So I chose to leave Rome, the bustling city of Rome, which was actually a big Colosseum, secretly full of blood and violence. If you don't have a strong political acumen, you can't stay here for long, if you're a commoner or a knight, it's fine, but I'm a general with the command of three legions, and there will be countless people fighting for such a position, and sooner or later, I will face danger. ”

Maximus sighed.

"So, why go to Germain? It was desolate and dangerous, infested with barbarians, and simply the Romans wanted to live there. ”

Levius asked.

"Fade out of sight, fade out of Apis's sight. Brother, as you said, Germania is a desolate and dangerous place, where no one will notice your presence, and your mission is to garrison the frontier, and no one will expect you to threaten their position. It is also far away from strife and conspiracy. Also, it is far from the suspicion of Appis. The only threat to a general far from Rome is that one day he will go south with his legions and threaten the safety of the capital. But Germania, and especially the province of Upper Germania, was very far from Rome, and had to pass half of the Germania, and all of Gaul, and finally cross the Alps into northern Italy, and I thought that it was almost impossible to rebel, and thus dispelled Appis's concerns. ”

Maximus took a sip of wine and continued—

"Also, I myself was born a commoner, my father was a farmer, and I have been in the military for many years, and I have adapted to the life of coarse bran and brown rice, and it is a little uncomfortable to return to Rome to enjoy the luxurious life of those nobles. In addition, I like to get along with soldiers, they speak directly, they are simple, they are not like those nobles in Rome, they have words in their words, every word may have a meaning, so it is too tiring to make friends. I'd rather be with these uneducated GIs and talk about women and food than live in a masked society. ”

In front of his best friend Levius, Maximus said sincerely.

His gaze was full of the brilliance of reason, which was the wisdom that had been precipitated by the baptism of time. Livius knew that Maximus had been planning such a decision for a long time, and it was impossible to persuade him to turn back.

It's just that the daughter Aegina may be grieving, is she going to follow Maximus's son Hadewi to Germany? Levius didn't want his daughter to suffer.

"Alas, brother, it seems that you have been thinking about this plan for a long time. I can't persuade you. ”

Livius sighed.

"Before leaving, come to my home, it's our farewell dinner."

"Okay, farewell dinner......"

Maximus returned with a smile.

…………

Maximus bid farewell to Rome three months later and went to the north with two elite legions of the Empire. Appis was in Mars Square, watching his old friend leave. The mood is extremely heavy. Appis knew that in the future, his former comrades-in-arms and companions would be far away from him one by one. The Emperor's Road is so lonely in the first place, even if you don't doubt their intentions, they will be worried. And I can't show them the vulnerable side......

Fortunately, it was not all sad, and Tiberius and Nevia's wedding took place in the late summer.

Under the white temple of Venus, Tiberius made a solemn oath to Nevia—

"I will protect you forever, protect you, and maintain the glory and dignity of the family."

The white marble temple witnessed the solemn and sacred wedding of the two. Tertilla even shed tears of emotion. Appis and Tertila have been together for half their lives, and only Nevia, a daughter, is cared for like a pearl in the palm of her hand.

Now seeing his daughter get married, not only Tertira, but also Appis himself, is a little moved. It's just that men are not as good at expressing their emotions as women. Tertila's tears were already rolling in his eyes, and Appis stood straight, watching young Tiberius move. In the future, this boy will shoulder the heavy responsibility of maintaining the rule of the empire.

Her mother, Livia, stood there, not knowing what to say, for she had more than once called Tiberius the idea to ask her son to approach Apis in order to gain his attention and affection. But he never thought that Apis had Tiberius as his heir in his heart. The wedding at this moment can only make Livia feel ashamed from the bottom of her heart.

Then, Appis walked up to Livia.

"Dear Livia, Tiberius and Nevia are now married, and in the future, our two families will be one family, and you and I will jointly take on the responsibility of educating Tiberius, so that he will take the interests of the family as his own responsibility, and jointly maintain the glory and dignity of the family."

Facing Livia, Apis said with a smile.

And Livia also knew the meaning of Appis's words, and from then on the two families were one, and stopped teaching Tiberius some bad thoughts. Otherwise, Apis would have been unkind to her. To put it bluntly, the matter of educating Tiberius, Apis has taken over completely and justifiably.

And her son became the heir, and Livia had nothing to fight about, and for the rest of her life she would sit at home and enjoy the most luxurious life in all of Rome.

…………

"Tiberius, tell me, what is the biggest difference you see around you after the wedding?"

After the marriage, at Appis's house, Tiberius and Apis sat down again and talked as intimately as father and son. His daughter, Nevia, and his wife, Tertila, were also around, and Appis didn't care if they heard his conversation with Tiberius. Now, everything has become so natural. Even if they hear the conversation, it doesn't matter. This was originally a family. A family with feelings.

"The biggest difference? They all look at me differently. ”

"How is it different?"

Appis asked with a smile.

"As you once said to me, the more I am promoted and appreciated by you, the fewer true friends I will have. Today, I see the nobles and senators of the Senate, looking at me with different eyes, becoming cloudy and deep, as if they were hunters hiding in the shadows, hovering over me, planning their own schemes. They may have wondered that since Tiberius had become the son-in-law of Appis, how to approach me and how to please me would henceforth be the most important thing, rather than the focus of their work. ”

In front of Appis, Tiberius spoke boldly.