Augustus Road

“The nobles have only to lie down in bed, and the people will automatically elect them.” - Cicero

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Suddenly, shouts came from the street beyond the court, "Catiline, Catiline!" It was indeed the pale Catiline who once carried the head of a public enemy across the main square. Wearing a white robe, he walked at the front of the team with a sinister smile, followed by hundreds of supporters, facing each other tit for tat.

Cicero's supporters and Catiline's supporters were like two strong air currents that collided in front of the court. Cicero, who was put down by the Sicilian appeal group, walked to Catiline and soon He said politely: "Galba, the honorary knight of Africa, is waiting for you in the lounge inside the court. I hope you are fully prepared for this lawsuit and don't end up like Velez before you." "

"It's a pity that I don't have the wealth like Luculas, so I can vote directly at the citizens' meeting without going through the courts. But I am not a person who gives up easily. I am determined to win the position of this consul. ” said Catiline.

"Catiline, you shouldn't refuse my previous kindness and let me be your defense lawyer. Wouldn't it be good for us to run together? The position of consul is dual."

"Allowing a knight like you to serve as consul is an insult to the entire Roman politics. Please give up this ridiculous idea." Catiline arrogantly rejected Cicero's request, and then walked to the court. .

"But! You will most likely win this lawsuit, because firstly, I am not a lawyer on the appeal team; secondly, I have enough confidence in your skill and eloquence." Cicero reminded Catiline's back "But you will go bankrupt because of this lawsuit. All the money you got in Africa will be thrown into it because of those legal officials who like to take bribes. Then, you will have no money to invest in the election campaign, and you will almost lose the election." That’s for sure, the fight between us will only benefit others.”

Catiline heard Cicero's words and stopped temporarily, and then he said again: "I will not stop because of a Roman resident who has no political line. You have never been The Romans didn’t love this city at all.”

"Your political line is dangerous! It will lead the whole of Rome to the abyss!" Cicero also roared with high energy, with a metallic voice that echoed in the open space in front of the court.

But in the end, Catiline still did not accept Cicero's persuasion, and walked in with an indomitable spirit, and then disappeared into the light and shadow of the corridor.

Seeing that Langjishi did not show up, Karabis breathed a sigh of relief. He was afraid that if Langjishi was caught as a tainted witness, he would be implicated. Since he is still absconding, the entire case trial has nothing to do with him. , Karabis has no interest in who is elected as consul. Anyway, whoever is elected only has a one-year term. Most politicians use this one year to enrich themselves or their political groups.

But when he returned to his apartment, Calabis still felt the intensity of the campaign in Rome: long tables were placed in front of many noble courtyards, and you could have a good meal there without spending any money, even if you didn't have a vote. After a meal, the tables and chairs are clean, and the atmosphere is simple and warm. It is to give the people who come to eat a civilian feeling, showing that the hosts have put down their aristocratic status and are looking after the people who come to eat. Although the food is not gorgeous, it is very good. It's affordable. When these people get to the bottom of the plate, they will find an eye-catching inscription on the bottom of the plate: "Please support Catiline. Supporting him means supporting all common people in Rome."

It seemed that these nobles were all supporters of Catiline, but before the free meal ended, a guy dressed as a rich man set up a tent and a podium nearby and shouted, "I am Neruda. Neruda's sequestre, citizens, I implore you to support the candidates I support. I promise a high price for every vote and will not let anyone down - the votes for the Rome City District. , each ticket is worth one thousand sesterces; the votes of the Latin city-state are worth 750 sesterces each!" Then, many guys who were still dining wiped their mouths and ran back with a bang. Go there, and after completing the registration, you start to take the small silver coins for voting bribes from the pottery urn on the stage.

Sequestre, Karabis also learned about it during this time, they are like bankers and candidates' agents. Many of them are wealthy and willing to spend large sums of money for the candidates he likes, even if the candidates are unable to pay back at the time. It doesn't matter, as long as you can be elected as the consul, these sequestres will naturally find you and ask for rewards from you - the rationing rights of the expeditionary legion, the leasing and subcontracting of the mines, changes in some business policies, etc. In short, being a sequestre for a consul candidate is a rare and lucrative business, but of course there are risks involved, because there are only two consuls a year, and if you make the wrong investment, you will lose everything.

"By the way, in the era I was in, even primary school students knew that the future overlord of the city of Rome would be Julius Caesar, who is just emerging now. Can I earn a lot of money from the Varin Apartment project? And then become his sequestre in exchange for his own livelihood and prosperity? Not bad, it is an interesting deal." Calabis thought to himself, with Caesar's current age and qualifications, he is not enough to run for the consulship, but he is here. When he was an alderman, he had won the favor of many citizens, but he was also deeply in debt, so Claudia also reminded him to seize Caesar as a cover, and the greater the room for Caesar's future advancement, in this process Here, the mutual assistance relationship between him and Caesar may become stronger and deeper - Calabis, you have a likable appearance, are proficient in Latin and Greek languages, have also learned to fight swords and boxing, and have also dabbled in some military affairs. Formation knowledge, yes - you can be more ambitious to assist Caesar and enter the circle of legion and power, because in this gluttonous city, the more powerful you are, the safer you are.

However, the first condition for these plans is the Warin Apartment. This is also the first big gamble in my personal career!

At dusk, Catiline walked out of the court a little tired. He won the case and was acquitted, but he also spent all the eight million sesterces he had brought in the province of Africa. He became a man again. Returning to the dilapidated aristocratic household where he had not yet finished his meal, Catiline looked around at the supporters congratulating him on his innocence, and at the platform set up by his candidates to buy votes publicly, Catiline smiled bitterly and shed tears, and then He saw a handsome young man standing nearby.

The young man flashed a pair of attractive big eyes and said: "Why did you send that knight of Langis to assassinate Galba? This is a taboo in the city of Rome."

"I don't. I'm a noble. I can kill anyone in person, but I won't do the trick of sending assassins. But now I can't argue. I fell into the trap of a political enemy, maybe Cicero, maybe Nieru. Da." Catiline's pale face had a pair of eyes that were about to burst into flames.

"It's useless to guess here. I was a witness to the incident. I can only tell you that there was a free man named Calabis in Langis's assassination team. He is still alive and still in the city of Rome. Here, he may know the ins and outs of the matter." After saying that, the young man smiled and disappeared into the crowd.

"Calabis..." Catiline said the name word by word.

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