Mythical Three Kingdoms

It was evident that compared to this tool like a wooden raft, their talent of crossing water like walking on solid ground brought a tremendous advantage on the surface that couldn’t be negated at all.

[Phew, indeed, walking directly on the water is quite draining for the soldiers, but seizing this opportunity to annihilate nearly two thousand Parthian Elite with minimal losses of our own makes it negligible. I think Parthia won’t act rashly again soon.] Benito felt relieved as he sensed the morale of the soldiers around him recovering.

After all, Benito’s initial purpose was not to engage in a hard-fought war with the Parthians, but rather to seize the opportunity amidst chaos to deliver a crippling blow to the Parthians, making the soldiers around him understand that despite the Roman Legion being heavily damaged, there was still strength within.

And that recent timing was excellent. Holding back from revealing such abilities was all for making the Parthians realize in one swoop that forced assault was indeed a foolish choice.

Seeing that the Parthians across the river did not disperse, Benito didn’t worry much. After all, two-thirds of the pontoon bridge had already been built, and suddenly realizing the previous efforts were futile would be unacceptable for anyone.

"Feruccio, have people form formations on the spot to defend. Though the Parthians are quiet now, if we become complacent, the previous incidents might happen again." Benito observed the Parthians on the opposite side, confirming that despite their burning anger, after witnessing the performance of the Fourteen Combined Legion, they should abandon the idea of forcefully breaking through.

Even so, Benito still cautiously ordered all legions to guard along the river direction according to his arranged defensive lines, while the Parthians seemed to have no means but were unwilling to die, hoping for Roman negligence.

"Is it going to be an attack before dawn, under the cover of darkness?" Zhuge Liang and others inquired. "In our current situation, only Ardashir managing to hold the Fourteen Combined Legion could possibly allow success in crossing the river."

"As for Ardashir’s situation, he might indeed choose that time, so we must prepare. This damned Fourteenth Legion." Sassanid Fars was furious. "If the Fourteenth Legion retreats east of the Euphrates River afterward, then chase them directly, plundering other things later."

Zhuge Liang nodded, indeed, on the Tigris River, if Sassanid Fars could draw the enemy’s attention and successfully defeat the Roman Army, then when Romans flee across the Euphrates afterward, using the same methods again—they really think Romans don’t learn their lesson!

At the darkest moment before dawn the next day, Ardashir’s army launched a raid on the Romans in the dark, and from the observation situation of Gao Shun and others, although the Parthians’ attack was discovered by the Romans, by then they had drawn too close and couldn’t be stopped.

"Everyone follow my orders, charge, seize the beachhead!" Sassanid Fars yelled when noticing the fire igniting in the Roman camp, instantly understanding that his trusted aide had already launched an attack, busy holding off the enemy, without a moment’s hesitation, he personally climbed onto the pontoon bridge, ordering to cross swiftly by raft.

The Roman camp was far from disorganized, thanks to Benito’s caution, everyone stationed at the outskirts were elite troops of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Eagle Banner Legions, hence, despite being caught off guard by the sudden Parthian attack, it wasn’t enough to cause complete chaos within the camp.

However, Ardashir was clearer about his objective; he wasn’t here to compete with Romans but to draw the Romans’ attention, thus under the night’s cover, Ardashir’s troops forming nearly a long line, in a short time attacked nearly half of the Roman camp.

Amidst the pitch-black chaos, everywhere were shouts and killings from the Parthians, massively imposing, even making Benito suspect the Parthian Army had already crossed the Tigris River, let alone the ordinary soldiers below.

Hence, the camp originally well-stationed obviously fell into chaos at this point; even with the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Legions’ suppression not making the Barbarian Army collapse entirely, the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Legions gradually got their attention drawn by Ardashir’s comprehensive attack.

"Charge!" Sassanid Fars shouted angrily while standing on the pontoon bridge; countless ready wooden rafts, seizing the night, taking advantage of the Romans being unable to counterattack quickly, and with only one-third of the river’s width left, forcefully charged across the Tigris River!

"Kill!" Leading his trusted aide, Datis succeeded in capturing the beachhead first, stepping onto the somewhat chilly river water under the night, facing both sides’ Cloud Qi, launched an attack on the Romans!

"Charge, charge, charge!" Upon seeing this scene, Sassanid Fars was elated, as Datis charged through first, soon followed by numerous Parthians who charged up onto the riverbank along Datis’ direction, quickly organizing under Datis to attack the Roman archers positioned on the river beach, paving the way for more Parthians to land afterward.

As more and more Parthian soldiers crossed the Tigris River, even gradually forming organization and scale, Sassanid Fars decisively crossed by boat himself, while it was then the Han Army leisurely began to cross by boat.

"This chaotic battle is quite good, such flat plains, Parthians wanting to breach such a solid defense, and Romans steadily fortifying their defensive line aren’t that easy. Brothers, grab your weapons, come and help our allies!" Li Jue, upon arriving at the riverbank, had already grown excited; by this time dawn had started to break, Romans under Benito’s command had also stabilized the line.

However, when Li Jue grabbed his weapon to help, the situation on the Roman side already underwent enormous change. Clearly, Benito’s foresight wasn’t bad; he knew his goals and priorities well, not giving Li Jue a chance to appear.

Though compared to the endlessly emerging army from Sassanid Fars, this line couldn’t last long, but at this level, Romans had no need to persevere. As long as the rear line held out a bit longer, they could directly retreat.

"Feruccio, inform Elklan and them to retreat; the Fifteenth Legion will follow you, fighting while retreating, and the Fourteenth Legion will cover the rear with me." Benito directed the army in continuous alternating attacks, replacing the vulnerable Barbarian Army to perform supportive assaults, then with the Fifteenth Legion covering, preparing to let these men retreat first.

"Where are we retreating to?" Feruccio inquired.

"Retreat west of the Euphrates; the defenses there have been established. When we retreat there, we can enlist soldiers on the spot, replenishing our troops. Quickly inform them; I’ll hold the ground." Benito calmly ordered Vice-Adjutant Feruccio, who knew time shouldn’t be wasted at this moment, immediately going to inform them.