Chapter 213 Landing Operation (Part 2)
"Then let's make it a deal. After all, if Syracuse falls, we will all die." Luca said, pointing to the place Hermanus had just pointed out, and said to Hermanus: "This is a risky military plan, so I think we should control the landing coast as soon as possible and set up a line of defense there, so that subsequent troops can land one after another and gain a foothold. Counterattack is something we can consider next."
"Then, sir, how do you plan to deploy? We must have a premise, that is, Gaiseric is aware of your presence." Hermanus said, his hands were not idle. He picked up a small black flag and rubbed it hard on the place where Luca pointed, saying: "You have to understand that if Gaiseric ambushes there, then we really have no way to stop them. Of course, we can't give you any help."
"I know!" Luca took back his hand and said, "I only have one question now, is this place flat enough?"
"Yes, it's enough! It can even accommodate your legion." Hermanus was full of confidence.
"That's good. Let the spear-wielding troops of the first array of the main army land first, and the subsequent field army will follow closely. Your Excellency said that this is a battle that tests my courage." Luca said, looking back at the messenger behind him and said, "Thank you for your hard work. Inform my army of the deployment of the battle. In two hours, we will have a big fight."
The messengers received the order and pushed down, leaving only Luca, Hermanus, Andrew and Belia in the entire cabin.
Hermanus was good at reading people's expressions. He saw a hint of solemnity on Luca's face after the messengers withdrew, so he asked hurriedly, "Why, is there anything you can't tell me?"
"Alas!" Luca sighed, found a chair and sat down slowly, and said in a heavy tone: "Don't play dumb with me, you also know that my legion is newly formed, and I just arrived. Their condition is really too bad, almost like cannon fodder, it is difficult to use them as the main force!"
"Sir Luca!" Hermanus looked at Luca seriously and said, "As a commander, do you know what is most important?"
"What?"
"Trust your subordinates!" Hermanus looked directly into Luca's eyes, his tone extremely firm. "No matter what, as long as you doubt your subordinates, even the simplest actions will be impossible to achieve!"
Luga was silent, and it was obvious that his silence represented his agreement with Hermanus' words. He said nothing, but stood up and walked out of the cabin.
"Father!" Beliarius asked Hermanus, "Do you believe what you just said?"
"No, I don't believe it myself!" Hermanus replied with a wry smile, because he was afraid that Luca would hear it outside. "But," he continued, "at least Luca can't lose confidence in victory because of his soldiers! The commander can't be without courage!"
"Luka, here!"
Andrew, with a pale face, struggled to hold Luca's armor and came behind him.
"Thank you!" Luca thanked him, took the armor, put on the heavy armor with the help of the soldiers on both sides, and looked at the ancient city of Syracuse, whose outline could already be seen. "Andrew, you will stay on the ship for a while. When I build the camp, you can disembark with the army!"
“Woo, woo, woo!”
The sound of horns spread among the warships, the messengers waved the flags in their hands vigorously, and soon the huge fleet began to operate in an orderly manner.
Ten warships carrying the vanguard infantry were dispatched, and they sped up, watching the city with thick smoke becoming more and more conspicuous, and even the flat land could be seen. Of course, the formation of the Vandals attacking the city also became more and more obvious.
“Here it comes, here it comes!”
“Boom boom boom…”
One after another, the warships braved the wind and waves and rushed onto the shore. At this point, there was no room for concealment. In an instant, hundreds of horns sounded earth-shaking roars, and the first ten teams of hundreds of men that arrived jumped off the warships.
At this moment, a large number of cavalry suddenly rushed out from a small slope in front of the soldiers. As expected, the Vandals were unwilling to let Luca land so easily. Facing the cavalry, the vanguard infantry who had not yet gained a firm foothold could only squat as quickly as possible and use their shields to hold them in front of them. They formed small fortresses in groups of three or five, and put their sharp spears outside their shields, trying to use this method to force the Vandal horses to stop or bypass them.
“Boom boom boom…”
The fearless Vandal cavalrymen brandished their spears and roared as they charged into the already chaotic formation of the Ninth Legion. In an instant, dozens of Roman soldiers who had not yet gained a firm foothold were knocked away and fell into the cold sea. Hundreds of infantrymen were suppressed by the Vandal cavalry and retreated again and again, being compressed into a red "long belt" on the seashore. The Vandal attack continued.
"Go down and attack! Go down and attack!"
Everyone knew that the vanguard could not be defeated, so the centurions on the warships roared and pushed the soldiers into the cold sea water one by one, ordering them to join the resistance. The soldiers who went into the water were like dumplings, but the more they added, the more people would fall in front.
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"Where is the next landing fleet?" Luca was naturally anxious when he saw the situation in front of him. He loudly ordered the messenger behind him, "Tell Hermanus that my legion needs their support. Let their archers go. Don't worry about whether they will hurt their own people. Just shoot at the shore! Also, let the flagship approach the warships of the next landing force. I want to participate in the landing!"
"Luga!" Andrew called him and said, "You are no longer a small centurion, but the supreme commander of an entire united army. You can't just do whatever you want and ignore your personal safety!"
"Just as you said!" Luga retorted: "I am the supreme commander of this legion, so I am the core of this legion and the only way to inspire them!"
"But……"
"No buts, I'm the legion commander, all orders must be obeyed by me!" Luga carried the legion's flag, stood at the bow, and ordered loudly: "Let the vanguard warship retreat. If there are still soldiers left on the ship, push them all into the water and don't block the way for the follow-up troops!"
The retreat horn sounded, and the ten warships in the second row were ready. The slaves holding the oars used the oars to push against the land and push the warships back into the sea.
(End of this chapter)