Chapter 18: Brutus's Accusations (I)

"If sport and money are linked, then its greatness is lost." - The ancient Greek poet Pindar

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After seeing Li Bida leave the school grounds, Caesar, who was resting on the second floor of the public villa on the side, breathed a sigh of relief and sat on the couch to drink water, while Ebro and Barsatus stood close to him with the dossier in hand.

"This is probably the best outcome for me and Lybidaius, because I always want to be close friends with him, so that there is no suspicion or estrangement." Caesar sighed, and then he said to Bassatus, "Did you mention the marriage contract between Ling Yan and the son of Lybidaeus, and did you, as an archon, not have the slightest idea of this?" ”

Barsatus was very frightened and said that he didn't dare, he just hoped that after returning to Rome, he would propose the marriage of his daughter Vivia, and marry the lintel of Lipida, because he was also a "foreigner" from Spain, and he was also promoted by Caesar to serve as the supreme administrator of Rome, and he should marry Caesar's other personal deputy to protect each other.

Caesar nodded, and then smiled again, "Vivia is very much like her mother, with thick black hair and skin like wheat, and is a standard Iberian beauty. Barsatus said with a smile, but he was indignant that Caesar was so "familiar" with his wife.

Caesar then took Ebro's dossier and said, "A foreign soldier who was captured on the battlefield." About two thousand people. Have you already put them all on the ship to Rome? ”

"Yes. There are still 4,000 men to be sent after the legion is opened. "The first 2,000 people will be sent to build a new temple of Venus on the side of the main square, as promised by Your Excellency, and when they are finished, they will be sent to the Colosseum of Neruda to entertain the spectators." ”

"Let Lybidaeus be my forerunner and go back to prepare for the real Grand Triumph. And the affairs of the new Venus Temple are settled. With that, Caesar put down all the papers, for he saw that Brutus was very angry, and went up the stairs and came before him.

"Anything to say? My child, who is also the future senior municipal magistrate, Marcus. Brutus. Caesar asked in a joking tone.

"I've heard that you're going to hold a great triumphal ceremony in the city of Rome for these battles?" Brutus clenched his fists and said.

Caesar bowed his head in the affirmative.

"Why! Why! As far as I know, the Triumph is big or small. All are awarded in the event of victory over foreign enemies, and it represents the glory of the republic. And now it's a civil war, so many people died, countless national elites, Cato the Younger, Dumijuanus, Pompey, Aphranius all died in this catastrophe, and then you have to enjoy the triumph for it, which has no precedent in Roman history and is unconscionable! Brutus expressed his anger in one breath.

"Since there is no precedent, then I will do it, there is nothing to be ashamed of, besides, who said that a civil war cannot be awarded triumphant? Roman law had no such limitations. Caesar said very blandly.

"Because those who win in a civil war are not heroes, and those who fail are not enemies." Brutus shouted.

"Nonsense!" Caesar was furious, he slapped the long table and stood up, this anger was vented for the first time to Brutus who regarded him as his own, "Didn't Sulla call himself a hero back then? Who said that Marius was a hero when he defeated my uncle Marius, who happened to be the hero of the foreign war who invaded the Republic three times, only to have his ashes dug up and thrown into the river? Only I, in the midst of the struggle, dared to exhibit the bust of this old man. Am I, Julius, not a hero of foreign wars? I conquered dozens of tribes in Gaul, repelled the Germanic invasions, conquered and killed millions of people, sent hundreds of thousands of free or cheap slaves to the Republic, mines and farmsteads were not short of people, blond-haired Gallic prostitutes filled the brothels of the Roman neighborhoods, anyone who spent two ass could go in and play, I reconquered Spain, the Bosphorus and Egypt, and let the local wheat flour flow into the port of the Ostia River, so that the people could eat free rationed food again, who do you think gave this kind of life? When I made such a great contribution to the establishment of the country, how did the Senate and Pompey frame and exclude me, I was almost reduced to a prisoner and suffered an unfair trial, and at that time Brutus you have the ability to stand in front of Pompey and say this kind of bastard of 'no heroes in the civil war'! War is war, its catastrophe has been predestined since it was born, there is no distinction between inside and outside, only the weak and the loser will hold this boring idea, and the winner is destined to continue to move forward and accept greater challenges. ”

Brutus's face flushed with rebuke, and he almost forgot that Uncle Caesar had been to Rhodes Island in his youth, and had studied under the debate master Morro, and was an eloquent man with Cicero. Many at the time commented that if Caesar had not had political ambitions, he would have become the greatest lawyer of his time, and perhaps he would have been able to compete with Cicero.

After a stalemate, Brutus stubbornly said, "You may be able to convince me, but you can't convince the Roman senators and the people, to boast about your achievements will only put you in a very dangerous situation." ”

"In other words, they will pry you Brutus, the simple-blooded Brutus, and make me an enemy, right?" Caesar's tone suddenly became desolate, and he looked at Brutus and said, "Pompey said the same thing to me when he sank in the waters of Lake Mykning, but I, Caesar, will not be afraid. You care for me, my son Brutus, but I will not stop myself because of someone's hostility or someone's concern, and my racing track is predestined by the age of eighteen, unless death stops me. ”

"I love you, but you love too many people, and there is no place for you in your heart." Brutus choked, then bowed to Caesar and slowly retreated.

Caesar waved his hand, and Ebro and Bassatus also left in amusement, leaving only him, looking at the temple of Atasya and the school yard after the speech, the crowd crowded and roared, leaving only dust in the wind, and a few shops that no one cared about, still waiting for the sunset to be lonely and waiting, "The hustle and bustle are separated, and only the silence of death remains." Caesar imitated the epitaph and said, "But I'm going to keep chasing the next hustle and bustle, because I don't have a cemetery." ”

At this time, in the square in front of the temple, Li Bida led another boy to Turinus and Leo and introduced, "His name is little Juba, he is a prisoner of war and a guest, and he will return to Rome with us soon." ”

"Will you kill him? After the triumphal pose, papa. Leo asked. (To be continued......)