Augustus Road

Several heralds stood on the steps in great embarrassment, neither leaving nor leaving. The leader among them cleared his throat and explained to Octavian, "Actually, lifting the declaration of public enemy is just a process, but the Senate is here. The steps still take time. Now that we have collectively agreed to elect you and Leo as tribunes in the plebiscite, it is actually equivalent to reconciling with General Lepidus."

But Octavian sneered a few times, gave the document to the herald, and said, "Does it mean that Leo and I are in the campaign to become tribunes, and do we still need to be approved privately by the Senate? Sorry, I think this is This behavior is an outright disgrace to the Senate, which represents the people, and to me as the Young Caesar."

"However, according to the regulations, your age and Leo's age are not consistent, and you have to wait at least thirteen years before you can apply for candidacy." The herald explained, still smiling.

"That's just a rule left by Sulla. Only those who stick to the rules regard it as something insurmountable. Is it possible to determine whether a person is qualified for an official position, not by ability and character, but by age? Aged trash , is still a waste. Please go back and tell the Temple of Concord that we will go directly from the city of Capua to the city of Rome, and let the arms of the people and veterans carry us one by one into the Holy Mountain, becoming a veritable temple. Tribune," replied Octavian proudly.

But at this time, Leo, who was sitting next to him, held back his words. He politely asked the herald, which senator was willing to give up the honor of tribune to us?

When he learned that it was Cicero, Leo immediately stood up respectfully and humbly, making the gesture of a student saluting his teacher. And Octavian had to stand up with him. Then Leo said that we will definitely consider the Senate's order. In addition, I would like to ask Lord Caesar to convey his gratitude to the Temple of Concordia and Lord Cicero, and guarantee that our personnel will enter the city of Rome peacefully.

When the herald left, several young brothers immediately started a discussion in the public villa in Capua. "Leo, please understand that it is your father who has been declared a public enemy." Octavian said anxiously. , which is why he stubbornly asked the Senate to cancel the announcement just now.

"It doesn't matter. Now that Cicero has sent people, it means that he has the final say in the Senate. The previous people must have lost power, so the problem can still be solved within the framework of peace, and my father will never There won't be any danger! I'm waiting for his letter," Leo said with certainty. Then he walked to the center of the courtyard surrounded by colonnades, took Octavian's hand, and whispered to him, "Turi. Nus, when you go to Rome, you must treat Cicero with the same respect as you would your ancestors and elders. He will always have a good opinion of you..."

Exactly at this moment. Maecenas walked around the porch over there, with a slight drop of sweat on his forehead, and handed the letter into Octavian's hands, "Your mother and stepfather's urgent letter was delivered by hiring fast-footed mules and horses. ”

Inside, Atia and Philippus were extremely nervous. They collectively advised Octavian and Leo not to return to Rome because Lepidus had been declared a public enemy and his life or death was now uncertain, and Octavian " With this sensitive identity of "heir to Caesar's inheritance", when you come to the City of Seven Hills, you will have far more enemies than friends, and there will be dangers everywhere, so "you and Leo should go to Macedonia or Asia Minor to continue your study tour and take refuge."

Even his parents said this, and Young Caesar's pride suddenly weakened a lot. He sat on the stone chair a little tiredly, and then he seemed to be cheering himself up, "No, it is my vow to avenge my adoptive father. Besides, now I can Take refuge, but Leo can't. We must carry the whole thing through without mercy, just like the three Horatith brothers faced the enemy. Someone will win the glory in the end. "

At this time, the clouds were already hanging down. This was a common climate in the Apennines in May and June. Everyone felt hot and sweaty all over their bodies. They all sat down and felt their chests were breathless. Previously, three or four of them acted at the same time in the college. But now there are thousands of people following them. If they are in a peaceful environment, they are leaders. If in a war environment, they are commanders. This is not only an identity, but also a burden and responsibility. It is no wonder that Octavian is like this. My health started to feel bad again, and I seemed to have symptoms of malarial malaria.

Suddenly, a gray pigeon stopped on the ridge of the roof, and then jumped down. "It's a military pigeon." Agrippa stretched out his arm, letting the other person jump up, and then took out a small pigeon from the tube on his leg. volume document.

"It's a cipher text." Octavian spread it out and read it, then reassembled the letters. Only Caesar's original high-ranking commanders knew about this system. Maecenas next to him soon made the formal system The document was copied, "It belongs to His Excellency Lepidus. He asked us not to retreat. In Rome, no one can defeat us. Since the Senate is willing to give us weapons, we can use them to arm ourselves." "

"Yes, yes, that's how it should be done!" Octavian clenched his fists and decided neatly.

But the next day, Octavian's malaria broke out. His face turned red and white, and he was so hot that he couldn't even ride a horse. Leo and Agrippa helped him to a mule cart covered with thatch. Go up and lead the team toward the city of Rome.

Who would have thought that as soon as they left the outskirts of Capua, rain poured down all over their faces. The centurions following Octavian took off their leather cloaks and raincoats and handed them to Leo who was standing in the mule cart. Young Caesar shielded him from the wind and rain, but there was still wind and rain rushing in. "You all gather around to block this wind and rain!" So many centurions and people consciously gathered around the mule cart.

At this time, the phlegm in Octavian's throat was like thunder. He huddled in pain on the cart, and the rain kept seeping on his pale skin. Leo kept sending orange peels into his mouth, "I can't back down. I can't back down. I'm so afraid that I will die before I am thirty. In that case, I will miss this generation of heroes. Keep moving forward. I have been like this since I was a child. If the disease wanted to take me away, it would have been long ago. If it’s implemented, there’s no need for me to live until the day I become Julius’s adopted son.”

Young Caesar's entry into the city of Rome was not majestic enough: he did not look like a victorious young general at all, but like a consumptive man with only half a life left, lying upright on a cart, surrounded by wet grass. and stray orange peels.

"I want to be the first to see my parents and my sister - by the way, I also want to see Corinna." Octavian, whose eyes were blood red but his condition had subsided a little, reluctantly sat up and asked Leo.

"You must first see a doctor named Timothy. Maybe he can help with your condition, otherwise you won't be able to do anything with anyone you see." Leo, who was also soaked, moved his luggage and reminded him. . (To be continued...)