Chapter 104: The Guardian of the Mediterranean
The meeting between Auletes and Marcus lasted less than five minutes.
Auletes, who had intended to complain a lot, closed his mouth at Marcus’s first words.
“The Senate will do its best to help Pharaoh return to the throne of Alexandria. We will prepare a legion to escort Pharaoh and set sail next year. Please take care of your health until then.”
“···You will depart next year?”
“Yes. This will be the last winter you spend in Rome. If there is anything you need, please let me know.”
“Uh···well, okay.”
He had nothing more to say or ask, since he heard what he wanted to hear right away.
Auletes, who was quickly pacified by Marcus, took a long rest at home for the first time in a while.
Of course, resting didn’t mean doing nothing at all.
He still had some work to do, and more importantly, he had to spend time and play with his lovely children, whom he loved more than anything.
One difficulty was that the two children had completely different preferences for activities.
His son, Trayanus, was active, but his daughter, Sophia, preferred quiet games.
As a result, he often spent time with each child separately rather than playing with both at the same time.
Trayanus would come almost every day with a toy sword and beg him to play soldier.
He had already lost his initial awkwardness and shyness.
“I’m Spartacus! Daddy is a Gallic warrior!”
He spoke in a short voice with fragmented words and swung his toy sword around.
It was so cute that there was no other way to describe it.
“Wow, our little gladiator. Where did you hear the name Spartacus?”
“Danae told me! Spartacus, the best gladiator!”
“Really? Then do you know that the big man who came with daddy is Spartacus?”
“Huh? The big man?”
Trayanus widened his eyes and tilted his head sideways with curiosity.
“Yeah, that big man is Spartacus.”
“Then I want to play gladiator with him today!”
Marcus smiled innocently and followed his son who ran away.
He was about to write a letter to Septimius when he saw a small figure peeking into his office.
His expression melted at the sight of her adorable face.
He tried desperately to restore his relaxed smile and opened his mouth with the kindest voice possible.
“You can come in.”
She ran towards him as fast as she could, showing how much she had been looking forward to this moment.
“Sophia, I told you not to run.”
Julia’s gentle voice followed the child.
Sophia didn’t slow down at all and threw herself at Marcus’s legs as if she was going to fall over.
Marcus lifted her up with both hands and helped her sit on his lap.
He felt her unique warmth that warmed his heart as well.
His daughter Sophia enjoyed sitting on his lap and spending time with him whenever he had something to do.
Sometimes she would fall asleep on his lap.
Every time that happened, he felt an indescribable satisfaction fill his chest.
“What did you come for today?”
“Hehehe, I want to stay with daddy until dinner.”
“Wow, daddy is so happy. Do you want to stay with me even after dinner?”
“Didn’t you say you still have work to do?”
Julia shook her head with a helpless expression.
Sophia looked up at Marcus with a pouty face.
“Daddy can’t work with Sophia?”
“Of course not! I can finish my work faster with you, ahem, why are you saying things you don’t have to say?”
“It’s not good for the child’s emotional development if you just agree with everything.”
“What are you talking about? Love is the best education.”
“Sigh, there’s no stopping you.”
Ignoring Julia’s sigh, Marcus kissed his daughter’s cheek several times.
Sophia giggled and said it tickled.
“I have to go back to Egypt next year. So I want to spend as much time as possible with the kids now.”
“Do you have a specific schedule?”
“No. The only thing decided is that we will depart next year. But soon Pompey and the Senate will coordinate the schedule.”
Marcus looked serious as he said that.
Sophia tilted her head and asked him.
“Daddy, where are you going again?”
“Huh? Well···this time we have to go to a place called Egypt in the south.”
“Why don’t you just tell someone else to go······.”
Her daughter’s face looked so depressed that it made Marcus feel like she was the most adorable thing in the world.
He hugged her tightly until he heard that dinner was ready and kissed her lips several times.
Julia watched the affectionate father and daughter with a gentle gaze.
No matter how complicated the situation was, his mind felt peaceful when he was with his children.
Marcus vowed to give them the happiest future possible.
※※※※
The Senate decided to adopt Crassus’s opinion to march to Egypt.
It was almost like they had forced him to make a difficult choice, so it was only fair to follow his decision.
Besides, the burden of raising an army was much less than before.
Marcus had been receiving regular information from the newly opened bank in Alexandria.
This information was passed on to the Senate through Crassus.
Berenice was alienating the people of Alexandria with her constant mismanagement.
She ignored the farmers, abused the slaves, and only cared about satisfying her vanity.
She had no interest in the welfare of the people or the administration of the state.
As a result, in less than two years, bandits were rampant everywhere, and security was a mess.
But in the palace of Alexandria, lavish parties were held every day.
Berenice showed off her extravagance by wearing all kinds of jewels.
The people of Alexandria, as well as the privileged class, were tired of her.
The influential people of Alexandria had originally planned to set up a puppet Pharaoh and fill their own pockets.
But Berenice enjoyed luxury and pleasure more than anyone else.
She also had a strange pride and didn’t even pretend to listen to the nobles.
Even the corrupt nobles felt a sense of crisis that Egypt might collapse in ten years if this continued.
Eventually, some moderate nobles secretly sent letters to Rome.
The summary was that Berenice was hopeless and they wanted Auletes to come back.
…
Pompey acted swiftly when he heard the news, ahead of the Senate.
He officially declared his candidacy for the next year’s consulship, and announced that he would personally lead the legions.
The Senate was alarmed by Pompey’s move.
They knew that the outcome of the election was already decided if Pompey ran.
To balance the power, the aristocrats offered Crassus to run for consul as well. Crassus gladly accepted the offer.
As expected, both men were elected as consuls by overwhelming votes.
Now the problem was who would get the provinces of Egypt and Syria, and who would command the expeditionary force to Egypt.
Pompey, who wanted the honor, insisted loudly that he was the only one fit for the task.
“Alexandria’s citizens are proud. They tend to obey authority rather than force. Therefore, I, Pompey Magnus, who is called the reincarnation of Alexander, am confident that I should lead the legions to pacify the East!”
Of course, the aristocrats, including Cicero and Cato, had no intention of giving Pompey any more favors.
The Egyptian expedition was not just a matter of honor.
If they restored Auletes as the pharaoh, he would naturally be loyal to Rome’s name.
It was an opportunity to make Egypt, which had vast grain fields, a de facto client state of Rome.
They could not afford to give Egypt to Pompey, especially when Caesar was successfully subduing Gaul.
Cicero raised his hand and requested to speak.
“Pompey’s opinion seems reasonable at first glance. But there is one thing he is not considering. It is his reputation as a conqueror. Pompey has subdued the entire East, destroying the Jewish kingdom and annexing the Seleucid dynasty. He is a symbol of Rome’s military might. How would Alexandria’s citizens react if he came to Egypt with his legions?”
Cato echoed Cicero’s words.
“They would surely think that he came to crush them and make them a province.”
“That’s right. Alexandria’s citizens may be tired of Berenice, but they do not want to become a province of Rome either. They want their autonomy guaranteed. But Pompey is a threat to them just by his presence.”
“Pompey, that’s too much of a stretch, don’t you think? They would feel threatened? And then they would resist Rome? Wouldn’t they rather lie low in fear of becoming a province themselves if they resisted?”
Pompey retorted with a stiff face.
He was not willing to compromise on this matter, no matter what anyone said.
He had already told Marcus firmly about this beforehand.
He was greatly stimulated by Caesar and Marcus’ brilliant achievements in Gaul.
Contrary to the Senate’s worries, he was not interested in making Egypt a client state.
He did not like such complicated political schemes in the first place.
Pompey just wanted to restore his fading fame once again.
He wanted to imprint in the minds of Rome’s citizens that he was still the greatest general of Rome.
Especially after the next provinces of the consuls were decided, this desire became stronger.
Crassus had his strong demand accepted and was promised the position of commander-in-chief of the East.
He was given equal authority to Caesar.
He had absolute command over three provinces in Asia Minor and could lead up to ten legions if needed.
His term was an unprecedented five years.
This was a measure to counter Pompey’s use of tribunes to extend Caesar’s governorship of Gaul until 50 BC.
Pompey claimed that he should also receive equal authority to Crassus and Caesar for fairness.
The Senate could not find a reason to deny Pompey what they granted to Crassus.
So they decided that Pompey’s next province would be the two provinces of Hispania.
But Hispania was a region where all the conquests had been completed, and there was no pretext to raise an army.
To the west, there was only the endless Atlantic Ocean, and to the north and east, there was Gaul, Caesar’s province.
To the south, there was only the province of North Africa, which was already part of Rome’s territory. Pompey had no means to gain fame at all.
Therefore, it was natural that he thought he should take charge of the Egyptian expedition.
The Senate could not ignore Pompey’s appeal completely.
In fact, the opinion of Rome’s citizens supported Pompey.
Crassus had a considerable reputation, but he was no match for Pompey in terms of military affairs.
Marcus might have been possible, but he was not yet qualified to receive imperium.
The Senate decided to think a little more and make a decision at the next meeting.
The aristocrats, who gathered together after the meeting and racked their brains, came up with a clever idea.
It was thanks to Marcus, who subtly informed them that Pompey wanted honor rather than power.
At the meeting that opened a few days later, Cicero was the first to request to speak and confidently raised his loud voice.
“I know well why the great Pompey cares so much about Egypt. Although Rome’s food production has increased lately, it cannot compare to Egypt, which receives the blessing of the Nile. Maintaining Egypt’s stability is the surest way to secure Rome’s food security. Pompey must have recognized this important mission. Am I right?”
Pompey nodded his head in satisfaction at the words that subtly praised him.
“Of course, Cicero. I have already eradicated the pirates and made Rome’s citizens free from food worries. Egypt is currently our most important food supplier. So I think it is natural that I go there to stabilize it.”
“That’s right. But I think it is more important to set up a more systematic framework than these short-term measures. Specifically, I propose to pass a law that will ensure Rome’s food supply in this opportunity. And of course, the chief responsible for this should be the great Pompey.”
Cicero’s proposal was to create a navy that would safely protect the wheat coming from Asia Minor, Sicily, and Egypt.
Rome did not operate a navy on a regular basis.
Especially after the pirates in the Mediterranean were completely wiped out, they hardly used the existing ships.
But Rome was a hegemonic power that ruled over the entire Mediterranean.
There was no situation where they did not need a navy at all.
Even if they had to send legions to other continents like now, the existence of a navy was essential.
But ordering ships and training soldiers whenever they needed them was too inefficient.
Cicero argued that this should be improved.
Pompey had already proven his merit by clearing out the pirates and securing the safety of the Mediterranean in a short time.
It seemed only natural to entrust him with the position of naval commander-in-chief.
It was a position that had never existed in Rome’s history.
The Senate called this position the Guardian of the Mediterranean.
This title captured Pompey’s heart in an instant.
He was moved by the fact that he would take charge of a position that no one had ever held before.
He turned his eyes to Marcus briefly.
It was a look that asked if there would be any problem with their alliance if he accepted this.
Marcus answered him with a fervent applause.
Pompey was so touched that tears welled up in his eyes.
He thanked them with a slightly choked voice.
“I feel an immense responsibility for taking on a task that has never been granted to any Roman before. I, Pompey Magnus, will devote myself to this duty with all my efforts, and I will not disappoint the expectations of the senators.”
The aristocratic senators applauded and cheered with hidden intentions.
Pompey became the commander-in-chief of the navy, and by extension, the commander of the expeditionary force to Egypt.
However, Pompey was only a nominal commander, while the actual leader of the legion that would go to Egypt was decided to be Marcus.
Pompey did not show any dissatisfaction with this decision.
The position of the first naval commander-in-chief in history satisfied his desire for honor enough.
Besides, he was still the official commander of the expedition, so he would get some credit for the achievements.
It was the best outcome for him.
Pompey valued honor more than practical benefits, and this was a clear example of his personality.
Of course, the Senate did not give Pompey this position without any ulterior motives.
They were aiming for tangible gains.
They did not care much whether Pompey gained more fame or not.
The imperium that he received as the naval commander-in-chief was something that he would get anyway when he became the next governor.
Leading the navy was not a very powerful position, since its main purpose was to secure food supplies.
Rather, it gave them an excuse to blame Pompey if there were any problems with the food supply.
One of their strategies was also to provoke a rift between Pompey and Caesar by stimulating him in this way.
And thanks to that, Marcus could take all the real benefits.
The agreement between the aristocrats and the populists was reached quickly, and the minor details were settled swiftly.
The legion that Marcus would lead as Pompey’s deputy was set to be three.
He had twelve legions waiting in northern Italy and two more that he would newly form.
Marcus immediately started to organize his legions and set off for Egypt with his auxiliaries as soon as the year changed.
It was an unexpectedly swift movement.
It was also a useful lesson that Marcus had learned from Caesar during the Gallic War.
If he moved at a speed that the enemy could not anticipate, he would inevitably gain the initiative and shake them.
This was a skill that could be applied not only on the battlefield, but also in human relationships.
Alexandria was in chaos when they heard the news of the Roman army’s departure.
Berenice, who was greatly flustered, summoned her servants at once, but no satisfactory conclusion was reached.
The public sentiment was at its worst, the military force to face the Romans was insufficient, and there was no chance that the auxiliaries would forgive her even if she surrendered.
She became so anxious that she even called Cleopatra and Arsinoe to ask for their opinions.
Arsinoe shook her head sadly, as if she felt sorry for her.
“There is nothing we can do. The Romans are strong and we are weak. I think you have no choice but to rely on your high virtue as a pharaoh.”
“Are you mocking me?”
“Of course not. You said you had a contingency plan for this situation. Why don’t you try it out?”
Cleopatra also smiled brightly and agreed with her.
“Of course. You were so confident, so it must be effective.”
“Is that so?”
Berenice looked at them alternately with a slightly doubtful expression.
She had initially boasted that she could melt Marcus with her beauty and body.
But she wondered if she could really seduce him with just her body, when he was coming with three legions.
She could easily guess how much vengeance Auletes, who had been robbed of his throne, was burning with.
Even if she tried to seduce him, he might not waver if he was by Marcus’s side.
Arsinoe and Cleopatra, who saw through her mind, subtly provoked Berenice.
“I learned this recently, but men feel a tremendous temptation when a powerful woman becomes submissive. It’s like an irresistible magic.”
“Arsinoe is right. Even if he is a representative of the Roman Senate, a man is still a man.”
“Why do you sound different from before…?”
“We are just children, as you said. We didn’t understand the subtle emotions between men and women back then.”
Berenice examined the smiling faces of her sisters and suppressed her uneasy feeling.
She hardened her resolve.
She had no other choice anyway.
If fighting and surrendering were not allowed, there was only one way left for her.
“Fine. I’ll turn this crisis into an opportunity and solidify my power. If I can make that nobleman Marcus my man, no one will dare to oppose me in the future.”
Berenice changed into the traditional attire of a pharaoh, instead of the Macedonian dress.
She used only thin fabrics that revealed almost everything underneath to emphasize her seductive atmosphere.
Her whole body exuded a charm and sensuality that no man could resist.
Berenice looked at herself in the mirror with satisfaction and smiled.
“Good, then let’s get ready to greet the guest.”
Arsinoe and Cleopatra wished her good luck.
Berenice could not see their expressions clearly as they bowed their heads deeply.
< 104. The Guardian of the Mediterranean > End
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