When little Cato spoke, his face was pale, and even his hands were trembling slightly. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 info Appis guessed that this patriarch of the aristocratic faction must have just gone through a painful choice, and now standing here, he would have such an expression and demeanor.

"Citizens of Rome, I am here to speak on behalf of the Senate, on behalf of all those in this great hall. Karenus we will recover and punish severely. This man of extreme luxury is the scum of the Roman aristocracy, and we will surely arrest him and put him on trial with the fairest of justice. ”

"Hoo ......"

Marcus Cato had just finished a short paragraph when the crowd couldn't help but start cheering. They danced as if they had really won. Apis, on the other hand, stood aside and gave little Cato a look and asked him to continue, because at this moment the two people on the stage knew that Cato's speech did not touch on the key issue, and if the question of Caesar's return was not resolved, then the riot would be far from over, and this was what Apis's eyes meant. And little Cato quickly understood.

He straightened his clothes, and then went on—

"One more thing, citizens of Rome, and one more thing I must say now. That's Caesar. Here I convey the resolution of the Senate to the tribune Appis. Julius Caesar will return home with glory. Receive a grand triumphal ceremony and show us the bounty of the plural spoils he received in Gaul. And Caesar will be eligible for next year's consul election. ”

"Caesar!"

Cato's trembling voice swept over the Civic Square, and soon the entire square crowd was boiling. As if they were celebrating a grand festival, they danced directly in the Civic Square. The interests of civilians are always so direct, and Caesar's safe return means that more benefits will be used by civilians. The spoils he received in Gaul were to be given to the commoners and knights of Rome free of charge. And, as everyone knows, Caesar's style during his reign, he will use these funds to make a big public construction again, to build more large infrastructure, more and more luxurious bathhouses, which will rise in the streets of Rome. More stadiums and theaters will also be built. At that time, Caesar will hold a large-scale beast fight, gladiatorial performance, and civilians will visit this grand performance for free. Slaves brought back from Gaul were also to be involved in the construction of these large projects. If there were enough posts, commoners and knights could even act as administrators for these slaves, wielding long whips all day long and receiving a good salary. All this was what the populace of Rome was looking forward to, and it was the reason why they were jubilant.

Cato the Younger had wanted to say more, but his speech had never been so brief, and in general, the speeches of this stubborn aristocratic senator in the halls of the Senate lasted at least half a day. However, at the moment, the revelry crowd didn't seem to want to listen to this aristocratic patriarch talking nonsense here.

They knocked Cato the Younger off the podium, and then escorted him back to his lodgings, where the crowd began to revel in the streets of Rome. This was a rare victory for the commoners in the struggle between the Roman plebeians and the nobility.

……

"Father."

Just after the events of the Roman civil unrest, the villa of Pompey, located on the hill of Sangri, Sextus also hurried to his father Gnaeus? Pompeo reported on the latest developments.

"What is the result?"

Sextus hurried into the house, while Pompey sat in the garden, leisurely polishing the edges of a plaster statue. He turned away and stared at Sextus calmly.

"Apis wins, Caesar wins......"

Sextus replied briefly, and both of them understood the meaning of this at the same time, the original three-legged situation, and now, the Senate was once again pressed back by Caesar.

"What did the Senate promise Caesar?"

Pompey put down the carving tools in his hand, got up and put on his cloak, and slowly walked to Sextus. He asked in a steady tone.

"The leadership of the corps. The Senate promised Caesar to return to Rome with a legion and to hold a grand triumphal ceremony for him. Also, Caesar will be eligible to run for tribune next year. ”

Sextus spoke resentfully. In fact, ever since marrying Octavia, Sextus has been reluctant to meet Caesar one day. This day seemed far away before. Because Caesar was still in Gaul at that time, all his actions were so reasonable and legitimate, and the conquest of the barbarians, in the eyes of outsiders, was to expand the territory of Rome and bring supreme glory to Rome. Today, however, Caesar has openly mentioned his request to return to the Senate in the open. And, what is even more terrifying is that for the first time in public, the Senate compromised with Caesar, with the plebeians. Historically, such an event has also been extremely rare.

All that Caesar did meant that the whole of Rome, the real masters, was actually only two people, him and Pompey.

However, Sextus was by his father's side, but he could not see anxiety and sorrow.

"Father, Caesar's ambitions have been exposed, and it doesn't matter if we said before that he was only for the good of the Republic, but now he has pointed the finger at the Senate, and he has indeed won this struggle, he has trampled on the laws of Rome, and returned to Rome before he surrendered the command of the army, which is the usual style of dictators! We may have to confront his ambitions and desires next. Rome can tolerate the triumvirate of Crassus, Caesar and your father, but it can't tolerate only Caesar and you. ”

Sextus's words are almost a portrait of an era, a beast, when all three hunters want to control him, the balance can be struck between the three men, but if one of them is removed, when one prey is placed in front of two brave hunters, neither will let the other take possession of the whole prey. This is roughly the current state of Rome at the moment. While Crassus was still there, Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus were able to maintain a relatively stable state. After the death of Crassus, the Senate, Pompey, and Caesar again struck this balance. However, now, the Senate's compromise with Caesar means that Caesar and Pompey have to once again come to a situation where they are fighting each other. Despite the appearance of the smile, everyone showed a friendly and kind smile.

"Sextus, my son, you are not wrong, however, Caesar has not yet won this battle, and the Senate has not made any real concessions."

Pompey pondered in his seat for a moment, then turned his head and spoke calmly to his son Sextus.

"I saw with my own eyes Cato in the square in front of the Senate, announcing the conditions for Caesar's return. It's such a naked bargain that even civilians can understand what it means. ”

Sextus was surprised by his father's remarks and seriously retorted it.

"What did you promise Caesar? Whether it was the return to Rome with a legion, or the election of the consuls, these were empty words and empty promises that could not support any actual result until they were executed. You know, Sextus, that the promises of the Senate are always only used to deceive ignorant civilians, and how much has our great Senate done in the last hundred years to break its promises? Accede to Caesar's request? No, they will regret it. Moreover, they will choose the opportunity to reverse their favor. ”

In the afterglow of the setting sun, Pompey sat in the garden of his mansion and returned thoughtfully. And his thoughts went back to twenty years ago, when he had all kinds of things to do with the Senate...... (To be continued.) )