Chapter 9: Using the Few to Surround the Many (Part 2)
Cocula is surrounded by mountains that are higher than the city itself. It is not an exaggeration to say that they are high mountains. This is also the reason for Anthony's confidence in "surrounding more with less" at that time - using steep mountains to replace thousands of soldiers. , as long as a fortress is built in time at the mountain pass above it, and then connected in series with walls to form a huge blockade, surrounding Kokula, so as long as a small number of cavalry are used to guard the entry and exit streets, It can achieve the goal of 20,000 people besieging 40,000 people.
Then, all of Caesar's soldiers got to work. They consciously reduced the supply of food, because what Caesar was most troubled about now was the raising of food. He could only spend money locally in Epirus and Illyria. But the reserves of many towns had been plundered by Pompey's cavalry before, and these two provinces had never been areas that boasted food production. They only had barren mountains and endless stones. Originally, wheat Flour must be imported from Athens and Pella, so it is completely beyond our capabilities to supply Caesar's army now. However, the food from Italy and Gaul cannot be transported across the sea.
Even so, the morale of Caesar's army was still high. They could go hungry, cut down the tops of trees, carry stones, and build fortresses on various hills. Caesar made arrangements: the ninth legion and the eleventh legion were fortified in the northern swamps, and Caesar put his nephew Dichias in charge of this section; Caesar himself led the tenth and twelfth legion, the strongest, in Corcula The mountain defenses in the east were fortified; Antony was responsible for the southern blockade, under the jurisdiction of the 16th and 20th legions; and finally there was an eighth legion, together with the "Cyclops" legion recently recruited by Lepidus, scattered from Bugarotum to Abo. The area around Ronia.
"We are surrounded!" On the high ground where the Acropolis of Kokula is located. Laelias and Labienus looked at the other side. Caesar's soldiers moving around. Speaking of.
"No, we are not surrounded, because Corcula has our fleet, docks and equipment, and rich food reserves. As long as these are still in my hands, what does Caesar mean? Besides, he only has 20,000 people in front of me. I have Forty thousand people. There are still two legions on the periphery, which can attack him at any time! General Lelias, this is exactly how my strategy worked. Caesar is always a gambler. I know him well, so I will let him. He tasted the misfortune of adventure." Rabinus sneered twice confidently, and then ordered, "Facing Caesar's blockade, we will also build a blockade around Corcula to confront Caesar!"
in addition. He also asked the two admirals Vespiro and Milochius, who had escaped from the city of Olicum, to strictly supervise the craftsmen. Repaired the damaged ships in the dock, "Prepare to attack in coordination with Libo's fleet, I want to recapture Olikum!"
After the deployment was complete, Labienus pointed at Caesar's siege camp and said, "General Laelias, and Governor Marcius, will lead the light infantry and catapults of their servants tomorrow to storm there; I will lead them myself." Team, go deal with the enemies in the south, wait for the opportunity and the returning Third Army and the Fifth Army, attack them in a pinch, and then encircle Caesar from the outside! "
The next day, the brutal mountain battle began. Pompey's army had an absolute numerical advantage. Lelias left half of his men to build the inner circle of fortifications, and then personally led the other half up the hillside to meet Caesar. His subordinates fought skirmishes, and the mountains and valleys were full of soldiers fighting each other. Many centurions could only fight independently, because the two hills looked very close, but if they really wanted to get closer to each other and join forces, it would often take a day. time. As soon as Caesar's soldiers repaired the temporary camp and wooden fence, Laelias's men rushed up with stone ejector and destroyed it. It often took three to five battles back and forth to consolidate the built fortifications and fences. fortress.
The two legions under Caesar had different fighting styles. The Tenth Legion used standard Roman heavy infantry tactics, while the Twelfth Legion was brought out by Lepidus and was equipped with a large number of archers, slingers, and cavalry. Now in In this kind of mountain battle, the latter is obviously more brilliant, because Pompey's army is also equipped with a large number of light infantry, so the sky is blocked by arrows and stones fired by soldiers from both sides. There is no risk of lack of ammunition - both sides They are all supplemented by collecting arrow feathers shot by the opponent.
Caesar himself was sitting on the hilltop at the back of the front line. In front of him were the blood-flowing mountains, and behind him was the endless wilderness. The great river Jimmons ran through it. "I am here, so no matter who is my soldier, Centurions, tribunes, or lieutenants, if they want to retreat, they must run past my eyes!" Caesar said, sitting on the horse in front of the tent, "This will be more effective than any other action of supervising the battle - -We can't hold on. Once we collapse in this kind of terrain, we will all be pursued by the enemy and be annihilated by the Jimmons River. Now we are in a situation with no way out, and we can only fight to the death. Blockade to the end!”
At dusk, the battle became more intense. Lelias's team was like all-pervasive "sand". Caesar's soldiers had just defended the fortifications in "A", and they broke through from "B". Even the hilltop where Caesar was located was attacked several times. Stone projectiles and spears from catapults and ballistae landed about dozens of Roman feet away from Caesar.
After nightfall, the battlefield slowly quieted down. "Order, no rest allowed, all soldiers divided into shifts, continue to repair the fortress and dig trenches!" Caesar issued this harsh and inhumane order, then left his lieutenant to guard, and did not rest himself. He risked his life and rode ten Roman miles on the night road to the northern blockade where Decias was, and strictly urged them to build a solid barrier.
In the early morning, Caesar returned along the same route. On the way, he was shot by Laelius's soldiers on the top of the hill. In the second half of the night, these soldiers heard the sound of horses' hooves from the bottom of the hill, but they did not look carefully, so Caesar slipped away. This time, they were not polite. With the help of the rising sun, they shot at Caesar's group of horses. Caesar was hit in the ribs, and his groom and shield slave were all killed by stones on the spot. Caesar immediately rolled off the horse, but fortunately he had lined the inside of his armor with thick leather and animal skin in advance, so he was not injured. Instead, he quickly pulled out the arrow and threw it away, and jumped directly onto his subordinates' horses, and rushed forward without saying a word, out of danger.
"Continue to inspect Antony's fortifications in the south."
He was such a man, his hair was shining in the rapidly passing sunlight, as if he had left all the dangers behind, and he held a contemptuous attitude towards all powerful enemies, so that all his subordinates could follow him closely willingly. (To be continued...)