Augustus Road

"Before you steer the ship, you must first learn to row." - Aristophanes' comedy "The Knight"

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Before the final vote, a lot of time had been wasted due to the farce and fights in the Forum, so the senators asked the high priest Copo to speed up the voting process, because they believed that now that Pompey had entered the city, the nobles of the Senate had obtained a new "reserve", and Caesar's faction would soon be defeated.

Following Copo's nod, Claudius, the tribune who had been sitting on the side of the sheepfold and watching the fight, ignored the other tribunes standing next to Byblos and jumped onto the podium. Then Caesar respectfully took out the wooden board engraved with his "Land Law". There were two pieces, one was given to Claudius and the other to the high priest Copo Kilicus. The one Claudius received was soon raised to the column of merit in the Grand Forum, which was conspicuous enough for all the people participating in the rally to see; and Copo's piece was kept as a copy in the Temple of Jupiter in accordance with the requirements of the Licinian Law.

Next, Julius Caesar, who was standing at the podium, looked at Pompey standing next to him anxiously, and asked in a weak voice: May I ask the triumphant general, General Pompey, if you have any doubts about his plan? If so, you can raise it now. He can exnovo Pompey's opinion, that is, revise it and submit it again.

"Dear Julius Caesar, I would rather give my opinion after listening to your reading of the plan, because I heard that you have a great oratory talent, right?" Pompey's arrogant speech to Caesar not only made the elders such as Bibrus and Cato the Younger laugh happily, because they knew that Pompey had no good intentions at all, but also made the old Pompey soldiers who were "guarding" the podium around them start to make a fuss.

As for the people who were originally so majestic in the square, they were now silent. Even the sound of a pin drop could be heard in the square. The people liked to bargain in front of the weak power, and facing Pompey, who was full of retired veterans of the legion, no matter how much disdain they had, they would never show it on their faces.

So, Caesar could only read the plan of the land law steadily on the podium. The people no longer dared to cheer for his speeches, and the whole scene was very depressing.

Finally, Caesar finished his speech which seemed to be walking on a bumpy mountain road. Just when he turned around and prepared to ask Pompey or other senators if they had any objections, and just when Pompey was about to raise his hand to speak, Cicero exclaimed again - the old wily Crassus who had mysteriously disappeared a few days ago actually walked along the street, surrounded by dozens of knights wearing cloaks and golden rings, and rushed into the square. All the veterans and people whispered to each other and consciously made way for the Roman money tyrant, allowing him to easily step onto the podium.

Seeing that Crassus also came to "show his support" as agreed before, Cato the Younger happily wiped the blood on his face when he was driven away and beaten by the mob (since Caesar became consul, Cato the Younger had suffered repeated disfigurement, first being beaten with a stick, and now being subjected to unfriendly violence from the people), and laughed again. It seemed that it was worthwhile to give the flower list to the profit-seeking Crassus as a price.

"Before Gnaeus Pompey expresses his opinion on this plan, even though I have retired from the position of censor, can I express my personal opinion on this land law of Caesar?" Crassus's request had not yet finished, and Cicero and Pompey, who had a deep feud with him in the past, actually took the lead in applauding, followed by most of the elders and tribunes, who followed suit and asked Crassus to express his valuable opinions.

And Caesar's faction, such as Lepidus, Ebro, Claudius, etc., did not dare to breathe. Cicero especially noticed that the cunning Lepidus began to show an expression on his face that "our failure is probably a foregone conclusion", and he could not help but secretly turn the golden ring with his fingers excitedly to calm his excited and happy mood.

Crassus cleared his throat in silence, and then said this briefly and clearly to thousands of veterans and people: "I, Marcus Licinius Crassus, express my full support for the new land law of the current chief consul Julius Caesar, and I am fully willing to swear to obey it. Hereby."

Afterwards, Crassus kissed and hugged Caesar calmly, and then left the stunned senators behind, shook his robes in a chic manner, and walked down the podium. Then, there was the crazy cheers of all the people and knights.

For Bibrus and Cato, Crassus's brief speech just now was like a black nightmare. You must know that Crassus's statement is equivalent to the entire Roman economic community dominated by knights, fully supporting Caesar's policy, and the excuse that Cato was able to obstruct Caesar before was that there was not enough money to implement the land law...

At this time, what comforted Cato the Younger was that Pompey looked at Crassus' back with disgust as he stepped down from the stage, and walked straight to the podium with an angry expression. Yes, yes, Pompey hated Crassus deeply. The year when they co-governed before, they made no achievements because of their mutual infighting. This time would be no exception. Pompey was definitely our last hope. Cato the Younger even had the impulse to marry both of his daughters to General Pompey after the end of this civil assembly.

When Pompey came forward, Caesar immediately stepped aside. Then, to everyone's surprise, Caesar held up the wooden board with the bill items engraved on it and said to Pompey: "Dear triumphant general, how about this? If you have any questions about any of the items in the bill, let me read the items above one by one, and you can say whether you agree or disagree, or whether you have any amendments."

Pompey smiled and nodded, indicating his agreement with Caesar's request.

At this time, the sweat on the foreheads of Cicero and Cato the Younger came down. They were smart people and had a bad premonition in their hearts.

Sure enough, next, Caesar and Pompey entered the stage of "passionate love". Every time Caesar read out an item clearly in front of all the veterans and the people, he asked Pompey "Do you agree?" Pompey also said "I totally agree" in front of everyone. Then, all the audience burst into cheers, and then the items were shown one by one, and the atmosphere in the square gradually reached a peak.

Cato felt dizzy and was about to fall down. Cicero and Bibrus supported him. He then smiled bitterly with tears in his eyes and said to Cicero: "If this country will perish, I will definitely die for it." (To be continued.)