Chapter 503 Deterrence
The situation that Agrippina encountered was far more serious than Luca had imagined. Due to the cold climate, a large number of barbarian tribes could not get enough food and bravely crossed the Rhine River to migrate south without regard for the possibility of conflict or even war with the Roman army.
Illegal border crossing will inevitably lead to conflict, so such conflicts will escalate and war will inevitably break out.
The climate was indeed colder than usual. Even in April, the Rhine River had not yet thawed. On the Rhine Line, the soldiers blocked all bridges and set up fortifications. The patrolling soldiers kept patrolling along the river to monitor the barbarians who might cross the river at any time.
What made the Romans have to be on guard was that the barbarians north of the Rhine were stationed directly on the banks of the Rhine, waiting for any opportunity that could not be missed.
"The Germanic tribes are migrating in small batches!" Aresio swept his hand across the river not far away, and then said to Luca: "They took advantage of our patrols not paying attention and forced their way across the river through the ice. This has been going on for the past few months!"
"Haven't you thought of organizing a defense line here to stop them?" Luga asked puzzledly.
"Oh my God, this is easier said than done!" Aresio explained with a smile, "Not everyone is as cautious as you see them. The violent barbarian tribes will definitely gather together to cross the river, and then form a force that we cannot resist and use the winter to forcibly attack on the ice."
"Besides, even if we beat them back, we will need soldiers from many places to join the battle. The result is predictable. We don't have enough manpower. The 3,000 people you left behind and the border guards can't solve the problem at all, so I recruited a lot of soldiers." As he spoke, Aresio cast his eyes towards the slightly thawed ice. His expression showed great sorrow. He said meaningfully, "I really don't understand why the ice on the Rhine River hasn't melted at this time?"
Luca smiled. He didn't know how to explain to Aresio. If he failed to convince Aresio with the scientific knowledge that he couldn't even explain clearly, it would be really uncomfortable to label him a heretic who didn't believe in God.
"The barbarians can't walk on the bridge because they have no way to break through, but they can launch a full-scale attack on us by taking advantage of the solid ice." Alessio tightened his fur clothes, as if the wild was too cold to bear. "They seem to know our details very well."
"What's the details?" Luca asked curiously.
"They know that if they break through the Rhine Line, they will be able to enter all the Roman lands in Gaul!" Alessio pointed to the back and said to Luca, "After passing through Belgic Gaul, we will reach Ludugou Gaul. I don't think the appearance of so many barbarians in Aetius's territory will make him happy. What's more, you have to understand that Aetius will kill all the so-called invading barbarians without mercy."
"But I saw empty villages and destroyed fields along the way..."
"That was all done by these barbarians!" Aresio gritted his teeth. He became furious when he mentioned these barbarians. However, he did not have enough strength to cross the river and hack these endless barbarians to death in the snow and ice.
"But the problem seems to have been solved now, right?" Luca said to Alessio with a smile: "I am here now, with a full 40,000 people."
"Maybe, Luca!" Aresio did not look very happy. He just said coldly: "I hope that all our food and money can satisfy your soldiers. After all, we have suffered heavy losses from the barbarians for so long. In addition, we can't eat grass like horses in this land where crops cannot grow!"
"But I have a better idea." Luca stroked his chin and said thoughtfully, "For example, we can lead the army across the Rhine River and defeat all the tribes that attempt to cross the river, and completely destroy their idea." But as he spoke, Luca shook his head again and again, "No, no, this requires too much food and money. These 40,000 people are indeed a big problem."
"Maybe we can find a way to stop these barbarians from coming." Luca said to Alessio, "It's going to be a problem for them anyway, why not break the ice? Or use some very violent means."
"Catapult!" Aresio said without thinking, "This thing is really useful. I used it several times a few months ago, but the ice is too thick."
While they were talking, they heard a series of rapid horse hoofbeats. Aresio and Luca looked up and saw a messenger running from a distance. He was so anxious that he jumped off the horse before it stopped and fell flat on his face. Not only that, he ran towards them using his hands and feet, panting and reporting to Luca and Aresio: "Barbarians, barbarians are preparing to force a crossing from the western Rhine line!"
At this time, in the Rhine region west of Agrippina, there were countless barbarian tribes. The men gathered together, raised their weapons and shouted loudly. It seemed that they wanted to rely on the ice to force a crossing, break through the defense line built by the Romans, and ensure that the women, the elderly and the children in the rear could cross the Rhine safely.
The Roman soldiers stationed in the area followed suit. It was already the nth attack. The river bank was littered with corpses, both Romans and barbarians.
The ice was littered with corpses, all killed by the Romans' arrows on the way to the charge. It seemed that the barbarians had paid a heavy price for this. However, they did not give up, but instead called on more and more tribes around them. Their people were piling up, and a new round of attack was about to begin!
"What should we do? Our bows and arrows are running out!"
"My spear is broken, I am weaponless!"
"Here, use the barbarian's axe!"
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"Oh my god, rusty and icy!"
The soldiers began to complain. Nothing was more distressing than the weapons they could now pick up. No armor, only leather helmets and heavy fur clothes for warmth and simple protection, nothing else.
The cold weather made them shiver constantly, and they even drew their bows and arrows and quickly stopped shooting after a few shots.
There is no doubt that the barbarians started a new round of attack. They pulled each other and shouted, and under the order of their leader, they rushed forward and rushed towards the Roman army on the other side of the river!
(End of this chapter)