"Tell me, Klein, if you were me, how would I transport such a large legion in the shortest possible time, and, bypassing the enemy's defenses, and cutting into their lair when they are unprepared?"

In the temporary headquarters of the legion, Appis asked, dressed in military uniform, standing in front of the huge Roman world map, frowning.

"I can't think of it, brother, you have the strongest brain, tell me what you think."

Crane sat on a wooden chair inside the tent and replied leisurely. After many years of fighting, Appis's subordinates have become accustomed to the commander giving orders, and it is good to carry them out on their own, and they don't even bother to think about why they are like this, why they are like that. Klein was the same, although at this time, he was Appis's most important assistant.

"I'd like to hear your thoughts and get rid of your damn bottle."

Appis asked solemnly. This old buddy of mine sits on a chair and drinks wine, and he really doesn't look like a soldier who is about to go to war.

"Well, if I were you, I would advance along the coastline, approach Italy, rescue Crassus the Younger, and then occupy Perugia and master the region of Castoni, which has numerous grain fields and estates to provide sufficient food and grass for the legions. Then march to Rome. ”

After being reprimanded by Appis, Carlein's expression became serious, he put down the wine glass in his hand, walked to the large map, and expressed his opinion "rigorously".

"Well, it seems that everyone thinks that way."

Appis said, sighing with emotion.

"So, are we going to do the same next?"

"No, not down this path, brother. We will depart from Marseille and take a fleet to Sardinia, after which I will send a small force to march along the route you have spoken of, to confuse Octavian. Let him think that we will attack Perugia. ”

"Aren't we going to attack there?"

Klein asked.

"Yes, this strategic objective is too obvious, and what we can think of, Octavian must have thought of as well, and he will definitely hold on there with heavy troops. If we storm this fortress at this time, it will inevitably take several months, which will make it more difficult for the legion to supply supplies and food. So, we don't attack from there. I'm going to go by sea. ”

Appis took the glass Crane had placed on the table, took a sip, and then continued—

"It is summer, and the sea is relatively calm and free of waves, so we can seize the opportunity to start from Sardinia and go south to occupy the port of Ostia on the outskirts of Rome, which is the choke point of Rome's foreign trade and the mouth of the Tiber to the sea. From there, we landed and then approached the city of Rome by boat. ”

"Sounds exciting, brother, but I'm thinking about the fact that Rome is the heart of Italy, and Octavian can't stay in Rome without a single force. In that case, we also underestimate his strength, although he is young, but he is not a fool. ”

After listening to Appis's narration, Klein was excited, originally thought that it would take at least half a year or a whole year to enter the city of Rome, but now, listening to Appis's plan, it seems that he does not intend to fight a protracted war and a war of attrition, but wants to fight a quick victory. It's just that Rome, as the capital of the empire and the heart of Italy, could never have given up Rome's defense in order to stop Abys's legions, which was putting the cart before the horse.

"Yes, Octavian was not a fool, but militarily he was not a genius either. Our siege of Rome is only a feint, just a façade. My real purpose was to bring him back to Rome. Then, we ambushed them halfway. Now it seems that Octavian may not be fooled, but he does not have excellent generals around him, and in the face of the crisis, not everyone can calm down, even if Octavian is not willing to believe that we are besieging Rome, and is not willing to easily withdraw a large army, but his men, including his relatives and his cronies, will persuade him to go back. This is like when Caesar and Pompey fought a decisive battle, in fact, Pompey didn't want to send troops to a decisive battle, he just wanted to drag Caesar to death in his own territory, but Caesar actually seduced the arrogant and uneducated senators in the Senate. At that time, Pompey was under pressure from many sides and disturbed by various voices, and finally decided to attack, which led to the later Battle of Falthas. And my situation today is the same as that of Caesar back then, fighting in a foreign land, food, grass and supplies are a big problem, and only by fighting quickly can I have a chance of winning. ”

Appis took a sip of wine and continued.

"Sounds great, but there's a catch."

"You say."

"If Octavian, I mean if, if Octavian is determined not to come back to Rome, then what are we going to do? Waiting to die on a ship? No matter how smooth the supply line is, it will be difficult to ensure the daily ration of 60,000 soldiers. ”

Klein asked solemnly.

"Then we will attack Rome. This time, it's the real offense. The soldiers had no way out, so they would brave death and attack the city. You know, they still have the principal and the 30% interest with me. As long as I'm not dead, they have hope of getting the money. But once I died, they had nowhere to redeem the money. When the time comes, I will take the lead in charging and besieging the city, and the soldiers will definitely follow me in the charge and attack the city, because they cannot watch me die. Their morale will be high. ”

Appis returned with a smile.

"That's one of the purposes for which you borrowed money?"

Crane was speechless, and Mu Ne asked rhetorically.

"Yes. Sort of. ”

……

"Well, then, if everything goes according to your plan, what about little Crassus? He helped us hold Octavian's six legions in Arettion, so should we just leave him alone? ”

After listening to Appis's whole set of plans, Klein still disagreed, and he remembered the little Crassus, who was far away in Italy. A month earlier, the richest man in Gaul had arrived in northern Italy with three of his infantry regiments to support Aletion. And now, after listening to Abys's plan, it seems that he has no intention of supporting this army.

"It's not that you don't care about him, it's that you can't take care of it all. Don't worry, little Crassus will not fall for a while and a half, he and I have fought side by side on the battlefield for many years, I know his ability and character, he will not compromise with Octavian, and he will not be unable to stop Octavian's army, three legions, enough to hold on to Aletine for three months, three months, we can march to the city of Rome, when the time comes, Octavian will lead the army back to help, which is equivalent to relieving the siege of Little Crassus. ”

Appis replied blandly. Crane was speechless again......