Chapter 97: A Perfect Victory The Germanic warriors charged aggressively from the start, eager to redeem the shame of their defeat in the duel.
The distance between the two armies was so close that the Roman soldiers had no time to throw their javelins before the clash began.
"Don't lose heart. They're only half our number!""Let's crush the Roman scum!"
Ariovistus shouted with fiery enthusiasm. Though anxious, he still held confidence in his army's chances.
Despite their humiliating loss in the one-on-one duel, the Germanic army still had several advantages over the Romans.
For one, they outnumbered the Romans nearly two to one and had more cavalry.
While the Roman archers had harassed them with strange weapons, the Germanic cavalry still numbered around six thousand, while the Roman cavalry barely reached five thousand.
More importantly, the Germanic warriors were fueled by a fierce determination to never yield.
Unlike other peoples, the Germanic tribes often brought their women to the battlefield, creating a psychological barrier that compelled the warriors to fight for their families even in the direst of circumstances.
This time, their tactic proved effective. The Germanic warriors were driven by the need to protect their loved ones.
Ariovistus divided his army into four parts, arranging the left wing, center, and right wing in a line, with six thousand cavalry positioned behind the left wing.
His plan was clear: break through the enemy's right wing with the left wing and cavalry, then strike at the Roman rear. From the center, Ariovistus would observe the situation and deploy reinforcements where needed.
It was a standard formation, typical of a battle.
The Roman army's formation to face the Germanic tribes wasn't much different from their previous battle against the Helvetii.
They deployed eight legions horizontally, adopting the traditional Roman three-line formation.
However, Marcus had anticipated Ariovistus's approach and had already made adjustments.
Knowing the Germanic army's focus on their left wing to attack the Roman right, Marcus split his 12th legion—the most elite—into two parts. He placed half on the left wing to confront the enemy's right wing.
The leader of this attack was Spartacus, who, having won the duel, naturally took command on the Roman left.
The remaining half of the 12th legion held the right wing, where the Germanic assault was expected to be strongest. Marcus personally led these troops, who were equipped with reinforced armor.
With the legion split across both wings, Marcus received support from the 11th legion, which filled the gaps in the formation.
He also placed Borenius and Pullo's century on the right wing, confident in their abilities.
The crucial task of commanding the cavalry was entrusted to Antony.
"The Germanic cavalry may lack skilled commanders, but their individual strength should not be underestimated. Command them well."
"Leave it to me. I'll deal with them swiftly and decisively."
With experience as an officer in the East, Antony knew how to utilize cavalry in rotation. The Germanic cavalry, by contrast, did not know how to harness their mobility effectively as a group.
Antony led the Roman archers and Gallic cavalry to confront the Germanic cavalry charging towards the Roman right wing.
"Keep your distance! Don't engage them head-on."
Pipipipip!
Hundreds of arrows flew, cutting through the air as they targeted the Germanic cavalry.
Dozens of riders fell, their horses crashing to the ground as if struck by a single force.
Chalalalak. The archers quickly reloaded.
Pupupupuk!
More cavalrymen fell.
Compared to the Romans or the Eastern kingdoms, the Germanic tribes had poor armor.
While they wore some protection, it was insufficient against the powerful composite bows used by the Romans.
Ssak! Peuk!
Another cavalryman fell, blood spilling from his chest.
"Cough!""Don't give up! Keep pushing forward!"
Despite the losses, the Germanic cavalry maintained their discipline. If they hesitated or changed direction, they would be easy targets.
The Germanic cavalry commander, covering his chest and face with his shield, shouted, his teeth clenched, "We'll deal with those archers first, then strike at their rear! Keep charging!"
This was the proper approach for regular cavalry facing archers. They could not outrun cavalry of similar speed, but by charging with determination, they could disrupt the archers' line.
But Antony had anticipated this. He had positioned the Gallic cavalry slightly apart from the archers, perfectly placed to strike the Germanic cavalry's flank.
At Antony's signal, the Gallic cavalry charged toward the Germanic cavalry's left side.
The Germanic cavalry, now forced to deal with the Gallic cavalry, was in a difficult position.
If they continued charging toward the Roman archers, they would suffer immense losses.
The Germanic cavalry commander quickly changed his orders.
"Turn around! We'll deal with the Gallic scum first, then the archers!"
But the Gallic cavalry, anticipating this move, calmly turned and retreated, leaving the Germanic cavalry confused and disoriented.
As they tried to adjust, the Roman archers unleashed another barrage of arrows.
Ssaeak! Pupupupuk!
"Aaargh!""Aaah!"
The Germanic cavalry commander gritted his teeth, watching his soldiers fall.
By the time the cavalry reorganized for another charge, the Roman archers had already retreated, their arrows constantly finding their targets.
Effective command comes from experience.
The Germanic cavalry commander, unfamiliar with such a situation, struggled to make a clear decision.
Should he split his cavalry into two, as the enemy had done, and confront them head-on?
Or should he brace for a flank attack from the Gallic cavalry and continue pushing forward?
A moment of hesitation on the battlefield could lead to catastrophic consequences.
While the commander hesitated, the Germanic cavalry took heavy losses from the constant barrage of arrows.
"Uaaaah! Cowards! If you're warriors, face us in open combat instead of running away!"
No matter how loudly he shouted, the Roman army didn't respond.
On the battlefield, calling someone a coward was a backhanded compliment, acknowledging the superiority of their strategy.
Antony calmly weakened the Germanic cavalry, steadily lowering their numbers and morale, preparing for the final strike.
Ariovistus felt his mouth dry as he watched his cavalry fall apart, just as he feared.
His left wing, which had been his main focus for breaking through the Roman right, seemed to lack the strength to press forward.
"What are you doing? You need to break through the Roman right wing while our allies hold their ground! Push harder, don't give them a moment to recover!"
He shouted, but his commands couldn't change the outcome.
Marcus, fully aware of Ariovistus's plan, held firm on the defense and refrained from attacking recklessly.
Breaking through the Roman defensive lines, with their new armor and tightly held shields, was nearly impossible.
The Germanic warriors swung their axes with all their might, but the Roman right wing remained steadfast, pushing back whenever the enemy faltered.
Marcus sensed the growing frustration of the Germanic warriors.
He called out to his centurions, giving orders to maintain their discipline.
"Borenius! The enemy's pressure on that side will increase. Stay calm and counterattack with precision. Pullo, support Borenius's century so they can hold their position!"
Borenius and Pullo, both exemplary in their roles, performed flawlessly, complementing each other's strengths and commanding their units with impressive synergy.
Borenius expertly managed his soldiers, adjusting their formation as the enemy attacked, maintaining an unbreakable defense.
His personal bravery was unmatched as he deflected a Germanic warrior's axe with his shield and swiftly drove his gladius into the enemy's heart.
Pullo, on the other hand, was so physically imposing that he easily overpowered any Germanic warrior who challenged him, showing no signs of fatigue.
Together, their leadership formed an impenetrable wall with the new armor and the support of the 12th legion, a force no enemy could breach.
'I need those two for myself. I'll bring them into the 12th legion by any means necessary,' Marcus thought, his desire to recruit them growing stronger as he watched Pullo defeat another Germanic warrior.
In his mind, he envisioned a powerful combination: Spartacus, Borenius, and Pullo leading the charge to crush the enemy's morale.
With them as the spearhead, no enemy could withstand their assault.
Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Spartacus on the left wing was once again proving his worth, driving back the enemy.
Antony's cavalry, meanwhile, had almost completely neutralized the enemy's cavalry.
This success was also being relayed to Caesar, who commanded the Roman forces from the center.
Unlike Pompey, Caesar wasn't the type to enter a battle with a guarantee of victory. Instead, he was bold, ready to seize any opportunity, even when the odds seemed slightly against him.
Confident in his ability to command, he trusted his well-trained army to follow his orders without question.
He assessed the battlefield with a keen eye, adjusting tactics on the fly.
"Marcus, hold the right wing in place for now. Don't move them. Quintus, the left wing is advancing too quickly—slow them down to match the center's pace. The center will withdraw slowly and draw the enemy in. I'll manage them myself, but make sure the centurions stay alert and prevent the front line from breaking."
The legionnaires, swiftly relaying Caesar's orders, adjusted their formations.
Soon, the Roman center began to curve, forming a convex crescent shape.
The Germanic center, unaware, advanced too deep into the Roman lines.
Meanwhile, the right wing of the Romans held firm, while the left wing pushed forward, closing in on the Germanic forces and completing the encirclement.
As Caesar continued to monitor the battlefield, he made subtle adjustments to ensure the encirclement tightened.
By the time Ariovistus realized the trap, the Germanic forces were already caught.
Disorganized and unable to maneuver, the Germanic warriors exposed their flanks to the advancing Roman left wing.
At that moment, Antony's cavalry, having neutralized the enemy's cavalry, rejoined the battle.
Marcus had earlier ordered Antony to direct the Gallic cavalry to the left, where they could attack the Germanic left wing with archers.
The plan was executed flawlessly.
The Roman left wing, now reinforced, launched a devastating assault on the Germanic center.
"The enemy is in our trap! Crush them mercilessly!" shouted Spartacus, rallying his troops.
The Roman army, energized by the collapse of the Germanic center, pressed forward with unstoppable momentum.
The disarray in the Germanic ranks made it impossible for them to defend themselves.
The Roman soldiers cut them down with swords and shields, while the Gallic cavalry hit their rear with precision.
Caught between attacks from all sides, the Germanic warriors were thrown into chaos.
"Don't push! Fall back and make space!" one shouted.
"We need to break through! Move forward!" another cried.
But the confusion was too much. The Germanic forces crowded into the center, unable to escape the relentless Roman onslaught.
The elite Germanic troops, who had been attacking the Roman right wing, were also trapped, unable to advance.
Roman archers, positioned on the outskirts, rained arrows down from behind, picking off warriors as they attempted to break through.
With no options left, the Germanic army began to disintegrate.
Their numbers, once an advantage, now restricted their movements and made them vulnerable.
The hammer-and-anvil tactic had been executed to perfection, and the Germanic forces were completely overwhelmed.
Fear spread among the Germanic warriors as they realized their fate.
"Why… why are there only Romans around us?" they muttered in panic, their weapons useless in the tight confines.
Without their commander to lead them, the Germanic army was doomed.
Ariovistus, driven back by the Gallic cavalry and Roman archers, retreated with his remaining forces.
Unable to escape, he found himself trapped by the advancing Roman cavalry.
"Caesar…" Ariovistus hissed, glaring at him with hatred.
Marcus, speaking in broken Germanic, ordered his surrender.
"Give up, or you'll die in vain."
Ariovistus, knowing what surrender would mean, refused.
"I will not become a spectacle for your triumph!" he shouted, swinging his axe at Caesar.
Before he could strike, arrows from Roman archers pierced his body, and spears from the Gallic cavalry finished the job.
Ariovistus, once a feared leader, fell to the ground, his body riddled with weapons.
The Gallic cavalry, still enraged from years of oppression, trampled his corpse.
The Gallic nobles, seeing their tormentor finally fall, cheered for Caesar and Marcus.
"To Caesar, the supreme commander of the great Roman army, glory be to the gods!"
"To Marcus Crassus, the representative of the great Roman Senate, blessings be to the gods!"
Caesar raised his hand in acknowledgment, but his mind was already on the next stage of the campaign.
With the victory secured, the western bank of the Rhine was now under Roman control, and Marcus had secured the rich resources of Alsace.
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