Chapter 23 Archaeological Team Selection (Part 1)
“There is only one way for a conquered man to survive, and that is not to hope for his own survival.” - Virgil
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The master of ceremonies and the announcer stood on the movable revolving platform and shouted to the audience at the same time, "The Bronze Shield Army will be completely destroyed soon, because the brave and fearless cavalry commander Lepidus, with the most elite cavalry, The team is coming, they are all barbarian cavalry from the distant oceans and highlands. These people don't know what death is, they only know the endless killing and trampling! "
It turned out that this gladiatorial battle was a reenactment of the Battle of the Amasya Valley, an extremely realistic reenactment. The sword-fighting slaves on horseback lined up mercilessly, laying in a mess on the sand, still alive. The wounded were trampled to death, and then they raised their spears and swords. Broken limbs, heads and internal organs were scattered everywhere. The sword fighting slaves who acted as the "Bronze Shield Army" were unwilling to die and were still supporting each other. He stood there, fighting to the death with the other party that was besieging him, until the sound of the entire Colosseum slowly fell silent.
"Death, death, death!" The audience in the stands, whether they were civilians wearing linen shorts, knights in the front row wearing cloaks, senators wearing robes, or even priests wearing sheepskin cloaks, and The virgins in Ionian skirts were cursing loudly, demanding that all the remaining members of the failed "Bronze Shield Army" be sentenced to death. Then there was another burst of cheerful shouts. Dozens of scarred "Bronze Shield Army" sword fighting slaves had their throats slit in public and fell to the ground to die. Subsequently. The sword-fighting slaves on the winning side raised their bloody weapons one after another and saluted Caesar and the audience. The announcer shouted with great excitement, "Did you see it? Did you see it? In the battle of the Amasya Valley, we fought. The invincible legion and the invincible cavalry commander used the cavalry to achieve a great victory. Let us salute Lepidus!" Then all the spectators fell into a state of madness and started to demand again. Caesar presented them with the next great victory.
At this time, many slaves began to enter and drag away the horrific corpses. Washing the blood-stained sand field, in this one performance alone, three hundred sword-fighting slaves and nearly a hundred war horses died on the spot. The corpses were piled up in layers, which was shocking. Soon, a mournful scream came from the battlefield, and when the corpse of the sword-fighting slave was When he was pulled away, the mask fell off his face. But someone on the winning side, who was still paying tribute to the audience, recognized that the deceased was actually his biological brother, so he held his brother's cold body and looked up to the sky in mourning. Then he stabbed himself in the chest with a dagger without warning, and died. The whole scene fell silent, and then the announcer raised his hand in an exaggerated way and said to the audience, "What a brave sword-fighting slave this is. Go back and tell your children. How he valued love and justice at the expense of his own life." Bar!"
The audience applauded again. Only Leo, who was sitting in a corner seat, took off his belt, took out the small purse from it, took out some silver coins and handed them to the servant next to him, saying, "Gift this to the boss of these two brothers, and ask him to pay for it." The two brothers set up a tombstone and placed it in front of the gladiator school to tell this tragic story forever and warn others.”
But Turinus and others on the side were completely immersed in it. Leo shook his head. He still clearly remembered that Turinus and he were still full of smiles when they were pulled by their classmates to watch the gladiatorial match this morning. They were unwilling to do so, because most of the Greek teachers they came into contact with were critical of this barbaric custom unique to the Romans, but now Turinus was not like this at all, and had long since discarded the teacher's advice. After all, the blood flowing in his body was standard Roman blood. He was high-spirited by the sight of those swords piercing people's bodies and blood spurting out, and cheered for the tragic and heroic deaths.
"What is about to be staged next is a grand re-enactment of the Battle of Thapsus involving a thousand infantry and cavalry, as well as sixteen elephants! We fight by lamplight at night, and the oil on the lamps is supplied by a benevolent merchant. Provided by Vidali, his workshop is located on Marsh Street next to the university grounds. You are welcome to support us! ”
Then, just the roar of the elephant behind the iron gate made the already tired audience feel high again. At this time, Caesar stood up from his seat, waved to the audience and began to leave, because his personal slave He came to report that he was also asked to go to Pompey's Coliseum, because there was a grand drama being performed there, which was also about the decisive battle between him and Pompey. The knight Abelius was responsible for the rehearsal and financing, so In order to win the support of the knight class, Caesar also had to go to the field to observe.
When Caesar walked to the front of the Coliseum, he looked up and saw the bust of Pompey. He suddenly felt a great sense of irony. He did not expect that the building he created was now playing out the drama of his failure and death.
When the squire took a step ahead and walked into the theater with the fascist, the knights in the first fourteen rows all stood at attention and spoke respectfully to the dictator. On the stage, a farce-like play was being performed. Roman drama came from Greece, but it was very different from Greece. Its scenery was more fancy, but the content was extremely vulgar, more influenced by the Dionysian Festival, and actresses began to be used on stage to show various obscene movements. In the dance, they had to show the crazy state of being possessed by Dionysus until they fell to the ground after exhaustion. Now the play directed by the knight Abelius was also "slaughter and sale". It was generally based on flattery and obscenity. All kinds of male and female actors walked around on the stage with fake * or bare breasts, performing hard, showing how Republicans such as Pompey and Cato the Younger died ridiculously. The audience also responded with rude cheers. Caesar only then realized that Brutus was also sitting in the seat next to him, watching this so-called comedy and actually shed tears.
"My child, drama is always drama. I praised Abelius after his performance, so no one will mention this drama again in history, but the great Pompey still lives in the hearts of the Roman Republic and will be immortal like his statue - he died bravely, this is my evaluation as an enemy." Caesar comforted him.
Brutus just smiled, then he wiped his tears, applauded with everyone again, and said to Caesar, "No, I am just watching the end of an era, and I can't help but integrate into that emotion. You have advised me before that when performing, I should not be too involved in the role, and I don't need that cheap sense of principle and justice. Now I understand, so I am determined to say goodbye to my old self and start wearing a mask to live my life."
"If that's the case, I feel very relieved, child." Caesar said with peace of mind.
He just didn't know that the first person the new Brutus deceived was him, Julius Caesar.