As for the victories you boast about with all your might, it's just that your evil deeds have not been retributed for a long time.

- Gaius Julius Caesar (Roman dictator)

The reason why it is said that the Roman Republic was directly disintegrated when there were 400,000 rebels, not because of how strong the rebels were, but because the Roman legions really couldn't attack the people of Rome! Once there was a rebel army of this magnitude, all the dreams and thousands of years of Roman efforts would be lost; Therefore, everyone can see their harm, but no one dares to take such a risk.

At this moment, Oscar is helpless; Even if you know the root of the problem, what can you do? He did not have hundreds of years to slowly change their ideology again, nor did he have the ability to deal with the two million mobs and four hundred thousand rebels; Oscar could only sigh helplessly. In order to prevent Quintus from running away in vain, Oscar asked Quintus to continue to talk to him about Rome's social class and social network.

So, Quintus adjusted his mentality and continued to explain to Oscar: "In Rome, there are mainly three classes of people who really have legal citizenship: the senate and the nobility, the knights and the rich, and then the commoners, who make up the vast majority of the population. As the Roman Republic continued to expand, the classes expanded with the addition of freemen (former slaves). It took one or more generations of effort for these freedmen to acquire basic citizenship.

At the lowest levels of society, slaves had different conditions and prospects, with the lucky ones being completely emancipated and others dying in the mines. Under a republican system, the Senate is indirectly elected and must be elected by the people from among the lower levels of the Executive. In practice, almost all the chief executives are hereditary landlords. Thus, both the Senate and the aristocratic class were almost the same members.

Although the era of Roman kingship has ended, hereditary system is still widely accepted after the era of the Republic. Thus, the nobility of Rome and Italy, as representatives of the highest classes of the provinces. They were also elected to the Senate. Knights, as the name suggests, were citizens who rode horses and charged to kill the enemy in war, and these warriors and wealthy merchants who were lucky enough to survive on the battlefield were placed in one class.

Having just entered the era of the Republic, the vast majority of knights were not allowed to participate in politics. Since senators are not allowed to engage in maritime transportation and other profit-making activities. This also made it difficult for the knights to carry out their ambitions. However, some "new humans" with a knightly background (the Romans were also accustomed to saying this) made their way into the Senate. Two of the most representative of these are General Marius and Cicero the Great Eloquent.

Today, hundreds of years after the advent of the Republic, the knightly class is gradually flourishing. With the improvement of the administrative system of the republic, they also held many civil and military positions. More and more government departments also allowed knights to join them, and some even grew to the point where only a small number of key positions were left for the nobles of the Senate. At the end of the royal era. The propertied classes, the Roman aristocracy, the nobles, and the knightly class, began to control Rome.

At this time, the common people were not a class at all, and the economic situation among them was uneven. Some are living a self-sufficient life, and there are 1.5 million ~ 2 million people living on the state's handouts; Because there are more than 2 million unemployed homeless and poor families, there are always a small number of people who are willing to support themselves as much as possible. Although they appear to be able to unite as one, once a disagreement arises with their aristocratic rulers, they forget about their rights.

The reason is that they do not have a common interest connection, so they will not unite; If they cannot form a strong opposition to the Senate, it may be said that their resistance is bound to fail. The justice of the law is usually on the side of the rich and powerful, and the court generally determines a person's identity according to the specific situation, and property and status play a decisive role. Wealthy commoners, mechanics, senators, and knights were classified as 'respectable', while proletarians were generally classified as 'disrespectable'.

The main difference in treatment between classes is also reflected in the different punishments given after committing crimes. If a 'respectable person' is found guilty of a felony, he will be convicted of a felony. He would be sentenced to exile and confiscation of property, not to death. In the same case, the condemnation of 'disrespectful' is heavier, and they will be crucified, or banished to death in the arena, or they will die of exhaustion from torture, or they may go to the mines to do the same hard labor as slaves.

From the birth of religious groups, mutual aid associations, trade unions and other associations, it can be seen that the Roman Republic was a large society in which people interacted with each other. But the most important relationship is the relationship between the sponsor and the affiliate, which is called 'Pius'. And those who are in this relationship are called 'Pius'. In the era of the republic, this was a life-saving political strategy.

Decicius, my father, and other people in power. This kind of political friend, the 'Pius', is needed to help each other. In the era of the republic, this dependency was common, and at the lowest level of society, the poor got up before dawn every day. Paying homage to the house of their own 'Pius', each dressed in a wide robe, as if to meet their 'god'. If they don't, they won't get even a little reward - maybe a few coins, and a gift that they will receive when they leave.

Sometimes, they will use unseemly practices to curry favor with the 'Pius'. Thus hoping to be able to get a little more reward. Down-and-out poets may cheat someone out of a dinner, a speculative merchant may cheat someone out of a dinner, and a speculative merchant may want to receive more orders. And the 'Pius Ones' can indeed protect his followers from the law.

The Pius wanted nothing more in return than a little more support, a little more compliment, a little more praise, and a little more dutiful son at their funeral. But in fact, most of these filial sons are poor; When their worshippers are gone, these 'Pius' run to their 'Pius', the higher officials, to pay their respects.

This time, they wanted more than just a little money; They want the support of the Senate or a good career in order to climb to the top of society more quickly. In fact, they and the poor meet the 'Pius' for the same purpose, and this semi-formal relationship must not be underestimated. In the Roman Republic, it was very difficult for the state to sanction a well-known figure with many supporters.

I don't know exactly how much of this Pius relationship is involved; It's not for anyone to say clearly, because there is always a link between them, and no one knows how many people are involved behind a certain person. But there are pundits who believe it. Except for the monarch who has absolute power, everyone has this dual identity of 'Pius' and 'Pius'.

Throughout the centuries of the Republic, the 'Pius' often played the role of patron saint within the city-states of the Roman Republic. Roman society as a whole was filled with private contracts and networks that kept individuals safe and convenient in their daily lives and travels. The relationship between protected persons and the system of mutual accommodation still exist today. And it continues to develop in the underground of the republic.

In some ways, it was also thanks to this 'Pius' system, for there had never been a time when Romans and foreigners of any status could travel so easily between the world, and at the same time Rome had made many important decisions between individuals and the city-states of the Republic, and even in many cases the relationship between Rome and its enemies in wars was negotiated through this relationship. between the guest and the host. The interdependence between the 'protected person' and the 'protector' is indispensable. However, it is not necessary to have a powerful 'protector' who will receive the necessary reception and protection during the trip.

In Rome, the general insurance system, banking, and communications were not ubiquitous. The traveler must have a 'liaison' to act as his guarantor and introduce him to the local community: this intermediary is the host. With contact and walking, this relationship of lodging can be passed from father to son, like the relationship of a 'protected person'. In principle, there is no limit to the payment between the 'protected person' and the 'protector' or between the host and the client;

The richer a Roman is, the more help he should give to his fellow citizens. In order to maintain their position, whether in private or in public. and give uncounted. In the Roman Republic and other city-states, the principle of 'doing good', which complemented the relationship with the 'protected person', was also the driving force of political and social life in the Roman Republic. In return for the dignitaries, they received the positions and honors of the Senate.

This reciprocity is such a formal social responsibility that if a promised gift is not fulfilled, the society pays interest on the money owed. This obligation rests with the heirs after the death of the father; These strict relationships are a strong indication that, in addition to the demands for freedom, the existence of citizens and cities depends on the old rules of giving and giving back, and is everywhere, anytime, anywhere. ”

An invisible and huge network of people slowly unfolds in Quintus's depiction, which shocks Oscar, who has always felt that people in this era are staying at home. It turns out that this is the real Roman society; It's simply impossible to change this relationship. Because every Roman. Whether unemployed, or rich, or even aristocratic; They are all connected to each other in some way.

At this point, Oscar had completely given up the idea of changing the status quo of the republic in his heart; Rather than taking huge risks to make these futile changes. It's better to carve out a whole new world on the outside. At least, in a world of their own making; He himself is the supreme being, he can change whatever he wants, and the vanquished will never have the right to say no.

Quintus also sees a change in the Oscars, and he himself is optimistic about it. The reason why he said so much to Oscar today was to tell Oscar everything he knew and witnessed about the complicated relationship between the city of Rome and the Republic. In order to make Oscar change his mind; You know, the current Scipio family is no longer the Scipio family when the old Scipio was alive.

If the Scipio family, who had suffered a double blow, wanted to continue the fight with Hannibal and get back on the battlefield, they had to have the support of the Augustan family; That's why Quintus taught Oscar, told him everything his father taught him, and even told him about his experience. In order for Oscar to feel the sincerity of himself and the Scipio family, and for Oscar not to take the Augustus family astray.

After all, the current Roman Republic is no longer the powerful state it was before Hannibal; Hannibal's successive blows had already made the Roman Republic begin to become troubled by internal and external troubles. Quintus really couldn't watch the Republic erupt into another crisis, all after Hannibal had been settled. (To be continued.) )

PS: Ask for recommendations and tickets, I hope the brothers can give a little support to Chasing the Wind; Please.