The armored Maximus strode into the hall, followed closely by the three Ministers of War.

Maximus's sharp gaze swept across everyone, pausing slightly in front of several Germanic leaders including Icaroby, who avoided eye contact with him.

Maximus got straight to the point: "I have just received news that Rome has dispatched an army and is on its way here!"

This statement immediately broke the silence in the hall.

"The Roman Army has finally come! At last, we can have a proper battle with them!"

"Yes, the soldiers are almost impatient! Great King, how many of them have come, I wonder if we can have our fill of battle!"

"Great King, who is the commander of this Roman Army? Is it that Caesar? Many of my soldiers want revenge against him!"

...

Several legion commanders spoke eagerly, each showing a strong desire for battle.

Maximus nodded secretly, looking towards the Minister of Staff.

Pequot coughed twice and said loudly, "Our patrol ships in the Adriatic Sea have sent back news that not long ago, Rome's Governor of Gaul, Caesar, engaged in a decisive battle with Pompey in Greece, where Pompey suffered a crushing defeat. Most of his forces surrendered to Caesar, although he managed to escape, he likely can't resist Caesar any longer.

This has allowed Caesar to free up his forces and send an army to deal with us. However, he clearly doesn't take us seriously, as he did not lead the army himself but sent one of his generals, Antony, to fight us. Moreover, the army he dispatched is not his main force but mostly Roman soldiers who surrendered from Pompey's side—"

"It's best that Caesar underestimates us!" Tini Bazus laughed mockingly: "We can just take advantage of his complacency, first devour this part of his army, thereby weakening the Romans' ability to contend with us."

"Exactly, Rome does not take us seriously and is not fully committed, which is perfect for us to defeat them without suffering great losses!" Stags agreed.

The other legion commanders concurred.

"We must not underestimate the commander of this Roman Army, Antony," Maximus reminded in a serious tone. "According to intelligence, this Roman general named Antony is not simple. Just ten years ago, he served as the Deputy General of the Roman Army in the Syrian expedition. It's said that he often led from the front lines in battle, displaying great bravery. Later on, this Roman army helped the Pharaoh of Egypt, Ptolemy, reclaim his kingdom, where Antony played a key role.

Because of Antony's performance, Caesar entrusted him with significant responsibilities after he joined him, and he did not let Caesar down. In Caesar's most difficult times, he led reinforcements across the sea at great risk to join forces with Caesar, helping him through difficult situations, and later performed excellently in a series of subsequent battles, so Caesar regards him as his most reliable lieutenant.

It's said that in the decisive battle with Pompey, Caesar let Antony command the left wing alone, which played a considerable role in the final victory, showing that Antony is a formidable Roman general.

Moreover, Antony is good at winning over soldiers. Although he is a Roman noble, he can dine and jest with regular soldiers, often generously rewarding them, earning considerable support among Roman soldiers...

Although this time the force is not Rome's elite, it is more than 30,000 strong, and under the leadership of Mark Antony, this army's combat effectiveness will not be poor, so everyone must not be careless!—"

Seeing the crowd's expressions grow serious, Maximus continued, "Of course, this Mark Antony is not without flaws. From his past behavior, this man fights boldly and bravely but is not inclined to think deeply. He likes to act on his instincts, and as a result, some of his past military operations have been overly risky. If not for weak enemies, he would have died long ago...

Considering Mark Antony's weakness, after repeated discussions, the Staff Department proposed an enticement plan. Pequot, tell everyone about it in detail."

"Yes, Great King." Pequot walked to the center of the hall, looking at the eager legion commanders, and said solemnly, "Gentlemen, given that we have completely controlled the surrounding area before capturing Aquileia, the Romans definitely don't know this city has fallen. We can wholly use Aquileia as bait to lure the Roman Army rushing to rescue it.

Our plan is as follows..."

............

Mark Antony led the army across the Adriatic Sea by ship, landing at Brindisi. While advancing northward, he also heavily promoted the news of "Caesar's victory over Pompey."

Previously, the news of "Caesar's great victory over Pompey in the battle" had already spread back to Italy, but since the battlefield was in Greece and the people hadn't witnessed it firsthand and were influenced by Pompey's past glorious records, most people were skeptical.

Antony's appearance confirmed it all because the legions and soldiers originally under Pompey's command were now under his command.

Thus, the Italian towns that had already sided with Caesar breathed a sigh of relief, while the towns inclined towards Pompey's leading Elder Faction, and which hadn't cooperated much with Caesar, were forced by the situation to open their gates and welcome Antony's army passing through.

Antony was not a generous person; he would recount the city's past hostile actions, threatening the administrative officials to make adequate amends to show sincere remorse, or else he would consider them Pompey's accomplices and impose the severest punishment.

Antony's fierce attitude and the tens of thousands of ferocious soldiers under his command, coupled with the news of Pompey's crushing defeat and his inability to turn things around, eventually compelled these towns to kneel, offering enough wealth to bribe this capable assistant of Caesar.

Antony did not keep the wealth to himself but generously distributed most of it to team officers and soldiers, ensuring rich food and wine provided by the neighboring towns at every encampment.

He held lavish banquets in the camp, drinking and reveling with the soldiers.

These Roman soldiers had never enjoyed such perks under Pompey and soon fell under the young Antony's spell, willing to take his command and fight for him.

While winning over the soldiers, Antony did not forget to satisfy his own desires; sometimes, he would blatantly visit nearby towns to have affairs with noblewomen, and even ordered his men to bring courtesans into his tent by carriage.

The soldiers initially felt uneasy about this and mocked these escapades at the camp banquets. He not only took it in stride, refusing to change his ways, but soon everyone became accustomed to it, even admiring that their commander was a flesh-and-blood person, making him more approachable.

Antony's triumph did not last long, as he advanced closer to the Northern Province, he received more reports from there.

The invading Nix Army not only besieged Aquileia but also attacked and plundered multiple surrounding towns, causing widespread panic in the whole province...

Additionally, a major rebellion erupted in the recently conquered Gaul region, annihilating a stationed legion and nearly wiping out the Roman reinforcements sent to assist...

Antony did not expect the situation in the Northern region, peaceful and stable just a year ago, to deteriorate so badly. If he did not act swiftly, the entire North would be in complete chaos and eventually threaten the security of Italy and Rome.

Thus, Antony dared not delay further, hastening the march, and by late September, he reached Rimini, where he encountered many fleeing Northern Italian residents, many from around Padua.

They tearfully complained to Antony that the barbarians ruthlessly seized their possessions (including slaves), injured and assaulted their families, and drove them from their homes...

Moreover, these barbarians boldly claimed that their invasion of the Northern Italy Province was due to Governor of Gaul Caesar's aggressive nature, slaughtering millions of Gauls over the past decade! Such heinous acts infuriated countless tribes north of the Alps, prompting this invasion by the Nix Kingdom, allying with numerous tribes, into Roman territory with only one aim — to avenge their fallen Gaul comrades! Unless Rome apprehended and executed the mastermind, Caesar, to quell the rage of the warriors from the Nix Kingdom and tribes, their assaults on Rome would never cease!

Antony was furious, not only because of the barbarians' ignorance and arrogance but also because they dared to insult the great and wise Caesar!

Originally, having entered the Northern Italy Province, for caution's sake, Antony planned to camp at Rimini for a few more days, waiting for Trebonius to arrive with reinforcements before taking action, but now he decided to immediately break camp and continue marching north.

Although angry, Antony did not lose his mind; he dispatched cavalry to scout for the enemy to prevent them from blocking him on the north bank of the lower Po River, delaying his advance.

The reports surprised him: not a trace of the enemy was found on the north bank of the lower Po River!

Simultaneously, Antony sighed with relief and swiftly led his army across the Po River to the major transport hub on the north bank — Hostilia (Hostilia).

Not long after, Trebonius, notified by a messenger, arrived with his army.

This Roman noble, who had accompanied Caesar to Gaul earlier, was one of the most trusted legion commanders during Caesar's latter days as the governor, especially noted for his performance during the suppression of Pompey's Army in Spain after the civil war broke out. Because of this, Caesar entrusted him with the significant responsibility of defending the Northern Three Provinces and securing the Gaul regions.

Antony even learned through certain channels that Caesar planned to appoint Trebonius to a high Legal Officer position in Rome after the civil war, as a reward for his loyalty and accomplishments.

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