Chapter 19: Pretend to Negotiate (Part 2)

"What! It's the Arabs again." Crassus's answer was filled with some fear and depression. After Akbarus's many deceptions, he developed an extreme sense of distrust towards the Arabs as a group. Although Coponius tried his best to explain that Feisal was familiar with all the terrain from the Levant to Media, and had not raised any doubts in the previous years of serving in the army, and even the reward he asked for was quite satisfactory. But Crassus was still there, looking unreasonable.

In the end, it was Cassio who settled the matter, "Ask Feisal and his companions to serve as guides for me and the first legion. Your Excellency, the Governor, please change the guide." So Coponius immediately found a Greek businessman from the city of Calle. , named Edelomachus, came to act as Crassus’ guide.

Later, the two guides stood in front of Crassus. It was just as Crassus thought. Feisal had a greasy beard, a dirty turban, and had a rather roebuck-like appearance; while Edlomax had white and clean hands and feet. , wearing a very luxurious jacket, shoes also made of fine leather, and with shining rings - for a businessman like Crassus, it is important to judge whether the other party has the qualifications and value of cooperation from the first glance. He had the necessary skills, and without any hesitation, he chose the latter, and promised the Greek businessman that he would pay him two thousand drachma silver coins after the completion of the project. "This can be regarded as the first one to climb the city." The centurion's reward." Edlomax was very flattered by Crassus' price, and he quickly bowed to the governor.

"Angandinus, I will give you this Arab guide. He will lead the four brigades of the three legions to serve as cover on the flanks and rear of the governor. Don't get lost." Casillo pointed to a young lieutenant and said. , some of the surrounding generals sneered lowly, it seemed that this Angandinus was also going to be unlucky. Who knew that this guy was born in a poor family, and he only knew how to immerse himself in work on weekdays. His ability is also a little mediocre. In short, he is the kind of person who after retiring, apart from saving some salary and severance pay, will work as a third-rate contractor in the colony. Or a second-class well-off person who will never get ahead again.

Angandinus made a few oohs and began to discuss the price with Feisal. It turned out that both of them were clumsy. With the help of the interpreter and gestures for a long time, they finally settled on the price of fifty drachmas. Faisal took the money bag and thanked him profusely. He was very excited. These silver coins were enough for him to buy a set of carpenter tools. I took a few sheep with me, and it made many people laugh. It was a relaxing moment that I hadn't seen in a long time.

After night fell, the morning star had not yet risen, and the Fifth Army Corps was ordered to change defenses. After being transferred outside the city, many low-ranking centurions and ordinary soldiers were indeed kept in the dark. Then, at the back gate of the city, Crassus sat on a chariot and asked the chief lieutenant Eugutavis to take the remnants of the first and second legions, combined with about five or six thousand elites, to break through and intercept in front and lead the way; Angan Dinus and another lieutenant, Petro. The remaining eight brigades with the third legion were divided into two wings for protection, and Casillo was assigned to the sixth legion to serve as the rear.

Before five Roman miles out of the city, Crassus saw the mountains and sand dunes under the night. Small groups of Parthians kept flashing out, but both sides went their own way. There was no fierce fighting, because for both Roman infantry and Parthian cavalry, night fighting was a subject they were not good at, and the cavalry was at a greater disadvantage than the infantry at night.

But there was information that Crassus' entire army fled. After reaching Surena's ears, he immediately issued a stern order. General Serxis took all the light cavalry and bypassed the city of Kalai. Under the guidance of Akbarus's Arab cavalry, he went Outflanking and pursuing Crassus, he arrived immediately with his retinue. As for the heavily armored cavalry, carrying flags and drums, they continued to besiege and suppress the military strength of the city of Calle, preventing Coponius, who was left behind, from free movement.

Soon, Surena, who was galloping on horseback, saw several Arabs riding whips and riding camels towards him. Their eyes and tone were full of joy. At this time, the corner of the sky was already bright, but the surroundings were still dark, and the stars And the glimmer of light spread among the Sinaka Mountains, and you could hear the sounds of fighting and crying everywhere in the distance. It seemed that our cavalry had bitten the Roman rearguard. The Arabs said bluntly, " The person we secretly bribed is Crassus’ guide. He and his companions have successfully misled Crassus’s troops into a swamp!”

"Very good, the prey will definitely be mine." Surena's upturned bun was very eye-catching. He turned his riding crop proudly a few times, and then led the rest of the main force to point towards the place where Crassus was trapped. Thousands of thundering hoofbeats followed his steps and went away in excitement.

"There is something wrong with this guide. He will kill us, Governor." Several of Crassus's followers, including the flag bearer and the chief centurion, complained to Edlomax who was exploring the way in front of them. "It's been half a night, and we haven't reached Ikni yet. He took us into a field full of ditches, and then took us around in the canyon. It only takes two sentinels to complete the journey, but it's not over in half a night. More and more subordinates are falling behind and being slaughtered. The contact with the flank and the rear guard has been lost. Even General Ogutavis has disappeared. There is such a vast plain under the Sinaca Mountains. Once we wait until dawn, what awaits us will be a disaster." At this time, Crassus' most trusted shield slave also suggested killing Edlomax, and then quickly approached the troops in front and followed General Ogutavis out of this damn place.

Before Crassus could make a decision, a fierce battle suddenly broke out 20 or 30 furlongs away from his flank. The shouts could even reach his ears and were clearly audible. "The Parthian cavalry is catching up!" Many soldiers shouted pale-faced and rushed past his sedan chair in a hurry with their equipment on their backs, as if they didn't care about him, the former consul and commander at all. This made Crassus panic and embarrassed. Aedlomax in the front took the opportunity to shout loudly, "There is a big swamp ahead. Tell everyone to go over there. With our backs against it, the cavalry can't surround us. . "

At this point, many soldiers instinctively rushed into the swamp in the dark. Aedlomax did not lie, there was a swamp, but he deliberately blurred the boundary. Soldiers carrying heavy equipment were trapped in the mud of the swamp. It was Crassus's shield slave who was smart. He saw the bad situation ahead and promptly ordered the slaves carrying the sedan chair to turn around and continue running along the edge of the swamp. At this time, Crassus issued an order to kill Aedlomax. The two centurions rushed to the front, but found that the Greek merchant had already escaped with his companions on horseback!