The Will of the Senate - First Consul reports

[Death the destroyer of worlds]

7. Winter 274 BC (Continued)

Tiberius Coruncanius (FLYdude) is victorious ! In a pitched battle he destroys the invading horde led by Lucco. The Gauls tried to break his center, but our valiant troops held the line, allowing Tiberius Coruncanius (FLYdude) to envelop and crush the Gauls. The Legio II Sabina Quintia killed 913 men for the loss of 199 of their own. The legion returns to their fort to block the access to Arretium.
I start the recruitement of one italian spearmen and one italian swordsmen. Our diplomat Sextus Antio (Ignoramus) succesfully negotiates for the map of the kingdom of Pontus. He will move on to the Ptolemaic empire. Our spy Quintis Classicianus (GeneralHankerchief) moves north to spy out more Gaul armies. I hold my breath . If the Gauls attack I stand a good chance of being overwhelmed by sheer numbers.

8. Spring 273 BC

Lugotorix loses his nerve and retreats toward Bononia !

Tarentum completed the construction of roads. Syracuse completed the construction of a dockyard. In compliance with the will of the senate I start construction of a naval I building, which will allow us to build warships. I start the recruitement of one italian spearmen, one italian swordsmen and one italian skirmishers unit.
I merge the Legio I Italia together with the Legio II Sabina Quintia and set of in hot pursuit, accompanied by tribune Augustus Verginius (TinCow) and tribune Publius Pansa (Glaucus). I reroute the resupply column led by Titus Vatinius (Tricky_Lady) toward Jenuensis as it is now practically undefended. I send legate Tiberius Coruncanius (FLYdude) to get the rest of the reinforcements.
My army catches up with Lugotorix on the outskirts of Bononia. I suprise him with a night attack. We are outnumbered, but not by a large margin. I position my spearmen in the center, swordsmen on the flanks and missiles at the front.

The armies face off against each other. Romans on the right, Gauls on the left.

Seeing the large rock formation I change my battleplan. The spearmen rush forward and use the rock formation to guard their right flank. This allows me to move my right flank to join my left flank. Then I use my skirmishers and funditores to antagonize the Gauls into charging the spearmen.

The Gauls fall for my ploy and charge the spearmen en masse.

Meanwhile our two flanks sweep around their right flank. Lugotorix sees the danger and several gaul units break off to stop them, but they are vastly outnumbered by my swordsmen. I myself, together with tribune Augustus Verginius (TinCow) and tribune Publius Pansa (Glaucus), charge the Gaul skirmishers and slingers that have run away from the pitched battle. They make a brave showing and fight to the last man. Lugotorix sees that the battle is lost and tries to reverse the tide by charging our weakened front line. Our troops bend, but do not break. Then I and the tribunes charge into the rear of the Gaul army and the Gaul army routs. Lugotorix manages to escape to Bononia with 27 men, but he leaves behind 1440 dead tribesmen for the loss of 142 romans.
My army invades Bononia and kills Lugotorix and another chieftain, Votoporix of Alesia. They fight to the last man and before the last of their 307 defenders have fallen, 27 romans have lost their lives.
I tear down the Gaul Auxilia III building and order the construction of an occupation. This is a local fort that keeps an eye on our new subjects. I leave tribune Publius Pansa (Glaucus) behind with a small garrison and move out towards the bridge with the rest of the troops and tribune Augustus Verginius (TinCow).
Our spy Quintis Classicianus (GeneralHankerchief) sneakes into Patavium to check out its defenses. Our spy Decius Curtius (Braden) leaves Lilybaeum and starts the journey toward Cispine Gaul. Lastly, I start the construction of a shrine to Saturnus in Melite.

9. Summer 273 BC
The kingdom of Armenia declares war on the kingdom of Parthia. The kingdom of Parthia breaks its alliance with the Ptolemaic empire. Manius Coruncanius is born, the son of Amulius Coruncanius (Mount Suribachi) and his wife Tullia. Paestum completed the construction of a Roman Auxilia II building. Agrigento completed the construction of roads. Melite completed the construction of a shrine to Saturnus. I start the construction of roads in Paestum. Our diplomat Sextus Antio (Ignoramus) once again tries to get the map of Seleucia, but they again demand a fortune and he moves on. Our diplomat Oppius Vintruvius finally reaches Iberia and manages to complete trade agreements and a map exchange, but fails to secure an alliance with them. I move him toward Massila.
OOC : I notice that Auxilia II is enough to build AOR units and kick myself in the head. I could have been building 4 units each turn since Winter 274 BC as Arretium also has one .
I start the recruitement of three italian spearmen and two italian swordsmen units.
The Gauls foolishly try to reinforce Patavium before I can reach it. I intercept the small army and kill its 111 men and their leader Bolgois of Garumna. They manage to account for just two romans before they perish. Then I march on to Patavium and lay siege to it. I order the construction of three battering rams. Our spy Quintis Classicianus (GeneralHankerchief) has been kind enough to open the gate for us, but my experience tells me I need more entrances. As consul Quintus (econ21) will soon reach Rome for his triumph, I ask Titus Vatinius (Tricky_Lady) to travel to Rome to make the necessary preparations for the festivities. I send tribune Publius Pansa (Glaucus) to take over the siege of Jenuensis.

10. Autumn 273 BC
The Thracians declare war on the kingdom of Macedon. I attack the strategically vital walled town of Patavium with my battering rams. The Gauls bravely make a sortie through the gate that our spy Quintis Classicianus (GeneralHankerchief) opened the moment we attacked, only to be slaughtered by our skirmishers and funditores. We break through the wall and surround the remaining troops and slay dozens of them with a wiltering stom of missiles. I cunningly trick the surviving defenders to leave the main square and once they are surrounded they quickly surrender. I am most pleased to report to this house that we only lost 9 romans in exchange for 406 Gaul warriors.

The Gauls bravely sally from the city, right into the waiting pila and stones of our skirmishers

I and tribune Augustus Verginius (TinCow) both quickly construct a guard tower at the borders to our north and east and return to the safety of Patavium. Legate Tiberius Coruncanius (FLYdude) is close to the town with badly needed reinforcements. It is my intention to build a fort just east outside Patavium when enough troops have arrived, and I will station a Praetorian Legion there. I will then send tribune Augustus Verginius (TinCow) to capture the last remaining Gaul town in Cispine Gaul, Mediolanium. I sent Quintis Classicianus (GeneralHankerchief) on ahead to scout out the town and watch for Gaul reinforcements from the north. I destroy the Gaul Auxilia building in Patavium and order the construction of an occupation building.
Consul Quintus (econ21) has arrived in Rome and a glorious celebration follows. It consists of a spectacular parade, opened by the chiefs of the conquered towns to our south, followed by wagons overflowing with gold and other valuable spoils captured during the campaign, musicians, dancers, and placards drawn with scenes of the war, after which comes the victorious general, consul Quintus (econ21) at the head of his troops. Morale in the city has never been higher. I am planning to send the consul and his legion to conquer Sardinia next.

Consul Quintus and half his consular army celebrating their triumph

I sent legate Publius Laevinus (Shifty157) with the core of the Legio III Sicilia Aemilia to invade Corsica, but our landing point was ill chosen, as it turns out our men couldn't climb the cliffs, and so we were forced to return back to Italy. He will try again this winter, and then I have no doubt he will succeed. I start the construction of two italian spearmen and three italian swordsmen. I now await word of tribune Publius Pansa (Glaucus) and his assault on Jenuensis.

The situation at his moment
Projected profits 5016 Denarii
Gaul has no allies and is at war with the republic of Rome.
The Illyrians and the Thracians are allies and at war with the kingdom of Macedon, which is allied with the Greek Cities and the Ptolemaic empire.
The Greek cities are at war with the republic of Rome and the Seleucid empire, and are allied with the kingdom of Macedon.
The Iberians remain neutral and without allies.
The republic of Carthage is at war with the republic of Rome and is allied with Numidia.
Military Losses :
Gauls - Romans
3339 - 381

My advice to the senate
Only half my reign has passed and I am well on my way to complete my objectives. We are quite secure for the moment as the Illyrians are occupied with the war against the kingdom of Macedon. Our military is quickly reaching full strength levels now that our troop output has increased. The Gauls have suffered serious defeats in Cispine Gaul and can be controlled. I intend to complete my conquest of the Cartheginian islands and Cispine Gaul. Our balance is still slowly decreasing due to our large military upkeep, and thus the construction of markets and safe harbours should have priority now that I have outfitted most of our towns and cities with roads and have upgraded her mines. As I limited myself to the amount of conquest I will go no further without senate approval. However, the legate Publius Laevinus (Shifty157) has advised me that it would be prudent to conquer Massila, a rebel-held town just west of Cispine Gaul over the Alps. It is very easily defended as the only access to it from Gaul is by crossing a bridge. I am inclined to agree with his reasoning. We might go further and try to extend our influence untill we can attack the Cartheginian colonies in Spain. I have also heard reasoning that we are quite able to strike at Afrika itself now, but I worry about our lack of a strong fleet. I would advise against this, because even if we are succesfull in this venture, we cannot support it financially. The alternative would be a pillaging expedition, but I do not feel that this is the roman way to act against civilized people. We could also strike at Greece, as it has only one ally and the kingdom of Macedon is in serious trouble now as it is fighting two enemies at the same time and they can thus be ruled out. I have no strong feelings either way, but instead I would advise a defensive strategy and focus on our finances instead. I will of course carry out the will of the senate, whatever it decides.