The retreat was not without cost, however. When the Iazyges worked out when the Roman line would move backwards, instead of following they made better use of the space and their heavy axes and spears often struck home. It was also difficult for the Romans to rescue a wounded soldier, particularly if the wound was in the leg and the soldier could not fluently make the interchange with a soldier behind him.
Most of the Iazyges did not know what was happening at the front and they pressed forward. Occasionally the horn would blow and a more significant fall-back would be carried out, more Iazyges would surge forwards, again make a minor gain, then find themselves at some disadvantage. While the third cohort quietly carried out its orderly retreat, the Iazyges continued to shout encouragement while they pressed forward, at the same time pushing the front line into close contact with the Romans, which was exactly what the Romans wanted. What the Iazyges did not realize was that this enthusiasm from those not actually fighting was taking away what advantage there was for those that were.
The third cohort worked its way around the bluff, gradually expanding the breadth of its lines as a higher fraction of the troops were brought into the action. The retreat was now proceeding faster, and the Iazyges were pressing forward more furiously, totally confident of victory, but their column was also becoming more extended, and more importantly, the front had turned around the bluff and was out of sight of those at the rear.
Gaius now gave the signal. The first had divided into two, and two wedges now marched down the slope, but on different angles such that the bluff prevented most of the Iazyges from realizing there were two attacks. With no choice, the Iazyges turned to face the Romans descending on them. Their open file to this flank meant that most of the two flights of pilii struck victims, and before the Iazyges could regroup, the two wedges embedded themselves into the column.
The horn blew again, then those at the front noticed, for the first time, that the retreat in front of them was not through fear but was part of a plan. Now the wall of locked shields began its advance, closing the gap so that the shields were thrust into the bodies of the Iazyges and the remorseless thrusting recommenced. Those Iazyges at the front had no alternative but to fight for their lives, but those behind them had time to look around. Retreat was difficult now that some other attack was proceeding behind them. Some began to panic, and ran in the only available direction other than their own reserves. These found the Roman cavalry.
Then Gaius, from his position on the hill, noted the party at the rear with the enemy chief. He signalled for two cavalry detachments, and rode forward along the ridge, then led the charge downhill.
The Iazyges in total outnumbered the Romans three to one, but in this tiny sub-battle, the odds were reversed, and in the initial charge, most of the Iazygian horsemen saw this and simply turned and fled. The leader tried to stand his ground, but was soon surrounded, his remaining soldiers dispatched.
"Surrender now!" Gaius ordered, "and stop the slaughter."
"You'll kill us anyway," the chief offered, and added, without much conviction for the prospect, "It is better to die in battle."
"It is better to live with your family!" Gaius countered. "Surrender!"
"And if I do?"
"If you wish to continue fighting," Gaius announced, "we raze your villages to the ground, and take your food, women and children back as tribute or as slaves. If you offer to live in peace and pay tribute then we can forget what has happened, and you can act for Rome, as a buffer. You may cross the Danube at designated points and trade at our markets. Choose."
"Pay you tribute?" the chief growled.
"I already have more than enough," Gaius pointed out. "What I am offering is to give you your village back, with some but not all of your possessions. I shall also take the families of your leaders. They will be treated well, and live as they please, and be educated in Roman ways, if you wish."
The chief thought for a moment, then nodded agreement. He knew his eldest sons would be hostages for his good behaviour. The procedure was not unexpected, and the fact that Gaius already had possession of all that he was proposing to take meant that the tribute was less important.
Gaius immediately ordered the horn signal for the troops to accept surrender. Immediately the Roman shield walls fell back, the thrusting stopping except in defence. The chief rode towards his men, and yelled out his instructions. His men began to lay down their arms and, seeing the Romans had ceased fighting, were able to tend to their wounded. The battle was over.
* * *
The Iazygian weapons were gathered and placed on carts, which Gaius ordered to be sent immediately to the village, together with the Iazygian supplies, the chief and some of the men. Gaius suggested that these men, together with those captured, construct further huts and gather firewood. They would be given axes, and the harder they worked, the better would be the huts in which they would have to live for as long as it took the Romans to safely depart, and the warmer would be their night. Any treachery, and the entire village would be crucified.
The chief nodded, and promised no treachery. He knew he had been beaten, but he also knew that this outcome was much better than any he could have hoped for, given that he had lost. Meanwhile, the Roman medical men began helping those wounded Iazyges who had more chance of living.
About two hours later, many carts started to arrive to take the wounded from both sides back to the village, while the remainder began marching back
That evening, Gaius invited the chief, his family, and some additional Iazyges to dine with him. Patiently, he outlined what he wanted from them in the future. There would be a standard tribute in gold or coin, but this could be earned if the Iazyges cared to sell food to the legion, or for that matter any other goods to anybody within the Roman domain. They would have freedom to cross the river at any time, provided tribute was up to date, and they were also expected to offer free passage to anybody from the Roman domains.
What Rome required was order. If the Iazyges themselves were attacked or raided by those from outside Rome's control, they were free to defend themselves, and provided they were not the cause of the problem, Rome may well help them. If they behaved like allies, they would be treated as allies.
The chief accepted this, and swore there would be no further hostilities.
* * *
The following day, Gaius sent the tribute and the wounded back to the river, and two days later a scout returned and informed him that both had reached and crossed the river without incident. Accordingly, the next morning the Romans marched out, together with three young Iazyges as hostage, and the Iazygian weaponry. They stopped overnight at the first village, then the following morning they marched to the river, leaving much of the Iazygian weaponry behind. As Gaius had told the chief, the taking of the weapons was simply a precaution, but he had no intention of leaving the tribe defenceless through the winter. The chief seemed genuinely grateful for this.
Four days later the two cohorts recrossed the Danube. Again, the crossing took most of the day, the mechanics of which Gaius felt he could safely leave in the hands of the Centurions and Tribunes. He returned to his formal headquarters, announced that he had returned, then on learning that there was nothing especially pressing, he left.