Chapter 44: The Confusion of the East The operation to buy up wheat was conducted covertly across the Italian peninsula, thanks to a meticulous and systematic network developed over more than a year. Tadius, who managed the entire operation, used the identities of numerous freed slaves to purchase wheat discreetly from various regions. He had already researched the wheat consumption in each area, allowing him to leave just enough for local residents while purchasing the bulk of the supply.
No one noticed the large-scale wheat purchases. Even the freed slaves involved in the transactions were unaware of the true owner of the wheat. Tadius himself was uncertain about the rationale behind such a massive acquisition.
"Why is he taking such a gamble? The price of wheat will likely fall in a year or two. I heard he's smart, but maybe he's still young," Tadius mused.
He was unconcerned about whether Marcus made a profit or loss, as he had already received his advance payment. Septimus, who had negotiated business terms with Tadius several times, was also doubtful about his young master's decision. He trusted Marcus's judgment more than his own, despite his skepticism.
Tadius thought that even a shrewd and business-savvy person could make mistakes if blinded by loyalty. He hoped Marcus would at least break even, as it was rare to find a client who paid so generously for following instructions.
"I hope we can maintain a good relationship in the future… but I wonder how it will turn out. He's from a powerful family, so he won't go bankrupt just because of this failure," Tadius reflected.
Septimus shared this cautious outlook. He followed Marcus's orders but was preparing an exit strategy in case of failure. Others also questioned Marcus's wheat-buying strategy, which seemed unrealistic given the current geopolitical situation.
Pontus, the only major threat to Rome's dominance in the East, had already been defeated by Lucullus. Mithridates, the king of Pontus, had sought refuge with his son-in-law, Tigranes II, the king of Armenia. Even Tigranes II had been defeated, and his capital captured.
Given these developments, it seemed unlikely that the East would become chaotic again. Many who followed Marcus doubted his decision, believing his lack of military experience led to a mistake.
The only individuals who fully trusted Marcus were Danae and Spartacus. Their confidence was based not on logical reasoning but on loyalty. They believed in Marcus's words as absolute truth, regardless of the doubts expressed by others. Most people who were not as loyal as they were remained skeptical of Marcus's decision.
Marcus was aware of the skepticism but chose not to explain in detail. He believed it was sufficient to ask for their trust, as some matters were beyond explanation through words alone. He preferred to use his time to strengthen his foundation.
Indeed, Marcus became busy once more, with no time to rest. Almost all of his ventures began to show positive results:
Cletus had successfully developed a larger furnace. The process of extracting sugar from the sugarcane brought back from India was progressing smoothly. Sergius had replaced the lead in traditional women's cosmetics with oxidized tin. Marcus needed to review each of these developments and propose new directions. Additionally, he could not neglect managing his network, especially with his coming-of-age ceremony approaching. Although Pompey had left for Sicily, the Senate's interest in Marcus was growing, largely due to Cicero's influence and the rumors he spread. Marcus received numerous invitations to make appearances, which he accepted to maintain friendly relations with the influential members of the aristocratic faction.
"If only my father were in Rome, this would be so much easier…" Marcus lamented.
To complicate matters further, Crassus had recently become the governor of Syria, adding to Marcus's burdens. Balancing business responsibilities with family leadership was proving challenging.
"You shouldn't overdo it. The backlash could be severe later. You need to take a break," Julia advised him, having found time to meet him despite his busy schedule.
"I prefer to finish what I need to do now and rest later," Marcus replied.
"Then let me help at least a little. Is there anything I can do?" Julia offered.
Julia did provide assistance. While not trusted with major decisions, she offered valuable advice on smaller issues.
As the year passed, news from the East brought excitement to Rome once again. Lucullus had achieved another significant victory at Artaxata. Mithridates's situation was now dire.
The buyers of the wheat, acting on Marcus's orders, were in a panic. They urged him to halt the purchase to avoid a massive loss.
"If you want to minimize the loss, you need to sell the wheat before Mithridates is defeated. Buying more wheat now is like throwing money away," they warned.
Even Septimus expressed similar concerns.
Danae trusted Marcus's judgment but was visibly anxious.
"Sir, don't you think we should prepare for the worst-case scenario?"
"Do you think the war will end like this?"
"Everyone with military experience seems to think so…"
"It's okay. Just wait a little longer. Something very interesting will happen."
Despite the concerns of those around him, Marcus remained steadfast in his strategy. He instructed them to purchase even more wheat and continued to invest time in other areas.
Less than a month later, astonishing news arrived that shocked Rome.
"Lucullus's soldiers have gone on strike."
"What? A strike?"
Septimus's eyes widened in disbelief as he repeated the news to his subordinate.
The situation with Lucullus had seemed promising. He had defeated Pontus and was on the verge of victory over Armenia. The idea of a strike was inconceivable.
"Is this a false rumor?"
"No, it's not. The Senate is in chaos. They're debating how to address the situation."
"How can this happen?"
Just recently, the Senate had been discussing how to celebrate Lucullus's victory and planning post-war arrangements. Now, all those discussions were in jeopardy.
Septimus couldn't shake the feeling that this was not the end. He wondered if Marcus had anticipated this development.
It didn't make logical sense, but Marcus's confidence seemed to suggest otherwise. Septimus's suspicion was correct.
Marcus reacted calmly to the report, as if he had expected this turn of events.
"The time is coming. Tell them to reduce the wheat purchases and focus more on storage. Secure the warehouse area with armed forces if necessary."
"Yes, sir."
As Septimus was about to leave, he paused and looked back at Marcus with a cautious tone.
"Sir, did you… know this would happen?"
"Huh? Well, roughly."
"How did you…?"
"Lucullus is a born nobleman."
Marcus repeated the explanation he had previously given to Pompey.
Despite his tactical genius, Lucullus was poor at winning the loyalty of his subordinates. His inability to connect with his men and his alienation of Rome's equestrian class during the stabilization of Syria had weakened his position.
He might have been a better tactician than Pompey, but he lacked the essential qualities of a leader.
"This is unfortunate for both Lucullus and his soldiers."
"The Senate still seems to trust Lucullus."
"He's a great general who served under Sulla and rivaled Pompey. But now the situation has changed. How can he continue the war when his soldiers have lost faith in him?"
Septimus decided to fully trust Marcus's assessment.
Lucullus's once formidable army, which had faltered, now fell into disarray. The soldiers, angered by their commander's monopoly on valuable spoils, attacked the baggage train.
Lucullus, who had advanced to the Caspian Sea—achieving a feat not seen since Alexander—could not push further. His soldiers' discontent persisted, and fearing rebellion, Lucullus began to retreat.
This unprecedented retreat after a victory and with a secure supply line led to a collapse in Lucullus's control over the East. Mithridates, cornered and on the brink of defeat, seized the opportunity. He quickly regained Armenian territory and began eyeing the Pontus kingdom.
The gains of seven years evaporated almost instantly. The Senate and the assembly were stunned by this unexpected turn of events.
The price of wheat, which had been dropping sharply, suddenly began to rise again. Moreover, Mithridates, using more cunning strategies, increased pressure on Rome by employing pirates.
At that time, the notorious pirate base near the Mediterranean was located in Cilicia.
The reason for the chaos was straightforward: the decline of the Seleucid dynasty of Syria, which had once controlled the region, left a power vacuum.
Additionally, the pirates had gained strength due to their recruitment of talents from Eastern kingdoms defeated by Rome. They were now so powerful that even Rome found them troublesome. Mithridates provided substantial financial support to the pirates, enabling them to replace their old ships with faster, more stable ones and hire expert navigators.
The pirates established numerous local bases and systematically plundered not only Cilicia but other areas as well. They even attacked Ostia port, which was previously considered safe. It was only a matter of time before Mediterranean logistics were severely disrupted.
Daily reports to the Senate detailed the escalating pirate attacks on ships.
"The transport fleet from Egypt was attacked by pirates!"
"The pirates stole the grain ships docked at the port."
"They are requesting military support to escort the ships from Egypt."
In just a few months, the Mediterranean had become a haven for pirates.
Lucullus, who had failed to finish off Mithridates, faced widespread criticism. Meanwhile, the price of wheat in Rome surged. The poor, who relied on free distribution, protested daily for food.
Recognizing that it was time to sell the wheat he had stored, Marcus immediately called a meeting with his managers. The room was filled with individuals who looked as though they were in shock.
Despite their shared concern, their reactions varied. Danae and Spartacus displayed clear pride and admiration. Septimus appeared to regret not having trusted Marcus's judgment. Tadius and his subordinates showed signs of apprehension.
Marcus's voice cut through the silence.
"Now that the price of wheat has risen sufficiently, it's time to sell and recoup our investment. Tadius, have you secured the sales channels?"
"Yes. I did as you instructed."
"Good. I'll emphasize this again: no one should hear a rumor about large quantities of wheat being sold. That would naturally drive the price down."
Increasing supply to meet excess demand would quickly stabilize prices. This was basic economic principle.
Marcus had stressed this point repeatedly.
The key to making a substantial profit was to ensure the market did not recognize the increase in supply.
"Leave it to me. I've prepared thoroughly, so we can expect to make at least twice the profit, even after accounting for all preparation costs."
"Excellent. However, remember to sell in small batches and ensure everything is sold within two years."
Tadius looked puzzled and raised an objection.
"But why must we sell it all within two years? If stored properly, wheat can last up to three years. Waiting another year could potentially yield more profit."
The pacification of the East had taken Lucullus seven years, and no one expected the situation to improve within two years.
Marcus tapped his finger on the desk, maintaining a steady gaze.
"Tadius, sell it all within two years."
The firmness in Marcus's voice made Tadius flinch.
"I'm sorry. I'll follow your instructions."
Given that Marcus had predicted this illogical situation accurately, it was wise to follow his orders without question. What if Marcus's foresight was correct once again?
Tadius would bet his entire fortune that the young man before him, who had just come of age, would become a powerful ruler of Rome.
※※※※
The sale of wheat went smoothly. When Crassus returned from his term as governor and received the report, he was stunned.
"Huh, huh… Is our family's wealth really this much?"
"This estimate is based on selling all the wheat as planned."
"Well… It's such an astronomical amount that it feels unreal."
Before the slave revolt, Crassus's family's total assets were around 170 million sesterces. This was already close to Rome's annual budget of 200 million sesterces.
And Marcus had significantly increased this immense wealth.
Productivity increased with the introduction of labor division, stirrups, horseshoes, and a highly profitable patent. Marcus reinvested the profits from improved carriages and harnesses into buying wheat.
If he sold all the wheat by 67 BC and included the ongoing income, his family's wealth would multiply by almost 2.5 times. This sum would exceed twice Rome's annual budget.
Even Marcus, who reported this figure, felt a thrill at such an enormous amount.
What was even more alarming was that neither Roman citizens nor the nobles were aware of the dramatic increase in Crassus's wealth. If he wished, he could manipulate Rome from behind the scenes.
"Of course, we need to remain cautious during times like this. Father, please continue to cultivate friendly relationships with the senators," Marcus advised.
"Certainly. You should also take some time to rest while expanding your network. It will benefit you when you eventually enter the Senate," Crassus replied warmly, escorting Marcus out of his office.
Marcus stretched out on his bed, ready to take a well-deserved break, when Septimus entered the room.
"Is there something wrong?"
"It's not a problem, but there is a letter. Cicero is holding a meeting and wants you to attend."
"A meeting? Not a banquet?"
"Yes, a meeting. Cicero invites promising young people to discuss various topics."
Cicero, having excelled as quaestor, was particularly popular among the younger generation. Known for his efforts against corrupt and greedy officials, Cicero was expanding his base through active engagement and attracted young intellectuals who admired republicanism. Marcus was seen as a highly desirable talent for Cicero's faction.
Marcus carefully read the letter from Septimus. Although he might have refused a simple banquet, this invitation was different.
His eyes lingered on one name among the confirmed participants. A smile, reminiscent of a child discovering a new toy, appeared on his lips.
"This is a very interesting name."
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