Augustus Road

The centurion's speech and the news of Caesar's arrival at Arimilon caused a huge panic and commotion. "Everyone wanted to flee Rome at this time." This is what Cicero said in a letter to his brother Quintus .

But Quintus, who stayed in Gaul, advised his brother not to panic, "War does not break out casually. I believe that the excellent internal system of the Republic can avoid this civil war, and I think that many generals in Caesar's army will not break out." The most typical example of being willing to go to the battlefield of the civil war is Rabinus, his most trusted chief lieutenant and acting commander-in-chief.”

After seeing his brother's reply, Cicero was greatly relieved. After his mood calmed down, he immediately began to think about whether he could exert his power in the conflict between Caesar and Pompey. He has now completely alienated Cato the Younger. In Cicero's eyes, this Cato's performance in the past two years not only disappointed him, but also shocked him. "A man who has a clear stand and targets Julius Caesar in everything. Is Cato, who supports Gnaeus Pompey in everything, still the same Cato? I don’t think so. On the contrary, he is not maintaining the peace of the country, but pushing the Republic into the abyss of war in disguise. , now he just has a position but no right and wrong.”

However, these words were only recorded in private notebooks, and Cicero did not reveal them publicly. He placed the full scrolls on the scroll rack. Taylor sorted them carefully and placed them one by one in the study. On the wall cabinet, Cicero then rubbed his nose that was slightly red from the cold, walked to the already tired Barbrilia on the couch opposite, and held hands with the lovely bride intimately. After saying a few words of love in Greek, he put on his cloak. Walking to the terraced garden in the mansion, which is "like a hillside", there is Cicero's favorite poplar tree. The fire that Claudius ransacked here before failed to kill it. Now it is rejuvenated. , stabbing into the blue sky like a sharp sword.

As far as the eye can see, half of the city of Rome is scorched, and the main square is still in a mess. In this situation, no one really cared about the well-being and fate of the city. Looking at the sacred forest of the temple that was burned bare by the fire, the tip of Cicero's nose felt a little sore, and the pride of protecting the country suddenly rose in his heart, "Wait until After I go to Silesia as governor next year, I will have the power to reshape the country in a few years. When I come back, great and lovely Rome - brother, you should also take care of your health and cherish it in the far north. it."

The voting process of the 100-member group should be done. Little Cato, who was waiting outside the "sheep pen", was sitting in the public hall for people to rest, biting his fingers nervously until they bled: "Now Hersius is not much different from Domiius. I am not like For someone like Caesar, this time of waiting for the final outcome is torture.”

When the results came out, little Cato lay on his back on the couch. He gently rubbed his aching stomach with his hand, because he had been having trouble sleeping and eating these past few days, "It's just seven centenarian votes short, seven. Marcellus, Chief Consul - Dumitius, Second Consul - —As for Hersius, he was defeated by seven votes. He was defeated..." After a while, he suddenly clenched the armrest and jumped up. His whole mood was released and he quickly walked back and forth in the hall and box. As he walked, he let out high-pitched laughter from time to time. Even if the method was abnormal, it would not be harmful. He could immediately ask the two current consuls to veto Caesar's proposal as soon as possible, and then escort him back to Rome for a public trial to ruin his reputation. In this way, the sacrifice of the country will be minimized, and the glory of the Republic will soon shine on the Tiber River again.

The dawn of victory has arrived!

He doesn't care what Lepidus thinks or does now. Now that the consul election has been determined and the republican candidates have both been elected, Caesar will end in a complete defeat, and his regular legions will not be afraid: as long as the Senate consuls When the order is issued, everything will be wiped out. Even if those soldiers are greedy for money and rough, they are still citizens of the Republic and will not risk the disapproval of the world and follow Caesar to cause rebellion.

Then let's start with the three legions outside Rome.

Unexpectedly, when little Cato walked out of the hall, preparing to celebrate with his peers, a slave quickly ran over and handed him a personal urgent message. When he took out the writing board, under the shadow of the arcade, After reading it carefully, I learned that it was the latest situation in Syria. This letter was jointly signed by Apis, Decimus, Brutus and Cassius. There is no need to doubt its accuracy: Province of Syria Here, generals such as Lepidus's subordinates (Antony), or people close to Lepidus (Paulus), or those who admired Lepidus' behavior (Angandinus) openly led several legions and disobeyed military orders. The soldiers were unwilling to They were training and plundering the countryside like gangsters. Everything was like a replica of what Luculas had done in Minor Asia.

This news made Cato's heart heavy. He had no intention of having fun. Instead, he took the letter and hurriedly found Pompey, who was also proud. "The army on the eastern border is in an unstable situation!"

"I'm afraid it's Lepidus who is the one behind the conspiracy again. When Caesar is defeated, this is the bastard who I will definitely push him off the high rock and execute him." Although Pompeo said harshly, there was no trace of panic in his movements. He also believed that his side had achieved a decisive victory in this battle, and the remaining scenes were nothing more than a dying counterattack by the enemy. Then he picked up his wine glass and hailed Cato Jr. for the great victory of this election, "This is entirely due to our sincere cooperation."

"Don't be happy too soon. Caesar's counterattack will be fierce. He is like a beast about to be captured. He will risk everything. So Pompey, you must swear to me, all the senators who are no longer present, and the entire republic - you have the confidence to stop Caesar's counterattack from Gaul or the East, even if it means using force." Cato held down his wine glass and did not clink it with Pompey.

"Don't worry at all. Tell Decimus and Brutus to announce to all the soldiers in the province that the election of consuls in Rome has ended, the Caesar faction is completely finished, and the new governor who will take office soon is Metra Scipio who opposed me before. Oh, now he will be my new father-in-law soon, because I am going to marry his daughter Cornelia." Pompey sipped his wine and said proudly. His behavior achieved three goals at one stroke: marrying Cornelia was equivalent to inheriting part of Crassus's huge inheritance, which was the first; turning Cornelia's father into a friend, bribing him with the governorship, and gaining the support of two major military meritorious families; finally, with the prestige of the new governor, he could naturally suppress the Caesar faction in the eastern province who were ready to move.

"Don't worry, when this order arrives, the rebellion in Syria will be eliminated." Pompey vowed.