Chapter 240: Stalemate

The border of the Roman Empire, with howling winds and yellow sand filling the sky, was shrouded in a solemn killing aura.

The Han Alliance Army and the Roman army stood ready here, and a great battle that would decide their fates was about to erupt.

Wei Qing led the central army, closely aligned with the allied forces of Magadha and the Ptolemaic Dynasty; the Han Army's spears stood like a forest, glinting coldly in the sunlight, the military flags snapped in the wind, bearing the character 'Han', exuding a mighty presence.

The soldiers of Magadha and the Ptolemaic Dynasty wore various armor, carried distinctive weapons, and their eyes showed tension and resolve.

On the Roman side, although the million-strong army was complex in composition, under Consul Marius's strong order they also formed a seemingly solid defensive line.

The front line consisted of heavily armored infantry wielding giant shields, locked together to form an iron wall; the rear ranks were packed with spearmen, their spear tips angled skyward, attempting to block the Han Alliance Army's charge.

At Wei Qing's command, the war drums sounded, and the Han Army's crossbowmen launched the first attack.

Ten thousand crossbows fired together, a rain of arrows like locusts flew toward the Roman army; for a moment, tragic cries echoed in the Roman ranks, and many soldiers were struck down by crossbow bolts.

Seeing this, Marius immediately ordered the Roman archers to counterattack, and a rain of Roman arrows poured down upon the Han Alliance Army.

At this moment, Huo Qubing's vanguard force, together with the Yuezhi warriors like a sharp blade, swiftly charged toward the Roman army's flank.

The cavalry rode like the wind, their hoofbeats shaking the earth.

They wielded curved blades, slashing back and forth across the Roman flank; wherever they went, Roman soldiers fell in droves, and the originally neat line began to fall into disorder.

Marius hastily dispatched the reserve troops to reinforce the flank, attempting to steady the formation.

Meanwhile, Wei Qing seized the opportunity, ordering the main force of the central army to charge; the Han Army soldiers shouted, surging like a mighty tide toward the Roman army.

The two sides closed in, instantly plunging into fierce melee combat; on the battlefield, blades flashed and swords clashed, shouts of killing and the clatter of weapons intertwined, deafening.

Li Guang's rear guard ensured the orderly safety of supply transport in the rear, while closely monitoring the battlefield situation, ready to reinforce the front at any moment.

In the fierce fighting, the Han Alliance Army, thanks to seamless coordination and high morale, gradually gained the upper hand.

But the Roman army, relying on its numerical advantage and stubborn resistance, also struggled to hold on.

But a few days later.

On the battlefield, smoke lingered, the cries of killing still deafening, as the Han Alliance Army and the Roman army fell into a prolonged stalemate.

The Roman army relied on the complex mountainous terrain of the border, skillfully arranging their defenses, using their familiarity with the local environment to repeatedly repel the Han Army's attacks.

They set ambushes in the valleys and behind the hills, causing the Han Army, which had come from afar, to suffer repeated setbacks.

Roman Consul Marius stood on high ground, overlooking the battlefield, his face showing a pleased and arrogant smile.

He turned to his aide and said, 'Look at these so-called mighty Han armies; on our Roman soil, they are nothing special. They think they can win easily just by numbers and momentum—pure daydreaming!'

Having said that, he burst out laughing, his harsh laugh echoing across the battlefield.

Afterward, Marius ordered a huge flag to be brought and waved before the ranks, signaling a temporary ceasefire.

He rode forward to the front lines and shouted at the Han Army camp: 'Emperor Wu of Han! The troops you sent are utterly useless. On this Roman soil, you are lost sheep, unable to find the path to victory. I advise you to retreat now, lest you suffer disgrace and needless casualties here.'

His voice was sharp and full of provocation; hearing the Consul's taunt, the Roman soldiers also burst into laughter, and morale rose for a moment.

In the Han Army camp, Wei Qing, Huo Qubing, and others heard Marius's mockery, and their faces instantly darkened.

Huo Qubing clenched his fists, eyes wide with anger: 'This Marius is too arrogant; I, the humble commander, wish to lead a suicide squad to charge forward and take his head!'

Wei Qing, however, wore a solemn expression and slightly shook his head: 'Do not act rashly; the Roman army now holds the geographical advantage, and a reckless attack would only increase our losses.'

At this moment, Emperor Wu of Han stood in the rear tent, observing the battlefield situation through a gap in the tent.

Hearing Marius's taunt, a flash of anger crossed his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

Liuche knew well that war is not a matter of passion; the more critical the moment, the more he must keep a clear mind.

After a moment's thought, he issued the order: 'Tell the generals, do not let the enemy's provocation disrupt our formations. Order all troops to strengthen vigilance, and at the same time send scouts to carefully probe for weaknesses in the enemy lines; we will surely find a strategy to break the enemy, making Marius pay for his arrogance.'

After receiving the order, the Han Army commanders tidied their troops; in the temporary stalemate, they silently gathered strength, awaiting the chance to counterattack.

Half a month passed, the battlefield smoke still not cleared, the Han Army and the Roman army clashed fiercely again, the cries of killing and the clatter of weapons still deafening.

The two sides exchanged blows, neither yielding; the situation remained deadlocked. Each day, countless soldiers fell on this land, their blood dyeing the earth crimson.

In the Han Army camp, the quartermaster's face turned pale as he hurried to Wei Qing's tent, his voice trembling as he reported: 'General, disaster! Our grain supplies are almost exhausted; at the current consumption rate, they will not last three days.'

Upon hearing this, Wei Qing's face instantly grew grave; he sprang to his feet and paced back and forth in the tent, his heart filled with anxiety. Supplies are the lifeblood of an army; once cut off, morale will surely collapse, and the consequences are unthinkable.

At the same time, the Roman army's situation was no better.

Marius paced back and forth in his tent, his brows furrowed.

The aide entered and whispered: 'Your Excellency Consul, our losses are heavy, our manpower reduced by nearly a third, our weapons severely worn, and the soldiers are exhausted.'

Marius slammed his fist on the table, gritting his teeth: 'I never expected the Han Army to be so tenacious; this battle has been far too difficult.'

But he knew full well that he could not retreat now, or else Rome would face an unprecedented crisis.

In the Han Army camp, the commanders urgently discussed countermeasures.

Huo Qubing, anxious as fire, said: 'Why not stake everything, concentrate our forces for a full assault, perhaps we can break through the enemy's defenses and seize their supplies?'

Li Guang, however, shook his head in opposition: 'No, our army now lacks supplies, the soldiers' strength is waning; a reckless total attack has little chance of success and would only plunge us into greater danger.'

Everyone voiced their opinions, but for a moment they could not find a good plan.

After Liuche learned of the supply crisis, he fell into deep thought.

He gazed at the battlefield beyond the tent, his eyes firm and resolute.

After a long while, he slowly opened his mouth: "Issue the order: the entire army must conserve rations and fodder, and must hold out until we find a solution. At the same time, continue sending out scouts to expand the reconnaissance range, see if we can locate the enemy's supply train; perhaps we can break through from here."