Augustus Road

However, Caesar's speech was not so mysterious. He just spoke bluntly to all the centurions: "Forty years ago, when General Marius and the German invaders fought against each other, the Romans at that time were also like We are so short now, and we have not grown taller in so many years!" As a result, the centurion laughed at this humorous language, and then felt a sense of shame. .After all, not every soldier serving on the battlefield can accept such puns lightly and calmly such as "We haven't grown taller in so many years."

Could it be that the little Romans relied on their unremitting efforts and drive to dominate the entire ocean and land?

Seeing that his men began to lower their heads in shame, Caesar continued to narrate: "Our strong team had some scum mixed in before. These people are just like the weak soldiers in Rome before the Second Punic War. They refused to train on foot and rode comfortable donkeys and mules. Their luggage and backpacks had to be carried by their dark-skinned slaves. Even the olive oil and roasting had to be done by others. Are these people extinct now? I don’t think so? It still exists in the camp. First, they loudly advertise that the Germans are nine feet tall and have a waist circumference of nine feet. You can measure it. How can such people exist if they are square? But what is shameful is that they actually exist. There are many well-educated young people who are afraid and ask for leave to leave the military camp, leaving their comrades and officers. But there are also some young people who lack battlefield experience but do not lack principles and courage. They choose honor and stay in the military camp to continue their execution. However, they were still afraid and hid in their tents during the day. They said they were not afraid of fighting the Germans. But the panic spread in the endless black forest beyond the Renus River. Now even the most experienced centurions and cavalry captains in our army refuse to move their camps to fight.

What do I hear when I patrol the camp now? I will hear the young warriors I was most proud of, who all fought bravely to fight the enemy on Mount Tijon, but now they gather together holding their knees and sighing, and there are the sounds of stamping suicide notes everywhere. There was also a centurion who reminded me that once we went to fight on the Renus River, the soldiers would abandon me, but I, Julius Caesar, always thought that. I have been sincere to people all my life, and I have never embezzled any of your money during the previous distribution of spoils, so you should not abandon me, and you cannot do this.

You should firmly believe that the Romans' combat skills are the most powerful in the world. The disadvantages of the barbarians were determined two hundred years ago. This is not determined by physical strength. They are trying to imitate them all the time. Learn the tactics of the Romans, but they got it wrong. This is a tactic only the proud citizens of the Republic can possess, once they have imitated it in the past. Destruction is not far away. "

When he saw all the centurions, especially the low-ranking centurions, with their eyes shining and eager to fight, Caesar smiled and began to explain the most practical things, "Those who are ordinary people are For those scumbags who are greedy for enjoyment, if they leave their posts in the military camp this time, I will recover five times their service fees (Roman military law stipulates that legionnaires must pay service fees when they take leave) and distribute them to those who continue to be loyal to their duties. And I declare. , the annual salary of ordinary soldiers of all legions in the province of Gaul increased from the customary 250 sesstes to 480, and the distribution of spoils also increased from the original 8% to 12% ”

As soon as this statement came out, the centurions in the audience cheered. Although serving as a soldier in Rome did not rely on the two hundred and fifty a year for food (an ordinary handicraftsman in Rome could earn a salary of six hundred for a year). Stace), but now the governor has promised to almost double the salary, which is quite psychologically pleasing. Of course, the most important thing is the second half of the sentence, which is the increase in the distribution of spoils. They have just finished fighting Helvetia. Each soldier received a reward worth at least five hundred sesterces, and tasted the sweetness. Once he could follow Caesar back to Rome in the great triumphal ceremony, each soldier would also receive a net of one thousand to two thousand dinars (equivalent to Between four and eight thousand sesterces), such happy scenes are certainly to be expected.

Seeing that the time for the final decisive victory was ripe, Caesar lamented: "Originally, the combat affairs in the military camp cannot be made public, but now I don't want to hide it from everyone. After learning about the Gallic Congress, Ariovistus has determined to take military measures against the Republic. They are approaching the border cities and want to overturn the peace in Gaul. And I, myself, will move my camp at the fourth outpost tonight and go to fight the enemy. Fight." After speaking, he looked at Rabinus with firm and sad eyes, "Dear Acting Commander-in-Chief, will you follow me?"

Rabinus nodded.

Then Caesar's eyes turned to Scydelius and asked, "Will the Tenth Legion be willing to follow me?" Scydelius patted his chest cheerfully and said of course, you brought the Tenth Legion from Lusitania. , you have to trust it.

Then, his eyes turned to Lepidus and asked, "What about the Twelve Legions?" Lepidus wanted to say that I brought out the peat, the Eleventh and Twelfth Legions, but he said, "Our Twelve Legions are willing to do it again." Pioneer, please rest assured, Your Majesty the Governor.”

Now everything was ready. Caesar made a gesture to stop the noisy centurions and continued, "If the seven legions, the eleventh legion, and the eleventh legion, by the way, the eleventh legion I brought from Lusitania, are unwilling to follow me, I will take the tenth and twelfth legions. Thank you all. If we can come back alive, I will let the tenth and twelfth legions become my guards, and I will only stay in the camps of these two legions in the future." After speaking, Caesar left in a big stride regardless of the centurions' desperate retention. The role must be played to the fullest to be satisfied.

At the fourth sentry time, which was about four o'clock in the morning, a few stars hung lonely in the night sky of Gaul. Caesar, Laiacus, Diviach, Labinus, Lepidus, and Seckelius rode side by side and walked out of the main gate of the camp. The followers around him only carried the flags of the two legions, and the soldiers following behind were also the tenth and twelfth legions.

But within three days after leaving the camp, the rest of the legions were fully equipped, lined up and chased after the centurions under their scolding. The commanders on horseback were full of shame, and apologized to Caesar one after another, saying that their legions would always be loyal to the general and the Republic, and would never do anything shameful to tarnish their reputation.

"Morale is soaring." Caesar said to the people around him with a smug look, holding the whip, "Now it's time to discuss the route of the march." )