Ancona, a port city in north-central Italy, Octavian entered the historic Roman city with the scarred Thirteenth Legion.

Did young Turinus ever think about the scene when he entered the city, where people would throw vicious words and curses? Or crowd yourself out, don't go into the city, and harm them. Or simply drive them out of the city and confine the city gates. However, to the order of Octavian. To Turinus's surprise, when he rode into the city on a blood-stained white horse, the people here did not cast disgusted glances or vicious words at him, and even received them warmly, even though they were defeated, and it was likely that the war would lead to the city.

"Tell me, Masinas, why are we so welcomed by the people here? We didn't do anything, and even, we brought the war here, and Apis would chase after it immediately. But the people here are so hospitable. ”

Octavian lay tired on his horse, and asked his young companion weakly.

"Maybe not because of anything else, but because you're Caesar. You have inherited the name of Caesar, which is what they thought of as Caesar. ”

Macinas sighed.

Looking at the enthusiastic people, delivering food and water, Octavian almost burst into tears. Once upon a time, his uncle Caesar had bequeathed to him his fortune and glory, and in his youth he was bent on maintaining his position and rebuilding Caesar's ideals, and the cheers of the people, the enthusiastic praise of the legions, and the loud cries of allegiance seemed to linger in his ears, but it was a very distant past.

"We should do something, yes, at least for the sake of the people here. They didn't abandon me. ”

Octavian looked at Masinus and said weakly. His ears recalled Caesar's care and advice to him. For a moment, he felt that it was too cowardly to give up like this, sorry for Caesar. For the first time in his life, Octavian felt lost and distressed. His will was on the verge of collapse, he felt as if he had done a lot wrong, too cruel to his friends, ruthless to his sister, he forced Octavia to marry Anthony, and in retrospect he really wasn't as good as a beast. Octavia used to love and care for herself so much. However, if Octavia was not married to Antony at that time, Antony may have entered Rome long ago. What the hell should I do? Octavian's heart was painful and entangled, everyone saw the cold and ruthless appearance of a king, but at this moment, Octavian's heart was tormented.

"Perhaps you can muster the legions of Sicily and Calabria, and there are still four permanent corps, plus all the forces that have been raised in northern Italy, and we can still fight Appis."

Macinus replied with a glimmer of hope.

"But even if we are transferred back to the Legion, we will not be able to supply such a large army."

Octavian's eyes darkened from joy to joy. He knew that even if the corps of Sicily and Calabria were withdrawn, the humble town of Ancona alone would not be able to supply such a large corps. Appis's next step was to occupy Castoni, Perugia, and Campania, where Italy's granaries were located.

…………

Glory? Proud? Flowers and cheers?

No, none of that, and when Appis entered the city of Rome with the victorious legions, the city didn't seem too unusual and noisy. For the people of Rome, they just changed their masters, but Appis's policy was more inclined to the proletarians and the plebeians, so some of the impoverished commoners took to the streets to welcome Apis's entry into the city, while more people stood on both sides of the streets, "looking" at the new masters of Rome. They craved more tangible benefits than hypocritical triumphal ceremonies and celebrations, for civil wars were not a glorious affair, and they killed Romans, not foreigners.

The aristocrats whispered in the corners of the streets, planning and calculating the impact on Apis's arrival in the city. Will he kill the rich nobles and rob them of their wealth, as Anthony did, or will he be like Caesar, and treat the people gently. Whether the new policy is good or bad for them. These are the questions they ponder. Of course, there are also nobles who have been preparing for a long time, and when Apis entered the city, they took the initiative to establish a relationship with the new master of Rome, after all, the old forces and alliances have long been consolidated, and they cannot climb the high branches of Octavian, and Apis is a new opportunity and possibility for them.

"It's been a long time since I've seen Octavia, and I'm deeply guilty about your brother. But there is no help. ”

After entering the city, Apis did not stay long in front of the people, and rushed directly to Octavian's house, where his wife, sister, and mother were also there. In fact, Apis knew that the Battle of the Arua River, despite Octavian's disastrous defeat, was not really over as long as he was alive. Octavian was none other than Caesar's heir, and for Appis, just inheriting Caesar's name, Octavian was an endless heir. For this reason, until Octavian is completely resolved, the celebration feast and the triumphal ceremony are all forms of nothingness, meaningless and worthless. For now, Octavian's family must be found, including Octavia and Attia, if the matter is to be resolved once and for all. This is also the reason why Attia knew for a long time that Apis would come to the door.

"I know that it is impossible for the City of Seven Hills to accommodate two masters, but, do you really want to let my brother go?"

Octavia asked melancholy, dismissing the servants left and right. In his heart, he believed in Apis, but he also believed in his mother.

"Yes, he is your own brother after all, and if he can, I still hope that Turinus can live the rest of his life peacefully."

"Conditions, Appis, tell me your conditions. We've been friends for so long. ”

Octavia said, her eyes blurred, she remembered that back then, Appis was even her lover for a time, but the man in front of her became more and more strange. There was the same coldness and cunning in his eyes as Turinus.

"As long as he renounces the name of Caesar. If he renounces the name of Caesar, I can reunite him with you and arrange a luxurious villa and manor house for your family in Rome or Capua. We can even be neighbors. I've heard that Tereus and Nevia have a good relationship. Alas, if it really could, it would be great. ”

Appis sighed.

"Did you ask Lilia about this? Does she agree too? ”

Octavia asked.

"Yes, I asked her, and she would. I know you want to, and you want that to end up like this. Live like a normal person. It's just that your mother doesn't want to. ”

"What did she say?"

"She told me that there was only one Caesar in Rome, and told me not to try to make useless attempts."

Appis said.

"My mother has always been like this, but as she said, Turinus is really difficult to convince, his character is the same as yours, perseverance and perseverance, he will not give up this name, that is his life......"

Octavia sighed.

And for such an answer, Apis actually expected it, in fact, he had been fighting Octavian for many years, and he had long known the boy's character. Appis knew that Octavian would not surrender and would not admit defeat, so he found Lilia and Octavia and asked them to talk to Octavian, the real purpose was not to persuade Octavian to surrender and accept the peace agreement, but to know that Octavian would not surrender, and to ask someone to propose a peace agreement, so that he would have a reasonable reason to attack him again, at least morally. It was you, Octavian, who brought the war to the people of Rome, not me, Appis.

The city of Ancona would eventually be reduced to a sea of fire, and Appis could imagine that day in his heart......