Chapter 157 War

Three days later...

"Aetius's army has crossed the Pova River from Verona, and their destination southward is Ravenna."

Boniface sat in the center of the Senate Chamber, listening silently to the reports from the senators.

"How many of them came?"

"No less than one hundred thousand!"

Hearing this number, Boniface's face became even gloomier. After all, he was able to raise an army that was on par with him without relying on a scepter. He was definitely not an ordinary person! "I heard that he was very close to the Huns. How much support did his Hun allies give him?"

"Sixty thousand people!"

Hearing this number, Boniface swallowed hard and leaned back on his chair. His eyes were blank, his lips trembled, and he murmured slowly: "It seems that the Huns really gave him face. We, Rome, have encountered a powerful barbarian invasion that we have never encountered before!" But Boniface quickly regained his composure. He sat up again, straightened his white robe and the golden laurel crown on his head. Looking around at the hundreds of senators on the stage, the senators were also looking at him, hoping to see a glimmer of hope from him, or that he had an idea to change the current disadvantageous situation.

"So, everyone, what good ideas do you have?" Boniface raised his head, as if he was asking for help from the elders again, or just simply listening to their opinions. Of course, he was also pleased with the performance of the elders, and they began to speak freely.

"The Huns' troops have crossed the Pova River, and Rome will have no more barriers to stop them!"

"If we cross the river from Verona, then Ravenna is to the south. We can assume that Aetius is holding Caesar hostage and trying to force Boniface to send troops to rescue him."

"But with the speed of the Huns, they will reach the gates of Rome in less than three or four days. Our field army in Florence will have no chance of returning to support them. The army of Naples is no match for the Huns. We are now in a very passive position! You know, the Huns are on horseback, they don't need to rest!"

Facing the endless arguments of the senators, Thermitius sat in the middle of them, smiling with a mask on, and said nothing.

“Stop, stop!”

At this time, as if he had heard enough of the elders' endless chattering without any nutritious things to say, Boniface patiently raised his hand to signal them to stop. He said unhappily: "I thought you would have some good ideas, but now I realize that it is really difficult for you to discuss such complicated military matters."

Boniface shook his head in frustration after his efforts were in vain. He then stood up and faced the hundreds of senators in front of him, announcing in a deep voice: "Everyone, I plan to give up Rome!"

"Give up Rome?"

This decision caused a stir among the senators who had just settled down. What a joke! The citizens and senators of Rome tried their best to please Boniface, and Caesar granted him such great power. At this critical moment, Boniface, who was full of hope, actually wanted to give up Rome. So where would he go? Back to his Africa? Was he scared? A series of questions were considered in the minds of the senators. They tried their best to guess what Boniface was thinking, but no one could give a reasonable answer.

Boniface didn't waste his words. He turned away from the senators who were still arguing. When he walked out of the meeting hall, the streets were already densely packed with Boniface's field army. They were neatly dressed and raised their heads to look up at Boniface standing at the door of the Senate meeting hall. Boniface must have been well prepared this time. Giving up Rome was not an impulse decision. Perhaps it was a well-thought-out decision because he wanted to take the initiative in the war!

"Where is the Florentine field army?" Boniface slowly walked down the long steps and came to the middle of the soldiers.

"After two weeks of trekking, we have arrived at Cannae."

"So, has the field regiment in the southern Apennines arrived?"

"We have assembled in Naples, and Cannae is only a day's journey away."

"Very good!" After hearing the news, Boniface's solemn expression relaxed a little. "Since they are all in place, let's set off and wait for Aetius to arrive in Cannae!"

After that, a horn was heard, and it was passed on one by one, and soon the horn sound spread throughout the streets and alleys of Rome. All the soldiers on the streets of Rome received instructions from the horn sound, and they turned around at the same time, along the streets, out of the city from different gates of Rome and headed towards Cannae in the south.

Aresio had already noticed the unusual movement of the army, so he came to the city wall and watched the field army of the province of Africa under Boniface pass through the wide and tall city gate of Rome and advance southward.

Boniface not only had infantry and cavalry under his command, he also recruited thousands of camel troops from Africa. People who had never seen such ugly animals as camels had no idea how powerful camels were and what role they could play in promoting this war.

"Boniface was actually prepared a long time ago, but it is unknown whether he was fully prepared!"

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If it weren't for this sudden remark, Aresio would have hardly known that Thermitius was standing behind him. At this time, the last centurion of Boniface's army was already hundreds of meters away from the city of Rome. It wouldn't be long before they disappeared on the horizon.

Aresio was already used to Thermitius's surprises and had prepared himself mentally. He turned around calmly and looked at Thermitius, who was still smiling as before, with an air of being unshakable no matter how strong the storm was.

"How strange." Alessio said sarcastically, "Why don't you go to Cannae with your master? Then you can see with your own eyes how Boniface defeated Aetius, or how he was defeated by Aetius. If you stay here, aren't you afraid that Aetius will come and tear you into pieces?"

Thermitius smiled and shook his head, and said: "It is just my duty to cater to Boniface. I can cater to Boniface, and of course I can cater to Aetius, so why should I run away? Besides, where can I run to?"

"So? You plan to stay and try to please Aetius in every way you can, right?"

"If he has the ability!" After saying this, Themitius turned and left, leaving Aresio alone standing on the wall of Rome.

(End of this chapter)