Chapter 90: I'm Going to Gaul (2) Marcus's proposal was passed without any opposition in the Senate.
The Senate welcomed the idea of sending someone to monitor Caesar in the province of Gaul, and Caesar had no reason to object, as he would gain an additional legion.
Once his appointment to Gaul was confirmed, Marcus used the remainder of his term as aedile to pass several public policies, with a particular focus on sanitation improvements, which required ongoing attention. He instructed his successors not to neglect these measures.
It was crucial for him to complete as much as he could before leaving Rome for over a year.
He paid close attention to the eastern provinces, knowing he would be unable to issue orders from Gaul.
"Danae, have we received any reports from the east? It should be time for Publius or Tadius to send their regular updates."
"Yes, I was about to tell you. I've received letters from your younger brother, Tadius, and from Antonius."
"Antonius too? Bring them all to me."
"Yes, sir."
Danae quickly left and returned a moment later with a thick bundle of parchment.
Marcus picked up the letters in the order they were placed.
The first was a status report from Antonius.
He was serving as a cavalry officer in the eastern provincial army, steadily growing through various battles. Having enlisted much earlier than in the original timeline, Antonius had gained considerably more experience.
'It's about time for him to join the Gallic expedition. I'll write him a recommendation letter and tell him to return. He'll be overjoyed and come back right away.'
Though Antonius, a distant relative of Caesar, likely didn't need a recommendation, it couldn't hurt to show some favor. Antonius, with his extensive experience in both the east and Gaul, would certainly become a valuable asset for Marcus in the future.
Marcus wrote a letter for Antonius, handed it to Danae, and instructed her to send it to the east immediately.
While she left the room again, Marcus read the next letter.
This one was much longer and thicker than Antonius's report. It was from his younger brother, Publius, who was also gaining experience in the east.
Publius's excitement was evident in his words, making Marcus smile involuntarily.
To be honest, I don't have much work to do as a quaestor since the people you assigned are so capable. Instead, I've been focusing more on the military side of things.
Maybe it's because I've always been good with horses, but being a cavalry officer suits me well. I've met Tadius a few times too. He has such a high loyalty to you that it's almost excessive. He calls you the incarnation of God and nearly worships you.
He's a bit strange, but he seems to have undeniable skills. He said the improvement of horse breeds is going well.
At first, I couldn't notice much difference, but now I can sense some changes. I wonder where you gained such knowledge. I'm curious and awed by you.>
Publius's letter was filled with admiration and affection for Marcus. Despite the huge difference in fame between the two brothers, there was no sign of jealousy or envy.
Marcus had been a figure above the clouds since his youth, leaving no room for negative feelings like that.
Publius continued his letter with more updates, ending with these words:
Of course, we're maintaining strict security, so it might be nothing more than paranoia, but Tadius is particularly worried about surveillance from Rome.
Still, I think we should keep an eye on Pontus, Armenia, and Parthia as well. We don't know where they might have planted spies. Anyway, I'll keep gaining experience while waiting for you to come over to the east.>
Publius had written down everything he had done and felt during his time there with great care.
Marcus set the letter down on his desk and fell into thought for a moment.
'Spies from other countries... It's more likely that they exist than not.'
He had kept all projects in the eastern provinces secret from Rome.
Tadius had employed more verified locals than Romans to ensure confidentiality, reducing the chance of news reaching Rome. However, as Publius pointed out, this also increased the possibility of foreign spies infiltrating the area.
Although Marcus had only hired thoroughly vetted individuals, and even they had no access to the most critical matters, it was still important to remain cautious.
'Pontus and Armenia must have sent plenty of spies. The existence of Rome itself is a threat to their survival.'
The last report he opened was from Tadius, and it didn't contain much new information. The only noteworthy update was that Tadius had finally completed the armor Marcus had ordered after several trials and errors.
Tadius praised the performance of the new armor using a variety of flattering descriptions, claiming that even Perseus's Aegis shield couldn't offer better defense.
This innovative advancement in armor design had also led to changes in the weaponry used by the soldiers. Previously, they had to rely on short swords like the gladius, which were necessary because of the heavy shields they carried.
The Roman army typically favored shorter blades, as they were ideal for the dense formations the soldiers used.
But now, with armor that could withstand conventional weapons, the need for shields was greatly diminished. As a result, soldiers could have more freedom to maneuver in battle.
Marcus decided to introduce the longsword—a weapon popular in Europe during the 15th century—earlier than planned.
Those who had tested the new armor and weapons gave high marks to this combination, and research was still ongoing in the eastern provinces to find the optimal equipment for the Roman army.
Of course, he wasn't in a position to fully equip an entire legion with these new weapons yet. The best he could manage was to arm around a thousand soldiers.
Even so, a thousand soldiers armed with late medieval weaponry would be a game-changer in this era. It might be difficult to reach a thousand, but even a few hundred would be enough to decisively influence the outcome of a battle.
Marcus had also accelerated the training of the new arrows, known as pila. Although training a large number of soldiers in their use would take time, the weapon's power was undeniable.
At this stage, everything he had entrusted to Tadius was yielding positive results.
He had also succeeded in gaining favor from Mithridates III, the prince of Parthia, through a generous gift. While it was a bit too sweet, it was within expectations.
'I just have to be cautious of spies, as Publius said. No matter how tight the security is, it's impossible to block everything.'
Even seemingly trivial details could leak and give the impression that something was being plotted.
Marcus tapped his desk with his fingers, coming up with a brilliant idea.
Even if there were spies, the information they could obtain would be limited. He could use that to his advantage, manipulating the enemy's actions.
He immediately wrote detailed instructions for Tadius to follow.
While he was at it, he also wrote a letter for Clodius, who would have to manage various tasks once Marcus left Rome.
Danae puffed up her cheeks, having to leave again so soon after delivering Antonius's letter.
"If you're going to write several letters anyway, why didn't you give them all to me at once?"
"Oh, sorry. This one just came to mind. Tell Clodius to carry this out after I leave Rome."
"Are you planning to use Clodius to keep an eye on the Senate?"
"No. This is a list of actions the populares need to take to win the people's support. Pompey must be struggling to manage state affairs on his own, so I need to support him secretly. Otherwise, he'll lose the initiative to the optimates in no time."
For the balance of power in Rome, neither the populares nor the optimates should dominate at the moment.
Of course, the optimates were in a weak position, but outwardly, they still maintained a delicate balance.
He needed to keep this balance intact until he went east.
"I've suggested ways for the optimates to gain popularity with the people, but if Clodius executes this, the balance will shift back to the populares. The optimates won't be able to oppose it openly, though. They'll be secretly pleased because their pockets will get fatter, too."
"Is that possible?"
"Yes. You're familiar with Cyprus, right? The island to the west of Syria? I plan to make it Rome's territory."
"Are you going to wage war?"
"No. Cyprus was handed over to Rome in the will of Egypt's former king. We just didn't act on it because Syria and Egypt were both intact.
But now that Syria is a Roman province, Egypt can't stop Rome's decision. Of course, it's not very moral, but international relations are always about power. What the strong dictate becomes law.
If we seize Cyprus's immense wealth, we can distribute grain to the people and silver coins to the nobles.
The only problem is who will play the role of the villain. Clodius is perfect for that."
Marcus knew well of Clodius's grudge against Ptolemy of Cyprus.
When Clodius had been captured by pirates in the past, he tried to borrow money from Ptolemy of Cyprus for his ransom.
Coming from the prestigious Claudius family, Clodius had no doubt that he could secure the money. But Ptolemy insulted him by offering far less than he requested, almost causing Clodius to fail in escaping the pirates.
He still felt the anger and fear from that incident.
If Marcus asked him to annex Cyprus, Clodius would likely jump at the opportunity.
But Marcus couldn't let the populares take all the credit for the annexation.
If they did, the aristocrats would surely complain.
To avoid that, Marcus appointed Cato as the confiscator of Cyprus's property.
This single appointment gave Marcus three benefits.
First, it would placate the aristocrats' discontent.
Second, Cato, known for his honesty, would ensure that Cyprus's wealth was properly recovered for the Roman treasury without embezzlement.
Third, Cato would have to leave Rome for more than a year.
Marcus wasn't sure if Pompey could manage the Senate alone if both he and Caesar left Rome.
Even if he supported Pompey from behind via Clodius, he still felt uneasy.
But the situation would change if Cato—the most ardent critic of the aristocrats—was out of the picture.
Cicero got along well with Pompey, so he couldn't attack him too harshly.
If only Cato were gone, Pompey could easily subdue the aristocrats on his own.
By the time Cato returned, Marcus would be back from Gaul, so there would be no problem.
Danae, understanding all of Marcus's instructions, went out again to deliver them to Clodius.
Her plump figure seemed to be throwing a small tantrum for some reason, and Marcus laughed.
※※※※
Having finished all the preparations he could handle alone, Marcus convened a triumvirate meeting to finalize the issues that needed to be discussed.
No one else was allowed to enter or leave Pompey's reception room, the agreed-upon meeting place.
Even Pompey's slaves were not permitted to bring food or drinks.
Pompey personally poured wine into the cups of Caesar and Marcus.
"I'm a little worried about both of you leaving Rome. Of course, Crassus is still here, but he and I aren't in a position to cooperate, so that makes me even more uneasy."
"Don't worry. I've spoken to my father. It's better to set up some confrontation to avoid misunderstandings. Our meeting now is just a temporary arrangement to resolve conflicts on the surface. You two should continue to clash as usual."
"I'm relieved to hear that. If I'd been told I had to get along with Crassus, I wouldn't have been able to keep acting until the end."
Marcus and Caesar laughed out loud.
Caesar emptied his wine glass and changed the subject.
"By the way, Marcus, it seems you've persuaded Clodius to annex Cyprus... Is that really okay?"
"Is there a problem?"
"Didn't you agree to help strengthen Ptolemy's kingship? If Cyprus is lost, Egypt's Ptolemy will have a hard time maintaining his position as pharaoh."
"Oh, of course, that's true."
Marcus nodded with a slight chuckle.
He had said he wouldn't reveal his agreement with Ptolemy, but he made an exception for the triumvirate.
He felt it could cause problems later if he kept it from those who were leading Rome with him.
Of course, Caesar and Pompey swore before the gods that they would never disclose the agreement.
"You're going to deny you broke the agreement by saying that Cyprus was annexed while you were with me in Gaul? Logically, there's no flaw in that, but it feels a bit immoral. Though, of course, politics has no room for morality."
"You misunderstand. I honor my agreements strictly. I don't lie, even if I don't tell the whole truth. I'm using the best approach to strengthen Ptolemy Auletes' kingship."
"How does undermining his position strengthen his kingship?"
"Yes, exactly. If he loses Cyprus in full view, the anger from the Egyptians will be enormous. The citizens of Alexandria will curse the pharaoh. He's already showing a pro-Roman stance, and now it will seem like he lost Cyprus to flatter Rome. Even if he denies it, it will look as if he sacrificed Cyprus to please Rome."
Pompey nodded in agreement.
"That's right. In the worst-case scenario, he could be driven from the pharaoh's throne, and someone else could take it, right? After all, Auletes has a successor. I remember he has a fairly old princess."
"Exactly. He'll likely be driven out. Then he'll seek asylum in Rome and ask us to honor the agreement. At that point, we'll have the legal grounds to push into Egypt... for the legitimate king, Auletes, that is."
Caesar, understanding Marcus's plan, tilted his head in amusement and laughed.
"And Auletes will execute his loyalists who supported him and those in his bloodline who threaten his power. He'll eliminate anyone who opposes him, which will ultimately stabilize his kingship. It's a genius way of fulfilling the agreement."
"Right?"
"As the process of restoring Auletes as pharaoh unfolds, the Roman army will enter Egypt, allowing us to increase our influence there. No, this will be an opportunity to make Egypt our client state, in fact. Will you take charge personally?"
"It's best if Pompey and I both take charge. It will be perfectly timed when I return from Gaul."
Caesar thought Marcus was beginning to resemble him more and more.
He always seemed to think two or three steps ahead and made decisions accordingly.
'Then there must be something else he's planning by accompanying me to Gaul,' Caesar thought.
Though Caesar prided himself on his unmatched insight in Rome, he couldn't fully decipher Marcus's intentions.
This made him even more curious.
Caesar had not yet grasped just how capable Marcus was.
Though Marcus was his son-in-law, there were times when his actions were so unsettling that they felt almost eerie.
But on the battlefield, everyone's abilities would inevitably be revealed.
Caesar decided that the upcoming expedition would serve as the perfect opportunity to measure Marcus's full potential.
But before they left for their destination, an urgent report arrived: the situation in Gaul was worsening.
The Helvetii tribe, from modern-day Switzerland, had begun migrating due to pressure from the Germanic tribes.
When a whole tribe migrates, it inevitably leads to friction with other tribes in the region.
Signs of great chaos were already spreading across Gaul.
Caesar and Marcus quickly formed legions and headed north.
They didn't even have time to say goodbye to their families.
Thus, the Gallic expedition that would become a turning point in Rome's history began in an unexpected way.
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