Chapter 253 - 162: The Summation of Maximus
Who knew this was precisely Spartacus’s stratagem? The rebel army’s ambush troops quickly emerged from both sides of the mountains, causing two Roman legions to collapse instantly. They were chased relentlessly by the rebel army and fled back to Rimini in disarray.
The initial defeat made Crassus extremely angry, yet he still kindly consoled Deputy General Mummius, who had disobeyed his command. But after turning away, he cruelly ordered the execution of the "Eleventh Decimation Law" on the five hundred soldiers who first retreated and gathered the entire army to witness the execution process.
When the Roman soldiers saw their comrades beaten to death with sticks by fellow soldiers in a brutal manner, they shivered in fear, feeling that dying in battle under the rebel army’s swords was far more honorable than dying at Crassus’s hands.
Thus, Crassus achieved his goal of making the soldiers fear him more than the enemy.
Additionally, through days of observation, he realized the rebel army indeed seemed to have no intention of advancing north. So he decided not to wait any longer and led the entire army south, following the rebel army.
However, he never engaged the rebel army in battle. Instead, he organized his troops while sending out cavalry (Rome’s cavalry far outnumbered that of the rebel army) to attack small groups of rebel soldiers who were isolated or gathering supplies.
Crassus adopted Fabian’s strategy against Hannibal, based on his circumstances, employing tactics to delay and wear down the enemy.
Spartacus several times deliberately left openings to lure the Roman Army into attacking, but Crassus did not fall for it.