Augustus Road

Pupius's eyes were bloodshot, he held his head angrily and roared, swearing that he would personally kill Pompey. Even if he could not kill him, he would cut off the heads of several of his important party members to express his anger at being wronged. .

Since it was all gold, even if it was to be possessed by Pompey for no reason and used against him, it would simply make all Caesar's officers and soldiers, including the "reckless man" Sexdelius, furious, and they would just start using their swords. The long table was chopped up, as densely as the trumpets of a war, and slogans such as "Invade the city of Rome, kill the dictator Pompey, and save the Republic" came and went.

"But it's not the time for war yet, comrades!" Lepidus jumped on the table and shouted to everyone, "No matter how viciously the enemy dealt with us, the kind and righteous Governor is still tolerant and still Seek peace. So, let’s not be impatient now. Let’s pack up our equipment and luggage from tonight, and head north, return to Alimiron, and await the dispatch of His Majesty the Governor. The Seventh Legion was the most persecuted by Pompey, and the Twelfth and Thirteenth Legion were brought out by me. Everyone will obey the arrangements, right? I want to hear your oath on the spot."

All the centurions shouted the command of obedience in unison, calmly put their swords back into their sheaths, and went back to camp one by one to make arrangements.

At this time, at the Villa of Alba, when Cato the Younger and Marcellus hurried there, the great Pompey was surrounded by several servants, dressing himself carefully in front of the mirror, because today he was inaugurated as Emperor. A great day for Crado.

"According to reliable information, most of the ten tribunes have fled Rome. Just two nights ago. In addition, Hersius, Cotta, Piso, Caridius and other Caesarists are preparing to Escape." As soon as he entered the room. Little Cato said in a panic.

But Pompeo didn't seem to take these "bugs" to heart. He just smiled and asked, "Caesar's three legions, we seem to owe them a small triumph."

"There won't be any triumphal ceremony. I came to you this time just for the matter of those three legions. Since many of the core Caesar faction have run away, I think Lepidus will definitely go to grab those three legions. We need to do it as soon as possible. Start!" Cato looked very anxious, "Because there are no legions in Italy that can resist Caesar's desperate attempt."

"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter." Pompey said, and handed a few letters to Cato the Younger and Marcus. When they opened it, they found that they were correspondence between Pompey and Rabinus, the chief lieutenant of the province of Gaul. The letter said, "Why, even Caesar's most trusted lieutenant has taken the initiative to join us, so everyone doesn't have to worry at all. Stay at their posts and do what they should do well. Caesar will fall apart automatically. You know, Rabinus is Caesar's right-hand man. He is worth two elite legions. Moreover, he has promised me to quietly leave Alimiron three days ago to instigate three legions outside Rome. "No wonder Pompeo was so calm and composed.

But Marcus was very cautious in his point of view. He continued to question on behalf of Cato, "I don't know much about other legions, but the Tenth Legion is the backbone of Caesar's force. It is said that Caesar paid every centurion in this legion A large amount of money was borrowed and used to distribute to the soldiers, so that they would rather follow Caesar in rebellion than die in debt. Therefore, don't have high expectations for Rabinus. I think we can now call Gabinus, the new governor of the province of Gaul, holding the consul's recruitment token, to urgently recruit 4,000 new soldiers in Etrunia and Pinucium, and also ask the general you to be in Can Two thousand veterans were reactivated in the veteran settlement area in Peña. This is the right way to form a new army and cooperate with the city army and the Spanish First Army to defend the city of Rome. "

This suggestion was quite pertinent, and it was rare for Pompey to agree. In addition, he also said, "After the inauguration ceremony of Dictado is over, I will let Marcellus and Domitius, the two new consuls, hold the Senate's Armed with a sword, I went to seize Caesar's three legions. My goal is to seize two of them. The second best is to seize one. The worst is to disrupt Caesar's military morale and make them suspicious of each other. "

But Cato the Younger couldn't wait any longer. He vaguely felt that things were not that simple, so he urged Pompey to let the two consuls go now. "If Marcellus is temporarily unavailable, I will ask Dumitius to go first! Anyway, You are now Dictado, and these two consuls have only a ceremonial role for the time being."

Just as Domitius and his followers were riding horses and rushing north from the city of Rome, Pompey, surrounded by countless senators, disciples, and supporters, wearing a festive dress and a gold-rimmed garland, slowly He solemnly entered the city, and then walked towards the venue of the Curia Congress, where thirty fortune-tellers were waiting with their hands lowered. They expressed to the onlookers one after another: Regarding the appointment of Gnaeus Pompey as Dick. They have conducted astrology, astrology and intestinal divination in the past few days on Tudu's matters, and there is no bad omen at all. Now he can be allowed to ascend the high altar of Quilinus and accept this supreme position in front of the holy fire. Curia The General Assembly, fully qualified to represent the people, could safely confer this office on him.

Afterwards, Pompey climbed the steps of the Capitoline Hill alone and walked to the altar dedicated to Romulus, the founder of Rome, where Sulpicius, the "representative of the titular king" of the Senate, was waiting for him. He then told him that the high priest of fire had already passed the fire to Pompey in the house (according to Roman tradition, the high priest was not allowed to see outsiders or talk to anyone).

In front of the blazing fire, Pompey, who had reached the pinnacle of his life, stood on the top of the mountain and gave a speech to everyone, "I heard that a person cannot accept a higher honor than his fate, otherwise he will be killed. Originally, I was in Alba, just wanting to work in the countryside. What else can a 52-year-old veteran pursue in this world? But all the fathers specially selected by the Senate have come to my house in an endless stream recently, begging me to take over the sword of the Republic before the storm comes, and then become its shield. Since this is also the opinion of the two consuls, Marcellus and Dumius, then I will take it as an order from the consuls and be forced to accept it. From now on, I have the right to recruit troops, the right to control the military, and the right to command in all territories in Italy, including the entire country, from the Pillars of Hercules (Gibraltar) to Syria. In addition, the Senate will soon issue an ultimatum to Julius Caesar of Arimilon, the former governor of Gaul Province and now the unscrupulous person who holds troops!" (To be continued...)