After dispersing, Luga handed the wooden stick and scepter in his hand to the ceremonial officer, and beckoned to Dermatius and John. Antioch retreated.

Luga pondered for a moment, then looked back at the map of Rome hanging behind him, and the provinces were at his feet, looking at the vast land.

After just watching blankly for a moment, Luga slowly put on his purple fur cloak with the help of the attendants, and then slowly walked out the back door of the council chamber under the escort of the guards.

"If the Vandals have agreed to place the tribute in Ptolemy, how should we account for Ravenna?"

"There's no need to explain to Ravenna, anyway, now that Valentinian hates me to the core, there's no need for me to make any concessions in order to maintain stability within the country."

"But the Roman Senate and the Holy See are in great need of these tributes, and there are many supporters of Caesar in Rome."

"I know that very well, John, but the problem is that I don't lack any so-called provisions, and I don't care about the money and food, but I just don't want to give it to Valentinian."

"You want to starve him, am I right? Caesar! ”

"Don't worry, it will only make him more anxious, and it won't starve him to death."

"But how can the Holy See and the Senate appease, after all, Lord Leo is very concerned about how much he can get."

"That's why I had to leave the tribute in Ptolemy, the cunning Vandals were as unreliable as foxes, and they were likely to excuse that the tribute had been undeliverable due to some unwarranted pirate attack on the way to Constantinople or Athens."

"You know, John, this is the usual trick of the barbarians, they used this as an excuse to cut the tribute over and over again, and finally simply did not give it away, despicable barbarians, I have no idea why they live in this world."

"So, Caesar, what should we do, especially with regard to the Senate and the Holy See?"

"Rest assured, my friend, I have decided to divide half or more of them by our naval escort, from Ptolemy to the Tiber, and the tribute will be paid to the high bureaucrats of the Holy See and the Senate, and to Rome in the west, as long as the nobles are firmly grasped."

"Yes, perfect plan, Caesar, but can we really be sure that Gaisaric will decide to pay us a tribute because of such pressure?"

"I don't know for sure, but I am sure that we now have plenty of time to keep the Vandal, to let him communicate with Gaisaryk, and I am not in a hurry, for I am ready to talk to them for half a year, and I am not in a hurry, because I will only see a fully loaded wagon arrive at Ptolemy next autumn."

As Kessel paced back and forth in the room he had been assigned to, he realized that it was not simply a matter of dividing the spoils, but had most likely escalated into a confrontation between Rome.

It may be that this small question of tribute alone is enough to show how fierce the struggle for power within Rome was.

But, as a small boat swaying between two crashing waves, Kessel certainly knew how important he was to this decision, and he had to be careful and careful.

He spent the night writing a letter to Gaisaric and then asked a messenger to deliver it for him.

He was still faintly uneasy, but he heard a noise outside, and the sound drew him towards the window.

Pushing open the window, he saw the slaves who were constantly busy coming and going, and they seemed to be decorating the whole palace, and the special attraction was the basket of rattan woven by the slaves, which was filled with flower petals that had already been prepared.

For Rome, they would stand on a high place and scatter flower petals downwards during the grand celebrations, and only the decoration of the petals in the sky could set off the excitement of the festival.

"Is there a special holiday?" Kessel was puzzled, he thought he was a barbarian who was familiar with Rome, but it was not easy to find flower petals on this cold winter day.

Kessel walked out the door, grabbed a slave who was busy, and asked, "What day is it to be so busy?" ”

"Caesar is getting married!" The slave continued with a mysterious expression.

"Oh? Is it. Curious, Kessel's eyes widened and he asked, "Who is the woman worthy of Augustus?" ”

"It is said that there are two Augustas, this is the first time in thousands of years, and I don't know what the other nobles will think, after all, this is the current doctrine..."

"Hey, what are you talking about, lowly slave!"

It was then that they heard a reprimand, which made the slave tremble, and when he turned around, he saw a court official walking towards him angrily with a stick.

"Oh my God, damn it!" The slave who was caught by the court official scolded secretly, and hurriedly lowered his head and hunched his waist like a dog with his tail between his legs and trying to escape.

I saw him running towards the court official's side, and he couldn't stop begging for mercy: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, my lord, forgive me, forgive me!" ”

"I'm going to let you know the rules of the palace today, you are not qualified to talk to anyone else!" The court official reprimanded loudly, and raised the wooden stick in his hand, and hit the slave beside him twice on the back, so painful that the slave grinned again and again.

After beating the slave away, the court official strode up dressed in Kessel, only bowed slightly, and continued to Kessel: "I have just been offended, this new slave does not know the rules, and I hope that Your Excellency is not frightened. ”

"No, no, no, no, no!" Kessel asked the court official with a smile on his face, "Do you know what is the reason for holding such a big event?" ”

"Caesar's Wedding."

"Then what kind of lady is worthy of such a great man as Augustus?"

"I'm afraid you don't need to know, Your Excellency." The court officials looked at Kessel coldly, and they didn't mean anything to reveal.

Before Kessel could continue to ask, the court official turned and left.

"What a strange court." Kessel shook his head, it seemed that he had been busy for a long time, and in the end he still didn't get anything.

Flavis. Lu Jia took the time to come to the side palace, there was no one here, so it naturally seemed deserted.

The guards guarding the door saw Augustus' car and hurriedly opened the door, watching Luga's car enter.

Walking into the room that had been arranged for Tenaia, he saw Maximus playing silently on the side, and Maximus saw Luga hurriedly standing up in a daze, and he was still afraid of this father who did not give him the love he should have.

Luga just came over and touched Maximus's head, then walked in and saw Tenaia.

She was sitting on a wooden stool, holding a magnificent robe in both hands, which was prepared for the wedding, and Luga sent someone to send it early in the morning, just to see if Tenaia was still satisfied.

"What!"

Luga's voice startled Tenaia, she hurriedly held the clothes in her arms in her arms, as if she was afraid that someone would take it away, she raised her head, and when she saw that it was Luga, she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, and sighed softly: "Oh, it's you." ”