Greece brings evildoers.

Chapter 669 Teacher, wash up and wait for me!

"Shouting like this, what kind of behavior is this? Stop!"

Amidst the scolding, the three children of destiny, who had barged in in a flurry, hurriedly came to an abrupt halt at the bedside.

They stuck out their tongues, obediently stretched out their little hands, and presented the letters that needed to be reported.

Lorne gave a mocking hum, opened the sealing wax, quickly glanced at the contents of the letter, and then frowned.

The letters were written by Caesar and Alexander and originated from Cilicia, a region under Roman rule.

Located on the Anatolian Peninsula, north of Cyprus, bordered by Pampferia to the west and the Taurus Mountains to the north, and situated on the passage to the Mediterranean, this area is a very important trading hub.

However, it seems that due to the special geographical environment and the flow of a large amount of wealth, heroes from all walks of life were attracted here to form groups and start businesses.

Two famous historical events brought them great fame.

Firstly, he betrayed Spartacus and his rebel army;

Secondly, they kidnapped Caesar and demanded a large ransom.

That's right, this is the scene of Caesar's kidnapping and the lair of many pirates.

Although Caesar later organized a fleet to wipe out the various heroes in the area.

But as is well known, pirates are extremely resilient and are a special kind of creature that can emerge from the sea from time to time.

Therefore, after a period of relative calm, a new wave of pirates emerged in Cilicia, and during the Wars of the Gods, they repeatedly disrupted the supply routes between Rome and Greece.

However, with the dust settling on the war of gods, the good days for these heroes naturally came to an end.

Under the orders of the god Nero, Caesar and Alexander assembled a fleet and went to Cilicia to suppress bandits.

I thought this kind of small job, where regular troops fight bandits, would be easier than a spring outing.

However, upon entering Cilicia, before they even encountered any pirates, they ran headlong into an army dressed in Persian attire.

Their numbers are enormous, numbering in the hundreds of thousands.

Furthermore, the army included not only the regular Persian slave army and servant army, but also the well-equipped Persian Immortals from Persia itself.

This was the renowned elite force of the Achaemenid dynasty.

Only the Persian royal family, who possessed divine blood, were typically qualified to call upon them when going to war.

Such a large-scale military march was clearly not a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Therefore, Alexander and Caesar suspected:
It is highly likely that the pirates of Cilicia, in order to avoid being purged after the war, had already sided with the Persian gods and become their guides.

Since the expedition was only for suppressing bandits, Alexander and Caesar led a small army of only tens of thousands.

Furthermore, the team lacked powerful Divine Blood heroes and deities.

Out of caution, the two wanted to avoid direct confrontation and led their army into a nearby fortress to hold out and await reinforcements.

But they clearly underestimated the Persian army's reconnaissance capabilities.

By the time the letter arrived, Caesar and Alexander's actions had been exposed, and they were being relentlessly pursued by the Persians.

At present, the two sides have probably already clashed.

After reading the letter, Lorne couldn't help but raise his hand to his forehead.

Just a few days ago, he used the false news of an Egyptian fleet invasion to scare the complacent Athenians, forcing them to stop their infighting and unite against a common enemy.

As a result, the Persian army quickly infiltrated the borders of the Roman Empire by land.

Karma comes fast...

At this moment, the three little ones who came to deliver the letter couldn't help but step forward and ask:

"Teacher, should the temple immediately summon priests and prepare for divine intervention?"

"No rush, the gods haven't even shown themselves yet. This is at most a preliminary probe by humanity. The Persian Age of Gods won't attack so soon."

Lorne answered casually, his expression resolute.

After the war between Babylon and the Canaanite gods, both sides suffered losses.

Whether it's the power reshuffling in the Canaanite Age, the reshaping of the Babylonian Age, or the power struggles within the Persian Alliance, all of these require time.

Similarly, the European pantheon, which received the Babylonian gods and the Garden of Eden, also needed time to adjust.

Therefore, now is far from the time for both sides to go to war.

The Persian army that invaded Cilicia was mostly just scouts; there was no need to make a big fuss about it.

"But..." The three little ones looked troubled, hesitating to speak.

They usually refer to themselves as "senior sisters" and believe they have an obligation to protect their "classmates".

Although Alexander and Caesar were latecomers, they respected them greatly and would bring toys or gifts each time they visited to strengthen their bond.

Therefore, the three members of Destiny were still somewhat worried about the safety of their two junior classmates.

Seeing the unease in the three children's hearts, Lorne waved the neatly written letter in his hand and comforted them:

"Don't worry, the fact that Caesar and Alexander still have time to write me letters stroke by stroke proves that they won't die anytime soon."

Then, he paused, a smile appearing in his eyes:
"Moreover, these two lads are not the useless cowards in Rome who just loaf around and wait to die. Even if there is a slight difference in troop strength, the Persians may not be able to defeat them, and may even suffer a major setback."

Hearing this, the three Destiny children were completely relieved.

Their teacher is always very accurate in judging people, and her predictions are almost always right.

Since the teacher assured Alexander and Caesar that there would be no problem, they would definitely be able to withstand it.

“However, we certainly can’t just leave it to its own devices. Go and tell Nero and Cassandra to wait in the drawing room; I’ll be there shortly.”

"Okay, we'll get on it right away!"

The three little ones agreed in unison, and then each used their [Gateway] powers to go to the temple and the palace to recruit people.

Upon confirming the departure of the three chosen ones, Lorne's tense nerves relaxed, and a forbidden experience reached its peak.

With a slight rustling of the blanket, Aglaia peeked out her beautiful head, her charming eyes revealing a mischievous, girlish teasing.

How can you still laugh! You almost ruined my reputation!
Lorne glared at her subordinate, who appeared to be an obedient girl on the surface but harbored a rebellious streak deep down, and feigned anger, saying:

"They'll be here soon, aren't you getting up?"

The morning exercise was over, and Aglaya naturally agreed.

She immediately used gold thread to weave a set of gorgeous clothes for herself and her boss, replacing the old clothes that were just scraps of cloth, and destroyed the evidence left in the house.

After they finished, the two deliberately timed their departures, leaving one after the other for the reception room.

Soon after, the three Fates arrived at the scene with Cassandra and Nero.

As soon as he entered, before he could even sit down, Nero excitedly waved his fist and volunteered:

"The Persians are here? And their army is led by royalty? Perfect! I'll personally lead the army and utterly defeat them!"

She was never one to stay still.

But since ascending the throne, she has been confined to Rome, spending her days exchanging barbs and scheming with a group of decrepit politicians. This kind of life would have been bearable for a short time, but in the long run, it became pure torture for her.

Having finally found work on the border, she couldn't wait to break free of her cage and fight those Persians.

However, this was merely a tentative contest between the two sides, far from warranting the personal intervention of the Roman emperor.

Lorne initially intended to refuse Nero's request, but then changed his mind:
"Very well, consider this your academic assessment. I grant you permission to join the army."

A review of the earthly rulers of the great pantheons, such as Ramses II, Artoria, Gilgamesh, Semiramis, Cyrus the Great, and Darius I, reveals that they all possessed extensive experience in leading armies and were exemplary in their understanding of military strategy.

A thoroughbred horse cannot run free in a courtyard, nor can a pine tree grow for ten thousand years in a flowerpot.

Nero, as the current god-emperor of the Roman Empire, was destined to become nothing more than a useless rubber stamp if he were simply kept in the city of Rome and never exposed to the real hardships of life.

Instead of taking this opportunity, let her experience the battlefield firsthand.

In any case, this is just a preliminary test among mortals, and the intensity of the war is pitifully small. Moreover, he, as the teacher, and a large group of European gods are there to back them up. Even if some problems arise, they can be rectified in time.

If we wait for the gods to descend, there will be no room for children to practice.

Upon hearing that his teacher had granted his request, Nero was overjoyed.

Lorne snorted, pouring cold water on his student's enthusiasm:
"Don't be too happy yet. This is just the beginning of the trial. It's not advisable to make a big fuss. I'll only give you the organization of two legions, about 50,000 men. Moreover, this is your first time participating in a war. You have no experience in leading troops and cannot directly intervene in military operations. You need to recommend two legion commanders to take charge of overall coordination."

Nero was initially disappointed, but quickly calmed down.

War is not child's play, and the worst thing is for an outsider to lead an expert. With her blank military experience, she is indeed not suitable to directly lead troops into battle.

She pondered for a moment and replied:
"If we're talking about two legions, let Octavian and Pompey take them. I discussed this with Alexander and Caesar before, and they felt that there were only a handful of people in the Empire with experience in large-scale warfare and good military talent, and the two of them were the most suitable at the moment."

Lorne nodded, a relieved smile on his face.

Among the outstanding heroes of early Rome, Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus are known as the First Triumvirate, while Mark Antony, Octavian, and Lepidus are known as the Second Triumvirate.

These six individuals each possessed varying degrees of military skill.

Crassus suffered a defeat in Parthia, where he was killed in battle and his head was cut off, filled with gold, leaving him utterly disgraced.

Lepidus lost to Pompey's son, Pompey the Younger, in Sicily, and Octavian seized power from him.

Mark Antony also demonstrated considerable military prowess, but his true talents lay more in politics and diplomacy. His ultimate defeat in his confrontation with Octavian revealed his shortcomings in military decision-making.
Therefore, among the six, Caesar, Pompey, and Octavian are considered to be among the top three in terms of military prowess, with little room for error.

Historically, Pompey conquered Africa, eradicated Mediterranean pirates, and conquered Turkey and other regions, including Cilicia. Selecting him for the field is definitely a perfect match.

On the other hand, Octavian was Caesar's grand-nephew and had been adopted by Caesar. He had learned military skills from Caesar and the two had cooperated on several occasions. Therefore, both emotionally and logically, Octavian would have devoted all his efforts to this military relief operation.

Clearly, Nero's recommendation of these two men as legion commanders was not a casual remark, but rather the result of careful consideration.

If you score 85 points on your first test of recognizing and employing talent, you've passed.

Lorne nodded in satisfaction and said in a deep voice:

“Alright, let those two lead the army. Once the troops are ready, you can officially set off. I will have the Three Fates pave the way for you, and Cassandra and the Pantheon will provide you with the necessary firepower support.”

"Teacher, just wait and cheer for my triumphant return!"

Nero was very confident.

Then, as if she had thought of something, her darting eyes turned to her teacher:

"However, just fighting and killing is too boring. How about we prepare some stakes?"

Lorne, unsuspecting, smiled and asked, "Sure, what do you want?"

“I’ve recently been studying art related to drawing and plaster casts, but I lack aesthetically pleasing materials.”

"so?"

"Once I win, you'll be my model for three days!" Nero licked his lips, a hint of barely concealed excitement flashing in his golden-red eyes: "The kind where you're naked!"

Lorne's face darkened, and he grabbed the mailbox in his hand and smashed it against the head:
"roll!"

Nero dodged the mailbox by tilting his head, and ran towards the door, yelling as he covered his head:
"Teacher, since you didn't object, I'll take that as a yes! Remember to strip naked and wait for me later!"

You wicked disciple!
How did the atmosphere in our sect become so distorted? Can't we find anyone with a normal thought process?

Lorne's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot, and he couldn't help but curse inwardly.

However, as several gazes fell upon him, he couldn't help but shiver and turned to look behind him.

At this moment, Cassandra, Aglaia, and the three Fates, who had not yet left, were all staring at him.

Whether ardent, teasing, or curious, the gazes in the air intertwined, creating a sense of eager anticipation.
"Teacher, we want to too..."

"No, you don't want to!"

Lorne decisively nipped the problem in the bud with a dark expression, raised his hand and threw everyone out of the hall, giving them no chance to make demands.

The students exchanged glances, shook their heads regretfully, and had to temporarily give up this rare opportunity to make a wish. They then went their separate ways to their respective posts and threw themselves into the busy work.

~~
Meanwhile, Alexander and Caesar at the front lines also officially faced their own challenges.

On the Cilician plains in late autumn, the neighing of Persian war elephants echoed through the morning mist.

A 16-strong Persian army stretched across the banks of the Pinarus River, its formation spanning 4 kilometers in width. In the center were the Persian Immortals, adorned with feathered headdresses, while on the flanks were cavalrymen from more than a dozen Persian provinces—Cappadocia wielding scimitars and Bactrians raising their spears.

Looking into the distance, the throng of heads stretched from the ground to the sky, a dark mass that seemed endless.

In contrast, Alexander and Caesar only had a little over 4 Roman soldiers with them.

Although they had secured advantageous terrain in advance, their defenses were exceptionally weak, like a bubble that could burst at the slightest touch.

"So, are you confident?" Caesar patted the compacted earth on the wall and looked at Alexander beside him.

“If Cyrus, Cambyses II, and Darius I were to come… these Persian emperors who knew war, we would indeed be in some danger. Unfortunately, this Persian commander is an inexperienced rookie, and it won’t be so easy for him to devour us.”

Alexander put on his silver helmet and looked disdainfully at the tall figure on the opposite bank of the river, surrounded by the Persian Immortals.

I think his name was Darius III?
Although he appears to be a benevolent ruler who cares for his soldiers, he lacks the authority to control them.

Therefore, before the battle even officially began, the enemy's lines were already in a state of disarray.

In addition, his previous rapid pursuits and subsequent slowdowns due to suspicion demonstrate that the other party lacks decisiveness when faced with a crisis, experiences intense emotional fluctuations, and is easily exhilarated but also easily discouraged.

These personality traits might not matter to a member of the royal family who is complacent and idle, but for a military commander, they are undoubtedly fatal flaws.

An incompetent person unfit for the battlefield.

Alexander assessed the situation in his mind, not posing any threat whatsoever to the enemy who outnumbered him several times over.

As the Persian army on the opposite bank began its advance, the Macedonian prince mounted his horse, stroked the mane of his steed Busephalus, and casually drew his sword, its cold gleam piercing the morning mist as it pointed forward:
"Gentlemen, war is not a game that can be won simply by having more people. Let us teach the other side how to fight!"

The cavalrymen, arrayed neatly around him, burst into laughter, letting out a mighty shout that seemed to pierce the clouds:

"Must win!"

"Must win!"

"Must win!"

(End of this chapter)