Chapter 3568
Using Profit to Lure Them
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After taking a closer look, Severus understood the predicament facing the 11th Army Corps. However, under the current circumstances, it was practically impossible to liberate the 11th Army Corps.
Parthia's successive legionary promotions not only boosted morale but also created crucial strategic points. These points meant that Rome had to field equally formidable opponents to withstand Parthia.
If it were simply a matter of pursuing victory, Severus could have devised many ways to ensure Rome won the war with dignity.
But things had come to this point, and Rome could not afford to end the war with a dignified victory, nor could it allow the war to conclude with one.
The Parthian forces must be wiped out, and Vologus V must be eliminated; only then will this war have any meaning.
Otherwise, even if a victory is achieved on the surface, it will only be a self-inflicted wound.
With its miracles, three talents, and two armies of spirit, Parthia, even without the help of the Han Empire, would have made it incredibly difficult for Rome to win another war like this, even if it had survived after the war.
Severus was well aware of the manpower, material resources, and financial resources Rome had invested in this war against Parthia.
The senators of the Senate contributed money, manpower, and effort, not essentially for the victory of the war, but for the benefits they could obtain after the war ended.
If we only pursue a visible victory, we won't even get past the Senate.
Although Severus, whose army was formidable, was not afraid of the Roman Senate, he was well aware that if this war could not completely end Parthia, Rome would never be able to mobilize an army of this size again.
Without the support of so many elders, and without so many elders investing manpower, material resources, and financial resources, even if Severus further exploited others, it would be impossible to obtain the financial resources and logistical support for the expedition.
Therefore, Severus, realizing this, was not thinking about how to win the war, but how to annihilate the Parthian army.
The idea of even severely damaging Parthia's army never crossed Severus's mind.
Only by annihilating the enemy can everything remain under Severus's control, and everything will remain under Rome's control.
Rome's institutions and power structure meant that Severus had no way out.
However, as a military emperor who had experienced countless terrible wars, he was well aware of Parthia's current strength, and also knew that if Parthia chose to break out with all his might, the current Roman army would have a hard time stopping him.
Therefore, to completely annihilate the enemy, some risks must be taken.
"Central army, follow me!" Severus glanced at Vologius V in the distance, then gave his order to begin moving the banners of the Roman central army.
Like the Parthian emperors, they moved the battle lines and command positions closer to the front lines.
With the cooperation of the Fifth Lark and the Fourteenth Legion, Severus's command ability was not significantly delayed even when he was not close to the front line, and it did not affect his actual command ability.
Therefore, Severus's decision to move the central army forward served not only to boost the morale of his own troops but also to give Parthia a choice: after numerous legions had broken through and their morale had soared, could he then choose to either flee in disgrace or crush the Roman legions head-on and leave as a victor?
The morale impact of their actions, and the influence on the Parthian army after their departure, were worlds apart.
If they could defeat the Roman legions head-on, even kill the Roman emperor Septimius Severus, and then withdraw calmly.
The balance of power between Rome and Parthia will be completely rewritten in the next century.
Not limited to the present, but also determined by the future, Severus pressed his army forward, thus forcing Volognes V to make a choice.
If they choose to break out with all their might and leave in disgrace, then the morale boost brought by Parthia's successive promotions will dissipate in a very short time. At that time, as long as the Roman legions keep their hold on to the enemy, they can launch a continuous attack.
With their morale plummeting, the Parthian legions were naturally no match for the Roman legions. As their morale continued to decline, Rome was still able to achieve its goal of annihilating Parthia.
Even if Rome has to pay a huge price for this, it will all be worth it as long as the corresponding strategic objectives can be achieved.
As the banners of Severus's central army began to approach the front lines, Vologus V couldn't help but fix his gaze on the banners of the Roman army.
At that moment, looking at the banner that belonged exclusively to the Roman emperor, Vologus V felt a surge of excitement.
Within five hundred paces, they could get completely close to the Roman emperor's banner. Whether they defeated or killed the enemy, or even forced them to retreat, it would rewrite the outcome of this war and bring unprecedented glory to Parthia.
Choosing to leave in the current state, and the resulting impact and loss of morale, was enough to give Vologus V a different idea.
In particular, the Roman Sixth Legion, including the Datis and Orvores of Parthia, even with the support and assistance of the Council Guard, was somewhat overwhelmed by two equally elite and highly motivated troops.
In particular, Iachino, as the captain, made mistakes in his actions and choices from the very beginning. As a result, despite his efforts to hold out for a long time with the help of his guards, Iachino was ultimately unable to stop the attack of Orwald and Datis.
This means that the Parthian army, acting as the flank of the attack, directly repelled the Roman Sixth Legion and launched an attack on the flank of the Roman central army.
Meanwhile, on the other side, the Roman Twelfth Legion, by seizing a crucial moment and making a risky decision, forcefully eliminated Atabaros.
Then, with their stamina almost completely depleted, they returned to a defensive stalemate and pulled in the remaining Male legions.
In this situation, the right-wing army, whether Roman or Parthian, lost the ability to break through the enemy's lines, at least not in the short term.
"Remembering the power of the heroes makes us stronger!" Feeling the power recorded by the Parthian Guard, Vologius V did not hesitate for long and directly transferred the power of Atalbaros to Datis, making his legion more powerful and increasing its threat to the Roman central army.
The Roman central army consisted of only one council guard and three Praetorian Guard units under Severus. (End of Chapter)