Chapter 8 The River of Blood (Part 2)
After Caesar finished his lyrics, he used the reins to turn the mount back. Then Dalada ran on a vast gentle slope, and finally rode his horse to the ridge. Below, the eighth, tenth and twelfth legions were lined up in the cold wind, like a bloodthirsty pack of wolves, and the owner of the raising them was Caesar wearing a red cloak of razors, who now has no identity in the Roman Republic.
Three eagle markers stood at the forefront of all queues, among which the twelve legions of the auxiliary army had a unique totems logo, and it was the Balantiya Falcon. "Putting the eagle mark with a cloth cover is not a war to win foreign honor." Caesar pointed at the eagle marker and said to the entire army, "I am not a hypocrite who speaks right and wrong. Now we cross the Rubicon River, and we may advance billions of feet of abyss, but fear of the savage will never be restored. Your Caesar is not the chief executive, the consul, or the high priest. He has only become a citizen, and he may be pushed down the mountain rock at any time.
The miserable death, so I am not going to chant any false slogans to save the Republic. Now I am just trying to save myself. If those cowards are unwilling to give me a chance to appeal, then I will use my own sword to appeal. Yes, I just want to start a civil war, or wash away shame if I succeed and fame, or lose my reputation for being disgraceful for thousands of years. But after this civil war, after my reputation is restored, that is, when you restore the same reputation and freedom - I have no intention of asking anyone if you are willing to defend justice, I just want to ask everyone - whether you are willing to follow Caesar, or whether you are willing to defend the reputation of everyone!"
The soldiers of the 12th Legion roared in unison, "Even if we are at the end of the world, we are willing to follow His Excellency Caesar!"
Then, the soldiers of the Eighth and Tenth Legions also collectively sounded the shield. "We must use our sword to wash away the humiliation suffered by the guardian officials!"
On the hillside, Caesar suddenly pulled his horse and raised his sword, and then his mount neighed, and his feet tumbling in place, turned around, and then rushed down the hillside without looking back. About five minutes later, he stayed in front of the Rubicon River for less than three seconds. "If I don't cross, I will die without a burial place." After thinking about it, he closed his eyes slightly, rode his horse into the shallow river bend, and was the first to cross the boundary that determines the life and death of the Republic.
The Eighth and Tenth Legions turned around according to their prior subordinates and returned toward Milan.
The 12th Legion followed Caesar's back silently, regardless of the coldness of the river. They quickly crossed the river, and they were not willing to waste time building a floating bridge.
Now behind Caesar, there are only more than 5,000 light and heavy infantry soldiers, and there are three thousand cavalrymen who are strengthening their dependents: one thousand Vibichinas, one thousand Mathians, and one thousand Alvini. This time, Caesar specially recruited this large tribe of Southern Gaul, with the purpose of loving the favor or supporting the upcoming war between the Pyrenees and Marcellia.
The role of Li Bida was to lead this group of cavalry and cooperate with Caesar's veterans to escort the back of the baggage, so he was the last group to cross the Rubicon River. It was already early the next morning. In the white mist, the feathers on his helmet were shaking. In front of him was Milu, the captain of Caesar's veteran, almost walking together, and the sound of the water flowing in the darkness became clearer.
As a result, Li Bida stopped by the river. He saw Rabinus, carrying his luggage, still in civilian clothes, holding his son's hand, walking slowly beside the army, with only a few accompanying slaves behind him.
Almost all soldiers would salute attentively when they saw their former chief vice general, and some would greet them, "Do you want to follow us all the time to return to Rome?" Li Bida asked.
Rabinus shook his head and pointed to the place where the river broke, "I will walk the Apiñen Avenue and take Etruscan back, not the Flaminia Avenue where your army is."
"That's a coincidence, I'll leave Etruscan too."
"Are you going to take over the Thirteenth Legion that had been causing trouble somewhere long ago?"
Li Bida did not answer, but asked Rabinus, "Caesar never talked to you?"
The other party denies it calmly, and it shows that it is unnecessary now, "Because you have gone through it after all, it's better. Maybe the Republic has really reached this point."
After saying that, Rabinus did not say anything to Li Bida anymore, but took his son's hand and walked slowly on his own.
"Is this a different road?" Li Bida clamped the horse's belly and accelerated to the Rubicon River. The horse saw the cold water and hesitated a little, but the owner directly whipped it, and then the whole river surface was filled with the sound of horse whip, and the fish belly in the east appeared white - when the horse's hooves clattered on the water surface, Li Bida saw two serfs carrying firewood and winter wheat ears on the opposite river bank, standing in place, watching countless people and horses flowing through. When they saw a general from the Eastern Kong side drove his horse silently and crossed with him, the astonishment on the side became more and more obvious.
"Even Caesar's chief vice-president has left, you are really risky." In a faint mockery, a tall blond knight caught up with Li Bida's side, saying, "And I, Vicintoli, would come to Rome with such an identity, neither a conqueror nor a defeated prisoner, but a rebel who attempted to capture Rome."
"Caesar's interests are also linked to the interests of your subordinates." Li Bida answered this way.
"Yes, yes." Vicintoli had no denying it, but he always felt that his words were not sincere. "In the battle below, our cavalry is willing to act as a vanguard, and the battle may be very fierce immediately."
But Vicintoli's last words were just a joke. The initial battle was incredible. Rimini, the key land in southern Rubicon, fell into the hands of the Caesars army without any resistance. When Li Bida led the defender into this small city, flowers were everywhere welcomed by the people, "You are fighting heroes from Gaul", and such cheers could be heard everywhere.
Chapter completed!