"East" is Anthony! ”

Antony, who had just finished throwing his spear, was spotted by the soldiers of Appis around him, and the crowd became agitated. Like the sight of a pile of glittering gold, it is true that Anthony is now worth twice as much, and whoever captures him can leap from a commoner to a nobleman...... Dozens of people rushed over in an instant, trying to grab Anthony's horse and drag him off.

Seeing a group of poor and crazy Roman soldiers, Anthony sighed helplessly, and knew that he could not stay for long.

Beside him, there were dozens of loyal Roman knights, and Antony waved his arms and commanded all the men to start retreating. Several Roman legionnaires had just touched Antony's mount when their horses leaped and shook off the crowd.

The blood-stained war horses galloped all the way, and along the way, no one dared to stop this group of wild beasts.

The soldiers threw their javelins at them, only to shoot down a few sporadically, and this fierce cavalry team, led by Mark Antony himself, miraculously fought their way out of the encirclement once again.

It's just that when Anthony withdrew in disarray, his entire right-wing army also collapsed.

Everyone ran back like a wild beast, and the Gallic veterans of Appis were red-eyed and chased after them all the way. Then, the regiment that pursued the line turned a corner and flanked Anthony's 9th Corps, which was fighting in the middle.

The cavalry was entangled, and the infantry campaign was declared a failure, and Anthony wanted to turn the tide, but he was not Caesar, he did not have such a strong appeal on the battlefield, and he did not have enough ability to temporarily command the legions and adjust his tactics.

I could only watch as my last elite division was defeated......

…………

When the news of Antony's defeat reached Rome, the whole country celebrated, and while people celebrated Antony's defeat, they also celebrated that their investment had finally paid off. The loot discount will have a portion of them.

However, the fanatical reaction of the people also made Apis aware of a problem - in the future, the legion can only win more and lose less, although this kind of war investment can borrow social funds, but if the legion has not won the battle, the people will not be able to get a return, just imagine, these money could have allowed the citizens to lend, if there is no interest for a long time, no return, no matter how patriotic, after a long time, they will also complain and complain, and even have remarks unfavorable to themselves. So, the financing is only temporary. Apis decided that in the future, in the face of uncertain wars, he would not solicit a penny from the people.

…………

After the defeat, Anthony retreated to Pergamon with the remnants of the defeated army. He was depressed, and it seemed that his whole life had reached its lowest point. In his early twenties, he followed Caesar in the northern and southern wars, and in his thirties, he owned most of the territory of the Republic. He began to reminisce about his days at Alexandria's Palace, with its beauty, food, warm sunshine, luxurious baths, and beautiful scenery along the Nile River, where he and Cleopatra enjoyed themselves on a ship decorated with gold and jewels. Now, that's all gone. Poor Mark Antony became the general of the defeated army, the object of spurning and hatred of the Roman people. Even the soldiers were reluctant to follow him, and with the exception of a few loyal knights and soldiers, few Romans around him were willing to be with him anymore. The nobles hid themselves, and the commoners showed cold and frightened eyes in the streets.

However, he still has the funds on hand......

Yes, at least Asia Minor is still its own territory. Anthony seemed to have a glimmer of hope in his life. It's like the temperature of a pile of charcoal in the cold winter. But such hopes were soon denied by himself.

Asia Minor did not have a vast land and a large number of citizens, and even if there were, these people would not support themselves. The present situation was that Apis had won victory after victory, and the eastern kingdoms, the Roman allies, and even the people of the land gradually deserted themselves and leaned on the side of Apis. So much so that this time, Pergamon needed defenders, but letters were sent to Armenia and many kingdoms and tribes, and few kings and tribal chiefs responded. Obviously, they feared that Apis would be angry with them if he won, and they simply did not want to get involved.

In the dim light, Anthony sat there, motionless. Domitius quietly pushed open the bronze door of the mansion, and saw that it was empty and dark, and Antony sat on a pew, like a twilight old man, with his back hunched and an oil lamp in front of him. Reflecting his aged face. Yes, in just two years, he has aged a lot. The sword wounds on his body have also increased a lot.

By the faint light, Domitius walked up to the great general Antony, and whispered—"General." ”

"No, don't call me a general, I don't deserve this title."

Antony looked at Domitius in front of him, who had wanted to remove him from his military post because of the mistake of the legion commander. Now, it seems, Domitius was one of his most loyal men.

"General Mark Antony, you have led the most elite legions in Rome, and you will always be the general of Rome."

Domitius replied sincerely and sincerely.

"Tell me, what's the matter?"

Anthony asked tiredly.

"Armenia, Galatia, and Kapania said that they had limited manpower and could not provide more soldiers, and were willing to replace them with gold to support us in the war."

"A group of villains who see the wind and rudder, they know that I am not short of funds, but what I lack is manpower and soldiers, and they are not willing to join the war, but they are afraid that after Apis destroys me in the future, they will be liquidated. And that's it. Alas, Domitius, we have come to an end. ”

With a little resentment, a little helplessness, and a little regret, Anthony shook his head and sighed.

"There may still be hope, General."

After listening to Antony's statement, Domitius had an idea.

"Hope is that the gods will come down from heaven and burn Appis in my place."

Anthony said with a wry smile.

"No, the gods never interfere in the affairs of the earth, and my idea is that we can retreat to the area of Pontus and Colchis, with Pontus as a front-line position, dragging Appis, who has a vast plain and a natural barrier from the Caucasus Mountains, from which the rivers flow into the sea, and the land is fertile, except for the climate, almost the same as the mouth of the Nile. It can be used as our big rear, a grain production area. ”

Domitius said solemnly. Obviously, he had carefully studied the terrain east of Asia for the sake of this plan, and only waited for Antony to agree to the plan and make a decision.