Despite Maximus’s hesitation on "whether to stay and defend" before the Roman Army’s attack, once he decided to fight the Romans here, his commitment and vigor in battle were extraordinarily high. After listening to two veteran soldiers, he decisively gave the order: "Immediately inform Torrelugo, have the Second Legion advance! Uh...what about the Third Legion?"
Maximus’s last sentence was directed at the two veteran soldiers because he realized that it was somewhat inappropriate for the formation of the Third Legion to remain in place after the Second Legion had advanced.
"Let Camillus lead the Third Legion forward, maintaining the same line with the Second Legion, but do not attack yet, to prevent the enemy from flanking," Quintus quickly added. He felt a bit ashamed, having been eager for the Second Legion to seize the opportunity, he had momentarily overlooked the Third Legion, and now this young leader who hadn’t experienced a major battle spotted the issue.
"Then it’s settled!" Maximus nodded heavily.
.....................
"Legion Commander Torrelugo, the leader orders you to immediately lead the Second Legion to advance!"
Upon hearing the order delivered by Akegu, Torrelugo was overjoyed. Although he had become the legion commander of the rebel army, the blood of the gladiator still burned within him. He had been standing stupidly here, confronting the Roman Army for hours, and could hardly restrain himself.
"Quick! Quickly inform the Great Captains, tell the brothers to advance!" Torrelugo urged the messengers beside him.
The messengers galloped to each company. The attack order was not communicated using the military horn because the entire formation of the rebel army was curled up in a confined area, with each unit having its own task. If the attack horn sounded across the battlefield, it could lead to a misunderstanding among the First Legion Soldiers who were defending the riverbank, causing them to abandon their advantageous position and launch an attack, which would be problematic.
The leader gave the order to the legion commander, the legion commander conveyed it to the Great Captain, and the Great Captain passed it to the Centurion. The process was a bit cumbersome, but the rigorous training of the Maximus Army over the past half year had its effect, and the entire relaying process went smoothly without a hitch.
"Bro...brothers, hear my command—advance!..." Centurion Tini Bazus shouted three times, shaking his short sword in the air a few times, then forcefully swung it forward while stepping forward.
The soldiers in the same row on the right followed closely, and the soldiers in the rows behind also followed suit, forming a 25x4 block of a hundred soldiers beginning to move forward. The entire western line of the rebel army was pressing towards the Roman Army as a long wall composed of countless such hundred-soldier blocks in staggered formations.
"Don’t panic! Stick close to your comrades! Maintain the formation!..." Tini Bazus loudly reminded his subordinates as he advanced. The rumbling footsteps, clashing sword and shield, armor friction, and rapid breathing soon enveloped his ears, causing him to subconsciously raise his voice again and again, to the point where it quickly became hoarse.
As the distance closed, the dense silhouettes ahead came into view, and his heart started pounding rapidly... He had not been completely inexperienced with such a large-scale battle, having experienced it once in Little Asia. Despite having some experience, he still felt nervous because back then he was merely a humble long spear soldier, with no concern over his life or death. But now, he was responsible for an entire unit, with the lives of a hundred soldiers resting on his shoulders—a heavy responsibility.
"Damn it, if I had known, I wouldn’t have become this Centurion!" Tini Bazus cursed under his breath, yet his right hand gripped the short sword tightly, and his steps became bigger and faster.
They were less than 50 meters from the enemy, yet the Roman soldiers in front were hastily forming ranks. He could see the tension on their faces and even hear the shouting and shoving from the opposite side.
This was indeed a great opportunity to attack!... Tini Bazus exhaled lightly, raised his short sword again, and shouted, "Brothers, charge with me!" After saying this, he dug in his heels and sprinted forward.
The Centurion is the crown of courage for the entire team and must be at the forefront in the charge.
Tini Bazus had only taken two steps when a strong figure on his right side overtook him. It was his friend from within the rebel army, the Decurion Samoras, who insisted on staying by his side to assist him during each of his promotions. This honest cowherd boy was not a man of many words but always silently fulfilled his promise to "protect Tini Bazus in battle," and this time was no exception.
Seeing the broad back of his friend, Tini Bazus felt his blood boil and shouted again, "Kill the Romans!"
"Kill the Romans!!!..." At this moment, the soldiers of the Second Legion of the Maximus Army, under the leadership of their team officers, erupted with a thunderous roar, like a roaring tide crashing fiercely towards the Roman Army still struggling to organize their ranks.
.....................
"Fool! Idiot! Son of a bitch!..." Governor Crodianus kept cursing his legion commander Curius (who was temporarily given command to lead the army crossing the river and attack the rebels to the west).
The attack on the stone bridge was thwarted and retreated, and the northern assault was weak and unable to land...this could still be somewhat understood, as the enemy occupied advantageous terrain. Hence, Crodianus pinned his hopes for victory on the west, but unexpectedly, Curius messed it up. Now, the western army was being overwhelmed by the enemy due to disorganization and unable to leverage their actual combat power and numerical advantage, which made it hard for him to accept.
After venting his anger, a staff member, who usually had a good relationship with Curius, cautiously said, "Who could have expected this group of rebels to be so fierce."