"But what if the ship is caught in a storm at sea, or captured by pirates? The journey from here to Greece is long and long, and it takes a month for a small boat to reach Greece, even if it is downwind. The information reached Anthony, and it would take at least another month for Anthony to send troops over. Moreover, we still consider the situation that everything is going well. ”

The old mayor Krucinas said anxiously.

"So what do you mean? Did he want to abandon the city and surrender to Appis? ”

Aquinus saw the old city magistrate's worries and fears, and he loudly questioned the frail old city magistrate, trying to threaten and intimidate him.

"No, I wouldn't have that idea. I'm just reminding you that we are in a terrible situation and you have to figure it out as soon as possible. ”

Old Crucinus's vicissitudes of life showed a sad expression. He witnessed the civil war between Caesar and Pompey, and now, he is about to experience another internal conflict and vicious struggle among the Romans.

…………

"You're saying you're willing to surrender to me? As long as I keep your family? ”

Two days later, still wearing a black cloak, old Crusinus sneaked out of the city, reported the situation in the city to Apis, and expressed his willingness to submit to Apis and accept the leadership of Roman orthodoxy.

"Yes, I do. In fact, many people in the city were willing, but they were occupied and controlled by Anthony's henchmen, and we were unarmed and had no right to resist opposition. You know, Lord Appis. ”

Crucinas bowed his head and stated.

"Yes, of course I do, so I'm not going to destroy the city."

Appis pretended to be pondering for a moment, then continued—

"Dear Municipality Krusinas, in this way, I accept your surrender and promise to protect your family and property. But you have to promise me one condition. Don't stay here, go back now, pretend never to be here, and bring someone to open the gates for me tonight. Let my army rush in. I will strangle all the thugs under Anthony and keep you safe. ”

"No, no, no, that's too dangerous!"

When Appis finished speaking, Krusinas was shocked. He did have the ability to secretly open the gates of the city, with his connections and powers. However, it was too dangerous to do so, and if Aquinus found out, he and his family would be murdered before Aquinus could enter the city. Everyone seeks to protect themselves.

"But that's the only option, friend. If not, my soldiers will die, they will die in the siege, they will shed blood. I don't want any more Romans to die in this war. Your Excellency Crussy, the lives of the city's 30,000 inhabitants are in your hands, and you must take care of this matter. After that, you will still be the mayor of Lilli, and you can even become the governor of Sicily. ”

Repying Krusinus's timidity, Apis tempted the old city consul to take a risk with his official position.

"Well, then I'll try, and in three days the eastern gate of Lilibal will be opened. Your Excellency, you and your soldiers are ready to enter the city from there. Make sure I'm safe when you enter the city, General. ”

Under the coercion and temptation of Apis, Crusinas finally agreed to Apis's request. Then, with a sad face, he returned to the town to which he was extremely reluctant to return.

…………

"Honorable Municipality Officer Krusinas, where have you been in the past half a day? I have consulted with you about something, but I can't find you. Your men say that you have left the city and taken refuge in Appis. But I didn't believe it, so I took someone to your house. ”

In the evening, when Krusinas cautiously returned to the mansion, he found that it was already full of Aquinus's people. Although they were not wearing armor, from the disdain and resentment in their eyes, Krusinas already sensed that something was wrong. Coupled with the fact that Aquinus said that he had brought someone to his house, a sense of foreboding arose in Krusinas's heart.

"I ......"

"No need to explain, Your Excellency. You disappointed me so much, I originally regarded you as a comrade-in-arms, a friend, and a partner I could trust. And you betrayed me. As I told you, Anthony will be sending reinforcements in a month's time. But you don't believe that, well, since you and I are different, then you are my enemy, the enemy of the great consul Mark Antony. ”

Aquinus said, clapping his hands. Immediately, several heavily armed Roman soldiers brought Crucinas' wife and daughter into the hall. They were wounded and had apparently been dragged and beaten.

"Damn it! Beast! What do you want to do? It's my own decision, it's none of their business! ”

Krucinas understood everything, and he shouted and scolded Aquinus for being a lackey. But without military power, resistance is useless. Several Roman soldiers drew their daggers and rested their blades on the neck of Crusinas' wife.

A woman over fifty looked at her husband with tears of sorrow.

"No!"

Crucinas shouted and rushed over to snatch the blade from his wife's neck, but was kicked to the ground by a nearby soldier. Then, under the terrified and desperate gaze of Crusinus, the Roman GI slit the woman's throat with a short sword. In an instant, blood poured out of the cut wound. Krusinas's wife fell silently, in a pool of her own blood.

"You devil! Aquinus, thou hast slain all the inhabitants of the city of Lili, and thou hast slain my wife. Is that how Anthony treats his people?! It's nothing but a demon in human skin! ”

Enraged, Crusinus uncontrollably accuses Aquinus and the people of the city of misdeeds. But Aquinus did not heed his hysteria.

"I've officially taken over the city now, Krusinas, go to Hades and meet your wife and daughter."

With that, Aquinus gave the guards around him a look, and the two GIs grabbed Krusinas' young daughter and stabbed her in the throat with a sword. The poor girl lay beside her mother, bleeding all over the ground.

Then two GIs stepped forward and, like chickens, grabbed the aged Krusinas, and pierced him in the back with a sword, the tip of which pierced from the lower abdomen, dripping with blood.

After the betrayal of Crusinus, Aquinus monitored the city's entry and exit more closely. Even the entrance to the sewers was locked, and the guards patrolled the city streets every day, turning Lili, in a day, into an eerie prison.

In order to resist the siege of Apis, Aquinus also restricted the diet of the city's residents, and each family could only receive a small bag of beans and flour per day, while the women could only receive the same food, and the children did not have a share. If you want to be fed, then you should join the army. In the city, there are complaints......