While the victors were occupying Trier, Civilis and Classicus sent 75 a letter to Cerialis, the gist of which was that Vespasian was dead, though the news was being suppressed:  Rome and Italy were exhausted by civil war:  Mucianus and Domitian were mere names with no power behind them:  if Cerialis desired to be emperor of All Gaul, they would be satisfied with their own territory:  but if he should prefer battle, that, too, they would not deny him.  Cerialis made no answer to Civilis and Classicus, but sent the letter and its bearer to Domitian.

The enemy now approached Trier from every quarter in detached bands, and Cerialis was much criticized for allowing them to unite, when he might have cut them off one by one.  The Roman army now threw a trench and rampart round their camp, for they had rashly settled in it without seeing to the fortifications.  In the German camp different 76 opinions were being keenly debated.  Civilis contended that they should wait for the tribes from across the Rhine, whose arrival would spread a panic sufficient to crush the enfeebled forces of the Romans.  The Gauls, he urged, were simply a prey for the winning side and, as it was, the Belgae, who were their sole strength, had declared for him or were at least sympathetic.  Tutor maintained that delay only strengthened the Roman force, since their armies were converging from every quarter.  ’They have brought one legion across from Britain, others have been summoned from Spain, or are on their way from Italy.[437] Nor are they raw recruits, but experienced veterans, while the Germans, on whose aid we rely, are subject to no discipline or control, but do whatever they like.  You can only bribe them with presents of money, and the Romans have the advantage of us there:  besides, however keen to fight, a man always prefers peace to danger, so long as the pay is the same.  But if we engage them at once, Cerialis has nothing but the remnants of the German army,[438] who have sworn allegiance to the Gallic Empire.  The very fact that they have just won an unexpected victory over Valentinus’ undisciplined bands[439] serves to confirm them and their general in imprudence.  They will venture out again and will fall, not into the hands of an inexperienced boy, who knows more about making speeches than war, but into the hands of Civilis and Classicus, at the sight of whom they will recall their fears and their flights and their famine, and remember how often they have had to beg their lives from their captors.  Nor, again, is it any liking for the Romans that keeps back the Treviri and Lingones:  they will fly to arms again, when once their fears are dispelled.’  Classicus finally settled the difference of opinion by declaring for Tutor’s policy, and they promptly proceeded to carry it out.