Laguerrafuilconquistatorediconquistatoripoteredifarequalsiasirichiesta (War gives the conqueror the right to make any claim to the vanquished)

- Julius Caesar (Roman dictator)

After greeting the three of them, Oscar took the initiative to say goodbye to the three of them, came to the old butler who had been signaling to him with his eyes, and asked, "Is there anything wrong?" The old butler hurriedly replied softly, "The head of the family, the head of the Cartels family and the head of the Charles family of the Richard family, are waiting for you in the private parlor, saying that there are congratulatory gifts and private gifts for you. After saying that, seeing the confused expression on the face of the head of the family, Old Carabes hurriedly explained: "The Carters family is the best weapon and equipment merchant family in the Republic, they have the largest weapons and equipment production factory in the Republic, and the weapons produced have always been desired by the major legions; However, due to the problem of production, only half of the army of the five major legions and the guards of the four major families can be equipped. The Richards are the largest ship-trading families in the Republic, and more than 50% of the ships and cargo ships in the Republic are built by the Richards. The two families have been one of the family's most important partners since the time of the old family. “

After listening to the old butler's words, Oscar understood why the old butler was in such a hurry to let himself go to see Carlis and Charles; It turned out that these two families also had an unusual position in the republic. Not only that, but these two families will also play an important role in the revenge war waged by the House of Augustus against Carthage.

After all, the recovery and reorganization of the Wolf Legion is inseparable from the full support of the Carters family, and the combat operation against Carthage is a cross-sea battle, which requires the support of the Richard family. So, once tomorrow's Senate meeting approved the supplementary plan for the Legion of the Wolves and the combat operations against Carthage; Well, the support of these two families has a crucial role in the entire combat operation. Moreover, with the century-old alliance between the Augustus family and the Maxentius family, the Maxentius family, who have been ruling the Senate, will definitely pass the Augustus family's bill very easily.

From this point of view, the support of these two families is even more important. There is another point that the old butler does not know, but Oscar himself knows the reason. Luquis had told himself that the family had been operating a vast network of smuggling of strategic goods and luxury goods; Needless to say, this so-called strategic material must be the weapons and equipment of the Carters family; And the transporters are inevitably the Richard family's transport fleet.

Otherwise, in its present form; Obviously, it was their own Augustus family who asked these two families in combat operations, how could they take the initiative to lower their posture and give themselves private congratulatory gifts? This is clearly to test themselves to see if they are willing to continue their previous smuggling activities with them. Thinking of this, Oscar instructed the old butler: "I know, I just go to see them myself, you serve all the distinguished guests here, and don't be rude." With that, Oscar walked in the direction of the private parlor with the impression in his mind.

At this moment, in the VIP hall, with the departure of Oscar, the representatives of the four major families fell into silence. After a long time, it was the consul Marcus who took the lead and said: "Tomorrow's Senate meeting, I hope that the four great families will maintain their unanimous support for the Augustan bill. Although you have always feared that the House of Augustus would be too strong and would upset the balance of power, Carthage was also a long-standing enemy of the Republic, and the House of Augustus was a Roman, a member of the Republic. ”

Hearing Marcus say this, Aulus and Vibius had not yet spoken, and Gaius Scipio once again sarcastically said: "Yes, the power of the Augustus family is also the strength of the republic. However, this is even more powerful of the Maxentius family; You have been staunch allies for a hundred years, and no one in the whole Roman Republic knows about your intimate relationship. ”

Scipio's sarcasm did not make Marcus excited again, Marcus just looked at Gaius with a disdainful smile on his face very calmly, and said with a frank face: "Yes, the strength of the Augustus family is also the strength of the Maxentius family, but isn't it also the strength of the Republic?" I was one of the main members of the Maxentius family and consul of the republic, but I was first and foremost a Roman.

The current republic is strong on the surface, but in fact? The four major families have been fighting each other for two hundred years, and now the Gallic barbarians in the north are ready to move, Carthage in North Africa has also sent Hannibal's legions to defeat the expeditionary corps of the Republic in Sicily and Sardinia, the Greek city-states on the Greek Peninsula have been sending their navies to confront the Republic for a long time, and the Kingdom of Macedonia is bent on restoring the territory of Alexander's Empire, and it is also eyeing the Republic.

In such a situation, doesn't the republic need to hurry up and become stronger? Are we, the so-called noble Roman nobles and proud Romans, really going to be slaves of the Carthaginians and the Greeks, and even the barbarians, one day in the future? I am 30 years old, in the prime of life of a Roman, and if you look at my hair, it is no longer the blonde hair of the past, but the gray hair; Not only am I worried about my family, but I am also worried about the future of Rome! “

looked at Marcus, who became more and more excited the more he talked, and even left tears in his eyes; Looking at the fact that he was only 30 years old, he was really full of gray hair, which quieted all the nobles in the entire VIP hall, including Gaius. Listening to Marcus, everyone inevitably has a sense of crisis that everyone will be ruined in the future. Finally, the older treasurer, Olus, said to the speechless people:

"That's the end of tonight's banquet, after tomorrow's Senate Council on this matter, our four major families will definitely give everyone an explanation. Also, I hope that the words of His Excellency Archon Marcus tonight will not be known to anyone outside of here; Otherwise, if there is any panic caused, our four major families will definitely investigate to the end. As for the Augustus family, our four major families will explain, so you can go back with confidence. “

After speaking, everyone present walked out of the VIP hall in twos and threes and embarked on the road home. No one noticed that two handsome young men in the crowd smiled disdainfully after listening to Aulus's words; Immediately, the two of them restrained their smiles and walked out in the crowd.

After everyone had left, Olus said gently to the old Carabes, who was standing aside at a loss: "You don't have to worry that Oscar will punish you, you can tell him exactly what happened just now after we leave." Otherwise, Oscar will understand. Without waiting for old Carabes to say anything, Aulus pulled Marcus out of the VIP hall with Gaius and Vibius. And old Carabes also hurried towards the private parlor where Oscar was.

In Marcus's carriage, the three of Aulus have been in Marcus's carriage since they just walked out of the Augustus family's mansion; The four of them didn't say a word, just sat quietly and waited for the carriage to drive to Marcus's consul's residence.

Finally, Marcus couldn't help but ask Aulus, "Is there anything you can't tell Oscar to know?" The four of us have to sneak around to find a place where no one is around. Wasn't the House of Augustus strong enough to participate in the high affairs of the Republic? “

Before Aulus could speak, Gaius, who was sitting next to Aulus and had been at odds with Marcus, immediately spoke up: "Does Lord Marcus really think of himself as a savior?" I admire your dedication to the Republic, but I would like to warn you not to underestimate the power of the House of Augustus. Do you think that the Augustians really didn't hide anything? Do you think that the Augustus family has always been sincerely working for your Maxentius family? "I understand what you say, but since we can't suppress the rise of the House of Augustus, why don't we make Augustus the fifth family in the true sense of the word? The strength of the republic is also the enhancement of the strength of all our families! This time, Marcus offered a clear rebuttal to Gaius's words and turned his gaze to Aulus next to him. What Marcus didn't expect was that this time it was Vibius, who had always been silent, who spoke.

Vibius did not look at any of the three, but looked at the dark night outside the carriage window, and said in a deep voice: "Marcus, I also respect you as the consul of the republic; However, your idea is wrong. We are not afraid of the rise of an Augustan family, there has never been a shortage of powerful families in the history of the Republic! However, the four great families have always been the four great families; The reason is that whenever there is an enemy who can threaten us, we will unite and fight the enemy together; Whether this enemy is of an alien race or from within the Republic!

As soon as there is a fifth family recognized by the first republic, there will soon be a sixth family and a seventh family; And our four major families will inevitably escape fate and become a part of history. The reason why we have connived at the development of the House of Augustus before is because, in our eyes, the House of Augustus is only a vassal of your House of Maxentius; As soon as the servant wants to be the master, then the master should hang the servant! No matter how good this servant may be. “

Vibius's words were wordlessly supported by Aulus and Gaius, which made Marcus's mind even more complicated. Without the House of Augustus, the Maxentius family will definitely be surpassed by the other three families, and may eventually be wiped out by the combined efforts of the three families; However, the existence of the Augustan family is indeed not to be underestimated, and who knows if Augustus's ambitions will swell with the growth of strength?

The carriage in the dark night drifted away, elongating its figure in the night fire of the city, like a monster swallowed by darkness, silent and silent.