Augustus Road

Catullus was very disdainful. He first complained, "Aren't you the people elected by the law and the people? You are still afraid of violent retaliation and dare not make reasonable judgments. In order to protect the fairness of voting, , I can send my followers to escort you out safely, but remember that under the premise of fairness, the clerk has already counted, and there are fifty-five people to decide whether the defendant is guilty or not. "

Soon, the followers held up three pottery urns for voting, but the results submitted made Catullus very angry: out of the fifty-five votes cast, forty-nine were abstentions. Catullus almost died of anger. "Jury protection is activated and the vote will be held in three days!" he announced the resolution.

"Dear Advocate, the voting should be completed in the early morning of the next day. If too many people abstain, the second or even third round will be held until the results are announced. This is the fairest!" Cicero requested loudly.

But Catullus was so tired that he asked Cicero to go back to recuperate his energy temporarily. After three days, he firmly believed that there would be a fair result. At that time, he would request to strengthen the security of the court and forcibly disperse the sewer ditches. and the "bed bugs and ants" living on the floating islands to prevent them from continuing to intimidate or cause trouble.

In the end, Calabis lay upside down on the stretcher, and Claudius, Antony, Curio, and Claudia personally carried him out of the court. "It's miserable. The last time I came out was nothing like this." Much more majestic." Calabis said with self-mockery, his face covered in pain and sweat, while the people on both sides cheered loudly, shouting for the heroes who dared to fight against the Senate faction such as Catullus and Cicero.

"Listen, Claudius, Cicero and his wife had a small villa in Apilon, and then Villa Villa estates in Pompeii and Naples. His own inheritance, as well as the expenses of defense over the years, plus The total amount is 10,000 dinars, and Renchart's dowry is about 100,000 dinars." Calabis endured the pain and whispered to the four of them, "Find a new but capable slave and bring him. A gift that exceeds Cicero’s total wealth—to buy at least thirty jury members to ensure victory.”

During these three days, there was indeed a middle-aged shrewd slave who knocked on the doors of the apartments of the jury members in each district one by one and enthusiastically delivered money bags and wine inside. Some of the naked women and pretty children were sent inside, which was lustful; some severed wild boar heads and bloody butcher knives were sent inside, which was cowardly.

Then, Calabis entrusted the slaves he had hired to pay the fine of ten thousand sesterces, and he went to the Apilon Villa to rest with his back full of "flowers", lying on the sedan chair. .

Leo can already walk around under the flower gallery. He will put a small wooden board on a small log, and then roll the round walnuts down along it, scattering the small walnuts in the row below. He has a lot of fun, Carla Bis was still lying on the soft couch, holding in his hand a small book he bought from the streets of Tuscany and reading. It talked about the customs and geography of various places. The number of absurd fallacies in it made him extremely happy. , Bodi sat next to him, applying the wound medicine sent by Timothy on his back.

The gift from Claudius and his brother arrived at the villa two days later than the gift from the patron. The former and the latter were equally grateful to him, and they sent piles of things: writing tablets, spices, silk, pepper beans, bronze vessels, etc. , Calabis picked out a writing board and gave it to Poti, "For you to record the accounts." Poti shook his head and smiled, and took the writing board.

"Needless to say, your master must have won the lawsuit." Calabis asked the slave who specialized in giving gifts.

The slave nodded, "The final result of the vote was thirty-one to twenty-four." Calabis didn't know who the kind man was who took the money and did the work, but he could imagine Cicero's future life. Everyone in Rome has no shortage of enemies, but to provoke an enemy like Claudius is a misfortune for everyone. He turned to look at Poti, who was staring at the letters on the writing board and understood. He can leave Rome with peace of mind. Some people are grateful to him, and some people don't care about him. In this way, Poti and his children will be safe.

Sure enough, in the description of the slave, Calabis seemed to see the real scene in the court. After the voting results came out, Claudius was elated. Not only did he shout to the people that he would run for tribune immediately, but he also He threatened and rebuked Cicero, saying that no one on the jury was willing to believe his lies, and that he would definitely retaliate after taking office as tribune. Although Cicero was a little panicked, he still maintained his composure, "Twenty-four people believe that you are guilty. Yes, the other thirty-one people also believe that you are guilty, and they are waiting for you to come up with the money before they are willing to find you innocent." The angry Catullus regarded this trial as his own and the history of Roman law. The biggest stain on his life was that whenever he met any member of the jury in the square or market, he would sarcastically say: "I now understand why the police have to apply for the protection of guards and guards. It’s to protect the bribe you received!”

About a few months later, Catullus, the old nobleman, was actually furious to death.

"Before the next round of storms, there will be a brief calm in the city of Rome. At least after the results of the tribune election are announced, the strong winds will blow again." Calabis slowly put down the book, and at this time, a priest quickly Come and tell me this is your letter from Sardinia.

Could it be a letter from Yulia?

Carabis curiously opened the writing board in the box, which was full of the young widow's handwriting. To be fair, the young widow Julia received a good education. This letter should be written by her own hand. Karabis was familiar with her handwriting from countless loan receipts. It was neat, regular and beautiful. First, it was written from left to right, and then from right to left. The layout of each line was "s" shape, which was the habit of Greek writing.

In the letter, Julia was also very polite, which was quite different from her real image. She first warmly thanked him for his help to her and her family in Ophelenuri (hey, do you still need to separate from your family) before. Now everything in the manor is on the right track. She spent a happy and happy goddess festival and made a good wish to the goddess, and sent the same blessing to Karabis and his women and children. Then, Julia asked Karabis to present the token to the man behind him to avoid unnecessary trouble for both parties. As for who was behind this, Julia seemed to have an idea. She asked Carapis to visit Ophelenu again when he went to Lusitania, and she would repay him.

Alas? When Carapis heard about it, especially the reward and reward of a woman, he felt a faint electric shock. (To be continued.)