Chapter 18 Brutus's Accusation (Part 2)
"No, no, Rome needs him. As proof of the true conquest of Numidia, he will grow up, study, and marry with you." Lepidus said with a smile.
Leo seemed to be relieved, and then he went up and took little Juba's hand and gave him a silver collar as a gift of new friendship. Turinus also came forward and presented a small model of an ox cart with a wheel as a gift.
"Thank you for your kindness and generosity." Little Juba said in fluent Greek, which undoubtedly narrowed the distance between the three teenagers. They quickly became familiar with each other and met together at the God of War Campus in Rome. Play walnut or Cuju games.
In the early darkness of the night, Lepidus looked at the children talking and laughing with a little envy. They spoke so freely. They had not yet been exposed to the cruel world of adults, nor had they shouldered the responsibility of pursuing glory for their respective families. The difficult mission of fame and fortune is just as a philosopher said, "Children are the spirits of games. They should play and be happy without restraint. If you want to ask children why they love games, it is as nonsense as asking why children are children. ”
But that's not the case, sir. As far as Lepidus knows, Selene, the widow of the King of Juba, has been seduced by Caesar. In order to please Caesar, the kings of East and West Mauritania also sent their beautiful concubines, wives and daughters to the bald On the bed. Five or six days later, Lepidus' fleet sailed briskly along the southerly wind that had not weakened, and headed for the port of Kalaris on the island of Sardinia. After the voyage, Lepidus said goodbye to the squadrons of Itassos and Vercingetorius. Then in the villa at the harbor, a very surprised Yulia came to greet her husband with a team of slaves such as Habaruka.
"I thought you would spend about three years on the battlefield." Under the olive tree in the garden of the villa. In the public restaurant, when Lepidus and the children were eating, Yulia, who was sitting on the side, ordered the servants to dry something very smelly. It mixed with the smell of the surrounding grass, which made Lepidus frown, "Why?" What's the point of doing something so smelly?"
"Cow dung." Yulia replied simply, and then sat on the small table under the tree. After mixing golden honey, she put these things into a glass vessel.
"That's why I asked. Why are you doing this in front of the restaurant?"
"Because according to the records in the scroll, cow dung, oil and gum mixed together can remove the stains left by the sun; and next to the honey bottle at Mama, there is bread crumb powder. Mixing these two things together, It can be used as an ointment," Leo replied while eating. Julia looked at Leo with a proud smile and said that the child's guess was completely correct, "I have no interest in investing in maritime affairs recently. It is better to do industrial business for everything, so I will use the Ofilenu Manor and use very cheap The raw materials are cow dung, honey, flour, and some roses, which can be mixed to make beauty products that are ten or even twenty times the price. They are shipped to the luxury market in Rome and sold at a high price, which is similar to Pope's. My wife has reached a supply and demand agreement. There are many orders, and tens of thousands of drachma silver coins have been received in the past two years.”
"Make all these coins, including mine, into blocks and place them in Ofilenu's storeroom, and hire more veterans and gladiators to guard them." Lepidus walked to the couch under the olive tree and lay down half-way. Listening to the cicada's lingering voice, Youyou said. "In addition, it would be best to exchange for more gold nuggets. It is valuable and easy to store."
The somewhat sensitive Yulia immediately shook her ears slightly. She realized that there was something in her husband's words, but wasn't the war in Africa over? The great Pompey was defeated and Caesar became the final winner. However, according to Lepidus, a huge war might break out soon, otherwise he would not be so concerned about gold and silver.
"Children, go to evening lessons and go to bed after that." Yulia clapped her hands and called Leo, Turinus and little Juba to come into the room. Then she winked at Habaruka and said After driving the male and female slaves away, there were only three people left in the courtyard, and there was still the smell of cow dung and grass.
"The war will break out again soon, won't it?" At this time, Yulia sat on the small chair opposite and asked in a deep voice.
Lepidus nodded, "Your Excellency Caesar may not survive the next year. Some people are trying every possible means to disarm me, make me idle, and then kill Caesar. But they may not know that in my eyes, Caesar is a mortal man." ”
"Caesar must die?" Yulia said in surprise, while Habaruka walked around vigilantly, observing the curtains and the courtyard door to see if anyone was listening to the wall.
"Hmm." Li Bida answered as he picked up the green fruits that fell from his head.
"Then who is the enemy?"
"Anyone, including me. Only the one who survives in the end is qualified to be called Caesar's friend and heir." Lepidus smiled, and then said this with a very serious face, "You know what? Leah, I once wanted to save Caesar, but now I realize that it was all arranged by Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother. Caesar’s death was divine will and was predetermined in the Sibyl prophecy. Maybe I should wait for changes and save Caesar. Your life and mine are all decided by the gods. That’s right, Yulia, I don’t know whether I can survive the storm in the future. I still don’t know what kind of role fate has assigned me. "You are the backbone of our family. Can I entrust the children and Potty to you?"
"Of course, it starts when you put on the toga robe of the Aemilius family and King Numa's ring." Yulia half-knelt down, holding Lepidus' knees, and said.
"Then in one month, using the family's savings, the finances will be handed over to Habaruka. I will ask the knight Kaimes to assist - build a brand new fortress on the flat land of Ofilenu Manor and put it in With weapons and food, this fortress will provide a strong protection for our family in the future. We can advance, attack, retreat or defend." Lepidus' tone did not sound like a joke at all, "If I die in Rome, then take over the map. Rinus, Corinna, Leo and Potilai, your grandfather's veterans and their descendants are also the ones to fight for. Do you understand? From now on, we will have no friends, no matter who they are. Caesar is always ready to fight and defend himself."
Julia nodded, and then she had a premonition that her husband's trip was probably unusual and dangerous, so she laid her head on Lepidus' abdomen and said, "Take care, I will fight with you in Ophelenu." Fighting on the battlefield.
"Well, do your best to do your own thing. I will also leave my will to you for safekeeping. Take good care of the children. That is the root of our family." Li Bida also gently stroked the woman's wheat-colored hair for the first time and said.
After staying in Sardinia for less than a market day, Lepidus appeared at the Port of Passini, which was only half a day's journey from Rome. When his honor guard disembarked, representatives of residents from all over Italy gathered in the streets. On either side, Caesar's lieutenants were greeted with great pomp.