Augustus Road

"Anyone who can take up arms at this time but does not is a traitor to Italy." - Giuseppe Garibaldi's War Letter

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On a bright day at the end of April, Lepidus's six legions, accompanied by the escort of the fleet, landed in the Spanish city of Malaga and the other top of the Ebro Bay in Cadiales. They were divided into left and right groups. There are two routes, the right one is the "Lius Legion" commanded by Lepidus himself, part of the "King Numa Legion" led by Dusonville, and the Sixth Legion composed of Sardinian children, with the goal of reaching the Baibatis River. and Ursau, the fortress on the Guadalquivi River; along the way are the 12th, 13th and 15th legions assigned to the command of Carlenus, with the goal of reaching Saab's hometown of Ga, Italy, and crossing the Guadalquivi river, threatening the city of Cordoba from its flank.

Then, what surprised Lepidus who came ashore was that the city of Malaga, the largest port in southern Spain, actually closed its doors to him.

The following scene is very familiar, that is, the new Cyrenaic fleet took the lead in blocking the port of Magala, and then the infantry of the Leo Legion erected the antler fence for the siege and began to dig trenches.

"Ask the representatives of the elders of this ignorant city to come to see me." Lepidah in the coach's camp ordered.

Soon, fifteen city representatives all knelt down in front of Lepidus, holding olive branches. "Why are you adopting a confrontational attitude towards the representatives of the Republic and the army?" Lepidus scolded him sternly.

After getting permission from the high priest's armed retinue, several representatives raised their heads in panic and defended Lepidus. "Because we were afraid of the same fate as the civil war. We provided asylum to Crassus who took refuge here. We provided military rations and money, but when Crassus recruited a team to return to join Sulla's army, he took the lead in looting our territory. city, so the Presbyterian Council issued an order that Magala, as a free city, will never be involved in any party in the subsequent civil war of the Republic."

"It turns out that Pius's "History of the Iberian War" was true. After Marius and Cinna captured the city of Rome, they declared a public enemy. Crassus's father and brothers both died in the catastrophe, and he himself fled to Spain. , was hidden in a cave by the sea by one of his father's wealthy Crean followers in the city of Magala." Lepidah thought silently in his heart, and then he thought about it and then turned to the representative of Magala and ordered. , "Open the city gates immediately and do not allow arbitrary fortification. I can ensure that the army is stationed outside the city and will not interfere with the looting of the city and exempt the city from expropriation. But you must provide me with ten hostages. And act as my guide. Also, tell me. Where was the cave where Crassus hid?"

According to the agreement, the city of Magala opened its gates in a dubious but helpless mood. Lepidus indeed kept his promise. He just wanted the city to provide a port for his fleet to berth. Then the high priest showed great interest with a small amount of Guard soldiers rode horses and strolled to a manor on the outskirts of the city on the seaside.

This manor seemed to have been deserted for a long time. The fences had collapsed, weeds and wildflowers were densely covered inside, and the buildings and warehouses were in disrepair. When Lepider entered the property on horseback, he saw a simple hut next to the pond. An old woman, about sixty years old, was leaning in front of a porch full of clay pots, playing with a spinning machine.

Seeing this, Lepidah jumped off the horse and walked up to the old woman. The woman raised her wrinkled face and gray hair. She was wrapped in a simple and clean blanket, but Lepidah could vaguely tell that the old woman was young. At that time, the appearance must not be bad.

"Dear nobleman, I am the slave girl of Vibius, and my master has appointed me to stay in this manor." The old woman stood up to pay tribute, and was gently supported by Lepidus. Then the high priest asked her to sit down, "As for the style of the past era, You are the best witness.”

"Yes, if you have anything to ask, feel free to ask...Master Vibius once taught me some Greek reading and writing when I was young." The old woman was quite generous, looking at She didn't have any stage fright. After speaking, the old woman shouted a few words inside, and a young beauty with a slim figure and slightly dark skin slowly walked out, "This is my granddaughter. None of us have any serious names. We all follow the owner's name." You can call me old Vilia, or call her little Vilia. Hey, little Vilia, get some mead for this noble man."

Little Vilia blushed, hummed lowly, and flicked the gray braid on the back of her neck. Her breasts and buttocks were well developed, and she swayed when she ran, like a forest girl. The little gray-backed swan was lively, cute and full of amiable country atmosphere. Soon she came out holding a small clay pot, knelt down in front of Lepidus, and poured mead for him. Her eyes were lowered, shy and... With a flattering expression, the high priest was very happy, so he gave her a few small silver coins, "This manor has been in decline for a long time? Where is your master Vibius?"

"He left here thirty years ago, taking my sister and my sister's child with him." Old Vilia shook the spinning machine creakingly, as if trapped in distant memories, "Then the master took him with him. This estate was left, a house was given to me and my husband, and the rights of freemen were promised to my descendants, and so it was that I spent the rest of my life here until you came, and behold your dress, your garb, and With your magnanimity and so many followers with different skin colors and looks, you are the second big man to come to this manor.”

While speaking, Lepida took a sip of mead. The taste was very mellow. It was definitely not brewed casually by ordinary villagers in the countryside. The sunshine in this season was surprisingly bright, and the woods and ponds were also lovely green. The high priest couldn't help but feel a little elated. He was half-lying on the rough wooden lounge chair that little Vilia moved out, listening to the chirping of birds from time to time, the whisper of the breeze blowing over his head, and the sound of distant waves. It actually felt like his eyelids were fighting. After a while, little Vilia started to Turning out of the room, a wooden plate was miraculously held, with chopped sweet onion slices and a small bottle of wine on it. Lepidus ate and drank a few sips, and his whole body and mind, down to his pores, felt extremely comfortable, and then he became lazy. He asked the old woman, "The first big man should be Crassus, right?"

The old woman suddenly showed a cheerful expression, as if she was proud, and she nodded, "Forty years ago, he escaped from afar to the master of Magala, and my sister and I accompanied him. A whole eight months.”

Then she saw Lepidus looking questioningly at his granddaughter who was still kneeling in front of the recliner, and she laughed and said, "Noble sir, don't be like this, this girl is the flesh and blood of my husband and I, not Crassus. "

"What about your sister? You said Vibius took her away from here a long time ago, or your master Vibius, where did he go?" Lepida's curiosity became more and more obvious. (To be continued...)