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Rome, Italy, January 47 BC

It is a great city built by the wolf child Lammulus in legend, and is called "the city of seven hills" and "the eternal city" by poets.

By this time, the Roman Republic had evolved from an Italian overlord to a Mediterranean overlord through about a century of overseas conquests, and the city of Rome had transformed from a small city-state into the capital of a superpower. For thousands of years, the city will become the supreme symbol of Western civilization, hegemony and imperial power, as well as the spiritual home of countless literati and artists.

However, it should be noted that almost all of the Roman monuments that will impress tourists from all over the world, such as the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the velodrome, the triumphal arch, etc., were built during the Roman Empire, and they did not exist in the earlier Roman Republic.

It was not until the reign of the first true Roman emperor, Augustus (Octavian), that Rome became a luxurious city lined with marble buildings. And before that...... Every time Mark. Antony came back from outside, feeling that Rome had become even more dilapidated. Everywhere you can see the plaster of buildings that have fallen into disrepair, and the streets are filthy and filthy, and I don't know how long it has been since they have been rebuilt.

The continuous overseas wars for nearly a century not only brought in a large number of cheap slaves to Rome, but also caused the Roman peasants in the surrounding suburbs to lose their jobs - their labor costs were much higher than those of slaves, and the result of Roman citizens farming was absolutely bankrupt - and they had to pour into Rome in large numbers. Endless slums were formed, relying on the rewards of the powerful and the welfare of citizens to earn their livelihoods.

This has not only seriously disrupted the law and order of the urban area, but also led to the vicious expansion of the scale of the city. Let the city of Rome at the end of the Republic. It looks very similar to Mumbai in India and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, with a pile of crooked, chaotic and dilapidated houses surrounded by a few magnificent temples and villas. The streets were always filled with hordes of vagrants, relying on government welfare and all sorts of criminal activities to make a living - in Rome at the time, anyone who went to a friend's house for dinner alone without leaving a will would have been accused of being careless.

Although successive Roman governments tried to rectify this terrible state of chaos, decades of civil war gave the city no respite. Even Jihua hasn't figured it out yet. It was forced to be stillborn - the massive construction of civic apartments, elevated aqueducts and sewers was the next century. Even by the standards of B.C., Rome at this time was not a good place to live.

Furthermore. Winter Rome is always so wet and rainy that the ground is always full of sewage and makes people's bones chill.

And the terrifying news from Egypt, a place where the sun is always shining, made Mark even more terrible. Anthony felt like the sky was about to fall.

“…… Damn it! Caesar is dead?! Crushed to death by a meteor in Alexandria, Egypt?!! That's impossible!!! ”

Stand under the majestic columns of the Roman Senate. Mark in armor. Anthony looked at the winter rain falling from the sky in a trance. I only know how to hide the panic in my heart with a roar," ...... What's next? What should I do? O gods! Who's going to tell me what to do now!! ”

Behind him was the Roman Senate, the highest authority that ruled the Roman Republic for hundreds of years, but because the Roman senators during the civil war were basically republican, most of them fled Italy to join Pompey, and the remaining senators were not much trusted by Caesar, so in order to prevent chaos behind their backs, during Caesar's dictatorship's expedition. The Roman Senate was temporarily paralyzed by an indefinite recess.

As a substitute for the day-to-day administration of the Senate, the consuls, and the court, Caesar crossed the sea to conquer Greece. Ten civilian tribunes were temporarily appointed to manage the day-to-day affairs of the city. But it turned out that this was a very wrong choice, these tribunes were quite poor in their ability to do things, and their ability to fight each other was quite great, and the character of several of them was even more inferior, and just because they owed a large amount of debt, they wanted to pretend to be public and private, and issued a decree to forgive all debts...... After this absurd decree was voted down by his colleagues, this guy incited civilians to riot, smashing and looting everywhere, plunging the city of Rome into endless street violence.

As for the more important work of maintaining public facilities, ensuring food supply, and rectifying urban order, it seems that these rotten people have completely left it behind. Even on the distant battlefield of Pharsalus, Caesar heard bad news from Rome from time to time.

So, after the Battle of Pharsalus, Caesar took only one legion to pursue Pompey, but handed over nine of the most elite Gallic legions to Antony, ordering him to bring these veterans back to Italy to recuperate, and at the same time to put the chaos in the city of Rome in his place, so as not to cause too much trouble in the rear. Antony, after returning to Italy with his army, sent all nine Gallic legions to Capua, where Spartacus had started the slave revolt, to rest and spend the winter, and then returned to Rome on his own, bringing with him only a new legion recruited in Italy as a garrison.

At this point, Antony, the former cavalry commander, became the second person in Rome, replacing Caesar in charge of domestic affairs. Although Anthony was only 34 years old that year, he had a wealth of experience in following Caesar in many battles in the north and south, and there seemed to be no problem in terms of qualifications.

Unfortunately, this is another bad decision on top of a mistake - on the battlefield, Anthony is a brilliant general with both wisdom and courage; In politics, however, he is a reckless and impatient crappy politician. Back in Rome, Antony was tired of the intricacies of politics after only a few days. And in the face of the surging street riots, Anthony could not come up with a more countermeasure than the massacre. After being dissuaded from the strategy of repression by force, he simply hid and enjoyed himself in peace. Let the tribunes continue to make Rome a mess.

Then Antony personally caused more riots in Rome - compared to the strict and honest little Cato, Mark. Anthony's attitude towards life seems to be diametrically opposed. Believe in extreme hedonism. Due to the loss of his father at a young age and the lack of discipline, Anthony has been a dissolute playboy since he was a child, as early as his teenage years, because of prostitution, gambling, and drinking, and owed a huge debt of two hundred and fifty tarrants of silver in one breath (one tarrant is equal to sixteen kilograms, and two hundred and fifty tarrants of silver is four tons).

Now Anthony is in charge. Caesar, the top boss, was not around, and there was no supervision at all. So, he became very extravagant and corrupt. First he seized the most Haode villa in Rome - Pompey's legacy - and then led a life of luxury and pleasure.

- A delicate mistress of nephrite jade, decorated with gold, silver, precious stones, and dyed ostrich feathers (ostrich feathers were extremely rare during the Roman Republic, and each fare cost ten gold coins). Tall horses with beautiful coats and fat bodies, luxurious carriages as exquisite as works of art, jade liquid elixir from famous wineries, beautiful singers and dancers, and the most expensive red-card prostitutes in Rome and even Italy. There are also magicians, troubadours, bands, prostitutes, and depraved pleasures such as all-night lascivious feasts and promiscuous hybridization......

Even the simplest breakfast, Mark. Anthony also had to be very elaborate, not only with a variety of delicate and expensive dishes, such as eight-eyed eels from Spain and roasted peacocks from Greece, but also with valuable purple blankets and gem-encrusted gold plates, as well as dances and various theatrical performances, so that a meal would cost 30,000 sesteres. Equivalent to the salary of an ordinary soldier for thirty years!

In fact, drugs had not yet been invented that year. Otherwise, Anthony, who is completely depraved, will have to become an addict nine times out of ten.

In short, according to the description of the secret letter sent by the traitor of the Senate to the Republican leader Cato the Younger: "...... When the dictator Caesar left Greece to pursue Pompey, the whole affair of Rome was under his appointed cavalry commander, Mark? Anthony handled it on his behalf. However, Anthony's actions are really flattering -- drunkenness, playing with women, embezzlement, engaging in party disputes, accepting bribes, and so on. ”

At the same time, the nine legions sent by Anthony to Capua to "rest" were living a bad life with little food and clothing, and were also assigned heavy labor, and they were already full of resentment. When they heard how Anthony spent his time in Rome, they were even more completely fried.

-- Since the outbreak of the civil war, these veterans of the Gallic province have suffered great sacrifices, and when Caesar crossed the Rubicon with his army and declared the outbreak of civil war, his ten elite Gallic legions totaled 50,000 troops. But by the time the Battle of Pharsalus was fought in Greece, all ten legions had only 22,000 men left. In just over a year, more than half of the robes were killed on the battlefield, which really couldn't help but make their soldiers feel sad and sigh, and at the same time feel that their performance on the battlefield was already very worthy of the commander Caesar.

So far, however, all their sacrifices and efforts have not been adequately rewarded - the soldiers' willingness and eagerness to follow Caesar was largely due to the desire to make a fortune in the war. However, for political reasons, Caesar showed mercy in the civil war, and not only forbade his soldiers to raid the cities of Italy, but even in Spain and Greece, few cities were allowed to be raided. Even the captured republican officers and soldiers were usually protected from plunder, because Caesar wanted to incorporate them into his own.

Since the loot was so scarce, the soldiers could only count on their salaries. Unfortunately, during the Civil War, Caesar's soldiers were rarely paid. Although Caesar doubled his salary on the eve of the Civil War, from 500 cesters per person per year (the ancient Roman unit of copper coins, one hundred cesters equaled one gold coin) to 1,000 cesters per person per year. However, due to the huge expenses incurred in preparing for the war and the huge damage to the tax revenues caused by the war itself, the payment of the salaries of the various legionnaires was delayed again and again, and not a single copper coin was seen, and the so-called salary increase was only lip service.

Although Caesar had promised to give his men bonuses on the Rubicon, on the Sium Beachhead in Burundi, and on the battlefield of Fasalus, these promises could not be fulfilled even when it came time to camp in Capua. The soldiers were still not paid, in stark contrast to the victorious days of the Gallic Wars, when Caesar's soldiers were often raised and plundering was commonplace. Within a few years, everyone became a big guy.

During the Civil War, Caesar's army was not only poorly paid, but also had a difficult supply of food. For example, during the war in Spain, military rations were scarce and expensive (the Roman army at this time often had to feed themselves); When they went to fight in Greece, Caesar's men had to live on grass. After returning to Italy, the import of wheat from Egypt was cut off. The price of food in the market is still very high - and the soldiers have to pay for it themselves!

What's more, like many armies throughout the ages, the Romans believed it was necessary to keep their soldiers busy. Thereupon. In order to prevent the soldiers from being too "idle" during the winter and truce, the nine Gallic veterans who rested in Capua were also assigned by Antony to repair and expand the road. The problem is that the labor is apportioned. But the salaries were nowhere to be found. I want these battle-hardened soldiers to repair the earth with empty purses and hungry bellies. It's really difficult for some strong people. While the veterans were complaining, they heard that Anthony had withheld their salaries and that he was spending a lot of money in Rome - and the army began to mutiny!

-- Antony's greatest failure during his stay in Italy was that he failed to properly handle the task of resettling the elite veterans of the nine Gallic legions. Anthony, who used to manage the army on the battlefield with ease, turned out to be a fool of himself in peacetime.

Beginning in the late winter of the previous year, some soldiers in the Kapua camp had been making trouble one after another, refusing to do their duty to build roads. They also plundered farms and shops near the city of Capua, causing trouble. Meantime. These men were still plotting a march to Rome, engaging in a "force bargain", demanding from Antony and the Roman government what they had been waiting for - land, military salaries, and victory bonuses, and then happily retiring and returning home.

Anthony, who had recovered from his depraved pleasures after receiving the alarm, was in a state of great anxiety, for he could not quell the commotion at all—after a great squander, he had little money left to meet the soldiers' demands for back salaries and bonuses; Without Caesar's formal order, he could not remove the soldiers from service. At the same time, he had only one legion stationed in Rome that could still be commanded, and he could not use force to suppress the collective protests of the nine legions. He didn't know what to do at all other than to ask Caesar for instructions......

Fortunately, only a small number of people jumped out to make trouble, and most of the veterans still trusted Caesar's character and patiently continued to stay in Capua's camp, thinking that when Caesar returned, he would definitely comfort his hard work and dedication, and give himself a plausible explanation.

Yet, after their eagerness, they waited for Caesar's death!

Caesar is dead! It's ridiculous to be stoned to death by a meteor! No one will ever come to justice for these veterans of the bloody realm!

It was also bad news for Anthony, because it meant the collapse of their entire Caesarist group!

Well, although Pompey is also dead, Cato the Younger is still alive, as are a whole bunch of Republican senators. Caesar may have had a way of outwitting and scheming these old foxes, but Antony only knew how to cut them all down with a knife. Even the Republican fleet in the province of Illyria was once again regrouping, threatening Rome's security from the northeast...... Oh no, hell! Rome has long been unsafe! As long as Capua's nine mutinous legions can't hold back and kill along the avenue, they can immediately turn this Roman city guarded by only one legion into a sea of fire!

“…… What to do? What am I going to do? Dorabela. Scratching at his hair in anguish, Anthony turned to his political adviser and good friend, Dorabela, the newly appointed tribune, who would have fallen out in a few months' time. But in this time and space, their friendship has not been torn apart by political struggle, and the whole situation has been turned upside down.

“…… Caesar is dead! All of my former colleagues have become unreliable! What's worse is that the nine Gallic legions stationed in Capua have all mutinied and are advancing along the avenue towards Rome, ready to ask for money by force! And I only have one legion in my hands! ”

“…… Please calm down, my old fellow. Dora Bella comforted, "...... Now the most important thing is to find out the contents of Caesar's will. ”

“…… Caesar's Will? How could there be such a thing?! Anthony blinked, his face rather odd, "...... At least I hadn't heard of it, and Caesar's wife had only pulled her hair and wept bitterly for the past few days, never mentioning it. What's more, Caesar now had little inheritance at all, except for a few estates—all of his money was invested in the war expenses. ”

“…… I'm not asking about money, it's about who Caesar chose as his heir to his political position! Well, since even you don't know if Caesar left a will, then I didn't say it. Dora Bella shrugged her shoulders, "...... Alas, don't panic, dear Antony, the republican army is still far across the sea, and now you need to deal with the difficulties that you need to deal with, just the armed bargaining of nine Gallic regiments, right? ”

“…… That's right! Anthony's face wrinkled," ...... That's 80 million Sestes! How do I come up with it? ”

“…… Calm down, Antony, this Roman city is not without money, and it is not without land on the outskirts of the city, the question is how to get these things in your hands and then distribute them to the soldiers. Dora Bella patted Anthony on the shoulder, "...... I suggest using the Sulla approach. ”

“…… You mean...... The Great Purge? And the list of 'enemies of the state'? Isn't that a little too intense? Anthony was visibly surprised.

“…… There's no way to do it, Mark. Anthony. Tribune Dorabella continued to speak, "...... Caesar is dead, and a new round of more intense and chaotic battles is about to erupt, and you'll have to do everything you can to expand your strength. In the midst of a brutal civil war, with an army you have everything, if you lose an army you lose everything, and you can't maintain an army without money. In order to win the hearts of the military and let them fight for you, no matter how much it costs, it is worth it. Listen to me! Just remember to make the soldiers rich, why bother with other people's lives and deaths? ”

“…… Alas, it seems that this is the only way to do it. Dora Bella! "Anthony hesitated, but in the end the desire for military power prevailed," ...... Please do me a favor and get a 3,000 ...... as soon as possible Well, no, it's a list of 5,000 'enemies of the state', and it is announced that they will not be protected by the law from now on, and their family property will be confiscated...... I'm going to negotiate with the mutinous legions to see how much it will cost to make them loyal to me......"

As a result, along with Antony's "Songun policy", another terrifying bloody storm suddenly broke off in the city of Rome...... (To be continued.) )