"What we are doing is great and sacred, General, you have done nothing wrong, we are eradicating tyrants, war maniacs for Rome. Pen Fun Pavilion www.biquge.info"

But perhaps Caesar was right, or perhaps the gods were on his side, otherwise how could he have won battles so many times? Or, the prescription he prescribed was exactly what Rome needed right now. ”

After the defeat at the Battle of Tapushos, Labienus, escorted by his generals and a handful of Numidian cavalry, fled to Zama, where Scipio had fought Hannibal a hundred years earlier, however, they were not welcomed by the local population, as they already knew the outcome of the Battle of Tapushos. Caesar won, and they only wanted to save their lives, and did not invite Rabienus and others into the city. In the end, Rabienus had to disguise himself with his subordinates and sneak into the city to survive. The thought of his once glorious self and now being reduced to a lost dog, and everyone shouting and beating him, made Rabienus feel heartbroken. Even began to wonder if his original decision and original intention were correct? It's just that Pompey's veterans on the side promptly dissuaded the Roman veteran's "crankiness".

"It can't be, General. Now that the civil war is not over, we see a sage who sympathizes with the people and maintains the stability of Rome, but once the war is over, there will be no one in the whole of Rome who can compete with Caesar, who has a legion in hand, and when the time comes, as long as he wants to be a dictatorship and want to rule the whole of Rome, no one will dare to say anything. Maybe he'll be the next Sulla. Once a person has unlimited power, his desires will also expand infinitely. You, me, all of us can't control him to do whatever he wants. ”

Pompey's old subordinates still loyally spoke for Pompey. He also tried to persuade Rabienus not to waver in his position. It's just that Rabienus's heart may be really tired. He remembered his distant hometown, his wife and children. This war ruined all this, maybe he shouldn't have taken such a responsibility, he was just an insignificant little person, the wheel of history would keep moving forward, and a great man like Pompey could not stop the path of Caesar's reform, maybe Rome really had to carry out a reform under the arrangement of the gods?

"Okay, okay, but now, I'm tired. Let's not talk about these things for now. Let's go get some wine. I'm thirsty. ”

Rabbi Enus returned tiredly.

……

"Citizens, who among you has seen Rabienus and his remnants? Caesar is after him, and if any of you sees Rabienus and does not inform Caesar, Caesar will be treated severely. ”

In just one afternoon, Appis' cavalry pursued Zama. And, under the kind eyes of the locals, they successfully entered the city. The cavalry captain appeared in the market square of the ancient city in military uniform, and then read aloud the scroll of Appis.

The citizens of Zama all present had blazing eyes as they watched Caesar's legion, which was already in power, enter their town and stand in their town square. Everyone knows that Pompey's last resistance, failed, and the whole of Rome, fell into the hands of Caesar.

"I know, I know, I met this man two days ago."

Then, after the cavalry captain had read the scroll, a beggar, dressed in rags, approached the captain of Appis' escort. and told the cavalry captain about it, what he had seen and heard. No matter how much Rabienus disguised himself, someone would still recognize him. And these hungry people in the local area are so poor that they don't care about any lofty political aspirations and ideals. What they do is just for a meal.

"Take me to him."

Hearing this, Appis grabbed the money bag from the messenger's hand and threw it to the beggar. Then, he said to him very seriously.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, General, I'll take you there."

The down-and-out beggar who got the money bag was very excited and thanked him repeatedly. And Appis's heart was full of all kinds of tastes.

……

"Bring me two more bottles of wine, I need to replenish my strength."

When Rabienus was seen again, his image was far from the image in Appis's mind. In my memory, the simple and brave Rabienus was always dressed in military uniform, wearing snowy armor, holding a fine sword, standing at the forefront of the crowd, his voice was loud, and his face was ruddy, while at this moment, sitting in front of him, eating the shriveled bread in the bowl, Rabienus was dressed in rags, his black cloak had several large holes, the hair on his head looked like it had not been washed for days, it was so dirty that it stuck together, his back was much thinner, sitting on a rough chair and munching on bread, Unaware that Apis and Caesar's soldiers were already standing behind him. and called to his men to fetch him two more bottles of wine, and his men, all of whom had now given Apis, had their short swords to their throats, unable to move.

"Your wine, Rabienus."

Appis walked over and placed two bottles of fine Gallic wine on Rabienus's table. It was only when the voice was wrong that Rabienus turned his head and looked at the familiar face.

He nervously drew his dagger, the iron sword grinding against its scabbard with a loud scraping sound. And Appis just sat quietly in place, looking at the vicissitudes of life and tired old Rabienus.

Then, as if realizing something, Rabienus smiled wryly and put down the dagger in his hand, and the Roman blade placed on the table with a ding-dong sound. It also indicates that the old Rabienus realizes that resistance is meaningless, and the Apis in front of him, if he really wants to kill himself or subdue himself, he can do it just now, there is no need to go into the house alone, but let the soldiers wait outside the door.

"I know what you want to say, but you're just trying to persuade me to go back and beg Caesar for forgiveness. But even if Caesar would forgive my betrayal, I would not go back. It was a path I had chosen, and there was no turning back from the day I left the Gallic camp. ”

Rabienus placed the dagger on the table, and then went on to nibble on his shriveled and somewhat moldy bread, the inferior wine in his hand swallowed and gurgled as he swallowed it. It's hard to associate such a picture with the once dominant Roman player. Appis knew that the historical Rabienus would eventually die at the Battle of Menda, but for now, he still had hope and a chance to save the simple and resolute Roman. He was the most revered of all Roman legionnaires. A commoner, relying on his own hands and relying on his own efforts, became the commander of the Roman legion, the commander of the tenth legion. Everyone else relied on the power of the family, but Rabienus was an exception. Moreover, he will not collude with forces and seek mercenary interests like other Roman aristocrats. In other words, it is rare to find such a dedicated Roman in a filthy society.

It's just that Rabienus seems to have been well aware of Appis's intentions.