Chapter 92: The Start of the Gallic War Marcus kept his promise and provided the new armor and weapons to the centurions and soldiers of the 12th Legion stationed on the front line.
The steel plate armor made such an impression that they didn't notice it at first. However, the new gladius proved to be just as formidable when they actually used it.
In battle, clashes between weapons were inevitable. Yet the gladius that Marcus had distributed either chipped or shattered the weapons it collided with.
If the regular Roman army's weapons were like this, the barbarian weapons were nothing to mention.
The soldiers felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted, and their faces lit up with relief.
"Legate, we apologize for our rude behavior toward you earlier. We didn't know you cared so much about us," said Lucius, the senior centurion, the first to offer a respectful apology.
His words reflected the sentiments of the entire group of centurions, and it was no exaggeration to say so.
Marcus graciously accepted Lucius's apology, using the opportunity to raise his own stature without laying blame on anyone.
"There's no need to apologize. It is your duty as a senior centurion to be skeptical of a legate who may seem inexperienced. A poor legate can endanger the lives of the entire legion. I'm still not very experienced in battle, so I plan to listen to your counsel as much as possible. I hope you will be a great help to me in the future."
"Yes. I will dedicate all my abilities to assist you, Legate," Lucius replied.
"We will follow your orders without question, Legate!" another centurion added.
"There is nothing more impactful than the difference in equipment when a battle breaks out. You've already achieved a great feat that will be recorded in the history of Rome, Legate," a third centurion chimed in.
The others followed suit, praising Marcus.
Sitting among them, Marcus smiled pleasantly, exchanging compliments. The atmosphere was completely different from just a few hours earlier.
Although he was surrounded by praise, Marcus's true feelings remained indifferent.
He observed the centurions coldly, trying to understand their personalities and motivations.
He had invested so much into the 12th Legion not simply because it was his assigned unit. Marcus intended to thoroughly militarize the 12th Legion.
The soldiers who would risk their lives and gain experience in Gaul for at least two years were invaluable, especially those who had followed Marcus's command from the start and would continue to sync with him.
If he hadn't planned on taking them along for the long term, he wouldn't have given them his new weapons, even though they were his own legion.
This Gallic campaign also had the character of a final test for Marcus's larger plan.
He intended to gain practical experience by commanding an army in battle and verify how effective steel was compared to older weapons in real combat.
If the results proved unsatisfactory, he might need to revise his grand plan drastically.
Of course, such a failure was unlikely, but Marcus couldn't afford to be complacent. Arrogance and complacency always paved the way to ruin.
With the morale of his legion at its peak, Marcus joined in the construction of defensive lines like the other legions.
After half a month, the Helvetii envoys returned.
With the addition of two more regular legions, Caesar's army now consisted of seven legions. Adding the auxiliary legion, it effectively numbered eight legions.
Among the newcomers, Marcus recognized a few familiar faces.
Antonius, who had transferred upon receiving Marcus's letter, had finally arrived in Gaul. Caesar appointed Antonius as the cavalry officer of the 12th Legion.
With the defensive line in place and all the regular legions accounted for, there was no more reason to hesitate.
Caesar firmly rejected the Helvetii's request.
"We've discussed it at length, and we've decided that we cannot allow you to pass through our province. If you cross the Rhone River, we will consider it a declaration of war against Rome and will respond accordingly."
"Despicable! You deceived us from the start to buy time! Is this how Rome does things?" the Helvetii envoy spat, realizing they had been tricked, before returning to his camp.
The hardliners among them, unwilling to back down, tried to cross the river. But upon seeing the Roman army's defensive line, they realized they couldn't break through and quickly turned back.
The Helvetii had no choice but to head west toward their original destination.
They sought mediation from the Haedui, the most powerful tribe in Gaul.
The Haedui had close ties to Rome, and their leaders even held Roman citizenship as pro-Roman Gauls.
Dumnorix, a powerful member of the Haedui who had close relations with the Helvetii, persuaded his tribe. Eventually, the Haedui chief, Diviciacus, decided to avoid unnecessary conflict and convinced the Sequani tribe to allow the Helvetii to pass.
When the Haedui contacted Caesar, he immediately led his legions and set up camp at the border.
It was understood that a population of over 350,000 would cause friction with surrounding territories.
As expected, a minor clash broke out when the Helvetii passed through the Sequani's land.
The Helvetii used this as an excuse to start plundering Sequani territory.
The Haedui, having received a strong protest from the Sequani, realized the severity of the situation and requested Caesar's help.
"The Helvetii will pose a serious threat to Rome if they settle near your province. Please send your army to assist us."
It was common for Gallic tribes to bring in external forces to mediate their disputes.
Caesar had no reason to refuse and immediately marched his army into Gaul, as he didn't need Senate approval to move his forces outside the province for defense.
"Are you sure it's alright to act without the Senate's permission?" one officer asked.
"What do I have to worry about with you at my side? This was a matter requiring quick action, and you can confirm to the Senate that my actions were justified," Caesar replied.
"True. But do you trust the Haedui, Caesar?"
"Of course not. No matter how friendly they are to Rome, Gallic tribes can never be trusted allies. They will strike at us when we let our guard down. We must always keep this in mind when making our plans."
Caesar's assessment was accurate. Despite his sometimes excessive confidence, he never misunderstood the true nature of situations.
The Roman army reached the Arar River, the boundary between the Sequani and Haedui territories, and 4,000 allied Gallic cavalry led by the Haedui waited for them.
Caesar met with them, then sent scouts to monitor the Helvetii's movements.
Half a day later, the scouts returned with a report.
"The Helvetii are attempting to cross the river. About a quarter of them have already crossed, and they are still crossing. It looks like they'll be finished by tomorrow."
"Good job. This is a great opportunity for us. We cannot miss this chance to divide and conquer. Marcus, prepare for a surprise attack with four legions, including yours."
"Yes, I'll execute it immediately."
Marcus felt a surge of excitement as he took charge of his first battle command.
This was no longer a campaign in the east, where resistance had been minimal.
Now, it was time to face a real war.
He led his legion out of camp at midnight, feeling the weight of the battlefield's atmosphere. His heart pounded, and the air was thick with tension.
By the time the 25,000-strong Roman army reached the riverbank, three-quarters of the Helvetii had already crossed.
There was no better moment to split and destroy the enemy.
Caesar immediately ordered an attack.
"They are a potential threat to Rome! Do not spare any of them—wipe them all out!"
"Waaaaaaah!"
With a roar that shook the earth, the Roman legions surged forward.
The Helvetii, still attempting to cross the river, were caught off guard by this sudden assault.
"Ro-Roman army! It's a surprise attack!"
"Stop crossing the river! Form a line and—!"
Thwack!
A spear thrown by Spartacus struck the face of the commander who was attempting to issue orders.
The Helvetii, unable to form a proper defense, were helpless against the Roman surprise attack. Their forces were disorganized, with non-combatants and combatants mixed together, which only hindered their efforts.
In contrast, the Roman legions, well-ordered and disciplined, pushed forward relentlessly, sweeping away the Helvetii like an unstoppable wave.
This battle turned out to be more of an annihilation than a fight.
Those Helvetii still on the far side of the river could only watch as their comrades were slaughtered.
Most of the Helvetii on the riverbank were killed, and the rest were taken as prisoners.
Marcus exhaled in relief. The battle, which he had feared would be much harder, had ended more swiftly than expected.
It was a perfect warm-up for the larger conflict to come.
With minimal casualties for his legion and tens of thousands of Helvetii lost, the morale of the Roman army soared even higher.
Caesar seized on this momentum and ordered his engineers to build a bridge.
While the Helvetii were still reeling, the engineers completed a bridge capable of supporting an entire army in just one day.
Seeing this, the Helvetii's morale plummeted. The reality of the immense gap between their capabilities and those of the Romans became undeniable.
Desperate, the Helvetii decided to send envoys to Rome again.
The same envoy who had left with curses just days earlier now returned, face red with embarrassment, seeking another audience.
Caesar met him in his tent, with Marcus by his side.
"So, you wish to negotiate now?" Caesar asked.
"Yes, as you said, Legate. We are willing to migrate wherever Rome designates. Please, halt the fighting. We would also ask that you persuade the other Gallic tribes not to view us as enemies."
"But weren't you the ones who ignored the goodwill of the Haedui and Sequani tribes and started plundering? And now you ask them not to be hostile? Isn't that a bit shameless?" Caesar replied.
"We will, of course, compensate the Sequani for their plundered land. Once we settle and stabilize, we'll pay them back with interest. We don't have much left right now, though…" The envoy faltered, unwittingly revealing key information, his face turning pale.
Caesar smiled in satisfaction and nodded.
"Good. I'll make you a generous offer out of pity for your situation. You'll pay the Haedui and Sequani tribes within two years, consult with the Gallic tribes to decide your migration destination, and offer the children of influential leaders as hostages to Rome. If you agree to these three terms, I will cease all hostile actions."
The envoy was momentarily speechless, his expression darkening with frustration.
Marcus knew that from Rome's perspective, this was a reasonable offer, but for the Helvetii, it was an unacceptable demand. To them, providing hostages would be a pledge of vassalage.
As expected, the envoy clenched his jaw and shook his head.
"We cannot accept the provision of hostages. It is an insult to us."
"The hostages Rome asks for are not what you think. Rome treats them with the utmost respect. They are guests, not captives."
"That is impossible. Even if Rome thinks so, our people will never accept it. We'll be seen as traitors, as those who surrendered and pledged allegiance to Rome. It's an intolerable insult."
"Insult? Asking for hostages and compensation from those who have violated Rome's borders and plundered other tribes' lands is an insult? It seems our perspectives differ. Well then, if you refuse… we will fight to the end. What will it be?"
The envoy slammed his fist on the desk, standing up in anger.
"We have a custom of holding hostages, but never of giving them! You want to fight to the end? Fine! Let's see how far you get!"
With a snort, the envoy turned and stormed out, leaving Caesar with a dumbfounded expression. Marcus couldn't help but chuckle.
"This is where cultural differences show. The Helvetii must have seen your request as a demand for absolute submission."
Rome's treatment of hostages from Gallic tribes was far from that of captives. Rome treated them as honored guests, providing them with luxuries, subtly encouraging them to adopt Roman culture. Rome would then return those who had been Romanized to their tribes, effectively making them pro-Roman.
Caesar had hoped to use this method with the Helvetii, but the negotiations failed for an unexpected reason.
Now, there was only one option left: full-scale war.
"Out of the 360,000 Helvetii, almost a quarter have been neutralized. That leaves about 270,000, of which at least 60,000 are warriors. Our legions total nearly 50,000. When factoring in our superior equipment and training, we have the advantage. Even without the unreliable Gallic allies, the odds are in our favor. It's surprising they haven't surrendered."
"Even the non-combatants can still fight. They must believe they can win by stretching their forces further," Marcus replied.
"We'll show them just how foolish that thinking is."
Caesar, despite his advantage, held back from attacking immediately. He kept his distance from the Helvetii, hoping to provoke them into attacking first.
His plan was flawless, but one concern remained: securing supplies.
Gaul was unfamiliar territory, and maintaining a steady supply line would be crucial.
Caesar asked the Haedui tribe for supplies, but Marcus knew they would likely not deliver on time.
Securing a reliable supply line was vital for success. Without it, even the most invincible army could fail.
Marcus took action to mitigate this risk. He advised Caesar to prepare for delays and used the reserve legions to procure supplies from other tribes, ensuring the Roman army would not suffer from food shortages.
Caesar praised Marcus's foresight during the commanders' meeting, but he did not hold the Haedui accountable, merely offering a subtle warning that he had anticipated their delay.
From that point on, the Haedui tribe's movements sped up, and the Gallic cavalry, once hesitant, regained their focus.
Caesar's main forces kept close behind the Helvetii, while his Gallic cavalry harried their flanks, constantly applying pressure.
With supplies dwindling and enemies closing in from all directions, the Helvetii could no longer wait.
Finally, they turned their army around and advanced toward the Roman forces.
Caesar accepted their challenge without hesitation.
"Disperse the cavalry to distract them while the infantry seizes the high ground. Form ranks and follow your centurions' orders. The enemy may be numerous, but they are nothing more than untrained rabble. Trust in your commander, and in yourselves! As long as you follow me, you will not lose! Roma invicta!"
"Uooooo! Roma invicta!"
In response to Caesar's rallying cry, the Roman army shouted as one, their fear replaced by determination and excitement for the battle ahead.
The soldiers' eyes gleamed as they faced the oncoming Helvetii.
The front-line soldiers raised their spears, while archers unleashed a hail of arrows from behind.
Marcus's legion drew their swords, preparing to charge.
The real war had begun.
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