Whether happy or painful, don't let the turmoil disturb your soul, because the soul is the one who guides and governs.

- Marcus Aurelius (the only philosopher-emperor in Western history)

Vimina's information was sent back to Carthage in just one day, and the Senate immediately convened a meeting of the Senate in which all the Senators participated; At the meeting, the senators of the Senate carefully analyzed the current situation and the contrast of strength on the Western Front and the Southern Front, and finally decided to recall Hannibal. For the senators now also felt that the new men and generals of Carthage alone could not match the attack of Numidia with all the strength of the nation; Who made the territory of Carthage always scattered, this is also the dispersion of strength!

As soon as the decision was made, the Senate sent heralds to Sicily on warships to recall Hannibal and his legions; Of course, this Hannibal's return is not a gray return, but a Carthaginian hero who returned from victory and rescue. Therefore, the senators of the Senate have basically tacitly acquiesced to all the privileges after Hannibal's return; The heralds brought not only the order to recall Hannibal, but also the new appointment of Hannibal, the nominal supreme power of the Carthaginian kingdom, the consul.

Hannibal was also the consul of Carthage for two years, but was sent to Sicily by the senators of the Senate under the pretext of supporting Sicily; Keeping Hannibal as consul this time was completely different from the last time. In the past, when Hannibal was consul, the senators not only did not hand over the Carthaginian military power that should have been given to the consul; Even the financial power of the Carthaginian kingdom and the power to appoint and dismiss officials, all the powers that should have belonged to the consuls, were not handed over to Hannibal.

This time Hannibal was recalled as consul, and not only the entire army of Carthage would be unified under Hannibal's command; Even all the power of the Carthage lands will be in the hands of Hannibal alone. In other words, Hannibal will become the true uncrowned king of Carthage when he returns to Carthage this time; The whole of Carthage, including the Senate, will be subjugated to Hannibal's command, and who knows whether this will be a blessing or a curse?

While the envoys were on their way to Sicily day and night, Zuguta was also leading his army towards Carthage; Vimina in the province of Baisasion in Carthage was also training the newly formed Himika army of Carthage to the best of his ability. Although this legion had a full fifteen thousand well-equipped soldiers, its commander was also the Carthaginian general Himika; But recruits are still recruits after all, and Victoria's Secret can only continue to accelerate their combat effectiveness.

At this point, the entire North African battlefield was basically a race against each other; If Tulguta runs to the finish line first, then victory belongs to the kingdom of Numidia. The Kingdom of Carthage may even become a historical term. If Tulguta had not reached the finish line first, the situation in Carthage would not have been optimistic; It can only be said that the fate of the Kingdom of Carthage is all in the hands of Hannibal alone. So, what is our Excellency Hannibal up to now?

Sicily, in the city of Lilibal, capital of the province of Lower Sicilia; Information about the official outbreak of the war between Numidia and Carthage was sent back to Sicily. Hannibal ordered his generals to gather all the troops of Sicily at Lilibal. Although the Carthaginian Senate has not yet issued an order to Hannibal himself to recall his homeland, Hannibal has already made arrangements to return to his homeland; This is the difference between Hannibal and the patriarchs of Carthage.

The patriarchs of the Carthaginian Senate were all self-interested politicians, and whatever they did, they would consider the gains and losses, and they would consider the balance; And Hannibal is not, Hannibal is just a pure soldier and patriot. For Hannibal. The Kingdom of Carthage was not only a country, but also its own spiritual beliefs and homeland; It is possible that Hannibal himself did not spend much time in Carthage, because he grew up in the province of Betica, but he had no less affection for Carthage than anyone else, and this is Hannibal.

Hannibal himself knew that the senators of the Senate did not want him to go back, they were afraid that they would take the opportunity to seize the power that belonged to them when they returned, and they were even more afraid that he would turn Carthage into a one-man Carthage; But Hannibal himself didn't think so at all. The reason why Hannibal prepared for reinforcements early was not to return to Carthage to seize power, but to resist the attack of Numidia; Preventing Carthage from becoming a battlefield for the Numidians was Hannibal's purpose.

If the five great families of Rome were all masters of the struggle for power, then Hannibal may be the quintessential selfless patriot; Even Oscar cannot be compared with Hannibal in this respect. Or rather. Hannibal is probably one of the most patriotic men in the world; If only Hannibal really had the ambition to be king, or wanted to set up his own business. Hannibal would not be the same now, as Hannibal had been able to defeat Spain on the Iberian Peninsula a few years earlier, bringing the entire Iberian Peninsula under his rule.

However, because of a decree of the Carthaginian Senate; Hannibal gave up everything he had on the Iberian Peninsula and crossed the Mediterranean Sea with his elite army to Sicily to fight the Romans several times. How many people can have such selfless dedication? There's no denying that Hannibal wasn't just a god of war as a battlefield ruler; He is also a patriot who cherishes the motherland and is willing to sacrifice everything for the motherland, perhaps such Hannibal is the most charming Hannibal.

The Senate of Carthage did not disappoint Hannibal, and on the seventh day after Hannibal had prepared all the preparations for war, the senator's envoys finally hurried to the city of Lilibal; Hannibal received the envoy at the governor's palace in the city of Lilibal. Also present were Hannibal's Mahabar and Husky Duba and Margo. Although Hannibal himself was a sincere patriot, this does not mean that Hannibal was not angry at what the senators had done; Such a scene was also intended to vent Hannibal's resentment.

Hannibal, dressed in armor, sat above the parlor, and the three generals below were all neatly draped; Looking at such a scene, the messenger who walked into the meeting room was inevitably a little frightened. But. Thinking of the predicament in which Carthage finds itself now; The messenger bowed down and said:

"General Hannibal, no, it should be Your Excellency the Archon Hannibal! The senators of the Senate have passed a resolution appointing you as consul of the kingdom of Carthage and supreme commander of the royal army; But now the kingdom itself is under threat from the armies of the Numidian kingdom. The tyrannical new king of Numidia, Zuguta, has led his army to occupy the kingdom of Tripoli, and is now attacking the kingdom itself from both the western and southern fronts; The kingdom is in danger, please ask Your Excellency the General to hurry back to help!

Once the army of the Numidian kingdom defeated the hard-fought general Vermina, then the entire kingdom itself would fall under the iron heel of the Numidians; At that time. Our kingdom of Carthage is truly dead! Our wives and children will be slaves of the Numidians. The tombs and temples of our ancestors were demolished and burned by the Numidians; The glorious kingdom of Carthage cannot be destroyed in our hands! General Hannibal, save Carthage; Woowoo woo ......"

The messenger, who had intended to explain the matter, fell to his knees at Hannibal's feet and wept bitterly; All of a sudden, the three generals who were about to shout angrily at the messenger were overwhelmed. Looking at the handsome but weeping messenger in front of him, Hannibal's heart was also uncomfortable; If Hannibal had seen such a big man crying and crying, Hannibal would have been angry and reprimanded. But this pleads itself for Carthage. The messenger of sorrow and weeping gave Hannibal a sense of relief; The Carthaginians still love their homeland, and it is always the politicians of the Senate who are treacherous, not the lovely Carthaginian people.

Hannibal stood up, pulled the messenger up from the ground, and said, "Don't worry, I, Hannibal, will always be the Hannibal of Carthage!" I have already arranged for the return of the army. It was not the order of the Senate that he was waiting for; Now that the order has arrived, it's time for me to go back. Go down and have some food and rest, and after I'll arrange some more Sicilian affairs, we'll set off back to Carthage!" ”

After speaking, Hannibal himself ordered the guards outside the parlor to send the messenger down to rest; Looking at the distant envoy, Mahabal couldn't help but sigh with emotion: "Although the group of bastard politicians in the Senate are hateful, the people of Carthage are innocent; If the senators had listened to the general, how could the kingdom have been reduced to being bullied by the wasteful state of Numidia. Although Mahabal's words were unintentional, they also made the other two generals nod in agreement.

But Hannibal had no intention of saying this, because Hannibal at this time was full of Carthaginian land; Thereupon. Hannibal ordered to make a long story short: "The army that will return to the mainland this time is the two thousand Iberian infantry that have already been arranged; As for the generals, I only took Mahabar back. Huskiduba, you are responsible for garrisoning Sicily with four thousand cavalry; Remember, it's not just the Romans who might land on your side, but also the Greek legions of Great Sicily, and don't give anyone a chance until I come back!

Margo, you are a member of our Baca family, and my brother of Hannibal, and your task is even more difficult; I ask you to lead the remaining 5,000 elite mercenaries to garrison Lilibal, ready to go on the expedition at any time. Now the Romans have amassed a large army on Sardinia, and as soon as they learn that I have returned home with it; Even if they did not dare to attack Sicily easily. They will also find ways to attack Balearic and Betica. If the Romans really do it, you will immediately lead the army to Betica under the escort of the fleet to help the fourth, understand? ”

Margo immediately nodded and replied, "Don't worry, big brother, as long as the Romans really attacked; I immediately led my army to Betica to help the fourth. But. If I had gone away with my army; What if the Romans attacked Sicily? How could General Hasduba hold Sicily with only 4,000 cavalry? Also, on the naval side, our own fleet is not at all able to cross Sardinia to Betica; Will the Greek fleet really come to our aid? ”

"I am prepared for these questions, and the possibility of the Romans attacking Sicily on their own initiative is very low; Even if such a thing happens, it will be easy for me to come back to Sicily with the distance between the kingdom itself and Sicily. As for the Greek fleet, you don't have to worry at all, as long as we don't take the initiative to attack the Roman fleet; Even if I am not in Sicily, the commander of the Greek fleet, Pallas, will actively cooperate with you. Hannibal replied confidently.

"But. Big brother, didn't you say before that the commander of the Greek fleet, Pallas, was not a good man? He also said that he would not take the initiative to cooperate with our actions at all, and would only drag us back as much as possible; He will obey orders only under your high pressure. Why is he cooperating with us now? ”

Hannibal smiled disdainfully and said, "Of course Pallas will actively cooperate with you, because sending you out of Sicily means that our power in Sicily is weakened again; It's too late for him to be happy, how can he not cooperate. His disagreement with our actions was only those against the Romans, for he feared that we would treacherously attack them after we defeated them; This is how the Greeks treacherously treacherously feared that others would do the same. ”

After taking care of the arrangements in Sicily, Hannibal left the Doge's palace with Mahabar and the envoys, and went in the direction of the port; Looking at Hannibal in the distance, Marco and Husduba just stood quietly on the city wall and watched. No one thought that the parting between Hannibal and Marco would become the difference between life and death between the two brothers! (To be continued.) )