Augustus Road

Brutus retched twice more, then slapped his head with his hand to relieve the pulling pain on his cheeks, "I am willing to share the debt with Yulia after the marriage. It is not a big problem, and I understood it beforehand. , just a few dozen talents of debt - I have already negotiated with several tax collector knights like Calabis. Once I take office, it will not be difficult to collect such money. Oh, you are Yuli. Ya's personal slave?" He turned his attention to the Phoenician Habaruca.

"Yes, and it may not be the case soon. The mistress will soon sell me to pay off the debt." Habaluka predicted calmly.

"Then you, Calabis, are Julia's creditor?" Brutus then asked Calabis this question, which he really didn't know how to answer.

After the ship anchored and docked, the three people walked together because they had a common goal. Habaruka said that the Lepidus family's house and farm were on the Oristano plain in the southwest of the island, and Brutus also He wanted to visit a certain Greek scholar in the city of Cagliari, but was rejected by Calabis, "I have to go to the Thirteenth Legion camp after a market day and a half to participate in the war against Pontus. ”

"I remembered, you are Calabis, the hero who recaptured the eagle flag." Brutus was very excited. Although he was unhappy with the behavior of Marius, the original owner of the eagle flag, he still felt that the symbol of the republic [*** ] But the eagle flag is very concerned about the glory, "I also want to enter the military camp as soon as possible, so that my service career can add glory to the Republic."

So, they set off on the road that day. Habaruka was familiar with the road and rented three donkeys on the outskirts of the city, plus the unique horn saddle of Rome. He also rented a short Sardinian mare to carry the luggage. Three donkeys were used along the way. They were all very interested in the swaying mare's buttocks. They screamed "arrogantly" and chased the mare briskly and freely. They seemed to be young guys, but the mare was very disgusted with the smell of donkeys. Speeding up in panic. The vineyards and wheat fields on the mountains next to the road continued to recede, and the blue of the sky slowly faded in the brilliance of the setting sun. The clouds turned into a deep pink. After finally crossing a bridge, Habaruka said that he would catch up today. We couldn't reach our destination, so we all got off the donkeys and stayed in an deserted shepherd's hut. Calabis invited Brutus to sit in front of a haystack, and then Habaruka set up a brazier and found a barbecue. Carrying a rack, a knife and a small jar of honey, Calabis found fat meat, onions, cider and goat cheese from his luggage, poured the fat meat with honey, and pierced it on the barbecue grill. The roasting was full of delicious aroma. Then they mixed apple cider and goat's milk with raw onions. The three of them put the wine-milk onion salad and large pieces of barbecue on the plate. They grabbed it with their hands and said, "Please enjoy the Legion Grill." Fatty'."

"Oh my God, I didn't expect that the soldiers in the military camp could actually eat such delicious food." Brutus said with envy while eating.

Calabis looked at this inexperienced young man and smiled - legionnaires can still drink expired sour beer and wheat rice that has not been sifted once! But he said nothing, and went to fill some fodder for the donkey and the mare. After drinking and eating, Habaruka lay on the haystack at the door of the shack and fell asleep. Brutus and Calabis lay on the blanket in the center, looking at the stars in the hole in the roof of the dilapidated shack, and continued Make small talk.

"You must be wondering why I came to propose to Julia. In fact, my cousin, oh, Cato's daughter Portia, hopes to enter into a marriage contract with me - and I don't hate it either. Portia, her hair was as soft and dark as the earth of the olive grove."

Calabis smiled and said, "Because you are a person who studies philosophy, they are all awkward. Maybe you are still worried about the past grudge between the two families."

Hearing the new knight's teasing, Brutus laughed. Apparently Calabis had hit his mind, "Yes, I love my late father, and I hate Pompey, but I love the Republic more. No matter what, my late father betrayed the Republic first and implicated another prominent family, so I have had a sense of responsibility to bridge the rift between the two families since I was a child."

As he spoke, Calabis's ears twitched twice, then he got up gently, made a gesture to Brutus to be careful not to move, then put the sword on his waist, and pulled Habaruka, who was sleeping with drool on his face. He pulled him up and said, "Stand here, open your eyes!" Then, in the stable next to the shack, the three donkeys brayed in unison. Calabis used his hand to support him, crossed the railing, and then met in the dark shadow of the stable. Several people started fighting. Those people had neither weapons nor boxing courage. They were quickly beaten to the ground, twisting and groaning.

They were a bunch of thieves who wanted to steal the mare, but when Habaruka came to see them with a light, he was surprised and called out everyone's name, "Why don't you stay at Ofilenu Manor and stay with me?" My mistress is here, and yet you have to travel fifty furlongs to steal my horse?"

"What other manor is there in Habaruca, Phoenicia!? Julia's creditor is coming soon. She owes a full twenty talents. She can no longer repay it with wheat alone. Julia has already We are ready to be sold as slaves, that is, to be sold to salt lakes or mines to work!" Several people shouted.

It turns out that the granddaughter of old Li Bida has reached the point where she wants to sell slaves to pay off her debts.

"But if you run out privately, Yulia will be sued for debts." Habaruka was still thinking about the hostess, "You can't leave the manor!"

In the darkness, the men began to curse loudly. Carapis said to Habaluka, "Let them go. If they are really sold to the mines by your mistress, they may not live for more than two years." After that, Carapis threw a few silver coins to those people. They were as if they had been pardoned. After saluting the knight, they supported each other and ran towards the other side of the bridge.

"You are so kind to the escaped slaves, Carapis." Brutus walked out of the shack and said.

Carapis turned around, and the ear hole in his left ear was clearly visible under the light. "Yes, because I was also a slave."

Now it was Brutus' turn to be stunned.

They arrived at the Orphelenu Manor at dusk the next day. It was an old mansion that still had the style of the past. It had a courtyard wall, a fish pond, and an orchard. It probably gave us a glimpse of the glory of the Lepidus family in the past. When they walked in, Brutus' tone became obviously unnatural when he talked to Carapis again, and he seemed to try to keep some distance from him, but Carapis just smiled faintly, "He is just a young man after all."