The Rise Of An Empire In Ancient Europe-Chapter 128: The Rugby Game

The squad training session did not last long. With Kritipus’s guidance, Arsinis quickly found his place among the ranks, adapting to the rhythm of the squad’s movements and commands. Soon after, the squad was absorbed into the company for further formation training.

Arsinis and his comrades began to master the intricacies of complex tactical commands and signals: What marching speed corresponded to the rhythm of a particular drumbeat? What sound of the trumpet signaled an advance, and which one heralded a retreat? Which specific calls demanded a charge? These were not mere instructions but the lifeblood of an army that moved as one.

Moreover, they had to learn to decipher the language of the squad flag. If the flag pointed forward in a certain direction, it meant marching, sprinting, or charging that way. If it pointed backward, they had to retreat. If the flag spun in circles, it signaled stopping in place, resting, standing guard, or readying for action.

The recruits trained to transition seamlessly from column formations to horizontal alignments, forming dense phalanxes, and then to revert into swift columns for rapid maneuvers. Even more complex were tactical drills, such as the second and third squads forming the center to defend while the first and fourth squads executed devastating flanking assaults.

When the company drills ended, the training escalated to joint exercises with the battalion. Surprisingly, this stage simplified some commands, focusing instead on fluid formation changes. The "Fish Scale Formation," a term coined by Consul Juleios but akin to the Roman checkerboard array, was emphasized. It could swiftly shift into a tightly knit phalanx, and just as quickly, revert back into its segmented layout. The front rows retreated while the rear rows advanced, reforming the phalanx like a living, breathing organism. The formation could rotate left or right, maintaining a solid alignment even during sharp movements.

Finally, the entire army engaged in grand joint exercises. Alongside formation transitions, the coordination between different battalions and units came into play. For instance, as the heavy infantry advanced in the Fish Scale Formation, the light infantry battalion behind them would dart through the gaps, forming a skirmish line to unleash projectiles at the enemy. Once their ammunition was spent, they would retreat back through the gaps, allowing the heavy infantry to close ranks and press forward. A shrill trumpet call would signal the cavalry on the flanks to charge. Though the cavalry was currently small, numbering fewer than a dozen, Juleios had woven their role into the strategy with precision.

Following the cavalry, light shield soldiers from the seventh battalion advanced with loose formations, wielding wooden shields and long blades, while the heavy infantry marched behind like an unyielding tide.

The tactical genius displayed in these exercises astonished Arsinis. The seamless integration of different units and the constant adaptability to shifting conditions opened his eyes to the art of war. Yet, the ever-changing flag signals and the intricate maneuvers left him with a throbbing headache. Fortunately, under the vigilant guidance of his squad leader, Kritipus, and with encouragement from his comrades, Arsinis avoided major blunders. The other recruits, too, began to grasp the flow of the training.

When training concluded, the sun still hung high in the sky. The lengthening days of May gave the soldiers precious extra hours before dusk. It was then that Consul Juleios ascended a makeshift podium, his figure silhouetted against the waning sunlight.

The weary soldiers stirred with excitement, their spirits rekindled.

Juleios addressed them directly, his voice carrying the strength of command: "Brothers, what are we going to do next?!"

"RUGBY!!!" the soldiers roared in unison, their fatigue forgotten.

"After the last practice, are you all familiar with the rules?" Juleios asked.

"Yes!!!" they shouted back.

"Then let’s get started!" Juleios declared.

He continued: "As before, we’ll set up four fields. The first squad of the first company in the first battalion will face the first squad of the first company in the seventh battalion. The first squad of the first company in the second battalion will face the first squad of the first company in the third battalion. Each match will last for four sandglass intervals. The team with the higher score wins and advances. The losers are eliminated. The victorious teams will prepare for the next round of competition."

The soldiers braced themselves, ready to hear Juleios’s signal to begin. But Juleios raised his hand to stall them. "Now, I am announcing a new rule," he declared. "Each participating squad must include five Lucanian slaves."

The announcement caused an uproar among the soldiers.

The senior captains—Kapus, Drakos, Hieronymus, and others—were already aware of this decision. Juleios had shared his intent to use rugby as a tool to integrate the Lucanians. Although many soldiers grumbled, no one dared to openly defy the consul’s decree.

Soon, forty Lucanian slaves, including Bagul, were brought onto the training field. Earlier, Alexis had gathered the strongest slaves of the day, explaining to them through Bagul’s translation that this was an honor and a reward. The Lucanians were skeptical, fearing a trap. Only Alexis’s solemn oath to the gods assuaged their concerns, and even then, their steps were hesitant as they entered the training ground.

The Greek soldiers, too, were initially unsure how to proceed. Oliver, the squad leader of the first squad in the first battalion’s first company, took the lead, selecting Bagul and four other robust Lucanian slaves. The remaining squads quickly followed suit, dividing the slaves among the teams.

Juleios personally explained the rules once again, with Bagul translating for his people. Though the Lucanians understood only fragments, they caught the gist and resolved to give their best effort.

The rugby field stretched 100 meters long and 50 meters wide, marked with white lime powder at 10-meter intervals. Wooden poles secured the boundaries. Company captains, acting as coaches, devised strategies, while squad leaders played the role of quarterbacks, leading their teams on the field. Juleios had designed this structure to hone leadership skills, ensuring squad leaders could adapt to changing situations and inspire their men to victory.

Oliver, the quarterback of the first squad of the first battalion, drew the first offensive turn. His coach, Antonios, quickly laid out their strategy.

"Bagul, since you’re new and unfamiliar with the game, stay on the sidelines for now and observe," Antonios said. Bagul nodded, relieved.

The soldiers shed their heavy armor, leaving only their linen chest pieces to minimize injuries. To distinguish teams, they wrapped red or blue linen strips around their bodies. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

At Drakos’s whistle, the game began.

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