Augustus Road

Just when the two women left Rome to rush for their own "war", the Senate finally, under the pressure of the people, expressed that it could authorize Caesar to conduct war, and gave a budget, tacitly allowing Caesar to conduct war in Gaul or the Po River Basin "Recruit the additional troops required", but they must be "demobilized on the spot" after the war, so that Caesar's Thirteenth and Fourteenth Legions will have a place. .

Along the way, the villages around the Rubicon River are holding the grand "Esoria Festival" (every year on the 18th day of the eighth lunar month), that is, the Cangami Festival, to celebrate this year's harvest. People with sheep are everywhere. The young people with skulls and wine jars are singing happily, and here there is no sense of the raging war on the other side of the Alps.

The season seemed peaceful, but Yulia still reminded Poti to protect the children and pay attention to the movements of the bodyguards around him, because there were always small groups of bandits in the Po River area, some digging graves, and some robbing merchants and villages, including Ader. The Venetti tribe in the Bay of Ria (near present-day Venice) had a good habit of killing and robbing people who came and went. As the flowing air became colder and colder, Poti, who was holding little Leo and Corinna, felt that they The land of Gaul in the north was getting closer and closer. At this time, an ominous wind suddenly came from the night, and the torches outside the sedan began to sway violently with the sound of people. Bodie felt fear in her heart, but when she saw the front Yulia, who was talking calmly on the sedan chair, felt much more at peace in her heart. She raised her hand to extinguish the lights around her, and wrapped a blanket around Lepidah's flesh and bones. The two children cleverly closed their mouths and pulled them together. Mother's hand jumped down and hid on the other side of the wheel, staring into the depths of the night. There was a stream overgrown with trees, with vague shadows of people, horses and torches, heading in the direction of the sedan. Come.

If it was a horse bandit or a Veneti barbarian, she would have to drag the child and run towards the nearest city under the protection of Paluma and several capable gladiators, while Yulia would command the remaining troops to guard the money. Persisting in resistance is the division of labor that she and Yulia have long discussed. "In case of a dangerous attack, you can leave with your children, but you must leave the money, otherwise these hired bodyguards will soon be killed." They will give up resistance because they can't see a huge reward. Then it will be easy for both of us and we will both be killed." Even though the two women exaggerated the possible dangers, Yulia still acted as a military protector. Like the official, he calmly formulated a contingency strategy.

The group of men and horses were all covered with dark cloaks and holding torches. The leader was slender and asked in fluent Latin: "Even during the Cangami Festival, you two women and children on the sedan chair are too trustworthy." Now, please allow me to ask you about your direction. Are you going to Gaul, which is full of war?"

"It's none of your business, stranger. Please don't have any bad ideas. My husband is Caesar's right-hand lieutenant." Yulia said to the leader, trying to look confident and secretly ordering the bodyguards to line up. The formation is ready for battle.

When the tall man and the guy next to him heard this, they both laughed and introduced themselves, "Dear lady, please don't think of us as bad people. My name is Longinus Casio, I am from Illyria." The treasurer of the province, this person beside me is Quintus, the brother of the great Cicero. We came from Apollonia in Epirus in response to the call of His Excellency Caesar, the governor of Gaul. Go there with some personnel, because Your Excellency has two new legions and we need to serve as deputy general commanders."

After saying that, the tall man took off his cloak, lit up his Roman breastplate with a torch, and wore a unique tattoo, and once again told Yulia not to worry. At this time, Potty suddenly plucked up the courage to ask the other party, if Cassius, who was familiar with Brutus, laughed softly and said that it was natural. His wife Portia was an invalid, but his friend still loved her deeply.

This identity was certain, because Potty heard Portia mention this man, saying that he was a man who could command a fleet. Next, it was Cassio's turn to ask questions. He asked who the commander Yulia's husband was.

"Of the Twelve Legions."

"Oh, is that the commander whose life or death is uncertain on the Akuta notice? Women, you are probably anxious to visit him, right? But don't worry, your man should still be alive and well, otherwise Quintus and I The two of you are about to receive a document from Caesar, which will definitely ask one of us to hand over the Twelve Legions, but fortunately, we have not received such a document so far. "

When the sky dawned, Casio consciously walked in front of the sedan and chariot team with his soldiers, and assumed the role of guard. Under the protection of regular soldiers, the road became safer. When Julia carefully inquired when Caesar's army would enter the winter camp, Cassio said that once the war with the Serves was over, the army would rest in Besancon.

"Why Besançon and not Milan? So, the war in Gaul, even after defeating the Serves, is still not over?"

When faced with this critical question, even Casillo just smiled and stopped answering. He believed that women did not need to know this information. Casillo is a man with a very pale complexion and a very thin build. It seems as if there is a fire burning inside him, burning his external image until it becomes blurry. Only his shrewd eyes are particularly noticeable. As for Quintus, his expression was much more resolute than that of his elder brother. His elder brother sent him to the army to hone his skills, as if to make up for his own shortcomings.

At this time, in the camp outside Besançon, an arrow with a hissing sound sank into the leather target.

"You can actually shoot arrows? Or rather, I should have thought that your tribes have archery skills." Libida, who was sitting on a chair beside the shooting range, said to Dusongville who was holding a bow and arrow, while Milou and Tagus next to him had no expression, as if they did not see the chief's superb archery skills. Even Dusongville looked indifferent when he heard the commander's praise.

It was normal for the Gallic chief to have such an attitude. In ancient times, the civilizations in the western Mediterranean were proud of using spears, chopping swords and fighting swords. Their idol was the hero Achilles in mythology, who was to make the enemy drink bronze spearheads. In the east, Egypt, Asia Minor, Bosporus and other places, the bow and arrow were famous. Their idol was the Trojan prince Paris. They shot the mysterious "Apollo Plague" (the name given by the Greek coalition to the Trojans' bow and arrow shooting in the Trojan War, because the arrows flying in a parabola would silently take people's lives), taking people's lives hundreds of Roman feet away. (To be continued.)