Humility is not cowardice.

- Horace (founder and founder of Roman classicism)

When the outline of the Apennine Peninsula appeared before the eyes of the entire fleet, Oscar knew that Rome had finally arrived; Anne and Seok-su knew the same. It's just that, compared to Oscar's deep feelings, Anne and Shi Xiu's hearts are cautious; First, Anne ordered the formation of the main fleet to shrink, and then Shi Xiu also sailed directly in front of the main fleet with all the escort fleets.

After Oscar found out about Annie and Shi Xiu's arrangement, he didn't say anything; After all, the identity of returning to Rome this time is no longer the same, and the Augustan family has truly become a super family that is not inferior to the major families in Rome, and the meaning of Oscar and the Augustan family is also completely different.

In fact, when Oscar first came to this world, he lived in the city of Rome, which is the city of Rome itself; At that time, the Augustan family was in an unprecedented crisis and downturn for the family, and the slightest carelessness could be in danger of being overturned. If it weren't for the strong support of the Maxentius family at that time, perhaps Oscar would not have even had a chance to revive the Augustan family.

No matter what kind of mentality the Maxentius family had to help the Augustan family, and no matter what kind of intrigues and tricks the Maxentius family had when they helped the Augustan family; From this point of view alone, Oscar still has to thank the Maxentius family, especially Marcus.

Even the House of Augustus later survived the storm and took Sardinia, the overseas province of the Kingdom of Carthage; During this period, he also greatly benefited from the support of the Maxentius family. Then came the outbreak of the Third Punic War; The Battle of Lili. The main Roman army was lost. The Augustus family and the Oscars were able to rise. It also relies on the full support of the Maxentius family.

Even Oscar's rise to power in Sardinia was fueled by the Maxentius family; Moreover, when Oscar governed Sardinia, he also received the support of the Maxentius family in all aspects. Not to mention the rest, just for immigration, Oscar and the Augustus family owe the Maxentius family a great favor.

Oscar was never ungrateful, no matter how many agreements and agreements the Augustians had with the Maxentius, and no matter how many plans the Maxentius family had against the Augustus; In all fairness. The relationship between the two families has almost always been that of the Maxentius family helping the Augustus.

This is like the original covenant between Oscar and Decius, Oscar obtained a lot of extremely favorable conditions for the Augustus family by agreeing to help the Maxentius family raise an elite army; Don't say that the Maxentius family has any conspiracy, you must know that Oscar's own idea at that time was to secretly control this legion belonging to the Maxentius family!

Later, with the change of the situation in Rome, this legion originally cultivated by the Augustan family for the Maxentius family officially became the legion of the Augustan family; No matter how much effort the Maxentius family has put in for this legion and how much benefit they have given to the Augustus family, this legion alone is enough to make the Augustus family grateful.

Therefore, from beginning to end, Oscar still felt guilty about the Maxentius family; There is no emotion between countries and between families. There is no distinction between friends and enemies, and there are only eternal interests. But. This is not the case between people; Human beings have feelings, even if reason triumphs over emotions, the existence of emotions is undeniable.

Why did Oscar bother with supporting the Maxentius family? Why did Oscar convene a military council to get the generals to negotiate whether or not to support the Maxentius family? All this was for the benefit of the House of Augustus; Even now that Oscar has arrived in the Latin Province with his fleet, it is unknown exactly how he will act.

But all this happened without affecting Oscar's gratitude to the Maxentius family; It's just that the family interests of the Augustan family override this buried gratitude. Of course, if something really happened to the Maxentius family; Those two children who are still in Sardinia, Oscar will definitely ensure that they will enjoy glory and wealth for the rest of their lives!

Especially Marcus's second son, Gaius, relied on Marcus's help to the Augustus family and Marcus's care for Oscar himself; Oscar had already decided in his heart that once something happened to Marcus, this child would definitely become a member of the Augustus family in the future, and the title would be at least a marquis, which was Oscar's gratitude to Marcus!

Of course, it's too early to talk about this, and it's still unclear who will kill the deer in Rome; If the Maxentius family succeeded in suppressing Marius's rebellion, although it was not the most favorable situation for the Augustus family, at least Oscar would be more willing to accept such an outcome.

As Oscar stood on the deck and his thoughts were flying, the entire fleet kept moving forward; The outlines of the Apennine Peninsula became clearer, and the ports of the Latin provinces came into view of the fleet. When the lookout saw the Latin port, the whole fleet began to prepare for battle in secret; After all, no one knows what lies ahead.

Oscar's main fleet slowly changed to a new formation under Anne's orders, and ten transports with no combat effectiveness were concentrated in the center of the fleet, and very densely packed into a small area; Four triremes with the Anne as the core opened the way in front of the transport, and the flanks of the transports were flanked by two twin warships captured by pirates.

The combat readiness of Shi Xiu's escort fleet was more obvious, and Kidd's Quedav Merchant and Roberts's Royal Happiness were placed on the two flanks, each commanding two triremes and two twinships; Shi Xiu himself led six triremes and six twinships in the center, and the entire fleet sailed at normal speed and fully armed to the Latin port.

Less than twenty minutes from the port of Rader, an unusually large fleet slowly appeared in front of Shi Xiu from the right side of the port; At the same time, a fleet of not weak forces slowly sailed out to the left side of the port! The targets of these two fleets turned out to be the fleet of the Augustan family, and Shi Xiu immediately ordered his battleships to be ready for battle, and ordered the emergency horn to be sounded.

In fact, Shi Xiu could have done without ordering the emergency horn to be sounded; Because the lookout on the Anne also spotted the two fleets when they appeared, and immediately reported the emergency to Anne and Oscar. When Anne learned that an enemy might be coming, she immediately gave the order to prepare for battle; Oscar, on the other hand, interrupted Anne's order and told Anne to calm down.

In addition, Oscar also ordered the flag bearer on the Anne to convey his instructions to Shi Xiu: the incoming ship may not be an enemy, just pay attention to vigilance, and there is no need to take the initiative to attack; Immediately send an emissary to identify the other party and observe the other party's performance. Why was Oscar able to command Anne and Shixiu so in such a desperate manner? Just look at Mary's expression.

Both Oscar and Mary knew that the only possible fleet near the Latin province at this time was the fleet of the Maxentius family; If there is one fleet that is likely to appear, it must be the fleet privately organized by the Richard family. Outside of these two, the emergence of other fleets is not very likely.

The fleet of the Julius family is not weak, but the Julius family has not had the time and energy to participate in the battles in Rome lately, and their fleet even cruises the open sea of Gaul outside the mountains; The Brutus family's fleet is stronger, but the Brutus family's main enemies are now the kingdom of Epirus and the Greek city-states, and they will not be involved in these things.

In addition, the fleet of the Maxentius family has never been touched by Marius, which Oscar has investigated and understood clearly since Anthony and Oscar had a secret conversation last year; Therefore, in the event of a major change in the city of Rome, the only thing that could remain vigilant outside the Latin port was the fleet of the Maxentius family.

Moreover, Oscar is certain that this fleet, which belongs to the Maxentius family, also has absolute loyalty to the Maxentius family; Otherwise, Decius would have noted this in the letter of request for help. Otherwise, if the fleet of the Maxentius family defected; So what's the point of the Augustus fleet?

Therefore, Oscar and Mary were sure that the two fleets that appeared in front of them were either the fleets of the Maxentius family, or the fleets of the Maxentius family and Richard's fleet. Although Shi Xiu didn't understand why Oscar gave such an order, she still faithfully carried out Oscar's order; Two twin battleships with messengers quickly sailed out of formation and headed forward.

The twin battleships with messengers were not hit by any fleet, they were after the appearance of their identity; Soon, the two fleets reacted, and they began to wave flags at the Shixiu and Anne on their respective flagships. They were indeed the fleets of the Maxentius and Richards, who were ordered to wait here; And ask to be incorporated into the Oscar fleet!

Instead of blindly agreeing to the merger of their fleet into his own fleet, Oscar made a new request for the commanders of the two fleets to come to the Anne to discuss matters. If they come directly, then there is no problem; If they reject this prevarication, it is worth pondering. Fortunately, they agreed directly; Soon, two twin battleships were coming in the direction of the Anne! (To be continued.) )