I rode and slashed unparalleled in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1145 Passionate Speech

"Your Majesty! It's not good!"

"Something's happened in the East!!!"

Early autumn of 194, Byzantium.

Emperor Septimius Severus, recognized by the Roman Senate, had just wiped out the tyrant Nigel's forces in the area when he received the devastating news from the East.

Greatly alarmed, His Majesty the Emperor immediately summoned his trusted confidants to secretly discuss countermeasures.

Soon, the group of several people arrived at the Byzantine city hall, where the bloodstains were still wet.

The visitors were Gaius Fulvius Protinus, commander of the Roman Praetorian Guard, and cousin, friend, homosexual lover, and future father-in-law of Emperor Severus; Anulinus, governor of Africa; and General Julius Letus, among others.

"Have you all received the battle report?"

Emperor Severus cut to the chase: "The devil from the East has reached out his claws to us—the 'Straits' Legion has been completely wiped out, Governor Barsus has been killed in battle, and Antioch has fallen in a day."

Severus's voice echoed in the empty town hall, carrying an undisguised solemnity. His fingertips traced the parchment map on the table; the word "Antioct," marked in red ink, had been crossed out by a thick black line that stretched slowly along the eastern coast of the Mediterranean towards Egypt and Asia Minor.

"Who exactly are these Easterners?" Praetorian Guard Commander Protinas spoke first. He was usually calm, but now his brows were furrowed. "From Parthia to Syria, in just half a year, they have advanced so quickly! The King of Kings of Parthia, the Roman 'Straits' Legion... before them, they seem to be nothing more than paper decorations!"

Governor-General Anulinus of Africa slammed his fist on the table, causing sparks to fly from the bronze candlestick: "Barbarians! A barbarian tribe that has mastered sorcery! The battle reports say they can summon thunder, ride flying beasts, and spew flames from iron pipes—this is not war, it's a miracle! That fool, Basus, thought he could hold them off with just one city; he's courting disaster!"

“Sorcery?” General Letus sneered, but couldn’t hide the unease in his eyes. “What I’m more concerned about is the betrayal of the Armenians! That boy Vologis, just a few years ago he was begging the Senate for protection, and now he’s become a lackey of the East! And Egypt… Flavius’s letter says that the Coptics have begun to stir. If Egypt is lost, the Empire’s granary will be gone!”

These words struck everyone like a heavy blow. Egypt's grain fed half of Rome's population; if it fell, let alone resisting the eastern invaders, Rome itself would likely fall into famine and riots first.

Severus took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He walked to the window, gazing at the still-uncleared battlefield ruins outside the city, where fragments of Nigel's rebel flags remained. Just months ago, he had been celebrating the unification of the empire, but now he faced a powerful enemy he had never encountered before.

"No matter what comes, the Romans will never lose!" Severus quickly rallied, strategizing and displaying great confidence.

Even after losing Syria, he still had 14 legions of troops at his disposal, the support of most of the governors in the country, and even the Senate in Rome was firmly under his control.

The only thing that needs to be done now is to quickly build a consensus and concentrate the power of the entire empire to deal with the threat from the East.

First, Severus ordered his general Letus to immediately move his elite Fourth Scythian Legion and Fifth Macedonian Legion to Asia Minor, where he would gather legions and auxiliary troops from provinces such as Pontus and Cappadocia, and take advantage of the mountainous terrain to prevent the Han army from continuing its northward advance.

Immediately afterwards, Severus did not forget Egypt. He entrusted the task of aiding Egypt to Anulinus, the African governor who had distinguished himself in the Battle of Issus, and gave him two legions of troops, ordering him to command the forces of the entire North Africa and oversee the battle in Egypt.

Finally, he and his trusted brother Protinas launched a nationwide mobilization in Byzantium, gathering legions from Greece, Pannonia, Dalmatia, and even Italy, conscripting seven more legions in one go.

To ensure the success of this campaign, after issuing this series of orders, Severus personally sailed back to Rome to meet with the senators and the commanders of the Italian legions. He explained the situation to them, sought their support, and extended an olive branch to his final rival, Clodius Albanus, who was supported by three British legions and one Spanish legion. He appointed him as co-emperor, granted him the title of Caesar, and allowed him to rule the western territories of the empire in exchange for the support of the empire for the eastern campaign.

Two weeks later, in the Roman Senate, Septimius Severus delivered a passionate speech.

Severus stood on the pulpit of the Senate, his voice loud and firm, echoing beneath the magnificent dome:

"Elders! Citizens! An unprecedented threat is approaching from the East! They call themselves 'Han,' and their leader proclaims himself 'Emperor,' a title so arrogant as to attempt to rise above all kings! They have destroyed our Parthian allies with thunder and fire, crushed the loyal 'Straits' Legion, and reduced Antioch, the capital of Syria, to ashes! They have tamed beasts and harnessed storms; wherever they go, cities are reduced to ruins, and the glory of Rome is trampled upon!"

He glanced around at the faces below the stage—some shocked, some fearful, some deep in thought—and suddenly raised his voice:

"But! Who are we? We are Rome! The eternal city, bathed in the glory of Jupiter, founded by Romulus and Remus! Our legions have trampled the salt flats of Carthage, made the Gauls submit, and crushed the Parthian eagles underfoot! Our laws and civilization illuminate the entire known world! And now, a barbarian tribe from the ends of the earth, with the cunning tricks of the devil, dares to challenge our order and seize our land and glory? Absolutely not!"

Severus drew his short sword from his waist, the tip pointing eastward:
"I, Septimius Severus, Augustus, Emperor of Rome, hereby assure you, and swear to Jupiter, Mars, and all the gods of Rome: this Eastern turmoil will surely be crushed before the impregnable walls of Rome! I have assembled fourteen legions, and the empire's elite are gathering! General Letus will guard Asia Minor, making it impossible for the Eastern cavalry to advance through the mountains! Governor Anulinus will rush to Egypt's aid, ensuring the empire's granaries are secure! And I, myself, will lead the army, together with Protinus, to establish a forward camp in Byzantium, keeping the enemy at bay!"

Having said that, Severus's gaze fell upon Albinus, who sat in the front row with a complex expression:
"In order to unite the full strength of Rome, I hereby declare that my loyal brother and comrade, Clodius Albinus, is appointed co-emperor, and granted him the title of Caesar, to govern the western provinces and defend the security of Italy, Gaul, and Britain! Let the Eastern and Western Roman Empires work together to resist foreign aggression!"

(End of this chapter)