This immediately gave Maximus immense confidence, and he said loudly, "As long as we defeat the Roman army a few times and demonstrate our capabilities, the poor people of Rome, who hate the Roman Senate, will surely join us. With their help, we can leave Italy and return home!"
"Wishful thinking—" Cross snorted, but Spartacus immediately said to him, "Cross, go and tell the brothers to release those priestesses and not to harm them anymore!"
"Spartacus, this kid is a traitor, and you believe him?!" Cross pointed at Maximus and questioned.
"No matter if it's true or not, if there's even a glimmer of hope to strengthen our forces and resist the Romans, we must try!" Spartacus said powerfully, "Besides, I don't want everyone here to see us as vicious enemies, just like how we viewed the Romans who burned, killed, and looted in our homeland back then."
Cross was slightly moved, but he still refused, "I'm not going. The brothers are having fun, and I can't stop them."
Spartacus did not insist. He turned and said to others, "Antonix, Enomai, you two go and tell the brothers that we will raid those Roman estates to the south tomorrow, there will be plenty of beautiful women for them to enjoy, there's no need to trouble a few poor priestesses..."
"Okay, Spartacus." The two of them pushed the door open and left.
Maximus also wanted to follow, but Spartacus called out to him, "I remember you told me before that there's a mountain called Vesuvius south of Capua, and around it are many large estates, each with many slaves. A few years ago, there was unrest there, is that right?"
Hearing this, Maximus's heart stirred. The original owner indeed had memories of this. He responded decisively, "That's right. Is that where you plan to take us, Spartacus?"
Spartacus nodded and asked, "Do you know how far Vesuvius is from us?"
The original owner had never been to the Vesuvius Volcano Region nor had a chance to look at maps. This information was overheard from conversations between the original owner's master and guests. However, in his previous life, Maximus had researched this while watching the Spartacus TV series, and again while watching the movie Pompeii, he carefully reviewed the map of Vesuvius, leaving a deep impression. He recalled and said, "Vesuvius is in the southern Campagna Region, not far from Capua. If we march quickly... we should be able to reach there within a day. Um, is there water?"
This last question was a bit abrupt, but Hamilcar immediately handed over a water jug.
"Thank you!" Maximus said very politely.
Hamilcar smiled at him kindly.
Hamilcar, a Thracian, was somewhat older, reportedly from the same tribe as Spartacus and closely related to him. In the original owner's impression, he was friendly and sociable, and most gladiators held a good impression of him. He had assisted Spartacus in persuading the gladiators to join the uprising.
Maximus crouched down, dipped his finger in the water, and drew the coastline of the Campagna Region on the stone slab. Then he sketched the approximate locations of Capua and Vesuvius. After thinking for a moment, he added three small circles on the coast near Vesuvius: "This is Napolet, a large town in the Campagna Region... this is Pompeii and Herculaneum, both small towns—"
Maximus almost blurted out that in the eruption of Vesuvius decades later, both places were buried by surging volcanic lava.
Everyone gathered around, focused on the simple map that Maximus had drawn.
Even Cross, who was very dissatisfied with him, had to admit in his heart at this moment: this damn guy is still somewhat useful.
After a while, Spartacus looked up and asked everyone, "Does anyone have any dissenting opinions about going to Vesuvius?"
No one expressed opposition.
"Then it's settled." Spartacus made a decision: "Tomorrow morning, if Capua's army does not appear, we will set off south at noon. Hamilcar, have you made arrangements for the brothers on night watch tonight?"
"Everything is arranged."
"You must remind them to stay vigilant and not fall asleep. If they notice anything unusual, they must notify everyone immediately! We are now opposing the Romans, so we must not be careless!" Spartacus solemnly reminded.
Late at night, Maximus, exhausted in mind and body, fell asleep amidst the sound of snoring, only to have a nightmare.
In the dream, his rebel army fought a fierce battle with the Roman Army. The fighting was intense, but ultimately the rebel army was defeated. He was captured by the Romans and crucified along the road to Rome, dying in agony and suffering...
Maximus woke up from the nightmare, drenched in sweat. He touched the palm of his hand, which had been pierced by iron nails in the dream. The heart-wrenching pain felt almost real...
This is no mere dream; this is a historical reality! Maximus clearly remembered that although Spartacus's rebellion was mighty, it lasted less than three years before it ended in defeat. Over 6,000 captured rebel warriors were nailed to crosses...
Breathing heavily, Maximus instinctively turned his head to look. In the hall, the flame of the eternal oil lamp was flickering. The originally kind and benevolent statue of Flora, in the dim light, appeared somewhat eerie and terrifying. It looked down coldly at the group of sleeping people below, with Spartacus likely at the very center.
Maximus gazed at that familiar silhouette, recalling the brief records from history: In fact, the rebel army had a complete chance of escaping the pursuit and blockade of the Roman Army to attain true freedom. At that time, Spartacus led his army north with repeated victories, reaching the Po River Region, where they could see the majestic Alpine Mountains. The rebel army only needed to cross the Alpine region into Western Europe, where Gauls and Germanic tribes lived, and the Romans would not be able to do anything to them. Yet Spartacus led the rebel army south again, ultimately leading to their doom... Why did Spartacus suddenly change the marching route and abandon the escape from Northern Italy? This remains one of history's great mysteries, debated for millennia...
Can he persuade Spartacus and the others in time to change their tragic fate? Maximus clenched his fists. The memories of the dream filled him with lingering fear, and he made a firm resolve: he would do everything possible not to become a dried corpse on a cross!...
While he was lost in thought, Spartacus in the hall was also not asleep. It had taken him a long time to plan this revolt, ultimately gaining success, but he knew well that this was only temporary freedom. Italy was the area where Roman power was strongest, and they were like drops in the ocean of Romans, where even the slightest slip could lead to defeat and death...
The lives of over two hundred people resting on Spartacus's shoulders weighed heavily on him...
........................
Dulus Vibia, a former Roman citizen, from his name one can infer his family was not noble, but his grandfather had commercial skills, seizing the opportunity as Rome expanded continuously in the Mediterranean, accumulating considerable wealth, thereby allowing the family to ascend to the knight class in Rome. His father had served as a financial officer, handling the most unpromising tasks of managing the treasury and archives for over a decade, unable to advance further, but he managed to make connections with many Roman dignitaries.
By his generation, he encountered the dictatorship of Sula, who issued a new decree: all towns within Italy must be managed by administrative officers appointed by Rome.