Chapter 74 - 71: Young Men (Seeking Subscriptions)_2
Valles listened intently, feeling a warmth in his heart, and nodded firmly.
After a while, Akegu shouted loudly, "Everyone, come here and form up!"
The resting children immediately gathered together, quickly forming a dense phalanx 10 wide and 5 deep, and Valles quickly took his position.
From the sidelines came an elderly man with graying hair and a dignified expression. His name was Lufus Gracchus, once a Roman veteran who had later fallen into the hands of Rome as a public slave. Now he was a member of the Supply Camp’s military advisory group. Over a month ago, when Maximus wanted to select a military instructor for the newly formed youth team, Gracchus had voluntarily applied and secured the position.
He stopped in front of the formation. Akegu immediately strode forward, clenched his right fist, pounded it against his chest, and reported loudly with clear annunciation, "Instructor, the formation is ready. A total of 52 people, all present. Please issue your orders!"
"Very good, fall in." Gracchus scanned the children before him. Every time he saw their youthful and energetic faces, he felt a bit younger himself. His gaze lingered slightly on a few of the children—those were children of the Lukaiya people, once enemies and now comrades in the slave-led rebellion against Rome. The arrangements of the Goddess of Fate were truly wondrous!
Gracchus felt ripples in his heart but said aloud, "Next, we will proceed with formation training."
Youths were different from adults. Their bones and muscles were not yet fully developed, and excessive emphasis on strength training could harm their bodies. However, they were young and quick learners, making formation training far more effective for them than for adults. This was a military training plan that Maximus and Flanitnus had devised after multiple discussions.
Gracchus held a military horn and played various signals. The youths responded to the commands issued through the horn, advancing at times, halting at others, forming shield formations, charging forward, or retreating en masse...