Chapter 224: The New Navy

The battle began in the morning and ended in the evening when the last Vandal with a weapon fell. Trapani seemed to have become a dead city. Apart from the traces of burning flames, there were only corpses on the ground and painful cries floating in the air.

The soldiers had been busy all day and finally calmed down. It seemed that they had spent a lot of energy. Holding the iron swords stained with blood and slippery, they searched the streets one by one, caught those pretending to be dead, raised their swords numbly, stabbed, twisted, and then a life passed away. The air was whispering with the smell of burning and blood, which was the proof that the murderous Romans had come.

Luka walked through the deadly street with his iron sword in his right hand. The soldiers along the way were naturally in awe of this general who led them to easily conquer a town and made a lot of money. They stopped patrolling and stood on both sides of the road, watching Luka pass by them.

Lu Jia bit his cracked lips and looked up at the soldiers standing on both sides. The sun was setting and the soldiers lit torches. Lu Jia could clearly see the sallow faces and haggard eyes beside the torches.

Of course, Luga just nodded at them, because they worked so hard that Luga didn't even lower his head all the way. He was afraid that if he lowered his head, he would see the full money bags on the soldiers' belts and the heads of various civilians.

Berialiu followed closely behind Luga, but unlike Luga, he never bowed his head. He saw everything about Luga's soldiers. The heads on the belts had hideous faces and no blood. The bloodless flesh hung under the broken heads. The strong smell of blood made Berialiu, who had never seen such blood, feel nauseous. If he hadn't held back, he would have vomited in front of the crowd.

"If you can't stand blood, you can't be called a good soldier!" This is what Belia's father Hermanus has always taught him. Belia, who dreams of being able to go to the battlefield, naturally regards it as the truth. It's time to test myself, how can I make mistakes so easily? He acted calmly and followed Luca closely, all the way to the outside of the city, where the blood was not strong.

Luga remained silent from beginning to end. Belialiu didn't know what he was thinking, and neither did Andrew. They finally walked far enough away to no longer smell the odor that affected their appetite.

It was time to eat. The three of them gathered in a circle. The stone table in front of them was filled with fresh fruits, roasted meat, and thick soup. Such a rich feast was specially prepared by the chef to celebrate the victory. Just looking at it would make people's appetites grow. However, only Andrew picked up the bread.

"What's wrong?" Andrew paused after picking up the bread, because he saw that neither Belia nor Luca had started eating. He first looked at Luca, and saw that Luca's brows were furrowed, as if he was thinking about something. It was rare that he couldn't be happy in the face of victory, but instead became more worried. Then he looked at Belia, who was staring at the barbecue, his face pale, his lips tightly closed, and he was silent. It seemed that he had no appetite for the delicacies on the stone platform.

"What's wrong, Belia?" Andrew looked at him curiously and asked, "Are these delicacies not to your taste?" Andrew said with a smile, "You are a guest who has come from afar. If you don't eat something good, it will be spread that we don't treat you well. I'll do it, but Luca can't afford such a thing that is not in line with the etiquette of the nobility!"

"No, I'm not hungry!" Belialiu waved his hands repeatedly, the words almost squeezed out from between his teeth. His gaze shifted away from the delicious food on the stone platform and moved elsewhere. Perhaps this was the only way he could feel better.

"Don't force him, Andrew." Luga finally spoke, "I looked like this when I escaped from the battlefield next to Nar, but years of bloodshed have made me accustomed to it." Luga sighed, then picked up the bread, then picked up a piece of barbecue on the plate, and put it into his mouth in big mouthfuls.

"Now we can have a good rest." Andrew said, "After all, we have been tense for two or three months. Gaiseric doesn't even know that his escape route has been cut off! We can just wait here for them to return."

"No!"

Luca said, "We can't stop yet. We need to rest in the city for three days and get rid of the corpses on the streets. If they are left on the streets, it will not only be unsightly but also easy to get plague. Three days later, the whole army will advance along the route that Gaiseric took to the north. We will wait for them at the foot of Mount Etna!" Then, he turned to look at Beliario and said, "Beliario, please go back and tell your father to keep an eye on the west of Sicily and pay attention to the movements of the Vandal fleet."

"Well!" Belialiu turned around and asked, "I saw a lot of Vandal warships anchored in the port of Trapani. I like them very much. Otherwise, you can give them to me as a reward!"

Belia's words were met with Luga's contempt.

"You wish!" Luga rolled his eyes at him and said dissatisfiedly, "I captured these warships with great difficulty. How can I let you take them away just like that?"

"Then there's no point in keeping them!" Belia was still unwilling to give up. He continued, "Luga, you can keep these warships. How can you control so many warships without sailors? Besides, there are so many warships and you don't have so many people!"

"Who said I didn't?" Luca retorted, "I just freed these thousands of slaves. I can slowly recruit sailors. The Western Empire needs these complete warships to control the stability of the sea in its territory. You said you just asked for them. Where can I get so many warships? What should I do if Valentinian III blames me for destroying a city without any compensation? It will be difficult for me to even beg for mercy!"

Beria was listening, and he seemed to be stunned, with disappointment in his eyes. This casual expression could not escape Luka's eyes. Luka guessed that he must be worried, and he liked these warships very much, so it might be inappropriate to reject him so directly.

After drinking a glass of wine, having food to fill their stomachs did make them feel much better. Luga also poured a glass of wine and handed it to Belia as an apology, saying, "It seems like you really want these warships. There is a way."

"What solution?" Belialiu seemed to see hope. He hurriedly came up and looked at Luga, wishing that Luga could speak out some good solution!

"That's it," Luca said slowly after eating a piece of bread, "If you follow me, I'll make you a naval commander, which is much better than being a second-generation official like your father!"

The latest novel is published first on Liu9shuba!

"Really?" Beria was very happy. "My father doesn't allow me to do this or that, and I'm tired of it. You must keep your word. The navy will need me when the time comes!"

"Of course." Luca said sternly, "As long as you don't take this warship to join your father, I will trust you. If you join your father, don't blame me for saying a few good words to you in front of Augustus!"

"Got it, sir!" Belia danced with joy, as if this little convenience was a great joy. Luga could understand his idea of ​​wanting to make a career. If he went to his father's fleet, he would be independent. It would be better to make it his own and take the opportunity to form a proper navy. He would have more confidence to speak in the future!

(End of this chapter)