Rome must fall.

Chapter 378 Maximus's Child
"Now is a great opportunity. We will go with you to find Maximus. Not only can we ask him to allow your mountain tribe to relocate, but we can also offer to mobilize our people and form an army to help the Nixes defeat Pannoni.

In this way, when the Nixes occupy more of the Pannonian territory, they should give us a larger piece of land."

Chalcipompus looked at the two men suspiciously, and suddenly smiled contemptuously: "I was wondering why you two are so kind, you want to drag me along to persuade Maximus and let our people fight to the death!"

Cicelytes angrily retorted: "We came to you for some selfish reasons, but weren't our words right? Are you unable to go out to sea again? Are there problems between you and Aristakas? Are your mountain tribes in trouble now? Is asking Maximus to move the people here the best way to solve the problem?
We have been here for a few years, and everything else is fine, except that the people of our tribe always compare themselves with the people of the Nix tribe, and always complain that they own too little land. That's why we want to discuss with Maximus together with you, so that the three of us can form an army together to join the war.

This way, the number of people in our team will not be small, and the Knyx tribe will give us more land after the victory. After you move to the newly acquired land, the tribesmen will not complain like ours did, and you will have less trouble. Isn't this also for your own good!

As for worrying about the casualties of our people... the Nix are now very powerful, and we don't need to fight to the death, we can easily win! ..."

Cicelitses' complaints left Karsipampas speechless. After a moment's silence, he shook his head and said, "It was so difficult for you to leave the Aldei territory. Now I want to take all the tribes in the mountains away. Do you think Alistarcas will agree?!"

"I think Alistarkas will agree!" Budokaribas said confidently, "We have already made a start. Alistarkas must have been very angry at first, but he is used to it now. He is even happy that we left because there are fewer people opposing him at the tribal meeting. That's why he hasn't sent anyone to notify us to go back to the tribal meeting in more than a year.

Moreover, our departure has benefited the tribes in the south, as they can get more land. After you leave, they will benefit even more, because they can completely control the iron ore and obtain more goods from the Nix tribe. Even if Alistarcus really disagrees, the tribal leaders will force him to agree!"

After a long silence, Calciopomus replied cautiously, "Give me some time. I need to think about it carefully."

The two were somewhat disappointed after hearing this.

Cicelytes could not help but urge, "We estimate that Nix will declare war on the Pannoni after the autumn harvest. Time is running out. You'd better give us an answer as soon as possible! Otherwise, we will go to Maximus to discuss sending troops ourselves!"

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

Early the next morning, Cassius, the head of the Intelligence Department of the Nix Tribe Secretariat, rushed to the dining room of the main house and handed the secret files in his hand to Maximus who was having breakfast.

Maximus came to the next room and read the contents of the secret file carefully. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly: "Cassius, do you think Chalsipompus will eventually come to me and ask me to move those Ardei people in the western mountains to our territory?"

"Chief, if Elder Chalsipoppas wants his people to live a better life, relocation is the best choice. He has been working hard to change the poverty of his tribe. I think he will eventually agree to the advice of Elders Budokaribas and Cicelytesses." Cassius answered without hesitation.

"Well, Chalsipompus is a bit stubborn, but he can be easily persuaded if he can be persuaded." Maximus smiled and said, "He is willing to bring his people to our Nix, and I welcome him. However, Budokaribas and Cicelyteses thought that by bringing Chalsipompus with them, I would agree to let them lead the team to participate in the war and get more land. Humph..."

"Leader, are you not going to agree to their request?" Cassius asked softly.

“With our tribe’s current military strength, it’s relatively easy to defeat Brochi and Mazii, and we don’t need any extra help.

If they just take their troops to the battlefield and take a look around, they can easily own the same amount of land as our people, what will those of us who firmly believe in the twenty-title system think? Other foreigners may follow suit!"

Maximus snorted coldly, "Budokaribas and Cicelytes are too greedy. They want to get more after getting what they want!"

In fact, Maximus knew clearly that the two Ardei tribal leaders had such ideas because they were forced by reality.

Since they migrated to the Sava River, the tribesmen no longer suffered from hunger and cold, nor did they have to face survival crises. However, happiness comes from comparison. When they looked around and found that the lives of the Nix tribesmen were much better than theirs, and the Nix tribe's system was more conducive to the development of ordinary tribesmen, they naturally became dissatisfied with their tribal leaders and nobles.

Although because of their shared hardships, the relationship between Budokaribas and his companions and the ordinary people of the tribe is not bad, and the gap between the rich and the poor is not big, but this dissatisfaction will continue to accumulate over time and eventually erupt. But this is exactly what Maximus wants. He does not want there to be a group of foreigners who are not bound by tribal laws in his territory. Now Budokaribas and his companions have a bad premonition and want to use this method to eliminate the hidden dangers of their tribe. How can he let them do as they wish!
Cassius heard new words from his leader again. He could roughly guess the meaning of them. He lowered his head and thought about it, then stopped talking.

Maximus saw it and said, "Anything else? Tell me."

"Chief, yesterday Lord Theopompos sent an urgent letter, asking the tribe to send people to recruit pirates who have nowhere to go in the Adriatic Sea and other seas because they were surrounded by the Romans, in order to make up for the lack of labor in the tribe... Do you agree with his proposal?" Cassius asked carefully. Maximus asked back with encouragement: "What do you think?"

"I think..." Cassius said boldly, "Lord Theopompos' proposal is too risky. The Romans are now trying their best to suppress the pirates. If we recruit them at this time, it will definitely cause a lot of noise. If we attract the attention of the Romans, it will probably bring big trouble to our tribe!"

Maximus nodded and said, "Theopompos is diligent and capable. He has made great contributions to the prosperity of Snotia today! But sometimes he pays too much attention to the present and ignores the danger, which is not a good thing! He should know that we will go to war with the Pannonians next. Will he still be worried about not having enough labor by then!"

Cassius heard a hint of dissatisfaction in Maximus' words and did not dare to say more.

"Cassius." Maximus looked at his student with praise in his eyes. "You did a good job! But as the head of the Intelligence Department, you should not only be able to collect all kinds of intelligence, but also know how to analyze the truth and pros and cons of the intelligence you get, and express your opinions when necessary, just like now."

"Yes."

"You were busy all night yesterday and came here again early this morning. You haven't had breakfast yet, right? Come and have breakfast together." Maximus patted Cassius kindly.

"Yes."

Maximus's family sat at the dining table. In addition to the three ladies, Nessia, Phrygia, and Gniandaphra, there were two boys, Gandricusi, who was almost three years old (born to Phrygia), and Pholamiste, who was one and a half years old (born to Gniandaphra).

Maximus walked into the dining room and arranged for Cassius to sit down. The maid from the Ministry of Internal Affairs standing beside him hurriedly brought him breakfast.

Cassius often dined with Maximus in the past, so he didn't seem to be reserved. He said "thank you" and started eating. He was indeed a little hungry.

"Dad." Gandli Cousy put down the wooden spoon he was using to scoop porridge and said crisply, "Can I sit next to you while we watch the game today?"

Maximus looked at his eldest son. His delicate face was covered with oatmeal. His slightly opened mouth revealed two cute little canine teeth. His big, blinking eyes were filled with desire...

He asked gently, "You sat with your mother last year, why do you want to sit with your father this time?"

"Because...because if you sit well with dad, you won't get scolded."

Maximus burst out laughing. The child didn't think much and always spoke so directly.

"Sure." Maximus agreed readily.

"Thank you, Dad!" Gandlicusi was so happy that his eyes turned into crescents.

"I want to shout too! I want to shout too! I want to sit with Papa too!..." The chubby little son, Flemish, shouted. He was too young and his pronunciation was not clear.

"Okay, little Flo, sit with daddy too." Maximus smiled and agreed.

"Yeah, that's great! We can watch the game with Dad!" Gandli Cousy cheered with his brother and suggested: "I'll sit on Dad's left, and you sit on Dad's right—"

"No, I want to sit in Papa's arms!" Flemish tilted his head back.

"No!" A serious female voice sounded, and the two children immediately shut their mouths and looked at Nessia, who was sitting next to Maximus, with a little fear.

(End of this chapter)