The Mad Tycoon of Rome

Chapter 73: Birth 2

The news of the birth of twins of different genders in the Crassus family was met with congratulations and gifts from all walks of life.

Pompey sent a statue of Juno, the goddess of childbirth and motherhood.

Cicero wrote a congratulatory letter that filled ten pages, wishing the children to grow up healthy.

But most of the content was about how he hoped Marcus’s son would be as smart as him.

Julia laughed so hard at Cicero’s typical congratulation that she clutched her stomach.

While Julia was recovering from childbirth and Marcus was taking care of the newborn twins, Pompey’s triumph was held.

Marcus did not participate in the triumph, saying that he had to look after Julia and the children.

Crassus and Julia were very disappointed, but Marcus did not care.

“This is Pompey’s triumph, not mine. I don’t regret it. Someday I will be able to have my own triumph with my own achievements.”

“Really? I have no objection if you think so.”

Unlike Crassus, who accepted it easily, Julia felt guilty.

“I hope it’s not because of me…”

“No, it’s not. Besides, compared to your contribution of giving birth to two healthy children, a triumph is nothing. Don’t you agree, father?”

Crassus nodded his head vigorously, as if he agreed.

His joy in life these days was to watch the sleeping faces of his grandson and granddaughter after the senate meeting.

He had secretly wished for a grandson who could carry on his family name, but he also got a granddaughter, which made him happy every day.

His affection for his daughter-in-law, who gave him such joy, also grew deeper as time went by.

“That’s right, that’s right. A meaningless triumph that he doesn’t attend as a commander-in-chief. It’s much more productive to stay here and take care of my grandson and granddaughter.”

“Thank you, father.”

Julia regained her smile at Crassus’s words full of affection.

As Marcus listened to the harmonious conversation between his father-in-law and his wife, a huge cheer came from the direction of the Forum Romanum where the slave market was located.

Crassus muttered with a subtle expression.

“It seems that the triumph procession has reached nearby.”

He tried to restrain his emotions, but a hint of envy and jealousy was felt.

Unlike Pompey, who had three triumphs, Crassus had never had one in his life.

And he also had the highest honor of having a triumph on his birthday.

Crassus couldn’t help but feel envious.

Looking back, he had enjoyed all the glory that a Roman could have.

He had been a consul, he had a strong influence in the senate, he had an outstanding son, a wise daughter-in-law, and cute grandchildren.

He felt that he would have no regrets if he could only have a triumph once.

Marcus calmly consoled his father-in-law who had such thoughts.

“Cheer up, father. There is still a chance. You will surely be able to have a dignified triumph someday.”

“I hope so, but I don’t know… When I think about it now, it seems like that triumph has been avoiding me all my life. Maybe I’m not someone who is loved by the god of war.”

“Father…”

“Oh, don’t get me wrong. I don’t regret giving up the triumph myself when I suppressed the slave rebellion. The senate wouldn’t have allowed me to have a triumph anyway.”

Crassus smiled bitterly at the cheers that came with the wind.

He was curious to see what the most splendid triumph in Roman history would be like.

But at the same time, he didn’t want to see it at all.

So he didn’t go, using the plausible excuse that he had to take care of his grandchildren.

Crassus was sincerely grateful to Julia for giving him such an excuse.

Pompey would be climbing up to the Capitoline Hill where the temple of Jupiter was by now.

He couldn’t even imagine how Pompey felt about having three triumphs.

And he was insanely jealous of him.

If he had a chance to have a triumph, what would he do?

It wasn’t even something to ask himself.

He might pretend to be calm now, but when the time came, he would rush to seize the opportunity without hesitation.

Crassus’s eyes lingered on the temple of Jupiter for a long time, where the end point of the triumph was. His eyes still showed traces of lingering regret and desire.

Marcus, who saw through his father’s thoughts, had a premonition that he couldn’t change the future that would become reality.

He wanted it so much that even if Marcus tried to stop him, it would be hard to change his mind.

‘There are still eight years left… If I can’t stop him from going to war, I’ll have to prepare thoroughly.’

Crassus, who sighed deeply, turned around and went home.

Julia followed him to comfort her depressed father-in-law.

Marcus saw the two of them in his eyes.

He only moved his feet after their figures disappeared completely.

His footsteps contained a firm determination not to repeat the tragic history.

※※※※

Pompey’s triumph, which lasted for two days, was as rumored, the most lavish celebration in history.

The amount of gold and silver treasures that Pompey brought from the East was so huge that the wagons carrying them formed a long line that seemed endless.

The citizens cheered and stomped their feet as Pompey’s achievements in the East were listed one by one.

And as if he had promised, he generously showered them with silver coins.

The nickname ‘Magnus’, meaning the great one, echoed throughout Rome for two days.

Pompey regained his confidence after successfully completing his triumph.

He declared that he would divorce his wife, who had a bad reputation for her immoral life, and return to politics.

Thanks to the silver coins he distributed to the citizens during his triumph, his popularity was hotter than ever.

However, it took less than a week for Pompey, who eagerly attended the senate meeting, to be frustrated again.

It was not because he was incompetent.

It was because he was not a consul, nor did he have a tribune of the plebs who could do his bidding.

He had to ask for the permission of the consuls for his proposals, like other senators.

The consuls, Calpurnius and Valerius, were busy avoiding Pompey’s requests.

They always said something like this.

“It doesn’t seem appropriate to discuss that issue right now.”

“Then when will you seriously consider my proposal!”

“Well, we have to pass the pending bills first before we can discuss it. As you can see, there are too many things piled up.”

“Then we should hurry up and deal with the backlog and make a decision!”

Pompey shouted angrily, losing his patience.

“Then let’s look at the agenda that we need to discuss now according to Pompey Magnus’s demand.”

Calpurnius rummaged through the documents slowly.

He moved so leisurely that anyone could see that he was stalling.

“Let’s see… Ah, there was a request from the Vestal Virgins that was not processed last year. It was from the chief priestess Lycinia herself.

She said that there would be a gap in the religious ceremonies because Caesar, the pontifex maximus, had left for Hispania as a proconsul. But if the priests handled things on their own, it would be unclear who would be responsible later, so she asked us to enact a law to supplement this.”

“Caesar left for Hispania long ago! How could you not deal with such an important matter yet? Are you out of your mind?”

“Oh, that’s why we’re dealing with it now. Is there anyone who wants to speak on this matter?”

“I will say a word.”

Cato rose from his seat.

“Yes, please speak. Porcius Cato.”

Cato got permission to speak and wasted time on purpose.

He stood up from his seat, fiddled with the hem of his toga, took a deep breath, and said a prayer to the gods.

Then he fiddled with his hair again, coughed several times, and fiddled with his toga again.

Pompey couldn’t stand it anymore and yelled at him.

“This is a clear obstruction of proceedings! Consul, stop Cato’s speech!”

Cato jumped up and protested.

“Obstruction of proceedings? I’m just explaining the background of this situation!”

“Cato seems to be right.”

Consul Calpurnius subtly sided with Cato.

Receiving the signal to continue, Cato smiled smugly and resumed his speech.

“Dear senators, before we discuss this matter, we must first look back at Rome’s immorality that has fallen to the ground.

People’s faith is getting weaker day by day. My God, remember what happened at the Bona Dea festival last year.

And the culprit is still roaming around the streets freely because he was acquitted at the trial. And even worse, he became a tribune of the plebs who represents the people and interferes with the senate at every turn!”

“What does that have to do with what we’re discussing right now!”

“It’s related to religion. Of course we have to look back at Rome’s reality that is becoming more and more irreligious first.

Well, let me get back to the story. Romans are becoming less and less afraid of gods. So they commit all kinds of immoral deeds. Adultery is considered normal and even a kind of bragging. That’s why people like Caesar appear and run wild.”

Cato spent another hour on criticizing Rome’s immorality and Caesar.

“This is how Rome has become so corrupt, greedy, and lustful. That’s why someone like Caesar became the pontifex maximus. We live in a Rome where morality is lost.

I always try to live up to the standards of my great-grandfather. He never coveted another woman, he was more devout than anyone, and he devoted all his passion to the order of the republic.

I want to live like that. If he saw Rome changing so ugly and dirty, he would never have stayed still.

But I couldn’t stop this trend. Oh, it’s so miserable and shameful! If Rome could go back to the past, I would die in the Tiber River without any regrets. No, that’s the only wish of this Cato!”

Pompey couldn’t take it anymore and raised his voice with bloodshot eyes.

“I have one strong wish right now, Cato!”

Pompey stood up from his seat and shouted.

“That your wish comes true right now. Do you understand? Right now!”

Cato roared without paying attention to Pompey’s reaction.

“This cannot be! Our Rome cannot continue to fall into corruption! Of course, it’s not too late yet. So what we have to do first is…”

Cato’s long speech lasted until the sun, which had risen high in the sky, began to set in the west.

Pompey, who was furious from head to toe, got up from his seat with a bang.

“Let’s see how long you can run the state like this!”

He left the meeting hall, and the other senators followed him with yawns.

Cato’s speech ended when the sun had completely set and it was time to close the meeting.

The only people who remained in their seats until the end were the consul Calpurnius, Cato himself who had given the speech, and Marcus who was diligent in managing his image.

The next meeting, and the one after that, Cato’s long speech did not stop.

He was not very popular with the public because of his stubborn and overly righteous personality. Perhaps because of that, he had never been elected to any office above a certain level.

But the reason why he could be regarded as a central figure in the Senate was because of his iron-like stamina.

He had inexhaustible energy and a tireless voice. He could speak for days without resting.

So it was useless for Pompey to pressure the consul to pass the bill.

Cato paralyzed the Senate by not stopping his speech until the sun set.

Normally, the consul could have cut off Cato’s speech, but Calpurnius, who was on the same side as him, had no intention of doing so.

Because of this delay tactic of the Senate, Pompey could not do anything.

It was also hard work for Marcus, who listened to his speech until the end every time.

Cato endlessly listed trivial matters that no one wanted to know, over and over again.

By now, there was probably no senator who did not know how many dishes and cups he had in his house.

They all knew that the name of the slave who cleaned his yard every morning was Porkio.

‘I don’t care about image management or anything else. Should I just run away in the middle…’

Marcus shivered as he saw Cato’s long speech continue without fail today.

Pompey left his seat as soon as Cato’s speech began, so he was nowhere to be seen.

Less than an hour later, half of the Senate seats were empty.

Marcus looked enviously at the senators who had left like a tide.

He sincerely wanted to get out of here now.

That evening, when he returned home exhausted, Marcus received a letter from Caesar that had flown from Hispania.

<Marcus, I don’t know when this letter will reach you, but I guess Rome won’t change much whenever it is.

I’ve heard what’s going on in the capital. I don’t know why the Senate thinks that Clodius is obeying my orders, but they’ve been delusional for more than a day or two, so I’m not surprised now. Anyway, Pompey seems to be in a big trouble now as you and I expected. He doesn’t have the political skills to overcome this crisis. He must feel that fact himself too.

Then eventually he will contact me first as you said before. As you know, Pompey and I are still not balanced. Even if I become a consul, I still lack achievements to surpass Pompey’s reputation.

Of course, I haven’t been idle either. I recruited a friend named Lucius Cornelius Balbus in Hispania. He’s very smart. I’ll introduce him to you when I go back to Rome. You should talk to him. You’ll like him too.> ‘Balbus… He must have been a Phoenician financial expert.’

He needed someone who could work at his bank, which was about to open its doors officially.

It would be very welcome for Marcus if he could attract more talent.

He immediately started planning how to lure Balbus into his camp.

Of course, Caesar wouldn’t be happy if he lost his talent, but he would accept it if he gave him appropriate compensation.

With an unexpected discovery of talent, Marcus continued reading the letter with excitement.

<I organized a legion with the authority of a proconsul and completely subdued the southwestern part of Hispania that had not been conquered yet. With this military achievement, Rome will have no choice but to allow me a triumphal ceremony. After raising my recognition here in one breath, I plan to start the reform as a consul. I hope you will support me behind the scenes even if you can’t show it. Oh, by the way, I heard that Julia gave birth to twins. I sincerely congratulate you on having a daughter and a son. I also want to see my grandchildren as soon as possible. It’s not just because of that, but I’ll go back to Rome as soon as possible.

I’ll probably be able to arrive in Rome before next May. Let’s talk in detail then. Once again, I sincerely congratulate you on becoming a father of two.>

Marcus carefully folded the letter and stored it to give it to Julia later.

The area that Caesar had occupied was part of the area that corresponds to Portugal in modern times.

It was enough to have a triumphal ceremony if he had subdued the local tribes there.

Of course, the Senate would not easily grant Caesar’s request, as they had done in history.

Especially this time, there would be many senators who thought they had to step on Caesar.

They might even try to block his candidacy for consul.

But either way, it wouldn’t affect the trend.

It was time for the Senate to get hit.

Pompey had paid enough for ignoring Marcus’s advice.

Above all, Marcus was not sure if he could endure Cato’s long speech any longer.

‘The protagonists are all ready, so now we just have to wait for the curtain to rise.’

Caesar, Pompey, Crassus.

The influence of those who would lead the era gathered at one point with the flow of fate and was about to create a splendid firework.

Marcus would be the one who would ignite that firework.

In December of 61 BC, when cold raindrops moistened the dry land of Rome, the Senate was unaware that a plan was being born in an unexpected place.

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