Next to the bustling market, the tall Colosseum rises from the ground, and in the white stone walled platform, a fiery and bloody competitive game is being staged, the stands are filled with jubilant crowds, commoners, knights and nobles sit in turn, and in the stands with the best view of the entire arena sit the aged Cicero and the upright young Apis, the commander of the Roman Germanic legions. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

"It was a really intense game, a gorgeous show. It's a little more expensive, and it's still a little distressing, but it's a good way to get rid of those assassins, haha. ”

Cicero sat in his plush seat and sipped his wine as he spoke boldly and happily. It's like a suspect who has been held for a long time suddenly regains his freedom. He was understandably happy, Octavian had already purged more than fifty senate officials, except for the most important Cicero. The glorious Cicero stood up at the beginning and end of a gladiatorial game, got close to the crowd, and by the way, let the chariot enter the arena and throw bread at the crowd in the stands, thus winning the enthusiastic praise of the common people. And tell civilians that he will come again the next day or a week. As a result, Cicero saw that Octavian looked at him in the Senate with disgust. And the elegant Cicero only smiled in response to the young Turinus.

"Cicero, don't take it lightly yet, the game goes on, and in the meantime, I think you should start making some moves and coming up with some ideas and ideas for reform. For example, to fight corruption, to increase the wages of the common people, or to restore the minimum living guarantee in Rome, etc., these are all ideas that can be proposed, and they do not have to be implemented immediately, but they should be discussed in the Senate, you can tell the people that the Senate is discussing these matters, and take a step back, even if the legal reform does not pass in the end, the people will not resent you, but will appreciate your efforts for them. Well, you have to start doing something, I will leave tomorrow for Gaul and take Tertila with me, she is pregnant, although the conditions in Rome are good, but now the situation is turbulent, if something big happens, I can't guarantee her safety in Rome. ”

Appis sat down next to Cicero and squinted his eyes. Compared to Cicero's optimistic performance, Apis was still a little worried in his heart, not so optimistic. Octavian was no ordinary boy, and Antony was not an ordinary philistine, and what they would do next, Apis did not know now. At the very least, while the situation is still under control, leave the land with your family before making plans.

"You're leaving Rome? Oh, no! ”

Hearing the news that Apis was about to return to Gaul, Cicero's face changed and he questioned in surprise.

"Yes, there is nothing left for me here, and my legion needs me now, and the construction of the bridge over the Rhine is about to begin, and I must go back and supervise the work."

Appis replied calmly.

"But I still don't feel safe without your guards. I have a request, Appis, and I will follow you back to Gaul. ”

Cicero said solemnly.

"No, you can't come back to Gaul with me, at least not now."

"Why?"

Cicero's heart rose to his throat. Although he was slightly better at the moment in the fight against Octavian, no one could guarantee that Octavian would have any conspiracies and traps in the future. Without an army, in Rome, there was no sense of security. This is how Cicero, and so many Roman aristocrats, felt at the moment.

"How many other people in the Senate are the targets of the assassination of Octavian and Antony, we do not know now, at this moment, these Senate officials who are becoming the targets of Octavian's assassination are like frightened birds, if you return to Gaul with me, it will inevitably cause a large number of Senate officials to follow suit and try to take refuge in my name and seek refuge in me, no matter what the angle, I cannot refuse. But if I accept such a request to shelter the fleeing Roman nobles and senators, I will inevitably provoke the wrath of Antony and Octavian, and I will plunder their property, so that the two giants will join forces and go north to purge my power. You know, the power of public opinion is strong, but it is also limited, not to mention, we will use public opinion, and Antony and Octavian will also use it. So, at this particular moment, you can't go back to Gaul with me. ”

Faced with Cicero's renewed panic, Apis explained, trying to calm his emotions. Despite his academic achievements, Cicero still showed the embarrassment of the common aristocracy in the face of the turbulent situation in Rome.

"Alas, Appis, you are too cautious, if these senators and officials of the Roman Senate turn to you, they will definitely use all their possessions to support you in your rebellion against Octavian and Antony, with this property you can hire a large army, and then you can defeat the two giants. Why not take advantage of this time to absorb more allies? ”

Cicero sighed.

"Antony and Octavian's corps together have a total of more than twenty-five, and I now have only six legions with combat experience. In terms of financial resources, it is far inferior to the two giants, how to turn the other cheeks with the two giants at this time? Don't be too simplistic, my old friend, one of the reasons why Octavian and Antony are not doing anything to me now is that Brutus is not dead, and the war in Greece is not over. Another reason is that Octavian and Antony are not absolutely united internally, they are always trying to weaken each other, and I have become their bargaining chip. In this way, I was able to stay in Gaul for a year. Therefore, at this time, openly confronting Octavian and Antony is tantamount to asking for his own death. ”

Appis looked at the anxious Cicero and explained helplessly. He is not the god of war Mars, and to survive in this chaotic and complicated era, he needs more caution and wisdom, and courage alone is not enough.

"Well, well, alas, I think back now that I was anxious about it when Caesar ruled Rome, and now it seems that the situation was a hundred times more secure than it is now, Caesar only deprived us of the right to speak, and Octavian and Antony wanted to deprive us of our lives."

Cicero sighed, and in the setting sun, a glimmer of sunlight spilled into his eyes, and on the sand of the arena, the slightly weaker gladiator was knocked to the ground by his opponent, and the white blade reflected the dazzling white light in the sunlight, and then, the victor clenched his short sword and plunged the blade into the body of the fallen gladiator. Blood flowed red the sand beneath the vanquished......