"Damn Berius, you shouldn't let the heavy infantry rush out of the camp and fight the enemies in the city. Look at the fact that now, our back roads are all cut off! ”

In the midst of a bloody battle, Antony's veteran centurion Tibes complained about the decision of his superior, Chief Centurion Berius. He almost brought the legion to a desperate situation. The Germanic cavalry was roaring and storming the flanks and rear of the legions, and it would not be long before the entire army would be scattered.

Rome is in sight and they can't afford to lose this opportunity.

"So what can you do? Don't tell me you're going to stay in camp and watch the people of Apis slip away from us! Now don't talk about these useless things, hurry up and report the situation here to Anthony! ”

On the battlefield where fierce battles were raging, although the chief centurion Berius was dissatisfied with the sudden offense of his subordinates, but in a crisis situation, he could only let his subordinates go to work first and finish the battle.

Covered in blood, Tibis mounted his war horse and rushed out of the battlefield in desperation. Beside him, his companions and comrades-in-arms were being slaughtered......

The battle continued until noon, and by the time several of Antony's other legions arrived to help, there were only a few thousand bodies left on the battlefield, mostly Syrian soldiers and soldiers of Antony's Third Legion, and a few of Appis's men who had been killed.

"Damn Appis! Did he run away like a mad dog? Don't even have time to collect the corpses of your own men? ”

Mark Anthony stood on the bloody battlefield and roared angrily.

Many, however, remained silent. They waited for their commander's next order, and in fact, many hoped that Antony would give the order and continue the storming of Rome. For most of the soldiers in the city had been taken away by Appis. At this time, the chances of winning will be much greater.

However, after a short thought, Anthony decided to retreat and lift the siege.

This is the summary of his many years of battlefield experience, the besieging side must go all out to attack the city, if you have to face the attack from behind, and on the other hand, you have to face the tall city walls, the army will be disheartened. It is equivalent to being flanked from front to back, although there are not many defenders in the city, but it is also a hidden danger, Rome, close at hand, but Antony knows that he can't take any risks. What's more, it seems that the reinforcements that Apis has transferred from the north are also on the way. The convergence of the two armies was a great threat to the besieging forces.

"Domitius, Aetius, Critotis...... We are ready to retreat. ”

Anthony said with a displeased face.

"General, why? Please don't give such an order, give us three more days, and I promise to take that gate with my men!" ”

Aetius was the first to see that he and his soldiers had been preparing for six years before they had finally set foot on Roman soil again, and that it was at this time that the legions were about to withdraw again, and in every sense Aetius and his soldiers were reluctant.

"No, don't disobey my orders, Aetius. I know you don't want to withdraw, and I don't want to, but the situation has changed by this time. We cannot attack the city in the presence of the enemy on our backs. Apis' reinforcements are coming, and we must fight his main army to the death outside the city before proceeding with the siege. Brothers, believe me, this will not be long in this agony, and we will once again set foot in the gates of Rome, but it will take a process. Think about it, if we don't withdraw our troops and continue to besiege the city, the huge city, our forces will inevitably be scattered, and when the time comes, Apis will attack with a large army and break our various legions one by one, what will we do then? Today's scenario is bound to be repeated. So, we had to withdraw our troops, regroup our forces, and fight Appis in a decisive battle. After the decisive battle, the city was deprived of its only support, and Rome would be a truly isolated island. It's only a matter of time before you get into town. ”

Despite his impatience with the various voices of his subordinates, Anthony explained in a pleading tone. These generals and veterans who have followed him for many years, Anthony attaches great importance to them. At least from the point of view of a general, Antony was a good Roman general.

……

"Thanks to the gods, Antony has finally withdrawn, and the cloud of violence that has hung over Rome has receded, thanks to Appis! Once again, we preserve the glory and heritage of our ancestors, praise to Rome, praise to Appis! ”

On the day Antony lifted the siege, almost all the people of Rome were in high spirits, except for a few who secretly supported Antony, who hid in the shadows and watched the celebration coldly. Cicero ran through the streets and alleys of the city and the various assembly squares, looking like a spring breeze, like an old man, and his face was full of red light. Then, dressed in a white toga, he entered the tall and sacred Senate under the guard of his servants.

"Look, he's like a triumphant general, with a big smile, walking into this white hall. However, I don't understand what exactly he conquered? Just the day before the start of the war, to make an inspiring speech in the square? Hmph, it's just a puppet of Appis. ”

Cicero triumphantly walked into the Senate, but many in the Senate did not welcome his arrival. Because he was actually sent by Apis to control the Senate, at least by Apis, who was sent to monitor the Senate. Originally a representative of the Roman oligarchy, the building is now the institution of Appis alone. Caesar, Octavian, and then to Appis, the nature of the Senate did not change substantially, but only changed one new owner after another.

"To tell you the truth, I'd rather Anthony win this war, and then we might have a little freedom and power."

"Oh, don't say that, look at the crowd around us, we can't tell which ones are enemies and which ones are friends. Be careful, maybe the next moment, someone will hear us snitching. Besides, Antony may not be much better, have you forgotten that he and Octavian slaughtered the Senate back then? The same gore and cruelty. Rome has entered an era of violence, and whoever has the legion has the right to speak. ”

Two former senators whispered before the meeting began. Unlike the populace, they pointed the finger at Apis and Cicero. The reason is simple: since Apis entered Rome, they had lost the power to govern. Although all the bills were issued by the Senate, they were not actually in charge of them. This practice is almost indistinguishable from that of Caesar's time. The senators, who had little real power, had now arranged for Cicero, who was very popular among the people, to come in, and they had to be careful with their words. 10