After learning from the lessons of previous failed sieges and spending several days meticulously preparing, he launched another attack, fully expecting to succeed this time. However, after enduring a grueling morning of battle, soldiers finally managed to reach the ramparts, only to be quickly driven back, failing at the last moment.
This enraged him greatly. In a fit of anger, he ordered the entire army to press forward, stationing himself in the rear to maintain order, declaring that any deserter would be executed without mercy. He vowed to capture the city today.
Meanwhile, as Enomai’s army was vigorously attacking Metapontum City, a fleet docked on the nearby coast. It carried nearly 150 allied cavalrymen from Heracleia and Metapontum, who disembarked on the beach (Heracleia is located not far to the west of Metapontum, and there is a small Roman naval base within the city at Tarentum Bay, which is one reason Enomai had not attacked it).
After a brief rest, the cavalry circled to the north and then charged straight for Enomai’s position, where Enomai only had a Guard of twenty by his side...
........................
In the gentle sunshine, the azure waves lapped against the steep coast. Black and green rocks emerged intermittently among the white waves, and green grass and low bushes crawled along the shore. Amidst this vibrant greenery, a broad gray-white road ran along the coast, remarkably conspicuous.
Because of the rebel army’s presence, it was nearly impossible to see bustling crowds on the road. However, today a force of nearly a thousand marched along the highway.
Leading the procession was Maximus. Today, he wore a white waisted undershirt beneath a segmented iron armor polished to a bright shine and donned a feather helmet while riding a black steed, exuding an aura of majesty.
Surrounding him was fifty cavalrymen, a unit he had painstakingly built over several months. Behind them followed five hundred fully armed infantry, a part of his Personal Guard, led personally by Oluus.
Following the infantry was a Supply Team of over a hundred, with several dozen carts carrying essential food, fodder, and tents for the march.
At the very front, leading and scouting were fifty cavalrymen from Spartacus’s army, led by Okmar.
Two days ago, Okmar arrived in Sarabia as a messenger to deliver the news of "Enomai’s death in battle" and conveyed the rebels’ order to hold a memorial and convene an urgent military meeting to Maximus.
This force of fewer than a thousand marched at a normal pace, and by afternoon, a coastal town appeared ahead.
"Is this Bari City?" Okmar made a gesture of looking afar and then asked. When he arrived, he had gone directly north, first reaching Canosa to inform Attutmus, and then downriver to Sarabia, so he hadn’t passed through Bari.
"That’s right." Maximus looked ahead with a calm expression but spoke with increasing weight: "At the end of last month, Bari had already submitted to us, Free Italy, and promised to supply a certain amount of provisions monthly. They fulfilled their promise last month, which I found quite commendable."
Not expecting Maximus to bring this up, Okmar was momentarily stunned before letting out a dry chuckle: "Leader Maximus, your approach is quite different from others."
Maximus smiled softly and spoke in a deep voice: "I think this method is better, as it can prevent our brothers from suffering casualties and provide us with essential resources regularly, strengthening our might... Looting, of course, can yield more, but it’s a one-time deal. You and I should remember this from our time in Campania. Let’s not forget, our greatest enemy is the Romans, who can attack at any time, and we must be ready to respond!"
"Maximus, there’s some truth in what you say, but—" Okmar’s tone shifted, becoming more serious: "Many of the newly joined brothers believe that the nobility in every town of Apulia and Calabria are also enemies of our Free Italy and must be eliminated early to prevent them from allying with the Romans against us. Yet, you, Maximus, shield these Roman accomplices, which has garnered a lot of resentment against you!"
"The newly joined brothers? You’re probably talking about that fool, Cleonis." Maximus let out a cold laugh, speaking in anger: "Everything should follow a proper order of precedence. Bari submitted to me long ago, providing the urgently needed supplies, and I promised their safety, so my word must hold.
Recently, that fellow ignored my subordinates’ repeated warnings and led his troops into Bari Territory, injuring the soldiers who tried to block him. Naturally, I had to send troops to teach him a lesson; otherwise, how could I face being the leader of this Free Italy!"
"But Cleonis accused Spartacus of arbitrarily seizing the supplies he had looted and letting go of the captured Roman citizens (referring to Bari’s residents), even injuring many of his subordinates... But, Spartacus didn’t believe him at all and didn’t even send anyone to ask you about the situation; instead, he warned him, telling him not to lead troops into Bari Territory again."
"With Spartacus’s shrewdness, I, of course, trust him to remain impartial. However, my subordinates told me, this guy calls himself a leader. Since when can anyone just become a leader?"
In response to Maximus’s question, Okmar explained: "Since we entered the Calabria Region and set up camp east of Tarantu, many have come to join us; it’s almost reaching 100,000 now! And a few, like Atmidonos and Tormas, have organized their own troops and demanded to join collectively, forcing Spartacus and Hamilcar to agree to let them lead on their own.
Take Cleonis, for example; he was originally an impoverished horse breeder in Southern Calabria, reportedly quite respected in the area. This time, he gathered over a thousand people to demand joining our forces and, within a few days, doubled the size of his unit.
Spartacus, following previous practice, allowed him to participate in the Military Commander Conference but gave him neither voting nor proposal rights. For him to become a true leader of Free Italy, it requires unanimous consent from a few of you. As for the leadership claims you’ve heard, they’re probably just his and his followers’ wild exaggerations, not to be taken seriously..."
At this point, Okmar sighed: "Conflicts similar to yours with Cleonis have indeed happened several times among us before. Now that there are so many people and ideas, each unit wants to secure enough resources, and Spartacus and others have tried their best to coordinate, but... sigh!"
Maximus remained silently thoughtful.
The troops bypassed Bari City, taking the road between two highways southwestward. After traveling a distance, a military camp appeared by the road ahead.
This is a camp built by Maximus Army. Since the indication of the rebel army to enter Bari Territory from the south surfaced, Maximus dispatched a unit promptly to safeguard Bari’s safety. After repelling Cleonis’s attempted invasion, the Barians agreed with Maximus to have this army stationed here long-term, with rations mainly supplied by Bari City.
Maximus raised his head to take a look and said: "It’s almost evening; let’s rest here overnight and head to Uriya (uria) first thing tomorrow morning, okay?"
"Sure." Okmar promptly agreed and then added: "You see, it takes two days to travel from Sarabia to Uriya. I think your camp is a bit too far."