The great warrior Mark Antony has finally fallen, and there is no more alien to the Roman world. Apis captured the last fruits. Looking at the towns that had been reduced to nothing and the battlefields where rivers of blood flowed, Apis felt melancholy and desolation in his heart. This is how kings are born, and victory is the accumulation of countless lives and blood. The throne is even more so.

At this point, the Roman Republic stretched from Spain in the west, to the Mesopotaria Plain in the east, from Carthage in Africa in the south, to northern Britain in the north, and it was a huge country spanning three continents: Asia, Europe and Africa. It's just that it's not a republic? The politicians and wealthy merchants of Rome knew that the republic was only a façade, and that all the institutions that symbolized the republic, the Senate and the Citizens' Assembly, were retained, but in fact the only person in power was Appis. An upstart who made his fortune by cliques, money and bribery, war and slavery, and sideways. His ascension was a bit shameless, but the reality is that he succeeded. In this year, Apis was just forty years old. It did not conquer Persia and India like Alexander the Great and achieved brilliant military achievements, but it left a new and irreproducible page in Roman history.

However, the road is not yet complete. Two months later, instead of returning home, the legion did not return to Rome, but to Syria, the border between Parthia and Rome.

Appis set his sights on the southeastern part of the empire, a densely populated and economically developed land, which had the most fertile soil and the highest grain production in the entire Mediterranean. That's Egypt.

The alliance with Cleopatra was a thing of the past, and now, without Antony's worries, Apis could begin to shamelessly clean up these small countries around the Mediterranean. Covenant? It was just a piece of broken paper. The stipulation is dead, but man is alive.

…………

"Brother, although you are doing this for the sake of the long-term peace and stability of Rome, the soldiers do not have such high vision and foresight. They fought bloodily and finally defeated Anthony, and now, you don't care about triumph yourself, but the soldiers need it, everyone has vanity. You have to understand this. ”

By the time the legions traveled south from Asia Minor and arrived in Damascus, many of the Roman soldiers were clearly dissatisfied. They had gained a lot of wealth in the war, and they wanted to return to Rome, enjoy themselves, show off, and be courted by the populace at the triumphal ceremony, but now, there was nothing. As soon as Appis gave the order, they had to carry their luggage and equipment on their backs, and rush to the border like mules. Living a hard life. Klein reminded Appis to pay attention to the "combination of work and rest". Don't be like Luculus, who led a large army all the way east and made great achievements, only to end tragically because of his rebellion.

Of course, the mood of the soldiers Appis had long been noticed.

"Brother, tell the soldiers, don't be discouraged, don't lose your fighting spirit, don't enjoy victory too soon. Because we haven't really won yet, and there is still a vicious battle equal to us, after this battle, we can return home and truly enjoy the luxurious triumph, when our investment will be a hundredfold return. ”

Facing Klein, Apis said with a slight smile.

"You mean the Parthians?"

Klein asked.

"No, it's Egypt. Cleopatra's army. ”

"But the queen of Egypt doesn't have an army, and you told her not to raise an army."

Crane was clearly confused by Appis. He originally thought that the army had arrived at the Parthian border to deal with the Parthians, but as a result, Apis secretly aimed at Egypt.

"It's going to be soon."

Appis said, a sly smile on his lips.

…………

"Mother, tell me the truth, my father, whether or not he is Szectus. Pompey? Why haven't I seen my father since I was a child? ”

After returning to Rome, Teretus rushed straight home with mixed feelings. Instead of accepting people's praise and worship, he hurriedly asked about his mother, Octavia, about his background. On the battlefield, Anthony's last words left him lost and confused. That seems to be true, and Teretus must find out.

"Sextus?"

Octavia was stunned by the familiar and distant name. Indeed, it was a sad and slightly warm history. At that time, she and Apis fell in love, but they could not be together due to the disparity in status, and later, Caesar married her to Pompey's youngest son Séctus in order to stabilize the situation. Yes, it was at that time that Teretus was conceived. But the sad past can't bear to recall, how did his young son know about this person?

"Yes, Sektus. Pompey! Mother, tell me, if my father is he? My childhood is blurred and I have no memory, but I have to know the truth. ”

Tretus stubbornly asked, this is not only related to his reputation and future, but more importantly, Tretus wants to know who his biological father is, he has not received father's love since he was a child, and family affection can be said to be missing, therefore, he longs for this emotion, eager to pursue his father.

"Got it, so what? Your father is long dead, and his bones are buried in the earth, long since they are decomposed. He is not a Sexetus, Sexetus is the son of Pompey, how can he be related to you by blood? ”

Octavia's heart ached. However, she still has to weave the lies and go down the wrong path so that the young boy does not make mistakes. It was also for Apis, if Tretus knew that it was Apis who killed his father, then, what would he think of Apis? The big hero who was once admired and looked up to by him turned out to be the enemy who killed his father? Yes, Octavia can't let her son know the truth. There are a lot of things that Tretus doesn't understand yet, he's too young.

"Tell me, who told you such a ridiculous thing? His intentions, his intentions, are so wicked and filthy! ”

Seeing that Tretus was silent, Octavia asked angrily.

"It was Anthony, he told me on his deathbed, he said, he swore by the gods, and what he said was true......"

"Lie!"

Octavia yelled. She almost had an emotional breakdown. In the distant years, there are too many pains, and at this moment, all kinds of emotions intersect, making her feel haggard. Young children, ignorant eyes, full of restless and rebellious age. Octavia must carefully maintain this delicate relationship, but sometimes even she can't control these emotions.