Chapter 60 It's hard to ride a tiger

Quentus was stunned, and his surprised expression appeared on his face without a cover: "For...what?"

The expression on Momia's face quickly regained Zhizhu's self-confidence. She asked, "Do you think King Yue is the kind of person who can change his attitude for a few women? If so, I don't think he deserves your trust.

Quintus said "Oh", patted his thigh, and suddenly realized: "Yes, although King Yue likes women, he has never changed his mind because of women. There are many beautiful women in his palace, and the beauties of various countries are dazzling. How can he do something he didn't want to do because of a few women? He scratched his head with some embarrassment: "If you hadn't reminded me, I would have almost done a stupid thing. Not only did I not achieve my goal, but it would make him feel that I despised him. Momia, you are really my virtuous assistant.

The corners of Momia's mouth twitched, and her expression became a little complicated. She nodded silently. After a long time, she said faintly, "Yes, if you want to get his help by sending a few women to him, it is insulting to him, harmful and unprofitable. For a person whose purpose is very clear and far-reaching, a woman is probably just a plaything. How could he change his mind because of a woman? What he wants is interests, which are very big interests. If there is no interest that moves him, even if you give him all the women in Rome, he won't be moved.

Kuntus nodded in agreement. He felt that Momia was too right. Although Sun Shao was lustful, he didn't seem to hear that he had done something unfavorable to Vietnam because of any woman. On the contrary, he often benefited from others through women's relationships. Jesudra, the daughter of Nimar, the king of Ceylon, is his princess. As a result, Ceylon has become a transit station for Vietnam and many Vietnamese sailors. He has received far more benefits from Ceylon than Nimar.

"Then what benefits can we give him?" Quintus said with some embarrassment, "We haven't reached an agreement on our own interests. If we give him another part of the benefits, won't it be inseparable?"

"The interests he wants may not be the interests you want. Besides, if you don't cooperate with Yue, you can't take Tai Xifeng at all. None of you can get benefits. What do you share? Momia said sarcastically, "Those people think they are smart and don't give in, so let them get nothing. Goldian has been smart for a lifetime. Unexpectedly, he was confused when he was old, which was really in line with the words of the Han people.

Quintus thought for a moment: "Are you dizzy?"

Momia smiled and wrote to herself. Quintus sat aside and watched her practice Chinese characters, a little absent-minded. Originally, he was going to give up his favor and send a few women to Sun Shao to get closer to him for help, but now he is denied by Momia, so how can he talk to Sun Shao? Momia said that Sun Shao has the interests that Sun Shao wants, so what kind of interests can impress Sun Shao? Is it a commercial road? The Mediterranean Sea has become the territory of the Yue sailors. Although the sovereignty is still Roman, the actual power has fallen into the hands of the Yue people. In the future, the maritime commercial road will be under the control of the Yue people. Although there is still some trade volume on the land, the proportion is not large, and it is constantly decreasing. Does Sun Shao want to connect? Eat all this? But if all the commercial roads are controlled by Sun Shao, how can the nobles of the Senate agree? Isn't the reason why they are quarreling now that there are not enough benefits left for them to share?

Quentus was puzzled and frowned.

Momia seems to be very calm, but her mind is confused. She thought that the reason why Sun Shao was willing to come to Rome was for the sake of her son Philip. After meeting Sun Shao, she looked at Sun Shao's love for Philip and her tenderness to her. She not only affirmed her ideas, but also further felt that there was a reason for her affection for her. This idea was originally only a little bit, but these days, this feeling seems to ferment, slowly expanding, making her heart full of sweetness and intoxicated with happiness.

But the words that Quintus inadvertently said just now made her suddenly understand something. She may have idealized things too much. The reason why Sun Shao is willing to come may be for her and Philip, but it must not be as much as she thinks. What he thinks more should be beneficial.

Thinking of these two words, Momia's heart was like being biten by countless ants. In addition to a trace of pain, there was an indescribable sadness. If she hadn't met Sun Shao again, Sun Shao would have left her the impression that she was just a wise king and a strong man. She might not have such a feeling. She just regarded Sun Shao as a strong man, but after seeing Sun Shao's warm side, her mind had changed inadvertently. She has regarded Sun Shao as a lover, far more than an ordinary lover - she gave birth to a child for Sun Shao.

Because of this, when Quintus planned to send a few women to Sun Shao, she instinctively objected. She refused to have other women to share this man with her. Although this man already had many women, she wanted to protect her territory, even if she knew it was in vain.

However, she suddenly found that Sun Shao might not think so, and maybe he had never thought about her.

She lowered her head and didn't know what Quintus was thinking, but she could feel that Quintus had been looking at her. She didn't dare to show any abnormal performance. No matter how much pain, she could only hide it deeply in her heart. She can't let Quintus find out that Philip is not Alexander's posthumous son, but her illegitimate son for Sun Shao, which will destroy all.

She tried her best to control her emotions, but the sourness was getting heavier and heavier. She struggled between reason and emotion, and she didn't know if she was strong enough. With a shake of his hand, the tip of the pen drew a short ink line on the rice paper, which slowly turned into a ball.

Looking at the black group, Momia felt that her world was slowly darkening.

Quintus thought for a long time and seemed to have found a little direction, but he was not sure. He decided to say it and discuss it with Momia, but found that Momia was in a trance. Although the pen was held in his hand, it stopped there for a long time. The ink ball on the paper was getting bigger and bigger. He felt a little surprised, so he whispered. He shouted, "Momia?"

Momia didn't move.

"Momia?" Quintus hesitated for a moment and reached out and knocked gently on the table. Momia was shocked. Then she came to her senses and looked at Quintus in a panic: "What else do you have?"

"What's wrong with you? Are you not feeling well? Isn't it too tiring to take Philip with you? Quintus said with concern, "I know you love Philip, but you should also pay attention to your health. I think it's better to pick up Obi Anna. After resting for so long, she should have recovered. After all, Philip is her child. With Philip, she may be able to recover from grief faster.

"Oh." Momia was shocked and soon returned to normal. She smiled and said, "I know, someone will have a look at her situation. If her sordial recovery is okay, I will take her back.

"Hmm." Quintus sighed sympathetically: "The father and husband died at the same time. This blow is really too big for a woman. Fortunately, her health has always been good, and it didn't affect Philip. Otherwise, alas, it's really unimaginable.

Momia answered without saying anything. When Quintus saw that she was not interested in saying this, he was afraid that she would think she had any other ideas, so he changed the topic. I just thought about it and felt that King Yue might want to control the whole business road, but in this way, we will lose a lot, and it is impossible for the people of the Senate to agree.

"You have a point in your consideration. Why don't you let someone find out his mouth first?" Momia put down her pen, washed her hands in the basin handed over by the maid, and dried them with a silk handkerchief. Then she said, "Don't take the initiative to discuss with him, so as not to lose the initiative. I always feel that he will not come back empty-handedly if he rushed to besiege Tai Xifeng with such a lot of effort. He is probably waiting for us to beg him, so that we can ask for more benefits. It's just like doing business. The first bidder will always suffer losses.

Quintus nodded repeatedly: "You're so right. I'm also worried about this." He thought for a moment and then said, "Well, I'll go to see him, but I won't talk to him about these situations. I just want to see what he's doing."

"It's also good." Momia answered casually and got up and said, "I'm a little tired. Go ahead."

Quintus got up knowingly and said goodbye. As soon as he went out, Momia's face sank and shook her hand into the room angrily, walking around the room like an enraged lioness. The emotions she tried to suppress just now were vented without scruples. The complex feeling made her lose her calmness. Even on the days when she got the news of Alexander's death, she had not lost her temper so much. The maid next to her looked at her nervously and worriedly, but no one dared to come up to advise, which made her feel more isolated and depressed.

Quintus walked into the manor with a smile and was told that King Yue and the prince were enjoying flowers in the backyard. He left his entourage and went straight to the back garden with only one bodyguard. As soon as he entered the door, Sun Feng had already greeted him at the door. He bent his body and saluted: "It's really rude for the emperor to arrive and fail to welcome him from afar. My father ordered me to welcome you here. Please enjoy the flowers with me.

Quintus smiled and patted Sun Feng's shoulder affectionately: "Prince, I haven't seen you for several years. You have changed a lot. If you are not careful, you have become a man. I really envy my old friend. Having such a good son is his greatest success.

"Your Majesty is flattered." Sun Feng smiled and led Quintus in. They bypassed the two rockeries and came to a three-acre pool, walked up the winding bridge, and came to the pavilion in the center of the pool. Sun Shaozheng sat in a chair with a golden knife, with a pair of chess in front of him. Seeing Quintus coming quickly, he smiled and said, "Why is your emperor free to see me today? Now that you're here, let's talk about it with me.

Quintus was not polite. He sat opposite Sun Shao and stretched out his hand: "You are a guest. Please treat me first."

"Here, you are the guest." Sun Shao smiled. Quintus was stunned, and then smiled. He was not polite. He took out two white jade pieces from the cherry wood chess box next to him and dropped one with a crack. Sun Shao immediately responded to a son. The two of them came and went, and soon they fought together. Sun was ordered to serve tea and stand aside and watch.

Quintus stayed in the East for a long time. The level of Go was not bad, but Sun Shao's level of Go was very limited. At first, it was a little better. After entering the middle game, he went downwinds. The time of thinking became longer and longer, and his eyebrows gradually frowned.

"Father, you seem to have lost." Sun Feng reminded me.

"Who said I lost?" Sun Shao raised his head unconvincedly, stared at Sun Feng, and complained to Kuntus, "What's wrong with me, the prince? Did you give him any benefits?"

Quintus smiled and said, "Old friend, your words are heavy. He is your prince. He will have far more wealth than me in the future. What else can I impress him?

"Are you crying poor again?" Sun Shao glanced at him with a smile on the corners of his mouth: "I said why you suddenly came to see me, and you are in such a good mood that you are willing to talk to me. It turns out that there is another plan."

"With the heart of a villain, you can use the belly of a gentleman. What, I can't come to see you? Even if I don't come to see you, it's a pleasant thing to see the beautiful scenery that combines the essence of Rome and the Han Dynasty. Why, the king is not welcome?

"Hahaha..." Sun Shao admitted his defeat, clapped his hands, took a cup of tea from Sima Shi's hand, took a sip, and then said, "Are you in a bad mood? Come to me for a break. I said Quintus, you are not as kind as you used to be. He gave me a garden, but he trapped me in this city. I can only wander in such a big place every day. No matter how beautiful the garden is, it makes people feel like a cage.

"If you are tired of it, let someone carry you out for a walk. As long as you don't fall to the ground, your strange temper is really unbearable. If you are happy to run around Damascus, won't I lose a lot? Quintus squeezed his eyes and said with a narrow smile, "I think you'd better go to Tesifeng for a walk, so that we don't have to be neighbors with the old wolf of Aldahir."

When Sun Shao heard the words, the smile on his face suddenly turned into loss. He sighed, thought for a moment, and picked up his finger at Sima Shi: "Take that document to your Majesty."

Sima Shi turned around. After a long time, he came over with another document. Sun Feng took it over and handed his hands to the suspicious Kuntus. Quintus was puzzled, but when he looked at Sun Shao's face, he knew that this matter must be very important and became unnaturally nervous. He looked at the military newspaper in his hand, which had two dark red marks. Quintus breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that the two marks showed that although the matter was serious, it was not the most serious. The three cinnabar marks were the most urgent military situation.

He opened the military newspaper and couldn't help looking up at Sun Shao with just a glance, with great shock in his eyes. This military newspaper was actually written by Cao Zhang, the riding general of the Han Dynasty. What surprised Quintus, Cao Zhang was actually in Sassan, only 500 miles away from Taixi. When did he arrive? Sun Shao never said that he would participate in the war. Cao Zhang is a member of the court. His appearance here shows that this matter is not only a matter of Yue, but also a matter of the whole Han Dynasty. Things are far more important than what he knows now, and Sun Shao has not revealed any of these situations from beginning to end.

His intention was really great, and Quintus couldn't help admiring Momia. He has always felt that Sun Shao was helping him, but now it seems that Momia is right. Sun Shao has been fighting for himself, not for Rome, at least not just for Rome.

Sun Shao was prepared for Quintus's reaction. He was not in a hurry to explain, but motioned Quintus to continue to watch.

Quintus then looked back, slowly turning into shock into disappointment and finally turning into despair. Ardahir not only jumped out of the ambush of Cao Zhang and others, but also used the light enemy of the Guishuang people to hit the wave tone, turned passive into active, and safely returned to Taixifeng. This is very frustrating news for Quintus, who is preparing to besiege Taixifeng next. It is more reluctant to accept it than Sun Shao's secret transfer of Cao Zhang and others to participate in the war.

"This..." Quintus put down the military newspaper and stopped talking. In fact, he was in a very bad mood now. He was full of words, but he didn't know where to start. He had to take the cup and drink it slowly so that he could have time to sort out his thoughts.

"Aldahir is a cunning tiger, and he escaped again." Sun Shao sighed, "I can't beat the tiger. Instead, I was injured by the tiger. We can't get off the tiger now."

As soon as he heard this sentence, Quintus's heart tightened. At this time, it was obviously not the most important thing to ask Sun Shao why he concealed the actual situation. He wisely put the question aside and stared at Sun Shao's helpless eyes for a while. Then he couldn't help asking, "What are you going to do?"

Sun Shao scratched his eyebrows in embarrassment, thought for a long time, and finally smiled bitterly: "Old friend, I wanted to do you a favor, but I didn't expect that Aldahill was too difficult to deal with. We have used all our strength now, but we still broke down and escaped by him." He paused for a moment: "Of course, so far, we have taken some advantage, although we didn't get what we wanted, and we didn't get nothing. After this battle, Sashan will at least not be as rampant as before. Rome can also get security for a period of time, and the goal of the Four-nation Alliance has been achieved. Despite some twists and turns, some sacrifices have been made. But there is no bloodless peace in the world. We should have thought of this result a long time ago, don't you think so?

Quintus nodded gently, but still looked at Sun Shao without saying a word, listening to what else he wanted to say. He heard a retreat from Sun Shao's words, which made him very uneasy. If Sun Shao doesn't have the confidence to fight again, what about Rome? He wanted to ask several times, but when he thought that Momia said that Sun Shao's attempt was only stronger than him, he raised a glimmer of hope. Since Sun Shao can make such a big move, he must not really want to help him as he said. It only shows that his intention is far from helping. In that case, he shouldn't give up so easily, should he? As long as he refuses to return in no way, there is still hope and the opportunity to take some initiative. Because at this time, not only Rome needs the help of Vietnam, but also Rome.

"After receiving this news, I was very disappointed." Sun Shao looked at the military newspaper on the table, his eyebrows were locked, and he seemed to be in a very bad mood. This was originally the most important part of my many arrangements. For this day, I spent a lot of money and energy, moved the State of Wei and the State of Shu to send troops to help, and agreed to many conditions, and then gathered 30,000 soldiers and 30,000 elite riders. You should be able to think of how much it will cost me to do this.

Quintus nodded. Of course, he knew that these costs were very high, and that's why he believed that Sun Shao would not give up easily.

"Goldian and General Lu hit the Sassanids twice in a row, especially General Lu ambushed them before they entered the desert, killing more than 20,000 prisoners. More importantly, they intercepted a large amount of supplies and forced the Sassanids to enter the desert with insufficient reserves. After this war, the Sassanid must suffer a lot in the desert. When he walked out of the desert, it was the weakest time. At this time, he was given a fatal blow. We may end the war ahead of time. Unfortunately..." Sun Shao spread out his hands and sighed, "God's will, this can only be said to be God's will, not human."

Quintus was also very disappointed. Sun Shao's arrangement was meticulous, but Aldahir still escaped the fate of extinction, which seems to be explained only by God's will. Are the Roman gods angered by the depravity of the Romans and no longer bless Rome? Quintus had a lot of thoughts and sighed like Sun Shao. The two sighed for a long time, and Quintus finally asked, "What's the king's plan now?"

"I have two plans." Sun Shao stretched out a finger and said, "First, continue to fight. Although Ardahir escaped a disaster, he was also seriously injured after all. If he didn't take this opportunity to completely solve him, there will be a battle as soon as possible. After this battle, Ardahir will certainly not be as frivolous as before. He may use some conspiracy to create some misunderstandings and contradictions between our three countries first, and then break them one by one, instead of fighting on both sides like this time, and finally besieging Asum thousands of miles. Once he succeeds, it is impossible for our three countries to cooperate like this time. We can only face the revenge of the Sassanians separately. At that time, we will be in a very dangerous situation.

He hesitated for a moment and stretched out another finger: "So, although I still have a second plan, that is, to suspend troops for the time being and force him to sign the armistice treaty again when he is defeated, and ask for as many benefits as possible. It's just that I'm very reluctant to do this. Raising tigers is a problem. You understand this truth, and I also understand.

"The king is inclined to the first plan, continue to march, besiege the city of Taixi, and completely destroy Sassan?"

"I think so, but there is a prerequisite in it." Sun Shao owed his body and made himself sit more comfortably. He looked at Quintus with bright eyes: "The Alliance of the Three Kingdoms, in order to revenge, is definitely willing to continue to fight. I have made so many preparations, and I don't want to go back empty-handed. However, if your Rome can't solve the internal disputes and continue such a time-wasting quarrel, we will not be able to complete such a difficult task with the strength of our two countries alone. Once the fighter is lost, even if it is unwilling, it can only end here.

Centus narrowed his eyes and hesitated. For this sake, he could see that Sun Shao had nothing to hide from him. So far, all the forces that Sun Shao can mobilize have been here. Even the troops of the State of Wei, Shu and the court have been transferred, and the Guishuang people have gone all out. However, without Rome, it is still very difficult to conquer Taixifeng with these forces alone. The siege is no better than field warfare, scheming and so on. In the end, it is still about strength, not only financial resources, but also troops. The 80,000 Roman troops are an indispensable force for them.

In his opinion, Rome did not participate in the war, and Sun Shao seemed to have to retreat all the way. Although he was unwilling, although this would leave a lot of troubles, he could only do so. Otherwise, even if he tries his best, he still can't conquer Taixifeng, and the loss may be even greater. He believed that Sun Shao's words at this moment were sincere. Although he might have been forced to tell the truth in desperation, it was the truth after all.

However, from Quintus's point of view, he doesn't want this either. If he retreats from this, Rome, like Guishuang and Yue, will become the enemy of Sassan. On the contrary, Yue is the safest one. Although Sun Shao killed Ardashir's two sons, Yue and Sassan are too far away. Even the talented Alexander only went to Tianzhu, and the front was far away from Yue. There are still thousands of miles of land, and Ardahir has little chance to attack Vietnam in his lifetime. At most, he can control the commercial interests of the Vietnamese people. But Rome and Guishuang are not. They are directly under the threat of the Sassanids, and the Sasian horseshoes can set foot on their land at any time.

"I need your help to gather the power of Rome." After thinking for a long time, Quintus still said what he was not going to say this time: "Goldian's power is so strong that I don't have enough strength to control him."

"This is your internal business in Rome. It's not easy for me to get involved." Sun Shao shook his head and vetoed: "If I help you suppress Goldian, I'm afraid it will be even more harmful to you." What if he says that you and outsiders join hands to betray Rome's interests? You must remember how Alexander died, right? I have lost a Roman friend and I don't want to lose you again. Alexander's death has made me very sad. I don't want to have such an experience again.

(to be continued)