After two days of preparation, Sakki led 200,000 Parthian troops out of the border camp and headed rapidly towards the southern sea.
Standing in front of the military camp, watching the army recede into the distance, the border commander Mokra frowned deeply.
"The soldiers who guard the border and protect our country are now robbing their own people for the private property of those people. The reputation of us soldiers has been ruined by the hands of villains!"
Your Majesty, Your Majesty, how could you be so foolish…
With a deep sigh, a look of disappointment appeared on Mokra's face.
Mokra commanded the border troops for many years and repelled Roman invasions on several occasions.
On the surface, his victories appeared to be due to his skillful command and the bravery of his Parthian soldiers, but only he himself knew that his victories were achieved with the support of countless people.
In the past, whenever the Romans invaded, the right prime minister Sarcocci and his faction would take advantage of the opportunity to embezzle military funds and supplies.
In the end, less than half of the military pay and supplies were actually delivered to the soldiers.
To ensure the fighting capacity of the border troops, Mokra had no choice but to raise funds and food from the local people living near the border.
The people knew that once the Romans defeated the Parthian border troops, they would also be doomed. Therefore, whenever the Romans invaded, the people would contribute money and labor as they wished, hoping that the border troops would win and protect their families and property.
Based on Mokra's understanding of Sakqi, this guy would definitely lead his army on a rapid march to protect his interests in the southern seas, regardless of the consequences.
If the troops were to march at a rapid pace, their losses would be immeasurable, and the civilians along the way would suffer as a result.
When the news spreads, the people will lose all their support. If the Romans launch another attack, without the people's support, what will they use to defend their borders?
Is it a matter of relying on those greedy ministers, or on the muddle-headed emperor?
Thinking of this, Mokra felt a blur before his eyes, as if he could see himself defeated and the Romans invading Parthia.
...
Just as Mokla had guessed, in order to reach the southern seas as quickly as possible, Sakki led his army away from the camp and soon ordered the entire army to march at full speed.
After two days of marching, the soldiers were exhausted, and the rations they had carried for three days were all used up.
As the sun set, the soldiers, exhausted, arrived outside a city called Saigo.
This city was quite large, with a population of nearly 100,000, which would be considered a large city in Parthia.
Upon learning that Sakqi was leading a large army, the city lord of Xixiang City hurriedly led his men out of the city to welcome him.
As soon as the city lord of Xixiang approached, Sakqi asked, "Tell me, how much grain and fodder is in the city's granary?"
"Reporting to the Right Chancellor, the government's grain reserves still stand at approximately 200,000 catties!"
"So little?"
Upon hearing the numbers reported by the city lord of Xixiang, Sakqi frowned.
I brought 200,000 men with me, so on average, each soldier only gets one pound of rations.
The soldiers have been hungry all day, and this pound of rations is simply not enough to fill them up.
As the saying goes, "Emperors don't starve their soldiers." To keep soldiers obedient, being well-fed is the most basic requirement.
If the soldiers are starved, let alone marching, it would be a great blessing if they didn't mutiny and kill themselves.
"Reporting to the Right Chancellor, just last month, General Mokra said there was some unusual activity in Rome, and he sent men to requisition more than 90% of the grain stored in the granary. Now this is all that is left!"
Seeing Sakqi's furrowed brows, Lord Saigo quickly offered an explanation.
Upon hearing this, Sakqi looked up and gazed into the city. He saw wisps of smoke drifting above the city, indicating that the residents were preparing dinner.
"Send the order: the army will enter the city and collect food from the people's homes!"
Upon hearing Sakqi's words, the city lord of Xixiang's expression immediately changed: "Your Excellency, the people in the city have only recently paid their taxes, and their grain reserves are already low. If we were to levy taxes again, I'm afraid it would be inappropriate!"
"What's wrong with it?"
Sakqi's face hardened, and he said in a deep voice, "Now Daruk has led the rebels to collude with the Han army and seized five cities including Linhai. If we do not recover them as soon as possible, how can our Anxi face be preserved?"
You can't expect your soldiers to go on an empty stomach while reclaiming territory, can you?
As soon as Sakqi finished speaking, the Parthian soldiers who had been starving all day immediately gripped their weapons and looked at the Lord of Saigo with murderous intent.
"No...I wouldn't dare!"
Upon seeing this, the city lord of Xixiang trembled with fright and hurriedly shook his head and waved his hands.
"Hmph, enter the city!"
Sakki gave a light snort, then led his army into the city.
As soon as they entered the city, the aroma of food and the smell of cooking filled the air, causing the soldiers, who had been hungry all day, to swallow hard.
In order to save time, Sakqi immediately told the messenger, "Pass on my order: the army need not cook or set up camp. The soldiers can go to the homes of the people to eat and stay. We will set off again early tomorrow morning!"
"yes!"
The messenger agreed and then rode away.
Soon, Sakqi's order spread throughout the army. After a brief hesitation, the hungry and tired soldiers cheered excitedly and then rushed in groups toward the civilian houses in the city.
Although these soldiers had developed some bond with the people during their past resistance against the Roman invasion, the demons hidden in their hearts were unleashed under Saccoci's orders.
Without systematic ideological education, and faced with orders from superiors that allow for arbitrary actions, almost no soldier can exercise self-discipline.
Even though a few soldiers were unwilling to do anything that would harm the people, they could not stop their comrades.
"Bang bang bang!"
"Open the door!"
"Give me all the food!!"
"If you don't open the door, I'm not going to be polite!"
An army that unleashes the demons within is undoubtedly a catastrophe for the people.
After the soldiers who stormed into the homes of the common people had eaten and drunk their fill, they turned their attention to the valuables and the women in the homes.
For a time, the cries and screams of women echoed throughout the entire city of Xixiang.
Seeing their belongings robbed and their wives and daughters humiliated, many young men rose up in anger and resistance, but ultimately they were no match for the scimitars in the hands of the soldiers.
Despite the faint commotion coming from outside, Sakqi and the ministers inside the city lord's mansion made no attempt to stop them.
In their minds, doing so would maximize the morale of the soldiers and alleviate their fatigue.
As for the suffering common people, they were not within their consideration. To them, those lowly people were simply property to be taken at will.
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