Rome Must Perish

Secondly, the rapid expansion in numbers also led to a swift decline in military discipline. Conflicts between soldiers and between armies increased. As early as half a month ago, the rebel army’s various divisions no longer co-existed in Pompeii but stationed separately in the towns they had captured. Although this temporarily quelled the discord, the uneven development of each army remained a lurking threat.

For example, compared to other armies, Maximus’s troops were very well-stocked with supplies and could even do business with southern merchants through the port, constantly increasing their reserves. For this reason, leaders like Cross and Enomai repeatedly proposed that Maximus hand over the port for everyone’s shared use. Maximus firmly refused but made some concessions, agreeing to provide some urgently needed supplies to other groups for compensation.

It was precisely these dual reasons that prompted the rebel army’s Military Commander Conference to specifically discuss the issue of the entire army moving southward, and they soon reached a consensus. A general military meeting was then convened, gaining the approval of most soldiers, and so the plan to march south was quickly implemented.

The first to take action and the two leaders most eager to move south were Cross and Enomai. The route chosen by the armies they led was to head straight south along Latina Avenue, enter the Lucania Region, and step onto Ania Avenue. The endpoint of Ania Avenue is Regium, which faces the Messina Strait, but their current destination was Turi, midway...

Next to depart were the other armies of the rebel army. Instead of heading straight south, they turned north, passing through Capua, then turned east into the Samnium Mountain Area to reach Benevento.

Benevento is the largest town in the Samnium Region, also a transportation hub, with a relatively large population and thriving commerce. The Samnite Mountain People were once very valiant (after all, they had repeatedly defeated the Romans and resisted Rome for decades), so the City Guard was not weak, but faced with the overpowering force of more than 40,000 rebels, the Benevento people had no courage at all to drive these invaders out, shrinking back into the city early and leaving the rebel army to ravage the fields and pastures outside the city.

It was just that when the frightened Benevento people queued up in front of the Hercules Temple inside the city to sincerely pray for safety, they had no idea that the rebel army, like locusts, scavenging everything left outside the city, had no plan at all to attack Benevento City.

Maximus, looking at Spartacus, Antonix, Hamilcar, and later two other leaders who were there to see him off, said solemnly, "Everyone take care, we will lead the army and head out first!"

"You all take care too, keep in touch in time, and after arriving in the south, we will meet again!" Spartacus reminded in a serious tone.

"We will!" Maximus’s wandering gaze finally rested on Hamilcar, and with the concern shown in his eyes, Maximus nodded slightly, then extended his right hand and powerfully struck his chest, "See you in Tarentum!"

"See you in Tarentum!" the crowd responded.