and the decision of the moment determines victory or defeat. If there is even the slightest foreign substance mixed in the command system, there is a risk that everything will be distorted. I mean..."

 

“But on the contrary, there is an element that can give us an absolute advantage in war.”

 

"What? What the hell is it?"

 

"That's Spartacus. Have I told you before? All of Crixus' military knowledge came from Spartacus. In other words, Spartacus could predict how Crixus would think and how he would move his troops. He can give us great advice more than anyone else."

 

A hint of hesitation crossed Crassus' face.

 

According to Marcus, Spartacus would be of great help. But he had no intention of fully trusting Spartacus.

 

Marcus' persuasion did not stop there.

 

"Moreover, the very existence of Spartacus will help lower the morale of the enemies. The center of the rebels now is the gladiators who escaped from Capua. Spartacus was almost a spiritual support for them. If such a person is in the enemy army, it is natural Wouldn't the morale go down?"

 

"Ummm...then I'll just take him with me..."

 

"Didn't my father say he couldn't trust Spartacus completely? And I'm the only one he's completely loyal to. Without me, Spartacus wouldn't go to war."

 

Crassus raised a hand and touched his forehead with a tired face. He tried to convince his son, but he is about to be persuaded in reverse.

 

He felt a perplexity similar to the one he had when he fled to Hispania to escape the persecution of the Marians.

 

Pushed aside by logic, he now began to appeal to emotion again.

 

"Don't do that, think carefully. If you, who are still young, go to war, how anxious your mother will be? Besides, what about your younger brother? Even Dana, who follows you around like a shadow, won't be able to sleep with worry. So, don't be impatient. I think it would be better for you to stay here calmly for the people who cherish you."

 

"I know it will cause them concern. And, of course, my safety is of the utmost importance to me. I will never be reckless, I will do everything in my power to safeguard myself."

 

"Do you think that will be enough by putting Spartacus next to you?"

 

"Of course, that's not enough. I've already hired soldiers who will lay down their lives to be my shield if the situation arises. They will always stand by my side, and in case of danger they will give up their lives to give me time to escape."

 

There's no way Marcus isn't afraid of the battlefield. In fact, if he could, he didn't want to step out of the safe place.

 

But if he was thinking about the future, and he needed to get out now.

 

In order to survive to the end in Rome and go up, war experience was essential.

 

Historically, a war that was certain to be won was the best training ground for gaining experience.

 

In addition, It was important for Spartacus to participate in this war and make a contribution.

 

If the rebellion was suppressed as it is, Spartacus may suffer damage from being engulfed in the prejudice that he was a gladiator from Capua.

 

But who can blame him if he was credited with suppressing the rebels this time?

 

Rather, he will be praised as a hero who aimed his sword at an old colleague for Rome.

 

It may sound heartless to Spartacus, but he must fight this war for his future.

 

Sensing Marcus' firm will, Crassus' face hardened.

 

He looked like he wanted to scream right away, but he calmed down and let out a sigh.

 

"What are you going to do if I won't let you go anyway?"

 

"I'll follow through with all the moves I can use."

 

"I can't understand. I can't understand why you want to go to the battlefield when it's not even a situation where you can establish military service."

 

"Following this war will definitely help me. It can bring tremendous benefits not only to me but also to my family's business. Trust me just once."

 

Crassus was silent for a while. He looked up at the sky, bit his lip, and sighed for the ground to disappear.

 

After thinking for a while, he finally nodded his head weakly.

 

"If you're determined to go at all costs, it won't help even if I stop you. Rather, it might become more dangerous by you do something reckless. Yes, that's not good. It'll allow you to join the army if you promise to strictly follow my orders. ."

 

"Really? Thank you!"

 

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"Instead, you must always stick by my side. Even when we are in camp, never come out of my barracks without permission. But if something dangerous happens, I will never let you come out to the battlefield until you become an adult. Will that be okay?"

 

"Of course."

 

Anyway, after this war, there was no reason to go to another battlefield until Marcus came of age.

 

What mattered to him was the opportunity now, not the next.

 

First of all, he passed the biggest hurdle of Crassus' permission surprisingly easily.

 

The battlefield where he goes out for the first time in his life.

 

He had all the plans he could do, but when he thought he was going to the battlefield, his heart pounded lightly with a slight sense of tension.

 

It's a feeling that any living person can't help but feel.

 

Marcus took a deep breath. Then he moved on to putting the final pieces of his own conception together.

 

**

 

“Are you going to the battlefield?”

 

"Yes. That's true."

 

Spartacus nodded calmly.

 

The reason was that he had already guessed that Marcus would do such a thing.

 

“Then I will go with you.”

 

"Are you okay with that?"

 

Spartacus looked calm enough to be embarrassed by Marcus, who was preparing a serious persuasion.

 

He will have to point a knife at his colleagues who have spent hard times together with him in the past.

 

Even if Spartacus said that he would not be able to keep up this time, Marcus would understand.

 

However, Spartacus even looked relieved as if he had already made up his mind.

 

It's not because he's cold-blooded.

 

"Since the day I talked about Crixus with the young master, there has never been a day when I haven't regretted it. No, I've been regretting it ever since I heard the news of the rebellion."

 

"Are you regretting following me to Rome?"

 

"No. I am sure that the road I am on is right. But I regret that if I had spoken to Crixus a little more strongly and confidently when I left Capua, he would have listened to me. At that time I didn't fully believe in you. It was close to what I wanted to believe. Crixus probably saw through my heart."

 

Spartacus smiled bitterly and shrugged his shoulders. A voice filled with remorse continued to flow from his mouth.

 

“So many people have already died, and more will die in the future. It may seem that Crixus is doing well now, but he is just waiting for the day he will die. Until I came here, I also felt the great potential of Rome. I couldn't feel it. I just knew it in my head."

 

Spartacus knew Crixus well, and now he understood the country of Rome as much as he did.

 

The local victories won by Crixus can never be continued.

 

If Rome was a country that would collapse with one or two defeats, it would have already perished at the hands of Hannibal or Pyrrhus.

 

"So you mean you're going to take responsibility because you couldn't stop Crixus? No one would think so?"

 

"Yes, but if I do nothing like this, I cannot forgive myself."

 

“Even if it means staining your sword with the blood of an old comrade?”

 

Spartacus' lips trembled.

 

No matter how firmly he has made up his mind, it was not easy to express that determination in words.

 

After two or three breaths, Spartacus let out his determination with a heavy breath.

 

"Looking at the blood of my comrades on my sword, I will never forget my current heart. I will change the lives of the Roman gladiators so that their sacrifice will never be in vain."

 

"I'm really grateful for that thought alone. But you won't be fighting directly with your old colleagues. First of all, you'll have to stay by my side, and I'll just watch the battle from a distance. I won't directly intervene in the fight, so I'm very sorry. You don't have to feel pressured, just taking part in this fight will not shake your standing in Rome."

 

Marcus had no intention of bringing Spartacus into conflict with his old allies from the start.

 

Because he thought it will be too harsh for Spartacus.

 

All he needed was the fact that Spartacus participated in a war.

 

And it was enough to cut down some rebels who were bandits, not gladiators. After that, it was possible to solve it with money.

 

There was no need to wield a sword against Crixus or the gladiators of Capua.

 

However, Spartacus' determination was not only that.

 

He asked, shaking his head.

 

"No. If you don't mind... please allow me to fight Crixus."

 

"What?"

 

Marcus was so startled that he wondered if he had heard something wrong.

 

He thought that if Spartacus were to ask for anything, it would be to not fight Crixus.

 

But he never really imagined that it would be the other way around.

 

"You didn't hear me wrong. If the circumstances permit, allow me to settle with Crixus. If I go out on my own, he probably won't refuse."

 

"No, why the hell...you don't have to go that far. Wasn't it like a best friend and teacher?"

 

"That's why I have to finish it. To be honest, I don't want to see Crixus... die by the Romans."

 

"Ah..."

 

Marcus was speechless.

 

At the same time, he clearly understood how Spartacus felt about this battle.

 

If the subordinate's resolution was that firm, he had to accept it. That was the qualification one should have as a master.

 

In this situation, there was only one thing Marcus could say.

 

"Do whatever your heart desires."

 

"Thank you."

 

Spartacus knelt down and bowed his head.

 

His two shining eyes contained a firm conviction that would never be shaken.

 

Marcus took his eyes off Spartacus and looked up at the darkening sky.

 

A ripening Roman night, a new year approaching the end of winter.

 

All the actors are ready to go on stage.

 

The time for a decisive battle was approaching.

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