"W won't they f fortify outside the town?" Claudius asked. "V Vespasian says that b b because of the time we've wasted, th th they'll b be d doing that already."
"And that's where we build up Claudius as a great military commander," Gaius grinned. "Everybody else is criticizing you for allowing them to do what you really want them to do, and are encouraging them for all you're worth to do it."
In response to Claudius' look, Gaius continued, "This is where the elephants come in. Everybody assumes the southern thicket is impenetrable, and in the normal course of events they'd be right. But elephants will get through that with no trouble, and make tracks for other troops. What happens is that you will start the frontal attack with the artillery, then you march your troops up to where the archers can get their arrows into the fortified position. The Celts will believe that is where the attack is coming from, because they can see it. However the real attack comes from the left rear, the elephants carving out the way. My guess is that with no fortifications in that direction, with elephants and a legion coming from a direction for which they have no preplanned defence, the Celts will simply give up. Those in the centre or right will quickly realize that the battle's lost, and they'll run as fast as they can while they still can. Instead of a bloodbath of attrition, it could end up a strategic rout."
"I kn knew you w wouldn't let m me down," Claudius said. "Y y you realize that I'll h have t to take the credit?"
"I know," Gaius said. "The future of Rome is of more importance than my. ."
"I w won't forget," Claudius promised, then, suddenly looking very self-satisfied, he said, "I h have a s s surprise for you."
"Oh?"
"Vipsania has p pleaded with me. I'll leave you here f for a year," Claudius said, clearly very pleased with himself, "th th then you come back to Rome to b build your engine."
"What?" Gaius said in surprise.
"I'll p pay for c craftsmen," he said, "and y you can m make me a new weapon!"
"It may not make a weapon," Gaius warned, "although it may help make weapons, by getting more metal from mines, or it may help move soldiers, or. ."
"Or it m may g get m more money for the treasury," Claudius offered.
"That's certainly possible," Gaius said, "as long as I can make it work."
"I'm sure you c c can," Claudius nodded, "I'll b b build a place where you and others c c can work and where m more new th things can be made. You'll m make the new Library of Rome the centre of the world of l learning!"
Gaius stared at him. Could this really happen? "Thank you, Princeps," he bowed.
"I I knew you'd be pleased," Claudius smiled.
It was only as Gaius left the tent that he remembered the prophecy. He was not supposed to return to Rome until it was in ruins. Well, so much for that stupid prophecy!
Mail arrived with the reinforcements, including another letter from Vipsania.
My Darling Gaius,
By now I know you have had success. Rome is all abuzz with the success, and the news that Claudius himself intends to take the field. Some are saying that Claudius won't make any difference, in fact he will probably make things worse, but I know that won't happen.
It's not that I have great faith in Claudius' military ability; as it happens, I know Claudius hasn't either. On the other hand, we both have complete faith in yours! He knows his limitations, and before he left, he summoned me to a dinner. To my complete surprise, there were just the two of us; even Messalina was somewhere else. Claudius confided to me that he intended to rely on your judgment, and while he knew that it was wrong for him to take the credit for your skill, the greater good of Rome demanded it. He promised me that he would reward you richly when you returned to Rome. Now I know you don't think you will return to Rome before it collapses, but I think you should put that stupid prophecy out of your head; there is absolutely no way in the world that Rome is going to collapse anytime soon.
What might happen, though, is that if Claudius doesn't win, there will be plots, in fact I believe that right now Marcus Vinicianus and a number of other Senators are getting ready to replace Claudius. I actually mentioned this to Claudius, and he smiled and said that he was confident that I was right, but I was not to worry as the particular Senators had been invited to accompany him to Britain and have a grandstand view of the major battle. That way, if he lost, which he was sure you wouldn't let happen, the Senators could face the angry Celts themselves. He actually said that he wished he could get some of them into the line and see how courageous they really were when they actually had to fight an enemy that was trying to kill them. As an aside, if you can think of any movement that scares the daylights out of those senators, as likely as not Claudius will approve.
This was an interesting move, because Claudius told them that if they did not come, he would assume they bore him considerable ill will, and when he returned victorious, those who had refused to come and acclaim him would be considered to have been plotting and would be dealt with accordingly. He gave a long speech which, apart from the stuttering, could have come directly from Tiberius towards the end of his imperium, and in many ways it left the Senators with even less choice than from some of the worst demands from Little Boots. They were appalled, and prostrated themselves, swearing allegiance, and so on, so, almost out of Augustus' books, Claudius smiled and told them of the gracious efforts he had made to ensure their time in Britain would be instructive. The Senators would be placed in legionary camps, and would see the style of legionary life, indeed if they wished, they could experience it. I doubt there will be many takers on the last offer.
On more ordinary matters, everything is going well on the ranch; the crops are in, the animals are thriving and we should have a good year. We even got some money sent to us by the Legate of the Fulminata, one Lucius Vibius. Apparently while you were there you arranged for some traders to sell beer according to your recipe, and they were supposed to pay so much per keg. Well, they seemed to think you had forgotten all about it so there was no need to for them to pay, but apparently Vibius knew about the deal and persuaded them to pay up. As he told them, he knew roughly how much beer had been made because he knew how much grain they had used. If they did not own up to the correct amount, he would assume they were also cheating Claudius of his taxes. The implied threat worked wonders.
Britain is now on everybody's lips in Rome. There are bets on everything, when the battle for Camulodunum will start, which legion goes first, even if it will even get underway. You will be very famous when you get back.
May the Gods of battle, and, for that matter, your Pallas Athene, be with you and protect you.
Your loving Vipsania.
Gaius was quite surprised to hear the news about Vibius; he had assumed that once he left the Fulminata, Vibius would forget about him, but apparently that was not so. Assuming the prophecy was wrong and he did return to Rome, he would have to ensure that he did something to help Vibius' career. He was also interested to learn that Vipsania believed that most of the senators accompanying this expedition were as likely as not to have been forming plots to get rid of Claudius. Perhaps he should invite some of the Senators to accompany squads of men on raiding parties, to see what action was really like. The downside, of course, was that the soldiers would feel they had to protect the Senators, which might put them in unnecessary danger, for he had no faith in the Senators' ability to look after themselves once politics became irrelevant.