Augustus Road

"Cowardly couple, a group of mortals, what are you crying about? Why should you give up your last dignity before death and show your despicable and shameful side to the enemy? They are not Romans at all, but they are just pieced together from all the dirty and wild corners of the world. Get up, Caesar's lackeys. So, citizens of Masseria, take courage and choose a worthy death. Stop curling up and take up arms to fight the enemies who are about to rush in!" While his subordinate soldiers were walking around carrying the looted pottery urns and door panels, Cato raised his arms, stepped on the dead bodies on the ground, and continued to speak to the surviving citizens who were sitting on the ground and screaming in despair. With.

But those survivors stood up and cursed Cato loudly, calling him the culprit who destroyed the city and an out-and-out devil. Cato was also angry, but he still restrained himself and showed various He wanted to debate his philosophical views and opinions with these people, but the other party ignored him at all and quickly ran away. However, it is conceivable that if there were no soldiers around Cato, these people would rush up and tear him into pieces. !

Among them was a middle-class businessman named Melissus. His wife, children and many apprentices had died in the previous melee. He was full of resentment towards Cato. He was not a citizen of Rome and had no respect for this figure or the reputation of the family behind him. Feeling in awe, he determined to take revenge, so he led the rest of his men through the streets and alleys, and actually found Triali who was hiding in an abandoned tower. At this time, there were many street gangsters around him. Even many helpless citizens whose hopes were shattered came to rely on him. They had to admit that Triali and the dead Claudius were quite comparable in terms of inciting people's hearts. "Just kill little Cato!" Merisus took the opportunity to shout with red eyes.

"Kill little Cato!" The rest of the angry citizens also raised their weapons and shouted. Melissus took the opportunity and jumped up to the high platform. He said that in the chamber of commerce he controlled, there was still some food left in the warehouse, which could feed everyone present, but the prerequisite is that you must automatically form an army and go to attack the Immortal Temple. Tu's head was cut off.

Many people still showed a look of hesitation and fear on their faces, because after all, Cato was surrounded by professional soldiers. But now it was Triali's turn to pat his chest. He said that he knew those soldiers and officers very well. We can use strategies, but we must not continue to be indecisive. It was already evening, and little Cato had been "crazy" all day. He was undressing and taking a nap in front of the fire in the hall, and then he continued to follow Munajius, a retainer beside him. There was also a young man from Spain, Statrius, and in addition there was a rhetorician from Greece, Apollonides. While the group was warming themselves at the altar, Cato the Younger woke up and ate on the floor, which had become his habit since the outbreak of the Civil War, as a sign of mourning for all the Roman citizens who had died in the Civil War.

Then everyone got bored and began to discuss philosophical issues. It was another unique debate, and Cato was extremely stubborn in this debate. He kept repeating the Stoic theory, "What is a free man? An honorable man." That's right. And what is a slave? Those who have no thoughts and succumb to the desires of their mouths are actually slaves. There is no difference in blood and legal status, it only exists in the human heart."

But Apollonide still disagreed with him, so that Cato's debate became louder and louder, and his emotions became more and more emotional. Finally, he shouted directly, "Yes, if I am willing to go out of the city now, Tell Lepidus that I want to see Caesar, and he will not embarrass me at all. Then if I see Caesar, I only need to say a few soft words and kiss the back of his hand to express my submission, and my status, rank, and property will not be lost. The slightest reduction, but why don't I do this? Because in that case, I will change from the former to the latter, and I can only become a slave in a robe." After that, he lay back straight and used the robe. Covering their faces, everyone was silent at this moment. They understood: Little Cato thought of death.

Then, Munajius was entrusted by the patron to announce Cato's will in public and announced on his behalf: You are all my friends and you should all live well. I have given all the assets on hand to you. , even if Lepida thought about it, he would not kill them all. When the time comes, you will leave this city. "My friends, take good care of yourselves and go our separate ways forever." Next, he began to miss his comrades who were living everywhere. He said Some people are drifting helplessly on the sea, some are trekking hard in the desert, and some are still fighting in the city of Rome. "I do have a son, but his fierceness is far less than that of my daughters." , If he doesn’t petition to avenge his father after my death, then let this child live a comfortable life!”

After saying this, when people had no time to feel sad, the soldiers under the temple began to become restless. A leading centurion named Sochis came up and told Cato that a noble man from Masseria wanted to meet him.

The person standing at the bottom of the steps happened to be Melissus. In the dim light, Cato did not ask him about his identity in detail, because Melissus said directly: "The remaining elders of Masseria gathered again to decide, please. I went out of the city to talk to the commander of the siege.”

But Cato the Younger still strongly opposed it. He said to Melissus in Greek, "If this is your decision again, I can only feel regretful. I deceived your country last time because my belief in my heart is very clear, that is, I can never kneel to a tyrannical tyrant. Caesar is not a legitimate consul at all. Why should I beg for my life under his fake power? If you don't mind, I hope to explain this matter to the Council of Elders."