Augustus Road

At this gathering, there were no senators surrounding Cicero to fight or kill him, because they really didn’t have the energy or the need. Now the ship of the Temple of Concord was about to capsize in the huge waves, and the pilot was killed. Throwing it down to worship the sea god will not help. ￥f，

Everyone was dead silent, waiting for the two censors to speak. Originally, this kind of meeting should be jointly chaired by the consuls, but now they are both in the military camp outside, besieging Rome! This is the moment for the showdown between the Caesars and the Senate. Both sides are betting chips on the gambling table. Now the chips of the Caesars are many legions, just like wolves and tigers are densely packed on the hills and streets of the city, and the Senate's The only bargaining chip is a few hundred dead lives.

"It is no longer possible to give Lepidus a higher position..." After a long time, Cicero slowly uttered this sentence in the seat, "In my opinion, or based on my analysis of Lepidus' previous remarks, Judging from the information, what he wants is equal benefit.”

Hundreds of senators squinted their eyes and looked at Cicero. They had been tricked into Maxim's ditch by this "incomparably wise plan", and now they wanted to see how he would continue to toss.

Finally, Cicero spoke out a plan with difficulty and trembling. He lost the confidence and arrogance of the previous months, "In my opinion, instead of electing a dictator, we should set up a committee of ten to dominate the country. power to appease the entire Caesar party, which can also prevent a single person from becoming powerful." After saying that, Cicero lowered his head and said nothing amidst the surprise and doubts. Everyone knew that this was very important to the Senate. It is even more shameful than appointing a dictator. This means that the entire republic is completely controlled by one faction.

Picasso next to him. He remained silent. He was waiting for Cicero to propose this plan, so at this time he asked everyone to quiet down and vote on the censor's proposal. The core of the vote was "whether to establish such a committee of ten."

Voting has never been so difficult, and the votes fell short twice. However, when Picasso was about to call a messenger to convey the results to the camp outside the city, he was stopped by the crying senators. Many people sat there with their heads in their hands. Some people angrily yelled at those who voted against it, wanted to beat them, and threatened these people "not to harm a ship." The yelling and cursing quickly escalated, and all kinds of threats and insults began, but Cicero was still sitting on the seat like a piece of wood. His mind had been very unclear recently. He now understood that the more desperate he became, The more helpless people are. The easier it is to believe in all kinds of rumors, just like he actually believed that two legions under Lepidus turned against him last night.

Until almost evening. Cicero's proposal had just passed with difficulty. At this time, he jumped up and said with great excitement, "In order to show that we attach sufficient importance to this proposal that is related to the situation of the Republic, we cannot send a tribune or judicial officer there. There is a camp in the countryside. As the censor, I went there with Lord Bishop to show the Senate’s sincerity for peace.”

At this time, one of the elders asked loudly whether there should be a vote on the list of the "Committee of Ten" below. This made Bisso dumbfounded. He made a "comedy closing" gesture towards the corner where the sound occurred and said What I mean is: this list and candidates are also decided by you, it is simply stupid.

Then, Cicero and Bisso, holding the formed edict and surrounded by their retinue, hurriedly--or in other words, Cicero seemed the most anxious--went straight to the arena on the Quinta Plain.

There were soldiers everywhere, standing in the corridors and seats, holding javelins and shields. This scene made Cicero the most silent. He asked for the edict in Bisso's hand, held it himself, and walked to the central seat where he was sitting. Above, Lepidus is holding a gold-plated baton, and Young Caesar is behind him with an expressionless face.

"I should congratulate you son, for your heroic battle and victory at the gate of Mutina..." Cicero felt very embarrassed when he saw the expression on Young Caesar's face. He, who was originally eloquent, decided to He wanted to please the other person, but he stuttered when he spoke.

At this time, Octavian smiled coldly and said to Cicero, "I feel very sorry that you are the last one among all the people to come to congratulate me." After saying that, Octavian held on to the hilt of his sword and said, This almost scared Cicero to death, but then Lepidus politely took the edict from his hand and expressed his sincere gratitude for his help.

Several slaves carried the huge sand table over, and Lepidus lightly placed the order on it. Then when he saw that Cicero had not left, he deliberately asked the other party if there was anything else he could help with.

"I just want to say that in the Temple of Concord, many people expressed their fiercest resistance to this proposal. It was only through my resistance that I was able to pass it." Cicero's face turned red and white, and he also He felt a sense of humiliation welling up in his heart, but he still had to do it. He couldn't leave Fabilia alone now.

Lepidus looked at him, his black pupils were cold and penetrating, and his lips under his beard were covered. It was difficult to tell whether he was smiling or having any other expression. Yes, of course he knew that Cicero had specifically ordered I sent it because I wanted to include my name in the "Committee of Ten" to protect myself.

Soldiers were coming and going around, and slaves were busy with their chores. Cicero felt that standing there was like a slave wearing a garland waiting to be sold in the market, restlessly waiting for the buyer to make a price.

"Okay, I agree." Lepidus took the lead in putting out his own sign, then he turned to look at Pansa and Octavian. Pansa was generally a soft-hearted person, and he also put out his sign. Finally, Octavian sneered a few times and finally put out his sign to express his subtle attitude, but then Caesar the Younger "challenged" the guardian:

"Since the respected censor has been added, I have no objection. After all, it is not easy to explain to the country and the people if there is only one censor in this list, but one must be excluded."

"I will be more generous. I will exclude Paulus and Helsius. Who told them to lean towards me? We must always avoid suspicion. Now the list of ten people is like this: Antony and Gaius, which will not change; then me, Caesar the Younger, Piso, Cotta, Dicias, Phedis, and now there is Cicero, and finally dear Pansa, is it okay now?" Lepidus said very readily.

In principle, this ten-member committee was a division of factions within Caesar's party. Cicero was a marginal figure who joined temporarily, and Pansa was also a "sideshow". Caesar the Younger, Piso, Cotta, Dicias, and Pheddes regarded themselves as "Caesar's relatives" (at least Caesar the Younger himself thought so), while Lepidus and Antony took a share of the pie as "Caesar's military faction". Originally, Lepidus insisted on adding his confidants Helcius or Paullus, but now he has indeed given up a place, which makes Cicero grateful and inexpressible.

(End of this volume) (To be continued...)