Chapter 382
To the Magonid Family, this was an invisible humiliation to them.
If the family was still in power, no one would have dared to yell outside the mansion! These snobbish people of Carthage! They were the ones who caused the family's current predicament! Hasdrubal could no longer hold back his anger. He turned to the slaves outside the hall and yelled, "All of you, take your sticks and get rid of those people who are yelling!"
"Hasdrubal!" Mago shouted in a low voice. The irascible Hasdrubal reluctantly shut his mouth.
Mago glanced at the few immediate family members behind him and sighed. In the past, the family might have looked glorious, but for the sake of Carthage's interests, they had fought Syracuse for many years, and many of their family members had died on the battlefield. His cousin, Hannibal, had caught a cold and died after returning to the city to avenge the humiliation of his ancestors' defeat at Himmera. Another brother had died during the plague in Himilco, and his own son had been shot by a stray arrow during the war with Syracuse just now …
But the Magonid Family had sacrificed so much, and in exchange, Carthage's political enemies had ruthlessly suppressed them. In the election of the Senate a few days ago, the power of the Magonid Family had been greatly reduced. As the new patriarch of the Magonid Family, Mago, for the first time, did not assume the position of Sophie (Senior Senator, elected once a year, two at a time). This was the first time in a hundred years that the patriarch of the Magonid Family did not assume the position of Sophie. On the other hand, the main rival of the Magonid Family, another great aristocratic family whose strength was second only to the Magonid Family, the Hanno Family, became the big winner of this election. Not only did they firmly control the Senate, the patriarch of the Magonid Family became Sophie, and the other Sophie was also his close friend.
The family would face greater difficulties, and they had to prepare early! Mago clenched his fist, once again confirming the decision he had made.
"Hasdrubal," Mago said solemnly to his nephew. Brother Ma solemnly said to his nephew, "You're already a 25-year-old man. If you're still so reckless, how dare I entrust the important task of revitalizing our family and restoring our glory to you in the future!"
"Uncle, I —" Hasdrubal wanted to argue, but Mago interrupted him. "You should go to Iberia. At least there, no one will keep an eye on you and use your political naivety to bring disaster to the family."
"You want me to go to Iberia?!" Hasdrubal's jaw dropped. He did not expect to be exiled just like that.
"You are not the only one who has to leave Carthage. I am leaving Carthage too." Mago was about to explain when his ten-year-old daughter, Dido, asked anxiously.
Mago bowed his head slightly and kindly said to his only daughter, who had the same name as Carthage's founding queen. "I am going to Sicily. It's not far from Carthage, and I can come back at any time."
"Father, are you going to be the commander of the garrison in Sicily to defend against the Greeks?" Dido immediately asked.
Mago looked at his young but beautiful daughter, and could not help but sigh at her intelligence. Unfortunately, she was a woman!
He then looked at the dissatisfied Hasdrubal and sighed. "Although we have signed a contract with Syracuse, the Senate is still wary of Dionysius. This time, I am being sent to Sicily because of Hanno's selfish motives, but it is also what I want. The peace between Carthage and Syracuse will not last long. Sooner or later, Carthage and Syracuse will have another war. The Magonid Family must take back what we have lost in the war!" Mago said with a determined expression, "When I arrive in Sicily, I will recruit soldiers and train them strictly. I will also gradually build an effective defensive fortress to the east of Lilyper and Erius. I will also slowly extend the buffer zone against the Greeks to the east. When the time comes …"
He paused and patted Hasdrubal's broad shoulder. "Do you think I am sending you to Iberia to exile you? No! It is because I need your help! "
"You need my help?" Hasdrubal was puzzled, but at the same time, he was a little excited.
"War consumes people and gold. Once we go to war with Syracuse, Hanno is in power in Carthage, and I am afraid that he will be a burden to me. I may not get the full support of Carthage, so we have to rely more on ourselves. Just like decades ago, our ancestor Hannibal used his family's money to gather an army to help Himera. The southern part of Iberia is much more fertile than Carthage and Sicily. It is rich in silver, iron, and other metal mines, and has a large population of indigenous people. Since the fall of the Kingdom of Tartarsus, there has not been a strong force there. This should have been a great opportunity for the people of Carthage, but our people and elders are too comfortable. They would rather do business and farm in Carthage and Numibia than risk their lives in foreign lands thousands of miles away.
Since no one in Carthage is willing to do it, then we, the Magonid family, will do it! Hasdrubal, the family has decided to provide you with sufficient manpower and sufficient money at all costs. I hope that after you gain a foothold in Iberia, you can occupy a stable territory for the family, and become the most powerful backing for me in the future war with Syracuse! "
"Don't worry, Uncle, I will not let you down!" At this moment, Hasdrubal was no longer dissatisfied. He rubbed his palms together, his face full of excitement.
Magonid looked at him, still feeling a little uneasy. He understood his nephew. Leading troops to war was his strength, but to conquer a foreign land, it was not just a matter of war. It also required administrative, diplomatic, and other abilities, and Hasdrubal was somewhat lacking. But among Magonid's immediate family, he was the only one who could take on such a big responsibility. He could only hope that he would be sent a capable assistant to make up for his shortcomings in this area.
"Uncle, I am willing to accompany my brother to Iberia!" A rather young voice sounded in the hall.
"Hakkar, you can't go!" Hasdrubal said resolutely to a skinny, pale-faced young man.
"Since the development of Iberia has already become the most important matter that decides the rise and fall of our Magonid Family, as a member of the family, how can I enjoy life alone in the city and watch my uncle and you experience hardships outside? Besides … "The youth looked solemnly at the bronze bust of Himilco placed in front of the hall, as well as the flesh and blood in front of it," Avenging my father is my wish! "
Hasdrubal's words were stuck in his mouth, and he only said after a while, "But your body …"
"After this period of training, my body is much better. I will continue to train myself in Iberia. Besides, leading troops to war is your business, I only need to stay in the camp …" Hakkar explained to Hasdrubal, but also to Magonid.
"Hakkar, are you sure you want to go?" Magonid finally asked.
"Yes, Uncle. I have already made up my mind! "
Hakkar's tone was soft, but Magonid knew that once his little nephew made up his mind, it would be difficult for others to persuade him to change his mind. However, he had been intelligent since he was young, and had a maturity that was different from ordinary youths. Himilco once considered him a genius who would bring even greater glory to the Magonid family in the future, but he had always been weak and sickly. If he went to Iberia to assist Hasdrubal, he would definitely be able to obtain greater benefits in Iberia. Of this, Magonid firmly believed.
"Since you have already made up your mind, then I agree to let you go. But you must understand, if you cannot guarantee your health, it will be difficult for you to help Hasdrubal and the Magonid family in the long term! "Magonid said solemnly.
"I understand." Hakkar nodded solemnly.
"Uncle, but …" The worried Hasdrubal wanted to say more, but Magonid said loudly, "Alright, let us pay our last respects to your father together, and hope that he will bless the family's business, and that everything will go smoothly! … "
… …
July was the scorching season, and at the same time, the football and rugby competitions in Diónia were in full swing.
Devers, who had just returned from a meeting in the Senate, received an urgent letter from Laos.
"Go to the Diónia Academy, and call Henepolis back!" he said to his slave with a serious expression after reading the letter.
"Yes, Master."
"Sir, why did you call me back in such a hurry? I almost got scolded by that old Greek again. " Before Henepolis entered the Devers's study, his voice came first, "Ever since that old man from Athens came to the Faculty of Arts, we have been much busier than before. Not only do we have to memorize poems and essays every day, but we also have to write an essay every two or three days. If we can't meet the requirements, we have to rewrite it. Sir, why don't you tell Professor Ancetanos that I don't want to be a rhetorician, I want to continue studying history with him … "
"Henepolis, you don't have time to study history anymore." Devers handed him a letter with a serious expression.
Henepolis suddenly had a bad omen. He quickly took the letter and opened it. He was stunned as if he had been struck by lightning. "This … This can't be true … At the beginning of the year, my father came to visit me in Turií … He's in good health! He's really in good health! " As he spoke, two streams of tears flowed down his cheeks.
Devers sighed. Avinogis fainted during the banquet, and has been unconscious ever since. According to his experience in his previous life, this was probably a "cerebral hemorrhage", and he had been advised not to overeat. Sigh! …
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