For the Magonides, this is an invisible humiliation for them.

If it was when the family was in power, who would dare to shout outside the mansion! This bunch of snobbish Carthaginians! It was they who caused the family's embarrassment today! Hasdruba finally couldn't hold back the anger in his heart, and turned to the slaves outside the hall and yelled, "Go out with sticks and get rid of all those who are screaming and screaming!" ”

"Hasdruba!" Margo let out a low cry, causing the irascible Hasdruba to shut up unwillingly.

Margo glanced at the few immediate family members behind him, and sighed secretly: In the past, although the family looked brilliant, for the benefit of Carthage, it had been at war with Syracuse for many years, and many relatives died on the battlefield. His cousin Hannibal avenged the humiliation of his ancestors' defeat at Himera, contracted a cold and died of illness when he returned to the city; Another brother died in the plague from which Shimilko fled, while his own son was shot by a stray arrow during the war with Syracuse......

But the Magonides family gave so much in exchange for the ruthless joint efforts of Carthaginian political enemies. In the Senate election a few days ago, the power of Margonid among the newly appointed senators was greatly reduced, and Margo, as the new patriarch of Magonid, did not serve as a Sufite for the first time (that is, a senior consul, elected once a year, two at a time), this is the first time in a hundred years that the Magonid family's patriarch failed to serve as a Sufite, and the main opponent of the Magonid family, another great nobleman second only to it in strength - the Hanno family became the big winner of this election, not only firmly controlled the Senate, the patriarch Hanno served as a Sufite, And the other Sophie was also his best friend.

The family will face even greater difficulties, and they must prepare early! Margo clenched his fists, reaffirming the decision he had made.

"Hasdruba." Brother Ma solemnly said to his nephew: "You are already a 25-year-old man, if you are still so reckless, how dare I entrust you with the responsibility of revitalizing the family and restoring glory in the future!" ”

"Uncle, I-" Hasdruba tried to argue, but Marco interrupted him and said very simply, "Go to Iberia, at least there, no one will keep an eye on you, take advantage of your political naivety, and bring disaster to the family." ”

"You let me go to Iberia?!" Hasdruba opened his mouth wide, not expecting himself to be banished like this.

"Not only are you leaving Carthage, but I'm leaving Carthage." Margo was about to explain when his ten-year-old daughter, Dido, asked urgently, "Daddy, where are you going?" ”

Marco bowed her head and said kindly to her only daughter, who had taken the same name as the queen of Carthage, "I am just going to Sicily, not far from Carthage, and I can come back at any time." ”

"Dad, are you going to be the garrison commander in Sicily to defend against the Greeks?" Dido immediately asked again.

Marco looked at her daughter, who was young but already quite beautiful, and couldn't help but sigh at her intelligence, but unfortunately she was a woman!

He looked at the dissatisfied Hasdruba again, sighed secretly, and continued to explain: "Although we signed a contract with Syracuse, the Senate is still wary of Dionysius, this time I was sent to Sicily, although I have Hanno's selfishness, but it is exactly what I want, the peace between Carthage and Syracuse will not last long, sooner or later Carthage and Syracuse will have another war, and what our Magonides family lost in the war must be regained in the war!" Margo said with a firm expression: "When I arrive in Sicily, I will recruit soldiers, train them strictly, and gradually build effective defensive fortresses east of Lille and Erix, and slowly extend the buffer zone with the Greeks to the east, waiting for the time to come......"

Speaking of this, he patted Hasdruba's broad shoulder forcefully: "Do you think I sent you to Iberia to exile you?" No! It's because I need your help! ”

"Need my help?" Hasdruba was puzzled, but at the same time, there was a little more excitement in his heart.

"War consumes people and gold and silver. Once we go to war with Syracuse, with Hanno in power in the city of Carthage, I am afraid that I will be held back, and I may not get the full support of Carthage, so we will have to rely more on ourselves, just like our ancestor Hannibal used his family's money to raise an army to aid Himera a few decades ago. The southern part of Iberia has much more fertile land than Carthage and Sicily, rich in silver, iron ore and other metal minerals, and a large population of natives, and since the fall of the kingdom of Tartarassus, there has not been a strong force there, which should have been a great opportunity given to the Carthaginians by the god Mercullet, but our people and senators are too comfortable to do business and farm in the city of Carthage and Numibia rather than venture into a strange land thousands of miles away.

Since there is no one in Carthage to do it, then we Magnumids will do it! Hasdruba, the family has decided to provide you with sufficient men and sufficient money at all costs, and I hope that you can gain a foothold in Iberia and occupy a stable territory for the family, as my strongest backing in the future war with Syracuse! ”

"Don't worry, uncle, I won't let you down!" At this moment, Hasdruba was no longer dissatisfied, and he was gearing up and excited.

Margo looked at him, still a little uneasy in his heart, he knew that his nephew, leading troops to fight was his strength, but to conquer a strange land, it was not only a matter of war, but also needed administrative, diplomatic and other skills, and Hasdruba lacked something. But he is the only one in Margonid's immediate family who is up to the task, and can only hope that he will be sent a capable assistant to make up for his shortcomings in this regard.

"Uncle, I am willing to accompany my brother to Iberia!" A young voice rang out in the hall.

"Haka, you can't go!" Hasdruba said categorically in the face of a thin, pale young man.

"Since the development of Iberia has become the most important event that determines the rise and fall of our Magonides, how can I, as a member of the family, enjoy myself in the city and watch my uncle and you go through hardships outside! What's more—" The young man looked solemnly at the bronze bust of Shimilko and the blood in front of the statue placed in front of the hall: "It is my wish to avenge my father!" ”

Hasdruba's words choked on his lips before he said, "But your body—"

"After this period of training, my body has improved a lot, and I will continue to train myself in Iberia, not to mention that leading troops to fight is your brother's business, I just need to stay in the camp......" Haka explained this to Hasdruba and to Margo.

"Haka, are you sure you want to go?" Margo finally asked.

"Yes, uncle. I've made up my mind! ”

Although Haka's tone was soft, Marco knew that once his little nephew decided something, it would be difficult for others to persuade him to change his mind. However, he was intelligent from an early age, and he was different from the maturity and stability of ordinary teenagers, and was once considered by Shimilko to be a genius who would bring greater glory to the Magonides family in the future, but he was always frail and sickly. If he goes to Iberia to assist Hasdruba, he will definitely be able to reap greater benefits in Iberia, and Marco is convinced of this.

"Since you have made up your mind, then I agree with you to go. But you have to understand that if you can't guarantee your health, it will be difficult for you to help Hasdruba and help our Magonid family for a long time! Margo said solemnly.

"I understand." Hakka nodded heavily.

"Uncle, but—" The disapprehensive Hasdruba was about to say more, and Marco exclaimed, "Alright, let us worship your father together one last time, and hope that he will protect the family business and all the best!" ……”

…………………………

In July, it is the season of the hot sun, and at the same time, the rugby and football matches of Dionia are in full swing.

Davers, who had just returned from a meeting in the Senate, received an urgent letter from Laos.

"Go to Dionian Academy and call Henipolis back!" After reading the letter, he immediately said to the slave with a solemn expression.

"Yes, master."

"My lord, why are you in such a hurry to call me back? I almost got scolded by the old Greek man again. Before Henipolis entered Davers's study, a voice came in: "Since the old man of Athens came to the academy, we have been much busier than before, not only reciting poetry and prose every day, but also writing an article in two or three days, and if we do not meet the requirements, we have to rewrite it. My lord, why don't you tell Mr. Ansitanos that I don't want to be a rhetorician, but I still want to follow him to continue studying history......"

"Heney, you don't have time to study history." Davers grimaced as he handed him a letter.

Henipolis suddenly had a bad omen, he quickly took the letter, opened it and looked at it, and suddenly it was like five thunderbolts, and the whole person was stunned: "...... This...... This is not true...... At the beginning of the year, my father came to see me in Turiyi...... He's in good health! …… It's really good! ......" he said as he burst into two lines of tears.

Davers sighed: Avinokis fainted during the banquet and remained unconscious. According to the experience of his previous life, this is probably "cerebral congestion", and he has long been advised not to overeat, hey! ……

Henipolis suddenly remembered something, and suddenly stepped forward, grabbed Davers's hands tightly, and pleaded eagerly: "My lord! My lord! You are the Divine Favor of Hades! Teacher of all Doctor Dionia! You save my father! Save him!! ……”