Sophia sighed.
"It seems that Hannibal was quite frightened just now."
"It just so happens that he got a little carried away."
"Aren't you the one who's getting carried away?" Sophia couldn't help but complain. "This is Carthage. No matter what, we are still guests. If you were Sissi, would you be able to accept such an attitude?"
"Hmm... let me think about it."
Hilde swung her fingertips and strolled gently in the garden.
"If Hannibal came to my country and treated me like this..."
"What will happen?"
"I'll castrate him!"
"So, just now it was indeed ..."
"But I am a hypocrite. I don't allow others to do this, but I can, because Hannibal is not my opponent. Even if he gets angry, I can take his head off in a breath. So, he has no right to be angry. What's more..." Hilde's smile gradually faded, "I know that he has a lot to do with your affairs. I don't like him. If he really makes me angry, I don't mind him becoming good friends with those castrated rams."
"Ok."
Hilde's dark and scheming nature left Sophia speechless.
But she knew that this was Hilde's kindness to her.
----------
"hateful!"
Hannibal returned to his chambers in a rage.
He threw the cup on the table to the ground.
To discover my own ridiculous anger.
Even though he was a king, he couldn't even speak in front of Hilde. He still couldn't forget the oppressive feeling he had just now, so much so that Hannibal's chest felt like it was blocked. He could hardly speak on the way back just now. The suffocating feeling made Hannibal particularly painful and uncomfortable. But now, Hannibal felt better, as if he had returned to the normal world from a place without air and could breathe freely.
Chapter 4: Macedonian Choice
What was that just now?
Hannibal was a little confused.
It was like a hand tightly grasping my throat.
That suffocating feeling... Until now, Hannibal felt as if he had just experienced it, and it still lingered in his throat. After a while, Hannibal's breathing felt smoother. He took two deep breaths and then sat on a chair beside him. Just now, the sound of him smashing the cup in anger attracted the attention of the people outside. The soldiers and maids in charge of guarding the palace hurried over, fearing that something had happened to their king.
"His Majesty!"
"Get out!"
Hannibal flew into a rage and waved his hand to drive everyone away.
After I was the only one left in the bedroom again.
Hannibal finally calmed down.
He raised his head and looked at the dim rooftop, and couldn't help but recall the scene when Hilde suppressed him just now. Although he didn't know why, he didn't dare to breathe in front of Hilde. But he knew in his heart that Hilde was definitely not just an ordinary beauty. There was a powerful force in her that he didn't know or even understand. Especially when Hilde looked at him just now, Hannibal had a feeling that something deep in his heart was being spied on.
This woman is so scary.
Hannibal couldn't help but sigh.
The fact that the other party behaved like this meant that he definitely had bad intentions.
After realizing this, Hannibal also knew what to do next.
The other party must have his own purpose. No matter what the other party thinks, even if he is as aggressive as before, as a king, Hannibal knows that he must hold on. He must not be overwhelmed by the other party's momentum. As for the other party's proposals, he must carefully distinguish between those that are beneficial to Carthage and those that will cause risks to Carthage. Since the other party came prepared, Carthage cannot fall behind and be led by the other party.
In that case, it all depends on tomorrow's negotiations.
Hannibal sighed.
Then I prepared to take a shower to wash away the cold sweat on my body.
----------
In the days since Hilde arrived in Carthage.
On the Greek peninsula, Tomyris's troops also advanced all the way from Larissa to their destination.
Tomyris led an army of 40,000 into Macedonia, causing a great disturbance in Macedonia. This time, Tomyris did not inform the Kingdom of Macedonia directly at the diplomatic level, but only sent a scout to inform the border troops of Macedonia. The border troops of the other side were also very tough, saying that if they broke into Macedonia, it would be an act of war. Then, Tomyris's main force arrived, and facing the 40,000-man army, the border troops of Macedonia immediately surrendered without any resistance at all.
But Tomyris wasn't here to fight.
They simply ignored these Macedonian troops.
Instead, he marched towards the capital of Macedonia in a swagger.
The news that Tomyris was leading a large army towards Aegae had already reached the King of Macedonia.
The elderly Perdiccas II was holding a noble gathering in Aegae, but the sudden news broke the nobles' joy. They were not surprised that the Greek Empire's army was going to enter Macedonia. When attacking the Greek peninsula before, one of Hilde's troops had passed through the Macedonian Kingdom and was allowed at that time.
But this time is different.
Hilde's army crossed directly into the Macedonian Kingdom.
No prior communication.
And it came straight towards the capital city of Aegae.
"This is really unreasonable!"
Perdiccas II was so angry that he threw the wine glass in his hand to the ground, and the deep red wine stained the marble floor. Standing aside, Aguila looked at his father and the kneeling messenger with worry.
"Isn't it obvious that you don't take us seriously?"
"Yes!"
The nobles next to him were still echoing.
Even Akira felt that Hilde had gone too far this time.
Trespassing the border is an act of war, although the Kingdom of Macedonia and the Greek Empire are "allies". The Greek Empire guarantees that the Kingdom of Macedonia will not be invaded by foreign enemies, and the Kingdom of Macedonia also guarantees that it will not harass the borders of the Greek Empire. However, it does not say that the Greek Empire's army can enter the country at will, which is no wonder Perdiccas was so angry. However, facing such an angry father, Prince Aguila still thought for a while and gently pulled his father's robe: "Father, I have something to say."
"what happened?"
Perdiccas looked at his son with some displeasure.
"Please come with me."
"……All right."
Aguila took Perdiccas aside, then he looked around warily and said, "Father, what are you going to do?"
"This is an extreme insult to us Macedonia! We must not tolerate it!"
"Are you going to start a war?"
After Akira asked this, Perdiccas, who was so aggressive just now, fell silent.
He also knew that war was going on with the Greek Empire.
It was almost like thinking.
Seeing his father's attitude soften, Aguila continued, "You also know that the national strength of our Macedonian Kingdom cannot be compared with that of the Greek Empire. Now Hilde is in her heyday, and there is no enemy in the entire Mediterranean that can compete with her. We are now almost surrounded by the Greek Empire, and it is impossible even if there are reinforcements. If a war really breaks out, we Macedonians will run out of ammunition and food, and it will be difficult to defeat the enemy."
"You are right, but, son, can you bear it?"
Perdiccas patted his chest.
To show your anger.
"I can't stand it!"
"Yes! But I have something to say too!"
"Say it!"
"The current situation is very clear... The Greek Empire, or Hilde, is repeatedly testing our bottom line. She has annexed almost all the Greek settlements. I'm afraid our Macedonian Kingdom is the last one. Do you really think that Hilde will let us go? Absolutely not! Hilde will definitely annex our Macedonian Kingdom!"
"I know……"
Perdiccas sighed helplessly.
"But I hope that day won't come too soon."
"Father, it's time for you to consider the future of our Macedonian Kingdom."
"what do you mean?"
"Should we fight to the death against the Greek Empire, against Hilde, or... submit to the Greek Empire and become a part of the empire? This decision cannot be made by my son, but of course it is up to you, my father as the king, to decide. If we go to war, we have a small chance of winning, and although we can save the Macedonians by surrendering, no one knows what will happen to us, the Macedonian nobles and royal family, in the end."
The fourth tune, the fifth section, thoughts on gambling
"I know."
How could Perdiccas not understand what Akira said?
There are only these two options before them, but no matter which one they choose, there will be huge risks.
Perdiccas suddenly seemed to have aged ten years, and his spirits were depressed. He walked to the side tremblingly and sat down, completely ignoring the nobles and generals who were worried outside. And Akira walked to Perdiccas and knelt on one knee. He lowered his head and said in a very serious and solemn tone: "Father, I know that the choice now is very difficult, but when the Greek Empire rose, we failed to destroy them at that time, and we missed the biggest opportunity."
"son."
Perdiccas seemed to have made a decision.
He raised his head and asked helplessly:
"You know, after I die, the throne of the Kingdom of Macedonia will be yours."
"Father, please don't say such things."
"You are not a child anymore. You know that people are destined to die. I am not young anymore, and my health is deteriorating day by day. This matter determines the future of the Kingdom of Macedonia. And the future of this country belongs to you, not me. I want to know how you plan to face Hilde. What are your plans for today's incident?"
"..."
Akira didn't look up.
But it can be seen that his father's problem has caused him to fall into great entanglement.
"Don't worry, kid. If you have anything to say, just say it."
"...Yes, father."
Akira sighed and slowly raised his head.
At this time, in his eyes, Perdiccas, who was like a giant, was like an old man in his twilight years. He felt that a gust of wind at any time could extinguish the life of the king of the Macedonian Kingdom. Aguila knew that his father gave him the opportunity to make the decision because he felt that he was already a qualified successor. But before he could take over, the Macedonian Kingdom was facing the crisis of national extinction, which was also a huge challenge for Aguila, so Aguila could only say:
"Father, I don't think we can fight Hilde."
"Well, keep talking."
"I know that Hilde has supernatural powers. Even gods are no match for Hilde. It is a foregone conclusion that she will unify Greece and march eastward to attack Persia."
"and then?"
"For us Macedonians, or rather, all Greeks, the Persians are our mortal enemies and the biggest threat. Under Hilder's rule, we are all Greeks, and we are not ruled by a foreign race. But if it were the Persians, it would be just like the Greco-Persian War sixty years ago, when the Persians conquered us. At that time, it was the darkest time for us Macedonians. I think all Macedonians do not want to see this dark scene again. Moreover... it is precisely because of Persia that Hilder has the supreme reason to integrate all Greeks."
Speaking of it.
Akira's thoughts were actually quite obvious.
However, Perdiccas was not disappointed.
"Whatever decision you make, I will support you."
"Yes, father, so I have decided to submit to the Greek Empire."
"Okay, but is that the only reason?"
"No..." Akira shook his head and continued to explain, "A few years ago, I have been studying the Byzantine Kingdom, including the current Greek Empire. The core of the Greek Empire is Basilius, Hilde. All power and prestige revolve around Hilde. Because she is very powerful and has a charismatic personality, the conquered Greek city-states are convinced."
"Indeed."
Perdiccas nodded.
"I know of no Greek who does not boast of Hilde."
"That's great, Father thinks so too."
Akira paused here.
