"These people of the East are weak and have no strength, so leave them alone. Now that the decisive battle between me and Octavian is imminent on the front, how can I leave Italy with a large army and go to the East because of the slightest change in these tribes? ”

In the middle of summer, the situation in the Italian peninsula became more and more tense, and both Octavian and Antony deployed heavy troops to the Campania region, and on the eve of the decisive battle, from the far east, there were reports of the Armenian kingdom and many weak tribes refusing to cooperate with tribute and grain collection. Cleopatra's opinion was to hope that Antony would put aside the Italian war, immediately get up, and arrive in the East with a large army to demonstrate to these Eastern tribes, and establish that Antony's power was unquestionable. Let the kingdoms and tribes of Asia Minor and Syria continue to pay tribute, gold and grain. And Antony's meaning is that the decisive battle ahead is imminent, and the withdrawal of troops at this time will undoubtedly greatly damage morale, make Octavian's army look down on him, and boost their morale and arrogance. This was extremely disadvantageous for Alexander's transferred corps. They are already close to their homeland, but they are going to the East.

"The great dam collapse began with the gnawing of ants. Antony, my lover, you must know that the decisive battle with Octavian is not a matter of a day or two, and we need the support of these small eastern nations and tribes, whose money and food combined are no less than Egypt. I can support you unconditionally, but they don't, they are just a bunch of little people who see the wind and rudder, and only by reasserting our sovereignty by force will these weak kingdoms fear us again, submit to us, and even help us resist Parthia further east. If you ignore the signs of rebellion at this time, and wait until more and more tribes and kingdoms do not submit to us, and you are unable to take Rome for a while, then we will be in a very passive position. So, while the real war has not yet begun, take your mighty legion and go to the lands of the East to demonstrate, and in just two months, your legion will be able to circle the east coast and make these weak kingdoms tremble and submit, and it won't waste much of your time, Anthony. ”

The Queen of Egypt replied solemnly. She may not be proficient in specific military deployments, but for the judgment of the overall situation, Cleopatra even surpasses Antony's gaze. The queen of Egypt knew that the victory between Antony and Octavian could not be decided by one or two battles, but by social, economic, livelihood and politics. And before this decisive battle breaks out, it is necessary to ensure that the forces that support him will not defect, which is more important than anything else, and Octavian's allies are few, but they are all heartfelt, and their alliances are strong. And although there are many alliances between himself and Anthony, they are just some wall grass.

Three days later, Antony, persuaded by Cleopatra, began to withdraw his regiments from Italy one after another. Only four mixed legions were left to garrison a few important cities. Among them, Brindisi garrisoned two regiments of heavy infantry. It is the most important port city at the southern tip of Italy. All the soldiers, grain and supplies arriving from Alexandria and Greece had to pass through this port to be unloaded, and it can be said that Brindisi was the gateway to the eastern world for Rome at this time.

Despite their frustration, the soldiers carried out the commander-in-chief's order and left Rome. During this time, there was an incident in which the soldiers defected to Octavian, but fortunately it was not a group act, and most of the soldiers, although they wanted to take Rome and return to Rome, remained loyal to Antony and his orders.

At this point, after months of suffering, Octavian finally had time to relax. However, the news of Agrippa's defeat and capture made Octavian completely discouraged, he could deal with all emergencies, and all the difficulties in front of him were not difficulties in front of Octavian, however, this time, Octavian felt tired and confused from the bottom of his heart.

At the end of the gloomy corridor, he walked to the statue of his "father" Gaius Caesar. The Roman ruler who had left his possessions and status to him was now obscured by Octavian's eyes. The heavy responsibilities of the empire and the difficulties were so great that Octavian was far from expecting, and although he had done a lot and made a hundred times more than his peers, everything that his "father" had left to him was gradually disappearing, money and land...... Aphia, Spain, and Sardinia had fallen into the hands of Appis, and Antony landed in Brindisi and set his sights on Italy. The drought of a year earlier had drained Octavian of almost all his money, and now he had nothing but Caesar's name.

"Father, tell me, what should I do? Antony and Cleopatra's ambitions were like wolves, looking down on the Roman land. And everything you left me is gradually lost by me. Is it because I am not capable enough? Father, tell me ......"

"Agrippa is gone, what do I have left?"

"The morale of the Roman recruits outside the house was high, shouting anti-Anthony slogans, but this is true today, but tomorrow it may not be, the mood of the people is like a piece of dry grass and a plain, which can be ignited by me today and by others tomorrow. Father, that Apis is a beast, a cunning beast. Oh no, you and I have been deceived by him for so long, and perhaps he was already peering into the throne of a dictator while you were still alive. ”

Octavian knelt down in front of the statue of Caesar, muttering to himself, like a wounded child, longing for his father's help and help. However, no one was able to help him, nor was he able to touch him. Choosing the path of inheriting Caesar's legacy and Caesar's name is destined to be a lonely road. Countless glory, flowers, applause and wealth will follow, but a true partner will be lost.

A cold moonlight shone through the skylight on Octavian's face, reflecting his already pale face even more coldly white.

Behind the cold stone pillar, Attiyah stood quietly, looking at the emaciated back of her young son, and her heart was full of melancholy. For a moment, a thought suddenly flashed through Atiya, if Octavia had been married to Appis, would everything not have ended today? In that way, Apis would be Octavian's most effective assistant, his partner, not his enemy. However, all this is only hypothetical, time will not be turned back, and no matter what Apis is at this time, he will not marry Octavia again, and he will not be able to become Octavian's subordinate.

Time stood silently in this moment, until Octavian fell asleep holding the statue of his "father" Gaius Caesar......