After two hours, the battle had ended.
The victory of the clone army was overwhelming, but many clone soldiers died during the river crossing and in the subsequent chaotic battle.
Enobarbus's newly recruited legions were no match for the clone army, but the chaotic battlefield and the novice soldiers caused considerable losses, managing to surprise Septimus.
A total of 10,394 clone soldiers died during the battle.
The enormous number of casualties also included the clone soldiers who were gravely wounded during the battle.
For Septimus, the clone soldiers were consumables that could be replenished every week; there was no need to use scarce and expensive medical resources to heal gravely wounded clone soldiers.
On the other hand, the current medical conditions were highly unhygienic, and medical treatment was almost torture in many situations.
Many supposed healers were charlatans who relied on luck and sold potions with strange ingredients that caused a lightly wounded person to become gravely wounded.
During many battles in which Septimus participated, gravely wounded clone soldiers were executed and added to the list of those fallen in battle.
Meanwhile, General Enobarbus was also killed during the chaotic battle, and his corpse could only be identified by the luxurious armor he wore.
The enemy camp and the supplies inside it became the property of the clone army.
Before nightfall, the clone army completely seized the enemy camp and everything inside it.
The few soldiers protecting the enemy camp deserted in haste, leaving the gate open.
Enobarbus's camp was Roman in style, with basic defenses around it to prevent a surprise attack.
The clone soldiers decapitated Enobarbus and covered his head with lime before placing it inside a wooden box as a gift for Sulla.
The clone soldiers also dedicated themselves to cutting off the heads of the enemy corpses and piling them into a small mountain that quickly became a great feast for African crows and vultures.
The crows were especially greedy for the corpses' eyes and even fought each other over the heads whose eyes remained intact.
Three days passed quickly, and the four clone legions coming from the region of Campania disembarked at the port of the city of Utica.
The news of Enobarbus's imminent death and the crushing defeat of his army spread among the surrounding tribal leaders.
A large number of local residents came to support Septimus's army, bringing abundant food and supplies; some even offered soldiers to fight alongside the clone army.
Septimus accepted all the gifts without much pretense but refused to allow the local soldiers to join the clone army.
Africa was a Roman province, and the provinces were obligated to pay taxes to Rome, including supplies and money.
Except in extremely dangerous situations, Rome generally did not demand that provincial residents provide additional supplies.
However, Septimus rejected the offer of soldiers. Only allied states could provide soldiers to Rome; the provinces had no obligation to contribute troops for combat, and Septimus had no intention of breaking the rules for a group of tribal soldiers with little combat effectiveness.
On the other hand, the clone army was enough to face any adversity compared to the local soldiers who lacked training, discipline, loyalty, and battle experience.
A clear example was the rapid defeat of Enobarbus's legions, which barely offered resistance before collapsing completely.
After Septimus rejected the offer of soldiers, a burly middle-aged man approached with a fake smile.
"Since the great general does not want them, that is fine. I have something to ask. I wonder what the general plans to do with the prisoners," said the middle-aged man with a flattering expression on his face.
This middle-aged man was a member of the council of the city of Utica, who had organized a large group of nobles to provide supplies and soldiers to Septimus that day.
The city of Utica had surrendered easily, managing to avoid a massacre by the clone army, and as a result, many nobles and officials of the city initially decided to keep a low profile before a decisive outcome in the war.
Septimus was not interested in forming friendships with a group of opportunistic nobles, and the clone soldiers in the city of Utica dedicated themselves to maintaining order and control of the walls and key areas while ignoring the nobles of the city.
On the other hand, although Septimus had many supplies, he knew that the more, the better. Transporting them from Rome was too expensive; it was much better to buy them locally. Therefore, he accepted the supplies but rejected the soldiers.
"Have you come because of those captured Phoenician soldiers?" Septimus asked with a calm expression.
Many of Enobarbus's soldiers were Phoenicians, and the chaotic battle caused the soldiers to flee in every direction.
In recent days, the soldiers who escaped without supplies and were exhausted from the frantic escape on foot were gradually captured by Numidian horsemen in the service of the clone army.
Septimus was hesitating between selling them as slaves or simply decapitating and torturing them for entertainment.
Among the captured enemy soldiers, nearly half were local Phoenicians, but there were also Romans and even some Numidians included.
"Yes, they were simply deceived by Enobarbus. You know, he is also Roman, and we cannot disobey Roman orders. I hope that, with your mercy, you can forgive their mistakes; we are willing to pay any price for it," said the councilman with a humble expression on his face.
Septimus smiled at the councilman's words when referring to his supposed mercy. Septimus's reputation throughout Italy was among the worst.
"They have committed serious crimes against Rome. My plan is to torture them and place their decapitated heads on spears all across the battlefield. What do you think? I am giving them an artistic death. Am I not merciful?" Septimus said with a smile.
The councilman widened his eyes, and his back began to sweat. Could you stop mocking me?
Unable to understand whether it was truth or a joke, the councilman decided to remain silent while sweat soaked his back and forehead.
Septimus stopped joking when he observed the fat man's expression.
"Do you wish to buy them?" Septimus asked with a smile.
The councilman nodded nervously while wiping the sweat from his forehead.
Septimus and the fat man reached a deal and sold all the prisoners.
War consumed money, and Septimus could save money by selling all the Phoenician, Roman, and Numidian prisoners.
The sale price of the prisoners was 600 denarii for the Romans and 400 denarii for the remaining Phoenicians and Numidians.
Septimus remembered that the ransom for a Roman soldier during Hannibal's time was around 500 denarii, but now the price had only risen by 100 denarii, an acceptable price.
The advantage of the clone army once again became evident because Septimus did not need to divide the money among the clone soldiers.
Roman history does not lack examples of generals who died for preventing their legionaries from earning money.
A Roman general who did not allow his soldiers to earn money was not a good general. In the original history, General Lucullus, although he was a renowned general with numerous victories, was too stingy, which caused his soldiers to disobey his orders and betray him.
Septimus made a dismissive gesture to the fat councilman, not wanting to pay him any more attention.
"General, there is another important matter that I would like to propose to you," said the fat man suddenly after recovering from his previous panic.
Septimus slightly raised his gaze, preventing the clone guards from throwing the fat man out of the room.