The Mad Tycoon of Rome

Chapter 22: A reason to die, a reason to live

The rebel forces who suffered a crushing defeat barely survived with less than a third of their original numbers thanks to the leadership of Crixus. Even though they managed to survive with only a third, there were over 50,000 casualties in just one battle.

"I guess we should be grateful to have survived at least this much..."

Crixus's voice was filled with disappointment.

The subordinates who had wanted the battle so badly couldn't even speak a word.

Most of those who were confident of victory were not present.

Crixus didn't want to blame them. They paid the price with their lives, so they had taken their own responsibilities.

"Now it's impossible to fight them within the Roman territory."

"..."

"Sorry."

"It's all our fault..."

The rebel commanders felt like they were living a nightmare.

They had an overwhelming numerical advantage, and the morale of their army was higher than that of the enemy.

But in an instant, their center was breached, their army was divided, and their left flank suffered near-total losses.

They could only flee while watching their besieged comrades scream and die.

It wasn't just that they were trampled by monstrous cavalry; even the basic combat capabilities of their infantry were vastly inferior.

They realized that this was the true form of the Roman army.

Perfectly balanced orderliness, containing both fierce aggressiveness and brutality.

Well-trained armies maximize their explosive power by integrating these two opposing elements.

"The reputation of the Roman army was not unfounded. They just didn't put their full strength into fighting us when we first clashed..."

"Foolishly blinded by victory..."

Some commanders bit their lips and shed tears, tears of regret for their choices and apologies for fallen comrades.

Although there were still nearly 40,000 soldiers left, they were useless.

As news of the defeat spread, the daily influx of slaves stopped abruptly.

On top of that, the southern villages, which had been forcefully subdued, revolted one after another.

Fortunately, there weren't many deserters, but Crixaus knew it was only a matter of time. If they stayed put, they would self-destruct before they even had a chance to fight a final battle.

"Commander...what should we do?"

"As planned. Let's cross over to Sicily."

"Yes, sir. Understood!"

Crixus never gave up. The fact that the leader still had hope was enough to revive a faint glimmer of hope in the eyes of the commanders.

Ashrega quickly unfolded the map and drew a line with his finger.

"Pirates we contacted beforehand are preparing their ships. If we take the shortest route, we can cross over without delay."

Although it couldn't be called fortunate, the reduced number of soldiers led to a significant decrease in the number of ships needed.

With the increased speed of movement, it was even possible to escape to the coast faster than the Roman army.

If they could successfully acquire the ships, it wouldn't be just a dream to revive in Sicily.

The most important thing in this situation was time. In other words, if a decision was made, they needed to move immediately.

Crixus was the first to stand up and walk out of the tent.

The commanders hastily grabbed their weapons and followed behind.

However, there was one thing that troubled him in his mind. It was the existence of Spartacus, whom he had seen just before.

Crixus believed that Spartacus was the reason the rebel's troop deployment was exposed to the enemy. Most of the knowledge he possessed came from Spartacus, so there was nothing he could do about it.

Just as Crixus knew Spartacus well, Spartacus must have also seen through Crassus. Therefore, there was a possibility that even his plan to escape to Sicily had already been exposed.

This was a serious problem.

'But just because there is suspicion, it is not possible to completely abandon the plan to escape,' he thought, and the heavy light of anguish flickered on Crassus's face as he tried to recover the remaining troops and head towards the coast.

※※※※

The concern of Crassus was exactly right.

Crassus, having heard from Spartacus the expected flight route of Crixus, dispatched the commander as soon as the rotation was over.

The only way for the rebels to cross over to Sicily was to receive the help of the pirates.

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Under Crassus's orders, Centurion Lucius contacted the pirates.

It seemed difficult to find the pirates who had made contact with the rebels, but it was easy because they were willing to talk once given some money.

Lucius gathered the captains who had promised to provide ships to the rebels and immediately got to the point.

"Summon the rebels to the designated location, but do not lend them any ships."

"Are you telling us to break the contract?"

"Yes, the rebels are enemies of Rome. To help them means you will also become enemies of Rome."

"Hah! How can Rome, a scary bunch, stop us from piracy until now? And if we can't do it here, we'll just move to Greece. We hear there's good pickings there too."

The pirates laughed and rejected Lucius's proposal outright. Unlike bandits, the pirates of this era were not greatly afraid of Rome.

Unlike the large warships called "Nae-hae" in the Mediterranean, Rome had not been able to eradicate the pirates of the Mediterranean.

Even the nobles who traveled to Greece had to pay for their release from the pirates.

Of course, if Rome were to intentionally pursue the pirates, they would be troublesome, so the pirates never went beyond a certain limit.

They always pursued greater benefits on ships that barely ensured their own safety.

Lucius and Crassus did not think that mere threats would be enough to convince them to follow them.

It takes not only a whip but also a carrot to lure pirates.

With a smile, Lucius placed the contract on the makeshift table.

"The reward promised by the rebels will be provided by our Rome. So let's make a deal."

"Huh, huh huh."

"You'll pay us?"

The pirates' reaction dramatically changed. Some of the captains openly showed their displeasure. As the atmosphere became strange, a bearded and fierce-looking pirate slammed the table with his fist.

"Are you telling us to break the agreement we made with us first?"

"That's right."

"Ha! That's a funny thing to say."

The one-eyed pirate was known for his cunning among the pirates. Other captains usually followed his opinion in such situations.

Lucius calmly turned his gaze to him without being flustered.

It's actually easier to negotiate when you know who you're dealing with.

"Why do you say that's funny?"

"Even if we're pirates, we still live by our own rules. If there are no rules at all, it's impossible to run an organization."

"So?"

"We also get paid and don't break our promises. That's the minimum trust we keep."

"1.5 times the amount."

The room fell silent as if a son-in-law had died.

When one of the impulsive captains tried to answer, the one-eyed pirate raised his voice.

"Do you think everything can be bought with money just because we are pirates? You are trying to deceive us..."

"Double the amount. If it doesn't work with this, then it's a shame, but we will have to withdraw."

It was too much money to try to gain trust that never existed. The pirates' eyes were fixed on the dazzling silver coins in front of them. The one-eyed pirate stood up and cleared his throat.

"Well, it's true that we have our principles. But there are always exceptions in life, and if rumors of this spread, it could have a negative impact on our reputation."

The one-eyed pirate came to a conclusion.

"So, we will consider your request as unfulfilled."

Contrary to his words, he snatched the contract that Lucius had taken out and put it in his pocket.

Lucius chuckled, knowing what his action meant.

He had permission from Crassus to spend up to triple the amount, but he only used double to settle the deal.

After successfully completing his mission, Lucius stood up with a faint smile.

"Even though you are pirates, your attitude of wanting to keep the contract you made first, even when offering extra money, is excellent. It's a pity, but I have to go now."

"Hmm, we won't see you off. Rome and we have never met before, nor have we had any backdoor deals."

The pirates also smirked and stood up.

The negotiation did not break down. They never even met each other from the beginning.

With this contract, the rebels lost their last escape route.

※※※※

Crassus was convinced that he could completely crush the rebel army when the pirates' offer was successful.

The pirates, using the excuse of bad waves, led the rebel army to a place where the Roman army had set up camp, not the coast designated by Crassus.

Already fearing exposure to his plans, Crassus felt significant discomfort here.

To ensure safety, he sent 5,000 select troops ahead and followed with the main force at a considerable distance.

Ultimately, this decision saved his life.

The select troops fell into a trap set by the Roman army and suffered near-total losses.

Crassus immediately turned the direction of his troops toward Brundisium to the east, rather than Regium, which would have allowed them to cross to Sicily.

Crassus drove his legion behind the rebel army.

"Now the rebels are like rats in a trap! Let's make them pay for everything they've done!"

"Waaaaah!"

With the victory of the rotation, the morale of the Roman army soared, fully restoring their former glory.

The numerical advantage that the rebel army had held was long since overturned.

Although the Roman army currently maintained a force of over 50,000, the number of rebel combatants had fallen to barely 30,000.

With repeated defeats and frustrations, deserters emerged, and even those who wanted to leave officially spoke out.

Crassus sent all of them away.

Logically, there was nowhere for them to run, but not many people can withstand the fear of impending death at every moment.

Those who lost the will to fight had all left.

In other words, it also meant that there were still thirty thousand people who were willing to fight to the death no matter what happened.

Crixus was proud of this.

"Thank you. You've followed this ugly leader well to get this far."

When Taranto was captured by the Roman army in Metapontum to the west, Crixus had a premonition that this would be the last place.

He calmly explained to his subordinates about the fate that lay ahead.

"Everyone can guess, but it's now impossible to keep running away from here. The plain area to Burgundian is too open and we will be exposed to enemy attacks. So, we have two choices left. Either continue to move east with the hope of a miracle and be trampled by Roman cavalry, or seize a more advantageous position and burn our lives to the end."

"I will follow the commander's will."

"Please do so. I will follow you at the risk of my life."

None of the soldiers suggested running away.

There was no one among those who remained here who wanted to continue their lives hopelessly.

They were not afraid of fighting.

It was different from when they raised their voices to fight on the plain, intoxicated with their arrogance.

A clear will, not vain confidence, was with them.

Confirming his subordinates' determination, Crixus led the troops and camped on a rough hill.

Of course, once they went up here, they could never come down again.

The Roman army only needed to surround the hill and wait for the rebels to tire out.

Crixus knew this, but he still climbed up.

It was not because he was a fool who liked high places.

The only way to stop the monstrous Roman cavalry charge was to fight in a forested area.

The entrance to the hill was covered with trees, making it difficult for cavalry to enter.

No matter what, he would fight a fight-worthy fight and die.

It was Crixus's determination and last bit of pride.

As soon as the Roman army confirmed that the rebels had climbed the hill, they immediately surrounded it and set up a camp.

The engineers used soil and wood from the forest to quickly build a credible fort.

They did not underestimate the rebels and built the fort strictly according to regulations.

To avoid being ambushed, they kept a slight distance from the forest and had proper defense facilities.

Crixus looked down on the Roman camp from a height and was frankly impressed. It was a new realization that the basic capabilities of the military are on a different level.

Seeing the Roman flag fluttering grandly below, he felt a sense of relief deep in his heart, knowing that those mighty men ruling over the land for ages would never be overthrown.

Even if he didn't break that flag himself, someone else could, and it would be enough to achieve the desire for freedom that would go down in history.

If he could leave behind something like that, his life would have been worth living.

So, until the end, he would stand tall and walk the path he believed in, embodying the symbol of anger towards Rome and returning to being just another human.

Crixus started to move.

He approached the Roman guards who were standing watch in the distance as he descended from the forest.

With every step, his heart remained calm, despite the thousands of soldiers lined up in the field in front of him.

The sound of murmurs from the Roman camp where they had spotted him soon reached his ears.

"Stop!"

"Who are you?"

The soldiers aimed their spears and arrows at him.

Standing still, Crixus calmly opened his mouth.

"I am Crixus, the commander-in-chief of the liberation army. Before the battle, I want to face the commander of the Roman army. I won't take a single step from here, so you can bring as many escorts as you like."

This bizarre request immediately caught Crassus's attention.

Although pulling the trigger on their bows could easily kill him, he didn't order his soldiers to do so.

Coming to the enemy who requested a face-to-face meeting at the risk of his own life and killing them would be an act that tarnishes Rome's honor.

He gathered trustworthy soldiers and decided to lead them himself to the altar.

"I and Spartacus will go together."

Marcus, who had heard the news late and rushed in, begged while gasping for breath. Spartacus also bowed his head and pleaded to be allowed to go with them.

Crassus, who acknowledged the achievements Spartacus had made so far, allowed the two to travel together.

He walked confidently, escorted by heavily armed soldiers.

Crixus stood alone, eyes closed, waiting at the declared location.

"Are you the mastermind of the rebellion, Crassus?"

Crassus did not acknowledge the term "liberation army." To Rome, they were nothing more than rebels who had caused a disturbance.

"Yes, I am Crassus."

Crixus boldly revealed his name in front of the Roman commander-in-chief.

His confident gaze turned to Spartacus, who stood next to Marcus, and then as he turned back to Crassus, Crassus asked, "Why did you call for me? Let me make it clear, there is no room for negotiation with you."

"I have no intention of living a humbled life. We will all resist bravely until the end, and we will continue to resist. Don't think it will be easy to trample us."

"Whether it's easy or hard, we'll find out when the time comes. But if you're not here to negotiate, why did you come all the way here to call me?"

"I just wanted to know. The voices and thoughts of Rome's soldiers who will take our lives, and those who command them."

After looking around for a moment, Crixus smiled and said, "Besides, you will remember. The name of Crixus, who stood up bravely until the end without fear of death."

Despite being in a desperate situation, he even had a smile on his face.

Marcus was sincerely disappointed.

If he could have brought that man down with Spartacus, how strong would they have been?

However, he immediately shook his head to dispel the rising regret.

Crassus also showed a hint of interest in Crixus's momentary hesitation but quickly swallowed his disappointment and said, "He was a man too valuable to kill. If he had been Roman, he would have been an excellent soldier."

"I will never be as good as a Roman even if I am reborn."

"I see. Then die with your bravery intact. I will remember your heroic end until the end."

Crassus turned away as if he had nothing more to say.

But Spartacus's desperate voice reached his ears as he turned to leave.

"Commander, please give me the chance to talk to you for the last time."

"Well... why not? You can share all your pent-up stories if you want. It doesn't matter to me to show mercy to a dying man."

Crassus went into the tent with only Marcus and Spartacus left.

Of course, the soldiers aiming their bows from afar did not move in case of unexpected situations.

Marcus took a step back to give Spartacus room to talk to Criksus.

The two of them just looked at each other without speaking for a while.

Finally, Spartacus broke the silence and said, "The atmosphere has changed a lot since the old days."

"Well, we've been through some tough times."

"Do you blame me?"

"You did your best in your position. I don't blame you or hold any grudges against your shortcomings."

Crixus's words did not feel insincere at all, and he even smiled pleasantly and patted his old friend's shoulder.

"The reason I came here is because I thought maybe I could talk to you for the last time. Showing my friendship to you might be a problem later, but..."

"I have already made a name for myself in this war, so there's no need to worry about that."

"Is that so? That's good to hear. Then there is only one thing left to do."

Crixus's gentle tone suddenly changed.

Spartacus felt the uneasy atmosphere and his face stiffened, and even Marcus, who was standing behind them, froze.