Chapter 103: A Stepping Stone
After subduing the Belgae, the Roman army began to prepare for wintering.
They decided to camp in the central-western part of Gaul.
The nearby Gallic tribes volunteered to take charge of supplying them.
This was a moment that showed the status of the Roman army in Gaul.
The Helvetii, the Germans, and the Belgae.
They were warriors who were renowned for their bravery throughout Gaul.
But they were utterly crushed by the Roman army without putting up much resistance.
Especially the defeat of the Nervii, who launched a surprise attack and suffered a near-annihilation in return, was shocking.
The Nervii even went around convincing other tribes with an incomprehensible claim that the Roman army was under divine protection.
Everything was going smoothly for Caesar.
Conquering a region was not as simple as winning a battle.
Even if they accepted tribute and promised surrender, there was always a possibility of rebellion if the enemy still had some fighting spirit left.
Even if they did not start a direct revolt, they could be swayed by someone’s instigation.
In fact, in the original history, Caesar had been betrayed several times by Gallic tribes who had already promised surrender.
Even those who were classified as pro-Roman Gallic tribes turned into enemies as soon as Rome seemed to be at a disadvantage.
But now the situation was different.
He had completely broken the will of each tribe, so there was no sign of any unrest.
Marcus visited Caesar for the last time before heading south.
“I’m going to return to Rome soon.”
“Hmm… I guess that’s what you planned.”
A sigh of regret escaped from Caesar’s mouth.
Even though he knew it beforehand, it felt like a painful loss.
“Can’t you stay a little longer?”
He didn’t know the exact reason why Marcus wanted to go back to Rome.
He was busy enough with the plan for Gaul and the situation in Rome.
But he had a rough guess.
He knew well that the pharaoh of Egypt had been driven out and was staying in Rome.
There was also the problem of Crassus, who was eager to hold a triumph.
Considering these factors, it would be more strange if Marcus stayed in Gaul any longer.
“I have a pile of things to deal with in Rome. If I delay them any further, I might get into trouble.”
“Are they things that your subordinates can’t handle? If you stay with me, I think we can fully conquer not only Gaul but also Britain.”
“Even without me, I’m sure you can subdue Gaul at least. I don’t know about Britain.”
“…”
Marcus’s determination was firm.
The Gallic War was Caesar’s story after all.
No matter how much Marcus contributed and intervened, he was nothing more than an important supporting role.
It was time for him to get out of that role.
Caesar had his own story, and Marcus had his own story.
Now it was his turn to write it down.
“Do you still plan to go to the east?”
“Not right now. But I think I have to go there someday.”
“Parthia is a powerful nation. It will be different from Gaul or Germany.”
“I know. That’s why I have to go. It seems that my father lacks some understanding of that.”
When Crassus’s name came up, Caesar nodded as if he had no choice.
He knew how much he wanted to hold a triumph.
But there were hardly any enemies left in Rome who could give him that honor.
Caesar was subduing Gaul in the north, so the only place outside of Rome’s influence was Parthia.
In other words, if they could defeat Parthia, Rome would rule over the whole world they knew.
The final point of this grand journey was the Parthian expedition.
Crassus’s ambition and vanity burned so brightly that even Pompey knew it.
“Your father’s military talent is far behind his political skill… I’m not sure if he can succeed in Parthia.”
“That’s why I’m going.”
“Even so, Parthia is not an easy opponent. Are you really confident?”
“I’m not trying to wage war and make them kneel. I’m thinking of showing some strength and getting some concessions, or gaining an advantage through diplomatic negotiations. I’m not so reckless as to lead an army and march in without any preparation.”
“Well, you must have done thorough preparations for what you do.”
Caesar felt a slight interest even though he was negative about the eastern expedition.
That’s how amazing Marcus’s achievements were in Gaul.
If Marcus could supplement Crassus’s lack of military talent, there might be unexpected results.
Marcus continued his story.
“So I have something to ask you. There are a few things I want you to allow me.”
“What is it? I owe you a lot, so I’ll grant you anything I can.”
“Thank you for saying that. Then I’ll ask you without hesitation. I want to take the 12th legion with me.”
“The whole 12th legion?”
“Yes. They have been dyed in my color for a long time. They are also familiar with the equipment I provide. So I think it’s better for me to take them than to leave them here awkwardly. Of course, I will actively cooperate in forming a new legion to replace the 12th legion.”
Caesar did not give an answer right away.
Instead, he moistened his mouth with lukewarm wine and pondered for a moment.
The 12th legion was undoubtedly the strongest force among Caesar’s legions.
This was a proven fact in the battles they had fought so far.
If they left, it would cause a huge loss in the overall strength.
But it was also undeniable that the 12th legion was so powerful thanks to Marcus.
If it weren’t for the powerful equipment he provided and the presence of Spartacus’s centurions, it would have been impossible for them to perform as they did.
If Marcus returned to Rome, Spartacus would go with him, and there was a high chance that he would take back the new equipment as well.
If he was considering the eastern expedition, he would need better weapons there, so it was inevitable.
In other words, it was a regrettable but unavoidable loss.
It might be better to send them down with him and form a new legion than to leave the 12th legion awkwardly here, as Marcus said.
“But you said you weren’t going to start the eastern expedition right away, didn’t you? You can’t take the 12th legion back to Rome, can you?”
“Yes. I plan to train them in northern Italy for now. Of course, I won’t leave them there until the eastern expedition begins. You must have heard the rumors that the situation in Egypt is not good. Maybe they will be deployed there first.”
“I see… So you only need to send the 12th legion?”
“There’s one more thing. I want you to let Borenius and Pulo’s centurions from the 11th legion join the 12th legion. Of course, I will fill in the gap in manpower.”
“Both of them are the best centurions in the 11th legion, and you want to take them both?”
Caesar frowned and added a word.
“Isn’t that too blatant of stealing talent?”
“I won’t deny it. But it’s not stealing, it’s trading. I’m willing to pay a fair price.”
“Let me hear that price first.”
“I’ll leave all the lorica segmentata that the 12th legion used in Gaul. Of course, I’ll take the armor money. But that should be more than enough compensation, don’t you think?”
Caesar’s mouth opened slightly and stopped.
It was a more shocking condition than he expected.
He had secretly wanted to ask Marcus for some armor supply anyway.
If he gave him enough to arm one legion’s front line, he couldn’t ask for more.
“Do you pay cash for the armor?”
“That would make you go into debt again, so I’ll just take some of the rights you’ll get from Gaul in the future. Isn’t that easier for you?”
“Of course, that’s much easier for me.”
“I see. Then I’ll make a contract in a simple form. Oh, and even if I go back to Rome, I’ll keep supporting you as much as possible. I’ll provide you with armor if I have some spare, and if I get any new information, I’ll send you a letter right away, so don’t worry too much.”
Caesar smiled with utmost satisfaction and nodded.
“Thank you for being so considerate until you leave. I’ll tell the 11th legion. If you say you’ll give them the armor that the 12th legion will leave behind, they won’t complain.”
“Yes. Then I’ll tell the soldiers of the 12th legion. I hope Mars’s blessing will be with you in the future wars.”
“Yes, I hope Jupiter and Mars will bless you too.”
They wouldn’t see each other again for at least five years, if not longer.
When they met again, their positions and situations might have changed a lot.
But they promised their unchanging friendship and parted ways.
※※※※
“Hahaha! Who is this! The hero of Gaul, Marcus Crassus’s return!”
Crassus came out to greet his son personally with his attendants at the gate.
He looked indescribably happy.
“You look more dignified after earning glory in war.”
“I’m relieved to see that you look healthy too, father.”
Actually, Crassus had changed more than Marcus.
In just two years, his hair had more white strands.
His face also seemed to have more wrinkles than before.
But his expression looked rather better.
“The Senate is talking about your achievements every day at Rostra Forum. At the last 16-day thanksgiving festival, they almost put your name next to Caesar’s.”
The longest thanksgiving festival held by the Senate before was the 12-day one when Pompey defeated Mithridates.
This time, they held an unprecedented 16-day festival.
It was easy to imagine how much the Senate emphasized Marcus’s achievements.
“Isn’t there any public opinion that it’s too much for me, who just participated as a legion commander?”
“There’s no reason for that. Do you know how you are called in Rome?”
“If you mean the embarrassing nickname of ‘the one who received Ceres’s wisdom’, I know.”
Julia, who had been listening to the conversation, smiled and stepped forward.
“Father, why don’t we talk about that later and greet the family first? These kids are waiting for their turn to say hello to their dad.”
“Oh, yes, yes. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t make my grandchildren wait.”
Crasus quickly stepped aside.
Marcus could finally see his wife’s face clearly after two years.
She had given birth to two children, but her dazzling beauty had not changed at all.
She looked even more beautiful than before, with a gentle maternal glow.
And there were two people who caught Marcus’s attention more than her.
He could not take his eyes off the little girl in Julia’s arms and the little boy in his mother Teutoria’s embrace.
Julia whispered softly to the two children.
“Come on, say hello to your father.”
The children, who had just learned to speak in sentences, shyly avoided his gaze.
Sophia buried her face in Julia’s chest and peeked at Marcus’s face cautiously.
Trajanus also refused to leave his grandmother’s lap.
A smile that was unimaginable for him in normal times appeared on Marcus’s lips.
Julia walked up to Marcus and carefully handed him Sophia.
“Remember how you asked me every day when your father would come back? Now that he’s here, why don’t you greet him nicely?”
“Uh…um…well…”
Sophia fidgeted with her fingers, her face red with embarrassment.
She was fatally cute, enough to make his heart ache.
Marcus bent his knees and looked into his daughter’s eyes.
“You’ve grown so much. Have you been listening to your mother well?”
“Yes, yes…um…hello. Daddy…”
The word daddy, which he heard from his child for the first time, was so moving that he felt tears welling up in his eyes.
As soon as she finished speaking, Sophia hugged Marcus tightly.
Trajanus, who had been beaten by his sister, quickly got down and approached Marcus.
“I, I listened to Mom well! Sister always said no and got scolded by Mom.”
“No, no! You’re lying!”
“Yes, yes!”
Marcus chuckled and lifted both children with one arm each and said to Julia.
“You must have had a hard time.”
“Others had it harder than me. Oh, Danae was a great help too. Especially Trajanus, he gets along very well with her.”
“Really?”
Danae, who was standing behind Julia, greeted him with a bright smile.
Marcus smiled back and nodded.
He then shared the joy of reunion with Spartacus, Seline who was in a lovey-dovey mood with him, and Septimus who was looking for an opportunity.
On the way home, Julia and Danae stuck to Marcus’s side and chatted endlessly.
They talked about everything from trivial matters to parenting experiences, and the latest topics in Rome.
Among them was the remark that Krasus had made earlier.
Julia asked him with a mischievous smile.
“By the way, you heard what Father said earlier, right? Do you know what they call you in Rome now?”
“I know. It’s something related to the goddess Ceres.”
“That’s what the farmers call you. The citizens of Rome have a different name for you.”
“Yeah? What is it?”
“You’ve been doing some amazing work as a sanitation officer. The results of your projects are now visible. The improvement of the baths, the composting of human waste, washing hands with soap before eating, and many other hygiene improvements have made Rome ecstatic. The Senate is also actively promoting them.”
Danae chimed in.
“I worked hard to organize the statistics so that you can see them at a glance.”
“Good job. But how much of an effect did it have? If you have statistics, you can confirm it with numbers.”
“Yes. Surprisingly, the disease incidence rate in the area I surveyed dropped to less than one-tenth. I couldn’t believe it at first, but other areas were similar.”
It was not just a slight decrease in illness, but a reduction of the incidence rate to less than 10 percent.
It was something that could be clearly felt.
The Romans realized how important it was to keep their hands clean at all times.
People who used to eat food with their barely washed hands and suffer from stomachaches praised Marcus as their savior.
The skin diseases also decreased as they used the always clean baths.
Naturally, the number of people who died from diseases also decreased significantly compared to before.
Julia whispered in Marcus’s ear with a playful voice.
“The citizens are associating you with the goddess of clear water Tethys. How about this? The apostle of Tethys Marcus.”
“This is too much…an exaggerated nickname.”
He had already received praise from the farmers as being blessed by Ceres, and admiration from the soldiers as having received wisdom from Vulcanus.
Now he had another title as the apostle of Tethys.
‘I wonder if I’ll end up having all kinds of gods’ names attached to my name.’
He might even get a title related to the god of war Mars if he succeeded in the eastern expedition.
He didn’t want to collect the names of the gods, but it felt strange.
As he climbed the Palatine Hill, Crasus’s voice next to him snapped him out of his thoughts.
“Oh, I forgot to write it in the letter, but there’s a guest staying in the annex of the mansion. He said he wanted to talk to you as soon as you arrived.”
He didn’t need to hear more to guess who it was.
“Ptolemy XII Auletes is staying in the annex? It might feel a bit cramped for a pharaoh. He must be patient.”
“What can he do if he’s not patient? He’ll be worse off if he leaves. But are you okay with talking to him right away when you get home? If you need more time, I’ll make an excuse and postpone it until tomorrow or the day after.”
“No, it’s fine. I came back early to deal with that issue anyway.”
Marcus shrugged casually, as if he was more than welcome.
Supplying stable rations was essential for the expedition.
The wheat production in Asia Minor was considerable, but a large portion of it had to be sent to Rome.
To secure enough rations for tens of thousands of troops for more than five years, he needed to diversify his food sources.
The key area for that plan was Egypt.
His eyes were fixed on the annex of the mansion in the distance.
He could see the fertile land of the Nile and the burning desert of Parthia beyond it.
< 103. The Springboard for a Leap > End
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