Augustus Road

"Caesar led the Gauls through the streets during his triumphal procession, and then led them into the Senate, took off his trousers and put on the senator's robes." - At that time, the Roman nobles mocked Caesar for granting citizenship to the Gaul chieftains

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Seeing this letter, Cicero and his wife were speechless, but Cicero had not given up hope. He continued to comfort his wife and said, "There is a city called Hibernium in front. The municipal elder there is called Vibius, a Sicilian. When I was consul, he once asked me to contract a big project, and finally got his wish with my help. Taylor, Taylor, run, quickly send this note to Hibernium in advance, and find Vibius, the richest man in that city, who is easy to find." The somewhat old Taylor accepted the note from his master and jogged towards the city dozens of stadia away, panting.

After watching Tyro leave, the couple sat on the stones by the street to rest and ate rough dry food, while the priests of the Alvar Brotherhood followed them slowly, responsible for monitoring and ensuring the accurate implementation of the tribune's decree.

It was winter at that time, and Cicero's thin body under the woolen robe was shivering with cold, but when he saw that his wife Lenchart's nose was frozen red, he resolutely took off his robe and covered his wife. The two thought of the carefree years on the Palatine Hill, and thought of the helplessness of knowledge and honor in the face of ** violence at this moment, and couldn't help but hold the cold wheat cakes in their hands and weep at each other.

At this time, two priests of the brotherhood could not bear it anymore, so they stepped forward and gave the couple some food made of fine flour and a small can of wine. Cicero took it with both hands very humbly, and expressed his gratitude for the other party's kindness, saying in a hoarse voice, "People who really have justice are willing to help me."

As he was talking, Taylor was almost exhausted and turned back from the original road. He stood in front of his master with a full of resentment. He was almost speechless because of excitement and fatigue. Cicero comforted his old slave and friend not to worry, and gave him some food and wine. After a while, Taylor said, "I saw Vibius..." Then he didn't say anything, just bit the bread fiercely.

Cicero's Adam's apple rolled a few times. He looked up and didn't know what to say. He grabbed his legs and knees tightly with both hands, trying to calm down his almost uncontrollable mood. Lenchart also understood everything. In this miserable season, others were busy adding insult to injury. Who could really help us? She sat down in front of her husband and said, "We still have some money. Let's go to Brindisi and find a ship to go to Greece or Asia Minor. If life is difficult, you can teach philosophy for a living."

This was the only way. Cicero, who agreed with his wife's opinion, stood up shakily, took his wife and the old slave's hands, and slowly walked towards the bloody sunset.

At this time, under the same twilight, Lepidus walked into the ruins of the white poplar villa with smoke curling up. His feet stepped on the charred beams or tiles, making a squeaking sound. He watched the flock of birds carrying the heavy setting sun and returning to the unknown dark apartment, where their nests were. Looking at the sky where the birds flew away, Lepidus turned his eyes and saw the new bronze monument erected. He took out a letter from his arms. It was the letter that his master entrusted Kelly to deliver just now. The master's words were very concise, "You have done too much. If you don't leave room for anything, it's not a good thing."

Lepidus naturally understood the master's meaning. He only needed to follow Caesar's intention to expel Cicero from Rome, not let him stay in the political circle as Pompey's agent, and embarrass his father-in-law. There was really no need to kill him. "Did you bring the things?" On the other side of the ruins, two servants, after hearing Lepidus's inquiry, immediately bowed to indicate that everything was done.

Brindisi, dark waves and howling sea winds, or headwinds, Cicero's ship to Greece was blown back to the shore before it sailed far. Cicero and his wife walked to a shabby hut outside the harbor in embarrassment. Then the turbid and terrifying waves emptied out and a tsunami broke out. Cicero and Lenchart panicked and climbed up the high ground with their hands and feet. Fortunately, the tsunami was not very big, so after enduring the cold and hunger for a day or two, when the tide slowly receded, Cicero supported the crooked bushes and branches and pulled Lenchart to the muddy land.

Just as he was completely lost in confusion, he saw a group of people rushing towards them on the land behind the hill. The leader was none other than Caesar's follower, Lepidus, the current commander of a legion in the province of Gaul. He dismounted in front of Cicero and then stood opposite Cicero and his wife in a manner that was neither overbearing nor humble. Cicero, who had suffered a series of blows and hardships in the past period, didn't know whether to be frightened or angry. He still remembered that Lepidus had come to his house before and said with certainty that if he didn't want to reconcile with Claudius, his family and house would be punished. Now everything has come true. If you say that Lepidus didn't participate in this plot, no one would believe it.

"What on earth are you doing here? What are you doing here! Everything we have is ruined by you." The first person to lose control of her emotions was Lenchart. She broke free from her husband's pull and roared at Lepidus.

There was no special expression on Lepidus' face. He just said to Cicero very calmly: "You should not go back on your word and offend Caesar and Claudius, hoping that Pompey and that Jew will only cheat you. Now I am not meeting you as Caesar's lieutenant, but as a disciple of my patron. My patron also hopes that you can leave Rome temporarily to avoid the limelight, and then come back. This is..." At this time, two slaves carried an exquisite leather box. After opening it, Cicero could clearly see that there were rich silver coins and precious utensils inside. "Don't refuse, this is a gift from my patron to you and your wife, not from me." Don’t worry about taking the money so that you can go to Rhodes or Ephesus and rent a comfortable and luxurious new house to tide you over this difficult time.”

In the sea breeze, the corners of Cicero's mouth drooped, but after thinking for a while, he took the leather box full of coins and said in a sad tone, "Please say hello to your patron on my behalf. We will wait until When the wind turns, go to the country in the east.”

"That's fine. Greece is a country that respects culture and eloquence. It is not as barbaric as Rome. In addition, I also hope you understand that I am just a character who is ordered by others. You have fallen into this situation because you offended Caesar and Pang. Pompeo is now Caesar's son-in-law, how could he be on your side?" Lepidus tried his best to shift the responsibility to these two people, and then abandoned Cicero, who had a complicated expression, regardless of his moral integrity. Chat cursed angrily, got on his horse, turned around and left in the direction of Rome. (To be continued.)