Chapter 157: Summit Meeting 3
< 157. Summit Meeting 3 >
The Senate was thrown into confusion by a bolt from the blue.
Just when they were about to relax after resolving the crisis, an absurd issue was raised as the topic of the summit meeting.
“This is outrageous. How can you concentrate power in the hands of only three people?”
“This will destroy the Republic!”
“What’s the difference between this and monarchy if you make it a permanent institution instead of a temporary one?”
Many senators, regardless of their affiliation with the populist or the optimates, expressed their concerns.
However, there were also some who did not take this matter too seriously.
They were mostly young senators who followed Caesar and Marcus.
They supported their rule.
“Where is there a country with three kings? Even Rome has two consuls, doesn’t it?”
“That’s right. Anyway, the three of them are bound to have different opinions. Especially Marcus, he will surely act in favor of our optimates’ dignity, won’t he?”
“Caesar is the same. He has always worked for the rights of the populist. This is not like establishing a dictatorship. I think you are overreacting.”
“Frankly, isn’t it true that if the tribunes or the consuls veto at will, the state will be paralyzed? We need a way to solve this fatal flaw. I think we can have a positive impact on the Republic if we create a system that does not compromise checks and balances.”
The staunch republicans were appalled by these opinions of the newcomers.
But since there was no consensus even within the Senate, they could not take any organized action.
The situation was even worse as the plebeian assembly was also convened for tomorrow.
It was impossible for some senators to stop this flow.
Frustrated, Cicero and Cato sought out Marcus.
“Marcus, can we talk for a moment?”
“Of course. Come in.”
Marcus, who was sitting at his desk and sorting out documents, greeted them with a friendly smile.
He poured wine himself and handed them glasses.
“I’m sorry to interrupt you when you’re preparing for tomorrow’s meeting. But I think we have to discuss something with you beforehand…”
“It’s okay. I thought one of you would come anyway.”
“I knew you would say that. Well, then let’s get to the point. How are you going to proceed in tomorrow’s meeting? You must have already made a rough plan, right?”
“Of course. And so did Caesar. Since the citizens’ demands are so fierce, it would be too damaging to reject this proposal outright.”
Cicero and Cato also thought so.
The whole process was flawless as if someone had planned it beforehand.
Cato clenched his teeth and gritted his teeth.
“I just thought of something. Could this be Caesar’s trick? Think about it. Clodius has always been suspected of having ties with Caesar, hasn’t he? What if he caused this mess under Caesar’s orders? Then everything makes sense.”
“No way…”
“No, no. It’s not impossible. Look at what he did. He even used his mother’s death as a political tool.”
Marcus neither confirmed nor denied it.
On the other hand, Cicero, who initially showed a negative reaction, slowly nodded and agreed with Cato’s claim.
“Indeed… This process is too perfect to be a coincidence. I could believe it if someone said they planned it beforehand. But if Caesar led this flow, does that mean he conspired with Pompey too?”
“He might have or might not have. But if it’s Caesar, he could easily incite Pompey with his cunning tongue. He didn’t have to make an agreement beforehand, did he?”
“If you two are right, then it’s even more useless to cover this up and refuse it. He must have prepared for the case that we refuse it. Actually, he doesn’t even need much preparation. If we go against the will of the people, we will be crushed in this election anyway.”
Marcus’ simple situation analysis made Cicero and Cato’s faces distorted.
Cato rubbed his temples and sighed deeply.
“Don’t you have any alternative plan in mind?”
“I think it’s best to assume that we agree and then adjust the details accordingly. I also felt that Caesar and Pompey’s movements were suspicious. That’s why I agreed to hold this summit meeting in order to check them within the framework. I’ll try to prevent the worst outcome from happening, so don’t worry too much.”
Marcus’ confidence had never failed before.
Thanks to their solid trust relationship, Cicero and Cato’s expressions also brightened up a little.
“Then we’ll do our best to oppose Caesar’s opinion as well.”
“Please do so. I’ll feel more secure if you two support me.”
“Good. Just give us a chance to express our dissent to those who oppose us. I’ll do my best.”
They could not let the glorious history of the Republic end so vainly.
Cicero and Cato left Marcus’ residence and returned to Rome with a sense of mission.
“I wish you good luck.”
Marcus raised his glass and cheered in a low voice, looking at the backs of the two men who were leaving.
※※※※
The promised day came.
From early dawn, the Campus Martius was busy with preparations for the plebeian assembly, such as setting up a temporary platform and gathering the tribunes.
Singers and dancers, who had been gathered from somewhere, sang praises for the triumvirate that would be born today, wandering around the plain.
Cato and Cicero, who saw the scene, were convinced that this was all Caesar’s plan.
In fact, they were introduced to them by Marcus, but they had no way of knowing the truth as aristocrats.
The triumvirate, who received the enthusiastic cheers of the citizens and took their seats on the platform, declared the start of the meeting.
Caesar stood up from his seat, looked around the audience, and raised his voice.
“Today, a temporary plebeian assembly has been convened at the request of the citizens. We will present the agreement we made here to the assembly again and ask for your opinion. In fact, our agreement has the same binding force as anything officially voted by the Senate. But we choose to take this form of requesting a re-vote in the assembly because this matter is so important.”
The noisy atmosphere quieted down in an instant.
Caesar deliberately paused for a moment, then said with a determined expression.
“I swear by Jupiter that I have no desire for any ill-gotten power. All I care about is Rome’s peace and the stability of you, the citizens.
Of course, I don’t think I can do all this by myself. No matter how talented one is, if he walks alone, he will fall into the swamp of tyranny. That is also why many great dynasties have bowed before our Rome. So I want to borrow the strength of my trustworthy comrades.”
Caesar stepped back and highlighted Marcus and Pompey.
The citizens shouted their names and cheered fervently.
Caesar enjoyed the ecstatic applause and waved his hand to the audience.
“Pompey here is a great general who has brought great benefits to Rome more than anyone else, and above all, a nobleman who values honor and faith.
And Marcus, he doesn’t need any explanation from me. He is a person who receives your love so much.
I am sure that we all have the same love for Rome, even if our political beliefs are different. We will not betray your trust in us. I, Caesar, swear by the name of the great gods here!”
“Woohoo!”
“Glory to the gods for the great triumvirate!”
This time, the cheer was incomparable to before.
The citizens stomped their feet so hard that the whole Campus Martius shook, sending their support to the triumvirate.
Cato, who wanted to expose Caesar’s cunning scheme, felt bitter.
‘The crafty bastard.’
Now that he had nailed it down like this beforehand, he couldn’t attack him for being blinded by power hunger.
Caesar kept emphasizing that he was not alone in holding power.
And he stressed his patriotism while showing his willingness to work with people who had different political views.
If he criticized this as a staged plot, Cato would only become a laughingstock.
Even if Marcus declared that he would leave the triumvirate, it wouldn’t make much difference.
The citizens wanted a stronger and more reliable executive body.
Even if one of them was gone, it was obvious that someone else would fill in.
Now it was better to make sure that there was a solid safety device within the framework of the triumvirate.
Marcus stated his position as he had said beforehand: he would accept the serious will of the citizens and participate in the discussion.
Pompey also declared that he would not turn away from this glorious duty and fulfill his obligation.
The formation of the triumvirate was now a foregone conclusion.
The only thing left was to determine how much authority they would have.
“First of all, I want to set a deadline.”
Caesar threw out the topic with a serious face.
He looked at Pompey and Marcus alternately and asked again.
“There can be no lifetime office in Rome except for the highest priest. So I want to set the term of this alliance to five years.”
“Do you mean to dissolve it after five years?”
“Not exactly. After five years, we will be evaluated on our achievements and actions and decide whether to keep or relinquish this authority. In other words, you can think of it as renewing our authority every five years by the citizens.”
“Five years is too long. How about three years?”
“Three years is too short. Other magistrates have a term of one year, but they only perform their duties in a limited area and scope. We are different, aren’t we?”
“Still, not five years. If you set such a long term, it will diminish the meaning of evaluating our performance by the citizens.”
“Then how about compromising on four years?”
As their differences were not narrowed down, Pompey suggested a compromise.
Caesar and Marcus thought for a moment and then nodded in agreement.
“We will set the term to four years as agreed by everyone. Next, let’s define how much authority we will have. Magnus, do you have anything in mind?”
“Um… First of all, we need at least the same authority as the consuls. That way, we can deal with various issues quickly.”
“I agree. Then let’s agree that each of us, as members of the alliance, will have the same authority as the consuls.”
At this point, Caesar and Marcus clashed again.
Caesar wanted to grant the members of the triumvirate a ruling authority that was not subject to veto.
But Marcus opposed this, saying it reminded him of a dictator.
After a sharp argument, a compromise was made again.
The agreement they reached was as follows:
The consuls and tribunes could exercise their veto power on bills or orders proposed by individual members of the alliance.
But decisions made unanimously by the triumvirate were not affected by the veto power.
The reason for establishing the triumvirate was to loosen the flow of politics that had been hardened by the abuse of veto power.
So it was reasonable to argue that their agreement could not be vetoed.
Marcus could not raise any objections here either.
Caesar looked around the senators and asked.
“Does anyone have any objections? If you do, please feel free to raise your arguments as you did yesterday. I am always ready to listen if it is a constructive discussion.”
As soon as his words ended, Cato jumped up from his seat.
“I have something to say!”
“My dear Porcius Cato, please do so.”
As he got permission, Cato walked up to the platform with big strides.
He cleared his throat and glared at Caesar, who was smiling kindly.
He knew very well that he couldn’t win against Caesar in a debate.
The one who got more support from the citizens would win, since he had mobilized the plebeian assembly.
Cato’s goal was to deliberately disrupt the proceedings and be forced out by soldiers.
He intended to imprint on everyone the image that this could happen if they resisted Caesar.
“My dear citizens! First of all, I have some sympathy for the cause of the triumvirate, but I can’t completely shake off my worries. I have no idea what kind of side effects this new system will bring, since it has never existed before.”
It sounded like Cato was trying to make a legitimate criticism so far.
But no matter what he said, Cato was Cato.
He naturally derailed the topic during his speech and delayed time with his characteristic long-windedness.
But contrary to expectations, Caesar did not stop Cato.
He yawned at the boring speech, but pretended to listen carefully with his chin propped up.
Instead, it was the citizens who reacted.
“Cato is trying to disrupt the meeting again!”
“Enough of him. Let’s drag him out!”
Since this was the place, the crowds gathered here had a tremendous resentment against any disruption of the proceedings.
They couldn’t stand Cato’s sabotage even though Caesar didn’t say anything.
They rushed to the front of the platform in droves.
Stones and garbage accompanied by shouts and curses flew from all sides.
It was a similar scene to when Cato tried to block the passage of the land law with his long speech in the past.
In other words, it meant that the support for the triumvirate was as high as the support for the land law, which was the wish of the citizens.
Cato, who received stones and garbage again, felt a threat to his life and voluntarily stepped down from the platform.
Only then did Pompey, who mobilized soldiers, escort Cato out of the meeting hall.
It looked like he was not driving Cato out, but protecting him.
Cato’s rebellion ended with a clear backfire.
Caesar looked around casually where the senators were and asked.
“Is there anyone else who wants to come up on stage?”
With such an atmosphere, no one could express their opposition.
Cicero, who was preparing to speak after Cato, quietly lowered his hand as if nothing had happened.
The citizens had already decided to give their full trust and support to the new order.
When he looked around, he saw quite a few people who didn’t care much about this.
In fact, Cicero also felt that it wasn’t as bad as he thought.
After all, there was no change in the authority of the existing Senate.
The only difference was that decisions made unanimously by the triumvirate were not subject to veto power by consuls or tribunes.
But it didn’t seem like Marcus would vote for anything that would harm republican values as long as he was in the triumvirate.
Even in this situation, he firmly opposed Caesar’s proposal to set a term of five years or give each member dictatorial authority.
If Cicero felt this way, there was no need to see how other aristocrats and crowds reacted.
Especially, many citizens mistakenly thought that this system was a means for them to exert more influence.
It was because of the clause that asked for their approval every four years.
But this was a big mistake.
It was a common practice that the vote for re-election tended to be higher for the approval side unless there was a serious flaw.
Besides, the three of them had tens of thousands of soldiers under their command.
These soldiers were almost all Roman citizens.
In other words, they could easily bring back the soldiers temporarily and make them vote for approval if they felt that public opinion was not favorable.
“We have completed the agreement. We will entrust it to the assembly and humbly wait for the judgment of the citizens.”
The bill that specified the authority and term of the triumvirate passed in all constituencies with more approval votes.
Marcus, Caesar, and Pompey held hands and bowed politely to the citizens on the platform to thank them.
The citizens of Rome blessed the birth of a new order with generous cheers.
With applause like fire, the republic crossed an irreversible river.
< 157. Summit > End
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