Augustus Road

This is by no means a simple mutiny, but an out-and-out affair. Caesar has secretly sent troops to occupy Etrunia, which is full of seas of thugs who oppose the Republic. After lamenting many conclusions, he learned the news Cato the Younger began to understand that it was impossible to recruit troops in northern Italy. He went directly to Pompey and asked Dictado to take drastic measures and immediately lead the Spanish First Army to stabilize Etrunia. situation.

"But this legion is used to guard Rome." Pompey hesitated.

"It is enough for the city of Rome to be handed over to the city legions. If the northern barrier and troop sources are lost, Caesar will really march straight in." Cato said hurriedly.

At this time, the cold winter rain began to fall outside again. Without saying a word, Pompey walked to the staircase corridor in front of the courtyard again. It was raining not long ago. He thought he had the support of all Rome. , is determined to obtain the highest honor. He is not a power-hungry person, he is just pursuing the highest honor. But within a few months, it was another rainy day. After his previous arrogant words, he completely ran out of solutions to the problem. The Spanish and Macedonian legions were far away in the horizon, and the market towns and villages that had previously enthusiastically praised and flattered him And this great Roman city is now as dead and lifeless. He can't even recruit ten thousand soldiers. Now the situation in the north has deteriorated to this point. The great Pompeii is suddenly helpless at this moment. The tiger has fallen. Pingyang feeling!

"My loyal followers are all in the East and Spain." For a long time, in a cold and pessimistic atmosphere, Pompeo said these words while looking at the trembling sycamore tree in the yard.

After hearing these destined words, Cato felt less angry than he expected. He just said, "The city of Rome, the place of great ancestors, and the center of the entire republic. Are you going to abandon it to Caesar like this?"

"There is nothing magical about this city!" On the contrary, Pompeo became angry. "Maybe the indigenous nobles will like it, but for me, it is the hometown of the entire family. It is in the military camp, and it is in the Italian farm. Here The urban construction is terrible, with winding alleys infested with rats and bugs, dirty and overflowing rivers, slums and gardens adjacent to the hills - there is no city in Greece, in the East, that is not better than this, even if Abandoning this place, I will fight back soon with the support of the Macedonian elite army and the support of countless vassal countries."

"You simply don't understand how huge the loss will be if you throw away this dirty and chaotic city of Rome in your mind." Little Cato dropped these words like a prophet, and then braved the rain. . He just wore a sleeveless woolen toga and left.

The Rubicon River swelled in the rain, and there was overflowing gray-yellow river mud everywhere. Lepidus, Curio, Antony and Ebro, who were wearing leather cloaks, left Etrunia and chose to leave from Sutra Mountain. of the back, heading to Alimiron. Go to Caesar who is there, report to him the whole development of affairs, and ask him to "make up his final resolution."

The dark clouds were concentrated on the other side of the mountain, and here there was only the cold wind blowing on my face. I walked with difficulty on a crooked bridge somewhere, and finally ended up among the bushes. Lepidus wiped the rain off his face and waved his arms towards the spearheads hiding there. The centurion who took the lead was extremely dissatisfied with how easily he and his men were discovered, so he complained about the dead leaves covering his helmet. Take it off. They came out and asked sharply about their identities.

"Which regiment are you from?"

When faced with the rhetorical question, the centurion shrugged his shoulders and said angrily that he was from the Eighth Legion.

It seems that Caesar did bring a regular legion to Arimilon. Then Lepidus said to him, "Run forward quickly, and then tell the governor in the camp that the remaining three are all here." arrive."

Although the rain was getting heavier and heavier in Arimilon's camp, there was an endless stream of people and horses in the consul's tent where Caesar had the golden eagle flag. There was a mixture of conversations in various languages, including Latin, Greek, Iberian, etc. speaking, Celtic and Germanic languages, several military slaves wearing double-eared hats were constantly carrying charcoal, meat, wine cans and other things inside - when making the decision, Caesar still held the meeting There was a huge banquet, and the lieutenants, tribunes and centurions were invited. When he met and hugged Lepidus and others, Lepidus looked around the tent, and then asked in a low voice, "Where are the others?"

"Since he came back, he has never worn armor, gold chains or medals. He has been hiding in his tent in civilian attire and told the outside world that his identity has been completely eliminated." Caesar replied sadly. He said that of course he knew Labienus's determination, so he did not take any coercive measures.

Under a row of eagle flags and camp flags, everyone sat down. Caesar hit the pot with a barbecue fork. The scene suddenly became quiet, and then he said without any nonsense:

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I have hesitated and been afraid. During this period, I rode my horse every day and watched the surging black Rubicon River closely. Today is a rainy day. The fields and mountains opposite it are like being shrouded in darkness during the day." After saying this, he stood up, closed his eyes, slowly stretched out his hand, and then said in a hoarse and trembling tone, "If we go forward and cross it, there may be an endless abyss. No gods can tell us how to go ahead, but I must say to those present that we have tried our best. Since the political enemies can ignore the bill proposed by the ten tribunes collectively and even the decree that the Gauls were granted Roman citizenship, then I think , no need to talk about any calmness, don't talk about justice and law anymore. "

After a pause, Caesar sat down slowly, carefully placed the barbecue fork, and then announced clearly in the silent tent: "In three days, no later than five days, I will cross the Rubicon River, armed, and take you."

After finishing this sentence, Caesar raised his fine forehead wrinkles and looked at the entire banquet venue. No one objected, and no one cheered. After a while, the tribunes and centurions began to return to their original state and began to persuade people to drink and eat meat frequently, as if nothing had happened. There was a sound of knives and forks colliding. Everyone began to talk about women, weather, and anecdotes from all over the country, and kept laughing.

At this time, Caesar laughed, and Lepidus behind him also laughed. Of course, they knew that this state was the most ideal. The officers and soldiers didn't think about anything, and didn't think about what kind of punishment they would receive from the country if they crossed the Rubicon River. In their minds, this behavior was equivalent to any ordinary military action in accordance with the orders of the Governor.

That’s all.