27. False promises
"The beast with the minions is about to return, he is greedily longing for the sacred office of the Republic, do you decide to really let Caesar come back with a legion and justify next year's consulship election?"
In the quiet hall of the Senate, little Cato stood up alone and shouted loudly to the dozen or so elders of the Roman Republic around him. His voice was so loud www.biquge.info that the empty hall of the Senate refracted the sound back into a heavy echo. It is even more empty and gloomy at this time.
"Election of consuls? You're always too old-fashioned, Cato. When did we promise to bring Caesar back for the consulship election? β
Byblis stood up and smiled at little Cato. His smile was like a viper from a dark crypt, and he felt extremely cunning uneasiness.
"But that day I was already in the square outside the Senate, and I made that promise to the mob."
Cato Jr. squinted at Billis, not understanding what the others were thinking. And that's what they're here for.
Beatrice came down the steps and said to little Catoβ
"What did you promise? Let that nouveau riche return to Rome with a squad of legions? Receiving a grand triumphal ceremony? Or do you want that nouveau riche to qualify for next year's election as consul of Rome? Be careful, Cato, that all we promised the commoners was to make Caesar eligible for the consulship election. It's just the qualifications, and what the result will be, no one knows yet. It is true that Caesar had his own set of methods when it came to rigging the elections in Rome, however, we can too. Moreover, we have a whole year to prepare, and we can plan well to squeeze this pig nouveau riche out of the temple of the Roman Senate. Civilians think he's going to win, but if Caesar loses the election, we're not breaking our promises, are we? β
Billys's words were like venom, and as soon as it was raised, it was placed in the hall, and the crowd began to talk. Undoubtedly, the most fundamental way to deal with Caesar was to defeat him where he stood.
"But he has a legion."
Cato Jr. continued.
"Yes, but it's just a legion. In Rome, Caesar was not the only one who had the power of the army, and Pompey did not have two permanent legions in Rome, do you think that the greatest general of this republic would allow Caesar to put his sword in the halls of the Senate? The reason why Pompey has not broken with Caesar now is that Caesar has not done anything that threatens the essence of the Republic, and he has also made a substantial threat to Pompey, but if Caesar makes a move, Pompey believes that he is ready. β
Beatrice's answer was very cunning, he seized the current tripartite situation, although Caesar had the privilege of returning home with the legions, and had the right to vote for the consul, but when the election had not yet begun, everything could change. Moreover, if Caesar really had to rely on the legions to gain power at that time, Pompey would certainly not sit idly by any longer. The three forces seem to be opposed, but they contain each other. If Caesar wanted to break this situation, he would have to send troops on his own initiative, and at that time, Pompey and the Senate would form an alliance.
Cato the Younger stood here with some dissatisfaction, because in fact he did not like the current atmosphere in Rome, and even the officials of the Senate learned from Caesar to manipulate the election in the dark, and to manipulate everything in the dark. As the commoner Appis said, the current Rome is no longer the Rome it used to be, but Cato still doesn't want to admit it.
"Don't worry, Cato, you just need to erase the old, pedantic ideas from your mind, and then you can easily accept all this. Because times have changed. Moreover, we are already in the process of deliberating that Eutirius should go to Capua and Sicily with the treasury funds to temporarily recruit two legions, and when Caesar returns to Rome with the legions the following year, he will find that he has not been able to do anything. Because no one will support his bloody tyranny. β
"You're plotting to gather the Legion?"
Cato was amazed, and at the same time sighed, when had the republic come to such a state. The regime needs to be supported by the military...... The Roman legions, which had fought for honor, were now professional war machines, serving politicians......
"Yes. Of course, what we are discussing today can only be known to ourselves. This must be done in secrecy. β
Byblos put his arm on the shoulders of little Cato, and the two of them seemed to have been brothers for more than a decade, but only Cato knew that it was all so sad, and just a few days ago, he and Carenus were inseparable......
β¦β¦
"You're saying the Senate intends to break their promise?"
"That's not a promise at all, Appis, the nobles of the Senate have never had any promise to trust, they can do anything for the sake of profit, even with a cold sword against the wrath of the commoners. It's just that your agitation is so fierce that they don't have time to prepare a response, otherwise, do you think you can solve the problem by encouraging the civilians to surround the Senate? If there is enough time, they will even take the legions with them and surround the civilians in the square. β
No sooner had the than the provisional meeting of the Senate had been held, when Sylvie and Luculus went to Appis's house again and told him about what had happened in the Senate during the day. At first, Apis was surprised by the Roman Senate's untrustworthiness, but after a short period of reflection, it became clear that this was not surprising. The struggle could not be so simple, so smooth, this victory, just caught the fact that Carrenus deceived the direct interests of the common people, only caused the monstrous anger of the Roman people in a short time, but if it were not for this unexpected episode, I am afraid that the senators at this time would still sit proudly in that gorgeous palace, sneering at the commoners below.
"You must inform Caesar, Appis."
Sylvie said solemnly. Apis, however, had his own ideas.
"It's too late, and it will take at least half a month for the fastest horses to travel between Gaul and Rome, and the way must be smooth. Without Gaul interception or bad weather, and by the time the riders had come and gone, conveying Caesar's message to Rome, we might have missed the perfect time to attack. β
"What's your plan, Tribune?"
Luculus asked curiously.
"We must take advantage of the anger of the common people at this time to create a conspiracy to make the common people believe that the Senate is not really promising Caesar to return, but is deceiving them. Let the commoners completely lose faith in the Senate. β
Appis's sly gaze flashed, and the gloom made both Sylvie and Luculus feel uneasy. They don't know what kind of turmoil will arise in Rome for the young men who have grown up in this legion, and Rome has been disturbed by him these days...... (To be continued.) )