Chapter 15 The Last Supper (Part 2)

When Lepidus caught up with the cavalry, he saw this incredible scene: Hittius's team surrounded the camp several times, and the cavalry of the Getulian king Bocchus was still searching for the captured enemies in the surrounding area. , but in the camp, the King of Juba sat majestically on a raised slope, raised a flag, and feasted face to face with Afranius. The surrounding soldiers, including Tharp, the chief steward of the King of Juba, , they all raised their swords to commit suicide one after another. Black vultures flew everywhere, surrounding the two of them, making blood-curdling screams.

Afranius was the most noble nobleman in Rome. Although he had the qualifications to serve as consul and command battles in Spain, he was actually relatively weak. He held up a silver wine glass and watched the corpse-eating vultures running around him. There was a loud noise, and I couldn't help but shrink my neck and lower my head in fear.

"Why don't you drink! Do you still think you can escape now?" King Juba asked angrily when he saw the other party's condition.

"I am a Roman citizen and a former consul. I have immunity from capital punishment. I can go out and surrender now. I can definitely save my life and property." I don't know, Afranius said this at this moment The words come from what kind of mood. "Then since you are unwilling to surrender, then we will have a duel to decide life and death." King Juba said as he put his sword on the dining table.

Far outside the camp, Lepidus and all the generals, centurions and soldiers under the flag surrounded the place densely. It was like watching two people acting in a drama again. there. The king of Juba is still aggressive. Afranius could only put out the self-defense dagger he was wearing. At this time, King Juba's tone softened, "I am the king and you are the consul. We follow tradition and law. , are the supreme rulers of a country, although they were once. So since our death was not in the charge, it cannot be after being captured, because that is not a brave act at all. Now the entire Utica and Numi. There are still many enemies watching us on the border of Asia, so we have to show determination and courage. Duel is the best form of expression. Don't you Romans love to see people shed blood in the Colosseum? Those sword-fighting slaves didn't even turn their faces before they died, and then you applauded loudly for their deaths. "Then let's perform to the end. Failure is bitter enough, and you can't call it your own death." . Such a heinous waste." King Juba slowly raised his sword, and Afranius had no choice but to pull out the dagger.

So, Lepidus sent a token officer on a fast horse and shouted into the camp, "The former cavalry commander asked you, when will you be able to enter the stage of actual performances?"

As a result, all the legion soldiers surrounding the camp burst into laughter after hearing these words and seeing the scene in front of them. King Juba was so ashamed and angry that he stood up suddenly and thrust his long sword into the man who was still hesitating. Afranius's chest, the former consul groaned twice, then lowered his head. The King of Juba drew his sword, and the other man's body fell on the dining table.

Immediately, King Juba stood up and looked at the thousands of "audiences" below. With pride in his heart, he turned his hand and pointed the tip of the sword at his chest, preparing to use blood to please all the people and gods, but the wind stopped him. His ears were whistling, and he didn't know how much time had passed, but the hands holding the sword hilt were shaking uneasily and shamefully - yes, he could never make up his mind to send the sword hilt in.

The audience booed, and King Juba's face was distorted. He frowned, his nostrils were flexing rapidly, and his mouth was grinning. His nose and tears were flowing down unsatisfactorily, and his hands were shaking. He was even afraid of fighting again. If he hesitated, he would not only lose face, but also drop the sword to the ground. At this moment, he caught sight of the only remaining slave from the corner of his eye, and said in a hoarse voice, "I grant you freedom, now help me." ”

The slave nodded, then leaned down and kissed King Juba's boots. The other person shouted, "Hurry up." He bent over and grasped King Juba's hand and sword tightly with both hands, and jerked forward. Push, King Juba screamed, and the sword sank into his chest. He knelt down and pulled the corner of the slave's clothes, gasping and saying, "A great king cannot kill himself. He will only deprive others." Life." After saying this, he let go and fell to the ground, dead.

After a while, the two corpses were carried down and examined by Lepidus. The former cavalry commander took off the crown of the King of Juba and said that it would be used as an exhibit in Caesar's triumphal ceremony. Then he looked at the slave who killed the king. , said, "Why don't you die?"

"Because I cherish my life, and His Majesty the King liberated and pardoned me before he died." The slave held the sword that King Juba used to kill him in both hands and handed it to Lepidah, saying at the same time.

Lepidah nodded, took King Juba's sword, and asked, "What's your name?"

The other party replied that I was the son of a palace slave and had been a slave since birth. I only had a position but no name.

"From now on, you will be called Hyksos. I will give you this name." After giving him the name, Lepidus continued to instruct him, "Hyksos, take my order now and walk to the camp of General Hitius and General Mago over there, tell them that the war in Africa is over, Numidia is divided into four parts according to the pre-determined rules, and they each occupy one part. Caesar will establish a new wartime province with the remaining two parts. Then, tell Otacilius to bury the two bodies in the royal cemetery in the city of Cirta, and do not harm the descendants of King Juba. The child will be released after participating in the great triumphal ceremony and granted the status of a senatorial noble. As for King Juba's wife, return the palace to her so that she can enjoy her old age."

"And what about Pompey's father-in-law?" Sabo asked at this time.

To Sabo's surprise, Lepidus just smiled and said that he would hand this person, including Labinus, over to Cassius and Brutus of Lusitania, hoping that they could seize this opportunity to make merit.

What does this mean? Sabo was a little puzzled. This behavior did not conform to the usual thinking mode of the greedy Lepidus?