Augustus Road

In the days before the high priest took further action, the happiest people were the people and nobles of Rhodes Island. They returned to Rhodes City one after another and held a grand celebration of thanksgiving in the ruins of the city. Thank Lepidus loudly for his help in saving their country.

The law enforcer Clearchus insisted on rewarding all the soldiers. Not only did he open the country's treasury and gift each of the officers and soldiers three hundred sesstes, but he also provided women, meat and wine as if they were scrapping the ground. , privately Lilkus whispered to the elders who came to express their concerns:

"This is the way of survival in Rhode Island. Perseverance, investment and spending money. Now it is just a matter of pleasing Lepidus and his son. Nothing else matters. Our money comes from the sea and is made by doing Egypt, Greece and The transit trade in Minor Asia is developed, but the money is just money, just a pile of beautiful round metals in yellow and orange colors. Only ordinary people will be interested in them. Even if all the country's assets are wiped out this time, as long as Lepidus can transfer the ocean trade to Power continues to be given to us, and ten years later our islands and cities are still as rich as any nation."

The reason Clearchus was able to lead Rhodes for decades and survive the Mithridatic War and several Roman civil wars was because he had the same job as Itassos, the law enforcer of the Ligurian city-state. knowledge and vision.

Sure enough, Lepidus quickly announced in the town hall of Rhodes that Rhodes ships would have one-third of the shipping rights for cargo transportation in Cyrene. He was greeted by thunderous cheers from everyone.

"Oh, my dear Clearchus, you don't need to pay anything for the future war. Rhodes suffered extremely heavy losses in the previous war." In the following jubilant banquet, Lepidus and Clearchus Standing at the corner of a relatively secluded corridor, they expressed their sincere gratitude to their country on behalf of the Republic.

"No, although the ships captured by Casio were very damaged, and our country's navy was almost destroyed, I can still provide the high priest with no less than thirty decked ships in a very short period of time. The fleet that collided with the horns,” promised Clearchus. The high priest was very interested and hurriedly asked what the other party would do, so the law enforcement officer calmly said, "The people of Rhode Island are not only excellent sailors. They are also excellent ship craftsmen. Believe me, there is no one in the entire ocean who is better than them." Yes - in the next few days, we can quickly remove the still usable decks, nails, parts and weapons from the damaged ships in Casillo and install them on other ships. In this way, as long as they are reassembled, A new, reduced fleet was created."

The high priest was very impressed with his idea, but Clearchus said that it was just a piece of cake. Then Lepidus requested that one of the legions of Rufio's army be stationed in Rhodes City to guard this key place in the ocean and divide it. The use of Brutus on this side and Eurabella on the other side was readily agreed to by Clearchus, "Our country is willing to bear half of the grain and military expenses for the legion stationed there!"

"Very good. I can give you all the equipment, ships and weapons captured by the two legions in Kaxi."

When Lepidus's fleet, after making proper arrangements, marched toward Asia Minor from both sides of the independent breakwater outside the waters of Rhodes City, Lepidus was surrounded by flying seagulls and white cumulus clouds on the seashore. Suddenly, I saw the Rhode Islanders setting up a huge furnace in front of the city lighthouse and starting to line up. Weapons were transported inside - these swords and shields were exactly the weapons of the Casillo Legion that he had promised to give them.

"I heard that the people of Rhode Island are going to use these to make a huge bronze statue to stand on the port. And that bronze statue is exactly what you look like, and it incorporates the image of your ancestor, the god of war Lius, holding an arrow. Tower and trident, looking down at the ships coming in and out. "Seeing the high priest's brows tightening, he looked a little confused. Mattia immediately stepped forward and explained.

No wonder, when Lepidus was the temporary governor of Cyprus in Cato the Lesser, he came to Rhodes because he wanted to help Ptolemy, the flute player, restore his throne. At that time, he still wondered why the city's port was not as popular as the Western world. The Seven Wonders of the World - the large bronze statue is on it. Lepidus once suspected that it was an exaggeration in the history books, but now he understands - there will still be bronze statues, but the timeline and logic lines have become It is different from the records of the past.

In the white city of Athens, Brutus sat slumped on a chair. In front of him were the soldiers sent by Lepidus wearing black mourning cloaks. The leading centurion held Cassio's ashes in his hands. urn.

The surrounding Horace, Virgil and others also felt as if they were struck by lightning. Not long ago, when they shouted "Glorious Death" to each other at the port of Piraeus, their hearts were filled with the rush of blood and the thought of sacrificing their lives for the Republic. They have seen the lofty ideals of war, but they have not seen miserable defeats.

Now they have seen that Cassius, the only remaining pillar general of the Republican Party, Brutus's brother-in-law, a figure who was once very capable in military command, was previously a confident conqueror, but now he has turned into cold and pale bones, and was Sent back.

Looking at the urn in the soldier's hand, the youngest Horace began to sweat on his forehead. He had to admit that he was scared, scared to death. He believed that he was no match for Cassius in the army. Since Cassius had such a fate, what else could he do? Victory was something he often talked about a year ago, but now he was almost silent and never wanted to mention this word again.

"Where did your high priest go?" After a long time, Brutus asked the envoy who sent the urn.

"The high priest will soon command the legion to pacify Asia Minor and tie up Eulabella." What was even more surprising was that the centurion sent by Lepidus did not shy away from his military movements. Perhaps the high priest did not intend to ask him to keep it secret before leaving.

Brutus smiled bitterly, and then his tears flowed down, "After all, I was the one who harmed you, Cassius. There were conflicts and unhappiness between us. I once thought that you used me in the assassination of Caesar, but these suspicions are so humble and vulnerable in the face of your great and noble death. After you capture Eulabella, will you tie him up in chains and parade him on the streets of Rome like Caesar and Lepidus did to the barbarian losers?"

Faced with this question, the centurion smiled and shook his head, indicating that he didn't know.

"You can do this to Eulabella, but you can't do this to Brutus. Don't think that Brutus will be tied up in chains and paraded by your high priest one day. Citizens and friends of the Republic, I am the son of Cato the Younger, no, I am the current Cato the Younger, the living Cato the Younger. The flag will not fall, even after my death." Brutus slowly sat down on the chair and said his vow to the centurion word by word. (~^~)