Augustus Road

The next morning, several slaves in high-end clothes stared at these papyrus notices with their mouths wide open, as if they were seeing the bloody mouth of a hell dog. Their emotions were even more horrified than their masters, and then These people took off some of the notices, ran quickly on Jucola Street, and returned to their respective luxurious mansions like scattered birds, handing over these treasonous contents to their masters.

The news of the explosive surname spread in the city of Rome within half a day, that is, "Julius Caesar is going to become the next Gracchi brother." The senators, with expressions of fear and panic on their faces, wore Breastplates, covered with tight cloaks, and surrounded by thirty-five sword-fighting slaves or armed slaves, flocks of pigeons flew around the streets of the city, everywhere under the sun. With the noisy crowds gathering, all the people, men, women, old and young, stopped holding hammers, price boards and needles, and discussed Caesar's land rationing plan with great enthusiasm.

This kind of scene is what all specially elected fathers fear the most. The people actually discussed and expressed their opinions on the national affairs plan before voting, instead of having senior officials or elders of the country express their opinions as they did in previous centuries. A certain plan was proposed on an ad hoc basis, and the people, without any prior knowledge, could only vote in the Teblis People's Assembly in ignorance.

There was no need to convene in advance, and most of the senators gathered automatically at the home of the second consul Byblos, including the livid-faced Cato the Younger and Cicero.

"Everyone." Cato's voice was hoarse, and the bruises on the back of his neck and arms were still there. His tone was also full of tragic colors, "Since Caesar's idols are the Gracchi brothers, Marius, and Catiline. The treacherous son of the Republic, then we must fight to the death with him, no need to say any more sentiments, dear Byblos, I hope you can be the first to understand. "

"If Caesar continues to undermine the authority of the specially chosen father and hang out with the mob in the slums, then either I will kill him, or I will be killed by him calmly." Byblos, who was leaning on the pillar, spoke very firmly, causing Received praise from many elders.

There was no reason for the senators to disapprove. Even Cicero felt that Caesar's election as chief consul had now become the greatest shadow and danger to the republic. All the radicals in history are now merged into Caesar. The Roman state has been bleeding for nearly a hundred years for this kind of land rationing, the so-called "lexagraria", which is like a curse. The Gracchi brothers and Catiline all fed it with their own blood. How the land itself is distributed is not actually the focus of the fierce struggle, but figures like the Gracchi brothers, who set up special committees with the help of the land law and are free from the legal framework. In addition, freely gathering populist power and absorbing a large number of dependents to become a monster that dominates the world will fundamentally shake the aristocratic republican system of Rome. This is what the senators are most afraid of.

"Everyone, we can review what Gaius Gracchus did. At first he served as a tribune. Just like Caesar now, he began to propose various plans to let the country distribute land and cheap food to The mob has received fanatical support and their appetite is getting bigger and bigger. However, land and food do not automatically gush out from the mountain spring. Just to support the expenditure brought by a large amount of free relief bread, the Republic has to go to Asia and Africa. They sent knight tax collectors like locusts to deplete the land, leading to countless local rebellions and chaos; in the end, the limited land was all divided, and what should the country do? It could only quickly establish colonies in various distant places to acquire more land. During this process, in order to gain the support of the wealthy natives of the colony, Gaius proposed an even more terrifying plan, which was to distribute it indiscriminately to the Latins (referring to Italians and Romans who have the same language and race) and the Romans there. The Leaguers (who had a different culture and race from the Romans, but were allies or vassals of Rome) had full and complete citizenship rights. This shameless demand was resolutely rejected by even the Tribunal Council. In the end, Gracchus was defeated as tribune. He took a desperate risk and was completely eliminated by the Senate. Everyone, let me emphasize again that Julius Caesar, who tried to follow the evil ways of the Gracchi brothers, is now an out-and-out enemy of the country. I am responsible for purchasing relief in Rome. Father of food, I know too well the dangers of those mobs who live in slums and drainage ditches. They will launch the most brutal attacks on the country with just a strong incitement. If we give in half a step today, these people will be the next day. You can rinse your underwear with urine in the Temple of Concordia." This is the summary of Cato's speech.

While the senators were discussing, Cicero, who had been silent all the time, suddenly raised his hand and raised his opinion: "Now we have to take a few steps to restrain Caesar. Remember, it is to restrain, not to open up." Fight him, because in this way the harm to the republic can be minimized. The victory over Catiline tells us that as long as the method of struggle is proper, the entire country may be saved in the end by just hanging a few conspirators."

Cicero's words also won most of the support. Even Cato the Younger eagerly asked him what he had in mind. Cicero was very excited, but his mind was very active for a while, and said: "Let's try our best first." After blocking his way in the Senate, Byblos and Cato the Younger used obstruction tactics to stop him. If he uses violent methods again, we can collectively condemn him and do our best to delay the proposal until Byblos is in power. , then there will be nothing Caesar can do.”

"What if Caesar bypasses the Senate and asks the Tebris Assembly to vote on it based on the Hortensius Law?" Bibrus reminded.

"Bribe most of the tribunes with all your strength. Caesar relies on Claudius, but he is not to be feared now because his adoption problem has not been solved so far and he cannot run for tribune this year." Cicero was confident, "Finally, we can give priority to the land resettlement of the Eastern Kingdom and veterans, and let General Gnaeus Pompey come forward to suppress Caesar. As long as the Senate and Pompey join forces, even Caesar will be unable to reverse the situation."

"Are you going to make Caesar unable to repay my loan, everyone?" At this time, Crassus appeared in the garden of the Bybrus mansion with a smile and waved his hand, and the scene suddenly became more lively.

When everyone asked Crassus loudly about his position on the matter, Crassus shrugged his shoulders and said that as long as you agree to me, continue to veto Pompey's proposal, and vent my anger, I will stand on your side on the issue of Caesar. (To be continued.)