Luga's question really puzzled the monk of Kaiser, but after all, he was a messenger sent by Gaisaric himself, and he was the best among the Vandals.

He soon understood what Luga's words meant, and it seemed that he wanted the Vandals to choose between Rome and Constantinople.

Valentinian III's divorce is now Flavis. Luga's accession to the throne, all of this is inextricably linked, and Kessel realized from Luga's short sentence that the East and West Rome themselves are not as harmonious as before.

At least now, because of the issue of tribute from Africa and Africa, it has also become one of the reasons for the East and the West to fight openly and secretly.

"Caesar, these tributes need a master, but now..."

"As far as I know, there is a section of Claudia Avenue from Africa to Alexandria, and there are several towns along the way and there is a very rich supply." Luga said, as the attendants behind him pulled up a large map of Rome.

At this time, Luga stood up, and the ceremonial officer on the side hurriedly stepped forward and respectfully handed over the wooden long stick inlaid with golden handles in his hand to Luga.

"You transport the tribute from Carthage, and down the Claudian Strip to Ptolemy, which is to the land of Rome in the east, and then I will authorize the establishment of a warehouse there for the storage of the tribute you have delivered, and then it will be our business to dispose of the goods."

"I'm afraid I can't accept your offer, Caesar!"

After listening to Luga's explanation, Kessel pondered for a moment and then raised his head, he shook his head at Luga very firmly, and said bluntly: "My king Gaisarik is a vassal of Western Rome and a vassal of Valentinian, and we cannot give you the tribute that belongs to Valentinian, Caesar, this is not in accordance with the rules. ”

Kessel lowered his head when he finished speaking, and he deliberately avoided Luga, who was standing on the stage and staring at him with a fierce gaze.

"Well, I can understand what you mean." After Luga finished speaking, he nodded to the guard holding the gift beside him, and the guard understood the meaning, and came to Kessel with the gold spear gift box, and solemnly handed it into Kessel's hand.

"Caesar?"

Kessel looked at the gift that was handed back again, and quickly raised his head and looked at Luga in confusion, Luga had already turned his back, let Kessel look at his back, but he didn't know what his expression was, and he couldn't figure out what he was thinking in his heart.

"Messenger of the Vandals, you should now understand who you are talking to." Luca said without looking back: "If you call me Caesar, you agree with my status as the Roman Augustus, and I am also the Augustus of Rome, and I, Valentinian, whoever I am, must stand on the Roman side." I am Rome, and Valentinians are Rome, and I am Valentinian, and Valentinians are also me, so it means that I am Rome, so you have to pay tribute like Rome, the same Roman territory, and you pay tribute to Ravenna or Constantinople, is there any necessary relationship between this? ”

"This..."

Kessel was dumbfounded by Luga's "eloquence" of rebuttal, and he looked up and didn't know what to say.

"Do you understand what that means?" Luga was a little impatient with Kessel, and he looked at Kessel on the stage with a look of displeasure in his expression.

"Let me think, Caesar, this is a very important matter, even a matter of peace between us."

Kessel put forward his own dilemma, which is understandable, after all, they have always paid tribute to Rome and Ravenna, and now they have changed, it is necessary to say that the same tribute no longer pays tribute to Ravenna but to Constantinople, although it is also a territory belonging to the Roman Empire, but this is not in accordance with the rules, if you pay tribute to Constantinople, it will inevitably be at odds with Ravenna, at that time, Aetius, who bore the brunt of Ravenna, and the senate council of Rome blamed it, and it was not to form an expeditionary force to crusade, Isn't this indirectly causing war?

"I'm afraid of it." Kessel scratched his head in embarrassment, and then said to Luga: "Caesar, I'm afraid I can't make a decision now, especially on behalf of my king Gaisarik, I think I can only go here today, and I still need to go back and think about this specific issue." ”

"You really should think about this, and it shows that Your Excellency is a very cautious person." Luga looked at Kessel with a smile, and nodded again and again: "It seems that Gaisaric must have sent you here because of your trust, and of course, Waugh is also a very cautious person, after all, impulsive and reckless fellows can only go to heaven to see God earlier in these turbulent times." So that's all for today, I'll arrange for someone to prepare a room for you, a room worthy of your identity, and go back, messenger of the Vandals, I'm afraid you'll have to think about my words for the next few days. ”

"Thank you Caesar for your forbearance!" Kessel thanked him and stepped back, and it wasn't until he followed the guards out the door of the council chamber that the smile on Luga's face stiffened and vanished without a trace.

Kessel wasn't stupid, at least he knew that Luga was desperate for his answer, and if he had hastily answered the question on behalf of Geisarik, he would have been putting the entire Vandals entrenched in Africa into the crosshairs.

Such a seemingly simple choice is actually a very good preparation in the heart, and if he firmly refuses, he may win Ravenna's favor with the Vandals.

But Kessel could not do so, for the reason for the implicit meaning of the words he had heard outside the door was self-evident.

Whether he heard it intentionally or unintentionally,