Chapter 604: Go All In

It seems that history has changed, just like a fragile spider silk that cannot withstand the plucking of a guitar string by a finger. But now everything seems to have changed.

When it really comes to turning the tide, should we kneel down or take up arms to resist? Everyone is looking at Luca, the true will of Augustus.

Augustus was the center of attention and admired by the world. While enjoying his rights, he also had to fulfill his obligations as a leader.

"I haven't thought about this yet, but soon I'll be able to come up with a solution to deal with it." Luga smiled at everyone present and watched them leave.

"Caesar, you have to understand what the consequences will be if something goes wrong with this choice." At this time, Andrew finally couldn't help but questioned Luca: "Attila is different from before. They are too powerful. Can we really defeat them in this attack?"

"What? Are you scared?" Luca asked back.

"But what are the consequences, do you understand?"

"It's nothing more than my downfall, becoming the laughing stock of the entire Roman world, or the object of criticism." Luca's smile revealed helplessness. He then turned around and walked into the house, and placed the Spear of Longinus on the altar in the right corner.

Luca held the Spear of Longinus solemnly in both hands. This seemingly ordinary and ancient spear, made of copper, shone with golden light and reflected on Luca's face, making his eyes glow with golden light. Luca's voice became heavy, and he continued, "Leo handed this weapon that killed Jesus to me, not to negotiate with the barbarians, but to atone for the sins of mankind, yes, the mankind of the civilized world."

Looking at the Spear of Longinus in his hand, Luca sighed softly, and suddenly seemed to remember something and asked Andrew: "Where are the Iberian army and the Alans?"

"Narpan, Caesar."

"How many people?"

"More than 30,000. Diego has summoned 10,000 Alans this time, and the remaining 20,000 are the troops that followed us to attack Iberia."

"Why don't we gather all the citizens who have retreated from the north, among whom there are many men, and reorganize the army?"

"Those people, those untrained people, are they reliable?" Andrew was a little confused. He couldn't imagine what consequences Luca's decision would cause.

"We have no choice, Andrew!" Luca came over and grabbed Andrew's wolfskin and said to him, "The fate of Rome is in the hands of every adult male! Now that we are facing a powerful enemy, no one has any reason to avoid it. Go, gather as many troops as possible, even if it's Narbonne or Ludug, whether it's garrisons or civilians, distribute weapons, and join the war."

"They have never been on the battlefield, so no one can guarantee how they will perform in this war."

"We have no choice, my friend." Luca said calmly, "This is fate. Neither you nor I can escape it."

"Is Caesar crazy? Look at his army, they are capturing men all over the city and enlisting all the men who are still able to hold weapons into the army. The blacksmith shops and armor workshops in the city are operating day and night. The whole city is like crazy. The sound of ironworks keeps me awake!"

In the evening, Litorius complained to Aetius. His eyes were red and his hair was messy. He was showing his protest in such a messy way in front of his superior.

"Don't complain, my friend." Aetius listened to the sound of iron hammering outside the window. He sat at a desk lit by four oil lamps. On the left side of the table was a pile of parchment scrolls like a small mountain. Aetius' right hand was pressing on the map of Gaul.

He looked very calm and unmoved. He smiled at Litorio's complaint and comforted Litorio, saying, "My friend, you should understand Caesar's feelings at this moment, because an upright Roman would not stand idly by while the barbarians invaded. He just did what he should do."

"So what is our choice? Get on his chariot, or negotiate with Attila wearing an olive branch."

"Littorio, we made our choice when we rejected Attila's rude request..."

"I understand, sir. However, what are our chances of winning this war? You know, in our opinion, Attila's army is at least 300,000, and we only have 50,000. If we capture these civilians to make up the numbers, what are our chances of winning?"

"That depends on God, my friend." Aetius said disapprovingly, but he stopped the meaningless activity in his hands, raised his head and turned his gaze to the darkness outside the window, "We are not fighting alone, at least our comrades will soon understand."

At this time, in the territory of the Visigoths in western Gaul, although it was late at night, Theoderic I did not feel tired at all. He stared down at the map of Gaul in his hand with his eyes wide open like stars in the night.

He was a good military strategist. At least as a king, war was as common to him as eating and wearing clothes.

He stared at the map in front of him in silence and drank glass of wine. The alcohol did not help him sleep, but made him more awake.

"Father…"

Torismon saw that the light was on in his father's room, so he pushed the door open without saying hello in advance.

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"Oh, Torismon, my child, it's you." Seeing his son, the frown on the old Theodoric's face slowly relaxed. "Please sit down, Torismon."

Torismon sat directly opposite Theodoric, and seeing Theodoric's frown slowly loosening and then furrowing, he couldn't help but ask, "Father, are you still looking at the map..."

"The Romans have lost Reims, and now Attila's army is attacking Durottolecomum. The territory below is ours."

"So is Attila willing to negotiate with us? Or in other words, which side are we on, the Romans or the Huns?"

"Attila doesn't seem to be willing to negotiate with us. He is so aggressive and just like his fathers, he is born a robber and a beast in his blood."

"So, father, you are not willing to negotiate with Attila." Torismon seemed to have guessed what Theodoric meant. "Father hates them. This is a hatred that he has had since his mother was born. But father, you rejected Aetius' invitation to form an alliance."

"I don't think Attila would consider us friends, Torismon, my child. This doesn't mean we will become friends with the Romans who are constantly at war. Look at Luca's war against the Suebi. He clearly wants to surround and devour us. This untrustworthy and ambitious guy."

"Father." Torismon was silent for a moment, as if he had something to hide, but he finally spoke out, still hesitantly, "Father, you have to know that Attila's army has tens of thousands, and every time he goes out, it is like a moving ocean. If you are his enemy, even if you hold your ground, you will be attacked by him."

"We'll see what happens," Theodoric continued. "I've ordered the southern army to return to the north. I hope Attila will be wary of our strength."

(End of this chapter)