This suddenly made little Cato speechless, yes, although Caesar was the most glorious ancient aristocrat in all of Rome, he came out step by step in the priesthood, legion, and lawyer circles when he was a child, and he was definitely more solid than little Cato, as for little Cato, he had only served as the financial officer of Cappadocia Minor before, and had not really gone to the battlefield, so Caesar's questioning made Cato feel embarrassed.

So he could only grit his teeth and say, "If the republic needs me, I will naturally go to the soup and go to the fire, but I don't know what this groundless accusation has to do with Barsatus's proposal." ”

"Of course it does." Caesar then stepped aside, and it was Pompey's turn to perform, and the triumphant general brushed his curly hair in front of his forehead and recounted aloud the opposition between Ptolemy XII and the people of Egypt, and although the pharaoh's tyrannical policies at home aroused resentment, we should not let the people gain the sweetness of seizing power, and the same was true for the people of Rome, let alone a distant country. So I am willing to express my position and support Ptolemy's return to the throne, but Rome does not need to send regular legions, nor auxiliary legions, but only needs to let Pharaoh pay his own money, hire veterans of the Roman army, or outlaws on the streets, and then assign an old subordinate of mine to lead the team, anyway, there is no reliable resistance in Egypt now, "As long as I point my finger, Pharaoh's palace will fall." Apparently Pompey was extremely confident, "My only concern is that Rome needs to appoint an administrator, who is of high moral character and good character, at least to Cyprus to appease the turbulent local people, after all, not everything is solved by sword fighting." ”

Caesar immediately responded, "That's why there is an incarnation of the republic, who is willing to go to war for the republic." But he was still sad that he didn't have this opportunity. Cato the Younger clearly heard Caesar's words. He knew that it was all the other party's conspiracy just now. First induce him to make a statement, and then let him ride the tiger - Caesar is trying to force him to leave the city of Rome!

But the statesmen of Rome always said the same, and although Cato the Younger was secretly sad, since the storm came, he would never hide from it, so he said to Caesar with a calm expression, "Is what you just said against me, and if I go, it can stabilize the situation in Cyprus." Rather, you can gladly accept the appointment.

Sure enough, after listening to Cato's statement, Caesar was also moved, and said: "Of course, although Cyprus is not as dangerous as the Gallic that I am about to serve, because of the limited number of legions in the republic, and the resettlement of veterans has always been a financial headache, you may not be accompanied by legions when you go to Cyprus." Considering the peculiarities of the other place, you are before the situation calms down. It is possible to open a governor's palace on Rhode Island. ”

After listening to this "good" condition, Cato the Younger left the podium with a miserable smile, and slowly paced to his seat and sat down, he understood that in this year's competition with Caesar, he was defeated, not only could not hinder him in the slightest, but was now directly expelled from the city of Rome by the general, if Caesar's father-in-law Piso, together with Pompey's confidant Gabinus, was elected consul for the next year, then until he returned with a full rank, the whole republic would be their world.

Thinking of this, Cato covered his face with his hands in pain, and could not help but gloomy.

At this gathering, Caesar's faction won the most complete victory: Julius. Caesar succeeded in obtaining the province and the legion, the situation of Cato the Younger being excluded was decided, Cicero defected, and Crassus and Pompey also took what they needed, and waited for Caesar to return from Gaul, and then the two of them went to win greater honors.

"Stay away from me, you bad friend who betrayed your principles." After the meeting at the Temple of Concord, little Cato spoke harshly to Cicero, who had an embarrassed expression on his face, and then walked in the direction of his house step by step.

Cicero was ashamed, and although he listened to the counsel of Aetius and saved him from the same fate of being ostracized, he lost Cato's friend, a special friend, who may not be the icing on the cake for you when you are in good times, but when you encounter unjust abuse, he says that he is willing to fight to the death for you.

Just when Cicero hated his indecisiveness, in the alley next to him, Pompey's favorite slave Demetrius came out, and he once again with that extremely flattering smile, and sighed in a tone of hindsight, Cicero did not have to deign to go to Caesar's palace to negotiate terms with him, his master the great Pompey had already received a letter for help from your Excellency, and was preparing to punish the daring Claudius in these days!

"May I ask what your master has to do when he comes to me again?" Cicero replied with a blank expression.

So Demetrius made a generous offer, saying that his master Pompey was already very disgusted with Claudius, and that this domineering tribune actually did everything under the orders of Caesar, and that he and Caesar were both street hooligans, but my master was different, he still respected the authority of the Senate very much, and supported the republic from the bottom of his heart, and if he were not really embarrassed by the problem of the resettlement of veterans, he would not have formed an alliance with Caesar and Crassus—therefore, Claudius was Caesar's wedge in the city of Rome, and my master was willing to assist you, Fight against this villain.

Hearing this fresh offer, Cicero began to feel a little tempted again, or he felt that staying in Rome to fight Caesar's agents was also to make up for the guilt he felt about Cato, and he was already disgusted with his military career.

But he still couldn't accept Pompey's kindness so happily, and he still needed to be a little reserved, so he said in embarrassment: "But I agreed to Caesar, and the other party agreed to make me the chief lieutenant, and even the famous general Rabinus took a back seat." ”

"When it comes to the military career of a lieutenant general, my master and I are all too familiar." Then Demetrius mysteriously approached Cicero's ear, "With all due respect, Your Excellency is not fit for this kind of thing of holding a sword and fighting against filthy barbarians, Your Excellency's greatest cause is to use eloquence and books to open up the spiritual frontier for Rome, so it is better to stay in the city of Rome - my master will do his best to operate this matter, you don't have to worry about Caesar's side, by the way, if you don't want to perform military duties, you can let your brother go, so that there will be no delay on both sides, in line with the best model of political investment." ”

Tempted, tempted, Cicero is really tempted, this Jew is right, although he had reprimanded this group of people who like usury when he was consul before, but what he saw was Pompey's support for himself, which made Cicero feel the most powerful encouragement, as long as I can pull Pompey over, divide the camp of the three-headed monster, and let them mess up, then I will save the Republic again! (To be continued......)