"What does the letter say?"

Seeing the guards deliver Caesar's handwritten letter to Pompey, little Cato was uneasy about the contents of the letter. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 After all, Cato Jr. was extremely concerned about Caesar's movements. This was the case when Caesar was still in the Senate.

"Caesar, he wants peace talks."

Pompey frowned after reading it and threw the letter on the table. Then little Cato picked up the papyrus with peace and goodwill with a puzzled look.

"Peace talks? What conspiracy does Caesar want to do? It's impossible. ”

After reading the letter, Cato Jr. questioned on the spot. In his eyes, although Pompey and the Senate lost the port of Corinth, their overall strength was still far above Caesar. Legions from Africa and Silesia are still recruiting. The support of the Roman aristocracy for Pompey and the Senate made their funding not a problem. In addition, food is also fully guaranteed. In terms of the short-term situation, or long-term planning, both the Senate and Pompey have an absolute possibility of defeating Caesar. However, at this time, Caesar sent someone to ask for peace talks.

"It's a clear conspiracy, Cato, can't you see it? Caesar wanted to use us to stir up the people. Because he knew we would choose to say no. Rejection of this peace talks. In that case, he would have a reason to wage a deeper and bloodier war, because the people supported him. ”

Pompey replied sullenly. As one of the triumvirate who once controlled Roman politics, Gnaeus Pompey's ability cannot be underestimated. Caesar did not intend to convince Pompey of his intentions, and Caesar set his sights on the Senate from the beginning. Pompey was also well aware of this. War is not just a confrontation of military strength, more often than not, people who know how to play politics can often get a head start in war. At least the support of the population and public opinion.

But even as you say, this is Caesar's conspiracy and plan. Then we cannot choose to negotiate peace with him, and the republic cannot accept two military groups, or even two polities. In that case, Rome would be even more divided. I don't think I'm going to agree, I'm not going to agree, I'm not going to agree. ”

Cato Jr. replied with a tone of resentment. But Pompey only sent a disdainful look, and he began to get tired of these so-called politicians, who were so simple-minded and so short-sighted. They only focus on immediate interests, and their understanding of war is only that the generals and soldiers are excellent, and they can win the war. But in fact it is not. The complexity of the war was greater than these nobles could have imagined.

"Are you questioning me? General Pompey? I read in your gaze contempt and indifference. This is the future of the republic, and we must seriously discuss this war. ”

Little Cato exclaimed. At first, he won Pompey's support and entered the war, but now, the gap between him and Pompey has widened.

"Then we should discuss how to accept Caesar's request for peace talks, instead of just refusing it. Do you want all the people of Rome to rise up against us? Caesar may now be losing the support of his people. And by doing so, we will only succeed him and get the people to side with him again and support his so-called cause. Perhaps his promise to the low-level citizens has come to an end, and we are just in time to continue the people's expectations of him. ”

Pompey replied dullly. His gaze is wise and resolute, but his ally, the Senate......

"Are you saying we're going to accept this peace talk? Tell me, then, what will Rome look like? Caesar returned to Rome with this group of ruffians and then occupied Rome to negotiate with us, right? He will continue to use the legion as a bargaining chip, demanding that we make such and such concessions, how can one country tolerate two regimes? How could the Republic tolerate the presence of two opposing legions on Rome's sacred civic square? ”

Cato the Younger continued to confront Pompey with his archaic and irreversible republican rhetoric. His heart was filled with boundless loyalty and hope for the republic. The other Senate officials, on the other hand, were more concerned with immediate interests. They believed that Pompey was now much more powerful militarily than Caesar. So they will not agree to peace talks.

"Then your position and that of the Senate is to refuse to make peace with Caesar, to reject the olive branch he has extended to us? You chose to continue the war, didn't you? Cato. ”

Pompey suppressed his anger and asked Cato the Younger helplessly.

"Yes, I don't think it's just that I don't agree to make peace with Caesar, but that the other generals, senators, and even soldiers of the Senate won't be willing to make peace with the beast. Pompey, crush the enemy's positions with your legions, we can support you with money, but we will not bow to the beast and compromise. If you want to know what the rest of the Senate thinks, I can convene a special military council for you. ”

"Not necessarily, Senate, Caesar? I should have turned away from your strife. This war has killed my children, and now it is going to bury me too. ”

Pompey's reply rejected Cato the Younger's request to convene a military council of the Senate, knowing that even if such a meeting were held, the result would be the same, and that the Senate would still agree with Cato's argument and refuse to make peace with Caesar. And if he shouted at the meeting that he had to make peace with Caesar, that would only exacerbate the estrangement between himself and the Senate. Thus splitting the alliance. This is Caesar's conspiracy, Pompey knows it very well, but there is nothing he can do.

……

"Octavian, you are a naïve and ridiculous naughty child, child. Caesar had already won the Battle of Corinth, and our opponent Gnaeus Pompey was busy with a counteroffensive on the port of Corinth, and we can now take advantage of the enemy's gap to capture more cities and villages. And you, but cowardly choose to go back? Go back to Caesar, and tell him honorably that you've done your job. However, throughout the battle, you didn't even touch the corners of the enemy's clothes, and you didn't touch a trace of the enemy's blood. Oh, I almost forgot, your mother told you a thousand times when you left home to take care of your body and safety, and not to do risky things, so you obediently listened to your mother on the battlefield, and by the way, you were like a docile sheep, hiding within the walls of the legionnaires' ramparts when the enemy rushed up, and then shouting to charge, in fact, you did nothing. ”

Pompey ultimately refused Caesar's request, and in the mountains of northern Greece, Antony and Octavian were at odds over whether to continue the march or retreat to Caesar's stronghold. Octavian believed that since the task assigned to him by Caesar had been completed, the legion should not stay any longer, but should return to Caesar's camp and wait for the commander's next move. Antony, on the other hand, mocked Octavian as a young child who always cowardly hid behind the legions and let his soldiers rush forward to kill. Octavian's answer, however, was also very wise.

"A really good hunter doesn't go through the hunt because it consumes a lot of stamina, and the gains outweigh the losses. A good hunter will only lay ambushes and traps on the route of the prey, and then wait until the prey itself quietly takes the bait. That's the difference between a stupid hunter and a smart hunter. (To be continued.) )