Augustus Road

"Dictotus, the great Gnaeus Pompey declares this decree. From now on, the Republic will enter a state of war from a state of martial law. The red flag must be raised on the Capitol at all times. Every god The gates of the temple must also be kept open day and night, and the army has a temporary expropriation power of 10% of their private treasury. Arms workshops throughout Italy immediately start working without compensation and stop the production of agricultural tools to provide suitable weapons for the army of the Republic. In order to prevent spies sent by the public enemy Caesar from infiltrating and committing murder, arson and instigating troubles, all gatherings, private banquets, and any festival celebrations and competitive activities are strictly prohibited from now on, the announcer of the Grand Plaza Akuta!" On the small podium between the pillars of the main square, the reader of Akuta, a fat man wearing a Greek debate wig, was reading Pompey's latest order item by item, but beside him, the cold wind of midwinter was blowing. Desolate cloth strips and dust came and went among the dry branches. Crows gathered in the temple and the big tree, making ominous cries.

On the streets, every house has closed its doors. Many wealthy people have taken refuge in the suburbs with their families. Even Princia, the so-called courtesan and dance queen, has shut down various brothels and clubs under her in panic. Of course she understands. , if Pompey and Cato the Younger could not resist the rebels moving south, what would Lepidus do to her once they entered the city.

The only ones still running around are the temporarily strengthened city legions. There are always slaves and gangsters who even get tattoos to join the army in order to eat two meals of bread. They are forcibly looting temples everywhere, even a few coins on the vici altar on the street corner. Even the copper coins were spared, and there was also the camp of the Spanish First Army outside the city. With waving flags. It finally brought some relief to the republicans. This is an army that can sweep across the entire east. It must be much more powerful than Caesar's legion just a few years ago. It may really be able to defeat ten people with one. Men in desperate situations often burst out with more wonderful and bigger fantasies.

Pompey lowered his lips and stood in front of the exquisite sand table with a group of confidants, planning the war situation. "Spain has five legions, and Lusitania has another legion under Varro. I have a legion here. , and I have three legions in Macedonia.”

"Shide!" Marcelas then deduced, "But although we have the largest number of legions in Spain, it is unlikely that we will be able to help Italy. First, because Sardinia and Masseria (now Marseille in France) are in the middle. The current attitude is that we must send people to fight for the channel. Secondly, Caesar's remaining legions in Gaul will definitely use the channel to block us in the Pyrenees. Therefore, the most reasonable thing now is. The plan is to urgently recruit troops in Italy, and then let the three Macedonian legions come for reinforcements. The legions there are the most powerful cavalry and archers.”

"Dictado, now you can arrange your manpower as soon as possible and go to various provinces to mobilize people to fight against Caesar." Cato suggested angrily, "In case most of the senators learn about the whole of Italy, we only have If there is only one regular legion, I think everyone present will be ruined."

Pompey stared at the sand table and pondered for a while, and then made a decision: Gabinus would go to Etrunia first, while Cruz would go to Pinukem, trying to recruit a new legion each, and try their best to delay Caesar's southward march. Step by step, Marcellus and I are sitting in Rome, with the First Legion ready for reinforcements at any time; Dumitius immediately sets out to sea, sailing to Sardinia to win the support of the veterans there; Cato the Younger takes office as governor of Sicily, and now he takes office immediately and goes Recruiting troops there; Cicero's appointment as governor of Cilicia did not change, and his task was to ensure the smooth sailing to Syria. After Scipio went to Syria, he recruited sufficient ships, except for leaving a legion of Antioch. In addition to guarding against the invasion of the Parthians, the remaining legions immediately returned to Italy to join the war!

As for Crete and Cyprus, they sent legal officers to pacify them.

"Is Cicero reliable? Will he betray him temporarily?" Pompeo never expected that this question would come from Cato the Younger, Cicero's best friend. Pompey nodded and shook his head, but still said with a certain tone, at least Cicero will not defect to Caesar, and the east is all my sphere of influence, and soon a large number of vassal kingdoms will come across the sea. Supplies and servant armies were constantly sent from Egypt, Galaxia, Bithynia, Bosporus, Judea and so on.

There is only one small sub-center, tiny Eubotia. I do recognize the queen there. She is the same as Lepidus, but its national power seems to be too pitiful, so Galaxia just swallowed it up. , or Bosphorus can do it.

"In addition, I will immediately grant King Juba, the ruler of Numidia and Mauretania, the title of ally, and invite him to join the Governor of Africa, Turas, to be your backing." After that, Pompeo said to him. Little Cato cheered.

"I object, Your Excellency. I object to giving this title to the King of Juba, because this king is famous for his unscrupulous attitude. It is said that he is still in secret contact with Caesar and is waiting to see what happens to gain the maximum benefit. If Now if he feels that the internal strife in the Republic can benefit him, he will even want to seize the entire Eunonia including Carthage. So I think it is better to let Tulas' army in Africa temporarily monitor the King of Juba. That's good." Marcus reminded him worriedly.

"Now is the time to win over all the people who can become allies. There is no need to stick to details. Let's first ban the allies of the King of Juba." Pompeo disagreed.

"Is it too late now?" Many confidants were not interested in the position of the King of Juba, but were worried about whether everything Pompeo had arranged could be worth Caesar's sudu. They all knew that Caesar was a man who wanted to do it. of action.

"There's enough time!" Pompeo glanced around with majestic eyes, and then for everyone's affirmative reply, "All the soldiers in Italy admire me, and Caesar is just a nouveau riche. In addition to stuffing money and women everywhere, , he is absolutely useless.”

As a result, half a market day later, news came from the north that Etrunian veterans and recruits promptly expressed their great "admiration" for Pompey. They sent the leading recruiter to the gallows, and They clamored to oppose the tyrant Pompey and the clown Cato. When Gebinus led his retinue team and prepared to suppress it, he was besieged by extremely experienced soldiers armed with elite weapons. Most of Gebinus' retinue He was killed in battle and captured, but he finally escaped and reported the sad news to Pompey. (To be continued...)