"Speech must be free and restricted. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info In this regard, Caesar did a better job than Octavian. I remember that when Caesar was alive, there was no one in Rome who was guilty of murder because of a word 'mistake'. Even after the death of Cato the Younger, Cicero gave him a eulogy, and Caesar did not take his anger out on him. Even, in order for Cicero's account to be preserved and disseminated, Caesar only did to write a new article to refute Cicero. This is what I admire about Caesar, who did not rule with brutal repression, but with generosity and mercy. Even those who had followed Pompey were pardoned. Caesar was great. We have to admit that. ”

In the barracks, Apis sat among the lowest-ranking soldiers, talking eloquently. Expressing his wish for an ideal society, even though it was only a wish......

"Brothers, you are all warriors who have fought alongside me. What are we shedding countless times of blood in the enemy's land? For glory and wealth, and a better life. But if Rome didn't have a good system, and if corruption and depravity were still rife after the war, and those dirty deals ran rampant underground, then what was the point of our bloody struggle? So, my goal is not only to bring wealth and status to you, but also to give people a new Rome, a bright and free Rome. ”

Apis sat in the middle of the crowd and made a proclamation of his glory and freedom. The soldiers around them looked excited, as if they had really seen a savior...... Ideological work still had to be done from time to time, and Appis suddenly remembered that in college, the beast had to recite impassioned words from time to time on the podium, but no one would listen carefully. But now it is different, these ordinary Roman soldiers are rarely exposed to this kind of brainwashing rhetoric on weekdays, and Apis told it once, and the effect is immediate.

"Appis!"

Apis, who sat in the middle of the soldiers in a low-key manner and spoke generously, was quickly echoed by the crowd. Appis motioned for everyone to be quiet first, he still had something to say. The charm of ideological work lies in its extensiveness, and the key and focus is that the soldiers sitting here today will spread what they have heard here when they leave this big camp, so that more and more people will come here......

"Brothers, what has become of Rome now? Even the most ordinary freedmen know that the so-called fairness and justice, the so-called fair elections, have long been gone. Some of you may be able to be promoted by me after the war to serve in a position and a half, but thousands of talented civilians have been buried, and they may not be able to make a difference in their lifetime. Why? Because in Rome, capital is needed to do anything, including running for office. Have you ever seen a commoner who did not submit to the Senate but became a tribune? Which aristocrat have you ever seen win a campaign by virtue of his own qualifications and strength? ”

There was silence at the scene, and Apis took a sip of light wine and continued-

"No, not a single one! Those so-called campaigns have long been carried out secretly under the manipulation of bribery and favors. Ballot paper? That's a naked disguise! Cato the Younger ran for Consul of Rome, but what was the result? He kept himself clean and did not get involved in bribery and dirty deals, and he lost to his rivals. But his character is well known. Brothers, Rome is terminally ill, and every day I am in Rome, I am suffocated by the turbid air. So, we need to change, all of you here are from civilian backgrounds, if one day the war is over, and you still can't make a difference in battle, then what is your way out? Therefore, we must change Rome so that those who have the ability can also get opportunities through normal channels. At least a chance to campaign. ”

Appis hissed as hard as he could.

The scene was once again in a boil.

……

"Octavian or Apis? This is indeed a dilemma. Apis's policies are all beneficial to the common people, and if I take refuge in Apis, then my capital will inevitably shrink, and the land and even the manor will be occupied by the common people. ”

Apis made a mighty advance in Africa, and everywhere he went, he won a warm welcome from the local civilians. After all, behind the advance of the corps is the support of the new "Agricultural Land Law". It's easy to win the hearts and minds of the people. The nobles, however, hesitated. On the one hand, they are reluctant to support these reforms of Apis, because the reforms are against their interests, fair elections? If that happens, they will lose their position at the top of society and the privilege of monopolizing resources. Many people were reluctant to cooperate with Apis, and even resented it. But in the current situation, everyone can see that Octavian is attacked from both sides, and it is difficult to protect himself, so if he does not turn to Appis, he will wait for Antony to take control of Rome. And what Anthony will do after he takes the throne, no one knows.

"Yes. But is there any other choice for us? Octavian was already in a precarious situation, you don't see that he only asked Agrippa to bring a legion to Afrilia. Agrippa won the allies even after promising autonomy to the Numidians. This is a male lion in his old age, roaring weakly. ”

Valentus, a local nobleman in Africa, said melancholy.

They live in fear in the city, but they don't know where to go, and in times of war, nowhere is absolutely safe.

"Valentus, maybe it's time for us all to have a choice. This choice will determine the rest of our lives. The best outcome is that after taking refuge in Appis, we only suffer losses in the first few years, and after a few years, we can reclaim the use of the land. Taking a step back, maybe the situation wasn't that bad, Apis just demanded that the illegal land be ceded and contracted to the common people, and the legal land ......"

"Legal land...... Needless to say, how many of us have legal land in their names? ”

Magnes's words were interrupted by Valentus, who owned large tracts of land in overseas provinces, who were also Roman nobles who emigrated to Afeilia.

"Otas, tell me what you think? From beginning to end, we haven't heard your voice. ”

Magnis turned his gaze to the side, the old nobleman Marcus Otas, who was silently drinking in the corner.

"My opinion. Well, in fact, my idea is so simple, I just want to live, and living is the best outcome. You have forgotten how Antony and Octavian treated the Roman nobility and senators during the year Brutus invaded Rome. ”

As soon as the old nobleman Ottas spoke, the scene suddenly fell silent......