How insignificant is that which makes a man curse or uplift with a desire for praise!

- Horace (founder and founder of Roman classicism)

After the other four had left, Oscar sighed, then got up and took out two bottles of red wine from the cabinet in the conference room; After uncorking the bottle, Oscar sat down next to Marcus, who was still blank, and handed him a bottle of red wine. Marcus mechanically took the red wine handed over by Oscar, and drank it directly at the head of his head.

This made Oscar, who originally planned to drink with Marcus, embarrassed to withdraw his right hand holding the red wine, and also drank it with his head raised like Marcus; A bottle of red wine isn't much, but it's not too little. However, it was nothing for Marcus, who was active in various banquets in the city of Rome all year round; However, it was enough to give Oscar a headache.

Seeing Marcus's unfinished look, Oscar put down the empty bottle in his hand, and said to Marcus in a rare way: "Second brother, I already know about my father and eldest brother; Since they chose to leave the hope of life to you, they did not want you to live for yourself, but for the future of the Maxentius family.

Do you think they love you so much that they give you the chance to live? No, they think you can endure the pain of living alone for the sake of the Maxentius family, so they leave you with the chance to live! My father is already old, isn't it good to leave the simple things to him? The eldest brother knows that he can't bear such pain and suffering, isn't it right to choose a more relaxed way?

Second brother, each of us is not born to enjoy rights, we should be prepared to dedicate ourselves to the family while enjoying the rights brought by the family; Let's not talk about others for the time being, just take me as an example. Is the rise of our House of Augustus really smooth sailing? And I, Oscar myself, am I really that genius? ”

Oscar's two self-deprecating questions in a row finally caught Marcus' attention, and Marcus didn't understand why Oscar was turning the subject to himself; Therefore, Marcus also looked at Oscar with doubtful eyes. At this point, Oscar is not just consoling Marcus, but also continuing with his own catharsis:

"First of all, we Augustus family, second brother, you people who were born into the four major families will never understand the survival rules of our families. Our family has been loyal to the Maxentius family for 200 years, and has always been a vassal of the Maxentius family, shedding blood and tears for the Maxentius family's birth and death.

When our Augustan family was just coming to the city of Rome, the support of the Maxentius family did play a vital role in the development and growth of our Augustan family; But isn't what we give back to the Maxentius family enough? Generations of leaders of our House of Augustus have died on the battlefield for the Maxentius family, and countless people of the House of Augustus have paid silently for you.

But what do we get in exchange for all this? Second brother, in all fairness, did the Maxentius family really trust our Augustus family? Did you devise a conspiracy against us when our House Augustus was in a downturn? Either way, thankfully we of the Augustans survived; And get stronger and stronger.

Later, as our family of Augustus grew stronger, the people and nobles of Rome gradually began to know our family of Augustus, and the prestige of our family in the city of Rome and even in the entire Latin province also increased; At this time, the two families of our two families also began to really move towards detachment.

Because you are afraid, you are afraid that our House Augustus will become Gabriel and Ulles, and you are afraid that our House Augustus will become a threat to you; Therefore, you attack us everywhere and suppress us everywhere. We, the House of Augustus, will continue to serve you, and at the same time, we will always be on guard against the dark sword that you stab from behind!

Second brother, isn't this what your Maxentius family did about these things? Well, now that these things are in the past, we don't want to mention them anymore; After all, our House of Augustus and the Maxentius family are still the closest allies. No matter how many schemes you have had against us; In the end, it wasn't implemented, was it?

Second brother, you Chinese New Year's Eve a year old today; At the age of thirty-one, you lost your father, lost everything in your family, and ushered in the worst crisis in your family's history. And me? I just turned twenty last year, and when I was twenty years old, I lost my father and the legion on which my family depended; Did I have more than you did at that time?

Moreover, second brother, you should know better than I do about the strange situation in Rome after my father's death; You know better than I do how many families and how many forces are plotting against my Augustus! But what about the result? Am I scared? Am I defeated by these intrigues and schemes? I didn't!

The inside story of the Conquest of Sardinia, as you all know, the so-called famous Carthaginian general is nothing more than a centurion who has been suddenly promoted; I just picked up a cheap lucky one. Even this Sardinia, which I took from the jaws of the Julius family; The Maxentius family, which is also one of the four major families, should know this.

In terms of suffering, the Augustians experienced far more than the Maxentius; In terms of setbacks, the Augustians suffered more than the Maxentius; In terms of pain, I Oscar received more than you Marcus; When it comes to confusion, I, Oscar, know less than you Marcus. Second brother, there is no reason for you to sink like this; Because we are all the only bearers of the responsibility of family revival. ”

Oscar was drunk, maybe because he drank too much red wine, or maybe because Oscar needed to be so drunk; In short, Oscar was drunk and said too many things to Marcus that should not be put on the table, and also said too many grievances about himself and his family. Looking at the tears in the corners of Oscar's eyes, Marcus also sighed and didn't know how to speak!

Oscar didn't give Marcus a chance to speak, but continued to himself: "Second brother, do you think I didn't feel uncomfortable and painful when I heard that my father died on the battlefield? Do you think that when I silently bear the burden of the whole family alone, I am not bitter and tired?

But what can I do? I am my father's eldest son, the irreplaceable heir of the House of Augustus; From the moment I was born, I was given the right to inherit and lead the family. This is my right and my obligation; I can't run away from it, and I can't run away from it!

Today, the old Maxentius family is dead; Your father and eldest brother died in battle, fighting for the family. Shouldn't you stand up and take up the responsibility of the family and work for the new Maxentius family? Marcus, you are the proudest son of your father; Shouldn't you let your father be at ease in Heaven? ”

These two questions of Oscar shook Marcus's heart greatly, and he suddenly realized that he was too cowardly; Yes, if you can't revive the Maxentius family, then what's the point of your own survival? Even what Oscar did when he was only twenty years old, why can't he see through it at his age?

Marcus, who has figured it out, seems to have regained his vitality; The eyes are not as dull as before, but full of wisdom again! Looking at Oscar, who was still looking at him, Marcus ignored Oscar's drunken appearance; also said to Oscar seriously:

"Oscar, thank you for waking up today; In the past two hundred years, you Augustus have served us Maxentius for two hundred years, and we Maxentius have many things to be sorry for you. For the next two hundred years, let us Maxentius serve you Augustus; May you accept our family's allegiance.

We, the Maxentius, have lost everything that we have in Rome, but we still have a great deal of wealth that no one knows and a fleet that is strong enough; In addition to this, I, Marcus, myself will be a loyal allegiance to you! And all I ask for is that the House of Augustus may help us to take revenge; Hang Marius only.

From now on, we, the House of Maxentius, will be loyal vassals of the House of Augustus; I hope Oscar can give our Maxentius family a chance to survive! ”

After Marcus finished speaking, he looked at Oscar intently, hoping that Oscar could give him an affirmative answer; Oscar laughed and stood up, patted Marcus on the shoulder with his hand and promised, "Good! From now on, the Maxentius family is the most important vassal family of our Augustan family!

As long as we Augustus have a bite to eat, I will not miss that bite of your Maxentius; As for the hanging of Marius, it must be! Even if you don't make this request, I'll hang Marius with my own hands in the future; However, since you brought it up. Second brother, I will give you the head of Marius; When the time comes, I will let you hang him with your own hands! ”

With that, Oscar staggered out of the conference room and headed for the deck outside; Marcus didn't say anything more, but went back to the room Anne had arranged for him. After watching Marcus walk away, Oscar stood on the deck and smiled meaningfully at Marcus's back; There is no drunken appearance at all! (To be continued.) )