Who knew this was precisely Spartacus's stratagem? The rebel army's ambush troops quickly emerged from both sides of the mountains, causing two Roman legions to collapse instantly. They were chased relentlessly by the rebel army and fled back to Rimini in disarray.
The initial defeat made Crassus extremely angry, yet he still kindly consoled Deputy General Mummius, who had disobeyed his command. But after turning away, he cruelly ordered the execution of the "Eleventh Decimation Law" on the five hundred soldiers who first retreated and gathered the entire army to witness the execution process.
When the Roman soldiers saw their comrades beaten to death with sticks by fellow soldiers in a brutal manner, they shivered in fear, feeling that dying in battle under the rebel army's swords was far more honorable than dying at Crassus's hands.
Thus, Crassus achieved his goal of making the soldiers fear him more than the enemy.
