Before AD [Babylonian Favorites]

"Your Majesty, stop talking! I believe it!" I covered my ears and shouted as I stepped back, bumping into another person unexpectedly.

The man pushed me aside in disgust, the cold light in the snake's eyes was like ice and snow frozen for thousands of years.

Alexander's expression changed, and he said, "Crest."

"If you're in the mood to make fun of your little lover here, why not think about our next move, Alexander," Krest snorted coldly, and suddenly said, "I don't know where the witch in Olympias went. I have taught you something with poisonous snakes and sorcery, and I really began to doubt Philip's vision."

Alexander didn't move, but I could clearly see that his complexion suddenly became very, very bad.It was as if the sunny day was suddenly covered by thick dark clouds, and then the whole sky turned into a hazy gray.

Hephaistion stood up quickly, walked to Alexander, and said something in his mouth, which seemed to calm his emotions.

Alexander closed his eyes and finally turned his back.

"Crest," his voice was a little lower than usual, "I won't allow you to say that about my mother."

Olympias was Alexander's mother, queen of Macedon.Played by Angelina Jolie in Oliver's movie, it is said that she is a witch who raised many poisonous snakes in her bedroom.She raised Alexander single-handedly, but her relationship with Alexander's father, Philip II, has always been tense.Philip II despised her tricks, and Olympias hated her husband for being a shameless, mindless barbarian.

Alexander slowly turned around, his sea blue eyes were full of determination and fierceness: "You are my father's best friend, you are a loyal and reliable minister, you were born and died on the battlefield, and you even saved my life, But—you can't insult my mother like that! I can put up with you this time, Crest, there will be no next time, you know what I mean."

Crest's black curly hair covered his cheeks, his face was still stern, he pursed his lips, and said nothing.

Such a dignified atmosphere did not improve until he left the door.

"Bagos," Ptolemy called back to me on his horse, "come up quickly! Don't make everyone wait for you!"

I looked at the tall gray horse in front of me with some embarrassment: "I'd better walk, I really don't know how to ride this horse."

"You can't even ride a horse, you are still not a man!" Ptolemy just blurted out, and then realized that he had slipped his words, "Um...I mean, you...sorry."

I smiled indifferently.

In fact, with so many subordinates under Alexander, there are only a handful of people who really regard me as a normal person.Most people look at me with tinted glasses and talk to me like they're flirting with women.So I am not angry when Ptolemy said this, but rather happy.At least this shows that he really treats me as an ordinary man, just like he treats his soldiers.

Immediately, a figure suddenly jumped down from the side, came over and squatted down in front of me, saying: "Come up."

I was taken aback: "My lord, you are..."

The blue earrings shone brightly, and Seleucus gave me a quick glance, green eyes full of frivolity.

"I have armor on my shoulders, so you can step on my shoulders to get on the horse, right?" He said lazily.

In an instant, I felt that the eyes of all the soldiers around me were aimed at me like sharp arrows. There were contempt, anger, contempt, and hatred. Those scorching eyes seemed to want to poke holes in me.

The medical officer's exclamation sounded from behind: "Master Seleucus, your shoulder injury is still not healed!"

I heard their whispers, mixed with words like eunuch, eunuch, and child molestation, and felt like I was stripped of my fig leaf all of a sudden, which was very embarrassing.

"My lord, I really thank you," my voice was very stiff, "I can't bear such a heavy favor, Bagos is just a little eunuch, you think highly of me."

I bowed slightly to him and walked towards Ptolemy, Seleucus suddenly grabbed my arm.

"You..." Seleucus still had an indifferent smile on his face, but his voice pressed against my ear very hard, "Bagos, it's very good, you never give me face."

I shook off his hand, looked at the people around me, and said bitterly: "I will give you face, but I have to survive first, so please, Lord Seleucus, give me some face in front of others in the future."

The gray steed snorted and kicked the ground, and I reined in.

"Bagos, what's the matter?" Alexander's voice came from behind.

"It's okay, Your Majesty, I'll go now."

I gritted my teeth, held down the horse's back and turned over with force, but I almost fell from the other side due to excessive force.I quickly grabbed the rein, clamped the horse's belly, and used the strength of my waist to keep my balance.Fortunately, my flexibility is enough, the horse just neighed and stopped moving.Along the way, I sat on the horse and trembled with fear, for fear of any accident.

Fortunately, everything went well.

The moment I opened the city gate, my eyes were amazed.

The street scene of the ancient Persian city of Babylon is indeed very beautiful and full of exotic customs.As Ptolemy in the movie said, it is mysterious and attractive, like a slut who is easy to conquer but hard to leave[1].

Coconut trees are tall and lush, verdant and verdant, and there is a straight and wide road in the majestic earth-colored city walls and colorful brick city gates.The city is bustling with women wearing beautiful long headscarves, showing bright crescent eyes, and most of the men are wearing dark red or brown corsets and hats made of strips of cloth.All kinds of vendors were hawking along the street. Someone saw Alexander and yelled this way, so everyone put down what they were doing and waved their arms to cheer.

Alexander smiled broadly, nodding to them as he advanced.

This is really an incredible thing. It seems that everyone has forgotten the existence of Darius. In their eyes, the only emperor in their eyes is this young and handsome Greek boy in front of them—as if he was born to welcome this kind of honor that the whole world celebrates.

I put this question to Ptolemy.

Ptolemy was not surprised, he said: "It's easy to understand, because Alexander knows how to conquer, of course, not only land, but also people's hearts."

Kassander interjected: "Do you still remember how our teacher Aristotle commented on Persia? He said that except for Greece, the rest of the land is uncivilized land. They have not received the cultural edification they deserve. These people are very dull, so they are naturally easy to tame."

"Aristotle didn't mean that, you wolf-like guy," Ptolemy frowned, and squeezed out the words through his teeth, "Why did the teacher's words twist in your mouth like this? ? What a fallacy!"

I nodded silently. This is simply a typical Eurocentrism. Kassander, an egomaniac, is too arrogant.

The camp was on an open and empty sandy field outside of Babylon. When we arrived, we saw uniform infantry phalanx passing by row by row.They held a spear in one hand and a shield in the other, and the spears in their hands were pointing upwards, almost as tall as two people.

Seeing Alexander and so many generals, the leading soldiers were about to shout slogans and salute, but Alexander stopped them.

"Antico, take me to see the bull's head." Alexander ordered with a faint joy on his face.

Antico blinked his one-eyed eyes, rode his horse forward, and the whole group followed.

I just wanted to keep up, but for some reason the horse started to be stubborn, no matter whether it shook the rein or clamped the horse's belly, it just didn't move.As a last resort, Ptolemy sighed and said, "Come down and follow us, there is not much to go anyway."

The midday sun was so warm that it was unbearable. By the time I arrived at the medical tent, sweating profusely, most of the generals who followed Alexander had disappeared, and only Alexander was left outside the camp.

He was gently stroking a tall horse with a pure black mane.The horse is strong and beautiful, with smooth muscles and looks very energetic.It's just that the front hoof is wrapped in gauze, so it should be injured.

Seeing me coming, Alexander's smile became more obvious: "Bagos, this is my most loyal old friend. His name is Niutou."

"It's a good horse." I nodded, but didn't move. This horse is majestic, but no matter how you look at it, it seems to be surrounded by the four characters "Keep away from strangers".

"What are you doing standing so far away, come closer, don't worry, besides being short-tempered, Niutou is still very friendly."

Like to have a little temper?The black horse has a pair of big bright yellow eyes like a cat, and looks very vicious.I looked back at Ptolemy, who had a pitying look on his face, lip-synched like he was saying good luck.

I swallowed my saliva and walked slowly.

Alexander stretched out his hand to touch the bull's head, and the bull stuck out his tongue and licked his palm contentedly.

"Why don't you touch him?" Seeing me standing there stiffly, he said.

I stretched out my hand nervously, tentatively stroking the back of the bull's head.Unexpectedly, it only trembled slightly, then fell silent.

I breathe a sigh of relief.

Its coat is shiny and smooth and feels good to the touch.

"Your Majesty, I heard the story about the bull's head from Lord Ptolemy." I said, "I'm curious, how did you tame the bull's head?"

"You really want to know?" Alexander's eyes were as blue as the sky, and when he looked at me, he had the luster of jewels.

"Yes." I replied.

"It's actually very simple." He scratched Niutou's neck, showing a childish smug expression, "You know? Before I saw Niutou, they had already circled him and found no less than a dozen of the strongest and most burly men. Tried, but they don't know how to tame him. Just whip him, bait him with food, no one really cares what he's thinking."

I was even more curious, glanced at Niutou, and couldn't help asking: "Then... what was Niutou thinking at that time?"

"No one knows, except me." Alexander raised the corners of his mouth slyly, "I stood by and watched for a while, and I think I've figured it out - as soon as the bull's head shifts its eyes to the ground, it will become irritable .”

He patted Niutou on the back and said with a low smile, "I knew that you were afraid of your own shadow."

I froze.

The black horse in front of him rubbed against Alexander's arm as if he understood. I could see in its eyes an emotion that could be identified as intertwined with loyalty and love.

"The more innately brave and great a life is, the easier it is to be confused by something that is extremely simple but complicated when you think about it." There was a haze in his eyes, "Why don't people be afraid of their own shadows, afraid of their own shadows?" The shadow will become strange one day, and will eventually consume itself."

Is this Alexander in his early twenties?Why does a person who looks so sunny on the surface have such a heavy mind like an old man?There is always a positive smile on his face, but in just a few words, I seem to hear a little bit... fragility?

"My life seems to wake up from the year I got the bull's head." Alexander said softly, "Before that, my memory was as short as an Aesop's fable, which confused me very much. After that, my world was really built like a dream city, Bagoas, don't you think, is this strange?"

Looking at this brave and persistent face, I shook my head and leaned slightly: "No, it's not surprising at all, Your Majesty."

Alexander nodded: "That's good."

He turned around and stretched himself, looking at the city of Babylon hidden among the verdant trees.

"Sometimes war and politics are really annoying. I always have to fight with them, and I'm tired." He suddenly turned his head and smiled at me, "It's nice to have a peaceful chat with you like this."

I was startled, then lowered my head: "Your Majesty, I am also very happy."

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[1] From the movie "Alexander the Great"