Augustus Road

Yes, that is whether to eliminate the unrest through killing, so that these citizens can starve to death "with peace of mind and compliance" and achieve the bright halo of the Republic. . x. When the armed slaves came repeatedly to consult him with swords in hand, little Cato pinched the bridge of his nose in pain. Now that Dumitius was dead, he had to make decisions in everything. The mob outside had begun to use iron-clad wood to The pile hit the door of the mansion, and the noble man also walked up and down in front of little Cato with a look of hesitation, meaning to quickly tell him to make up his mind.

"Now that things have come to this, we can no longer stick to our ideals to do things." Cato finally said these words with difficulty.

After receiving the order, Triali from the Acropolis immediately dispatched troops to the streets to kill people. However, the Masseria soldiers directly refused such instructions, so Triali asked the soldiers from Sicily to carry out the execution. It was carried out rigorously, and probably hundreds of people were killed. The rest all dispersed in a hurry, and their heads were placed on the square and the city gate for public display.

The wails and curses outside were loud and earth-shattering. After nightfall, little Cato was still wrapped in a blanket and shivering on the couch. His whole body was hot and cold, and his mind seemed to be torn and stirred by seven or eight iron ropes. He has always looked down on the common people, even in the city of Rome, and no matter in this vassal city, but looking down on it does not mean that he does not care. He understands that if this matter spreads and is recorded in a book, his reputation will be completely destroyed. , the image of the Republic has become blurred. Unexpectedly, the real battles in this world are so cruel. Although hundreds of heads fell to the ground with my order, where was my freedom and power? It was definitely not in this cage-like place of death. "Keep on, keep on!" Little Cato laughed at his confused thoughts. He even got up in the middle of the night and continued to read the ancestral precepts crazily. But it’s not about looking for answers and salvation between the lines. Instead, use it to anesthetize yourself.

Soon, Cato heard another news that made him even more embarrassed and helpless. Triali withheld the food rations from his subordinates. Sneak it to the market and sell it at a high price!

A bushel of coarse wheat was sold for a high price of ten silver drachma coins.

Even the Presbyterian Church could not tolerate this kind of behavior. They found Cato and made a silent protest. Surrounding him in the middle, without saying a word, little Cato lowered his head and really didn't know what to say. He could only take Munajius to the Acropolis military camp in person to find Triali to punish him.

On the streets, citizens who had hailed him as a hero just three months ago. Now many people are dead, and more people are leaning half-dead on the street corner, looking at little Cato who is walking slowly with muddy and contemptuous eyes. Those who still have the strength do not forget to spit and spit, and the hot sunshine is shining on Cato. Figure on the back of the neck. Sweat was flowing down his back, flies were flying everywhere, and he felt like he was walking on a millstone. Young Cato was outside the gate and asked to see Triari, but the gangsters came up to insult him and besiege him. However, some centurions and captains from Sicily recognized Cato's identity and welcomed him in. Triali sat arrogantly in the core residence of the Acropolis and "received" little Cato, as if it was not the other party who was trying to convict him.

"The reason for this is of course not difficult to explain, because my subordinates cannot boost their morale just by having a full stomach. They also need rewards of gold and silver." Tri Ali said confidently.

"But the problem is that now your subordinates are simply setting a very bad example to all the citizens. You must know that we are still in their city!" Cato said while suppressing his anger.

"Didn't they choose this fate themselves? In addition, according to my prediction, there will be no such things as laws, citizens, and elections in the Republic in the future. Therefore, a family like yours that has relied on its so-called reputation to boast so far, I'm afraid Yes, no one cares about it very soon. From now on, the rules of the game in this country are very simple, it is the world of the legion owner!" Terry Ali shouted excitedly, raising his hands as if he was the prophet of the times, "I am the one who owns the army!" I was exiled to Masseria, but now it's a blessing in disguise. I also have the strength of a legion. I'm afraid even Caesar will come to interview me soon. Cato, you were right - this is the place. The more fiercely the city resists, the higher my price will be. You see, even Lepidus has sent a letter urging surrender!" Triali threw the tablet to Cato like a madman.

It is full of naked conditions, especially Lepidus' promise on behalf of Caesar that as long as Triali is willing to surrender the Acropolis, he will immediately become Caesar's lieutenant and treasurer of the province of Gaul. Now Mal Cruz has turned from darkness to light, and I hope you will do the same.

"This is simply a trick of the enemy. I warn you Triali, Pompey will launch a major counterattack next year, and Caesar is now trapped in Spain. You are playing with fire!" Cato angrily said He slapped the writing board on the ground and said, "And you must hand over the command of the army immediately, otherwise I will immediately deprive you of your power. You must understand that your current status is nothing more than an exile."

But Triari ignored him. He ordered his followers to drag Cato out by force. He mocked him and said, "I didn't kill you on the spot because I was still concerned about the requirements of the besiegers. Lepidus asked you to stay alive. Maybe you are still valuable as some kind of trophy!" Then, Cato was thrown into the ditch outside the wooden fence. He was bleeding from the corner of his mouth. He was helped up by Munagius and others who came. He was in despair. A kind of lingering powerlessness infected his whole body. He just kept saying "Does Caesar want me to die or continue to live?" and other words.

Then, Cato returned to his residence and, contrary to his usual behavior, ordered his servants to clean his hair and beard, bathed in the hot water pool, put on a clean and elegant robe again, and then climbed up to the tower of the Acropolis. On the plain overlooked by the Acropolis of Masseria, mule carts loaded with grain from all over Gaul were coming and going openly behind Lepidus' blockade. Inside the blockade, camps and smoke from cooking fires were densely spaced, and behind the T-shaped earthworks, Lepidus's soldiers were clearly building an extremely huge "thing."