Augustus Road

"I won't beat you, but I have to stop your boring behavior." Caesar stood in the rain of rotten apples and said to Cato. After speaking, he read out the consul's order, saying that Cato had offended him. The guards immediately dragged him out and threw him into prison. He could not be released until the land law plan was voted on.

"Everyone, if the consul Julius Caesar thinks that he can use this kind of coercive violence to destroy me and let him succeed, then you don't have to protect me and let the consul do it openly and honestly!" Little Cato said with a smile. He stopped everyone's efforts, straightened his robes with a serious expression, and strode out of the venue.

"We are willing to follow Cato out." At this time, Cicero shouted a slogan, shook his robe, and followed little Cato out, followed by Byblos and others, and even Crassus followed indignantly. After going out, the entire chamber was no longer a battlefield for the mouth, but a battlefield for the feet. Most of them left immediately, leaving only ten of them empty. Caesar shouted angrily: "Don't you want to surrender to the country?" Let’s discuss politics with me. You are the ones breaking the rules of the Republic, you are the sinners!”

Byblos responded: "We would rather squat in a cage with little Cato than with a bastard like you."

Finally, Caesar glanced at the empty Concorde Temple, took a long breath, put his hand on the half-moon-shaped podium, and put his other hand on his waist. He stood still for a while, as if he was enjoying being alone. scene, but in the end he ordered his followers: "Go and release little Cato. Although I wish he could shut up forever, I don't want people to say that Caesar used Cato as a symbol of the Republic, and Cicero, the founding father of the Republic. After being imprisoned, they wanted me to give the public the impression that Caesar was a bastard who violated the laws of the country."

In the first battle, it should be considered that the Senate side had a slight advantage, and Caesar's proposal was shelved.

But Caesar was not easily discouraged. At the next meeting of the Temple of Concord, he stubbornly proposed the Land Law and asked the Senate to vote on it. "Aren't you just afraid that the Gracchi brothers will come again, but my Land Law is just in name?" My land law only stipulates that state-owned land will be distributed to civilians with three children. The property rights of private land will not be infringed at all. In addition, civilians who receive land allotment only have the right to use and rent it. rights and inheritance rights, but there is no transfer of property rights, and the upper limit for each household shall not exceed one thousand yoghurts (approximately two hundred and fifty hectares).”

"If we don't have the right to seize power, we won't consider it at all." Byblos retorted, knowing that the senators and their subordinate knights established manors, pastures and workshops by annexing the land that small farmers were forced to seize. Come on, if Caesar's land law prohibits transfers and sales, it would be unacceptable.

"I can correct this, I can correct it now, dear Byblos." Caesar's tone was obviously very soft this time. He still hoped to reach a compromise with the 600 people in the Senate within the framework of the agreement, "That's it. Well, any civilian who obtains allotment of land can transfer it 20 years later."

"Very well, Your Excellency the Chief Consul, this may be the only difference between your law and the Gracchi brothers, and it is the temporary amendment you have made now." Cato stood up again and said sarcastically, and his judgment reminded the senators again The nightmare of the Gracchi brothers and Catiline began to flood with boos and vetoes again, which made Caesar lose interest in negotiation. He shouted loudly, "What objective reason are you blocking me for? Please tell me." Come up with something reasonable, otherwise I can only submit this plan to the Tebris People’s Assembly, and then let the people agree with whose speech the life and death of the land law will be decided.”

"Do you hope to compete with me in speech?" Cicero stood up proudly and said condescendingly to Caesar. Immediately some senators began to laugh at the consul.

"Cicero, do you think the people will be moved by your colorful speeches without any actual content? I think my plan can become my sharpest weapon, which can directly hit the hearts of all poor people." Caesar was not willing to accept it. Showing weakness, "Besides, Cicero, you are just a senator now, and I am the consul. Only Byblos and I can speak on the plan at the assembly."

"Listen, Caesar! If you need a reason, I'll give it to you." Cato the Younger said sternly, "During your expedition to Lusitania, I was the one who asked the Senate to pass a wheat law. The law stipulates that residents who have lost their jobs in the city of Rome, or whose daily income is less than one sestius, can receive varying amounts of wheat relief every quarter, and then the people will register with the municipal department. Guess what my wheat law is? , How many people have benefited?" Little Cato raised three fingers, and then raised another one, "Is this number intuitive enough? Do you believe in my integrity and integrity? There is no water. This shows that there are so many poor and unemployed people in Rome now, and you still want to allocate land to them? Where does the money for the operation come from? Where does the money come from? Tell me, your lord consul!"

"We can buy the provincial tax farming rights at a low price, so that more knights can pay out money to set up special foundations and committees to promote the operation of land law." This is what Caesar did, but he was immediately caught by Cato the Younger. He yelled at Caesar, the Gracchi brothers did the same thing seventy years ago, so what is the difference between you and them? Dear consul, don't think that your body will not be thrown into the Tiber River because of your identity.

At this time, as the atmosphere in the meeting hall became increasingly tense, nervous clerks and slaves shuttled back and forth, recording the tense debate process on papyrus sheets, and then posted them on the pillars and screen walls of the square. More and more poor people gathered, and their emotions became more and more excited. They shouted slogans in support of Caesar and showed signs of launching an attack at any time. The spring clouds over the city became heavier, and the uneven cold and hot air made people feel breathless. In the tavern of Domuzou, Lepidus leaned on the door frame and watched the scene of the coming storm carefully, then looked at the timer on the counter of the tavern and roughly calculated the time.

Caesar should come out too.

Yes, Caesar came out of the Temple of Concordia with a face full of anger, without any entourage or notice to adjourn. He rushed out alone and directly into the crowd in the Grand Plaza. "Dear people, I must tell you that I have been fighting alone in the Senate. I beg for your help!" (To be continued.)