Chapter 151 - 111 The First Fallen Rebel Army
It was only now that Spartacus understood that Crossus had never changed his mind, and knowing him quite well, he quickly guessed the purpose behind Crossus’s actions.
Feeling a bit melancholic, Spartacus soon pulled himself together and did not heed Antonix’s suggestion to send the cavalry back to locate Crossus’s army. Instead, he ordered the troops to gather quickly and march north.
As he left the camp, he paused for a moment to look back and silently wished his old comrade-in-arms Crossus good luck.
............
Crossus was unwilling to lead his troops north but that didn’t mean he was foolish enough to face the oncoming Roman Army alone.
He devised a plan: first to follow behind Spartacus’s main forces to mislead the approaching Roman Army into thinking that all the rebel forces had retreated north. Then, when his army set camp along the route at the foot of the Gallanum Cape, he would take advantage of the night to discreetly lead his troops into the hills of Gallanum Cape...
He believed that the Romans would be attracted to Spartacus’s main forces and wouldn’t notice his army’s disappearance. Once the Romans engaged with Spartacus’s troops, he would then lead his troops back south, an undoubtedly more prudent and safe approach.
Gallanum Cape is located in the northeast of the Apulia region, jutting into the Adriatic Sea. On the map, the cape looks like a human thumb sticking out, its interior filled with rising hills and devoid of towns.
Even with a guide leading the way, Crossus’s army dared not venture deep into the cape’s interior. They struggled to find a somewhat flat valley, where over 30,000 soldiers, with non-combat personnel totaling nearly 40,000, huddled together and hastily set up camp.
Three days passed, and suddenly a messenger reported: "Leader, Romans! The Roman Army is advancing towards us!"
"What!" Crossus was taken aback. He had thought his plan was meticulous enough and his troop movements sufficiently secretive—how could they have been discovered by the Romans?!
He was unaware, however, that Roman Governor Publilius had long been watching him, closely monitoring his army’s movements. No matter how secretive a force of 40,000 could be, it couldn’t completely conceal its tracks.