Chapter 605: Attacking the Heart
In late spring and early summer, a large number of camps appeared outside Ludinan at an alarming rate, surrounding Ludinan and almost tripling its size, making Ludinan more like a castle.
Aetius stood at the highest point of the city gate tower. From here he looked around and saw camps and soldiers training everywhere outside the city.
"It seems that Flavius Luca is determined to fight Attila to the death." Littorio, who was standing behind Aetius, sighed repeatedly as he looked at the endless camp.
Aetius had a serious look on his face. He cheered all around. Seeing so many soldiers, he must have had great ambitions in his heart. "We have to admit that in just one month, to forcibly mobilize such a large army and expand the size of the army by more than four times, I am afraid that only Augustus can have such a strong mobilization ability."
"But if we fail, there will be no men left in Gaul who can take up arms."
"Littorio, this is not a problem we should worry about. What we must understand is that if we don't do our best to fight our enemies this time, then these soldiers will only serve Attila."
In the war hall of the Ludinan Governorate, Luca, holding a wooden stick, pushed the small Labran flag symbolizing the Roman army to the province of Greater Sequanorum.
"Now, we have enough troops to fight Attila, so we are more qualified to switch from offense to defense in military operations. I firmly believe that the best defense is offense." Luca said, sliding a wooden stick in the province of Great Sequanorum to Aetius and other generals: "Because our food can only supply our army for two months, so I plan to fight a quick battle in these two months."
The generals looked at each other in bewilderment. It seemed that they had a hard time following Luca's train of thought because it was too fast. They had never expected that the combat effectiveness of an army filled with such a large number of "temporary workers" was a very important issue, and it would also give Flavius and Luca such great self-confidence.
"I have to admit it to you, Caesar." Aetius mustered up the courage to say to Luca, "According to our latest intelligence, Attila's army may have reached more than 300,000 or even more. Our army does not seem to be that large, nor does it have the strength to defeat them. Yes, I know that many Germanic tribes have joined us, but we are still too, well, outnumbered."
"I have thought about this a long time ago, Lord Aetius." In response to Aetius' confession, Luca simply raised the corners of his mouth slightly and gave a suggestive smile.
"I have long realized that the intelligence that Lord Tereus gave me at the time was a little biased, so I would not have gathered such a large army here. Now, in my opinion, Attila's army is at least more than 450,000. Yes, the huge number of troops makes them bloated and slow to move. If their number is reduced by half, then the troops gathered outside Ludinan may be Attila's siege troops."
"There are now more than 50,000 garrisons and more than 10,000 field troops in the Great Sequanoron Province. The city walls they rely on are already shaky."
"So, Lord Aetius, I need you to announce to the outside world that we have reached an alliance with the Visigoths, and have jointly declared war on Attila and sworn to protect the land of Rome."
"This is very risky, Caesar. After all, this is nothing short of robbery." Aetius was a little worried. After all, he was not so bold and forceful in diplomacy. "What if Theoderic doesn't agree with this? Or Attila sees through what we are doing..."
"Attila is now on the border of Visigoth, and he has no time to confirm whether our claimed alliance with Theoderic is true or false."
"What if Theoderic can't stop Attila's attack?"
"This is the moment to show our role, Lord Aetius." Luca said, rowing the Great Sequanorum Province again and then said to Aetius: "Here, our role is shown. We must repel the enemy attacking the Great Sequanorum Province in a very short time and show Attila that we have enough ability and courage to fight Attila, so that he will be alert, or a military setback will force him to shrink the front. Take this opportunity, Lord Aetius, to put pressure on Lord Theoderic, King of Visigoth again. I am afraid that after this action, he has no choice."
"Caesar, what I am sure of is that our behavior as robbers is to force the Visigoths onto our chariots." Aetius said with a smile on his face, which was filled with extremely sinister meaning.
"Of course, I just said that they have no choice!" In response to Aetius' meaningful smile, Luca also responded with a smirk.
"Then I'll leave this to you, Sir Sergeant. I need to personally lead the soldiers to drive the locusts out of Great Sequanoren."
A month later, outside the city of Durotolcomb, adjacent to Visgot's army.
At this time, the confrontation between the two sides had lasted for nearly a month. The armies of both sides took up a defensive posture and confronted each other on this narrow dividing line. Obviously, Attila's army was far larger than that of the Goths.
"My king, news has come from Rome that the Visigoths have formed an alliance with the Romans."
"Ha, very interesting," Attila smiled disapprovingly when he heard the news that the Visigoths had formed an alliance with the Romans. He was so confident that he almost regarded the Visigoth army in front of him as a mob. "I'm afraid the Visigoths didn't expect what they were facing. I, Attila, will destroy their new homeland in the most cruel way. Of course, I hope that there is still a way for them to escape on the land behind them." Attila said, his eyes were cold as if they were hiding two sharp knives. He tightly grasped the scepter supported by pure gold and gems in his hand. He kept playing with it in his hand. With just a wave of this scepter, his powerful army was enough to tear the Visigoths' army into pieces and kill them all over the ground.
"But there is a more serious problem, my king." The officer who delivered the message whispered in Attila's ear: "A large number of Roman troops have appeared in the province of Great Sequanorum, and they have launched an attack on our army that is attacking Great Sequanorum. The tribes fighting on their own are no match for such a large Roman army."
"How many of them are there?" Attila asked with a frown.
"I'm afraid there are more than 100,000."
"Only one hundred thousand?"
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"I am afraid there are more, my king, for the Romans have attacked many cities, and their numbers are too great."
"Who is the leader?"
"Flavius Luca, Augustus of the Eastern Roman Empire."
"Flavius Luca!" Upon hearing this name, Attila suddenly opened his eyes wide with an incredible expression.
Looking at the scepter in his hand and then at the Visigoth army in front of him, Attila hesitated for a long time, as if struggling internally, and finally gave an answer.
"We retreat and order all tribes to gather around us." Attila continued slowly, "Let's concentrate all our strength to completely crush Flavius Luca and his coalition forces!"
(End of this chapter)