Augustus Road

After a few market days, two consuls for the next year were elected. Their names were extremely unfamiliar, not to mention Calabis. Even many native Roman citizens had never heard of it, but Catiline was obviously finished. , he no longer wore the white robe, but wore rough clothes similar to mourning clothes, and stumbled around the market, surrounded by crying and angry followers on one side, and debt collectors who pulled at the corners of his clothes and kept intimidating him.

At the same time, rumors about his rebellion were getting stronger, and even many of his followers believed so - at least, in his loyal support base, the settlement of Sulla veterans in Etrunia, north of Rome. A huge team of veterans, based in the city of Fesule, with about five thousand people under the leadership of the veteran Manius, was wandering outside the city of Rome, bringing unprecedented tension to the city. Air.

What many people are most concerned about now is when Catiline and his associates will launch an attack in Rome.

In the Senate, a senator named Senes was reading aloud in public a letter from the city of Fesule, written by his personal slave, reflecting the current situation in Etrunia: "Catiline's party, Man. Nius was marching on Rome at the head of a legion of veterans—there was no doubt that they were waging an insurrection, a war, against the Republic."

"Gentlemen, there is really nothing to doubt. I am still in the term of consul. Therefore, for the safety of the city of Rome, I declare that in various key places in the city, there will be governors, aldermans and tribunes responsible for The guard post is responsible for preventing emergencies. Completely disband the gladiator performance troupes and training schools in the city and drive them all to other cities. These people are all unstable factors, as long as they can expose and identify the harm. The conspirators of the Republic are given freedom and a reward of one hundred thousand sesterces; similarly, any free citizen who can expose it is given a reward of two hundred thousand sesterces, even if he has participated in the conspiracy before, he will not be blamed. Finally, I once again announce that all entertainment activities that usually come during the consul election and counting of votes will be canceled in the whole city of Rome. From now on, the whole city will enter a state of martial law!" Cicero, who was in the center of the assembly venue, held the hem of his robe. The resolution was read aloud.

Most of the senators applauded enthusiastically, and Cicero was obviously confident and inspired. He raised his hands again and announced: "At this moment, we no longer need to indulge some self-righteous people because of some unnecessary stereotypes about family status. I think Catiline should be summoned immediately and brought before the Senate to judge whether he is guilty or not by the justice of the people."

Just when Cicero's supporters, including many senators who were frightened by the words uprising and riot, were about to applaud, Julius Caesar, a descendant of Venus, stood up from his seat and shouted boycott Said: "My dear Consul, I think you have made a mistake, that is, the Senate is only an institution for discussing and making decisions on national policies, and is not a place for judicial trials. If you believe that Catiline is guilty, then according to the The capital of your fame is to prosecute him in the town hall or court, but it should not be here. There are six hundred senators here. As a jury, the scale is too large. Moreover, it is said that you not only brought him to justice. The city of Rome has entered a state of martial law, and is also preparing to invite the Pompeian legions from the east back. Please come back to the city of Rome and let swords and military flags appear in the square. This is such a terrifying thing. It is simply worse than a war. A premeditated rebellion without solid evidence is even more terrifying! I really don’t understand, Lord Consul, are you planning to eliminate a rebellion, or are you trying to force one to happen? What are you and Pompeo planning?”

"You should understand that the consul is also very scared. I have not dared to hold my wife in my arms and sleep peacefully recently." Crassus on the side interrupted, "Maybe Pompey's return can improve everything."

There was laughter all around, but Cato stood up at this time, "Speaking of women, don't women in Rome live in terror now? My wife, my daughter, my female relatives, all the women in Rome Noble women were not even afraid of Hannibal who once came to the city. But now, they dare not raise their children. They will only raise their hands and cry out to beg the gods to protect the city of Rome from any attempt to shake the Republic. All the basic guys deserve to die. Now that Catiline is so suspected, he must be summoned by the Senate. No amount of protection can save him!"

Cato the Younger's speech had the effect of deciding the surname. Most people in the Senate agreed with Cicero's proposal. Caesar's doubts were drowned in a sea of ​​accusations and humiliations. Even many of Cicero's friends raised their fists. He scolded Caesar and said that he was also involved in Catiline's conspiracy - Caesar simply covered his face with his sleeves and sat on his seat and stopped talking.

The final decision: Catiline must come to the Senate three days later to be summoned and interrogated, otherwise he will be charged with treason.

Many followers directly told him that he should either burn the city of Rome now and kill Cicero and other political opponents, or leave the city of Rome now, join Mannius' team, capture the city of Rome, bloodbath the Senate, and rebuild the country. .

All these proposals were rejected by Catiline in a stern voice, "Friends, I am grateful for your concern and support. But these angry suggestions of yours are really pushing my family and reputation into the fire pit. My name is Catiline, and my family ancestors are comrades-in-arms of Aeneas. Everything I do is for the Republic. This is an unshakable principle and foundation. Now that the Republic suspects me, I must be tested."

When Catiline and the crowd walked to the square in front of the Senate Assembly Hall, he saw that Carapis was peeling off the papyrus notice posted by Cicero on a statue, and then flicked the dust and said to himself sarcastically: "I really didn't expect, Catiline, your conspiracy and dream are only worth 200,000 sesterces."

"Carapis, everything is not over yet, I will walk out of the Senate with my head held high, and one day, I will deprive you of your life like crushing an ant." Catiline shook his arm and said confidently.

"No, you have no chance. Maybe you should take your great-grandfather's iron hand with you, because you will soon be able to use it on the battlefield, but the enemy is the army of the Republic. And I will step on your stinking body and become a real citizen of Rome." Carabis slowly rolled up the papyrus and put it into the bronze tube on his body, and then walked away in the direction of the Temple of Vesta.

When Catiline walked into the Senate, he was facing a silent crowd. Everyone's eyes were full of distrust, regret and hatred. Consul Cicero, accompanied by Cato the Younger and several friends, was standing in the central venue, staring at him like a cobra, and the scar on his nose was red.

Beside Cicero, several clerks were sitting around the desk, spreading the papyrus, looking straight at the consul, but waiting for him to speak.

Seeing this scene, Catiline felt cold in his heart and shuddered.

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