Chapter 691: Compromise
The Visigothic army set out from northern Iberia, passed through Narbonne Gaul, and was about to reach Genoa.
Torismon led a huge army here, not only to attack Attila to avenge his personal vengeance, but also to show all the Romans who were watching and deeply involved that the Visigoths were reliable partners, at least that was what Torismon showed at the moment.
A month later, a group of uninvited guests arrived from Dalmatia. Outside the city of Sirmium in northeastern Dalmatia, Megarian was waiting anxiously outside the city gate.
Soon, a group of cavalry appeared on the road in the distance. They were wearing purple shawls, and the silver chain mail underneath was faintly visible. Each of them held a nearly four-meter-long lance with a long red flag hanging at the end of the lance.
This team of cavalry was arranged in pairs, with the rear horse following the tail of the front horse. Such a dense formation made the team of cavalry several hundred meters long.
The cavalry walked towards Mojorian slowly, and Mojorian hurriedly called on the soldiers guarding the city gate behind him to make way.
All I saw was the cavalry slowly walking into the city gate, followed by the infantry holding the Labran flag, who slowly escorted a gorgeous carriage.
The colorful horses slowly pulled the carriage in front of Mojorian.
"Caesar, Caesar!"
Mojorian was so frightened that he stood there trembling. He lowered his head and dared only look at the wheels in front of him. He didn't know what to do for a moment. After all, even he didn't expect Augustus to come to the province of Dalmatia in person.
Although this was considered western Roman land, Constantinople had always been politically superior to Ravenna.
Mainly because of Augustus' weakness and military difficulties, Western Rome had become a small bird that was struggling to survive. However, compared with the stable Eastern Rome, it had been dominant since Agrias.
Of course, no one knows whether the current Roman citizens want the current Augustus Lucurcanus of Eastern Rome to reunite Rome and make the entire Rome a unified country from being divided.
However, it now seems that Western Rome is nothing but a pool of muddy water. Augustus in the East seems to have lost interest in this shabby western land, so he allows it to be swallowed up by the barbarians.
The most important problem at the moment is how to deal with Attila's army that is now passing straight through Dalmatia. They have surrounded Rome and built layers of fences outside the city, treating the city like a bird in a cage.
Although the Senate Chamber in Sirmium was not as magnificent as those in Rome or Constantinople, it was packed with people because of the arrival of Augustus.
Nobles were coming in and out, and slaves were busy disturbing the stone pillars that were already covered with vines and the dusty ground.
People from the entire city came to the streets, each of them looking forward to it, and all of them were eager to see Augustus in person. After all, his deeds would always come faster than he himself.
"I am very honored by your coming, Caesar." Mojolian was speechless for a moment. He didn't know how to describe his mood at the moment. Should he say it was surprise or fear? Only Mojolian himself understood.
At this time, the curtains on the carriage were slightly opened, and first a head with a golden laurel crown appeared, followed by Luca's slightly tired face.
He just glanced at Mo Qiaolian in front of him, and Mo Qiaolian did not dare to raise his head and look at Lu Jia from beginning to end.
"No need to be so polite, Lord Mojorian. I hope you can remain as humble as you were when I was the captain of the sergeant."
"You are making things difficult for me, Caesar." Mojolian didn't dare to relax at all.
“Hehehe…”
A dull laugh came from the carriage, followed by another question: "So, is Lord Atilinnaeus here?"
"Yes, Caesar, he has been waiting inside for a long time."
When I walked into the Senate's meeting hall, I saw it was filled with nobles from Cimium. They had no seats and would rather stand on the floor at the back in their best clothes.
Attylinnaeus was sitting in the first row, feeling indignant because Augustus' order made his army stay in Mursa for a long time. His original plan was to recover a large area of lost land in northern Pannonia before Attila could react, but the news of Augustus' order to stop made his plan come to nothing.
He naturally hoped that Augustus would give him a reasonable explanation, so he came here and wanted to meet Caesar.
"Caesar, Caesar is coming, Caesar is coming!"
With just one shout, the hundreds of people in the originally noisy conference hall fell silent at that moment.
Everyone was looking forward to it, and when they saw Luca walking into the hall slowly, everyone took a deep breath. They finally saw Augustus, the most powerful man in the empire.
They didn't even dare to breathe. All of them stared with wide eyes, watching the arrogant king passing by them. All of them spontaneously put their right hands on their chests and leaned forward slightly to show respect.
"Caesar, our army is waiting in Mursa. The barbarians in the city are trembling. They are afraid of us, but our soldiers are shouting and fighting fiercely, eager to kill them all and hang their heads on the city wall to show the world that Rome has taken back what belongs to them!"
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Atilinnaeus was present and he impatiently interrupted everyone's solemn gaze before Luca took his seat.
Everyone, including Megarian who was following Luca, looked at Atilinnaeus in surprise. After all, he was treated so rudely when he first arrived in Augustus.
Luca turned his head and looked at the indignant general. There was no anger in his expression because his dignity was offended. He looked at Atilinnaeus with calmness and even a hint of sympathy.
"I understand your anger, Attylinnaeus, my friend!" Luca said, raising his hand slightly. He wanted to say something, but swallowed the words back.
He didn't know how to explain to this unwilling veteran, because any words would be pale and powerless.
He didn't say anything, just sighed, found his seat, and sat down slowly. The meeting was horribly quiet, and everyone's eyes were on Luca. Should they blame the general for his rudeness? Or should they blame Augustus for his strange order? "We can talk about the ransom again."
Oedites' second visit was unusual. He directly invited, no, it should be Attila who directly invited Leo to come to his main account to negotiate the ransom for the Huns to withdraw.
"Six thousand pounds of gold, fifty carts of luxury goods."
This proposal made Leo, who knew nothing about the outside world, finally notice a slight change. Plus the price was right, so he agreed without thinking.
The Huns began to dismantle their siege towers and ladders, and in return the Romans melted down golden statues in the city to raise the required ransom.
Perhaps the Romans had no idea that Attila was in dire straits and had no choice but to do so, but they were still grateful, because after all, they used gold to redeem themselves to live in the mortal world for a few decades.
Leo became the biggest winner, and the Pope's status in Rome surpassed Augustus for the first time. Of course, this was not what Valentinian wanted to see, but he had no choice.
(End of this chapter)