Maximus was surprised by Brebiusta's proposal because the territory of the Taulisians was not on the west bank of the Danube River, but on the east bank, located at the northern end of the Danube Plain, encircled by the foothills at the western end of the Carpathian Mountains, with the Danube River as a barrier to the west. The land was not small and fertile, so the Taulisians were not weak.
Brebiusta, seeing Maximus's slight confusion, explained frankly: "The Taulisians have frequently harassed our Dacian tribes on the east bank of the Danube in the past; they are accomplices of the Boyi people! I have twice attempted to lead an army to take revenge on the Taulisians, but they rely on mountainous defenses, which ultimately led to my fruitless return.
