Chapter 173 - 122 The Real Reason for Refusing to Go North
Maximus’s gaze swept over his comrades who had fought alongside him back in Campania, earnestly advising, "Spartacus, Hamilcar, Antonix, Attutmus, didn’t we make a promise to resist Rome and gain freedom when we escaped from the Gladiator School and started a rebellion in the Vesuvius Region?! Now that it’s about to be realized, for the sake of those brothers who have always believed in us and followed us, we absolutely cannot back down!—"
"Maximus, you are talking nonsense!" Cleonis loudly interrupted Maximus’s speech, "Will leaving Italy grant us freedom?! Do you know that north of the Alps are terrifying Gauls and even more terrifying Germanic tribes!
I have asked some Gaul brothers in the army, and they all told me that each of those barbarian tribes has its own territory, and if outsiders enter, they will treat them as enemies, waging war to kill or expel them!
Although Rome is strong, they are somewhat afraid of the barbarians north of the Alpine Mountains because in the past, they were defeated by the barbarians multiple times; if you don’t believe me, you can ask those soldiers from Umbria and Pisenum regions.
Moreover, barbarians are extremely cruel to captives; if we lose, our heads might be cut off to make urine pots or we might become slaves, suffering abuse! Since there will be fighting no matter where we go, why shouldn’t I stay in Italy, where the situation is more familiar!"
"Cleonis is right!" Phitodorus quickly picked up the conversation: "I heard that north of the Alps is full of dense forests and swamps, with many wild beasts and mosquitoes, and during winter, the weather is extremely cold.
Barbarians wear thick robes and do not primarily eat bread but like to stew wheat, beans, and meat together randomly, and when there’s nothing to eat, they even dig up snakes and insects...
Everyone, think about it, most of the soldiers in our ranks are from Italy; they’re already used to the warm climate and delicious food here. If we move them to a place entirely different from Italy, I’m afraid half of them would fall sick before even fighting, so how could we beat those barbarians who see us as their enemies!" Phitodorus looked at Maximus, spreading his hands, showing a helpless look.