Chapter 98 Women’s Camp

"Please rest assured, leader, the soldiers of the Guards Brigade are training every day without slacking off. They will definitely become the sharpest daggers in your hands, just waiting for you to use them to kill the enemy!" At this time, Oulu Si's words were quite humble.

Carminus also followed suit.

Maximus just nodded.

"Chief, in addition to Turum and Bari, why don't we march to the southwest and force more towns such as Rubi and Butonll to surrender? This way we will get more supplies." Feisa Russ asked.

"Attumus and I have a private agreement that the inland area in the southwest is the target for his troops to conquer." Maximus explained seriously: "Besides, we accepted the surrender of these towns and got The materials they offer must fulfill their promises to protect their land and people from infringement.

With our current strength, the most we can do is bring these few nearby towns along the southern coast into our control. Further south, it is possible to enter the range controlled by Spartacus and Altonix's team.

If they treat the local people differently from us, conflicts may arise. This is something no one wants to see. Therefore, we must stop at Bali, force the surrender of the southern coastal towns as soon as possible, and focus our conquest on the north. Go, as long as we can conquer Sipus and control the surrounding areas of Lake Sinus, then we will not worry about the lack of food and supplies..."

The six captains listened thoughtfully, while Quintus and Frontinus looked calm, because the plan Maximus mentioned was originally discussed with them.

The generals left the chief executive's residence and ran towards the camp where their own brigade was located. Quintus, who was at the back, stopped Aulus and said in a low voice: "Aulus, you shouldn't have said anything to Franti just now. Nus launched an attack, which could easily arouse Maximus’ suspicion of us Lukelians!”

"You misunderstood me. I really didn't mean anything else. I was just complaining to Maximus due to the influence of Carminus. I hope to change the status quo that the Guards Brigade rarely goes into battle." Aulus It's called Qu Dao.

"Change? The first task of the Guards Brigade is to protect the safety of Maximus and the entire team's command. As a veteran for many years, you don't know this!" Quintus reminded with a serious look: "Don't look at Mark. Sims is young, very shrewd and very resourceful. I believe you have already tasted his power just now.

Focus on training your soldiers and don't mess with other things. We must unite now to be ready to face the Roman army that may arrive at any time. "

"Quintus, whether you believe it or not, I am really just complaining. I have no other meaning. I am too lazy to care about the things between you and Frontinus!" Aulus was a little annoyed, turned around and walked away angrily. .

When passing Frontinus in front of him, Frontinus glanced at him in surprise, then looked back at Quintus who was standing at the foot of the steps.

Quintus nodded to him.

He nodded in return.

After seeing off the generals, Maximus did not sit down to rest. Instead, he called Volenus: "Is there anything in the city that needs my attention during the two days I am leaving with my army?"

"The leader of Spartacus sent a messenger, saying that their army has reached the north of Tarantum, captured Uria, and built a camp with Uria as the center. They are now dividing their forces to attack nearby towns, expand their base...

The messenger brought an order from the leader of Spartacus. He believed that our troops were still too far away from them and hoped to continue moving south. It would be best to build the camp near Bari. This way, when the Roman army attacks, they can gather together faster..."

After Volenus finished speaking, he saw Maximus sitting at the table and looking down at his hands, as if he was not listening to him. He couldn't help but ask again: "Chief, we must obey Spartacus." Will he lead his army to move south under the command of Chief Si?"

Maximus flicked his nails and said slowly: "Volenus, you are an old man in our army. You should know very well that the highest authority in our free Italy is the Council of Military Governors. Although Spartacus has He has the greatest say, but he has no right to interfere with other leaders’ management of their own armies, so what he gives is not an order, but only a suggestion.”

"Chief, it's me who's confused and got this all wrong!" Volenus quickly admitted his mistake.

Maximus explained earnestly: "There is a road connection from Sarapia to the city of Uriah. The army can arrive in a day or two. Even if the Roman army attacks, nothing will happen. And in Sarapia Asia can not only ensure the material supply of the army, but also ensure safety. This is the best place to station.

But if they camped near Bari, they would be too close to Spartacus and his army. Nowadays, many people come to join our Free Italy team every day. Spartacus will definitely not be selective like us. They will definitely accept as long as they come to vote. In this way, their team will expand rapidly. With more people, they will inevitably occupy more land. When our station borders them, there will be a lot of trouble, just like in Pompeii. Same……"

"Chief, you have thought carefully. We really cannot go south." Volenus suddenly understood and immediately expressed his attitude.

"Is the messenger gone?"

"Not yet, I've been waiting for you to come back."

"After a while, I'll go see him. After all, Spartacus is the leader of our entire free Italy. If you refuse, you have to be polite." Maximus became a little more serious and then asked: "Also Anything else?"

"Today, fifty-eight Sarapians accepted our employment and began to work in the city, and a group of people went to the market to buy things... Two merchant ships arrived at the port, Pygris We have already discussed with them how much money they have earned and how many emergency supplies they have purchased, but Pygris has not yet reported..."

Maximus smiled: "This is a good thing. Although there are only fifty-eight people, I believe that more and more Sarapians will succumb to us in the future! There will also be more and more merchant ships coming to the port for trade." The more! So our military operations must be stepped up to obtain more supplies to make this town run better...

By the way, has the market implemented our previous request to increase the prices of food and cloth, and lower the prices of scrapped copperware, pottery, marble statues and other luxuries? "

"Yes, I heard that someone bought a lot of good pottery today."

"That's OK." Maximus nodded with satisfaction: "At this time, food, cloth and other materials are all urgently needed by us. We must use high prices to prevent the Sarapians from buying too much, and good pottery, marble When we don’t need these things, the price will be lower, so that they can take advantage of it, and it can also be converted into money for us to buy more supplies from the merchants..."

Chief, you are trying to drain the blood and sweat of the Sarapias! ... Volenus only dared to think about it in his heart, and then said: "Capito came here today and wanted to tell you that the weapons workshop outside the city has started work."

"This is the best news I heard today!" Maximus stood up excitedly and said loudly: "Capito did a good job. I will go to the weapons workshop to take a good look at it tomorrow and give it to them. Encouragement. Uh... you should go along too. If Capito and the others have any difficulties, we can discuss it on the spot."

"Okay, Chief." Volenus agreed, and then said: "Capito also told me another thing... He said that we have recruited too many women recently, except for a few who went to the kitchen. In addition, most of them were returned to their warehouse.

Many of them were maids from the homes of the powerful people in Sarapia. They were not as obedient as the original female slaves, and most of them did not know how to weave and tailor clothes. On the contrary, they could seduce men and disrupt the order of the warehouse. He desperately wanted the leader to Send someone else to take control of these women..."

"That's a question..." Maximus said jokingly: "Vorenus, are you interested in keeping these women under control?"

Upon hearing this, Volenus shook his head vigorously: "Chief, I'm old. It's already very hard just to manage this city as you said. I don't have the extra energy to manage these women...

I heard that you included so many women into our ranks to provide spouses for the soldiers. Why not marry these women to the soldiers as soon as possible? Wouldn't that solve the problem? "

Maximus covered his chin with his hand, thought for a while, and said: "I did forcefully recruit so many women to solve the single problem of the soldiers, but I can't marry them off so quickly, otherwise it will only destroy them. Our team... seems to need to establish a women's camp——"

"Girls camp?"

"It is a team exclusively for women. They have their own camp, with women serving as team officers and conducting military management. Women who have jobs in other departments can go to work during the day and must return to the women's camp at night, even if they marry a soldier This will have to be the case in the future, until they have their own land and house in the future, and then they can live together...

This can not only avoid scandals and disturb the morale of the army, but also improve the combat effectiveness of our team, especially when marching and fighting..." Maximus kept talking, thinking about the leader of the rebel army in the late Ming Dynasty. The establishment of the women’s camp in Li Zicheng’s team.

"This is a good idea!" Volenus praised, and then asked: "But in the women's camp to be set up... there will be about 2,000 women. Who will be the chief officer? Can they manage themselves well? ?”

Maximus smiled slightly: "Don't underestimate women. There is an old saying, 'A woman can hold up half the sky.'"

Volenus was a little confused as to why he had never heard of such a strange old saying.

"What do you think of Arconis?"

"She... may be able to manage the women's camp well, but now our team has more than 15,000 people, and the kitchen affairs are very busy. If she is missing, I'm afraid..."

"Indeed, the team's logistical support is very important at this stage..." Maximus gave up the idea of ​​letting Aconis serve as the captain of the female camp. He said: "Don't worry, we will always find a suitable female camp captain." candidate.”

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Sarapia's weapons workshop is not in the city, but on the south side of the town, on the north bank of the Orfidus River. It is not just a workshop, but a dozen large and small houses scattered in the depressions along the river, forming a small settlement.

Accompanied by Capito, Maximus was really surprised when he saw the weapons workshop from a distance.

When Volenus first reported to him that there was a weapons workshop in Sarapia, he subconsciously thought it was a yard much larger than the blacksmith shop in Pompeii, but he didn't expect it to be a village.

While being surprised, he couldn't help but have doubts: "The distance between here and Sarapia is not short. When we captured Sarapia, we didn't know there was a weapons workshop here, and we didn't control it in time. A lot of the blacksmiths and slaves here must have escaped. Did you pick some more blacksmiths and slaves from the city? "

Capito shook his head and said: "Chief, this weapons workshop was built not long ago. Ordinary blacksmiths and ordinary slaves cannot make it run. It must be blacksmiths and slaves who have been in this industry for many years. That Erakus spent a lot of money to find blacksmiths and slaves from Rome.

Precisely because they were hard-earned and fearful of causing jealousy among their colleagues and suffering losses, he let these people live in the city. They would go out to work in the early morning and escort them back at dusk. We captured the city of Sarapia at night. These blacksmiths and slaves There is no way to escape even if you want to. "

"Haha, it seems we are lucky enough!" Maximus smiled happily.

"This is Fortuna's blessing!" Capito responded.

Capito's explanation made Maximus more eager to inspect the weapons workshop. He urged the horse and accelerated towards the destination.

Previously, Maximus' army specially sent a hundred-man team to be stationed here, and any strangers were strictly prohibited from approaching or entering, which shows that they attach great importance to it.

Being in the workshop, his ears were filled with deafening sounds, smoke was filling his eyes, and his nose was filled with a burnt smell... Maximus felt dizzy for a moment.

At this time, a strong man wearing a white robe but with dark skin and rosy skin came forward and said to Capito respectfully: "Sir... Your Excellency..."

Capito moved his hand to the side: "This is our leader Maximus. He came here specifically to take a look at our weapons workshop today. Are you ready?"

"Chief... Chief!" The man became more and more nervous and bent down: "Welcome... welcome to your arrival, we... are all ready."