Augustus Road

Calabis gave his patron his wish, and Prima's villa was completed before the second Saturnalia. This also meant that it had been two years since Calabis came to Rome. At this time, the whole of Rome The city became tense and busy, because January of the following year was the consul election month that the Romans were most concerned about. Many dignitaries began to publicly canvass for votes, or participated in various dinner salons, forming a dazzling and extremely fragile political system. Alliance, as for the streets outside the main square, various private transactions, bribes and even assassinations are also endless.

Therefore, when Luculas decided to host a banquet in the most luxurious Apollo Hall in the newly completed mansion, almost all the leading figures in Rome actively wanted to be invited.

Five days before the banquet, the first person to celebrate alone was Tyranion, who had already established himself as the chief rhetorician in Rome. Luculas warmly received him in the private library, and Calabis also Be with me.

"Oh, this is really a gorgeous place that condenses knowledge and wisdom - oh, this is citron wood. I once saw a whole piece with a circumference of twenty Roman feet. I am going to pay for it. I came down and asked the most famous carpenter to build a desk for me, but after I asked about the price, I realized that I couldn't afford it." Tyranion held the wine and lay face to face with Luculas on the couch. He was full of praise for this place, and then he smiled wryly and made fun of himself. There were busy scribes walking back and forth on all sides. They either copied texts or carefully placed rolls of vellum on the bookcase and tied them with silk ribbons with written words as labels.

Calabis stood beside the host and guest's couch to accompany him, thinking that the old guy Tyranion now earns at least 100,000 to 200,000 drachmas a year, and he can't afford a whole piece of citron wood. , which shows how expensive this thing is! Thinking of this, he couldn't help but think about his own affairs: this year, he had made enough money from the Temple of Vesta and Purima. He and Poti had already settled in a place called Api on the outskirts of the city. In the beautiful mountains of Long, he started to build a small villa. For the design and construction, he still looked for Milu and Pop. Ten thousand drachmas were paid for each package. Milu patted his chest and said, you will definitely be satisfied, Calabis. .

When the time comes, I can’t afford citron wood, so I’ll use maple wood to build my room.

"By the way, aren't you going to write a comparative work on the personalities of the Greek and Roman nations? How about it, have you started writing yet?" Luculas asked as he put the wine glass on the small table.

"Yes, I have written several volumes. I came to visit you today for this reason - I hope to read some war histories of the Roman city-states, and I happened to hear that you are a good one. How about your works? Can you lend me a copy of "History of the Masi War"?

Luculas smiled graciously and said that he was very happy, and then Tyranion started to "excessive" again. He complained that the price charged by the Greek scribes in Rome was too outrageous, and one person actually charged five to copy a day. Starting from ten drachmas, those who are skilled or beautiful in writing actually ask for a hundred drachmas, and then make some insinuations, which means asking Luculas to lend him two of his scribes for free.

"Oh, Calabis, I remember you can read and write Greek." Luculas asked as if he remembered something.

What, do you want me to be a free scribe for Tyranion? But before Calabis could say anything, the Greek rhetorician said with approval that Calabis is a very suitable candidate. He is familiar with me and you, Lord Luculas, so let him assist me. There is nothing more appropriate than to copy this excellent military work - of course, Calabis, who am I from Tyranion? I will pay you thirty drachmas a day for this work.

"Brother, I don't care about this kind of money now." However, Karabis still had a happy expression on his face and said, just leave it to me!

At this time, a clumsy servant almost knocked over the bronze lamp when he came up with a dish of meat in sweet sauce. Tyranion then joked that he didn't expect there to be primitive savages in your courtyard. This also made Luculas feel embarrassed. Just when the official was about to step forward to teach this clumsy servant a lesson, Calabis noticed that this guy was Timothy.

Poor Timothy, he was still able to help in the kitchen, but now he was reduced to a slave serving dishes, and Karabis also felt a little sad.

"I should throw you into the fish pond and feed the eels!" the official threatened, raising his hand as if he wanted to beat Timothy.

"Stop!" Calabis yelled at the official to stop his behavior. Then he bowed politely to the patron and asked why an outstanding doctor like Timothy was not allowed to be responsible for patronizing you. Herbal Management with Marcos. Luculas looked a little embarrassed and said to Calabis: "My dear, not every slave and freeman can understand interpersonal relationships like you. Timothy, wait until you enter my house. Later, everyone discovered that he only knew how to extract snake venom or manipulate knives. He didn't understand herbal medicine to soothe the nerves and strengthen the brain. In addition, he had never gotten along well with the manager. Yes, I was also very troubled by him. The question of staying or leaving.”

To stay or go? Could it be that Luculus is planning to sell Timothe? So according to the current situation, Timothee's whereabouts should be very miserable.

"My Lord, if you are willing, I can pay for Timotheus to become a freeman, and I can also sponsor him to open a clinic in Rome. Maybe he will bring you greater benefits there, just like me." Carapis suggested sincerely.

Luculus nodded, drank a sip of wine, and said that he didn't need Carapis to pay the ransom for Timotheus. He would immediately free the Scythian, but the income of the clinic would be your responsibility, and it had nothing to do with me.

When saying goodbye, Luculus sincerely invited Tyranion to attend his banquet on the day of the Saturnalia. Many dignitaries hope that scholars like you will come, which will also be of great benefit to your career, but Tyranion politely refused: "Everyone knows that the election of the two consuls next year has reached the last and most intense moment. This banquet must be full of whirlpools like fighting. I am afraid that no one will be interested in rhetoric. As a foreign freeman, it is better for me to stay out of it." After saying that, he floated away.

Carapis, on the other hand, carried a string of bronze tubes with scrolls on his back. The scrolls contained Lucullus's "The History of the Massi Wars" and his half-finished "The History of the Iberian Wars". The former described the "War of the Allies" that broke out 25 years ago, that is, the war of the Latin League in the Apennine Peninsula against the city of Rome, with the goal of obtaining equal rights and citizenship; the latter described the war between the remnants of Marius in Spain and Sulla's party ten years ago. It is said that Lucullus is also preparing to write "The Mithridatic Wars" in Asia Minor. If all three parts are completed, it can be said that his contribution to the history of Roman wars is great.

Timotheus followed behind him and asked enthusiastically all the way: "Hey, Carapis, you said you would help me open a clinic right away. Can you pay more money to build a few altars for the gods of fish, horses and wind and snow in front of my clinic?"

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