Augustus Road

At this time, Caesar and Pompey's performance has ended, but Caesar finally added a condition: "I would like to add an entry here, that is, as long as you follow General Pompey or General Luculas on the Eastern battlefield for five years, Soldiers and centurions who are more than 5 years old can also enjoy the benefits of the new land law. If they are less than 5 years old, they will also receive a very generous severance pay."

Now, it was the veteran's turn to cheer for joy, and Pompey also took Caesar's hand and said an additional sentence: "You don't need to worry about the funds to implement the plan. Crassus has already started to prepare a ten-member committee specifically responsible for this matter, and read I also applied to the Senate to donate half of the 20,000 talents I received from the Eastern War to the treasury. If the money is sufficient but the land quota is not enough, please ask. Lord Consul Caesar, it is appropriate to open two or three additional colonies in mountainous Gaul or Illyria to accommodate the veterans."

All the senators who had previously opposed this new land law no longer have any reason to obstruct it. Since Crassus and Pompey are willing to pay for Caesar's decision-making, we are completely over.

But Caesar's cruel performance was not over yet. In order to tie Pompey firmly to his chariot, he followed Lepidus and Ebro's plan beforehand, and then shouted to all the audience: "Gentlemen, all great laws , when it was adopted and implemented in the city of Rome, the most virtuous and respected person was needed to supervise it, so who do you think is more suitable for such a person on this podium than the great Pompey?”

As a result, tens of thousands of people shouted "Great Pompey" in unison. Pompey was completely moved by this extremely warm atmosphere. He could not lack such enthusiasm and praise at every moment of his life, just like a fish. He couldn't live without water. He was suppressed by the Senate before and spent those one or two years lifelessly in the Villa Alba. It made him feel more uncomfortable than death. So he raised his trembling hands high and expressed his stance to everyone. He said, "I am the first to swear an oath to obey and protect this new law. If anyone attempts to destroy it with a sword, I will transform into its strongest shield!"

"Great Pompey! Invincible Pompey! Legislative Pompey!" Lepidus was the first to shout, with veins popping out of his neck. Then the whole square cheered. The following vote was just a vote. Just a trivial program.

When the predetermined result was announced, Claudius and Ebro (Lepidus wisely hid aside) walked up to the senators and said, "Since the people have sworn to obey the newly issued decree, I also invite you to choose your father." , and the tribunes, in turn, swore obedience.”

Finally understand, Le Bida can attack them secretly, but he will not offend these elders openly, especially if he insults the elders in disguise. So what is the reaction of the elders now? Cicero was the first to compromise. He said to the other senators, "Now Caesar stands with Crassus and Pompey. In fact, I have had a hunch for a long time, but since these three people who originally hated each other have coordinated, it may not necessarily be good for the state." The country is not a good thing, and division will bring turmoil." So he was the first to step down from the podium and read the oath to the wooden board on the merit pillar engraved with the new land law.

Cicero brought a group of senators with him, and then Cato the Younger also came down. He had no reason not to come down, because Caesar passed the new land law and was "impeccable" in all procedures, and there was really no way to refute it. The reason is that, as the incarnation of the Republic, he must follow the ideals of the Republic, even if it is used by "bad guys" - like the corrupt Caesar, the vain Pompey and the opportunistic Crassus, he must also obey it. Shows loyalty.

Many people saw Cato burst into tears when he took the oath.

But Second Consul Byblos, a somewhat stupid but more stubborn man, still launched a final violent counterattack against the three-headed monster that caught them off guard. He called all his squires and the tribunes who supported him to stand firmly behind him, and then he shouted: "I will use the veto power of the second consul to veto this proposal!"

Caesar on the podium sneered and said, "Dear Byblos, I think you should be sane now. Are you not confused by the dung water just now? The veto power of the second consul itself must be passed by the people. Just now You were kicked off the stage by the people during your speech, do you know that?”

Byblos then opened his bloodshot eyes, pulled open his robe, exposed his naked neck, and shouted to Caesar on the stage, or to all the people: "I really can't see my friend You Lius Caesar is going further and further down the wrong path. Today, I ask Caesar to pierce my neck with his dagger and let my blood wake him up. If I can't convince Caesar to behave well, then I would rather let him bear it. The crime of killing me is gone!”

However, Caesar scorned Bybulus's anger and simply asked his followers to take him away. "Our second consul has lost the ability to judge his own actions due to anger."

Byblos pushed away the guards, still roaring, but this time it was Pompeii's veterans and people who took action. They didn't say anything polite, they rushed forward and took away Byblos's staff and scepter. They trampled and beat him and his followers. Under the emergency rescue of other senators, the bruised Byblos was able to save his life and leave the assembly square.

"This competition is over with the withdrawal of all opponents." After Byblos left, Lepidus clearly heard the standing Caesar saying this very proudly.

Sure enough, in the next eight months of that year, the second consul Biblos always locked himself in his home and never came out. He neither proposed nor implemented policies. He just lay in the dining room or by the fountain at home. , without saying a word. When a friend asked him when he would return to politics, Byblos said something very interesting:

"When the year between Julius and Caesar was over."

Everyone knows that Julius and Caesar are obviously the same person. Byblos laughed at himself like this, or made fun of Caesar's monopoly of power that violated the law, but Caesar didn't care at all. When Byblos's famous saying quickly spread in the city of Rome Later, many wisecracking citizens would write "xxxxxx (content of the will) on their will documents, dated in the year when Julius and Caesar reigned together."

The nursery rhyme also spread: "Something happened not long ago. I remember it was in the year of Caesar, not in the year of Byblos. Because in the year of Byblos, nothing happened."

But Caesar still doesn't care, he has more important things to do. (To be continued.)