CHAPTER 51: CHAPTER 50: ABSORBING THE LEADER

"Enomai was right, these dock workers and sailors are good recruits. Moreover, Campania has several port towns, and there are far more workers and sailors than just these few hundred. If we don’t let them join, other workers and sailors who want to join will hesitate as well..." Cross’s eyes moved, and he said in a low voice, "We can agree to let them join first, and after they join, we can slowly figure out how to break them up and assign them to various battalions..."

"I think this approach is inappropriate." Hamilcar objected, "Since we’ve agreed, we should keep our promises. Otherwise, they will be dissatisfied, and if the soldiers aren’t united, we’ll face troubles when we fight."

"So you’re saying you disagree with them joining?" Cross asked, discontentedly.

Hamilcar said grimly, "We can allow them to join and let them form their own team. I’m sure that Attutmus will be their captain. We can also allow him to attend our Military Commander Conference. This way, through the Military Commander Conference, Attutmus can carry out every resolution passed at the meeting, and we can thereby control them!"

Cross, Enomai, and Antonix were taken aback.

Cross, a bit agitated, said, "This person called Attutmus neither started a riot in the Gladiator School nor fought alongside us to defeat the Roman Army. What right does he have to attend our Military Commander Conference? If such a person can easily join our Military Commander Conference, what will the soldiers think!"

Cross’s words made Enomai and Antonix nod in agreement.

"Maximus, do you have any suggestions?" Spartacus asked timely, drawing everyone’s attention to the silent Maximus.

Maximus cleared his throat and said loudly, "If we only want to be a band of mountain bandits who occasionally plunder or harass the Romans, it doesn’t matter if we don’t accept this group of sailors from Napolet. But now we aim to oppose the strongest Roman people in the Mediterranean. Only by uniting everyone we can unite, strengthening our forces, can we hope to defeat the Romans and gain our freedom. Otherwise, we can only end in defeat and death—"

"We’re not afraid of death." Cross interrupted coldly.

"We’re not afraid of death, but since there’s a chance of victory, why not strive for it?" Maximus retorted without backing down.

"I think we should indeed try." Spartacus chimed in timely, speaking solemnly, "Think about it. Ever since we defeated the Roman Army, more and more people have been joining us. Today, someone like Attutmus came, leading his team wanting to join us. As long as we continue to defeat the Roman Army, not only will this situation continue, but it will also increase, with the numbers becoming more sizable. What should we do then?

Are we to refuse them for fear of disorder? Italy is so vast, with so many people, many capable and who hate Rome. If they bring people over, we shouldn’t reject them but should actively incorporate them. This not only rapidly expands our forces but also, when our numbers exceed ten thousand, reaching twenty, thirty, forty, or even fifty thousand, could we manage with just a few of us?!"

"Fifty thousand! That’s impossible, is it?!" Enomai exclaimed in disbelief.

"Why impossible?" Hamilcar reminded, "It’s only been a few days since we defeated the Roman Army, and we already have over three thousand people. Including this batch of sailors and workers, our numbers match what we had before the fight. At this rate, our forces will surpass ten thousand within a month."

Seizing the opportunity, Spartacus said, "The more people we have, if not well managed, chaos might ensue without the Romans attacking, causing us to disband. Therefore, we need to absorb those capable, allowing them to participate in our meetings, and manage the people they bring according to our collective will. Only then, when our ranks grow larger, will our fighting strength increase, enabling us to defeat the Romans together!"

Cross, Enomai, and Antonix appeared thoughtful.

Spartacus continued, "Of course, your concerns aren’t without reason. Let’s see if we can have it this way: Attutmus can become a Great Captain, leading his people, and join our Military Commander Conference, but he’ll only have advisory rights, not voting rights initially, just like Maximus before. Once he proves his capabilities, we’ll then discuss granting him voting rights. Besides, these dock workers and sailors probably lack combat experience, so we can assign some of our people to act as their team officers, quickly enhancing their combat abilities."

Listening to this, Maximus couldn’t help but look at Spartacus a few more times: the rebel leader wasn’t just someone who had the overall picture in mind and united comrades; he also skillfully used some means to achieve his goals...

As Maximus was lost in thoughts, he noticed Spartacus suddenly looking at him. Thinking that Spartacus discovered his thoughts, he saw Spartacus apologetically say, "Maximus, since you took on the role of Supply Camp Captain, the Supply Camp has become more vital to our entire force. The brothers all acknowledge your capabilities. I originally planned to propose granting you voting rights like ours at a meeting soon. I don’t think anyone would oppose it. But now, if Attutmus joins and sees you’re in a similar situation, he’ll likely accept it more easily. So, I ask that you endure a little longer."

Maximus deliberately stayed silent for a while before unwillingly asking, "How much longer do I have to endure?"

"Once Attutmus understands the importance of the Supply Camp to our force, we’ll discuss your issue. I believe it won’t take long."

"Alright, then I’ll... wait a bit more."

Spartacus looked around at the other four and said, "Let’s vote. Do we agree to Attutmus’s request to allow him to join and participate in our Military Commander Conference, with advisory rights?"

"I agree." Hamilcar promptly stated, as he was the one who proposed the suggestion, and naturally, he supported it.

Surprisingly, the second to agree wasn’t Antonix but Cross. He quickly agreed, in part because Spartacus had valid points, and also because the Second Battalion recently suffered disgrace over a Medical Team issue, so he’d rather have Attutmus join than see Maximus already have the same rights as him.

Ultimately, Hamilcar’s suggestion was easily passed.

........................

Attutmus joined the rebel army with his team, becoming a Great Captain and forming the Fifth Battalion.

This move by the rebel army triggered a chain reaction. In the next two days, dock workers and sailors continuously joined, increasing the rebel army’s strength to over five thousand. The leaders then decided to send three battalions to Capua to rescue more Gladiators.

The First, Second, and Third Battalions, under the leadership of Spartacus, Cross, and Enomai, marched quickly along Ania Avenue northward early in the morning, reaching Capua in just one day.

Initially, after escaping from Capua, the Gladiators went directly to Vesuvius. For more than two months, they’ve been active in the south, so the Capua People had no idea the rebel army would suddenly attack again. They hurriedly closed the city gates, unable to bring in residents and supplies from outside.

The panicked Capua People could only stand on the city walls, watching helplessly as the rebel soldiers swept around Capua, breaking one Gladiator School after another. They recruited nearly a thousand Gladiators into their ranks and seized a large number of supplies, then successfully returned to camp.

With their strength enhanced, the rebel army’s activity wasn’t limited to the northern Vesuvius Region. They began expanding throughout the Vesuvius Region, even threatening nearby towns and occasionally cutting off Ania Avenue.