Augustus Road

"Rome, a great country, it is not foreign invaders who rape you, but your sons. They rape you endlessly and punish you cruelly because you have fallen." - Miko Sai Bill's prophecy

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Publici, later evolved into the current meaning of "public". In ancient Rome, it referred to those who were engaged in public affairs of the republic. These were not officials, because the orthodox officials in Rome were "horores" who were "unpaid", that is, "The honor of serving the country" cannot require salary. Of course, you can make up for it by accepting bribes. The publici were paid, which also destined them to have a low status in the eyes of the Roman people. They were generally held by state slaves and freedmen, and their occupations were such as water trough guards, jailers, executioners, or temple attendants. workers, or as secretaries and clerks to high-ranking officials, etc.

After boarding the "Apollo", Luculas held on to the side of the ship and took a loving look at the coast of Asia Minor. The stretching cliffs, forests, and towns should have been his place of honor, but now they can only Leave it and give it to Gnaeus Pompey. Although the king of Pergamon highly praised his respect and protection for the Greek world during his conquest at the banquet, Luculas understood that: as a Roman The career of a politician, with this departure, has completely ended.

The rest of the entourage was carrying luggage and pottery pots, one after another, crawling up the gangway. Calabis let Poti and Paluma go up first, and then he stood on the pier and saw Hebrida. , Arminius and others, they seemed to be here just to hang out, but also to say goodbye.

"Hey, Calabis, don't forget that you stayed in the Third Army, although we didn't get along very happily." Arminius shouted.

Calabis nodded to everyone, and then climbed up the gangway, "Brother's wife and daughter are in the fifth single room on the third floor of the third apartment in the back alley of the Temple of Flowers. If you are in Rome in the future, If your wife is okay, help me take care of it - I owe you a favor, and Romans never like to owe favors," Hebrida said to Calabis's back.

Calabis did not look back or answer. He jumped onto the deck. The "Apollo" is a three-story rowing sailing yacht. The lowest level is the rower's room, and the middle is the storage room. The deck is where most people stay. There were two opposing rows of sheds on top, with seats below. Calabis felt a shadow spread over him. He looked up and saw that the sails of the ship were raised. Clouds were passing by in a hurry across the sky, followed by a burst of excitement. With the beat of drums and the rowers shouting trumpets, Calabis felt the deck beneath his feet move a few times, and the entire "Apollo" slowly sailed away from Asia Minor, with the head of a beautiful mare.

"All roads lead to Rome..." Calabis looked at the seabirds lingering over the pier that was getting away, and then walked to sit under the shed, sitting next to Poti and Paluma. In the middle, and then he saw Timotheus huddled alone in a corner - even if he shaved off all his beard and hair, the Triad in Bithynia could not find a buyer. In this Greek country with prosperous medicine, In the area, no one recognized this guy who only knew Scythian medical skills. In the end, after the collective discussion of the three regiments, they still paid him a hundred sesterces (not as good as the price Calabis paid for Paluma). Sold to Luculas, who, since Demetrius left, was in want of a retinue of herbs.

The black water of Euphoria, driven by the long oars of the "Apollo", flows gently further away, to a palace standing on the cliffs of the remote Sinop Bay, surrounded by green evergreen potted plants. On the terrace, Adiana was sitting on an armchair. Several combing maids were surrounding her, carefully combing her chestnut hair, tying it into knots one by one, and then following her ivory-like ears back. After combing her comb, a maid saw Adiana staring at the mirror. There was nothing on her thin neck. She asked with some surprise: "Princess, maybe a precious pendant jewelry can match yours." neck."

"No, I don't need any jewelry right now." After saying that, Adiana touched her neck absentmindedly, then realized what she was doing, paused for a moment, turned her face, and whispered to an older maid: "What are the results of your observations during this period."

"Yes, the emperor's physician has sent definite news - the emperor will not die, but he will not have any more heirs. The Roman centurion injured him extremely seriously."

"That is to say, Stratonis can just wait for my father Yan Jia to deal with it one day. She has nothing to fear. But my brother-in-law Malza secretly wrote to me some time ago, saying: I am courting you, and my father wishes to marry me to King Charnus of Godini," Adiana said to herself, gently holding her chin in her hands.

A younger maid suggested: "Perhaps it would be better to marry Governor Malcha. Now I heard that Godini is being besieged by the King of Kings, and it is difficult to protect herself. As long as you marry Malcha, Bospu Russ and Pontus became one."

Hearing this, Adiana stood up quietly, and all the maids dispersed respectfully. The princess, wearing a cloak, walked to the railing of the terrace. The rough sea breeze, with a great chill, blew on her face: she loved this palace and this empire. The Pontic army had just recaptured Sinope a month ago. Now her father's army has reached more than 100,000 people again, but the enemy Rome has also changed its commander on the battlefield. It is said that the new governor Pompey stationed in Cilicia is the most outstanding commander of the enemy army. He now has eight legions under his command and is a more terrible opponent than Lucullus.

"Coo, coo, coo." A seagull, flapping its wings, stood on the terrace. Its bean-like black eyes stared at Adiana for a while, then flapped its wings and flew away, and soon became a dot among the heavy sea clouds. Adiana suddenly felt lonely and cold, and could not help but wrap her clothes tightly...

After the long voyage, Carapis followed the clouds above and arrived at Brindisi, the largest port on the east side of the Italian island. Luculus, with all his followers, got off the "Apollo" and changed his way of travel to land, along the Appian Way, preparing to cross the Cordine Pass and stop at Luculus's manor in the Bay of Naples in Campania. Luculus was going to meet some Roman dignitaries here to inquire about the accusations he was about to face in Rome.

After drifting on the sea for a long time, when he stepped on the land again, Carapis's calves were shaking a little, but when he stepped on the solid, flat, and straight Appian Way, he was still surprised for a while, and felt steady and comfortable. This may be the difference between the Romans and the Greeks: the Greeks used opera and philosophy to interpret greatness, while the Romans used swords and military ways to expand their glory. This 200-kilometer-long military road starts from the port of Brindisi, passes through valleys, swamps, fields, and the majestic and terrifying Mount Vesuvius, and turns to the famous city of Capua in Campania, which is not far from Rome.

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