THE INVASION OF GAUL (31 page)

“
Out. All of you.”

The officers dithered for a moment, unsure as to whether the general was referring to the servants or themselves. As the various attendants left the tent, Caesar leaned through the doorway and addressed the guards.

“
You two, move the guard line ten yards down the hill and keep everyone away from this tent.”

The soldiers saluted and made their way down the slippery bank. Once they were well and truly alone, Caesar took his seat again.

“
Gentlemen, I would have preferred to have kept some of this under wraps as yet, but I suppose you’ll piece things together soon enough, probably wrongly, and I’d rather you had all the information than filled in the gaps with guesses. With the likelihood of a final encounter with the Helvetii looming, I need all of my officers to be prepared for subsequent action.”

As the officers looked at each other questioningly, Fronto paid particular attention to Tetricus. The man looked tired, but he certainly didn’t look surprised. Whatever was afoot, Tetricus was already in the know. He looked round as he realised the General was talking again.

“
Once we have defeated the Helvetii, I intend to send them back to their lands near Geneva. That does not, however, herald the end of the campaign. The following information goes no further at this time, of course.”

Nods and affirmative noises filled the tent. A redundant phrase, Fronto thought. Caesar had enough presence and power over these legions that the officers would betray the confidence of their own family before they would betray the General, whether that be through respect or through fear. He looked back across at his commander as the man continued.

“
There has been a great deal of movement on the German border over the past few months, while we have been campaigning against the Helvetii. In much the same way as the Helvetii have invaded lower Gaul and moved west, a number of German tribes under a man named Ariovistus have crossed the Rhine and settled in the lands of the Sequani to the west.”

Caesar leaned forwards and unfurled the larger campaign map on the table once more.

“
These German tribes have been used as mercenaries by the Gauls for many years now, fighting for the Sequani and the Arverni against our allies the Aedui. That they have turned on their former employers and settled on their land is no concern of ours, but we cannot ignore the threat that they constitute to the stability of our alliances in Gaul. I anticipate a request for aid from certain quarters very soon.”

The general paused a moment to allow all this fresh information to settle in.

“
Just as we will not allow the Helvetii to threaten our allies, nor will we give the Germans free reign. They must be kept on their own side of the Rhine. So, gentlemen, barring a miraculous turnaround by Ariovistus, we will be continuing our campaign in the field for the foreseeable future.”

The muttering began once more. Caesar waited a minute longer, and then stood.

“
Gentlemen, I shall require your presence in two hours when we shall prepare our strategy for tomorrow and attend to the disposition of troops. In the meantime, find your legions and go about your duties. I want the entire army ready to manoeuvre into position by the time we have finished our next briefing. Dismissed.”

As the officers made their way respectfully out of the tent, Caesar sat back once more.

“
Fronto? Stay a moment if you would.”

The legate waited until the last of the staff had left and then closed the tent flaps for the general. As he turned, Caesar gestured to a chair.

“
Marcus, I need your advice.”

“
Sir?”

Caesar shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

“
I am concerned over Geneva, Crassus, and the wisdom of long-term troop command and I want your honest thoughts.”

Fronto sighed. It was going to be one of
those
conversations. He hadn’t had this kind of talk with Caesar for some time now.

“
Firstly, sir, if you really want my honest advice, I’m going to have to speak quite plainly and openly with no fear of reprimand. Are you happy with that?”

Caesar nodded.

“
You know I’ve always allowed you a measure of independence that I don’t extend to the rest of my staff.”

Fronto shuffled in his seat and unhooked his cloak, letting it fall to the ground. He reached out and took the jug of wine from Caesar’s table and filled two glasses, offering one to the general, who accepted it readily.

“
As far as Geneva is concerned, how many units are stationed there again?”

Caesar rubbed his chin, deep in thought.

“
There should still be four auxiliary units, two infantry, one cavalry and one mixed. They’re commanded by individual prefects under the general auspices of the decurions of Geneva.”

Fronto furrowed his eyebrows.

“
Unless there’s a full-scale German invasion, that should be sufficient. I don’t think the Germans will come across the Helvetian territory any time soon. They’re too busy crossing the Rhine to the north. Besides, if the Germans launched any kind of large scale operation, even ten times that number would be unlikely to stop them.”

He sighed.

“
Just in case, however, I would be tempted to send a message to Aquileia and raise the same number of troops again. I’d have a proper military officer assigned to them from the base at Aquileia and send them all to Geneva. That way you’d have a sizeable force under a proper commander that won’t cost too much to raise and won’t dig in to your reserves of regular soldiers. I’m intrigued to know why Tetricus is here with most of the force?”

Caesar sighed.

“
A courier arrived a while back during our time by the Saone, when you were off trying to defeat the Helvetii on your own. Tetricus had received word of Ariovistus’ crossing of the Rhine and thought I would need to know. He also believed that Geneva was in absolutely no danger with the absence of the Helvetii and with the German tribes pushing northwest, away from there. He requested permission to rejoin the army, so I sent him a message telling him to join us with all speed and to set the auxiliaries off on the way. It was his idea to leave a small defensive force at Geneva. I didn’t think we particularly needed Tetricus there in command, so I brought him here. I gather that during his short stay in Geneva he was healing very quickly from his wound, but I see now that such a long journey has perhaps set his recovery back again. Perhaps in retrospect I should have told him not to come.”

Fronto shook his head.

“
Now he’s here he’ll be fine. It’s a long and gruelling journey from Geneva, particularly for someone who isn’t fully healed.” He looked down at his arm. “Believe me. Tetricus will be fine now. You’re probably right about Geneva being secure, but I’d prefer to play it safe.”

Caesar frowned and put his hand to his temple, a sign Fronto recognised that heralded one of the general’s numbing headaches.

“
Then my big problem is probably Crassus. Do I even need to ask what you make of him?”

Fronto grimaced.

“
Disregarding my personal dislike for him, I think he’s a jumped up, arrogant, nasty little politician riding on the back of his father’s fame.”

The general rubbed his temples again and continued.

“
Disregarding
your personal dislike?”

Fronto smiled his least pleasant of smiles.

“
Crassus is not well liked by his peers and that cannot have escaped your notice. I am not alone in my opinions. The Seventh don’t like him a great deal. He’s unnecessarily hard and officious with them and unless he calms down he could cause trouble. Whole armies have mutinied before now due to that kind of command. I realise that he’s young, and trying to prove himself among his elders. He may even be a good tactical man, but his attitude is going to have to change if he wants to keep a command. You saw how he treated Tetricus. If I hadn’t requested the transfer, he’d have made the tribune’s life hell when he rejoined his unit. Is that plain enough?”

The General nodded sadly.

“
It pains me to say it, but I do agree with you. I need to speak to him privately and try and adjust his aggressive command technique, but there
is
a problem. I know you’re aware of a lot more than you probably should be, but I also know you’re discrete. I need you to bear in mind when we talk of Crassus that not only is his father one of the most powerful men in Rome, he’s also largely responsible for me being where I am. I owe the man a lot of money and a great deal more besides. I cannot afford to disgrace his son. I need him where he is, but I’ll have to calm him down. You see, even I’m not above having to pander to people.”

Fronto nodded. It was an all too familiar story.

“
We’ll do what we can to help, as always Caesar, but please don’t expect me to prostrate myself in front of him. I owe him nothing, and if he needs putting in his place, I damn well intend to do it.”

Caesar smiled.

“
Good. If I’m restricted by personal ties, it might be good for him to have someone else doing that. My other thought is connected to this, though. I’m worried about the legions becoming too tied to their commanders. In the case of some officers, notably you and Balbus, I feel safe in the knowledge that you’re the right men for the job. Other commanders I don’t know as well, though. It occurs to me that they may show more allegiance to their commanders than to me or to Rome. I have given much thought to abandoning my policy of long-term legates and returning power to the tribunes and temporary commanders. What are your thoughts?”

The legate raised his eyes and focused on Caesar.

“
Sir, the legions
are
tied closely with their commanders, but that is a
good
thing, and the legions will always become closely linked with a charismatic leader. I would respectfully submit that the benefits of your unusual command policy seriously outweigh the setbacks. I can foresee a day when all the legions have a permanent commander. I think it’s the only feasible way forward. To my mind you needn’t worry about the troops so long as you have good and loyal legates.
They’re
the ones you need to watch. After all… when it comes down to it, who pays them all? You, Caesar; not us.”

Caesar smiled.

“
You always make me feel better Marcus. I feel confident in my decisions once they’ve had your approval.

Fronto smiled wearily.

“
Caesar, the six legions have marched readily and almost continually for a long time now, and the new auxiliaries haven’t rested since their departure from Geneva. I saw the effect that the free off-duty day in Bibracte had on the men and I think that, should the battle go our way, we should stay encamped here for perhaps a week. The legions could all do with the rest and it’d give us time to mend, heal and recover. Besides which, we still have the trial of Dumnorix to attend to. We can spend the time strengthening our ties to the Aedui.”

Caesar smiled.

“
Agreed. A time of recuperation and political manoeuvring after warfare is done. Thank you, Marcus. As always I find your advice a comfort. Now all we need to do is to win the battle.”

* * * * *

“
Bloody Typical.”

Priscus looked over at Velius and raised his eyebrows.

“
What?”

“
Being at the front. As usual.”

Priscus grinned.

“
Gives you a chance to prove yourself, man.”

“
Huh.”

The legions were camped on a hill about half a mile from Bibracte. According to the latest intelligence, the Helvetii would arrive a little after dawn. The army had been given its positions and there was no time or need to erect tents and fortifications; no one would be caught unawares tonight. The evening was dry and quite warm, the rain having given way to sunshine well before lunchtime. The ground had dried out thoroughly, and there was a strange atmosphere on the hill. Rather than a pre-battle tension, there was something of a summer camping expedition feel. In the twilight, soldiers from six legions lay wrapped in their cloaks and blankets under the open sky. Those who were still awake munched on the remains of game and salted meat cooked over the small fires dotted around the hill. A few drank to bolster their courage for the next day; others played dice to take their mind off it.

Priscus, Velius and Fronto sat with a flask of well-watered wine halfway up the hill, where the Tenth had been assigned. The legion had been organised (as had the others) in three rows, with four cohorts in the front line, and three in each subsequent one. Thus the crescent formation on the hill stood fifty men deep and, with the four legions side by side, four hundred men long. The Tenth were stationed as one of the two centre legions, alongside the Eighth. The Ninth took the left flank and the Seventh the right, side by side with Fronto’s men. The Eleventh and Twelfth Legions, still relatively untried, stayed on the crest of the hill with the auxiliaries, surrounding the baggage and the staff officers. The entire hill was covered with men, such that virtually no ground was visible beneath the resting bodies.

It had been a very long time since an army this size had drawn up lines for engagement anywhere. The cavalry were visible on the plain at the bottom of the hill. They would leave before dawn and engage the Helvetii, drawing them closer and egging them on. The plan was well thought out and would be carefully executed.