Augustus Road

Generals should not show any depressed expressions when leading their troops into battle, because soldiers generally estimate their own prospects through the expressions of their generals.

——Emperor Maurice of Eastern Rome

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"Jointly request a strike!?" Luculas was shocked and angry, "Is this the request of the entire legion?"

"Yes, not only the Seventh Army, but also the Eleventh Army, everyone refused to continue fighting and requested winter camp." Apis said.

"But they don't know the importance of the city of Ataxeta! This castle was built by Rome's old enemy Hannibal. Its existence is a threat to our nation. We must capture it before we can truly conquer it. Armenia. Don’t the soldiers even understand this important thing?”

Apis shook his head and said in a regretful tone: "Most of the soldiers don't even care who Hannibal is. They are more concerned about the benefits that a war will bring to themselves. Forgive me, Your Excellency, as a military protector "I must shoulder the responsibility of negotiating with you, because the soldiers of the legions are also citizens of Rome."

For the first time, Calabis saw Luculas sitting down with some frustration. This intimidating commander could not be defeated by any enemy. Unexpectedly, Rome himself defeated him in the end.

"Perhaps I can bring this matter to a close." The charming Claudius suddenly spoke, "A compromise is to send a part of each legion back to the winter camp; and to dismiss the mercenaries from Thrace and Galaxia. , reward the remaining ones who are willing to continue marching with generous rewards."

"No, no, Apis, please gather the soldiers in the square of the camp first. I want to lecture the brothers." Luculas said in distress, holding his forehead.

"Calabis, spy at the door here, listen to what the tuna said to the soldiers?" When the Roman general Sadu went out, Adiana, who was still staying in the tent, ordered, sitting on a pile of cushions On the ground, looking at the three mysterious and weird messengers of the concubine, they all stood motionless and showed no concern for external affairs.

"Master, why don't you listen for yourself? It will be clearer this way." Calabis muttered, quietly walking to the gap in the tent curtain, and behind him came Adiana's nagging, "Shut up, amphora, How could a person of my status do such a thing?”

Nesa, who was sitting opposite, spoke with profound meaning, "Adiana, you should know, what is the purpose of Malcha taking you there?"

"Of course I know." Adiana lowered her chestnut hair and whispered.

"I will bless you. I didn't expect that the fate of you and your mother would be exactly the same." Nesapi smiled.

At this time, Luculas began to speak loudly to the soldiers of the two legions outside the camp. With a sonorous voice and powerful gestures, he talked about honor, strategic significance and other things. But the soldiers below made a malicious noise and did not give the coach a chance to continue. Even many soldiers of Luculas' favorite Eleventh Legion started criticizing him. In short, they were not willing to follow Luculas anymore. Marching, they even shouted threateningly, either winter camp, or they would jointly propose to the citizens' assembly to revoke Luculas' command of the army. If Luculas dared to take coercive measures, they would also take Extraordinary measures.

The soldiers did not say what the extraordinary measures were, but even fools knew what they meant, a bloody "mutiny" - more than one or two Roma coaches died because of this.

Luculas on the podium in the square was shaking with anger, but he still tried to remain calm and continued to talk earnestly. He also promised that after returning from the expedition, each soldier would receive a reward of one thousand to fifteen hundred drachmas. He After the victory, the Senate will pass a motion so that all soldiers can obtain generous land and pensions to settle their lives.

But the soldiers laughed loudly and threw their empty money bags into the square one after another, shouting: "Tuna, look at our money bags. This is what we have gained after years of hard work with you."

"Why does the Eighth Army linger in Silesia while we suffer on the front lines?"

“We haven’t had a winter camp in three years.”

"I heard that Pompey suppressed Marius' rebels in Italy and Spain. The soldiers were so idle and made a fortune from the spoils of war, but our camp didn't even have a contractor or slave trader."

"Let Pompey take over this army, we've had enough of you!"

The voices of protests and insults grew louder and louder. Claudius took his brother-in-law's arm and loudly advised: "Perhaps the suggestion I just made is the most appropriate. Don't have unrealistic illusions. "

The result of this matter was that Luculas accepted Claudius's suggestion. The eleventh and seventh legions, a total of one hundred and ten centurions, were drawn by lot and forty of them returned to the winter camp in Bithynia. Then twenty centurions were drawn from the Eighth Legion in Silesia and came to change the shift. Those who are willing to continue to fight in Armenia will receive six hundred drachmas each in cash, and will receive a subsidy of seven hundred drachmas upon their return.

In order to appease the soldiers' anger, a lottery-changing ceremony was specially arranged in the camp square.

Calabis saw that Hebrida also participated in the drawing of lots, and was the first to enter. At the moment when the lot was drawn, he winked and smiled at Claudius on the stage.

Suddenly, Calabis understood everything. He remembered what Safano whispered to him when Highbrida beat and imprisoned him and Adiana before the war, and why Claudius went to Highbrida. The camp team is just for this moment.

Because Claudius was not only the captain of the cavalry, but also very familiar with the military and logistics personnel, he must have played a role in it. It is conceivable that the soldiers and centurions of these forty centurions, in order to obtain the qualifications for the winter camp, Together they will secretly give Claudius many Cesttus!

Sure enough, when the results were announced, Heibrida was among the forty centurions. He finally qualified to go to the winter camp. He stood in the middle of the crowd, even more proud than the winners of the sports meeting.

However, Hebrida then accepted the summons from Luculas and went into the coach's camp alone. He could see that the low-level centurion walked in with a cheerful face and his head held high. Then he glanced around: they were all old acquaintances. Already: Nessa and Adiana were almost raped by him, Poti was raped by him with ease, Jew and Karabis were both beaten by him, they are all old acquaintances!

"Tell me, how much money did you give to my worthless brother-in-law?" This was Luculas' first words after entering the account.

"Five thousand sestes." The low-ranking centurion did not shy away from it at all. He was not afraid that Luculas would go back on his word. The Roman custom was that once the result was determined in a public ceremony, there was no doubt about it.

"Is your honor as a soldier worth this money?" Luculas looked directly at Hebrida and asked.

"Your Majesty, you are clothed with a toga of eight thousand sesterces, you are clothed in armor of thirty thousand sesterces, the ivory hilt of your sword is worth ten thousand sesterces, and the turquoise ring on your finger is worth fifty thousand sesterces. Stacey - Then you tell me the equivalence between honor and money?" Hebrida said cheerfully, "I have slaves in Bithynia, many of them are infected with typhoid fever. I will take them back from the winter camp. Selling it may not be worth the bribe given to your brother-in-law. If you want to take care of me, you should take good care of your brother-in-law first."

The muscles on Luculas's face jumped twice, and he stroked the ball on the hilt awkwardly. He didn't know how to respond to Hebrida's words. In the end, he could only say: "I heard that in this battle, your alliance The casualties were huge.”

"Yes, Your Excellency, the Third Regiment is safe and sound, with only seventy people left."

"Okay, you go back to Bithynia with Uterius and Apis, and take the three regiments with you. On the one hand, you go to the winter camp to rest, and on the other hand, you are responsible for guarding the envoys of the Governor of Bosporus, including this Princess Du, as a reward, you will enjoy double wages during this mission.”

"I personally am not happy to accept this task."

"I personally am not happy to accept it either." Adiana looked at Hebrida with disgust and said.

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