Chapter 208: Empire Spokesperson

This time, Theodosius II did not see him off, because his retainers told Luca that Theodosius II had more important things to do. The retainers kept silent about what they were.

"Forget it, it must be a big secret!" Lu Jia said to himself, returned to the team, jumped on the horse, and asked Andrew: "So, where is our next destination?"

"Athens!" Andrew replied, "The newly formed legion is assembled there. Augustus requires us to go there as soon as possible. I heard that it is very important and we must set off immediately."

"I hope the army I'm given isn't a bunch of new recruits who need to be retrained, otherwise I won't be able to earn him the honor and deterrence he wants!" Luca said as he lightly kicked his horse's belly and led Andrew and his party along the familiar streets, rushing out of the city as quickly as possible.

But they had not walked far when they saw a carriage lying across the deserted street, as if deliberately blocking the way of Luca and his group. There was a waiter standing under the carriage, and he looked as if he had been waiting for a long time.

"Who is so brave?"

Faced with the carriage blatantly blocking the middle of the road, Luga led his guards to stop far away.

"Hey, that guy, get out of the way! We're in a hurry!" Faced with such a blatant obstruction, Andrew naturally shouted at the waiter in front of the carriage. But the waiter seemed to be deaf and stayed where he was. What was going on? Lu Jia was a little confused. He turned over and got off the horse and took two steps forward.

The street was empty, and who could be sure that there were no ambushes on the balconies of the houses on both sides, like in the Chinese martial arts clips, suddenly appearing when Lu Jia approached. Although this was not China, it was better to be safe than sorry, which Lu Jia must keep in mind. Otherwise, let's take a detour, Lu Jia thought to himself, and turned around to get on his horse.

Just as Luca was about to mount his horse, the waiter spoke.

"Excuse me, is this Mr. Orius Luca?"

Knowing his name, Luca turned around curiously and looked at the waiter. The waiter took two steps forward, pointed at the carriage behind him and said to Luca, "My master learned that you came from the Western Empire and specially came to invite you to have a chat. However, you are Augustus's close bodyguard, so you naturally cannot get close. So I dare to block your way here. I beg you to squeeze out some time to talk with my master for the sake of the gods."

"What's your master's name?" Luca turned and asked.

"Sebastianus," the waiter had just finished speaking when he saw a middle-aged man with gray hair but a strong body walk out of the carriage behind him. He was dressed in a long robe and got off the carriage with the help of the waiter and said to Luca, "I used to be a staunch supporter of Boniface, the governor of Africa Province, but I was defeated by the barbarian Aetius, so I went into exile here and wanted to discuss with my compatriots from the Western Empire."

"Is there such a person?" Luca turned back to look at Andrew, who nodded and said, "There is such a person, but he has been in exile in Constantinople for several years and has not appeared. God knows whether he is dead or alive."

"Forget it, let's meet him for a while!" Luca made up his mind and asked Andrew to dismount and follow him, while the rest of the soldiers stayed where they were and did not move.

As they approached, there was no movement around them. Luca became a little uneasy. Could it be that this guy was set up by Arminius or some other bastard who was not used to seeing him so successful? Even with such doubts, he still brought Andrew to the middle-aged man.

"Would you like to come with me into the carriage and have a chat?" The man named Sebastianus bowed slightly to Luca and invited him to get in the carriage.

"No need, sir. If you have anything to say, just say it here." Luca rejected Sebastianus' suggestion. In fact, he was still worried that this guy had hidden something in the carriage.

Sebastianus first glanced at the group of cavalrymen behind Luca, his eyes revealing serious distrust. Could it be that he had some huge conspiracy hidden in his head? Luca's right hand tightly grasped the hilt of the sword at his waist. He was highly focused and ready to deal with any unexpected situation at any time.

"Since you don't want to chat in a closed space, let's talk here. However, it's almost dawn and the road will soon be filled with pedestrians. If others hear it, it may mislead the country and the people."

So serious? Lu Jia was holding his neck in his heart, thinking that it would be no big deal to get into the carriage, the main thing was to listen to what this person who claimed to be the former staunch supporter of Boniface could say.

After entering the carriage, Sebastianus specially poured two glasses of wine for Luca and Andrew, but Luca refused.

"What's the matter?" Sebastianus asked Luca with a smile, "Could it be that you still don't trust me and are afraid that the wine is poisoned?"

"No, no," Luca, who had been found out, naturally tried to save face. He refused the wine and said, "Wine is a poison that can easily make people lose consciousness. I must stay sober enough during this period. Otherwise, if I mess up, not to mention that Augustus will be angry, I will also lose face in this world."

"Then I won't drink!" As if he believed Luca's excuse or deliberately gave Luca a way out, Sebastianus drank the wine in the cup and then said to Luca: "I heard that you have become Theodosius's adopted son. This is a great joy. I heard that Theodosius was generous for your son. The gift is a legion composed of 30 field regiments (15,000 people)."

"I didn't expect that you knew more details than I do!" Luga laughed.

"The Western Empire has been in a turbulent time recently. Barbarians are roaming around the Empire as if they were in an empty land, which has severely damaged the Empire's taxation economy. It is really difficult for Aetius to maintain the foundation of the empire by himself. Theodosius II urgently needs another capable person to maintain the foundation of the Western Empire. I think that person who is pinned with hope is you, Your Excellency!"

"Why do you think so?" Luca felt that the guy in front of him knew a lot. What information was he feeding back to him?

"Recently, the Western Empire has lost Africa and three other southern provinces. The richest land has been lost. Not only has the nobles lost their luxurious enjoyment, but the empire is also unable to maintain its domestic army. Once it loses its absolute advantage in military capabilities, the empire's destruction is imminent."

"so?"

"The Vandals have declared their withdrawal from the alliance with the Roman Empire. Their barbarian leader, Gaiseric, has even sent troops to attack Greater Sicily several times, challenging the empire's bottom line again and again. So not only the Eastern Empire needs you, but the Western Empire needs you as well!"

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"You need me too?" Luka was a little puzzled. "What does this have to do with the Eastern Empire?"

"Of course, it matters a lot." Sebastianus shook his head at Luca and continued, "Although Rome has been divided into the East and the West for a long time, the empire is still an empire. The Western Empire has entered a turbulent period and is about to collapse. It is difficult for one person to support it. Theodosius II will naturally not sit idly by. Moreover, the confrontation between forces in the Western Empire is too complicated, so a spokesperson for the empire is needed to influence them at all times. In Rome, as long as there is one person who tries to usurp power, there will naturally be several people who will imitate him. Theodosius II is worried that Aetius will usurp power."

"So you appointed me as an adopted son, to become the spokesperson of the Eastern Empire, to represent the Eastern Empire, to maintain the balance of power within the Western Empire, and to gradually recover the territories occupied by the barbarians. In other words, I must maintain the absolute ruling ability of the Flavius ​​family in the Western Empire. Is this what I mean?" Luca asked.

"Theodosius II has his reasons for trusting you so much and letting you take on important tasks at such an age."

"So, what do you think? Why did you make an appointment with me privately? Let me ask you, what is your choice in this struggle?" Luca was naturally a little displeased with what Sebastianus said. He blocked his mouth directly, leaving him speechless. Just as he got out of the way, Luca was busy checking on his own legion.

"Empire, Flavius!" What Luca didn't expect was that Sebastianus said directly: "I am here just to recommend myself to the future rookie of the Flavius ​​family. Let me follow you and return to the Western Empire to fight against that barbarian!"

"Why?" Faced with this sudden surrender, Luga was confused for a moment.

"Because you are stronger than Boniface, I can feel that you are the new Constantius!" Sebastianus stared into Luca's eyes and said slowly: "As long as the empire can be stabilized, no one will care whose puppet the emperor is!"

Note: Constantius: The actual controller of Honorius, the emperor of the Western Empire after Stilicho's death! Husband of Augusta (Empress) Galla Placidia, father of Valentinian III.

Book Friends Group: 112964454. Sincerely invite book friends who love Roman history to join us to discuss and write "Spear and Shield and the Roman Empire" together.

(End of this chapter)