Chapter 82: The Agent of the Goddess The Senate had planned to create discord between Pompey and Caesar, but their opponents acted more swiftly.
Once the agrarian bill passed, Caesar demanded two additional clauses. First, all senators were to swear to abide by the bill immediately in the assembly. Although the Senate was required to follow the assembly's decision, the lack of a clear deadline often allowed them to delay implementation. Caesar aimed to prevent such delays by ensuring that the bill's enforcement began right away.
Second, Caesar expanded the bill to include Campania, Capua, and Latium, which had not originally been part of the land redistribution. The Senate could only fume with frustration but could not openly oppose Caesar's demands. The citizens' anger was too intense.
The day after the bill passed, enraged citizens surrounded the Senate house, demanding action. Caesar and Pompey pressed the senators to swear an oath quickly, and eventually, most of them complied, including Cicero, Metellus, Afranius, and Lucullus. Even Bibulus, though reluctantly, swore the oath, leaving only Cato defiant.
Cato refused to comply, stating, "I will never accept this unilateral proposal. It is a blatant disregard for the Senate's authority."
Cato's steadfastness was admirable but garnered no support. The Senate's legitimacy had already been undermined by the citizens' uproar. Caesar pointed out the gravity of Cato's refusal:
"Cato, are you declaring that you will not follow Rome's law, even though you are a senator?"
"…I have always obeyed the law and will continue to do so."
"Then you should rightly declare that you will follow the law passed by the assembly. Why ignore the authority of the assembly as stipulated by law?"
"This is an attempt to intimidate the Senate with the law! I will not comply with this absurd demand, even if it means exile."
Caesar did not waste time trying to persuade Cato, knowing that other senators would eventually convince him.
Cicero approached Cato, urging him, "My wise friend, please reconsider. The Senate has a duty to uphold the assembly's decisions. Refusing now will only bring further scrutiny and ridicule from the citizens."
"I will not bend my will just to gain popularity," Cato replied.
"Cato, don't you realize that in a republic, gaining the citizens' support is crucial for political survival?"
"That's only necessary for those seeking higher office. I am, and will remain, a single senator."
Seeing that Cato was unmoved, Marcus intervened. He needed Cato to stay in politics for future Senate matters.
"Cato, you need to be pragmatic. If a storm rages, shouldn't you wait until it passes? Acting recklessly will only lead to disaster."
"…Do you think that submitting now will end the pressure? It won't. Caesar will continue to oppress us."
"Precisely why you need to stay and fight. If you leave now, who will stand up for the Optimates? Who will defend the republic?"
Marcus's reasoning caused Cato to waver. Rationally, Cato realized that leaving would only aid Caesar's cause.
Reluctantly, Cato agreed to swear to respect the assembly's resolution, completing the oath of all senators.
Caesar announced that he would record and display the oaths on the Forum Romanum.
The Senate could no longer challenge the land law. They regretted not accepting the bill as originally submitted, but it was too late for such regrets.
As Caesar departed for the Forum Romanum with his supporters, the remaining senators, now panicked, were unsure of their next move. The state-owned lands in Campania, Capua, and Latium were crucial to their interests. They dreaded the extensive damage that would result from the redistribution.
Desperate for a solution, Marcus offered to speak with Caesar, hoping his personal relationship with Caesar could influence a reduction in the redistribution target.
"Will you really do that?"
"If you can do that, we might be able to breathe a little easier… Is it really possible?"
The aristocratic senators surrounded Marcus with hopeful and anxious expressions. He felt their collective pressure.
"I can't make any promises, but if I persist, he won't be able to refuse me outright," Marcus said.
Bibulus, looking distressed, spoke up. "We're placing too much of a burden on you. Even if you don't secure any concessions, no one will blame you, so don't feel overly pressured."
"Understood. I'll go to Caesar right away and request a meeting," Marcus replied.
With a clear excuse, Marcus quickly got up and left the meeting hall. The senators offered him encouraging words and applause as he departed.
Marcus headed straight to Caesar's residence. While waiting to be shown to the reception room, he chatted with the Vestal Virgins, whom he hadn't seen in a long time. After enjoying a couple of glasses of diluted wine, Caesar and Pompey arrived, fresh from Porro Romanum where they had displayed the senators' oaths.
The two men, having publicly allied themselves during the land law passage, were now inseparable.
As the Vestal Virgins left, Marcus, with a sly smile, refilled his glass and remarked, "You two seem to be getting along well. The Senate is jealous and trying to drive a wedge between you."
Caesar settled into his chair and took a sip from his glass. "Is that what the aristocrats are saying? That they want to separate me from Magnus?"
Pompey chuckled, taking a gulp of his wine. "It's ridiculous. Let them try."
"Still, we need to be cautious. I'm not sure about the other senators, but Cato seems to have a sharp plan," Marcus warned.
"He is clever," Caesar agreed. "But you'll keep me informed, so I'm not worried. I'll know exactly what they plan."
"Indeed. But if they devise a particularly elaborate scheme, we should pretend to fall for it. We wouldn't want them suspecting there's a spy," Marcus advised.
Pompey and Caesar nodded in agreement. Sometimes, they needed to act as though they were deceived to avoid suspicion. Overacting could appear unnatural.
Pompey scratched his head, smiling awkwardly. "I'm not confident in my acting skills… I'll need to practice so I don't seem clumsy."
"Don't worry, Magnus. I'll keep an eye on you," Caesar reassured him.
Turning to Marcus, Caesar said, "So, you didn't come here just to update me on the Senate's movements. Did they send you to negotiate?"
"Yes," Marcus confirmed. "That's why I approached you without concern for others' opinions. The aristocrats are cornered. Reclaiming all the land in Campania, Capua, and Latium is too much for them."
"They might as well try to assassinate us at this point," Caesar remarked.
"There's a saying in the East: 'A cornered mouse will bite the cat.' If you completely block their retreat and drive them into a corner, they will eventually lash out. Perhaps giving them some breathing room could help."
Caesar traced the rim of his glass with his finger, offering a thoughtful smile. "Since you've come here personally and pleaded so earnestly, I suppose I should consider it. I don't want to compromise, but for your sake…"
Marcus smiled broadly. "Exactly. I hope you'll be willing to make a concession for my passionate entreaties."
It was all part of an intricate plan from the beginning. Both Caesar and Marcus had no intention of pushing the Senate into an impossible situation immediately.
Caesar took a pen and began drafting a revision of the law on parchment.
"I'll exclude Latium entirely from the redistribution target. Additionally, I'll cut the land near Capua and Campania in half. That should be enough for the Senate to accept."
"Yes, that should do it. They'll be grateful if you just exclude Latium," Marcus agreed.
Marcus's prediction was spot on. When he presented Caesar's revised land law to the Senate, he was treated almost like a hero. While some land in Campania and Capua was still included in the redistribution, the exclusion of Latium and a significant portion of fertile land in Campania allowed the senators to breathe easier.
The Senate owed Marcus a great debt. Not only had he fulfilled his inspection duties excellently, but he had also skillfully mediated between Caesar and the aristocrats to ensure that they weren't completely overpowered.
Marcus's influence within the Senate faction was now absolute, contrasting sharply with Cato, who, despite his fervor, had achieved little.
With Crassus absent due to health reasons, Marcus naturally emerged as the central figure in the Senate faction. Outwardly, he appeared to be at the heart of the aristocracy, but secretly, he was also the mediator of the Triumvirate. This delicate balance was the real gain Marcus sought from the turmoil, and he achieved all his objectives.
From now on, Marcus could shape events as he wished, with neither the Senate, Pompey, nor even Caesar knowing his true intentions.
The successful passage of the land law also elevated the atmosphere of the Ceres Festival. The poor, hopeful of becoming farmers through land leases, fully enjoyed the festival. Pompey's veterans, anticipating a stable new beginning, joined them, along with farmers from various regions of Italy.
Marcus took the opportunity to actively promote the new land law. He introduced the four-field system, which had proven most effective in Britain and Gaul during Roman times. While the Mediterranean climate in Italy is hot and dry, making the British four-field system less immediately applicable, it could still be adapted. With advanced Roman irrigation canals, enough water could be provided even in summer.
This system had already been successfully tested on Crassus family farmland. Productivity is a key factor in agriculture, and the harvest-to-seed ratio is a simple indicator of yield. Historically, this ratio was less than 4:1 before modern sowing methods were developed, and farmers often struggled to get even three seeds from one sown seed due to the need to reserve seeds for future planting.
The introduction of large-scale slave management, such as latifundium, was a response to this low productivity. In contrast, Egypt's food abundance was due to the Nile River's periodic flooding, which eliminated the need for fallow periods.
In Rome, after adopting better sowing techniques, yields had slightly exceeded 4:1. However, with ample irrigation and the implementation of the four-field system, yields approached 7:1—nearly double the previous amount.
In regions like Gaul and Britannia, the ratio could reach 10:1, potentially increasing food production by about 2.5 times. This surplus would naturally foster the development of commerce and technology, transforming Rome significantly.
Although conservative farmers were skeptical of new methods, Marcus used the festival to actively promote the benefits of the four-field system. Farmers who had successfully implemented the new technique played a significant role in demonstrating its effectiveness.
"So you're saying that the yield really increases by almost twice as much?"
"Yes, that's right. We were skeptical at first too. But with enough water, the yield improves significantly—almost like a miracle. You don't even need fallow periods."
"Where can I get seeds for that crop? Can I obtain some? I'd also like to see the farmland where you applied this new farming method."
"Certainly, we can provide you with seeds and show you our farmland. Our master instructed us to assist anyone interested in the new farming technique. He's always been right, so we have complete faith in him."
"Oh, is he such a remarkable person?"
"Absolutely! Marcus Crassus, the land commissioner, is well-known throughout Rome. He's regarded as having received the wisdom and blessing of the goddess Ceres."
Farmers from various regions who were initially skeptical changed their minds once they saw the results firsthand. The farmers who could lease land and farm due to the land law learned the four-field system from the start and would help spread this new method throughout Rome.
Following the Ceres goddess thanksgiving festival, the four-field system quickly spread across Italy. Although it could only be used in areas with well-developed irrigation canals, its impact was substantial. The farmers viewed this new method as a miraculous gift from the gods.
From that point on, Marcus was known among the farmers as the agent of the goddess Ceres—a title that was the highest compliment they could give. Marcus's name spread not only through Rome but throughout Italy.
As Marcus's reputation grew as a divinely favored figure, an envoy from Egypt, a country where the king was worshiped as a living god, visited Rome. This was Marcus's first encounter with Egypt, a nation known for its wealth and deep traditions.
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