Augustus Road

"Only those who are born free can speak freely in front of the public. This is true freedom." - Euripides

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Under Lepidus' proposal, "Acuta" made the Senate's proceedings public, which was Caesar's first blow to the Senate. It was also the first official newspaper in the ancient European world at that time, and its status was equivalent to that of the current editor. "They are all his people, and he can still use this to deceive and induce the people.

For Cato the Younger, Caesar's political enemy, if his memory is correct, in the distant ancient times, the calendar was originally in the hands of the noble priests. Later, after the people's struggle, the calendar was released from the hands of those people. Yes, even Cicero also expressed admiration for this (Cicero was not so much a supporter of the aristocratic republic as a supporter of the laws and ideas of the republic). He once publicly said in a collection of books: "What are the correct procedures? Originally only a few people knew it, because the calendar was not published. Those who understood these procedures and accepted public consultation became the ones with the most power - people looked to them as they looked to Caleb. The ancient Babylonians, whose descendants held the office of hereditary astrologers in the ancient Roman world, asked questions about the dates... and I praise the Twelve Tables because it abolished All privileges like that.”

In addition, Cato the Younger also clearly remembered that ancient court procedures were completely controlled by the nobles, because the format of the complaint and the procedures for litigation were all monopolized by the priests and nobles. Imagine that even the calendar and lawsuits were not How can common people who understand defeat the deception of nobles? So four hundred years ago, a builder named Gnaeus Flavius, who was the son of a freed slave, forcibly took out the fixed format of the court complaint from the high priest and carved its items one by one. On several white wooden boards, he announced them in the main square so that all the people could see them. He also announced the days when the court would be open and the days when the court would not be held, and wrote them on the boards, so that the people would not suffer when they litigated with the nobles. to deceive and lose the opportunity to go to court. At this point, the aristocracy's arbitrary power over legal affairs was also broken.

However, Cicero's praise of the Law of the Twelve Tables was obviously exaggerated. Just as Caesar's promulgation of the "Acuta" shattered the Senate's secret state power, the privileges that need to be abolished in the Roman Republic remain the same. a lot of. And this was the reason why Caesar continued to fire at the Senate, won the support of the people, and refused to feed him.

But this is precisely the reason why Cato the Younger was terrified and gnashing his teeth against him. The monopoly of aristocrats in many fields may be the source of domineering in the eyes of the people, but from Cato the Younger's standpoint, everything is reversed, "If Without the noble clans who devoted their energy and wisdom to the correct direction of the Roman ship, the rude and uncivilized lower class would sooner or later lead the ship to a stormy place and break it into pieces. The more dangerous it is for the country, but careerists will take advantage of this, and this is the case with Akuta. "This is Cato's stubborn stance.

But after Caesar announced the "Akuta" plan on a whim, he seemed to break away with a blow. He did nothing for the next month, leaving Cato and other aristocratic parties to pounce with their fists. After his month of rule was over, Caesar readily handed over his power, retinue, and staff to Byblos without even taking away a cloud.

In fact, Caesar was plotting the next battle, together with the other two giants. At this time, Cicero initially had doubts about the sneaky three people. He was full of suspicion in his letter to his friends. Asked, "Is Caesar trying to resolve the relationship between Crassus and Pompey and have any idea of ​​benefiting from it?"

As a result, after his friend received the letter, he immediately relayed it secretly to Caesar, because he had already been bribed by Caesar to act as Cicero's "watcher". At that time, Caesar was serving as a distinguished guest, standing quietly in the courtyard of Lepidus' Villa Apilon, admiring the various rare flowers in the atrium that would not wither in the cold. A dozen confidential slaves were lined up in a vertical row. On the writing board that stood up, various "akutas" of the minutes of the Senate meeting in the Byblos ruling month were posted or peeled off. Snow like grass was slowly floating in the sky above the patio. Lepida was standing in front of the writing board, talking about each After analyzing the information, "Pompeo's proposal in the Senate this month has obviously encountered various difficulties. It has been as difficult as ever. He should be eagerly looking forward to your administration next month."

Caesar placed Cicero's letter on the small table, pondered for a while, and then said: "What do you think of Cicero's speculation? He is a suspicious and loud-mouthed person, and his influence in the political world is unparalleled. underestimated.”

"Yes, Your Excellency, until the relationship between Pompey, Crassus, and you is fully coordinated and organized to fight against the forces of the Senate, the less people will spread about the offensive and defensive alliance formed by the three of you, the better."

"How about leaving it to you to confuse Cicero?" Caesar asked.

Li Bida thought for a while, and then made a request, "That's fine, but I need someone to go with me."

"who?"

"Pompey's confidential slave, Demetrius."

At the foot of the Palatine Hill, light snowflakes fell on the dirt streets and soon turned into puddles. Demetrius, who was leading his horse, soon saw Lepidus wearing a toga. He congratulated him with a smile: "You have become a new Roman noble who can worship wax statues of ancestors, wear gold rings, and hold public office? In the future, I will not be able to sit in the same row with you in the giant semicircular theater built by the master. Congratulations."

"Demetrius, you are becoming more and more like your master - with a smile on your face. "Smiling like a template."

"Same here, today we can act together. I can also swear in advance that I will never be servile when it comes to the interests of my master." Demetrius' words were very straightforward. Lepidus nodded and said to him, "Today I will let you taste the taste of pride."

Sure enough, on the Palatine Hill, in Cicero's villa under the poplar tree, the person who stood proudly in front of the gate to report was a Jew, and Lepidus followed him with his head down, like a follower.

"You are the envoy of General Pompey - and you, you are Caesar's partner?" Cicero saw that Demetrius's greeting was full of enthusiasm, and seeing Lepidus following behind him, he thought he saw the most difficult food in the world, and his eyebrows and nose were wrinkled together. He couldn't help but be secretly surprised in his heart - could it be that Caesar and Pompey put aside their past grudges and finally conspired together?

Before the two could answer, Cicero's extremely powerful wife, Lenchart, accompanied by two maids, walked towards them across the flower corridor and the front hall. She wanted to participate in any decision made by Cicero. This was Lenchart. (To be continued.)