Best Roman fiction authors

[Goffredo]

I read that the Parthians (and later Sassanians) would relocated war prisoners, whole units(!), to distant parts of their empire to fight other enemies ("either fight for us or rot in a prison"). [In particular roman legionaries were too precious to sick in a prison and indeed it seems that the roman prisoners were of prime importance in building up the the ability of the Sassanians in seige warfare.]<br>
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I have a confused memory of reading of a "legend" that a whole roman unit, survivors of Crassus and relocated on a distant Parthian eastern front, decided to try their luck and make a run for it. Of course they couldn't go home (the wrong way). They could only go more east. As the "legend" goes they became select troops of some war lord and eventually made it to the territories of China. Has anyone heard about this?<br>
I think it would make a great novel or film. Just think of a bunch of rough Italic veterans, with no more illusions of getting home, walking (marching) so far against strange peoples. <p></p><i></i>