Brutus understands the feelings of the soldiers very well, but he also has his own helpless side, that is, this hopeless battle must be fought!

After three fierce battles in succession, losing no less than a thousand men, Brutus's distress and frustration reached its climax, and at the same time he received the news that Cassiyo himself had gone ashore near Corinth with a legion, and wanted to consult with him, either he would be stationed in his place, or Brutus would come closer to his zone or Athens.

The philosopher then summoned his subordinates, including the senior centurion, again at the meeting, and first admitted the failure of the attack on the city of Bugalotum, with the addition that "the desire of our army to occupy Epirus is impossible in the short term."

Brutus then asks everyone what to do now.

The construction of Cebaras and Calatafemius is the same as before, that is, after returning to the city of Athens to obtain supplies, he will cooperate with Cassius to go to the key islands of the Levant Sea and the Egyptian Sea, and prepare to sign an offensive and defensive alliance with the Parthian Empire, and suppress Syria as much as possible before Li Pida makes a move, and then advance to Egypt, as long as several of the legions left by Caesar in these two places are ambushed, relying on Egypt as a barn, and there can also be capital to compete with Li Pida.

"Why can't we make a detour to the region of Thessalia, copy Agrippa's back road, and induce him to come out in the field for a decisive battle?" Brutus still didn't give up.

But this idea was firmly blocked by his subordinates, who considered Thesaliado to be a barren mountainous area with rough roads that could not be kept up with supplies, and sat on its main roads. It belongs to the cities of Lisa, Salona and other cities in Illyria. It has a strong city defense armament. And wholeheartedly loyal to Caesar and Li Bida, if we go there rashly, we may fall into passivity, and we may be annihilated.

In addition, Synesis also stood up and said that their Aetolian cavalry had kept the covenant and the faith, and had been reinforcing Brutus for more than half a year, and it was impossible to continue to follow. Because in the spring of the following year, they need to plough their own gardens.

Feeling very embarrassed by the Allied demand, Brutus stood up and stretched out his arms to bid farewell to Synesis and his cavalry, and the young and vigorous Calatafemius also stood up and lashed out at the Aetolians with righteous indignation, saying, "The general often said to the soldiers, with you I will be invincible." But I wouldn't have achieved anything without you. Although spring farming is about to begin, the war is at a critical juncture in deciding victory or defeat. The 4,000 elite cavalry of your kingdom is our magic weapon for defeating the enemy, and now your Excellency wants to release them all into the village, is there anything more absurd than this? ”

"However, our kingdom and gardens are now tended only by children and women, and if we continue to engage in war, then even if we win, our homes will be completely deserted, and the people we have sworn to protect will starve to death." Synesis dodged Brutus' pleading gaze and said so with some guilt.

"Don't forget how Jì Lybida once treated the rebel cities in this region, he once sold thousands of citizens into slavery at once, and the Aetolian League is now on the side of the Republicans, so if we lose the cavalry and lose the decisive battle, you will not be spared after the war." Calatafermius struck his chest with his hand, looking extremely excited, "Why, we can sacrifice Athens, but you can't sacrifice the countryside in the mountains?" ”

"Is there any difference between the countryside and the city? In ancient times, you Athens had less to do at the expense of others! Why should we Aetolians bear this qiē? "Synesis, along with the cavalry captains of many tribes, were angry and dissatisfied with the accusations.

"Now we are in the same camp, either we will glory together, or we will perish together!"

Then, there was a fierce argument throughout the meeting, and finally Brutus blushed and shouted "Shut up!" This is difficult to imagine in the previous style, because Brutus had always practiced a democratic military system, and he was more like a fair and peaceful arbiter than a commander of an army, who would not force his subordinates to express their opinions, let alone force them to obey their views, and when he was really hesitant, he would adopt a voting procedure to solve the problem, and he would never impose his personal will.

But this time Brutus mourned, and he wept, "Why, why are the thieves like Caesar and Li Pida, who destroy the foundation of the republic and act arbitrarily in everything, be able to gather a strong army of iron and blood at any time, and most of the cities and villages are forced to accept their bribery, or are intimidated by their violence, and do not dare to rise up and resist at all." But as our camp was, and still is, where the best of virtue and the noblest of soul of the whole republic have gathered, but they have been defeated again and again, is it true that cunning and cruelty must run rampant in this world? In that case, I have nothing to save, I will not force any allies and subordinates to die for the sake of the idea, I always believe that the idea requires a high degree of consciousness to go to the burial, which is the most fundamental reason why it is higher than the world. So, my dearest friend of Synesis, give me a hug, and you should return to your homeland, and you will not have to follow me any further, step by step. ”

After saying that, Brutus lowered his head and stood motionless with tears in his eyes, slowly stretched out his arms, and then forced a smile, choked up at Synesis and said, "I think it is better to laugh and part at this moment, all the Aetolians take care, live well with the glory of the ancient state, as a Roman citizen who is also proud of the state, you can definitely understand your feelings." ”

As a result, Synesis froze there, and he refused to embrace Brutus, and then turned to all the tribal cavalry captains and said, "Although the Aetolian League has long since fallen, its glory and integrity must be preserved by us, and I hereby give orders in the name of the magistrate of the state that there are men in the army who have good families and can return at once with some packing and reward; And the single warriors, continue to fight with me, and I myself will not go back, and if the republic of Rome and my friends is destroyed, then I will keep my promise and no longer live in this world. With that, Synesis solemnly removed the laurel leaf from his helmet and handed it into the hands of his seventeen-year-old son, "Take it with you, and go back to your mother, saying that Synesis of the family of Mecamont in Aetolia has lived up to his promise and duty, and is about to be laid to rest on the battlefield elsewhere." (To be continued......)