"Your Highness, why are they only to be put to forced labor for five years, instead of perpetual servitude?"
"If they serve in perpetual servitude, Great Qin can gain wealth from them forever, and we can be eternally powerful!!"
"Indeed! Your Highness, five years seems too short. Ten years at least!!"
"In my opinion, twenty years of forced labor would not be excessive. After they have children, their children should also be made to serve Great Qin. Only this way can we guarantee Great Qin's eternal prosperity!!"
These generals' thinking was very simple. They believed that only if the people of the Roman Empire were perpetually enslaved could they create wealth for Great Qin.
Releasing those Roman subjects after five years was a complete waste of manpower and resources.
However, Lin Tian's thoughts were entirely different from theirs.
"If it's merely forced labor, then of course they can labor for ten or twenty years!"
"But what Great Qin desires is not a group of slaves who only know how to labor; we want a continuous stream of wealth!!"
"Let them labor for five years, and then let our Great Qin's merchandise dominate the entire Roman Empire. At that time, every penny they spend will partially flow into Great Qin!"
"And the more they spend, the better their lives become, and the more Great Qin will earn!!"
"Only by perpetually surpassing them militarily and commercially will Great Qin possess true, inexhaustible wealth!!"
Five years was enough time for Lin Tian to open numerous gold and silver mines, and other mineral resources. It was also enough to extract the full labor from those people.
After five years, it would be time for Great Qin to rule the Roman Empire through commerce.
By then, whether they were eating, sleeping, or wearing clothes, they would need to spend money to buy from Great Qin. This was true eternal wealth.
Furthermore, it was a more sustainable wealth than continuously mining.
However, many people could not comprehend Lin Tian's reasoning.
Fortunately, Lin Tian's status was noble, being the Crown Prince of Great Qin. Even if these people didn't understand, they would still follow Lin Tian's commands.
After Lin Tian decreed five years of forced labor for these Roman subjects before regaining their freedom, even the Roman Emperor's eyes lit up.
"So, I can also regain my freedom after five years? Then I can live!!"
"Yes, you can live. However, your reign as Emperor is gone forever, and you will be worse off than an ordinary citizen!!"
As the Roman Emperor spoke, a mocking voice suddenly came from his side.
This startled the Roman Emperor.
He knew that even though he was no longer the Roman Emperor, the others in the Roman Empire still held him in some regard.
Except for a very few individuals, no one would speak to him, the former Roman Emperor, with such sarcasm.
Therefore, he quickly looked towards the person who had spoken.
When he clearly saw the person's face, he was utterly shocked.
"You, you are the Pope of Rome??"
"Yes! Haven't you been sending your soldiers to hunt me down? Surprised, aren't you? I'm still alive!!"
"I, I...!"
Upon seeing the Pope, the Roman Emperor was momentarily speechless. He had never expected to meet the Pope under such circumstances.
He had initially thought that the Pope had perished amidst the chaos of war.
However, seeing the Pope, the Roman Emperor felt a pang of shame.
He felt that he had made a wrong decision, which had led to the current state of the Roman Empire.
The Pope of Rome also smiled at the opportune moment.
"You didn't expect it, did you, that we would meet under these circumstances!!"
"It's wonderful to see you here!"
"When you were hunting me, I prayed that you would bring about the downfall of our Roman Empire. I prayed that you would be spat upon by the Roman people!!"
"Because you are a failure, a failed Emperor, and your foolishness has sealed the fate of our Roman Empire!!"
At this moment, the Pope of Rome was relentlessly lambasting the Roman Emperor.
Others dared not openly curse the Roman Emperor to his face, but the Pope had no such reservations.
Not only did he have no reservations, but he also shouted at the top of his lungs, causing the Roman Emperor to lose face and feel utterly humiliated.
Under his tirade, the Roman Emperor slowly lowered his head and wept uncontrollably.
He knew that it was all his fault.
If not for him, their Roman Empire's three hundred thousand strong army should have defeated Lin Tian's fifteen thousand.
Even if they hadn't defeated Lin Tian's fifteen thousand, they should have been prepared for them.
Instead of the current complete defeat and utter loss.
No one dared to stop the Pope's harsh criticism. In fact, the Pope's appearance was specifically arranged by Lin Tian.
Under this torrent of abuse, the Roman Emperor could no longer bear his inner self-reproach and humiliation and chose to commit suicide.
After the Roman Emperor committed suicide, the Pope, as if he had lost his soul, also chose to end his own life.
Thus, the two sovereigns of the Roman Empire met their ends in such haste.
Their deaths brought greater stability to the Roman Empire.
Without them, there was no longer anyone in the Roman Empire contemplating a restoration.
Many among them accepted their current circumstances.
Their acceptance was, for Lin Tian, the complete resolution of the threat posed by the Roman Empire.
Following this, Lin Tian began to reorganize his army, preparing to march towards the next country.
This land was not solely comprised of the Roman Empire. Further ahead, there were many more nations.
They still stood tall, considering themselves overlords, with no fear of other nations.
Of course, they were also unaware that a powerful army was marching towards them.
Many people were puzzled by Lin Tian's continued westward advance.
"Your Highness, are there other countries to the west? Are they as powerful as the Roman Empire?"
"Whether they are as powerful as the Roman Empire, I don't know. But I do know that there are indeed other countries to the west!!"
"Then will Your Highness lead fifteen thousand troops to attack these other countries? Isn't that a bit risky? Should we increase the numbers by another five thousand?"
"No need. Fifteen thousand troops is just right. It's a formidable force, yet it can easily make people underestimate us!"
"Moreover, these fifteen thousand troops are sufficient for me to conquer all the nations under heaven!!"