"Friendship can only exist among good people." - Cicero "On Friendship"

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When Agrip was stunned when he heard his brother's words, he didn't expect that his brother would still remember clearly what he said in childhood.

"For mechanics or architects, the most important soul is not skills, but responsibility. Yes, Agripa, your most prominent advantage is responsibility - now, take out these, because what is placed before you now is not the excellence of Leo or Turinus, but the gains and losses of the two regions of Epirus and Illyria, and the safety and danger of the soldiers of the seven legions." This was Lucius's last words, and then he walked to Agripa and held the letter of appointment before him.

In the end, Agripa still couldn't give up this heavy responsibility, just because his heart was really noble and he was not a person who was untrue. So he could only slowly take over the letter of appointment in his brother's hand, "Wait until [no][wrong] I hold on to the defense line of the Apsus River, and the high priest will come here next year, and then decide my punishment."

Soon, Agripa, who succeeded to the position of governor and commander, rode his horse to patrol all the camps, and gathered all the senior centurions, who stood before the group and said sincerely, "Our commander was dismissed and exiled."

Some centurions had already learned the news from their letters, while others were still kept in the dark. In any case, when Agripa said it straightforwardly, the effect was still explosive, many people were stunned, and many people looked shady and unstable. No one knew where the four ranks of the army were bound. As for the three new recruits, they were even more panicked.

"But don't be afraid, we are not sentenced to rebel status now." After saying that, Agripa and Lucius placed the letter of commission, seal, and the order of the Senate to inspire combat on the table, so that everyone can see clearly, "Our legion will not be disbanded. But if we do not fight effectively in the next future, it will be difficult to say."

"Also, the high priest's five hundred Tarant's military funds, as well as a large number of equipment, grains and meat, will soon be transported here in the winter sea breeze. I am his representative. I can swear to all the centurions and all soldiers that the high priest will never abandon us, and everyone will have a generous reward and pension." Lucius then took a step forward, slapped his chest with one hand, and promised everyone.

So the senior centurions did not delay too long. They soon surrounded Agripa, expressing their willingness to obey the high priest and his instructions, and to defeat Brutu's invasion with all their heart.

Soon, Agripa, as the new commander, took the cavalry guards and flags, began to formally inspect the winter camp. Snowflakes floated in the sky, which was rare in Epirus and Greece. Many soldiers put on their legs and boots and stood in teams to accept reviews. "The cold is a mortal defense, and there are also excellent and strong barriers. Equipment will be the magic weapon to defeat the enemy. Perhaps some civil guards felt strange. Although the city of Bugalotum was reinforced by His Excellency Caesar before, it was impossible to support the defense line of the Apsus River alone. Therefore, we need a larger and more complete barrier system, relying solely on wooden fences and trenches to protect it.

The winter camp that came was not enough to resist Brutu. Their legion had more veterans, received more support from Greek cities, and their morale was higher. So now, in order to ensure that I am safe, I separated all the troops. My brother Lucius led four old legions into two tiers, taking turns to resist Brutu's attack on the Apsus River. The first tier was fighting in a formation, and the second tier stayed in the winter camp to stand by to prevent the enemy's detours. Then I led the three new tiers, following Bugalotum and building fortifications on both sides of the mountains. Once this project was completed, we could safely guard the next spring."

This was Agripa's strategy, and then he did what he said, and soon covered his cloak worn by ordinary soldiers, and asked all the guards and centurions to hold a shovel, hold a shovel, and start digging trenches in Bugalotum, cutting down trees, and then build a single wall with bricks, and then become a double wall, and then set up a camp at intervals for a small cavalry team to garrison. After Agripa arranged the plan and supervision post, he rushed to the winter camp without stopping to supervise the feeding of pack horses and the care of the wounded and sick, and constantly talked to the soldiers to comfort and encourage them.

At dusk, Agripa endured extreme sleepiness and fatigue, rode his horse again and came to his brother's front line. Seeing that the order was in order and the soldiers' emotions were stable, he calmed down. After getting off the horse, he almost groped to the camp tent, wrapped his blanket, fell on the ground and fell to his dream.

Brutu's army was lined up in long columns and advancing along the streets. On their left was the towering and steep Corinthian cliff, below were the gray surging sea water and the vegetation fog. Snowflakes danced unscrupulously between the sea and the sky, and they threw themselves into the cold water, instantly without trace. On the right were bare, equally steep hills, from time to time, with some short trees and dilapidated little temples, on which they were listless, looking at the army mixed with Roman and Greek.

In the Delphi Temple group, Brutu ordered all troops to stay and allow Greek soldiers to enter and offer sacrifices. Among these people, the Etorians were the most pious. They placed their horses and armor outside the temple, and knelt in front of the sun statue. Then they had the chief Xusses and the priests here begged. Finally, when the Etorians came out in line, each of them broke a branch and leaf from the laurel and olive trees in front of the temple and inserted it on their hats and helmets.

"May the God of Medical Sciences Apollo, bless us to win the battlefield and reunite with our family, wife and children."

At the same time, in the city of Rhodes in the Mediterranean, Kasio sat listlessly on a chair in the tent. He was commanding the only legion, hesitating whether to continue pursuing the Rhodes. Now in front of him, it is a dilemma. With less than 5,000 troops at hand, it is probably difficult to completely defeat the Rhodes' resistance; but if he does nothing, the Rhodes who still have a certain number of ships will definitely make a difference before Li Bida's main fleet arrives!

But when Kasio learned of the previous debate at the Athenian military conference, he laughed in silence, "Marcus Brutu, you have chosen a dead end, so let me accompany you to the end" (To be continued...)

Chapter 7: Order (Part 1:

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Chapter completed!