Chapter 3537
Deploying the Battle Line
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The outcome was exactly as Perennis had predicted.
Under the cover of the Milanese Guard, the Milanese raiding party quickly completed the task of destroying the military equipment used to contain the cavalry charge, clearing and eliminating horse traps and other obstacles, and forcibly clearing a path for the charge.
Almost the instant the road was cleared, Shapur issued the corresponding command order. The Parthian heavy cavalry legion from the Grupatilan family, wielding extended dragon lances and riding tall horses, silently launched their charge.
With its massive weight, enormous dragon spear, and gleaming blade, it charged towards the Roman defensive positions with unwavering spirit and determination.
"Trouble, Parthian heavy cavalry!" Perennis frowned slightly as he watched the Parthian heavy cavalry begin their charge and the Parthian light cavalry poised to fire on either side of them.
Compared to the once particularly rigid Parthia, the current Parthia's legionary coordination and organization are completely different.
This kind of coordination between cavalry was a dream that the Parthian army could never achieve.
"Order the Monsa heavy infantry to advance, block in echelons, and cut them off with their spears." After glancing at the troops deployed at the front line, Perennis did not hesitate to choose a barbarian legion to serve as the first line of defense.
On the one hand, this barbarian legion was indeed a heavy infantry legion, which could deal well and effectively with cavalry charges. Although it was unlikely to stop the enemy's heavy cavalry charges, it could effectively weaken the movement speed and impact of the heavy cavalry, thus preparing for the subsequent counterattack of the Roman army.
By placing this heavy infantry unit at the forefront, Perennis also deployed the Fourth Lucky Legion behind it.
The Macedonian legions of the Fourth Lucky Legion possess extremely strong frontal defense and combat capabilities. Combined with two simultaneously deployed heavy infantry legions, they are fully capable of stopping enemy heavy cavalry after one of their heavy infantry legions has broken through the defenses of the other.
By intercepting the enemy's heavy cavalry and forcing the Parthian heavy cavalry to lose their mobility, both the Scythian Royal Archers and the Macedonian Legion could eventually wipe out this heavy cavalry legion of the Geupatlan family.
With Parthia making the first move, Perennis almost simultaneously implemented targeted countermeasures and arrangements.
However, Shapur was not a reckless character and had his own judgment on the battlefield. Naturally, he could not believe that a single heavy cavalry legion could completely break through the Roman army's defenses. Even if this heavy cavalry legion were to reach its maximum speed, with corresponding shock and breakthrough capabilities surpassing those of history, it still would not be able to achieve this.
Therefore, the vanguard infantry units that Shapur initially deployed were able to play their role.
Milan's raiding force possesses the ability to quickly advance and disrupt enemy lines. It can directly burst into action short distances before the heavy cavalry, after their charge has slowed down, clearing a space for them to turn around and leave. This allows the heavy cavalry legion that has already launched a charge to retreat to the center and have the possibility of charging again.
Even though the Milan raiding party was vulnerable to long-range attacks and heavy casualties during this process without the cover of the Milan Guards, Shapur believed that giving the heavy cavalry a second chance to charge was worthwhile.
Moreover, if the Milan Guards get close enough and provide cover quickly enough, they can significantly reduce the casualties of the Milan Raiders.
Meanwhile, the Burning Legion, being on the front lines of the battlefield, can further weaken the inherent defensive effects of Roman heavy infantry, making the impact and striking power of their own legions even more pronounced.
During this alternation between the heavy cavalry and the Milanese raiding forces, Shapur also arranged for subsequent advancing legions. Datis, Orvord, Attabaros, and Male each led their respective armies, directly splitting into two routes, with the central army penetrating into the Roman flanks, forcibly widening the battle lines and increasing the number of people involved in the war simultaneously.
Issuing such an order would put direct pressure on Rome across the board, forcing Rome not to concentrate its army entirely in the center and strengthening the legions' defense in depth.
An overly long and narrow defensive line, coupled with a small engagement area, actually proved to be very advantageous for Rome.
It not only has more room to maneuver and stronger defensive capabilities, but it can also buy more time.
The very tactical means and objectives were to break through the Roman army's defenses and allow Volognes V to leave Ctesiphon, so it was impossible for him to use such attrition warfare tactics.
As the four elite legions charged toward the flanks, Shapur also commanded Wald and Babak to follow behind the four legions, advancing toward the Roman flanks.
However, Wald and Babak's attack was not directed at the two flanks of Rome, but rather, after approaching the Roman flanks, they attacked from the flanks towards the connecting point between the two Roman flanks.
On the one hand, it weakens Rome's overall connectivity, and on the other hand, it enhances its infiltration and destructive capabilities, thereby increasing the probability of a breakout this time.
Shapur's own legion, Atlatomé's legion, Vorogis V's guard legion, a cavalry legion, and a cavalry legion were the entire central army at this time.
It can be said that Shapur has been doing his utmost to conduct multi-front command in terms of the effective use of the military.
Even the Undead Guards and Rangers who were covering the rear of the army received orders from Shapur.
The guerrillas received simple orders: bypass the threats on Rome's two flanks and expand directly to the outermost two flanks.
This expansion and patrols were not essentially for better attacking the Roman army, but rather for better discovering the Roman troops stationed at other city gates in Ctesiphon.
If it is discovered that Roman reinforcements may arrive, harassment and delaying tactics will be employed, and if necessary, no effort will be spared to buy time.
In this regard, both the Rangers and the Undead Guards received similar orders and made similar preparations.
With a firm grasp of his own forces, along with advance notification and drills, Shapur was able to complete the planning and preparation for the attack in all directions at an extremely fast pace.
This plan and arrangement quickly caught Perennis's eye.
With the help of Fifth Lark, Perennis was able to receive battlefield intelligence information very quickly. (End of Chapter)