Chapter 509: Ending with Nothing
This is not a discussion, this is clearly a naked threat. Perhaps because he is used to dealing with these old guys in the Senate, Aetius always speaks so kindly. In comparison, Luca is aggressive, but his attitude is more real. However, Theoderic's tough attitude has led to Luca's arrogance and unreasonableness.
No matter what, the land and interests of the three parties are at stake. If even one person refuses to give in, all discussions will end in vain.
Verbal threats are a small matter. The most frightening thing is that they are actually done if there is a disagreement. Such a heavy loss may not be something that even Aetius, a captain of soldiers, can bear.
This is not a big deal. Luca, a young guy, never knew when to stop. The most critical thing was Theodoric's attitude. If it was not a problem to divide the grain and gold equally, then the most important thing was to see whether Theodoric was willing to do so. This was also what Aetius was worried about at the moment.
"Son of a bitch!" Aetius gritted his teeth and clenched his fists involuntarily. A thousand sheep, what can this little thing do? Theodoric was clearly looking for an excuse to keep himself out of the matter, which Aetius could see. He just regretted that he didn't find out about this guy in time, and forgot that this was originally a struggle for interests for each party.
"No, I can't just pay for this almost farcical request!" Aetius kept shouting in his heart. At first, he wanted to make things difficult for Luca and then find some handles from him. Unexpectedly, Theoderic didn't put himself in the middle of it at all. Instead, he became an actor in a one-man show and directed and acted in it himself.
"Sir Theoderic." Aetius sat up straight and looked at Theoderic seriously, saying, "This concerns the security of the entire Gaul region and northern Iberia. We must consider it carefully."
"Then how do we suppress the Suebi?" Theoderic immediately retorted: "And the Alans from southern Iberia, where on earth did these guys come from! Moreover, they claim to be allies of the Romans, so they show off their power in front of us. I really can't understand how you Romans indulge your allies!"
Theodoric said this very decisively, because he himself did not want to get involved, so there was no friendship or the saying that the enemy of my enemy is my friend. The three people present were fighting for their own interests, not to mention that Luca was threatening him.
"You must pay the price today, Theoderic!" Aetius glared at Theoderic and thought secretly in his heart.
"Hey, Roman boy!" Theodoric naturally refused to give in. He stared at Luca and said in a deep voice, "Don't dream. You won't get a penny from me!"
"Okay, that doesn't matter!" Luca spread his hands and shrugged. "Then I will tell the barbarians stationed in the Belgian Gaul Province that there is enough food in the Kingdom of Visgoth for them to eat for ten years. Then, I will watch how you fight on two fronts, Your Majesty!"
"Bang!" Theoderic I slammed the table hard and stood up. He glared at Luca and said in a cold tone, "You are threatening me! Flavius Luca."
"Do you think I'm afraid of you?" Luca sneered at Theodoric, not showing any fear at all. "I don't know how long my army can control these barbarians. Anyway, I've suffered enough losses now. With such a large group of barbarians heading south, neither you nor Lord Aetius will have a good ending!"
"Oh? Really? Come to think of it, I don't mind chopping you up and making food to appease those damn barbarians!"
"Enough!" Aetius finally lost his composure. He slammed the table and shouted angrily, "Can quarreling solve the problem? You know, during this quarrel, more barbarians might cross the river!"
After that, seeing that the two men stopped talking, Aetius felt that things might still turn around, so he looked at Theoderic I and said in a slightly softer tone: "Sir Theoderic, no, Your Majesty, we really need to face the large group of barbarians together instead of quarreling endlessly here!"
Then he said to Theoderic I: "Sir Theoderic, I can fully pay for 10 million pounds of beans and barley for such a distribution of grain, and I would like to trouble you to consider the overall situation for the 1,000 cattle and 3,000 sheep. As for the gold, I suggest that we split it in half, 3,000 pounds each."
"Hmph, that's easy to say." Aetius' proposal was not met with approval, but with a sneer from Theoderic. "If I give you all the cattle, sheep, and gold, then what will my soldiers on the front line eat, and how will I pay their salaries? How can I command the soldiers to fight if they have no food? How can I continue the war against the Suebi in Iberia?"
This was a rant of bitterness, but Theoderic's words were clearly about maintaining the integrity of the Roman territory, but in fact he wanted to take the opportunity to annex the Suebi territory to expand his own power. This was clear to Aetius and Luca, but they could not say it out loud, lest this hot-tempered barbarian be dissatisfied and leave in anger because of losing face.
"Well, Master Luca." Aetius looked at Luca again and said with a smile, "You see, the price you offered really stumped Master Theodoric and I. Can you please be more flexible, for God's sake, because the cold weather has not allowed the farms in my jurisdiction to have a good harvest."
"Not a single grain of wheat can be lost!" Luca's answer almost suffocated Aetius. At this moment, Luca looked really difficult to speak. "Sir Aetius, I think you are also aware of the fighting power of these barbarians. I can't let them starve. But then again, you have also fought with mercenaries. Would you bargain with mercenaries?"
“This is different…”
"How is it different? Sir Aetius!" Luca interrupted Aetius directly, leaving Aetius speechless.
Now it all depends on Theoderic. If this guy says "no" again, then this meeting that was put together with so much difficulty will really come to nothing!
Aetius didn't believe it and wanted to try again, so he shamelessly asked Theoderic I: "Sir, please consider it again..."
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"Then let these damn barbarians come!" Theoderic stood up and turned away, leaving only Luca and Aetius in the entire meeting hall.
"It seems that the progress has not been as you hoped." Luca laughed in his seat, and said to Aetius who lowered his head and said nothing, "Maybe you have forgotten that Theoderic is also a barbarian." After saying that, Luca stood up, bowed slightly to Aetius, and left the meeting place.
Seeing that the whole situation was at a stalemate due to the distribution of food and money, the meeting ended unpleasantly with the departure of Theoderic, leaving Aetius alone with his fists clenched tightly.
(End of this chapter)