Augustus Road

Cleopatra couldn't bear it anymore, because in her mind, Caesarion was not only the foundation of her livelihood, but also her only designated successor in the future. At this time, her mother hugged her son tightly to her chest and said , "Yes, you have to obey the chief of the palace guard. Even if the guardian gets angry and roars, mother will defend your safety to the death."

Less than fifty Roman miles west of the palace of Ibos, we entered the traditional border between Egypt and Libya. Stretching across was the endless desert area from north to south and east to west. Cavalrymen carrying bows and arrows and battle axes lined up. The column slowly walked in front. Cleopatra and her son sat on a gorgeous shoulder carriage and walked in the middle of the column, surrounded by the Hormachian Guards. At the end were Rufio and Dickinson. Three Roman legions commanded by Altusos.

This was an extremely large audience team. When the first scouts reached the border, the slaves and mule carts of the rear team were still staying at the gate of Alexandria.

In this short period of time, the high priest's guards quickly transformed the Serapis Temple where they met into a temporary fortress, with corridors, walls, independent wells, and a temple. The gables of the temple are equipped with scorpion crossbows and other projectile weapons.

Twelve fast horses were prepared in front of the backyard to guard against any unexpected events. Then, the high priest wore a red-edged and white-bottomed consul's robe and stood in the temple under the protection of the black guards. On the top of the stairs, looking at the dusty distant sky, waiting for Queen Marie's arrival.

About the fourth day of the morning, several Roman Ala cavalry rushed in like a whirlwind and were stopped by the Medici people. They saw the eagle flag hanging in front of the temple. He immediately rolled off his horse. He respectfully handed the sword into Arp's hand, and then filed in front of the high priest.

"My soldiers." Lepidah greeted them in a deep voice, and then gave them a military salute.

The cavalry were flattered and immediately wanted to kneel down and kiss the high priest's shoes, but Lepidus stopped him sternly and sincerely, "What you see is the highest priest and administrator of the Republic, not the king of Egypt." The old emperor of Persia, so you can stop this greeting etiquette of doing as the Romans do." After saying that, he fist-bumped with the cavalry enthusiastically, and then hugged each other, making the other party feel ashamed and excited at the same time.

"His Majesty the Pharaoh's honor guard is about thirty Roman miles away." The leading cavalry immediately reported.

"Well, please report back to General Rufio. This is an extremely friendly and frank meeting. Ask his army to stay where they are. Just bring a few cavalry to escort His Majesty the Pharaoh and his mother and son here." The high priest looked serious. .

When the news reached Cleopatra, she summoned Diotusus again. "Did you hear that, the Roman high priest opposite did not ask for a large number of troops. I am afraid that this is a trap for my mother and son, so as the captain of the palace guard, you have to add 500 more cavalry in addition to the 300. Archers, acting as Caesarion's guards."

"I'm sorry, now the command and dispatch of the Hormahi Guards and the legions are in the hands of General Rufio. I can only accompany the mistress and Caesarion and protect you to the death. "Diotousos is a smooth and sophisticated old man, and he kicked the ball away very skillfully.

The helpless Cleopatra could only invite Rufio again, secretly promised to give him a gift of one hundred talents, and asked him to send three brigades of troops to swear allegiance to protect her. Here to deal with any enemies who might appear to harm the Ptolemaic royal family.

"After the centurions received the letter from their high priest, they were all excited and expressed their full obedience to the high priest's call. They hoped that this meeting would become an eternal peaceful negotiation that would eliminate all misunderstandings between the two countries, so I could only According to their ideas, they camped where they were. As for safety issues, don't worry, I will dispatch the most elite and loyal cavalry to protect His Excellency Caesarion." After saying that, Rufio also specially presented Lepidus' letter to Queen Elizabeth. Take a look.

At this time, Cleopatra had absolutely no choice. With trembling hands, she struck Charmion, the maid next to her, twice. The other party understood and shed tears, and quietly changed the pendant on Queen Marie's chest. There was a liquid filled with snake venom. Then the slaves shouted and lifted Queen Marie's sedan chair. Under the escort of more than a hundred cavalry, she slowly followed the sand dunes and streams towards the Temple of Serapis. go.

After a long time, when Cleopatra's delicate hands lifted the curtain on the chariot, surrounded by maids and servants, she came down and climbed the steps of the temple, Lepidus immediately went down and supported Queen Elizabeth's arm. , and then he stared at the timid Caesarion behind Queen Elizabeth with very loving eyes, "This is Caesarion. When I saw him in the past, he was still a child being held in his mother's arms. Now he should be Can you ride a horse and throw walnuts?"

"That's what a Roman boy did. As a descendant of the authentic Ptolemaic royal family, he is now practicing archery, chess, and philosophical books from Greece."

The high priest immediately groaned, then looked at Caesarion up and down, and kept saying in his heart, "He really looks like a bald man. He only looks fatter and whiter than his biological father, and his face is more pampered and graceful."

This gaze made Cleopatra shudder. She immediately pulled Caesarion behind her, between her, Charmion and many warriors, and then smiled, "If there are state affairs that need to be discussed, will it be you and me, with the necessary copywriters and attendants? As for Caesarion, he is not yet capable of governing."

"He will be able to govern sooner or later, right?" Lepidus suddenly laughed, then he tightly held Cleopatra's arm and "guided" her to the inside of the temple, while Caesarion and Charmion could only passively follow Cleopatra into the temple's colonnade.

In the colonnade, a space of twelve Roman rulers had already been marked out, and curtains were hung to cover people's eyes. Four clerks sat at the four corners, and then Alp and the warriors stood outside with sharp blades. At this time, only her son and the hairdressing maid Charmion accompanied Cleopatra.

"Please record everything that I discussed with His Majesty the Pharaoh. It will be kept in the archives of both countries. Either side can hold it as a proof of future diplomacy." After saying this, Lepidar sat on the armchair, and then he also made a gesture to the queen to sit down.

"Despicable, despicable, really despicable!" This was the first sentence of the queen after she sat down.

The clerks from all four corners cast a look at the high priest, asking if this sentence needed to be recorded. Lepidar waved his finger, and then moved the pen, and the clerks recorded it truthfully. (To be continued...)