The "tip of the boot" in southern Italy, Port of Brindisi

Marcus? Tullius? Cicero, the most famous orator and statesman of the late Roman Republic, immediately ended his brief hibernation upon learning of Caesar's death, and once again tried to lobby to persuade Caesar's defenders in southern Italy to surrender to the Senate again.

In general, Cicero's political stance during the Civil War was as flexible as his tongue - he was a friend of Caesar, but his political stance was completely different from Caesar's, but he was more moderate and never willing to go toe-to-toe with Caesar. When Caesar marched from Gaul into Italy and invaded the city of Rome, most of the Roman senators fled, but Cicero stayed, where he was rewarded by Caesar.

But then, Caesar hastily marched to Spain, where he suffered repeated setbacks, while Pompey recruited troops in the East and made a big splash. So Cicero changed his course and secretly crossed the sea to Greece to join Pompey. After the Battle of Pharsalus, the rest of the republican patriarchs fled to North Africa in order to preserve the republican system, preparing to resist Zuihou, but Cicero cheekily returned to Italy and landed in the port of Brindisi, hoping to receive Caesar's forgiveness and the warm hospitality of Caesar's old friend Vatinius, Caesar's defender in southern Italy.

Unfortunately, Caesar was still chasing Pompey on a battleship in the Eastern Mediterranean at this time, and did not bother to pay attention to this little matter in the rear. And Mark, who came back from Macedonia to preside over the big picture. Anthony, although he didn't have any ill feelings towards Cicero at this time, also felt that more was better than less. Unwilling to take matters into his own hands, he declared that Cicero was forbidden to return to Rome and that he would remain in Port Brindisi. Wait until Caesar returns from the East, and then listen to his fate.

As a result, Cicero had to stay in Port Brindisi for many years, not knowing what his future fate would be, like a prisoner awaiting trial...... Fortunately, it didn't take long for the final verdict of fate to come down. And it was a situation he never expected - Caesar was dead!

Therefore, Cicero immediately beat his chest for a while, regretting that he was once again on the wrong side politically. Didn't go with little Cato to North Africa. He then immediately began to act aggressively in an attempt to make amends for his mistakes - specifically, to persuade the southern Italian defender Vatinius to "change his position".

“…… Vatinius, which today had a total of thirteen legions in Italy. You have three legions in your hands. The remaining nine legions mutinied in Capua. And the titular supreme officer, Mark . In Antony's hands, there was only one legion stationed in Rome. As long as you are willing to change sides, Antony, entrenched in Rome, will not have the courage to resist at all! Our Motherland can also end the civil war and restore peace in the shortest possible time......"

“…… Not only you, but no one should fear reprisals from the Senate for being Caesar's subordinate. At that time, you were not his soldiers, but soldiers of our Motherland. Your salaries and rewards. It was not given by Caesar, but by the Motherland.

Right now. Caesar is dead, and your allegiance to him should be over, so think about your future! For centuries, the Romans had become accustomed to accepting the rule of the Senate and to fighting for the Fatherland under the leadership of the Senate! Caesar may be able to fight this trend, but do you have that prestige? Do Anthony and Lepida have such prestige? Please don't continue to be obsessed and become enemies of the motherland! ”

“…… What the? Worried that the Senate will go crazy to get revenge on Caesar's family and thus get you stigmatized? All right! If Caesar were still alive, there is a real good chance that the Senate, after defeating him, would have further executed him for treason! But he has now turned into a corpse, and there are no offspring! Believe me, neither little Cato nor anyone else will be embarrassed by a dead woman or a widow......"

For Cicero's persuasion, Vatinius was still hesitant and indecisive for the time being......

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On the outskirts of Rome, Gaius, who was not yet an adult at this time? Octavius? Turinus (Octavian, the future first Roman emperor) and his sister Octavia huddled in a cave shivering, staring at the curtain of rain at the entrance of the cave.

Since two days ago, a death storm to purge the "enemy of the state" has completely swept the entire city of Rome with a pungent smell of blood.

-- Before the Romans could wake up from the shock of Caesar's death and Capua's mutiny, a list of "enemies of the state" seemed to be soaked in the waters of the River Styx, and a total of 5,000 wealthy Roman nobles, knights, senators, and officials were included in this death notice. According to the proclamation, any freeman who kills these people will receive a great reward; Kill their slaves, and they immediately regain their freedom; Those who attempt to harbour and protect "enemies of the state" are guilty of the same crime as "enemies of the state", regardless of their former status.

As a result, these dignitaries of the Roman Republic were confiscated of their property and became condemned to death without any trial at all. Many people do not know that they have become enemies of the state, and they are killed in their homes, in the streets, in temples, by red-eyed soldiers, slaves and enemies, and even by relatives who covet their property. As for the rest of the well-informed, some of them have taken refuge in hidden places, but they are often betrayed and betrayed. Others fled Rome in an attempt to escape the center of the death spiral and return when it was all over.

Although Octavian's family is considered to be Caesar's relatives and has some friendship with Antony, no one can guarantee that after Caesar's sudden death in battle, Antony, who has already killed red eyes, will not take this friendship into account - after all, Octavian's family also has a little property - not to mention, under the stimulus of property and death, there have been many scandals and tragedies in Rome where sons kill their fathers, younger brothers kill their brothers, and wives kill their husbands. There are even rumors that Anthony has just defied his mother's obstruction. Killed his uncle......

As a result, Octavia, who was frightened, also escaped from Rome with Octavian, who had just turned fourteen. He found a cave to hide, and at the same time sent one of his most well-connected distant cousins back to the city to find out if his family had been listed as "enemies of the state".

Two days later, a distant cousin who had gone to the city to inquire brought back good news to Octavia—Octavian and his family were not on the list of "enemies of the state"; And the bad news - the city of Rome has now become a slaughterhouse of death!

“…… The city is in dead silence, and the once most bustling neighborhoods are now empty. There were no pedestrians, cars, and horses, and the shops were closed, and even the temple was closed. People are hiding in their homes. Try to minimize your presence and avoid getting into trouble. But the killers broke down the door and slaughtered the women amid the screams...... In the square in front of the Senate, the heads of countless former consuls, justices, tribunes, constructors, and legionnaires were on display. There were many more women and children crying on the side of the street. Even when the city of Rome was captured by the Gauls. Nor have so many nobles had their heads cut off. Even Sula, who is known for his brutality, didn't kill people like this!

In the past, a king of the Roman monarchy, Takwin the Younger, was ousted from the throne by the angry Romans for insulting a noble woman, and our ancestors decided not to accept the rule of kings and establish a republic - but what is the petty crime of that ancient tyrant compared to what Antony and Dorabella are doing in Rome today? She scolded resentfully.

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The southern coast of Asia Minor. Port of Tartsus

After receiving the news of Caesar's death, Marcus Murphy, who was in charge of the logistics of the 36th Regiment at the City Hall of Port Tarsus. Brutus. This faithful believer in the ancient Roman republican ideals, the murderer who presided over Caesar's assassination in another time and space, as well as Caesar's close nephew and "suspected illegitimate child" (his mother was Caesar's mistress), suddenly fell into extreme hesitation, hesitation and struggle again.

At the beginning of the civil war, because of his belief in the republican system and his dislike of the absolutist monarch, he fled to Greece to serve the republicans, despite his kinship with Caesar. However, when the battle of Pharsalus was over and the republicans were gone, Brutus, who was not determined enough, did not continue to go into exile in North Africa and fight until Zuihou, but surrendered to Caesar directly after the defeat.

Caesar then graciously forgave him and arranged for him to go to the port of Tarsus in Asia Minor to send Domitius, Caesar's newly appointed commander in Asia? His Excellency Calvinus takes care of the logistics. Brutus was also conscientious after taking office, but his luck was still very bad - after a few days in the port of Tarsus, he was shocked to learn that Caesar had died in battle with Pompey in Egypt!!

In contrast, the bad news that Calvinus and his 36th Legion had suffered a great defeat at Nicopolis because of their light advance and had been chased back by King Pharnacissus all the way from the Anatolian plateau seemed to be no big deal.

In short, Marcus . Brutus finds himself at a crossroads in his life once again, and the outlook is not good no matter what he does.

-- Caesar's dictator died without warning, and the shili he had built was about to fall apart, and in a short time no one could hold it together. Moreover, his enemy, the Roman Senate, was as stubborn and intractable as the hydra monster Hydra. If you cut off one of the heads that pop up, two or more heads will pop up in your place...... Staying in this anti-republican camp not only goes against Brutus's love for the republican system, but also seems to have a rather bleak future. On the other hand, in the eyes of hardcore republicans like Cato the Younger, Brutus, who had already bowed to Caesar, had become a traitor and a coward, and even if he turned back again, he might not get a good face.

So, in the midst of a panic, Brutus completely abandoned his official duties, struggled during the day, and suffered from insomnia and palpitations at night.

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The city of Carthage, the province of Africa, was the temporary base of the main Roman republican army

“…… Long live the republic! Death to the tyrant! ”“…… May the gods bless those who love freedom! Cheers! ”

In the courtyard full of flowers and babbling springs, under the tall and beautiful palm trees. Governor of Africa, Publius? Atius? Vanus, Numidian king Yuba, Mesrut, commander-in-chief of the republican army after Pompey's death? Scipio and other republican leaders gathered together to celebrate the death of their old enemy Caesar. At the same time, he also squeezed out a few tears for Pompey's death.

The anxious Numidian king Yuba said that he should take advantage of Caesar's sudden death and the chaos of the enemy army to cross the sea to Italy as soon as possible, and he was willing to take his Numidian light cavalry to the front. The sustained governor of Africa claimed that although Caesar was dead, the veterans of his ten legions were still intact in Antony's hands. The republicans need some more time to gather more legions. Raising more military rations, and at the same time co-opting a suitable internal response in Italy, could launch a large-scale sea-crossing operation. Regain Rome in one fell swoop.

- In fact, in Italy at this time, nine of Antony's ten legions were in rebellion......

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The junction of Upper and Lower Egypt, a famous religious shrine. Memphis, the ancient capital of Egypt

Under a cloudless clear sky. The tall stone pillars collapsed, the ancient temple was full of flames, the ornate halls and delicate gardens were on fire, thick clouds of black smoke rose in the air, and clusters of vague figures swayed and entangled in the firelight......

Pharaoh Ptolemy XIII's plundering of Egypt's religious holy city was still going on - the desperate cries of the dying were heard in every square, temple and corridor, the popping of swords and spears piercing into the human body, and the hissing of blood gushing through the air.

The air was filled with the pungent smell of blood and burning. It's so intense that it's hard to breathe. The ground was littered with corpses with sunken skulls, broken stomachs, and mutilated bodies. Most of the dead were Egyptians, believers, and monks living in Memphis. But there were also many soldiers of the Ptolemaic standing army who had died in battle, lying on their sidelines, burned to ashes by the raging fire.

The gold and silver vessels, pearls, jade, crystal gems, and rare furs that had been scavenged from the temple were piled up in a mess in the square, and for a time they were truly dazzling, shining in the blazing sun.

However, sitting in front of this pile of priceless treasures, Pharaoh Ptolemy XIII did not have a trace of joy on his face, but just looked at the piece of information that his subordinates had just sent from Alexandria, the eyebrows on his forehead were raised, and his legs and feet couldn't help but tremble slightly.

“…… How could it be...... When will that bitch with dirty bloodlines actually be able to summon a meteor?! He also stoned Pompey to death along with Caesar?!! Offended the Romans of both factions together!! O gods! Doesn't she think Egypt is in a bad situation enough? ”

“…… Calm down! Calm down! My dear brother! His second sister, Princess Arsino, bent down, hugged the trembling young pharaoh, and comforted him softly, "...... Please don't believe these ridiculous rumors, they are just the inventions of some ignorant people! If the Egyptian gods really had spirits, they weishenme today did not stop us from storming Memphis and plundering their temples? So, my dear brother! Don't be swayed by such foolishness, as long as we gather all the troops of Upper Egypt, there is still hope of retaking the capital......"

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Northwest Egyptian coast, an oasis fishing village surrounded by desert and sea, Paraeton Nium (the port of Matrouh in modern Egypt)

More than a dozen three-oared warships flying the Roman eagle flag slowly sailed into this small fishing village famous for its white and delicate sandy beaches.

Despite the headwinds and currents, his small fleet reached the highest speed, inspired by the oars of the commander Cato the Younger.

Cato the Younger had always believed that the mark of a good man was selfless work, and so he did everything he did, including rowing, and this inspired the soldiers who rowed with him - and when they saw the commander rowing himself, they became more proactive in rowing. The soldiers paddled in shifts, from morning to night, and from night to morning, until they reached the small fishing village before the fresh water ran out.

-- On the desert coast between Cyrenaica and Alexandria, Paraeton is the only relay point capable of replenishing fresh water.

In Paraetonium, Cato the Younger found three Roman warships that had arrived first, as well as Pompey's widow, the pale, weeping Cornenia? Metrah learned from her that Pompey and Caesar had changed before their deaths, when she was on a ship outside the palace harbor, preparing to escort a consignment of goods that could be used for military expenses, and flee west to Carthage, which was safer than Carthage.

So, while both Pompey and his youngest son Sextus died in the Egyptian royal palace, Cornenia survived.

Then Pompey's widow wiped away her tears, and with great solemnity took little Cato to the bilge of the ship, where there were many heavy wooden boxes, some of which were already covered with dust. Cornenia claimed to follow her deceased husband's last wish and give the money to the most trustworthy man in all of Rome, the incorruptible and upright Cato the Younger, in the hope that he would make the most of the money and win the war.

Then, the moment the box was opened, little Cato, who was a little disapproving at first, was immediately dazzled by the brilliant golden light...... (To be continued.) )