Chapter 17: Rhode Islanders' Gratitude (Part 2)

"Also, signal the rest of the ships to avoid my flagship and sail further. I still have to take them to Ephesus, and they can't drown here." In a panic, Caesar was still able to take care of the problem of the warmth of the troops after landing, which really made his pale-faced staff around him admire him. In short, the dictator wanted to attract the main force of the enemy fleet in exchange for the survival of the other ships, but the problem was that if the dictator died in this naval battle, what was the use of preserving more troops?

The violent collision and shaking interrupted the reverie of all the officers and staff. Caesar's flagship rushed straight into the turbulent current around the island. The hull was moving forward, and it rubbed violently against the reefs in the shallow water. The people on the deck rolled over and over, and those who were unlucky fell directly onto the sharp rocks with screams, and blood splattered, dyeing the turbulent sea water red.

"Sir, I need to know where to go now. Should we go along the island or approach it?" The helmsman and many crew members asked Caesar frantically.

Caesar looked back and saw that the huge flagship of Cassiu, which was following closely behind, also rushed into the turbulence, and the rockets and javelins shot from it whizzed over his head. He shrugged his shoulders and replied to the person asking the question, "Then leave it to you. I hope the sea god will be satisfied with everyone's sacrifice today."

As soon as he finished speaking, Cassiu's rowers exerted a short force, accelerated the speed, and rushed the ram into the middle of Caesar's flagship, which was just about to turn. The personnel on half of the deck of Caesar's ship rolled down like colorful glass marbles on the marble floor, and Caesar also fell under the bridge. He was dizzy and still shouting for his shield slave. "Hurry up, get my sword and shield. I hope my fighting skills are not rusty yet."

When the shaking Cassius flagship began to calm down, the iron anchor fell into the sea with a loud thud. Because the ram had deeply wedged into Caesar's ship, the most important thing now was to hold it. Then the crow drawbridge was lowered, and Brutus jumped out first, holding his sword and shouting: "Go ahead. Kill the tyrant Julius."

"It's Brutus, it's Brutus, bastard boy, what evil god made you face such a dangerous enemy in person?" Caesar saw Brutus' figure and couldn't help but say it painfully, and then realized that his words were wrong, "Could it be that the dangerous enemy refers to myself?" At this moment, the veterans of the Ten Legions around Caesar. They held up their shields skillfully and quickly, protecting the dictator behind the shield wall, and the javelins and arrows on them slid down one after another. It happened that the wind direction changed at this time. Caesar hurriedly ordered to light the side of his ship, and the wind blew the fireworks along the drawbridge. The soldiers on Cassius' ship coughed violently, covering their faces. For a moment, they could not even cross the deck of Caesar's ship.

Under the loud shouting and encouragement of Brutus and Cassius, the soldiers covered their faces with cloaks and were about to rush over on the Crow Bridge. At this moment, another rapid drumbeat was heard. Casillas turned his head and saw that from all directions of the island group, there were about 20 to 30 light long ships flying the unique sea snake flag. "These are the ships of Rhodes Island. Why are they here? Are they enemies or friends?" But before Casillas could figure it out, the fleet of Rhodes Island responded with practical actions. Their oarsmen were more familiar with the sea conditions and ocean currents in this area than Casillas' men. They bypassed the intercepting ships without any effort, and entered the turbulent currents between the islands and reefs. They occupied the tide and rushed to Casillas' flagship. The sharp ramming horns wedged the hull from all directions. Then the crew of Rhodes Island walked on the shaking deck as if it were flat ground. They all came from this seafaring city-state and had been with the ocean since childhood. They threw out iron hooks and tore the oars of the lower two layers of Casillas' ship into pieces.

At this point, Cassius panicked. Could it be that the goddess of fate was really one of the lovers of Julius, the bald man? He ordered all the combatants on the ship to fight to the death, but the Rhodian fleet was divided into several parts, blocking his men from approaching, and slowly cut his flagship with belly bows and sickles. The tide gradually became chaotic, and Cassius and all the crew members, including the four-row oared boat, were like a stranded whale, unable to move. In the end, Caesar launched an attack instead, and his men, together with the Rhodians, rushed up and captured Cassius and Brutus.

A naval battle ended without any danger. Cassius's side lost 300 people, while Caesar's side only lost 50 people and several flat-bottomed boats.

After the war, the people of Rhodes told Caesar that many of them had been forced by Marcellus of Pompey's camp to go to the Dixachian area to participate in the war and intercept Antony, but they encountered a hurricane and were all captured by Antony. However, the other party showed mercy and compassion and gave them enough money to return home. This time, the people of Rhodes came to repay their gratitude. Among them, the people of Rhodes also elected a Roman knight as the leader. This knight, named Hityus, was a tax farmer protected by Lepidus. After the civil war broke out, he raised the flag in Cyprus and other places to resist Pompey, but was defeated and fled. Now his luck has turned and he was welcomed into the city by the people of Rhodes. "Where did Gabinus and Marcellus escape to?" Caesar consulted Hityus about the issue of concern.

The other party replied that the two former archons had fled to Rhodes by boat a few days ago and asked the islanders to asylum them, but were rejected by the Elders of Rhodes and were not allowed to enter the port. So they should continue to run to Cyprus, "because there is a larger island after all, and their ships can sneak onto the island."

Caesar smiled and entrusted Cetius to temporarily manage Rhodes, and then Cassius and Brutus were escorted to him by soldiers.

The dictator looked at the young and stubborn Brutus with a very gentle and loving look. The other party was half ashamed and half angry, and turned his face away, not meeting Caesar's eyes.

As a result, Cassius happily half-knelt down, kissed the back of Caesar's hand and even his toes, and expressed his willingness to submit to the dictator's camp. Brutus was extremely surprised by his friend's action. He struggled to stop him, but it was too late. He could only angrily accuse Cassius, "Have you forgotten the overthrow of the Republic, the criminals who crossed the Rubicon River without authorization, and the tragic death of Cato the Younger?"

"There is no crime that is not a crime. Anyone can restore the Republic. As long as the victor will not refuse to restore the ancient glorious traditional order, Julius is the same. My friend, don't be stubborn anymore - if you continue to stay in Pompey's camp, I'm afraid you won't even live to the age of running for consul." Cassius said without hesitation, and then continued to ignore Brutus's rebuke and expressed his willingness to be loyal to Caesar.

"Okay, Cassius, you will be the governor of Lusitania next year and will be responsible for training my fleet. I value your naval ability." After Caesar finished speaking, he stared at Brutus and said in a seemingly stern tone, "As for your child, I will deprive you of any public office and send you back to your mother and wife. You owe them too much!" (To be continued...)

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