Crotokatáx looked thoughtfully at the yelling adjutant of Rome in front of him, who had only been appointed last night.

At this moment, Maltius rushed to the stage and reported to Davers: "Your Majesty, the fleet from Ostia has arrived at the river port. ”

When Davers heard this, he was overjoyed: "Acistrius, Nicomarcus, Antrapolis...... They have finally arrived, and the governance and transformation of the city of Rome can finally be put on the agenda! ”

Davers glanced at the chaotic crowd in the square that had begun to become a little more orderly, so he said to the people around him, "Go!" Go to the river port outside Xicheng and greet the new veterans and officials! ”

…………………………………………

While Davers was on his way to the Roman port, the Roman army led by Camillus was on their way back when their vanguard had reached Higenia.

Camillus rode his horse and walked in the middle of the group. Originally, according to Roman military tradition, the generals who led the army were also to march on foot like soldiers, and could not ride horses, but Camillus was in a special situation, he was not only meritorious, but also too old (already over 60 years old) to march and fight on foot with the soldiers, so the Senate specially approved him to ride a horse.

Even on horseback, the two days of rapid marching in a row made his old body a little unbearable, and he looked at the equally tired soldiers beside him, and made up his mind: when he reached Priniste, let the army camp and rest, so that tomorrow the soldiers would be able to fight to the death against the Dioonians who attacked the city of Rome with great fighting spirit and abundant physical strength.

While Camillus was contemplating the possible plans for an army to fight the Dionians, Roman messengers galloped from north to south.

Looking at the anxious eyes of the messenger, Camillus took the urgent letter written by Mezius, a trace of uneasiness rose in his heart, and then glanced at the content of the letter, the words "the fall of the city of Rome" suddenly made his heartbeat and breathing stop in an instant, remorse, sadness, self-blame, exhaustion...... All kinds of negative emotions came to my heart at once, and I was dizzy in an instant and fell under the horse.

"Father!"

"Master Camillus!!"

"Your Excellency the Dictator!!"

……

An anxious call made Camillus wake up, looking at the guards and soldiers gathered around him, he subconsciously clenched his right hand, and the letter was still in his hand! He hurriedly said, "Don't worry, I'm fine!" Probably the reason for being too tired......"

"My lord, it looks like you need to get some rest!" The captain of the guard said with concern.

"yes, I need a break!" Camillus pushed the boat down the river and said, "Lucius, you let the soldiers continue to march, I will rest for a while, and I will catch up soon." ”

Lucius looked at his father lying on the grass, and then at the messenger, who was standing beside him, who had been silent, and was very puzzled, but he did not ask, but obeyed the order.

The soldiers, urged by Lucius, returned to the ranks.

Camillus, under the protection of the guards, closed her eyes and rested.

But no one knew that at the moment it was turbulent in his heart:

The Dioonians conquered the city of Rome, what was the situation of the people in the city?!!

What siege methods did the Dioonians use to capture such a fortified Roman city so quickly?!!

The rescue of Quintus and Frius was easily repelled by the Dionians, who had stabilized in Rome so quickly?!!

How would the soldiers react if they learned that their homeland had been occupied by the Dionians?!!

……

Countless thoughts came to Camillus's mind at the same time, squeezing his already dizzy brain, forcing him to calm down and try his best to clear the chaotic thoughts in his mind.

After a long time, he opened his eyes, and with a determined expression called Lucius, telling him to inform the troops to stop their advance when they had arrived in Sigenia, and to wait for his next order.

Then he sent someone to inform the senior generals to come to the meeting immediately.

It didn't take long for Publius. Licinius, Titus. Quintis. Chinchinnatus, Aulus. Cornelius, Servius. Surpicchius...... and Minusius, who previously delivered orders for the Senate. Cominellius came one after another.

Camillus glanced at each of the generals with a solemn expression, and then said in a deep voice: "Before I tell you an important news, you must promise me that you must remain calm enough, and there must be no obvious panic, anger, and yelling, can you do it?!" ”

The generals looked at each other, not knowing what was happening, but apparently sensing that something was wrong.

Titus hurriedly asked, "Lord Dictator, is it Rome-"

Camillus didn't respond, but asked again in a deep voice, "Can you do it?!" ”

At this time, Camillus was not at all like the old man who always smiled and always liked to discuss military affairs with them peacefully, but like a beast ready to devour people at any time.

Everyone's hearts sank, and they immediately responded in unison: "It can be done!" ”

Camillus glanced at them again and said in a deep voice, "I just received a battle report...... Yesterday...... Rome has fallen! Occupied by the Dai-O-Ni-Ya people! ”

Although the generals present were mentally prepared, they were still clenching their fists at this moment, shocked, suspicious, painful, and angry...... All kinds of extreme emotions are transmitted from distorted faces, round eyes, and rapid gasps.

"Your Excellency the Dictator, this ...... Is this news true?! Licinius asked in a trembling voice.

"The messenger sent by Mezius brought with him an urgent letter written in his own hand, in which he also said that the troops led by Quintus and Frius had also failed in the rescue, and that the routs were now gathered in Priniste, and that the people who had escaped Rome were stranded in large numbers in the area between Gabi and Priniste......"

"We must take Rome back at once!" Servius kept his voice so low that both fists were bleeding.

"Of course we want to retake Rome! But first we have to prevent chaos after the soldiers get the news, and we have to stabilize the army! ......" Camillus said his proposal.

After some deliberation, the generals rushed back to their ranks with a heavy heart.

"Father...... Mother and sister, they—" Lucius, with a worried face, said halfway, but could not go on.

"Alas......" Camillus sighed heavily, and did not speak again, staggering to the warhorse led by the guards not far away.

Lucius hurriedly stepped forward and held his elderly father.

…………………………………………

Upon reaching Hygnania, Camillus saw the messenger sent by Megius again.

Most of the senators and some of the people retreated to Capitoline Hill! This news surprised Amyrus and gave him a little more confidence.

In the afternoon, nearly 60,000 Roman soldiers gathered under the city of Sigenia and on the banks of the Tullerus River.

The dictator Camillus stood at the head of the city of Hignaia, his white hair tossed by the mountain wind, but his old body stood straight, and he exclaimed in a loud voice in the face of the dense and boundless procession beneath the city: "Citizens of Rome, warriors of the allies, you have not yet fully enjoyed the joy of the victory over the Hellenicians, and you are rushing back, because your mother state, Rome, the center of Latinm, has been attacked by the enemy!" Unfortunately, before you could come to the rescue, the city of Rome was already occupied by the Ionians yesterday! ”

Hundreds of messengers who had received Camillus's solemn instructions in advance lined up along the array of troops under the city, and successively spread Camillus's words throughout the army.

Suddenly, it was like a gust of wind blowing, and the entire army set off a huge wave.

"Oh my God, the city of Rome has been breached! My wife and kids are still in town!! ”

"I finally saved up, and the money I was going to buy cattle and sheep must have been snatched away by those damned enemies, what can I do?!"

"What did we do wrong, O Jupiter? You're going to punish us so cruelly! This is already the second time that Rome has been occupied, what should we do?! ”

"Rome is occupied, what are we doing here?! Why don't we hurry to Rome, drive out those enemies, and take back our home!! ”

……

Lieutenants and Titus told their squadron leaders about the "fall of Rome" in advance, and asked them to do their best to stabilize the mood of their soldiers, but despite their best efforts, the soldiers' emotions were like boiling water, and the whole army was on the verge of collapse.

At that moment, a group of routs came from the north. Poorly armoured, and many wounded, they made their way through the gap between the ranks to the city of Higna.

Their tragic appearance attracted the attention of many soldiers.

Isn't this Ligulus?! I remember that he had already rushed to Rome with General Quintus to the rescue! ”

"It looks like they were defeated by the enemy, I'm afraid they were defeated so badly!"

"Led by Quintus and Frius, our bravest citizens! Many of them have won the Civic Crown! Could this Ionian be as terrible as the Celts? ”

……

While the soldiers were wondering about their unease, the messenger brought the voice of Camillus into their ears: "The Dioonians are strong, they have not only occupied our mother state, but also routed the reinforcements led by Quintus and Frius. Therefore, if we want to take back our homeland and save our loved ones, we must unite and exert our greatest strength in order to drive out the powerful enemy! ……”