"Appis, there's something I think you have to pay attention to, and many people in the Senate are talking about the death of Crassus the Younger."

In the cold winter, the cold snowflakes fell outside the window, and the quiet visit of Livius did not attract the attention of others. He came to Appis's house with a thick cloak, took off his cloak, and began to talk to his old friend.

There was no one else in the room, only the charcoal in the bronze stove burning a not-so-vigorous flame. It releases a slightly warm scent.

"What are you talking about? Talking about little Crassus that I killed him? Call me a ruthless executioner? ”

Appis said, walked over to the table, picked up two cups of hot rice wine, and handed them to Livius.

"You got it?"

"Well, in Rome, any sound will reach my ears."

Apis sighed, picked up his glass and took a sip of the warm drink. Helplessness and exhaustion were written on his face.

"Then since you know, why not stop this voice? Those people, those with ulterior motives, are fanning the flames of this, and they say that the biggest beneficiary of the death of little Crassus is you. ”

Taking the warm wine from Appis, Livius said wistfully.

"Levius, my good companion, brother. You have to know that in this world, no matter what you do, there will always be people who support you and there will be people who oppose you. No matter how much I purge this Senate, there will always be opposition in some dark places. They are like burrowing bats, always haunting the night and making irritating fluttering sounds. But you can't catch them all. My way to deal with these nobles is not to confront them head-on, let alone to clean them up by force. For, the more I did this, the more suspicious little Crassus's family, cronies, and soldiers became. My solution will be to do the opposite......"

In the silence of the night, when the cold wind was raging outside, Apis sat with his few remaining old friends, Livius, and had a long conversation.

The next day, in the Place de Mars, tens of thousands of legionnaires of the little Crassus were summoned, and they did not gather spontaneously, but, on the contrary, they were gathered by Appis.

"Soldiers, today, I have summoned everyone here, and I think you know why. Yes, recently, in the city of Rome, there is such a saying. It has been said that your commander-in-chief, General Marcus. The death of Crassus was caused by I, Appis. They say that when Marcus Crassus died, the biggest beneficiary was me, because in Rome my biggest rival was Marcus Crassus. He had a large army and a solid family fortune. And as soon as Marcus Crassus dies, his legion, that is, you, will belong to me alone, and the legion will be absorbed by me. Experienced fighters will fight for me. Do you believe that? ”

After a night of cold winds, the air in Rome became much fresher, and tens of thousands of Roman legionnaires were gathered to listen to Appis's speech in Piazza Mars. But as soon as Appis's voice fell, no one dared to say anything. Most people have reverence for Apis, and they want to hear how Apis handled the matter.

"No one is talking? Well, this proves that in your hearts, you still look up to me Appis. Gnaeus's. So, then, listen to what I'm going to say. I, Appis, am not a saint, but a mortal who desires to bring Rome to strength and abundance. So, I will also be hit, such as some political enemies with ulterior motives, as well as these rumors. But none of this matters, what matters is the trust you have in me. Here, I just want to tell you that you have the power to decide whether you want to stay or not. All the legions of my brother Marcus Crassus, you, will have the right to decide to remain in the legions, and if you believe the rumors, you can choose to leave the legions, and I will not force your allegiance to me. Of course, I will continue to prepare for the conquest of Parthia, which will be a long and arduous struggle, and I will not regret even if I spend the rest of my life there, in the sands and blood of that foreign land. For I will take the Roman legions with me to take vengeance, and set down the capital and the walls of the Parthians. Willing to come with me, we will fight together, fight for the glory of Rome, for Marcus. Crassus's revenant fights. If you don't want to believe in me, if you don't want to follow me, I don't force it. ”

In the square, Appis spoke with a tragic heart. The audience was in awe. Obviously, rather than the gossip of politicians and the whispers of those in the shadows, the legionnaires preferred to believe the heroic Roman general in front of them. Because what Apis said was more direct and more practical. As legionnaires who have been on the battlefield for many years, they also prefer such impassioned generals to the cold conspiracy theories and interests of politicians.

"For Marcus, for Apis!"

Gradually, people began to shout in the square. They were emotionally aroused and said that they would go on an expedition for Appis, and for Crassus the Younger, to march again to Parthia. It's just a promise, not just wealth.

"Rome will win!"

The cries of the crowd grew louder and louder. Gradually, the entire square turned into a sea of frenzy for declaring war. The soldiers cheered up and shouted the name of Crassus the Younger, the name of Appis.

If there's one word to describe the sight in front of you, it's the buzz of people. Mourning and remembrance turned into a frenzy of faith, and the cries for the expedition to Parthia rose higher and higher.

Appis stepped down from the podium, and the avenues of Mars Square were already crowded with fanatical soldiers and crowds. Just like the people who worshipped stars in later generations, they frantically crowded on both sides, casting adoring and paying attention one after another. They raised their thumbs and shouted the name of Apis in unison.

Escorted by the Praetorian Guards, Apis walked in the center of the crowd and walked out of the crowd as he greeted the soldiers.

"Look, that's your plan. Your slander against him has become a bargaining chip for him to fight back, and those rumors that are unfavorable to him have become a tool in his hands. Without these rumors, I am afraid that Apis would not have had the opportunity to arouse such a fanatical following among the soldiers. ”

At the edge of the frenzied square, several elders were standing under the columns of the cloister, whispering. Quindus stared at the blood-boiling picture, and with a disdainful tone, he scolded his "comrades-in-arms". Indeed, it was a pig-like teammate, and Quintus knew that after this incident, if Apis was willing to investigate, he would be able to investigate the source of the earliest slanderous statements. At that time, these trouble-making elders may be about to suffer.