"Give us a reason to cooperate with you, General. Pen Fun Pavilion www.biquge.info Apis was defeated, but his legion was not incapacitated, and now that he occupies the city, we risk our lives to plan this, in the end, what is the benefit? ”

In a small cottage in the countryside outside the city of Tisdos, the great nobles Labrius and Onaris sat opposite the young Roman general Agrippa and asked in an arrogant tone. Agrippa's legions had already landed at the city of Tisdos, but the young general did not really want to take the city by storm and capture Apis alive. Rather, they wanted to win this war in a softer way. After all, war requires a huge amount of manpower and material resources. Agrippa wanted to take the city without taking it, so the only options were to use espionage and diplomacy.

It's just that the Roman nobility of Aphilia still doesn't seem to have much confidence in Octavian. Agrippa's request is prevaricated.

However, now that they were out of the city, Agrippa knew that, from the bottom of their hearts, they still wanted Appis to fall, but on the surface, they still pretended to be indifferent, hoping to gain more benefits, just like the Numidians, fighting for their own interests in the chaotic situation.

"This city, as long as it happens, this city belongs to the few of you. When the time comes, the management and administrative power of the city of Tisdos will belong to only a few of you. All the taxes in the city, the profits from trade, will belong to those who come to me today. ”

Faced with several "arrogant" Roman nobles, Agrippa sat on a chair and replied neither humbly nor arrogantly. His tone was so calm and composed, that it didn't look like the posture of a person of his age at all. And this trading condition also surprised several nobles present. They had expected Agrippa to negotiate with them about capturing Appis and opening the gates. But now it seems that Agrippa did not, but threw out the terms of the deal very directly. Moreover, it is also a lucrative condition.

"It's a great deal, but how can we trust you? You're just a general under Octavian, and if you promise us here, and the news reaches Rome and Octavian doesn't, it's possible, isn't it? ”

Labrius, an older aristocrat, said in a very official tone. In fact, they do hold a position in the city. For example, the unsmiling, slightly younger aristocrat sitting in the corner of the round table in front of him was the treasurer of the city of Tisdos, managing a tenth of the city's income. Labrius himself, on the other hand, was the magistrate of the city of Tisdos, who controlled all the legal proceedings in the city and had the highest authority in the law. And these people, no doubt, also have a lot of network resources and funds. Agrippa did nothing but satisfy their desire for power and wealth, and there was nothing they could not do.

"Yes, you are right, your concerns are quite right, but I must tell you that I have come to Africa on behalf of Octavian. When I left Rome, Octavian told me that I was solely responsible for the affairs of Africa, and that I did not have to report anything back to Rome as long as I destroyed Appis. Of course, if you don't believe it, you can send someone to ask Octavian yourself. However, my legion may not be able to wait that long. ”

Agrippa said treacherously. He first raised his own conditions very high to tempt these rich people, and then coerced them to take advantage of them, and if they did not cooperate, they would not get a little benefit. went back and forth, which made Lablius and his party covetous. And Agrippa knew that Labrius's group had to agree, because Appis did not represent their interests. It's the interests of civilians. The risks of not cooperating with themselves are also enormous, and if the Numidian army and the Italian legions break through the city, their fate will be even more miserable, and they may even lose their official positions.

"Alright, alright, General. I'll go back and figure out how to figure it out, and in five days, the gates of Tisdos will be opened, and the guards will be removed. When the time comes, you just need to rush into the city with your men. But I can't murder Appis, who has the protection of the Praetorian Guard and the Legion by his side. ”

After a long silence, Labrius, an older nobleman, spoke slowly.

……

A few days later, the northern gates of the city of Tisdos were quietly opened in a quiet and silent night, and by the time the soldiers of the Seventh Legion discovered the situation, it was too late. Tens of thousands of Numidian soldiers and Roman legionary hoplites poured into the city from outside the city. Without using torches, they entered the city by moonlight, and then, with the sound of earth-shattering shouts of killing, they rushed to the location of the Seventh and Eighth Legions.

"Enemy! Agrippa's men have entered the city! ”

Crane rushed into Appis's bedroom in his linen pajamas, waking him up from his sleep. The sudden situation made Apis feel confused for a moment.

Then little Crassus also rushed in, their bedrooms were very close to each other, and at this moment, the huge movement outside the villa woke up all the people in the courtyard. The guards were ready to escort the boss away.

Without saying a word, little Crassus threw Apis a dagger and hurried downstairs to the stables......

"Appis! What now? ”

Crane roared.

"You and Crassus Jr. go and gather the command corps and get everyone to retreat to the edge of the harbor. I remember there was a big theater there. Use the back of the stone walls of the theater as a line of defense against incoming enemy troops. I will take the Praetorian Guards to resist the streets for a while and cover your retreat. ”

The situation was urgent, and Appis could not think of a better way for a while, so he could only make this arrangement for the time being.

"No, you should be alive, let me take some of my capable and experienced soldiers to the corner of the street to fend off Agrippa's large army. You take the group and retreat to the port first. ”

Klein said solemnly.

Seeing the truth in adversity, Appis suddenly sighed with emotion, but this is not the time for hypocrisy. After accepting Klein's suggestion, Apis took all the Praetorian Guards in the courtyard, along with Crassus Jr., to convey the order to retreat to each squad of the Legion.

The port, Agrippa did not have enough ships to blockade it, but again, the city of Tisdos was not a big city, and there were not enough ships to break through. Retreat there, simply because there is a tall theater, as long as the various entrances to the theater are sealed, it is difficult for people from outside to enter, plus the theater is large enough to accommodate thousands of people......