Chapter 1 Brutus' Challenge (Part 2)

"Of course it is possible. I have always been against violence." Brutus agreed readily, then glanced at Caesar's coffin and left.

Just after Brutus left, there was a burst of noise from the backyard of the courtyard, and then Caesar's wife Corpunia rushed out with tears in her eyes. She howled and grabbed Lepidus and Antony, saying, " How stupid was my fear? With you here, and many soldiers who were loyal to Julius during his lifetime, I was still afraid of those little brats, that Brutus, and his shameless mother, weren't I? Come to you to beg for peace? So Lepidus, in the name of the dictator’s widow and the custodian of the inheritance, I ask you to send out the legions immediately and kill them all in the streets, immediately!”

"Don't worry, noble lady, I will immediately issue an order to send the 10th and 12th legions into the city and bloodbath the entire Capitol Hill." Anthony next to him began to feel unstable, and he agreed to Corpunya's request. , but Li Bida vetoed it sternly.

Corpunya's expression turned disgusting. She tore Lepidus' robe and said, "Didn't Julius show any favor to you during his lifetime?" Look at your skin color, look at your hair, and look at your appearance. Without his promotion, how could you reach the throne where one person is less than ten thousand people now? What's more, now that Caesar has been assassinated, you He Anthony is the king of this country. "His private inheritance is 3,800 talents. My father also has the key to the holy treasury. I checked the documents at home and found that there are 5,000 talents in it." "You two said that whoever is willing to do what I say will take away this wealth immediately and let him control it." "Our enemy is not only these two people, but also the conservative elements of the entire Senate." The remnants of Pompeii in Spain, and even friends who are now willing to rally under our banner, if they come here for money, they may become my enemy again at any time when the money is gone. So I think about this money. Madam Ya, you should continue to keep it and make good use of it. If you can use better means instead of just squandering money to achieve your goals, you must not be too impulsive." Lepidus explained to Caesar's widow patiently, "Our mortal enemy Brutus must also understand this. Don't think that he is a fool who can calmly lay out plans. This guy who brutally stabbed the blade into your husband's body cannot be without a plan - in fact , today Brutus came to us. It was for this reason that he knew that they could not compete with us in terms of money and army, so he tried to use this debate to frame the dead dictator as a usurper of the republic. We will gain the upper hand in terms of public opinion and morality. Then Spain, Alpine Gaul and Sicily will all become our enemies, whether on land or sea, and the battle will become even more difficult at that time." Lepidus expressed his deep gratitude to Caesar's widow. He saluted and then said, "Thank you for your trust, wise lady. What I want to do next is to join forces with Antony and the Julius family. The first core is to defeat Brutus on the battlefield he thinks he is. , let them fall into a passive position, and then fight to the death to protect the legacy of His Excellency Caesar, and then - elect Caesar's successor as soon as possible, take charge of our overall situation, and launch a comprehensive counterattack against the enemy. "...

"You mean, you want to participate in the big debate?" Anthony asked.

Lepidus nodded, "I want to fight for His Excellency Caesar's political treatment, his legal position in the republic, the rights and interests of his inheritance, and the specifications of his funeral."

"So after all this is won, can we choose a suitable successor according to Caesar's will?" Anthony asked this question again very carefully, as if waiting for Lepidus to publicly confirm something.

But Lepidus just nodded and did not say who the successor should be.

Under the gloomy sky, the air in Julius' compound seemed even more depressing.

The day of the great debate has come, and there is a sea of ​​people in front of the Temple of the Earth Mother, which is located on the main road between the Avendine Hill, the Palatine Hill and the Capitol Hill. In order to fulfill the previous vows, in front of their respective streets, that is, A hundred steps away from the temple, a spear tied with a red cloth belt was used to mark the restricted area. There were about 100,000 people, including citizens, foreigners, freedmen, veterans and local groups. , like a huge and turbulent river, surrounds the Mother Temple. Many people among them are densely packed like ants clinging to the terraces and chimneys of the arcades for the convenience of viewing.

With bursts of exclamations, Lepidus and Anthony took the lead to arrive at the spear on their own street. Several slaves in the synagogue came forward and took off all the robes of them and their servants, revealing their naked bodies, "Let's take a look. , I was just like Julius who was deceived by some people and walked into the Senate without any weapons at all, because he fully thought that he was waiting for his friends in the Pompeii Theater, but that was just him. It's just wishful thinking!" Anthony shouted to the crowd supporting him, naked and muscular, and suddenly there were cries.

"Your Excellency, Your Excellency, you should remember my name. I am extremely indignant about this dirty and despicable assassination. You should know that my identity is extraordinary. I am the grandson of Marius, the child he gave birth to when he went to Numidia to deal with Jugurtha. My name is Amadeus, and I have obtained citizenship. I am recognized by Caesar's aunt, even though my mother is a Moor. Look at me, look at me, two honorable cavalry commanders, I am willing to serve you, and now you just lack people like me!" At this time, a bald man suddenly emerged from the crowd. This guy was about 30 years old and very strong. He chased along the street, shouting these words to Lepidus and Antony who were wearing robes again, claiming to be the grandson of Marius and a relative of the dead Caesar.

"Get out, black guy." Antony tucked in his robe and cursed Amadeus with disdain.