The chief difficulty in the position of Sulla really consisted in the fact, that in consequence of the faithlessness and perfidy which prevailed the new burgesses had every reason, if not to suspect his personal designs, to doubt at any rate whether he would be able to induce his party to keep their word after the victory.
Sulla Lands in Italy And Is Reinforced by Partisans and Deserters In the spring of 671 Sulla landed with his legions in the port of Brundisium.

The senate, on receiving the news, declared the commonwealth in danger, and committed to the consuls unlimited powers; but these incapable leaders had not looked before them, and were surprised by a landing which had nevertheless been foreseen for years.

The army was still at Ariminum, the ports were not garrisoned, and--what is almost incredible--there was not a man under arms at all along the whole south-eastern coast.
The consequences were soon apparent Brundisium itself, a considerable community of new burgesses, at once opened its gates without resistance to the oligarchic general, and all Messapia and Apulia followed its example.

The army marched through these regions as through a friendly country, and mindful of its oath uniformly maintained the strictest discipline.

From all sides the scattered remnant of the Optimate party flocked to the camp of Sulla.
Quintus Metellus came from the mountain ravines of Liguria, whither he had made his escape from Africa, and resumed, as colleague of Sulla, the proconsular command committed to him in 667,( 12) and withdrawn from him by the revolution.