"Hannibal dared to accept the inevitable; Scipio, after his victory, knew that he was holding a profit and a treasure, which shows that the two great opponents had a noble mind and a genius of the political family. —Monson on the peace between Carthage and Rome after the Battle of Zama

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In front of the compound of Julius in Subura, a tall flagpole was erected, on which was Caesar's favorite scarlet general's cloak, and Caesar would raise it every time he was in the most critical battle, or wear it himself, and lead all the soldiers to charge into battle without avoiding the arrows, this sight is very helpful in arousing the feelings of veterans and citizens for him, and everyone slowly knows that the remains of the dictator who gave his life for the country are still lying there, and the evaluation of him has not yet settled. But more and more people have come to pay their respects these days, and the two cavalry commanders, Li Bida and Anthony, are also stationed here, and they have gathered Caesar's former staff and subordinates, turning the compound into a temporary battle "headquarters" to confront the Republican faction led by Brutus on Capitol Hill.

Now the whole of Italy was beginning to be in turmoil, and countless people poured into Rome, and in general, the new citizens who had benefited from the Emilian Laws were all on the side of the compound of Julius; Most of the old citizens of Rome sided with Brutus and Eurabella.

With the exception of a long-distance exchange of fire between the Sixth Legion and the City Legion, a large-scale brawl in the city had not yet taken place, after all, both sides had remarkably exercised basic restraint - and soon Brutus appeared in the streets where Subra and Bull met and claimed to speak to the two cavalry commanders.

His presence blew up the situation. Many generals and veterans who served under Caesar. All armed with weapons. Milu, in particular, gathered all Caesar's elite soldiers and barbarian guards during his lifetime, and said, "Let Brutus, the bastards, know how we feel about the unprovoked murder of His Excellency the Dictator", "A tooth for a tooth and an eye for an eye, everyone knows that His Excellency Caesar has been stabbed twenty-three times!" ”

However, Brutus was also surrounded by hundreds of sword fighters and armed slaves. This was all provided to him by the senators led by Dehemoth, who were used as guards.

"I am not here to fight, for in the end it will only endanger the city of Rome and the whole Republic, and the only thing I am glad about in the bloodshed is that only Caesar has died so far, and no good man has been involved in the death." Brutus stood there and said to the murderous veterans opposite, "You serve the country, not the private soldiers of some politician or warlord, and Caesar's affairs are naturally discussed by the law, the Senate, and the people's council." It has nothing to do with you, as for the resettlement of all the land after the army is discharged. We have settled some of them, and I pledge the rest, in my capacity as Chief Justice, that it will be properly settled within the remaining allotted time. So, now I have to see only two cavalry commanders, and if you still consider yourself a soldier of the Republic, then don't stand in the street like a thug and obstruct the conclusion of a peace agreement. ”

At this time, Milu also calmed down, and he asked everyone to get out of the way, but Brutus must also leave all his sword slaves behind, and go to see Li Bida and Anthony with the documents and subordinates.

In front of the flower gallery of the compound, that is, the altar and the atrium, until the kitchen in front, full of stagnant water from the previous days, Brutus, who was standing there, saw that Caesar had been buried in a stone coffin, but the coffin had not yet been covered, which probably verified the old saying, "The coffin cannot be closed until the words of judgment appear."

Li Bida and Anthony, divided into left and right, sat in circle chairs, and the first to speak was Li Bida, who said, "The army and the majority of the people, demand the surrender of Caesar's murderer." ”

"What you said is just a matter of law, if you want to try me for my crimes, you can go to court, not now, and not even more so in this courtyard, you can't make any actual judgment, can you?" Brutus sneered.

"Behold, the one who deprived the divine man of his life without cause is now again asking for peace." Anthony angrily stood up on the circle chair, "However, now that Julius has not been buried, we demand that he be given a state funeral and that the assassination of him be unlawful. ”

"Yes, if this appeases your anger, I am willing to persuade the Senate to discuss all your proposals, but I also have a request, that is, all the troops must stay in the garrison honestly, and Libidaeus and Antony must swear that no violent means will be used to destroy the peace and stability of Rome, and even the legions that are walking in the middle of the journey, please send the token officer and order them to return to their original camp." Brutus then made this request.

Instead of getting up, he spread out his hands and said, "Although we want to avenge His Excellency Caesar, we have no intention of ruining Rome, for that is not what the man lying in the coffin would like to see, and he foretold his sudden death many times before his death, but he is still begging me to continue his unfinished business with Antony, and besides, he never thought that you would be the murderer who stabbed him with a dagger, Marcus, always." As he spoke, Li Bida shed tears.

And over there, Brutus also tried to suppress his choked sobs, and he said in an undulating tone of unrest, "What's the use of saying all this now? The only thing I can do now is to get the country, the law, and the army back on track, and when that day comes, I will be willing to accept punishment of any kind, exile, imprisonment, and even the execution of me by pushing me off the cliffs of Capitol. ”

"Your first words are back to you, and now I'm concerned about how you plan to resolve our differences?" Li Bida supported his cheeks with his hand and asked.

"First of all, mutual recognition of the titles and offices of both sides during Caesar's lifetime, followed by a public oratory debate at Capitol Hill, this assembly is not a separate class, but divides the members into quintiles, one for the Senate, one for the Knights, one for the New Citizens of the Hundreds, one for the Old Citizens, and one for the army, and I would like to be widely involved, but the votes and opinions of the General Assembly have only moral effect, not legal force, and it does not produce any bills." Brutus said.

Anthony was about to snatch something, but Li Bida's hand pressed him, and then he said to Brutus, "I think you can hang Caesar in private, we accept the way of the big debate, but the location must be changed." ”

"Capitol Mountain is full of sword fighting slaves of Cassiio and Dehemoth, and Li Bida and I are afraid that we will meet the same fate as Caesar, so I asked as a cavalry commander that the meeting place be placed at the Temple of Mother Earth at the foot of the mountain, and both sides enter and exit from the side of the street, and swear not to carry weapons!" At this time, Anthony added Li Bida's opinion in detail. (To be continued......)