In the hall, Theodore sat on a chair and kept knocking on the table, and on either side of the long table, sat the main generals headed by Mesimus, as well as Herodotus of the Senate, Foreign Secretary Virgil and others.

Jenas stood at the end of the long table, at the end of Theodore's line of sight. He stood there with his hands behind his back, looking nervous, his bandaged shoulders giving him a twitch from time to time.

"So our guest is called Brenus, isn't it?" said Theodore, knocking on the table, and asked himself, "and brought with him an army of a thousand men, and fifty knights. ”

"The one who came was not good. Belisarius said angrily.

"But we should still do our landlord's friendship. Theodore replied, looking at Janus, "What else did those two men say? ”

"No, most of it was actually said by the guy named Bode. Jenas was a little depressed, but he still answered truthfully: "As for the one named Boris, he was still looking for death until just now, so he had to knock him unconscious." ”

"That is, what we know is what they can tell us. Theodore summed it up slightly: "Is there a way to get some?"

"I'm afraid not, one of those two people is just a petty officer, and the other is ......" Janus shook his head, a little embarrassed, he had never seen such a fatal thing, and he wished that the enemy would kill him quickly.

That's just crazy.

"Mehemus. Theodore said, "Tell me what you think." ”

"Yes, Caesar. Mehemus looked up: "It depends on what the other party's purpose is." ”

"Let's go into more detail. ”

"If it's just for profit, then we still have room to negotiate and try to force them to negotiate and make them understand that it's impossible to get here. As he spoke, he gestured: "If the other party is like the man said, in order to maintain his dignity, then he can only fight with him." ”

"But whether it's war, or peace. After a pause, he continued: "We must all stand on the side of justice, and only then can we establish friendship with them or other indigenous peoples." ”

"Because we are new to them! and the unknown always causes hostility from others. ”

"I don't see it that way!" Belisarius interrupted him: "As long as we show enough strength, we don't have to worry about its so-called hostility, as long as we are tough enough, there is no better way to use this kind of snobbish guy!"

"If there were no orcs, we would. "But the situation now is that we also need help, and if Rome wants to be strong in the future, it must be recognized by these natives." ”

"At the very least, we can get them to accept us, not see us as enemies. ”

"Turn enemies into friends, win over all the liliang who can be wooed, and let evil be alone. Rome was once strong because of this. Theodore stood up and looked at the people present: "And so will we." ”

"Gather the army, Mehemus, three infantry wings and one cavalry wing. Theodore began to assign tasks: "Quintus, can the newly formed infantry wing be put into battle?"

"Anytime, Caesar. Quintus bowed his head: "They are always ready to fight for you." ”

"This time it's for Rome. Theodore repeated: "For Rome." ”

"Put those two back. Theodore waved his hand, his eyes were very easy-going: "Anyway, the other party probably already knows that knights who fight bravely still have to be treated with some courtesy." ”

"Assemble the army as soon as possible, but try not to disturb the population, Mehemus. He turned around, and Herodotus bowed slightly: "You are Caesar, and this is war, and the Senate will not bother, as it used to be." ”

"Of course, Virgil and I will be with you. Herodotus smiled and said, "This is the duty of a courtier." ”

Theodore nodded, walked over to Janas, and patted Janas on the shoulder: "Can you still fight?"

"Always at your orders!" Janus grinned, clenched his teeth, widened his eyes, and gave a standard military salute.

"Then let's go!" said Theodore, who walked out of the hall without looking back, his purple cloak hunting in the wind, streaking across everyone's eyes.

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"So, you encountered a group of powerful cavalry, and when the number was basically equal, they were completely wiped out by the opponent in just one round?"

The slightly older Grand Duke of Brennus has orange hair and a burly build. Wearing a heraldic robe painted with a black falcon and holding a silver sword encrusted with gems, he looked at the two knights kneeling in front of him with an intentional or unintentional smile.

"Yes, my lord. Although he didn't want to admit it, Boris bowed his head with a red face in front of his master.

"And then the other party was kind enough to let you back?" the smile on Brennus's face became even more obvious.

"Yes, my lord. Boris was ashamed to burrow into the cracks, and lowered his head even deeper.

On the contrary, Bode, who was on the side, shut up from the beginning, did not say a word, bent over, and lowered his head as if he was about to fall.

"My lord!" A middle-aged knight standing behind the Duke couldn't stand it anymore, pulled out his long sword from his waist, and strode in front of the two people, but was stopped by the Duke behind him.

"Rest quiet, my brother. The Duke pulled him back and looked down at Boris, "Is there anything else you want to say?

"Nope. Boris looked up at Brennus with a look of despair: "Please...... Make a ruling!"

"What about you?"

"At your lord's command. "Bode behaves like a puppy, but he always has a very casual feeling to his strength.

"Very well, in that case, I think you will be able to accept my next mission. Brennusto chucked his chin like a painter preparing to create a new work: "I want you to be the chief of the northern outpost of the territory, and watch out for every move of the northern highlanders." ”

"Follow your orders. A little relieved Bode hurriedly responded, and no matter what, his life was finally saved.

"Very well, then go down, until I allow you to come back. ”

"My lord, Lord Brenus!" said Boris, who stood up suddenly, and fell to his knees again before the duke before he left, clutching the hem of his garment.

"I know that my sins are unforgivable, and as a knight, defeat is the greatest shame. Boris looked up at the Duke with a nervous expression: "But I still hope you will listen to me, those people are not robbers or bandits at all! And they have at least 30,000 people!

"That's a real lord!"

"I see, Boris, you are indeed my most loyal courtier. Brenus patted him on the head: "You will always be so honest and reliable, although you are not very competent. ”

"But you are wrong about one thing, for a knight there is no shame in defeat, nor is it an unforgivable sin. The real unforgivable sin is a knight who cannot understand why he wields his sword. ”

"Thank you for your teachings. Boris bowed his head and left in reverse steps.

............

"Lord Brenus. The middle-aged knight looked at the old man in front of him with some incomprehension: "Do you really believe their nonsense?"

"My dear brother, learn to trust others. Brenus stood there, and the servants beside him were helping him put on his armor and tie his sword.

"Bode may lie to me for a small advantage, but Boris will not, I grew up watching him, this boy is a little timid but very arrogant, and he believes in chivalry even more than many good knights, and he is loyal to me, I believe that. ”

"So, we're going to fight a lord with 30,000 people?" the knight asked, confused.

"No, no, no, Weishenme must start a war? A peaceful solution is actually more in line with my wishes. Brenus smiled slyly: "I think this lord of the Romans will not refuse an old man's offer, well, the offer of peace." ”

"You are incomparably wise, my lord. The knight laughed too.

"The world is difficult!" Brenus smiled bitterly, he also hoped to show a little color to this guy who dared to invade his territory, and at worst, let the other party bow his head and pay tribute.

But the current situation is that the orcs in the south are very likely to go north at any time, especially in this season just harvested, the tribes of the northern misty mountains are becoming more and more active, I heard that there has been a castle of the highlanders has been captured, although it is only a very barren small castle, but this also means that these highlanders are not as united as in the past, otherwise those robber tribes in the misty mountains would have been encircled and suppressed a long time ago.

Old Best, who guarded the Dividing Mountain in the south, had always been the last person Brenus wanted to see, relying on the fact that he was located at the junction of the north and the south, and had been extracting large sums of taxes from the caravans on both sides for many years, and a bag of spices brought from Sez could be sold for a sky-high price of three small florins (gold coins)!

I've been wishing he was dead, but now I hope this guy will live a little longer - at least he still understands military affairs, but his son is a hopeless fool, and if Severcro loses, the almost undefended north will become a hunting ground for orcs!

"Let the army go!" the duke's muffled voice was like winter thunder, "no matter what, we must make a gesture and make that guy understand!"

"Do your bidding!" the knight thumped his chest. Turn around and walk towards the barracks outside.

The black falcon flag swayed high in the wind, the miserable white background was reflected in the sun's rays, and the entire army turned into a black cloud, moving slowly on the ground, and the desolate sound of the horn could be heard from time to time.

Brenus and the knights were at the front of the array, their expressions were serious, but they showed great majesty, their backs straightened high, and their weather-beaten faces would pass the eyes of the soldiers from time to time, so that they were a little relaxed and refreshed their spirits, and hurried to follow the queue.

"Do you want to go all the way to the castle of Adolphel?" said a young knight who rode up to Brenus, his legs on the stirrups and the reins of his hands tightened: "Father!"

"You should call me Lord Duke!" Brenus glared at him, and laughed out loud when he saw the young knight shrink his neck and a look of fear on his face.

"To Adolphin? no, no, no, my son, we are not here to take the castle. The Duke looked proudly at his son, who was only sixteen years old and had surpassed many adult knights, and was proud of his bravery and his inquisitiveness.

Look, this is our Brenus family! Perfect!

Especially when Yujian Old Best, there is always a pleasure when Yujian is a poor relative!

"It's not just war that can resolve conflicts, sometimes peaceful negotiations can also be. The duke patiently explained to the young knight beside him: "But the premise of peace negotiations is that there is a liliang that is sufficient to deal with war. ”

"In order to avoid war, and always prepare for war?" the young man looked at his father suspiciously: "This seems to be a contradiction?"

"No, that's because there will always be enemies on this shijie who can't make sense of language. The Duke explained, "For example, the robbers of the Misty Mountains, such as the orcs!"

"Well, I see!" the boy nodded thoughtfully.

"That's right. The old duke patted him on the shoulder: "Go find your soldiers, remember that you are now a soldier!"

"The young master will be an excellent knight in the future, and he will also be a good lord. Looking at the back of the young man leaving, the middle-aged knight sighed.

"Maybe. The old duke shook his head: "But he still needs to learn now." ”

"Huh. The knight smiled nondeniably.

............

The desolate sound of trumpets echoed across the land, and the advancing army gradually stopped its steps, slowly regrouping in formation amid the shouts of the knights.

"Will they come?" the knight was still curious, and looked at the old duke with questions, "Are you so sure?"

"Don't worry, they will definitely come!" Brenus looked at the horizon in the distance with confidence: "If they don't come, it proves that these people are just a group of rabble, and they don't have the courage to protect their homeland, so how can they negotiate with me on an equal footing?!"

"Perhaps. ”

The breeze blows across the earth, the goshawks soaring in the sky sing poignantly, and the bright red sun shines on everyone's heads, as if they are wearing a golden laurel wreath.

On the horizon in the distance, a golden flag slowly rose, getting closer and closer, getting closer and closer, the earth shook slightly, but it was so calm and stable.

Red, painted all over the horizon.

"Here they are, Romans. ”

Brenus muttered to himself, his eyes fixed on the bright red.

"Just let old Brenus see if you have the liliang to negotiate with me on an equal footing!"