Chapter 55: Aftermath of Disaster (2)
"My position is really embarrassing."
Catilina was reluctant and went straight to the point. He was proof that he was mentally incompetent.
"No matter how hard I think about it, there is no answer. I feel like I can't see a breakthrough, even if I choose to confront the Senate, even if I follow the will of my supporters."
"I can easily imagine how frustrating it must be. People are more sensitive when it comes to money."
"I didn't think winning the election as consul would provoke the Clientes that much. I feel like I'm sinking into a swamp that I can't get out of."
Catilina hung his head, sighing as if he was tired.
Marcus' eyes looking at Catilina, who had dropped his eyes, looked cold.
It was not yet clear what to do with Catilina.
Still, he should choose one of the three ways he currently has in mind.
The first is to deal with this problem and bring Catilina to his side.
In this case, it has the advantage of being able to treat a prestigious aristocrat who served as a consul like a hand or foot.
Of course, the entire election expenses lent will be recovered.
However, if they did not completely seal the relationship with the Senate, there could be problems in the future.
The second is to use Catilina moderately to cough up election expenses and cut the tail.
The risk is the least, but the benefits are the least. At best, he will be able to collect the interest he has paid for the elections.
The third is to hit Catilina coldly and use him as a springboard to win support.
He may not be able to save the campaign fee lent, but he can expect the most similar effect to the original plan.
However, as long as Catilina became consul, it was necessary to revise the details of the plan completely.
Either way, it was not a matter that he could decide right now.
This is because he does not yet know what level of ability Catilina possesses.
If you are a better-than-expected person, it is a waste to consider him a scapegoat to step on simply.
However, if one is incompetent, there is no reason to take the risk and carry it with him.
And so far, in short conversations, Catilina's judgment has not been so good.
He should have kept in mind the repercussions of his election as consul, given his outrageous pledge.
Now, you can only say that you are not confident enough when you talk about your illness.
'That's great. We should take advantage of this opportunity and thoroughly examine the other's merits.'
Marcus poured a diluted wine into a glass in front of Catilina and asked.
"But wouldn't it be better to visit Cicero first than I do? If I could have the help of the current Consul, I would be able to make peace with the Senate."
Catilina's face was distorted after hearing Cicero's name.
"You want me to go ask that upstart plebeian? That's absolutely impossible."
"He is now a member of the nobiles (noblemen). Even he is a consul, even though he was from the plebeians."
"But he is a newcomer who is just a plebeian. I don't want to admit that I am the same aristocracy unless I am a nobiles family that has been passed down at least 3 generations. He was born and raised as a plebeian, but he gained the status of a nobiles, so he is a nobiles? That doesn't make sense."
Marcus was able to see roughly the tendency of a person named Catilina.
His arrogant aristocratic thinking was well-known throughout history.
For this reason, he was greatly opposed to Cicero, a newcomer from the plebeian, and he could not say that he was in a good relationship with him, even in empty words.
"Do you think that in Rome's politics, plebeians should be excluded?"
"The role of plebeians is the role of plebeians, while aristocrats have the role of aristocrats. Why do Plebeian Council and Tribunes exist? The plebeian will work in a field for themselves, and the Senate will be led by a reputable aristocrat family."
"Then I guess you don't want to partner with Cicero."
"Of course. The reason I came to you was because I needed someone to talk to at the same level. I believe that you, a member of the Licinius gens, would sympathize with my story."
"Well..."
Marcus spoke vaguely.
Surprisingly, there were many people who had this way of thinking in the Senate.
Catilina once publicly laughed at his birth after his relationship with Cicero deteriorated.
He was kind to Marcus because he inherited the blood of the same prestigious aristocrat.
Catilina did not accept that a mere newcomer greatly influenced politics.
"You will speak well to your father. If we could get the help of the Crassus family, wouldn't it be possible to agree with the Senate somehow?"
"It'll be possible. But how are you going to work with the Senate?"
"I don't know... yet. Do you have a good idea?"
Within Marcus, the evaluation of Catilina fell vertically.
From the standpoint of being close to the Republicans centered on Cicero, the reason for carrying bombs as Catilina has gradually disappeared.
Aristocratic thinking was also far from the direction Marcos envisioned.
If he had the ability, he would use it somehow, but so far, he didn't even seem to be able to do so through dialog.
"There are many ways to think about it. First of all, the most urgent thing is to ensure that the anger of those who support you will not explode."
"I don't know how to do it right away, so I'm worried like this."
Marcus stared at Catilina, who was beating his chest in frustration.
The current situation is not only a test for Catilina but also for Marcus.
When it separated the actual flow from history, he had to prove his ability to solve it.
How can a person who does not have proper control over only this number of variables rise to the peak of Rome?
For now, Marcus has made up his mind to reject the first method.
Given Catilina's ability, making him, his own person was not worth the risk.
He could guess the reason why his way of thinking was so firm.
It was not surprising because it was common among prestigious aristocrats who had fallen economically.
Although it was the blood of a historic aristocrat, it does not follow reality, and there is a long way to recover from the past.
That is why they are jealous of the newcomers from the plebeians who are naturally successful and refuse to recognize them.
Such a mind must have grown stronger while holding elections with huge debts to get ahead.
The reason he listened to Marcus was not much different.
The Crassus family, which has wealth, power, and honor, was the ideal figure that Catilina wanted to be.
If he wanted to, he could hold it as a puppet and shake it, but that's why he became less attractive.
Then what's left is a two-way choice.
'Will we use it appropriately and hit it, or...'
Marcus studied the desperate look on Catilina's face.
Even if it was not worth carrying it to the end, he thought it might be a hasty judgment to make it right away.
When you are really cornered, you may unexpectedly display your abilities.
"All you have to do is to delay the time. Then, they should calm their complaints step by step. Of course, it will be impossible to completely subside, but at least we will be able to control the situation so that a riot-like situation does not occur."
"Hang on... Can we sit still without proposing a bill?"
"Then Catilina's supporters won't stay put. We have to propose a bill first. Otherwise, we cannot avoid accusations that Catilina has made false promises to be elected as consul."
"But if I asked for debt relief, Silanus would veto it immediately?"
"That's the general flow. So we need to coordinate with the Senate. I'll build a bridge for you, so you can ask for help yourself. 'Although I don't really want to write off debts, I have no choice but to propose a bill. So please cooperate so that social confusion does not grow.' In that sense, the Senate has no reason to refuse."
Catilina straightened his head and shook his head. It sounds pretty plausible.
"Then how would you like us to cooperate with the Senate?"
"The important thing is not to explode the anger of the debtors at once, but to keep it slow and close enough not to explode. If Mr. Silanus vetoed it, the debtor's reaction would be that great, and we'd have to avoid it."
"I'll have to ask you to put up with the veto right away."
"Yes. And then we're going to have to debate, and then we're going to have to pull this legislation together, and then we're going to have to listen to people. Emotions are naturally dull over time."
It is human emotion. After months of intense anger, it becomes dull at some point.
Of course, the case is different for large debtors who are in debt enough to go bankrupt immediately.
Catilina's outspoken supporters also included quite a few people in this situation.
Catilina, who is well aware of the fact, shook his head with an expression of difficulty.
"But wouldn't it be the same for anger to explode if it is rejected in the end? I think there will be more disappointed people who have expectations."
"Then we can reintroduce the slightly altered version of the bill. That way, we should keep dragging our feet and consider additional measures. If we can find a consensus that will convince the rest, except for a few extremists, we can close the situation."
"Mmm... Yeah. We'll have to take the time to find a consensus."
Strictly speaking, Marcus's advice was not a perfect move.
It was only a stopgap measure, which inevitably had a number of variables or side effects.
No, the accident was bound to happen somewhere.
Marcus even intended to intervene directly if an unexpected situation did not occur.
The mission was also to test Mr. Catilina's abilities.
If Catilina proves his ability here, it is good.
But if it exposes the limits of the object, Rome must be thrown into great chaos.
The situation may become more serious than the original history, as the incumbent consul is at the center of the incident.
At that time, Marcus was going to come to the fore in the name of resolving the chaos.
It was never a loss for Marcus if he could burst the festering social problems of Rome with Catilina.
Maybe he can get more than the original plan.
It was necessary to prepare its own preparations so that it could respond no matter which direction the work went.
Marcus saw him leave the game, saying, "I'm relieved of my anxiety." But he had a spark in his eyes.
It was no longer enough to be behind someone.
The time was slowly approaching when it might have to come to the front.
* * *
Marcus linked Catilina to Crassus as promised.
Under the mediation of Crassus, Catilina had a secret meeting with Silanus, the next consul.
Silanus also tried to have incumbent Consul Cicero sit with him, but Catilina stubbornly refused.
Catilina was not aware that he was continuing to undermine his own assessment.
In any case, Silanus understood Catilina's situation and decided that his proposal was reasonable.
After the meeting with Catilina, Silanus met separately with Cicero to convey Catilina's will.
"So let's just have a show-off political battle."
"That's right. If Catilina has an idea, he would not want to confront the Senate head-on."
"It doesn't seem bad for us either. In fact, I want to make all the anger of the debtors turn to Catalina."
"Mmm... But it won't do us any good in the long run if we cause such chaos. First of all, I think good is good."
Silanus smiled with relief as if he had put down a big burden.
Cicero, however, could not shake off a feeling of uneasiness.
"But will it work out as you think? Citizens aren't stupid either...…."
"So we should be good at acting."
"And I can't trust Catilina. Couldn't they pretend to cooperate with us and stab us in the back?"
"No way. Would you do such a big deal?"
"You don't know that. Maybe Catilina is overestimating himself."
No matter how much the consul is the highest official in Rome, the consul is not the king.
If this happens, Catilina will also interfere with Silanus, which cannot avoid paralysis in state affairs.
That would be the end of Catilina's political life.
If his supporters abandon him, he will not be able to win the election, but if the senate abandons him, it is impossible for him to run in the election.
The Senate cannot approve the election of a person who paralyzed Rome's state affairs.
Silanus affirmed that Cicero was over-concerned.
"Catilina asked us to be the governor of a wealthy Eastern state in exchange for our cooperation. I can read his thoughts clearly by just looking at it. He wants to minimize the anger of his supporters, and he wants to go to the East and scrape the money. If you are really looking for debt relief, there is no reason to go to the rich East."
"Yes, I'm convinced. But Silanus and Catilina's methods are never a fundamental solution. You know that?"
"Absolutely. How do we deal with debt-ridden citizens? But it's a matter of too high-profile interests...."
If those who are in debt borrow money for a luxurious life, they can think of it as their own business and move on.
But the social problems of Rome were not that simple.
Among those struggling with huge debts, there were a lot of self-employed farmers who collapsed.
It was not their fault that the sound and simple peasants fell.
The fault was largely attributed to the recurring wars, the management of large farms using slaves that took place there, and the aristocrats who monopolized the fruits of victory.
The anger of those who owed money to continue to live and eventually lost their land was never light.
However, easing debts or reforming the Farmland Act was also unreasonable in the current situation.
Because as Silanus said, it was a very sensitive issue that took the interests of many people.
In particular, in this case, the vested interests were the ones who lost money.
Which politician would propose a bill that is directly opposed to the interests of the vested interests?
The precedent of the Gracchus brothers was also considered unreasonable.
Silanus was aware of the problem, but he had no intention of solving it himself.
Not only Silanus but all those who have been consuls so far have been knowing it.
In other words, all Roman politicians were trying to ignore the contradictions society was accumulating with the feelings of turning the bombs.
Eventually, the Senate failed to come up with a clear solution until the year changed and continued only meaningless discussions.
It proved again that society lacked the ability and the will to resolve the contradictions of society.
Unlike the original history, no bloodshed occurred, and the year 63 BC ended.
There was no major commotion.
Both those who want to write off their debts and those who can't have them are still silent.
However, everyone in Rome knew well that the current stability was nothing more than the calm before the storm.
The two consuls take turns to take over the military if one side has not left the capital.
In addition, he took turns in charge of political affairs for one month, and in 62 B.C., Silanus's turn came first.
Silanus ended the month without any noticeable action.
The moderate citizens who wanted stability waited for the next month when Catilina was in charge with an uneasy look.
Catilina's supporters, who owed huge amounts of debt, strode through the square as if their world had come.
Finally, Mr. Catilina, who started his career as consul, quickly followed the wishes of his supporters.
He eventually came up with a problematic bill that would lead Rome to chaos in the form of consul legislation.
"We'll write off all the debt owed by Roman citizens so far. There were no debts until the time this bill was proposed, and of course, citizens are not obligated to repay them. If anyone tries to take money by force, he or she will be brought to justice!"
Senators who looked at Catilina's speech closed their eyes as if it had finally come.
When they heard the news, it threw the Plebeian Council into utter chaos.
The promised storm of chaos was sweeping Rome.
<Continued on Volume 4 of 'The Bastard of a Roman Tycoon'>
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone