Chapter 20: Curio's Visit (Part 1)

"To hand over land to a lazy slave is like handing it over to the executioner." - Italian agriculturist Varro

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"Your Excellency Fonteus, Your Excellency Fonteus!" In the post room, Maecenas called to Fonteus, Young Caesar's closest subordinate, and then handed him an ultimatum, "Send immediately The first order is to send this young Caesar's personal letter to the high priest in the city."

Fonteus hurriedly took it and went to the outer courtyard to arrange the manpower to deliver the message, while Octavian hesitantly stayed in front of the manger, brushing his beloved horse with a brush, and kept saying to Maecenas who came back, "Immediately After becoming the second consul, we specifically requested the Executive Yuan to allocate special funds for the war, and then we no longer have to worry about the problem of insufficient food and salary. In just half a year or a year, I can defeat Brutus."

And Maecenas also said a lot of encouraging words, and painted a picture that as long as he goes to Rome in a few days, the Julius family and the Aemilius family will join hands, and they will naturally monopolize the two consuls, and the others will They all have to step aside.

Three days later, when Young Caesar came to Ostia to stay, a special "Grand Triumph" was unfolding in the city: according to the original permission of the Senate, Lepidus conquered Mauretania and Getulli for the merits of Numidia and Spain. The great victory of the demi-humans resulted in a twenty-four-day "Thanksgiving Festival" and a grand triumphal ceremony.

However, immediately after returning, Lepidus went to the Senate in person and declined the grand triumphal ceremony. However, the "Thanksgiving Ceremony" continued as usual, and the high priest claimed to have given out two thousand talents of money alone. It was used to provide free meals to the residents of Rome during these twenty-four days. and athletic competitions involving five thousand sword-fighting slaves. and the renovation and consecration of the temple complex in the Great Square.

Just after the residents filled the squares and alleys with tables and happily drank free wine and bread, Lepidus and his son Leo, under the protection of the guards, came to the intersection of the cattle market and the main square, "Go Leo, what you want to express is something that is beneficial to the entire city. Don't be afraid of anything. Go ahead and speak boldly!" Leo nodded, and then he walked across the marble-paved square road, climbed onto the bow podium, and spoke to Everyone announced:

When Julius Caesar was in power, due to financial difficulties, the number of people enjoying free food rations in Rome was reduced from 300,000 to 100,000. But now peace is coming, so I protect the people. As an official, he proposed to increase the number to 300,000!

Just after Leo's words were spoken. He was drowned out by a wave of cheers, and all the residents raised their glasses. Shouting slogans: Long live King Numa and long live the family of Aemilius. Then Leo shouted without hesitation, "Please contribute to my father's campaign, please contribute to Young Caesar's campaign!"

Therefore, no one in the streets at this moment doubts who will be elected as consul in the coming year?

It was in this spring breeze that Octavian entered the city gate of Rome. Lepidus specially arranged a guard of honor and relevant people (of course they had to pay a considerable commission) to welcome him along the way. Among the fluttering petals, Caesar With a certain honor of returning home, he came to his former residence on Niushou Street, and was the first to visit his mother and stepfather. He planned to go to Prema the next day, and then visit his guardian and brother - although he was acting as an agent before When I was a military officer, I had some minor conflicts with my guardian, but those are all in the past. The current situation is that "the guardian cannot do without me as a flag and standard, and I also need the guardian's military power and money." assist".

"As for Corinna, as long as I marry her, I will not treat her badly - not to mention Corinna's dowry is extremely generous, and her appearance and personality are also very good."

In the mansion, Octavian came to the main hall and hugged and kissed his mother Atia who came to greet him. Immediately after, his stepfather Philips and his son Philips Jr. strolled back from the door over there, talking loudly, " Oh, Turinus, you are finally back."

Octavian stepped forward with a smile, first hugged little Phillips, and then stepped forward to kiss his stepfather's ring, "How is it? As a senator, you have just returned from a meeting? He looks very energetic."

The stepfather laughed, then lifted up his robe a few times. With a mysterious and unpredictable tone, he patted the young Caesar on the back and said while walking to the middle hall, "How can it be that you are not energetic? Now the Senate only needs As long as someone's proposals and ideas are stamped without interruption, the entire nine hundred people are the maids of a certain family. I don't need to waste words or energy to think about anything. Someone has replaced the brains of the nine hundred people. "

"There is nothing wrong with this. After all, things can be done much more efficiently." At this time, Young Caesar was unwilling to continue to criticize the guardian.

"I didn't expect that, Turinus, have you also become a supporter of the monarchy?" The stepfather continued to joke, "Joking and joking, I also like to say these jokes the most, Turinus. You must not tell your guardian, otherwise my rank will be at stake."

"The relationship between the stepfather and the guardian is quite good. How could he not know that what you said was all a joke? Why do you need me to talk in the middle!"

This sentence was very useful to Phillips. He immediately walked into the middle hall and told Atiya that he would cash out all the assets in the family and fully support my stepson's campaign.

As a result, during the dinner, the slave slave suddenly arrived in a panic and told the hosts, "There is a strange uninvited guest outside."

"The so-called strange shape refers to me." Before Caesar could reply, the mysterious guest barged in and took off the cloak covering his head, revealing a strange and ugly face.

"It's Curio, it's you!" Young Caesar couldn't help shouting out.

The murals in the hall, due to their age, showed a dusty color under the light. Curio sat on the couch without saying a word, and looked at Young Caesar, "Tell the two people around you to get out." ." Curio said coldly, "I just want you to stay here alone."

The two people Curio was talking about were Maecenas and Fonteus. Young Caesar patted his knees and shook his head, telling them to do as Curio said and temporarily retreat outside to wait. "Okay, what are you here to do? Are you here based on your father Anthony's idea?"

"No, I'm not following anyone's ideas, Anthony? He has lost all his ambition now, and spends all day traveling around Shannan Gaul with Fulivia - well, to be more direct, I'm here to save you. Yes, Caesar." Coolio said with a sneer.

"I'm sorry, but I am not in any immediate danger. I need you to come all the way and risk being discovered by Lepidus' spies to remind me of something that is false and non-existent." Young Caesar disagreed, and then he made A gesture to send away guests. (To be continued...)