In October, a large number of Roman citizens joined Appis' army of recruits at Cicero's urging. Compared with the stalemate in the East, Rome, the capital of the empire, www.biquge.info is a thriving scene. The poor who were so poor that they could only beg on the streets, the ruffians and the bankrupt peasants who spent their days begging from the small traders and peddlers for protection money all now flocked to Appis's recruiting office in the capital. There were also a small number of young Romans who fought for glory, from all classes of society, with different wealth, but with the same purpose, hoping that they would make a fortune in the war and win the so-called glory. Even, through war, climbed to the branches of power in Rome. It's just that they didn't show a trace of fear, as if war was a very romantic thing and something worth looking forward to.

Throughout the late autumn, the streets of Rome became crowded and lively because of this huge recruitment.

"Do you think they can defeat the Germans?"

"Not now, but after three months of training and a few more real battles, maybe it can be done."

On an autumn evening, Apis and Crassus stood on the balcony of Apollo's apartment, looking at the constant flow of people in Caesar's Grand Square not far away, and talked worriedly about the war that was about to take place in the distance. Crassus the Younger fully supported Apis financially, but at the same time he also knew that money alone was not enough to win a war, just like the Punic War, the Roman Senate used all its financial resources, but was still defeated by Hannibal. Now, although Appis has recruited a large new army, he is still unsure in his heart in the face of the fierce and brutal Germans.

"Three months? Are you sure you want to spend three months training them? I fear that the Germans will launch a surprise attack in the winter and continue south. ”

Crassus Jr. questioned Appis's decision.

"No, they won't. My eyes had already left Rome two weeks in advance, and the information they had sent back was that the Germans had not moved southward at all, that they had scattered among the various Gaul towns, enjoying the spoils of summer and autumn, and that the tribes that had been concentrated had chosen their own territory for the winter. Perhaps after months of fighting, these barbarians are no longer willing to toil, and this gives us a rare opportunity, three months, too important for these recruits. The training they would need would be more brutal than the training required by Roman soldiers in the past. ”

Faced with little Crassus's questioning, Apis replied confidently.

"You've sent someone to track the barbarians?"

Little Crassus asked in surprise. Appis's plan of action concealed everyone.

"Yes, intelligence gathering is far more important than blind conscription, and I must know their movements before I can fight these barbarians head-on. In fact, there was a divide among the Germanic peoples, although they were large-scale invasions, but there was no absolute authority among the tribes, and the heir of the Great Chief of the Suebi League was not powerful enough to convince the people, while the other part of the people believed in the leadership of the matriarch, a mysterious female leader. But her power was also confined to her tribe, and it was this current state of disagreement among the Germanic people that bought us three months. ”

Looking at the golden glow of Julis's hall in the setting sun, Appis said with a heavy heart.

"Female leader? It's interesting. The Germanic people would have been led by a female leader. It's the first time I've heard of it. ”

Little Crassus answered.

"It is precisely because she is a woman that I am more cautious and questioning, you know, a woman, if she wants to conquer a tribe and make the men of the tribe obey her arrangement and command, it takes a lot more than ordinary people, and her ability and wisdom must also surpass that of ordinary Germans, otherwise, how did she achieve the position of tribal leader? It takes wisdom, little Crassus, the Germanic people you and I have seen, they are rude, violent, bloodthirsty. If such a nation, such warriors, had a wise leader, then it would be terrible. The reason why Lepida was so embarrassed was said to be because of the leadership of the Germanic matriarch, who set a trap and led more than 20,000 of Lepida's soldiers into the jungle to fight, and the location of the battle was also chosen in advance by the matriarch, one side of the forest path was a gentle slope covered with leaves, which was conducive to the Germanic swooping attack, and on the other side was a cliff, which would spread the panic of the Roman soldiers. ”

Appis frowned, and turned to little Crassus. After such an analysis, little Crassus suddenly felt a lot of pressure on the road ahead. Indeed, without sufficient wisdom and courage, it is impossible for a woman to conquer the men of a tribe. Unless she is the daughter of a previous chief. But intellectually, apparently not.

"To make matters worse, some of the Gallic tribes were already reluctant to send their allies, and they feared the power more than the Germans than the Romans. This is what worries me the most, and if this mood spreads, and the whole tribe of Gaul fears the Germans, and does not dare to send an alliance and give us food, then the Roman army will not be able to fight in Gaul, Caesar's eight years of struggle will be in flames, and what is more terrible, Gaul will cease to be a Roman province. In fact, more than in all cases, this is what worries me the most. ”

Little Crassus was silent in front of Apis, who continued to express his annoyance. Indeed, while all the people of Rome were excited about a great expedition, Apis considered the difficulties and dangers that lay ahead. The situation was worse than that of Caesar's expedition to Gaul. At that time, Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus had a stable political alliance, and through the triumvirate they overrode the Senate, and they had common interests and purposes. And now the domestic situation in Rome is not politically unstable at all, once Octavian and Antony defeat Brutus, the northern battlefield will attract the attention of the two, there is no common enemy, the three forces will soon fight among themselves, for this reason, Apis even thought of privately funding Brutus, so that he can drag on the war in Greece as much as possible. However, after thinking about it, I finally gave up such an idea, after all, I don't have enough financial resources at the moment to support on both fronts. And, in terms of dragging Antony, Octavian and fighting the Germans, it is clear that the latter is much more important.