Chapter 250 Win-Win

"I thought only old people would be so energetic at night, but I didn't expect you to be the same as me."

Sebastianus narrowed his eyes into a straight line and looked at Luca with a smile.

"Oh, I almost forgot!" Luca slapped his head and then said, "You two were comrades in arms. You opposed Aetius together, but failed."

"Oh, my God, I was innocent!" Alessio protested dissatisfiedly. Indeed, meeting his comrades who had experienced the ups and downs together after so many years was a great boost to Alessio's spirit, allowing him to finally relax and laugh out loud.

"Oh, my special envoy!" Luca asked while rubbing his belly, "I was wondering whose car was outside the door. It turned out to be you, sneaking out."

"Alas, Mr. Luca, after saying so much, you still cannot understand me. I just want to ask for help from Mr. Aresio and seek as much help as possible in assisting you. Of course, the first person I thought of was the bureaucrats who once supported Boniface. Although they are not doing well now, as long as we get the full support of Augustus, the Senate and Aetius will not be able to compete with us!" Sebastianus said confidently, and Aresio on the side nodded repeatedly.

Alessio couldn't help but look solemn. Sebastianus and Luca were puzzled and asked him why. Alessio said, "This is indeed a grand ambition. It would be best if we could pull the Flavius ​​family out of the political quagmire of the Western Empire. However, my spies are only in Gaul and Northern Italy. As for your movements in Greater Sicily, the Senate controls that place. I really can't do anything about it."

"I'm afraid that by now, the Senate has already received Augustus's dynamics. They must know what this means. Although they are all elderly people and are filled with a large number of barbarians, their thinking and actions are no worse than anyone else in this world." Sebastianus emphasized this point. "So let's first consider the wedding of Caesar Valentinian III. This is a political marriage, and Theodosius regards it as extremely important. As long as Licinia can successfully complete the wedding with her distant cousin, then we can stabilize our control over Augustus' throne and prevent some ambitious guys with heavy troops from seizing the throne, which will only provoke war."

"So we have to do it at the same time when the combined army of Valentinian III and the Eastern Empire arrives in Greater Sicily, just like two fists hitting at the same time, making it difficult for the Senate to resist." Luca clenched his fists and put them in front of his mouth, and said in a deep voice. "By then, Mr. Alessio will be able to show up at the wedding, and we will explain it clearly to Augustus and try to get Mr. Alessio back to his position as the Imperial Treasurer."

Aresio was naturally overjoyed to hear that he was reinstated, but the smile on his face soon disappeared, replaced by solemnity.

"You are afraid that we will break our promise again, Lord Alessio!" Luca directly said what he thought Alessio was worried about, but Alessio smiled and shook his head after hearing it. Alessio said, "I am afraid that Aetius will know this news and use his prestige in the empire and the support of the Senate to block the landing of the Eastern Empire's joint army. The Eastern Empire's army, which is out of reach, can't stay on the sea for long."

"Don't worry about that, Master Aresio." Luca said seriously, "My legion has already controlled Syracuse and Trapani. Whether in the east or the south, Aetius has no ability to let his legion stop us. Moreover, his main legion needs to confront the barbarians in northern Gaul. It is impossible for him to go south to Greater Sicily."

"If he's desperate, he could do anything," Sebastianus reminded. "Don't forget how many thousands of Hun cavalry passed through our territory, and Pannonia is still under the control of the Huns. We have no reason not to believe that if the conflict is really established, it is not impossible for such a scene to happen again. We just don't know which province we will lose in the next civil war."

"Then avoid conflict and try not to push too hard and suffocate people." Luca knocked on the table and reminded everyone present: "Our biggest goal now is the Vandals who occupy the province of Africa. We must take back the grain-producing areas there. Only by relying on them can we stabilize Iberia and make adequate preparations for the reunification of the empire."

"So, Mr. Luca's plan is..."

"Let's negotiate with Aetius first. At least in the Senate, we should show goodwill and fully respect Aetius's right to command the military."

"So, you mean, give him part of the command of the combined army?" Alessio's tone changed, and it was obvious that he was very unhappy. Alessio could not tolerate such a compromise. He hated Aetius so much that he couldn't stand seeing him do any good. "We have such a large army, do we really need to give this guy a bit of face? The Italian province is no longer what it was ten years ago. Aetius doesn't have so many troops to command!"

"But the Huns do!" Luca interrupted Alessio and said, "We must take into account the relationship between Aetius and the Huns. Since so many troops will go to Greater Sicily, Aetius and the Senate will naturally not sit idly by. We can't repeat the same mistake."

Aresio gritted his teeth. He didn't say anything. He just clenched his fists and slammed the table hard, as if he was venting his anger.

"I'm sorry, I'm so selfish!"

As Aresio spoke, he reached out and touched the ugly scar on his face. His breathing was heavy, as if he had been so angry that he couldn't recover for a long time.

"I'm sorry, my friend, Aetius has really embarrassed you." Sebastianus said, patting Aresio's shoulder and explaining to him: "But now we have to put the overall situation first. Let's deal with the Vandals first and maintain the stability of the empire before we talk about other things, okay?"

Under Sebastianus' careful persuasion, Aresio finally chose to obey.

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"Then let's make some arrangements!" Luca breathed a sigh of relief, but his stomach was already twisted with hunger. "Then, Lord Aresio, don't you have any food at home? Bring it up, my soldiers and I are all hungry!"

(End of this chapter)