Rome Must Fall

Chapter 132 Buying Land—Choose Varidosi

Hearing this, Maximus looked at Cleobrotus, only to see the old man continuing to observe him with probing eyes.

So, he smiled slightly: "Elder Cleobrotus, I will answer your question later. You have come all the way, how can you let you stand and talk all the time? Come on, come on, come with me over there, drink Order some wine to quench your thirst, and eat something to fill your stomach. Let’s go into details later.”

"That's great!" Kalsipempas complained, tugging at his clothes that were soaked with sweat: "This damn weather is so hot and uncomfortable!"

"I wonder if it's as hot in your tribe as here?" Maximus asked casually while leading them back.

"It's much cooler than here. It's just that winter is a bit colder, especially in the mountains. It's just that the winters have been extremely cold in the past few years. Alas... it's not very pleasant." Kalsipempas shook his head and sighed.

Maximus's heart moved slightly.

The attendants have spread tent cloth on the grass and laid out wine and various foods.

Maximus arranged for everyone to sit on the floor, and asked the attendants to pour wine for everyone, and then the two sides continued to introduce each other.

Maximus and Chalsipempas spoke Illyrian before, but Volenus, Pygris, Quintus, and Frontinus couldn't understand it at all, so they changed to In Latin, only Carlsipimpas and Cleobrotus could understand the other party.

When living in Illyria in the future, language communication will be a problem... Maximus realized this.

Naturally, the three Illyrians Pheasalus, Pecot, and Aracosia received the attention of the Ardei envoys. They took the initiative to ask which tribe the three came from, why they became slaves, and so on.

After some pleasantries, Maximus picked up the wine can and said solemnly: "Elders of the Aldiyi tribe, on behalf of all of us, I welcome you and give you a toast first!" After saying that, he raised his head and raised his eyebrows. The head took a big sip.

Others present also took a sip of wine.

"It tastes good!" Ciceliotus's eyes lit up and he took another big sip.

Although some messengers did not speak, they continued to drink.

"This is the wine we seized in the Roman province of North Italy. It is said to be the best wine in the province of North Italy. It seems to be to your liking. We still have many barrels in the cart. When you leave, Bring two barrels for each of you," Maximus said generously.

Cleobrotus felt something was wrong, and just when he was about to refuse, he heard Ciceliotes shouting: "Great, this wine is indeed delicious, but two barrels are not enough!"

"Then add two more barrels for each person!" Maximus waved his hand and turned to the administrator and said: "Volenus, remember, when the elders leave, call a few pack cars. , help them transport the wine.”

"Okay, Chief, I'll talk to Capito in a moment." Volenus responded.

Chalcypempas was right, the people in this army obeyed the orders of this young man... Cleobrotus saw this scene and thought in his heart.

"Thank you, Chief Maximus, for your generosity!" Ciceliotes said happily.

"You have worked very hard all the way across the mountains and ridges, so it is appropriate for me to give you some gifts in return. Come on, let me toast you with another drink!" Maximus picked up the wine can again.

"No, no, you gave us such a good wine, we should come and honor you!" Ciceliotes responded politely immediately.

The two parties came and went, and after several rounds of drinking, everyone gradually became familiar with each other.

Maximus saw that the atmosphere was almost settled, he burped and said loudly: "I can answer the question of Elder Cleobrotus just now. Well, that is, even if we settle down, as long as there is I will still attack the Panlonians if I have the chance, why?”

Maximus opened his hazy eyes, scanned the crowd, and said seriously: "Everyone, do you know that we Illyrians are on the verge of life and death!"

Maximus was satisfied to see everyone's surprised expressions, then he picked up the clay pots containing food on the tent cloth and began to arrange them: "I'm not scaring you, you see... suppose this is our Illyria , this is Italy, which has completely belonged to Rome, with the narrow Adriatic Sea in the middle, and diagonally above the left side of Illyria is the Roman province of North Italy. The seaside area of ​​​​Illyria has been captured by Rome. It became their province of Illyria, and to the south of Illyria was the Roman province of Macedonia...

In addition to the Pannonians in the north and the Thracians in the east, Illyria is almost surrounded by Roman power. But unlike the Thracians and Pannonians, our Illyria is too far away from Rome. So close, our pirate ships even threaten their navigation safety in the Adriatic Sea...

So in the eyes of the Romans, we in Illyria are a big trouble! To solve this trouble and make the world ruled by Rome more orderly, that is to turn the entire Illyria region into a Roman province! "

"This..." Even though Cleobrotus was called "the wise man of the Ardei tribe" by the great leader Acoupagos, he was trapped in the mountains and his knowledge of the world was actually quite poor.

Maximus analyzed the pattern of the entire world and the situation of Illyria to him in a vivid and vivid way. It was like giving him a heavy blow to the head and opening a hole in his hard skull. He wanted to He retorted, but he couldn't say it at all, because his subconscious told him: What this young man said makes sense!

Others, including Carl Sipimpas, were completely stunned.

Maximus continued to bombard their minds: "The reason why the Romans have not taken action against Illyria now is because it still has some internal problems that need to be solved. For example, the war with the Pontic people in Asia Minor is still going on. Continuing, the rebellion on the Iberian Peninsula has not yet been wiped out... but Rome is too powerful, and it will eventually solve all these difficulties, and then free up its hands to deal with this little trouble in Illyria.

I heard Carl Semppas say that the Ardei tribe is now quite poor, and some people do not have enough to eat all year round. I think that even if the situation of other tribes is better, it will not be much better. Once the powerful Roman legion invades, Illyri will How long can the Agog tribe resist? ! "

The expressions of the messengers changed.

"Barren mountainous areas cannot accumulate wealth, nor can they support a larger population. Only the plains centered on a large river can do this. The Pannoni occupy fertile land formed by two rivers. I want to Take these lands!"

Maximus clenched his fist and waved it fiercely: "If I succeed, I will use these lands to support more people and arm them with the wealth produced by the land. When the Romans come, I will have the confidence to fight with them." Fight with all my strength! If I fail in the battle with the Pannonians, it doesn't matter, at least I tried my best..."

Maximus's words made everyone present look solemn, and felt a tragic feeling in their hearts.

Cleobrotus looked at the leader of the rebel army in front of him. He could see that he was sincere in his words. The Maximus in his eyes began to overlap with another person he had always admired in his heart, so he couldn't help but sigh. Wan Qian: They are all the same young and have great ambitions at this age! …

Originally, Cleobrotus wanted to ask "Why are there so many foreigners in Maximus' army" and then judge from the other party's answer whether he has any ill intentions towards the Ardei tribe, but at this moment he had no intention of himself. Still ashamed of being entangled in these little calculations, his vision has expanded from the small Ardei tribe to the entire Illyria region and even the entire Mediterranean... under the guidance of Maximus...

This made him realize: Letting this young man settle in the Ardei tribe might be an opportunity for the Ardei tribe, and even Illyria as a whole, to revitalize! Even if his judgment was wrong, it didn't matter. As the big leader said, "it's just a day of early death." If this young man has such courage, doesn't he himself? …

Cleobrotus thought for a thousand times and finally made up his mind. He coughed heavily and said seriously: "Chief Maximus, after discussion, our tribe has decided to sell you a piece of land. There are three pieces of land here. You can choose a piece.”

As he spoke, he took out a small wooden board he carried with him and handed it over.

Carl Sipempas glanced at him in surprise. He originally thought that this old guy would linger here for a long time, but he didn't expect to make a decision so quickly. Without thinking much, he walked closer to Maximus, pointed to the map sketched on the wooden board, and introduced to him the details of the three pieces of land.

Maximus did not expect that his deceit would work so quickly, but he suppressed the joy in his heart and listened carefully to Charles Pampas's introduction. At the same time, he talked with Quintus and Frontinus. Lu and the others discussed quietly.

It didn't take long for Maximus to make his decision.

"We choose to buy the land in Validosi!" Maximus said loudly.

"Great!" The elder named Budokaribas shouted excitedly: "Chief Maximus, you are very discerning. Varidosi is a good place!"

"Elder Budokaribas, can you tell me what's so good about it?" Maximus asked pretending to be interested.

"The place in Validosi is backed by mountains, and in front is a large, fertile plain. More importantly, there are two rivers converging there...there are mountains, water, and land. This is not consistent. Your request!" Budokaribas said excitedly, as if he was showing off his baby.

Maximus knew why he was like this. Kalsipempas had quietly told him that this abandoned land originally belonged to his village, so Maximus asked directly: "Since this land is so good, Why did Elder Budokaribas give it up again?”

Budokaribas' face was slightly red, and he sighed: "I don't want to give up, but there are several Pannoni strongholds in the northeast of the plain. They invade Varidosi from time to time. For the safety of the tribesmen, , I can only reluctantly give it up. However, since you, Chief Maximus, are determined to go to war with the Pannonians, you will not be afraid of them."

"Since you have all given up on Varidosi, surely Varidosi has now become the territory of the Pannoni?" Maximus then asked.

"The Pannonians did not occupy Varidosi, I can guarantee you this!" Cleobrotus interjected: "The situation in Varidosi is somewhat special, because there are two rivers converging there. In the past, in some years, the river would overflow during the rainy season, forming large depressions. But when the summer heat comes, the tribesmen will turn the original depressions back into farmland, and the wheat production will increase in the second year... But this Over the past few years, for some unknown reason, the river overflowed and continued to flow, turning the entire Valdosi into a swamp, so the Pannonians could not occupy it—"

"The Pannonians cannot occupy it, but we cannot live in the swamp either!" cried Pheasalus.

"Don't worry, Chief Maximus." Budokaribas explained seriously: "Validosi not only has the swamp, but also has a large area of ​​low hills on both sides, and the land is equally fertile. The Pannoni people like to live on flat land and don't like to stay on high ground, so they did not occupy them. I think those two hills can allow you, Chief Maximus, and your army to live well there. "

Cleobrotus concealed part of the truth: the Pannonians did not like living in the mountains, and they were not good at fighting in the mountains, so after the Illyrians retreated to the mountains, they stopped attacking. However, these Pannoni tribes in the northeast of Varidosi are different. Although they do not occupy the hills of Varidosi, they cross the hills from time to time and continue to move westward to harass the Ardie tribe. This is why the Budo tribe just now The reason for Calibasi's joy after hearing that Maximus chose to buy the land in Varidosi: If Maximus' army can hold off the Pannoni in Varidosi, then his village can continue exist without having to move south anymore.

Calsipempas hesitated for a moment and did not remind Maximus. After all, he was the elder of the Ardei tribe. Publicly and privately, he hoped that Maximus would choose Varidosi, thereby ending the Pannoni's influence on the tribe. Infestation of the Ardei tribe.

Maximus looked at Kalsipempas and then at the other members of the envoy, then smiled and said: "Varidosi is good, we will choose it! When we finish drinking this meal, Let our Pigres and Arracosia discuss the purchase of Varidosi with you in detail, and I believe that we will soon reach a result that satisfies both you and me."