Chapter 4 Three Sentences (Part 2)

While Fonteus was confused and Turinus was slowly dying, the Senate of the Roman city was conducting emergency consultations on the Greek war zone, although they did not have any decision-making power now - in fact, the Executive Council had already started To prepare supplies for the war against Brutus, Leo, as a senior city official, also began to allocate bricks, marble, and wood from various places to build more theaters, libraries, and colleges—"But no matter what, please keep The dignity of a chosen father, and the natural power of proposals,” Cicero urges you.

The time proposed by the Senate to the high priest for the issuance of the certificate was one month later, because Cicero judged that Lepidus' main army had arrived in Shannan Gaul, and there were still seven legions in the Epirus area. If assigned to the high priest, Brutus and other republican coalition forces could be defeated quickly.

But the high priest was noncommittal, which was equivalent to throwing aside the edict of the Senate. He said to Leo, "Turinus's exile was a key opportunity for the war situation. First of all, Brutus must have thought that he would stay. The seven legions in Epirus are leaderless and will inevitably abandon their winter camps around Athens and come to attack. In addition, the legions under my command will not follow the Senate's reminder and go. In Epirus, the passage area there is too narrow and the land is too barren to provide supplies for a large army, so the battle will be difficult. "

"What do you mean, father?" Leo placed the map sand table in front of his father and asked.

"My legion will take advantage of this period to go to Cyrene by sea, and then gather at Brundim Port. When spring comes next year, our sailing troops will be divided into two groups - one to the Peloponnese . Cut off Brutus's flank; go all the way to Rhodes to help this maritime country relieve the siege, defeat Cassio's fleet, and enter Asia Minor, preparing to join the armies of Adiana and Diotalus to annihilate Euphoria. The main force of Labella. Then the main force of Brutus will also meet his end in Athens."

After saying that, Lepidus sat down and continued talking to his son. "In addition, before the official expedition, there is still one biggest problem to be solved, and that is Marco Antony and his Shannan Gaul."

Leo was startled, and then he inquired about his father's words very carefully, "So, this is why my father's army suddenly stopped in Liguria?"

"Yes, there is not much time left for Anthony now. I will issue a consul's edict requiring all members of the Julius family to stay in Rome. They will serve as priests for the newly established Caesar priesthood. Anthony will also No exception, the position I gave him is very honorable, chief diviner, and he can be directly transferred to censor in the future. "This is Lepidus' condition. It seems that after deposing Turinus, he was most uneasy. Of course it’s Anthony.

Of course Leo understood that his father Anthony was a man with a strong temper and sense of honor. What he longed for was to gallop on the battlefield, but now the situation has completely changed. What his father needs is a submissive and staff-like talent, not a commander-in-chief. One party, and longs for someone to be on an equal footing with him.

"Father, I personally think that we can ask Anthony to go to the front line of the Renus River and command three or two legions, with the Remi and Aedui as auxiliary troops, to defend against the invasion of Belgian or Germanic barbarians. This way Would it be better?" Leo's voice was low, because he didn't know whether such partiality would anger his father.

When Lepidus heard this, he was not very surprised. He asked Leo to sit on the couch opposite him, "How about it, I want to hear your reasons."

Now it was Leo's turn to clean up the mess. In the end, he could only say that according to the northern geographical pattern left by Caesar, the Renus River defense line would replace Alpine Gaul in the future and become the barrier on the northern border of the Republic, and river defense was the most difficult. If it is defended, battles may arise at every turn, requiring a truly brave general to guard it.

"So that general is Antony? No, Leo, if I want to sweep away the Germans now, I only need to lead six to ten elite legions and cooperate with the new troops. Within a year, I can defeat the Black Forest barbarians who dare to resist me. Why should I be driven to the cold ocean in the north to defend? If I really go on the defensive for two or three years, any competent lieutenant under me will be able to do it. The most wrong choice. His advantages are boldness and luck, but this also creates his reckless and frivolous character. In this case, he will end up with two endings. Do you want to hear it? "

"Yes, I am willing to listen to my father's teachings." In fact, at this moment, Leo could only passively accept the admonishment.

"One is that he died in the black forest, and several legions would be buried with him. The national defense line would be torn apart, and it would take two or three generations to make up for it. But you may ask, will it take so long? It was not possible at that time It's not a problem for you to worry about..." Lepidus said this, and suddenly touched Leo's chest with his finger, "Because you and your family may have stepped down or even been exterminated because of this failure. Even my and your mother’s graves were dug!”

Sweat was dripping down Leo's back at that time. He only really started to worry about such terrifying issues after Turinus lost his footing, but today he didn't expect his father to teach him such a lesson directly!

However, his father did not mean to stop there. His finger seemed to pierce Leo's heart. His eyes were stern and his tone was harsh. "There is a second result. That is, Antony will have a large army during his stay at the Pleione River. He will take advantage of your negligence or weakness to rush into Rome. You can refer to the former result, because they are the same!"

"But my father Antony is not much different from my father." Leo meant that if Antony attacks, his father can always act as the protector of everyone like the god of war Leus and Phaethon.

But Lepidus changed his tone and said weakly, "Papa will die one day!"

This sentence really stunned Leo. He suddenly found that his father's hair was silver. Did his father think of the topic of "death" now? He could not help but feel fear and sadness in his heart, "If my father is gone one day, can I take on this situation and responsibility?" Thinking of this, his face was full of sadness, and Lepidus also sighed heavily, patted his son's shoulder and said, "If you are asked to face an enemy like Anthony alone, it will be dangerous. Remember your father's three words."

"Please teach me, father."

Lepidus's expression continued to be serious, "Remember the first sentence, the so-called external and internal troubles are all internal troubles in the end; the second sentence, to govern the Roman Empire well, we must not be like their foolish ancestors, who were obsessed with land, but should maintain a reasonable number of vassal states, so that the internal is more important than the external; the third sentence, give birth to more excellent and strong offspring with Vivia, and do not indulge in wine and sex." (To be continued..)