"Anthony, do you have a new plan? These days, you always look out the window at the blue sea, and tell me, what are you thinking? Octavian's olive branch? Or Apis far north? ”

In the splendid Ptolemaic palace of Alexandria, Antony sat on the windowsill and watched the dense ships anchored in this huge harbor. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 Info Cleopatra walked over, holding two bottles of high-quality wine from Cyrene, and asked what Antony was thinking.

"Neither, I thought, maybe it's time to start a war and keep my soldiers."

Antony took the high-strength wine from Cleopatra and drank it as if it were a drink. Then he opened his mouth and said. His eyebrows were furrowed together, like a contemplative. Cleopatra hadn't seen this Roman general like this for a long time, and the last time he had seen Antony like this was on the eve of Caesar's assassination.

"Start a war? Where do you want to attack? Italy? Rome? ”

Cleopatra asked in surprise, because the original plan of Antony and himself was to wait until Apis and Octavian were miserable, and then take the opportunity to attack Rome itself. But now, is Antony going to attack the vigorous Octavian in advance? The young man of Rome, who wore the title of Caesar's heir, still had ten elite legions.

"No, neither. My soldiers have been rioting, complaining about me, talking about me, and even betraying me! This is something I can't stand it. Therefore, I must wage a war against Parthia, the sworn enemy of the Republic. ”

Anthony said sullenly.

Parthian ...... That kingdom in the desert. ”

Cleopatra was no stranger to the country, and even had a brief stint with Parthia when she left Egypt to form an army as a young man. Cleopatra shared Antony's disgust at the growing kingdom.

"Yes, the expedition to Parthia can bring me endless honor and prestige. Know why? ”

Anthony continued.

"Because the conquest of Parthia was Caesar's last wish, and you want to win the respect of those soldiers? Or tell them that you are the one who truly honors Caesar's last wishes. ”

Antony's question did not stump Cleopatra at all, on the contrary, the clever woman quickly figured out why. In fact, it is not difficult to guess that Antony made a statement after defeating Brutus that he wanted to conquer Parthia, and many of Caesar's veterans were willing to stay with him because they saw Antony's ambition. It was only when Antony entered Egypt and settled in Alexander's palace that there was no news that the soldiers felt a loss of honor. At this time, it was indeed a wise choice to conquer Parthia while Octavian and Apis were still at war.

"My women have always been so smart. You know, you're like a black pearl, a gem in this desert. Exudes infinite light and charm. ”

Anthony said, hugging Cleopatra's slender waist with a sinister smile. A pair of large hands had roamed freely over the body of the Egyptian queen.

"Tell me, what kind of assistance do you want me to provide?"

With a charming smile, Cleopatra gently parted Antony's restless salty pig hand and asked softly.

"As always, food, gold, and your auxiliaries."

After being stretched out by Cleopatra, Antony did not continue to move, but turned to a serious tone. In fact, when it comes to military operations, this man is always the most serious. Antony could have been indifferent in the management of internal affairs and economic operations, and to put it mildly, but when it came to military affairs, legions, and other matters, this sturdy, strong Roman general always became serious and serious. The battlefield is his home.

"These are easy to satisfy. Tell me, how long have you been preparing for this war? ”

Cleopatra readily agreed to all of Antony's requests. Then he asked about this seemingly inconsequential but very sensitive topic. Because Anthony had not revealed to him a single detail of the preparations for war before that. In other words, about the military command of the Roman legions, Antony still firmly grasped it in his own hands, even to his pillow lover, did not reveal half of it. This reminds Cleopatra of Caesar, and the queen has a fear that what Caesar did back then will be repeated in Antony. At the same time, Cleopatra's wireless lust for power leads her to constantly try to control Antony, including his mind.

"How long? No, not too long, my sweetheart, would you believe it if I told you that it took me only three months to prepare for this war? ”

Anthony said with a smile.

"Three months? You're kidding, Anthony, it's not just three months to assemble the legions, not to mention that you have to go to the eastern tribes to ask them to send allies to fight together, the war against Parthia is a big war, and all the allies must be mobilized to fight, which will take at least two months. It will also take at least half a month for the legion to depart from Alexandria and go to Syria, and all this preparation adds up to three months is completely insufficient. I guess the great General Mark Anthony has been preparing for this battle for half a year. ”

Cleopatra said with a sly and charming smile. She was like a poisonous snake, constantly entwining with Anthony and testing him.

Anthony understood what it meant, but he didn't bother to pay attention to the queen's desires and serpent's heart. For Antony, no matter how smart Cleopatra was and how eager she was for power, she would never have been able to control the Roman legions. That's a fool's dream. More often than not, Antony just pretended not to know, taking advantage of the rich grain of the Nile Delta and the lucrative trade profits of Alexandria while taking advantage of the rich grain produced by the Nile Delta. Used in the service of the Roman legions.

They are like political partners, and like lingering lovers.

"My Queen, I can't hide anything from you. Indeed, I have been preparing for this war for five months. The mobilization of the three corps in Asia Minor and northern Thrace, the mobilization of the Armenians for the war, well, five months was more than enough. When the summer is over, we will be able to enter Parthian territory with our mighty army, and the route of Crassus will no longer be taken, and I will go from the mountains to the Parthian capital. The sword will pierce the heart, like a warrior who slays a lion. ”

Anthony laughed to himself as he spoke.