Chapter 78 - 73: Raid on Pompey (Continued)_2
The road running parallel to the district and the port is primarily used for transporting goods, so it is quite spacious, wide enough to accommodate six to seven people side by side, and fairly smooth. Torrelugo led his team forward without much reduction in speed.
On the west side of the road was the city wall, from which sporadic sounds of killing could be heard. Those were the soldiers under Camillus hunting down the remaining sentries atop the wall.
On the east side of the road were rows of houses, their lights gradually being lit. Awakened Pompeians peered through the windows, observing the rebel soldiers walking past their homes, while the rumbling footsteps and noisy shouts made their hearts pound with fear.
The faint indoor lights also illuminated the path ahead. After advancing a distance, Torrelugo saw countless silhouettes moving in front, with someone shouting loudly, "Citizens of Pompeii, drive the robbers out, protect our families!"
The people coming towards them were City Guard soldiers urgently assembled by the Pompeii City Mayor. Encouraged by the City Guard Captain, they roared and charged towards Torrelugo’s troops.
Torrelugo, undaunted, excitedly shouted, "Brothers, kill with me!"
Under his command, the Second Centurion and the Pompeii City Guard clashed head-on, with the sounds of fighting instantly tearing through the darkness and reverberating throughout the district.
No matter how wide the road was, no more than eight people could engage head-on. The army couldn’t deploy, instantly causing congestion. Those at the front couldn’t retreat, while those at the back couldn’t advance. Fortunately, the previous three battalions, under repeated reminders from the military advisory group, maintained a certain distance from each other. Once faced with the enemy, Flanitnus promptly stopped the reckless forward push by the subsequent two Centurions.
"Can we bypass here?" Flanitnus inquired of the guide Valerius, glancing at the houses beside the road.