Roman Slave Owner

So the weather was calm, the meeting went very smoothly, and the bill was quickly passed.

Many veterans were in mourning, and they did not expect that they would fail in the first round of confrontation with Li Wei.

Pompeo, in order to celebrate our victory. How about going to my house for a dinner at noon tomorrow, I have prepared a gift for you.

Li Wei said with a smile.

what gift?

Pompeo asked.

A very wonderful gift, you will definitely like it very much after seeing it.

Levi said.

All right then.

***

***

At noon the next day, the sky was shining brightly, and Pompey rushed to Li Wei's house as scheduled.

coming.

When he saw Li Wei, Li Wei was lying comfortably on a recliner and reading a newspaper.

Next to the chaise longue is a marble table with wine and a newspaper.

Pompeo sat on another deck chair very familiarly, and then poured himself a glass of wine.

What delicious food did you prepare this time?

Pompey asked casually.

At this moment, he froze for a moment, because he found the headline of the newspaper on the cup.

The Romans Need Work! A very attractive headline, so he picked up the newspaper and read it.

Shark fins, peacock meat, bear paws...

Li Wei said that he talked about several dishes in a row, all of which were good things that he didn't even dare to think about in his previous life, but now he is getting tired of eating.

But at this time Pompeo was already fascinated by this article, and he didn't pay attention to what Li Wei said.

Li Wei smiled slightly and didn't bother him. After seeing Pompey regained his senses, he said: This article is very well written, but it is too impractical. If someone stipulates the proportion of Roman citizens from all walks of life, then it will definitely be The nobles and knights are offended.

You're right, you really offended too many people.

Pompey thought for a while and said.

In fact he is by no means a fool, he knows that very well.

Li Wei ordered a slave to bring up all kinds of delicacies, and Emilia, Yulia, and little Li Wei also came out to accompany them in person.

As if what happened just now was really just a coincidence, Li Wei never mentioned it, but entertained Pompey very warmly.

By the way, there is one more thing I need your help with.

Levi said.

What's up?

Pompeo asked curiously.

I have drafted several bills and plan to hold a public meeting. I hope these bills can be passed at the citizens' assembly. Would you like to take a look at them?

Levi said.

Oh, let me have a look.

Pompeo said with great interest that he did not expect Levy to introduce so many bills in less than a month after taking office.

Li Wei clapped his hands, and soon a slave came over with a document, and Pompey read it after taking it.

Italian Government Affairs Openness Act at All Levels

Italian Financial Disclosure Act at All Levels of Government

Disabled Veterans Settlement Compensation Act

After reading these three bills, Pompeo couldn't help but gasped.

This is really a remarkable bill. He can guarantee that these three bills will definitely be passed in the Citizens' Assembly and will win great support for Li Wei.

In particular, the government affairs disclosure and financial disclosure bills at all levels in Italy, people must really want to know whether there is corruption in the process of government operations, and these two bills must be extremely welcome.

In fact, those who are interested in politics don't bother with corruption in Italy at all, and they even give away money in the process.

For example, after Caesar became a construction officer, the little money issued by the state could not meet his needs at all.

He held games, gladiatorial contests, and public parks on his own borrowed money to please the Roman people.

They make money from the major provinces after serving as chief judges or consuls. Many foreigners in those provinces do not have citizenship rights, and those governors are not afraid of them at all. Return the previous investment several times.

However, Li Wei's disclosure system is limited to the mainland of Italy, and does not involve the major provinces, and does not touch the core interests of those veterans, so the resistance to implementation must be very small.

How about my three bills?

Li Wei asked with a smile.

good, very good!

Pompeo said convincingly.

These three bills, together with the previous Senate Agenda Disclosure Act, make the government's operations open and transparent, which will surely win Li Wei a very high reputation.

He never thought that Li Wei would have such a whimsical idea, but he didn't know that these are only common things in later generations, and getting one at random is enough to open the eyes.

It's good that you agree, after all, I need your help.

Li Wei said with a smile.

Pompeo shook his head. He knew that these bills would have passed without his help, because they were so good.

By the way, I heard that you are going to give me a gift. What kind of gift is it?

Pompeo asked.

That was the most wonderful gift, and every woman would love it.

Emilia said with a smile.

Is it for women?

Pompeo asked curiously.

Whether men or women will like it, I will take you to see it after eating.

A mysterious smile appeared on Li Wei's face.

All right then.

Pompeo said.

They happily finished the meal, and then Li Wei personally took him to a room not far away.

When Pompey saw the gift Li Wei prepared for him, he couldn't help opening his mouth, because he and Li Wei appeared in the glass.

What's this?

Mirror! It's something that the true god asked me to make in a dream! I hope you like it.

Li Wei said unusually.

That's right, the gift Li Wei prepared for him was a mirror.

After attracting so many elders, Li Wei felt that his financial resources were close to depletion. In addition, after serving as the governor in the coming year, a war might break out. This required a lot of money, so he decided to find a way to re-open the source of income.

The way he came up with was to make mirrors. Needless to say, the charm of mirrors is an artifact that has fascinated countless women in ancient times when bronze mirrors and bronze mirrors were used.

After the Venetians invented the mirror in the 14th century, countless European princes and nobles rushed to buy mirrors produced in Venice, and wealth flocked to Venice like a tsunami.

In order to ensure the secret of the production of mirrors, the mirror factories were concentrated on Murano Island, surrounded by guards and guards, and tightly sealed off.

Later, the French government paid a lot of money to buy four Venetian mirror craftsmen and secretly smuggled them out of the country. Since then, the mystery of the mercury glass mirror has been made public, and its value is not so noble.

The method of making this kind of mirror is very simple, that is, stick tin foil tightly on the glass, and then pour mercury, which can dissolve tin and turn it into a white liquid, and then stick it tightly to the mirror.

Although this kind of mirror is far inferior to the mirrors of later generations, it is a real artifact in modern times.

It's just so beautiful.

Pompey said in admiration.

It was the first time he saw himself so clearly.

A trivial little gift.

Li Wei said reservedly.

This reminded Pompey of the sword that Li Wei gave him last time.

How much do you plan to sell this mirror for?

Pompeo asked.

This kind of mirror is very large, and the surrounding is inlaid with gold, so it is only 300,000 dinars.

Levi said.

Pompey couldn't help gasping, what a profiteer, this half-length mirror actually costs so much money?

Besides, there is a small mirror inlaid with silver, which can be held with one hand. This mirror is very cheap, and it only costs 10,000 dinars.

Li Wei said, If you want, I can give you a few.

Pompey couldn't help but twitch the corners of his mouth, this thing is really too expensive.

No, I'll buy it anyway.

Pompey, do you regard me as a friend? If you regard me as a friend, accept this gift.

This is not very good.

What's wrong, as long as you support me more.

...

The two sides made some concessions, and Pompey finally accepted these gifts, and at the same time promised to work hard to promote Li Wei.

In fact, Pompey did not need to agree at all. When Pompey took these gifts home, his wife Mucia was ecstatic.

This kind of mirror was almost made for women, so she called her sisters and showed off her mirror, attracting the envy of the crowd.

So a large number of veterans, knights and their wives came to Levi's house, wanting to buy this kind of mirror.

But Li Wei rejected this request on the grounds of production difficulties, but proposed to officially sell it half a month later, so they had to return in a huff.

***

***

At the same time that the mirror was being publicized, Levi also announced his three newly prepared bills.

These three bills will be submitted to the Citizens' Assembly successively with the three bills previously passed in the Senate.

The public opinion machine under Li Wei started to stir up these topics, and discussions about these bills were everywhere in Rome.

The common people were simple, and Levi's bill was immediately warmly received by them.

In order to attract Pompey's attention, under Li Wei's urging, he released a real monster.

In the Roman Forum, some elders were giving speeches.

Some ragged people gathered together and they shouted loudly: We are Roman citizens, let us not be robbed of our jobs by slaves.

We are Roman citizens, we don't want slaves to take our jobs.

...

Their eyes were angry, and then they walked in the square in groups, attracting the eyes of a large number of people.

At this time, Rome had a population of 800,000 to 900,000, but only about 200,000 citizens.

The rest are either free people, foreigners or slaves, and slaves account for the vast majority.

Both aristocrats and rich people are keen to hire slaves, because slaves only need to be given a bite to eat.

On the contrary, Rome is expensive, and the cost of hiring a Roman citizen is extremely high, which makes many Roman citizens unable to find good jobs, so their lives are difficult.

Not just Rome, but many cities.

The lower the citizens, the more they hate slaves, because they take too many jobs from them.

Dumigios is giving a speech in preparation for this year's justices.

Seeing these people crowding over, he quickly stopped his speech.

Patriarch Dumigius, do you think the use of slaves should be restricted and employment opportunities for Roman citizens increased?

said a ragged citizen.

Dumigios was extremely embarrassed, this question was both easy and difficult to answer.

Of course, the mass use of slaves crowds out the employment opportunities of Roman citizens. I always think this is wrong...

Dumigios thought for a while and said, and then criticized the wanton use of slaves.

But I remember that all your estates in Campania used were slaves, not a single Roman citizen.

said the man sharply.

Never! Never! I, Dumigios, love hiring Roman citizens!

Dumigios immediately denied it.

Your winery and your store in Rome use slaves. Would you like us to take you to see it?

The man continued.

Dumigios couldn't help being speechless. If he dared to deny it, those people would immediately go to his shop to verify it.

You hypocrite!

fraud!

...

Those ragged citizens cursed angrily, no matter what he explained, they would not listen, and finally Dumigios left here in a state of embarrassment.

Seeing this, the other elders hurriedly left here in embarrassment to avoid being asked this question.

Bruttim smiled slightly, giving them some embarrassing favors first.

What he didn't notice was that not far away, a civilian tribune watched all this with bright eyes.

He knew that this was actually a very great bill, and it might even change the situation in Rome, but it offended so many people that no one dared to mention it.

But if he brings this bill to the Citizens' Assembly, at least 90% of the probability will be passed, and he will be famous in history.

Do you want to propose this bill yourself?

The tribune of the populace kept thinking.

At this moment, a person patted him on the shoulder.

Dear Saturnin, I didn't expect you to be here.

The civilian tribune looked back and found that it was Brutium.

Brutium, what are you doing here?

Saturnin asked.

Recently, Brutium often invited him to eat, drink and have fun. He knew what his purpose was, but he didn't agree.

Come here and wander around. Do you want to have a drink with me? I'll treat you.

Bruttim said very generously.

Saturnin wanted to refuse, but remembering the bill, he agreed unexpectedly.

All right then.

It's great, we're not going home drunk today.

Brutim said overjoyed, did Saturnin agree to his wooing?

If this is true, then he has made a great contribution. Recently, Li Wei and Metellus have been desperately trying to win over these civilian tribunes.

I don't want to drink too much, just go anywhere.

No problem, you can do whatever you want.

So Bruttim took him to a high-end hotel run by Li Wei. This hotel is quite high-end, but more importantly, it is safe, so there is no need to worry about anything going wrong.

Although Saturnin didn't intend to drink much, he felt hot after a few glasses of the strongest whiskey.

Are you from Levi?

Saturnin pushed aside the glass of wine offered by Brutium and said.

That's right.

Bruttim said, this is almost an open secret in the circle, there is nothing to hide.