Augustus Road

Leo lay in a secluded room in the manor and slept for a day and a night before slowly waking up. He was really under great psychological and physical pressure during this period, but he finally "successfully completed his father's request."

Leo got up, prayed briefly in front of the niche of the house god, ate some fruit in a hurry, and then sat in a daze on a chair beside the colonnade outside the door. In front of him, the smoke on the altar in the corner of the courtyard , still lingering and confused under the early morning light, just like his mood at the moment.

The name Syfax said was the last thing he wanted to hear. How much he wished it was someone else, but the reality was so cruel, as cruel as a rusty iron cone thrust into his chest. The pain in his stomach made him uncontrollable. The chickens in the sand pit under the atrium patio were walking lazily back and forth, making smug cries from time to time, which especially made Leo feel more irritated.

At this time, two slaves appeared at the side door opposite, lowering their hands respectfully. Leo understood: his father had learned that he had woken up, and asked to be summoned to get the result.

"I'm here, father." Leo didn't dare to delay, so he walked around the winding corridor outside the side door and came to the study where his father was. On this day, Lepidus sent all the others away. He went to the city of Rome to pave the way for his triumphal ceremony and campaign. He only stayed at the Manor of Orphelenus with his guards, as if he was waiting for Leo to report to him, even though Lepidus had 90% of the answers already.

When Leo stepped into the threshold, Julia sat under the rain porch opposite, operating the loom. And kept giving him winks. It means telling him to be smarter. And Lepidus was sitting on the map table marked with the terrain of Greece, slowly using a hook pen to draw the criss-crossing routes between the enemy and ourselves. "If Turinus' command is extended for another year, maybe he can even extend the Epirus area." It's impossible to save it." This was his father's judgment. Then he looked up and saw Leo and asked in passing, "I will return to Rome immediately and I will prepare to unite with Pansa in the name of consul to capture Turinus. What do you think about removing his command of the Greek theater and recovering his seven legions?”

At this moment, Yulia immediately coughed a few times, which meant that of course Leo should not raise objections. When Lepidus' eyes turned to her, Yulia hurriedly turned the handle faster, probably making the loom squeak. He made a squeaking sound to cover it up and lowered his eyebrows.

result. Leo's reply was beyond her expectation, "Father, with your current strength, you can just like the great Pompey in the past, forcibly relying on the power of conquest granted by the National Council to deprive your patron of the army in Asia. Remove Turinus’ command authority. But I personally feel that in the current situation, status cannot be censored, but it cannot be discarded like worn out shoes.”

In response to his son's answer, Lepidus nodded with satisfaction. Then he put down his hand on the drawing table and sighed, "I already know the result of your torture and interrogation of Syphax. You have indeed worked hard, but the reason why I Do you understand the painstaking efforts and expectations behind asking you to do this?”

"Of course I understand. Then I will immediately file a complaint to the court of justice as the deputy envoy and tribune of the province upon my return to Rome."

"You don't need to take action personally. You should first settle down to the role of a moral template. This role is what you, Yulia Mama, like to see the most." Lepida pondered, and then he stood up and recalled, "Remember when I was in Alex When I was playing Sandro, I once told Sabo that once a person has power and a legion, he longs to be the one who lays out the plan, rather than the chess piece, the dice, and the puppet. But these two points alone are not enough. Careful planning, otherwise it’s just meat on the chopping board.”

After speaking, Lepidus slowly pushed a tablet prepared on the table to Leo, "Do as I say."

Leo bowed silently and said, "As you command, Father."

Looking at his son's round, bowed head and his fluffy hair like his biological mother, Lepidah also felt warm. He had indeed not been with his son for so many years. The main care work was solely done by Poti and Yulia was the mother of the two mothers, so he walked up, gently pressed the "little lion's" hair with his hands, and stroked it gently, "This time in Lilibi, Sicily, I feel that I have gained a lot, right? ?”

"Um."

"Come back to Rome with me right away. This year's election will be fought between us, father and son."

On the Apsus River in autumn, in the black and cold river, Caesar's seven legions and a large number of baggage teams were flowing continuously, along the boat bridge built towards the winter camp in Epirus behind. Remove.

In the tug-of-war of the previous few months, although each had its own victory or defeat, Brutus was always the better. Caesar's legion was seriously damaged and supplies were almost exhausted, so the fighting could only be ended - Brutus Tuya took his legion and returned to the area around Athens to rest.

Young Caesar, wrapped in a cloak, looked a little tired. He was riding a horse and stood in front of the river, staring at the flowing water. This river had previously been the place where his adoptive father had faced off against Pompey's army, and now he was back again. Played the role of Caesar in the past. Next to him, many wounded soldiers made a cremation pile with fragmented wood and idols, and threw the bodies of their companions on it to be burned. The pungent smell spread everywhere, and many people held urns on their chests, trying to burn the corpses The bones of his companions were sent back to his hometown.

"Now I heard that there are many unfavorable rumors in the city against Caesar the Younger." Maecenas rode up from behind and whispered, "The war situation is not favorable, and it is said that the people and the elders are dissatisfied."

"Are you going to send the high priest to replace me?"

Maecenas looked around, and then "hmm" to express his approval of Caesar the Younger's guess. Caesar the Younger sighed and said, "If the Republic can give me three more legions and 500 talents of money, I will definitely be able to turn the situation around and defeat Brutus and Cassius. Unfortunately, Leo, regardless of our past friendship, refused to open this convenient door."

"Leo also has Leo's difficulties. After all, he is a member of the Executive Council, and he is responsible for the logistics supply of another battlefield. He can't give others a handle." Maecenas defended his friend. At this time, several messenger cavalry came along a smaller pontoon bridge that did not allow others to pass, and delivered the urgent letter to Caesar the Younger.

"Do you know? The Guardian and Leo have finished their crackdown on the Pompey Party in Spain. He is now willing to ask Ebro to allocate 800 talents from the public funds of the Executive Council to me, and to send three legions at any time for the battle next year!" Seeing the content of the letter, Octavian said with an extremely happy tone, "In addition, the Guardian High Priest has made it clear that he hopes I will return to Rome on a certain day to participate in the election for the second consul next year and jointly govern with him." (To be continued...)