Augustus Road

"You mean, you can find a guide to help me cross the Snowy Nevada?" Lepidah put down the wine cup.

"Yes, I have some property in Spain, and I have a few loyal mountain people who are my patrons." After speaking, Korola picked a unique flower from the robe on her chest, "This is only found on the glacier. Some people point to plum blossoms, which is also proof.”

Lepidus placed the flower in his hand that was full of spots and looked like butterfly wings. After observing it doubtfully for a while, he murmured to himself, "I have the strength of fifteen legions. Even if it takes a few days, I can conquer Ur." The problem at Shaocheng Fortress is still not big.”

"Dear High Priest and Consul, as I have just said, what you are engaged in now is not a military struggle, but a political struggle. What you need more than victory is time. Now all the resources of the Republic are The senators, knights and people still have hesitation in their hearts, that is, who should I choose between you and Young Caesar, and I am betting on you. Even if you are a naturalized citizen, what does it matter? Power has always been won by legend and strength. People hate things that are passed down from generation to generation. Wasn't the city of Rome itself built by wandering heroes from the Far East? If they felt that the young child was more courageous, So what's the point of your great victory on the Tumul River? The Senate will give you twelve or even twenty days of thanksgiving, and a grand triumph, and it will give you another statue next to the statue of Caesar in the Temple of Love. Build a sculpture, and then what?" Korola stretched out his hands, "When three people compete, there will always be a fixed game, that is, the two weak ones join forces to fight against the strongest one."

After hearing this. Determination burned in Lepidus' heart - it is true that if it were Octavian, his military ability and prestige would never be able to compete with Brutus and Cassius, but he might join forces with Antony of Shannan Gaul, That way, he could really fight to the death with the Greek Republican army, and defeat himself on the same level, just as Korola said. Your own disadvantages in blood and race will be highlighted.

"Snow Nevada, if you pass through the passage between cliffs, how many people can pass through at most?" Finally, the high priest asked this most fundamental question.

"One legion, to two legions, but more beasts of burden are needed, preferably local ones, as well as mountain guides hired with huge sums of money."

The high priest suddenly stood up and said, "I will give you two million sesterces to spend on guides. I want capable people, not waste who can ruin the entire army. As for the beasts of burden and weapons, I will know how to do it myself." Find a way, of course Korola, you must accompany my team, if everyone is buried in the mountains, you will also have to pay the price with your life."

"Your Excellency, High Priest An An, it is early summer. As long as we march under the glacier and snow line, there will be no big losses." Korola made a gesture that the contract was finalized. "When our army appears in On the foothills to the north, the little Pompey of Ursau would be frightened.”

"Our army is very good. You should always remember that it is ours." Lepidus raised the wine cup and said, "Cheers to Hercules who went on an expedition to Spain but has unfinished business. I want to complete his magnificent business."

"cheers."

Three days later, in front of the Temple of Hercules on the edge of Cadiz, countless legion flagbearers holding various flags and portraits of King Numa appeared, as well as teams carrying countless sacrifices, "in order to pray for victory in Iberia." For the great victory in the Ertian territory, the high priest of the Roman Republic came specifically to worship the great Hercules and ask for his blessings of strength and glory."

Amidst the sound of the trumpet, the birds perched on the temple's mountain wall soared into the sky in the direction of the sun and flowing clouds. People watching the excitement from the surrounding towns and countryside crowded outside the wooden fences and fences that had been set up. Looking at the huge sacrificial team, they whispered to each other fiercely, "Look, that is the Archon and High Priest who is a foreigner. How beautiful his tassels and armor are."

In the flag team, the high priest with black hair, black beard and obsidian eyes wore a helmet with gorgeous feathers, a blue cloak given by the Ptolemaic royal family, with a golden scarab embroidered on the bottom, and a belt tied with Wearing a jeweled sword and a gold-plated baton, on both sides were black Medici guards carrying bows and arrows and leather bags, and behind them were countless new legionnaires holding spears and copper pipes, slowly and slowly. He walked slowly towards the temple standing on the hill.

When the soldier holding a shiny copper pipe appeared in everyone's sight, everyone shouted with excitement and fear, "Look, 'Mother'! That's 'Mother', isn't it just a pipe?" ”

"Mother" is now the nickname given by residents throughout Africa and Spain to this new mysterious weapon, because when these things sound powerful in unison, a child in and outside Rome will be stunned after hearing this devilish sound. Crying and shouting "Mom".

"Shut up, this pipe can spray out fireworks and poisonous mist that will bring death to a large area, so that no one, including humans, animals, and even trees, will be spared within its reach." Suddenly, a druid priest appeared and scolded those people. The person who questioned, then he bent down and walked along the wooden fence, constantly observing the queue of Lebida coming to offer sacrifices, as if he was trying to figure out the appearance.

In the cheers of the crowd, the Roman consul ended the sacrifice, and then stood in front of the altar and spoke to all the priests, soldiers and onlookers, "I have sacrificed ten white pure-haired animals to the invincible Hercules. Cattle, and fifty lambs. According to Roman customs, I will set up a large number of tents around the temple, build a theater and a Colosseum, and use two hundred pairs of sword fighting slaves from all over the world to stimulate bloody excitement. A performance to please the gods, to please you!"

Everyone cheered, and the druid priest also looked extremely happy. Like other curious tourists, driven by the guards, he kept running from here to there, stretching his neck and looking around.

At this time, a row of soldiers wearing new breastplates and helmets walked to the sacred grove in front of the temple, and then majestically connected the copper pipe with the fork, then raised the mouth of the tube and aimed it towards the air. "Long live the God of War Lius, long live the Hercules!" Following the centurion's command, a loud noise exploded along with fierce gunpowder smoke, and the rockets placed in the mouth of the barrel flew up into the sky, one after another in the crowd. The head exploded.

"Mom!" Everyone present, not only children but also adults, shouted involuntarily.

And as Lepidus promised, Roman military slaves and soldiers began to temporarily build a new market town and entertainment center around the Temple of Hercules. People from all over the place quickly flocked over to enjoy the gifts given to them by the high priest. celebration.

But in the military camp fifteen miles outside Magala, the centurions called all the Spanish prisoners of war to gather together without knowing why. (To be continued...)

!!