The general reached to the side of the desk for a large vellum roll and carefully spread the map open between himself and the legate. Much of the ink notation was crisp and black, steadily added to over the winter as the cavalry patrols provided more and more information about the lie of the land. Vespasian was impressed by the detail on the map, and said so.

‘It’s good, isn’t it?’ responded the general with a smile of satisfaction. ‘Copies are being prepared for you and the other legates. I’ll expect you to notify my headquarters at once of any additional significant features that you encounter.’

‘Yes, sir,’ said Vespasian, before he grasped the full implications of the order. ‘I take it that the Second will be operating independently of the rest of the army once we’ve crossed back over the Tamesis?’

‘Of course. That’s why I’m moving you as soon as possible. I want you and your legion in place to march against Caratacus the moment the campaign season starts.’

‘What are the orders?’

General Plautius smiled again. ‘I thought you’d appreciate the chance to show me what you and your men can achieve. Very well, it’s good to see that you’re keen.’ He pointed a finger south of the Tamesis estuary. ‘Calleva. That’s where you’ll be based until spring. I’ve assigned elements of the channel fleet to your command. They’ll join you once summer begins. You are to use them to keep you supplied during the campaign, and to sweep the river clear of the enemy. And while you cut Caratacus off from the southern part of the island, I’ll be forcing him out of the Tamesis valley to the north of the river. By the end of the year we should have pushed the front forward to a line stretching from the west coast to the fens of the Iceni.

‘To that end I’ll take the Fourteenth, Ninth and Twentieth Legions north of the Tamesis and advance up the valley. Most of the native raiding columns have come from that direction. Meanwhile, you’ll take the Second Legion back across the river and move up along the south bank. You are to fortify any bridges or fords you come across. It will mean crossing into the territory of the Durotriges, but we were going to have to tackle them at some point anyway. Intelligence reports say that they’re in possession of quite a few hill forts, some of which you will need to take, and take quickly. Think you can manage that?’

Vespasian considered the prospect. ‘Shouldn’t present too much of a problem, provided I have enough artillery. More than I have now’

Plautius smiled. ‘That’s what all my legates say.’

‘Maybe, sir. But if you want me to take those forts, and guard the crossing places on the Tamesis, then I need artillery.’