contemporary romance
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“Our tragedy is finally coming to an end! Since Beneventum is the capital of the Hirpini, the Samnite army outside will surely pull back and defend their territory with all their might against our allies' attack!”
“Forgive our ignorance, Lord Aeolus. Unlike you, we haven't fought alongside the Theonian army, so we lack a deeper understanding of them. How could we have possibly known that Theonia's delay in responding to our pleas for help was actually intended to be a sudden and vicious strike at the Samnites' weak point?”
“Wait! You should help us first with Herculaneum since it is the closest to Neapolis!”
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
In the days following the start of the Samnites' invasion of the Campanian League, they not only besieged Neapolis but also simultaneously divided their army to attack other Campanian city-states. Except for city-states like Sorentum, Aenaria, and Capeae, which had unique geographical positions, many coastal towns fell one after another. As a result, most refugees fled to Neapolis.
The crowd cheered again and praised Theonia as a good ally who kept its promise. With the presence of the Theonian army, they are even more confident in reclaiming their own city-states!
Silence suddenly returned to the hall upon hearing that.
If Theonia's Third Legion's aid on the Campanian League in defeating the Caudini a few months ago was a way to help the Campanians regain their fighting spirit, this massive Samnite invasion not only shattered that spirit but also deepened their fear of the fearsome mountain race.
Orosius had to clear his throat a few times to bring the crowd's attention back to him, “I would like to remind everyone that, with the Samnites' retreat, there's a possibility they may burn down the towns they have occupied and our farmland to vent their anger. So, do we try to stop them?!”
Everyone froze. Those from the other city-states would certainly not allow their enemies to burn down their homes. The people of Neapolis, however, were more concerned about the destruction of their farmland. With them providing food for Theonia's Third Legion while also caring for their fleeing allies, Neapolis was short of food and couldn't rely on Theonia. After all, Theonia had just experienced a drought and was also waiting for this year's autumn harvest.
So, after an urgent discussion, the city hall of Neapolis ultimately agreed to Adrianus' suggestion.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
As a result, Beneventum was always at the forefront of the Samnite Tribal Alliance, both in terms of population and strength. Most of the time, the great chieftain of the Hirpini tribe hailed from Beneventum. Only in rare instances, when there was resentment against Beneventum's wealth and arrogance, did the other Hirpini tribes collaborate to choose chieftains from different towns to lead the tribe in opposition to Beneventum, with Abellinum often being their first choice.
So, the people of Abellinum consistently felt lacking compared to those of Beneventum. Even during the rule of the former great chieftain of the Hirpini, Berani, who was a competent leader, the people of Abellinum still grappled with a lingering lack of confidence. And now, they endured the oppression and humiliation imposed by the people of Beneventum for over a decade.
At the forefront, three thousand five hundred Abellinum warriors walked with their heads held high, followed by six thousand Theonian legionaries in the centre. Bringing up the rear were twelve thousand warriors from Potentia, not including Theonia's engineering and medical teams, mountain reconnaissance units, and logistic support camps following behind. Their combined combat force consisted of twenty-one thousand five hundred men, stretching over a line of more than six kilometres along the Sabato River.
Alexius, Garni, and Polet quickly convened upon seeing the situation. They then decided to dispatch a thousand men each, who would then march in the mountains and forests on both sides to pursue the attackers, protecting the main army.
The terrain here was somewhat unique, with two rows of hills stretching from north to south, akin to parallel lines, forming a protective barrier around the Sabato River. Between the hills was a flat grassland, roughly a kilometre in width, in which flowed the Sabato River, a mere twenty metres wide and knee-deep.
“Beneventum is only three kilometres away,” Garni pointed forward and said to Alexius and Polet, who had arrived one after another, “The land in front used to be the gathering place for the various tribes of Beneventum, but all of them had now withdrawn…”
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