Chapter 2444: Grand Festival

Just as the Romans were discussing how to attack the opposite side tomorrow, the Han Dynasty sent over a state document, requesting a six-day ceasefire, which puzzled the Romans.

“What do you think the Han Army wants to do, suddenly asking for a six-day ceasefire?” Severus asked his staff group, looking puzzled.

After the Han Army formally sent over the state document, Severus’s expression became distinctly strange. Originally, he planned to conduct a drill today and lead the troops to charge directly across the marsh using the Fourteenth Legion’s Eagle Banner capability tomorrow, but now he received the Han Dynasty’s state document.

“Though the reason is unclear, with the wetland range we currently control, if we don’t use the Fourteenth Legion’s Eagle Banner, even if they hadn’t asked for a six-day ceasefire, it would be difficult for us to pass through the marsh in six days,” Pipunannus said helplessly.

Although a decision had been made earlier, Pipunannus found the wetland nauseating in a short time. More importantly, he knew that if possible, it was better to adjust the combat timeline. Earlier, his words, along with Fabio’s words, were more about boosting morale rather than acting with decisiveness…

The Roman advisory group had thought through various methods before, but using wetlands as a defensive perimeter was really something Romans hadn’t considered. It should be said that this was the first time in Roman military history that the enemy had created large-scale wetlands as fortifications.

If it were other conventional defenses, with the current Roman military might, a legion attack down would generally teach the other side a lesson. However, with wetlands, ten legion attacks could be launched, and as soon as you finish bombing the front, the back smooths out.

Of course, the most important point here is that these are enemy-created wetlands and mist, which goes against Roman war conventions, so regardless of whether the method is good or bad, a solution must be found quickly, making sure not to leave a shadow on our minds.

“Therefore, we unanimously believe they probably don’t want to fight us right now,” Fabio speculated, “and the marsh and mist are meant to make us stop and wait with them for six days.”

“Are they waiting for reinforcements to arrive?” Sulinarari suddenly asked with a smile.

“How could there be reinforcements? Parthia is probably doing its best to gather forces to head to Armenia for defense. As for here, even if Parthia sends reinforcements, it wouldn’t mean much,” Aristonos mocked. Because of Armenia’s geographical location, that place is almost Parthia’s dead end, so the Romans know Parthia will inevitably send troops there first.

As for Mesopotamia, well, it’s important, but how should I put it? Over the past few hundred years, Parthia mostly hasn’t reached Mesopotamia, yet they’ve managed just fine, only occasionally coughing up what they’ve swallowed earlier, nothing significant.

Therefore, although the Two Rivers are important, it doesn’t force Vologases V to respond with full strength. Reinforcements may come, but they certainly won’t exceed fifty thousand.

The more critical point is that, in the view of the Romans, the strength is almost negligible; whether there are fifty thousand more or fewer Parthian troops doesn’t matter when they are bent on crushing you; there’s no point in caring how many reinforcements you have.

“Put like that, there’s some logic to it,” Ganasis suddenly said, acknowledging Pipunannus’s indication. Though not fully understanding his intention, he respected him as an honest and capable senator.

“On the battlefield, we should be doing what disrupts the enemy’s plans, but as for the Han Dynasty, I think we should consider this carefully,” Novelli said, stroking his chin, already understanding Pipunannus’s idea.

Although the Eagle Banner of the Fourteen Combined Legion is quite reliable, Novelli is somewhat worried about Fabio’s reckless daring. What if in the middle, things don’t work out, and tens of thousands of troops sink? What would we do? It’s the first time using one Eagle Banner to bestow talents on everyone; such a thing hasn’t been done before.

Even though one responsibility of the Roman advisory group is to jointly connect consciousness to the Eagle Banner and project it onto soldiers without loss to form a shared capability, linking dozens of staff consciousness to one Eagle Banner and synchronizing it to a seventeen-thousand-troop army, Novelli is really afraid.

After all, this hasn’t been done before, theoretically speaking, although the Eagle Banner can cover everyone; everyone knows there’s an upper limit to the number of soldiers an individual can transmit Eagle Banner talents to. Though it can surpass limits, the more people added, the weaker the effect.

Therefore, Romans typically have two advisors connect one Eagle Banner to bless the legion led by that Eagle Banner, and then another two connect another Eagle Banner to bless the legion led by that Eagle Banner with talents.

In other words, when Fabio confidently assured there was absolutely no problem, in fact, no one in the Roman advisory group had ever attempted such a task, merely relying on their experience.

Thus, Novelli’s intention is to conduct more training days, make sure the situation is clear to avoid any mistakes that might bury their own.

Novelli also knows the reason Fabio and Pipunannus were so assured earlier was to dispel any shadow of the Han Dynasty possibly possessing heaven-changing abilities, but their confidence makes Novelli uneasy. What if there’s a mistake?

It’s a marsh, not a river—boats flip in the river, but you can swim back; try swimming in a marsh, see if you can swim in there; if you flip, who knows if a marsh wave might kill tens of thousands, definitely nailing them to shame’s pillory.

Therefore, Novelli decisively supports a six-day ceasefire; six days is enough for them to predict various situations that might arise and list out solutions, ensuring greater safety when crossing the marsh.

Moreover, within those six days, even without the Eagle Banner solution, they might come up with new solutions.

Novelli spoke up, leading Pipunannus to promptly follow—like Novelli guessed, Pipunannus was entirely to stabilize morale when he threw out those earlier words.

The Han Empire is truly powerful, capable of changing the skies; we Romans aren’t pushovers either, you can change the skies, and I can forcibly pass through, who fears whom? And really, do you think only the Han Dynasty can challenge heaven and earth? We Romans are no weaklings; challenging heaven and earth is straightforward, slaying gods, a necessity!

“Speaking of which, today I saw Mr. Jian dressed in a very luxurious outfit,” Pipunannus said, his eyes turning.

Upon these words, many in the tent nodded, forcibly redirecting everyone’s attention: today many had seen Jian Yong in that wide-sleeved brocade robe.

Though the red and black colors didn’t quite match Roman aesthetics, the fabric paired with those colors exuded an apparent dignity between gestures. Alright, Romans mostly drooled at Jian Yong’s fabric.

Even the distinguished attendees in the Roman system mostly belonged to the Grand Nobles, if not, high-ranking officers with no shortage of money.

But facing the less extravagant silk prices of this time—namely the so-called price of three catties of gold for one catty of raw silk—they too drooled over Jian Yong’s garment.

No way, compared to the silk Romans could obtain, Shu Brocade originally was a luxury for Han Nobility, and even its production in the Central Plains wasn’t very high.

Naturally, this luxury item, known for splendid beauty, was scarce for Romans, and Jian Yong, after all, is an Elder under Liu Bei’s command, thus the Shu Brocade used for ceremonial robes had to be top-grade.

Simply put, Romans, upon witnessing Jian Yong, who previously was less conscious of fashion, dressed in a resplendent garment blindingly bright, fully understood the meaning of luxury and dignity, gaining a clear perception of Han Dynasty’s affluence.

“Speaking of which, it seems the Han Dynasty’s diplomatic mission all changed into new attire today,” Pipunannus spoke again, shifting even Severus’s attention to the Han Dynasty’s fabrics—those silk materials were truly magnificent.

“It might be some kind of festival,” Severus pondered, mentioning, understanding such behavior, given Rome has a few national festivals as well.

“Your Majesty, I’ll inquire with the Han Envoy. If it is, giving the Han Army some face isn’t impossible, especially since the upcoming war is significant; we also need more preparation,” Pipunannus volunteered, liking to seek favors from Jian Yong, who, as far as he knew, had at least two cases of silk used for making clothes.

Occasionally, if lucky, and Pipunannus visited with legitimate gifts, Jian Yong might reward him with a roll, of course, he wouldn’t tell anyone about it.

“Why not,” Severus thought, agreeing that attacking during a national festival would be somewhat excessive.

What’s more significant is Han Dynasty’s displayed strength is, indeed, substantial, so Roman care for Han Dynasty’s perspective is notable, and the reinforcement of Parthia isn’t a concern; achieving total victory in one move doesn’t have any downsides.

Pipunannus entered the Han Army’s independent camp, where the Han diplomatic mission was all dressed in splendid attire, singing and feasting in the sunlight with extremely merry ambiance.

“Finance Officer, care for some feasting?” Jian Yong said with a smile, holding a wine glass, that free-spiritedness amidst intoxication and flair made Pipunannus deeply appreciate Jian Yong’s indulgence.

From Pipunannus’s understanding, Jian Yong is witty and wise, yet a prudent noble; this natural indulgence and the cheerful banquet atmosphere made him realize this must be an important Han Dynasty festival.