The Mad Tycoon of Rome

Chapter 89: I’m going to Gaul 1

Two days after the election, Crassus’ mansion was bustling with aristocratic senators and their slaves.

“Hahaha! Let’s eat and drink to our hearts’ content today. Let’s celebrate our glorious victory!”

Metellus Scipio laughed heartily and raised his cup.

The other aristocratic senators also responded to Metellus’ toast with bright smiles.

They had achieved a surprising defense in an election that was expected to be a defeat, and they felt like they were flying.

Even Cato couldn’t help but curl up his lips slightly, unlike his usual self.

He approached Marcus, who was quietly sipping his wine, and said.

“You can’t be so quiet when you’re the biggest contributor to the election. You should say something too.”

“It’s okay. Actually, the candidates were chosen by my father, and I only supported them in their campaigns. It’s my father’s merit that he chose good candidates.”

“You’re too modest. If only the young people of Rome followed half of your example, things wouldn’t have turned out like this.”

“You’re too kind.”

Marcus emptied his diluted wine and looked around at the senators who were intoxicated by the mood.

Crassus was surrounded by the aristocratic leaders and showered with praises, and Cicero was talking with Bibulus, who had come out of his mansion for a long time.

Because they were close by, he could hear every word of their conversation.

“Bibulus, do you plan to return to politics after your governorship is over?”

“I don’t know… Damn it, I’ve been stuck in a situation where I have to survey roads where cattle pass by and fix fences for a year.”

“But you must have learned something from your failure. You’ll be more mature when your term is over.”

“There’s one thing I’m sure I learned. I’ll never stand in the front line against Caesar again. I don’t have the ability to do that, nor do nine out of ten senators in the Senate. Cato is no exception, and no offense… but I think it’s too much for you too, Cicero. Of course, I think you’re wiser and more learned than Caesar, but you’re not as cunning as he is.”

Cicero gave a forced smile.

“Well… I admit that I lack cunning. But it’s not enough to be good at politics just by being cunning. Look at Marcus. He’s an upright young man who doesn’t have a trace of cunning, but he did a great job this time. Of course, it was possible because he had the full support of the Senate.”

“Ah, Marcus… Yes. He’s a real talent in politics. If he had been the consul instead of me, Caesar wouldn’t have done as he pleased… It’s all my fault for being incompetent.”

“That’s not true. You did your best. Honestly, I think the senators who blame you are conscienceless. If they’re so confident, why don’t they run for consulship and confront Caesar?”

“Thank you for your words. But I’ll never run for consulship again. I’m tired of being responsible. When my governorship is over, I’ll just make speeches denouncing Caesar and live as a senator.”

Bibulus sighed deeply and gulped down his wine.

Cicero quickly refilled his empty cup with diluted wine.

“Just rest until your body and mind are ready again. Looking at the results of this election, we don’t have to worry about the aristocrats yet. They’ll keep the balance until you recharge and come back.”

Even Cicero, who was such a person, couldn’t see through what had happened in this election.

Then it meant that no one in the Senate had noticed it.

As evidence, some of the aristocrats who were completely excited were openly talking about something that made their eyes narrow.

“Hey, did you sell one of your latifundia?”

“They said I rented too much public land and got caught by the agrarian law. So I sold the lease to my nephew before the law passed. I’m going to buy some land from the failing farmers with that money. It’ll be harder when the agrarian law is fully implemented, so I have to buy it in advance.”

“Should I? But won’t it be less fun because of the agrarian law?”

“What are you talking about? It’s easy to trick the ignorant plebeians and make them sell their land. And if you work the slaves hard and squeeze as much as you can, you’ll never lose. It’s so fun. You can’t make a fortune overnight, but you can get a steady income for a long time.”

“You make it sound tempting. But I don’t have much money right now… Can I get a loan from the bank?”

“Sure. And there are companies that help you buy land from farmers at a low price. You can get help from them. I have a company that I deal with, how about that one? We balanced the election this time, so our world will continue. Don’t worry and rip them off.”

‘They’re talking nonsense.’

Marcus clenched his brows and bit his tongue at the debauched conversations of the aristocrats around him.

They seemed to shrink a little when they were pushed by the populares, but most of the aristocrats were like that.

That was why Cicero couldn’t take root in the optimates.

They were drunk with the privilege of being aristocrats and thought it was natural to plunder the lower classes.

So they didn’t like it when Cicero, a newcomer, tried to compete with them.

They couldn’t do anything about it and it was useless to scold them.

Cato and Brutus were republicans not because they were aristocrats, but because they thought it was beneficial for them to strengthen the power of the Senate, which was dominated by aristocrats.

The election was nothing but a means to legally seize power and increase their wealth.

Cato and Cicero didn’t like those people, but they didn’t stop them.

They couldn’t, and it was pointless to do so.

The republic that the aristocrats thought of was a system where a few aristocrats took turns in power and shared it.

That’s why they hated dictators and opposed the concentration of power in one person.

‘Do as you please. You won’t be able to do that forever.’

The aristocrats believed that the candidates they elected would represent their interests, but the reality and expectations were always different.

Of course, the candidates that Marcus elected planned to act in favor of the aristocrats in order not to arouse their suspicion.

However, most of their activities would be related to the overall national interest of Rome.

After the party that made him feel complicated, Marcus gathered the core of the aristocrats to discuss the future.

Cato, Cicero, Metellus Scipio, and Crassus remained in the reception room after the others had left.

Metellus asked in a slightly drunken voice.

“So, what are we going to discuss now?”

“Of course, it’s about next year’s schedule. We need to have a rough outline in advance, even if we decide on the details later. As I said before, the strategy of following the other side’s actions won’t work. We have to be ready to strike at any time.”

“That makes sense. What is your plan then?”

“First of all, the policy of the aristocrats for next year will be to prioritize the people’s livelihood. This is to avoid showing a relaxed attitude just because we had a good result in the election.

We secured three-quarters of the aediles, who are closely related to the people’s livelihood. We also elected almost half of the quaestors. We should be able to launch projects that will make the people cheer. Of course, I will avoid short-term populist policies.”

Cicero looked dubious and shrugged his shoulders.

He remembered clearly the uncultured conversations of the aristocrats who were shouting loudly earlier.

“Will that work as you think? There are many among the aristocratic senators who will demand to fill their pockets first rather than care for the people’s livelihood. They are troublesome, but we have to appease and lead them. Otherwise, the power of the optimates will be reduced by almost half.”

“Of course, I keep that in mind. The key is to make sure that the aristocrats also benefit from it. I’m working on a suitable policy, so you don’t have to worry.”

“Really? I guess I have nothing to say then. Then let’s move according to your opinion for next year, and what else do we need to do?”

“We need to come up with a countermeasure against Caesar. I don’t think he’s just concerned about the present, but he always has two or three steps ahead in mind.”

No one in the Senate evaluated Caesar better than Cato.

However, his reasoning was based on his personal feelings, so he didn’t get any recognition.

“Marcus, you agree with me, right? Didn’t you say that Caesar has more plans?”

Of course, Marcus knew better than Caesar himself what his plans were and what he would do next.

But he had no intention of telling him that.

Marcus pretended to be cautious and picked up a grape and put it in his mouth.

“It wouldn’t hurt to keep both possibilities open. In that sense, I’m thinking of going to Gaul for a year or two.”

Everyone in the room widened their eyes at his casual remark.

Cicero asked incredulously.

“You want to go to Gaul? Do you intend to support Caesar’s army as a volunteer? You don’t have to go that far…”

“I do. There are several complex reasons for this.”

“Such as?”

“First of all, I can observe what he’s thinking right next to him. And if Cato is right and he invades Gaul and makes military achievements, I should be in a position where I can share some of the credit. Of course, compared to the supreme commander, my share will be very small, but it’s better than sitting idly in Rome.”

This time Metellus turned pale.

“Do you think Caesar can make achievements if he invades Gaul?”

“Of course. He wouldn’t have gone on an expedition if he hadn’t calculated that. That’s why someone has to watch him more closely.”

“But if you leave Rome, the aristocrats who are barely getting organized might shake again.”

“It won’t be a problem for a year. As I said before, I’ll set up our policy and direction before I go. And I’m planning to scout candidates who will work for us in the election beforehand. That should be enough for you and Cicero to handle the rest.”

Cato was the first to agree with Marcus’ opinion.

He was not comfortable with sending Caesar four legions where the Senate’s eyes couldn’t reach.

Marcus had led an army under Pompey and occupied a region, so he had no problem applying as a legion commander.

“I propose that we pass a bill to add one more legion to Caesar’s allowance and make it five legions. Of course, I’ll form that one legion with my own money, and I’ll also take charge of it. It’s natural for a son-in-law to gain experience under his father-in-law.”

“As I listen to you, your opinion seems definitely best. I have no complaints like Cato.”

Cicero also agreed, leaving Metellus no choice.

In the end, all the core members of the aristocrats agreed to let Marcus serve as a legion commander in Gaul for more than a year under Caesar.

After a rough agreement was reached, only Marcus and Crassus were left in the reception room.

Crassus, who had been silent, opened his mouth for the first time.

“Are you really going to stay in Gaul for only a year?”

“Well… I’ll have to see when I get there, but I don’t think a year will be enough. Maybe I’ll have to stay for two years.”

“No one in Rome has ever gone that deep into Gaul and completed the conquest. Do you think Caesar can do that? No, even if he does, five years won’t be enough.”

Crassus and Pompey already knew that Caesar was planning to go on an expedition to Gaul.

But both of them, who were Caesar’s allies, doubted the success of the expedition.

There was a difference between not losing a war and bringing the entire region under Rome’s control.

Crassus was confident that Caesar would only gain some military achievements and withdraw his army.

He knew that Caesar liked adventure, but he was not the kind of person who enjoyed gambling with a low chance of success.

Pompey also thought similarly to Crassus.

Only Marcus knew that history wouldn’t go that way.

“The expedition to Gaul will end with a result that anyone who is Roman will have to admire. And if we think about the future of Rome, this expedition is absolutely necessary. The fertile land and abundant resources in the Rhine basin are essential for maintaining Rome.”

“Do you really think Gaul can be such a fertile land? It’s true that there are many lands with a suitable climate for living, but I can’t guarantee that they are good for farming.”

“According to my own research, the land of Gaul is optimal for agriculture. If we introduce the four-field system, we can increase Rome’s food production enormously.

And Rome will need more and more iron ore in the future. There is a rumor that there is a large amount of iron ore buried in the west of the Rhine. We need to check if we can mine it.”

Marcus had decided that he had to get his hands on Alsace-Lorraine no matter what.

It was an administrative region belonging to the Grand Est region of France in modern terms.

This place had a huge amount of natural resources, accounting for 90% of France’s iron ore production.

From the perspective of Rome, which needed more iron than ever, it was a land that could not be given up.

Moreover, the land of Gaul had much higher productivity than Italy.

He needed the fertile land of Gaul to cope with the explosive increase in Rome’s population due to sanitation improvement.

In other words, Caesar’s expedition to Gaul would be a major turning point that would determine the future of Rome.

He didn’t have to worry much because it would succeed in the original history, but he couldn’t just sit back and do nothing.

He didn’t know what kind of butterfly effect would bring unexpected variables.

If he could, Marcus also wanted to participate in the expedition as a legion commander throughout, but he had more important things to do, so he couldn’t.

His plan was to help Caesar establish a solid foundation for success in the expedition.

And as a return on his investment, he had already promised to have exclusive access to the resources of Alsace-Lorraine and the right to cultivate the land he had scouted first.

Caesar didn’t know exactly how much value the land that Marcus wanted had, so he readily agreed.

Who would imagine that there would be such a huge amount of natural resources buried in a land that no one had ever seen before?

In Marcus’ head, a very clear vision of the future was being completed step by step, contrary to the crude map of Gaul.

‘It’s finally time to use that book.’

The source of Marcus’ confidence was his certainty that he had information close to leaking secrets.

The book that he had memorized word by word by now, The Gallic Wars, promised him an unimaginable success in the expedition.

< 89. I’m going to Gaul > The end