Perhaps Aaron was too eager to leave Caesarea in a hurry, and he had already arrived at the gate of the northern city with a few knights close to him in the evening, and he didn't even bring his luggage - of course, this was nothing to him as a duke, and Mithmeer's elite troops had not yet returned to the territory, he only needed to wait for the fleet to open in Caesarea Harbor, and his knights would naturally be ready for him.

When they arrived at the door, only Salald and the Minister of War Mehemus were seen off, and Theodore did not come in person - after all, such a move was still not appropriate, the center of gravity of the empire was still to recuperate, reserve strength and set its sights on the south, if he came in person, it was likely to cause unnecessary panic. After all, the emperor's every move will become a hint in the hearts of the nobles. A strategic plan to unite the Highlanders, and the presence of Mehmus himself was already very grand.

"That's it, I hope you can come back soon, if I don't get used to being too cold, maybe I'll go with you—Haluha, leave the next of our majesty in the Imperial Council!" Salald grinned and patted Aaron on the shoulder: "I really envy you, I can run to the north by myself to be happy!"

"Ten Aarons are not as important to this empire as one Salald, and you can do more for him than I can't. Aaron smiled and shook his head, opened his arms and gave Salald a hug: "He needs you now more than ever, do what you have to do." ”

"Don't freeze to death there!" Salald strangled Aaron with both arms before reluctantly letting go of the other party. Looking at the knight of Mistermai on the side, he said in a deep voice: "Uncle Jorah, your experience is much richer than this good knight, be sure to protect him." It's all up to you. ”

"Rest assured, we won't let anything happen to the Duke no matter what. Jorah nodded slightly towards Salad with a serious face: "No matter how many barbarians in the Misty Mountains are, it is impossible to hurt the Duke." ”

"I'm sure no one knows how to deal with those northern monsters better than you. Salald smiled and said, "It's just a trip, nothing can happen." ”

"In my absence, Duke Bran Elfwan can represent me in parliament – we have an agreement. Aaron looked at Salald as if he wanted to laugh: "Actually, he's a pretty good guy." It's just a little meaner. At the very least, he was loyal to the Empire. ”

With that, Aaron stepped on his horse. With the Knight Captain Jorah and a few personal guards galloping on horseback, the banner of the Black Falcon soon sank down the far road.

"Elfwan? I'm getting more and more worried about this guy - Aaron is too easily deceived, maybe he's more cunning than a fox on the battlefield, but here. He's simpler than the girls in the boudoir!" Salald's brows furrowed, "But." Thinking about it, he still didn't dare to be so blatant. ”

"Allow me to warn you, Lord Duke of Ultok. Mehemus on the side whispered, "You're talking about a duke, which some people will see as a signal." ”

"The Ultok family and the Elf family have been fighting for almost a hundred years, if I don't talk about him, it will be seen as some kind of signal!" "Salald pouted and smiled: "Let's call me Salald, if someone of your status has to use honorifics to me, maybe some outsiders will also see it as a 'signal'!"

"Also, there's one more thing. Salald looked to the side with a playful face, and on either side of the north gate were two identical sculptures of Roman legionnaires—carved to commemorate the founding of Caesarea.

"How long are you going to stand behind that sculpture? Your Majesty, My Honorable Emperor?" Salald's voice was low, but full of laughter: "Aaron is gone. ”

"Of course I know that. Theodore walked out from behind with a calm face. Some reluctantly looked at the city gate beside him: "He...... I think I found it too...... Forget it, let's not talk about it. ”

"Mehemus, please go and call Valence in the next street, I see he has been there for almost a long time, and then we will set off. Theodore said to his military minister, "By the way, tell the ladies of the Imperial Council that this afternoon's meeting may be postponed. ”

"Where do you want to go?" Salald asked, looking at him suspiciously, "Why do I always think that you still have other plans to prepare, can't you even say Bran?"

"Don't think I'm so scheming...... Your Emperor is not yet seventy years old!" Theodore blinked: "Take you somewhere...... Trust me, you'll love it. ”

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The Roman War Academy, although it is indeed an academy of the same level as the Caesarea Academy, but the location is a little more remote, deliberately arranged behind the outermost city walls, and the only advantage is that it can directly overlook the large arena in the distance, which is somewhat deliberately arranged.

The spacious sandy playground, the hippodrome, the few small lofts that had been specially arranged, and all that remained were marching tents—from the beginning Theodore did not prepare any resting rooms for them, all of them were sleeping tents, and the dormitories were to be built by themselves according to the standards of the Roman legions. And that kind of semi-permanent barracks will take at least a year or so to be really completed.

Despite the harsh conditions and the fact that they looked much more chilling than the Caesarea Academy, which was built with adobe and marble walls, Salald still wandered around the neighborhood with great interest, standing in the distance and watching the "quasi-officers" who were practicing their formation charges in the sand with shields and daggers.

As clever as Salald, it hardly took long to figure out Theodore's fundamental intention - the army is the foundation and cornerstone of power for an empire, and this kind of cultivation of military families is undoubtedly a good way to consolidate power, and can also provide the empire with more sufficient reserve strength, especially in this turbulent situation, which not only unites the interior, but also has more strength to deal with the upcoming war!

"The only young nobles who are training here are the young nobles from the vicinity of Caesarea, Talboa, and Haringos, numbering only a few hundred. It won't be long before the best nobles from across the empire will gather here, and they will all become the core of the legion. Theodore said in a deep voice: "80,000 infantry, 20,000 cavalry, and at least 50,000 reserves, with these we can confront the orcs head-on!"

"Against the orcs, I thought you were going to say that you could fight against the entire world!" Salald asked with a grin, "It doesn't sound like you mean to take the Misty Mountain barbarians too seriously. Aren't these guys growing up in the North our enemies?"

"Of course not—at least they're not good enough for me to be a match for right now. Theodore pouted disdainfully: "Even if they are united, what can they do? How many people are there in the entire Misty Mountain? How many warriors can there be? How can a group of guys who have been bandits for many years understand what an army is?!"

"If an emerging force does not have the strength to crush all the enemies, the most important thing he should do is to recuperate first and accumulate strength. Then show your force deterrence at the right time. Theodore's words were filled with contempt: "The current Misty Mountain seems to have suddenly gained strength, and it is eager to immediately take revenge on the fools in the world and vent its inner dissatisfaction by slaughtering." Before we had any contact with them, these fools had already made enmity with all the tribes of the Highlanders, and the barbarians, who had no strategic vision, were not worth our fear. ”

"As for the family of Vimpal, hehehehe......" Diodore smiled, "do we need to be afraid of a fellow who has been broken for hundreds of years, and even now does not even know whether it exists or not?! ”

"With Aaron watching over them in the Far Arctic Ice Sheet, we don't need to do anything more. Theodore said in a deep voice, "It is enough to do what we should do best." ”

"I'm glad you can be so confident. Salald shrugged his shoulders and blinked, "I'll get the Salyon family to send their children over as soon as possible...... As for Mistermael, I think you've already discussed this with Aaron, so I don't need to worry about it. ”

"Don't worry, my dear Salald, I will always have absolute faith in you!" Theodore patted him on the shoulder, "We will always be the best friends." This empire is also destined to flourish in our hands!"

"I promised to appoint Aaron as the first ruling legion commander of the Empire, and I would appoint a maximum of three people to such a position. You'll be one of them anyway. Theodore looked her in the eye as if to read something from it: "The golden lion, only on the battlefield can people see his majesty!"

............ Looking at Theodore who was leaving, Salald didn't know what to do, and suddenly breathed a sigh of relief, his eyes were a little complicated, and he sat on the ground leaning against the trunk of the tree in a little dismay.

"Theodore, Theodore......" Salad seemed to smile bitterly, he suddenly remembered what Bran had said to him, and when he calmed down and thought about it, he suddenly felt that it still made sense.

"Theodore Julian, my friend, the moment you are crowned Emperor of Men, we are doomed to be unequal—how can I still treat you as a brother?" (To be continued......