Augustus Road

When Leo and Vivia exited his father's room, he saw his sister Corinna sitting on the stone chair beside the corridor in despair, "Why don't you go to bed? Father and I will leave for the expedition soon." ," Leo stepped forward and asked, and Viviya noticed something in her heart, so she kissed her husband lightly and walked towards her bedroom.

"I'm looking at the mosaic posted opposite. It's a hunting scene, right?" Corinna's eyes were not looking at Leo, but staring in the direction of the thing she was pointing at, "Maybe Many years ago, many years ago, in the prehistoric mythological era, men were like this. They held up sticks and knives and forks stained with the smell of blood, roaring to chase the prey. When there was no prey, they devoured their companions. There are never any women in such scenes, they are all left at home, right?”

Leo squatted down and gently held his sister's hand, "I understand what you are saying, but my father did not have any fault. It was the situation that developed too quickly. Everything that all the relatives are doing now is for The Aemilius family, Corinna, you too.”

"Really, then I am very, very honored." Corinna replied with a touch of sarcasm, and then she stood up and left Leo's side.

Leo also felt a little depressed, so he went to rest under the flower gallery in the front hall. At this time, the slave slave suddenly stood in front of him and told him that he had a very important friend waiting for him outside.

When Leo went out, he saw Agrippa holding a torch and wearing a cloak, and little Juba standing beside him, and then the three people hugged each other very affectionately. "Oh, I'm just the messenger tonight. Someone is waiting for you at the tavern in front."

"Is it Turinus?" Leo asked flatly.

Agrippa and little Juba looked at each other. Then he nodded at Leo.

When everyone found the tavern with the sign, Young Caesar had already asked his followers to disperse all the other guests, and sat alone on the table in the center. In front of him was a glass vessel filled with ruddy country wine. When he saw Li After the Olympic Games, he immediately stood up and hugged him. After a few words of greetings, Caesar got to the point, "I am going to Greece and Epirus. Fighting against fierce enemies requires capable assistants. You, Agrippa, Little Juba and Maecenas came, and we lived in the same tent, just as we had vowed, and supported each other like the three Horatii brothers until we had conquered Athens, Thessalia, and After Crete, you are all outstanding talents who can command an army, how about it?"

"This is really good." Leo took a sip of his drink, looked at Agrippa and Juba with excited expressions, and then changed the conversation. "But I'm sorry, I have decided to follow my father to Sicily. I will serve as deputy envoy there and manage the deployment of supplies and soldiers. I think this can also increase my knowledge and ability."

Seeing the other party's rejection, Young Caesar's smile was a little stiff, but it still hung on his face and continued to persuade, "There are so many guardian legions, and those in command positions are all battle-hardened veterans. Leo, what do you want?" Is there no chance of commanding a large army? Think about it, look how excited Agrippa is, because when I go to conquer Brutus soon, I will directly entrust the forty-three legions to him. As long as you come, it turns out that The commander of the Eighteenth Legion, who belongs to Deximus, is yours.”

"I'm sorry Turinus, I don't think it's a good thing like this. We are all inexperienced young people. To command a legion to fight like this is irresponsible to the soldiers and the cause. I think it belongs to my father. The suggestion is more appropriate.”

"Father's suggestion?" Young Caesar couldn't bear it any longer. He mocked, "Tell you to bury your head in the warehouse. There are slaves carrying documents walking around everywhere. There are mountains of clay pots and shoes everywhere. There are piles of documents, and now you actually think that engaging in such despicable activities is what a high priest's son, a free-born noble of the republic, should do?"

"It's nothing. When father explains these things clearly, he understands war." After Leo finished speaking, he stood up and bowed to everyone to say goodbye.

"Leo! Maybe you should follow me. Maybe after I return from this expedition, I will no longer consider marriage with Corinna. People say that intermarriage between nobles is a wheat cake marriage. Yes, it is like wheat cake marriage. As fragile as a cake, this is true even one year after marriage, let alone before marriage!" Young Caesar roared angrily. Agrippa and Juba next to him still didn't understand what happened between the two of them. Somewhat awkwardly, he stood up and proposed a toast to friendship and love.

At this time, Young Caesar also felt that what he just said was a bit excessive. He sat down in pain, covered his face and said sorry repeatedly, "I just cherish our friendship too much. I will marry Corinna after returning from the expedition." , please tell her dear."

"I will." After saying that, Leo left everyone behind, stepped through the door frame and left.

After a market day, in front of the alcove altar of Villa Prima, Bodi, Viviya and Corinna took all their families and knelt down in front of the mural sculpture of the family god. Below it was a strip symbolizing fertility. The sculpture of a large snake sincerely prays for the men who set off on the expedition.

At the same time, in front of the Temple of War, Lepidus, wearing a blue cape and holding a gilded baton, stood on the steps. In front of the blazing altar, on both sides of him were Leo, Paluma, Dusomville, Paulus, Gallius, Callenus, Sectilius, Peteneus and other generals, all in military uniforms. On the walls on both sides behind the columns, the flag bearers of the fifteen legions stood in two rows, holding high the totem flags of each legion, including eagles, mountain falcons, twins, sheep skulls, sea snakes, foals, wild boars, etc.

On the opposite semicircular assembly hall, there were many senators who came to see them off. Yes, there were still more than 600 of them, because Lepidus, Antony and Caesar the Younger had consulted and urgently promoted people to fill in. The blood of the Temple of Concord had been replaced by a new batch of "fresh" people. Not long ago, these people were free people or sons of freed slaves, or tribunes, centurions in the army, or even just veterans, or just knights. Now they all put on white robes with red edges and sat under the gable with eagle sculptures, waiting for the commander-in-chief, the high priest and chief consul Lepidus, to swear to go to Spain.

On the holy road between the two sides, there stood 150 battalion standard bearers, each holding a silver bracelet flag, and 60 cavalrymen mounted their horses and stood in the front row there. A white horse ridden by the commander was tied to the pillar under the altar.

"I am Carapis Cornelius Aemilius Marcus F. Lepidus. I am standing here as the consul, army commander and chief priest elected by the Republic, the Senate and the People's Assembly." Lepidus greeted all the senators and flag bearers and said.

"Good luck, Your Excellency the Consul!" The flag bearers and all the senators extended their right hands and saluted. (To be continued..)