CHAPTER 38: CHAPTER 37 THE SIN OF ROME

A Roman Army Legion Centurion who has been serving for many years! ... Maximus’s eyes sparkled, and a surge of impulse rose in his heart. He wiped the leftover foam from his lips and confidently said, "I can answer your concerns right now!"

As he said this, he turned and walked towards the center of the courtyard, shouting as he walked, "Everyone, quiet down for a moment. I have something to say to you all!"

The courtyard gradually quieted down, and those singing and dancing also withdrew. Everyone’s eyes focused on Maximus standing at the center, which showed his current prestige among the Supply Team.

"Brothers and sisters!" Maximus looked around and said loudly, "Someone just told me, ’Rome’s army is very powerful. They have defeated many City States and Kingdoms in the Mediterranean. Even if we, a weak team composed of slaves, achieve one or two victories, we will ultimately be annihilated by them!’ ... Many of you have such thoughts, right?!"

Some people immediately shouted, "No, no, we are not afraid of the Romans!"

"Captain, tell us who said such discouraging words?!"

...

Others remained silent.

Some military slaves looked at Maximus nervously, whispering suspiciously, "What does he want to do?!"

Flanitnus calmly reassured, "Don’t be nervous. Let’s watch first."

Maximus waved his right hand and said powerfully, "I can confidently tell you, although we are weak now, we will soon become strong. Although Rome is strong now, they will gradually fall into decline!"

"Why?" He softened his tone slightly, then continued, "Many of you are from Illyria, Iberia, Greece, Little Asia, Egypt, Gaul..., you have become slaves, and most of it is related to Rome.

Rome sends tax collectors to collect taxes from the provinces and vassal states to acquire vast wealth, and the taxes are high. The local nobles and officials then transfer most of these taxes onto the ordinary citizens, who cannot pay and are forced to borrow money. It is said that these Roman tax collectors are the ultimate beneficiaries of provincial debts, so the interest is high. When citizens cannot repay the debt, they lose everything and become slaves..."

In the Supply Team, some people led by Acronis showed sadness and began to sob softly...

"Rome also wants more land and slaves, so they often send troops to invade other countries, Gaul, Iberia, Little Asia, Thrace..., many tribes and City States have been conquered by Rome, and people who originally lived freely have become slaves of Rome..."

Some people around, led by Pigeris, clenched their fists and looked resentful...

"Rome continuously plunders wealth, land, and population from all over the Mediterranean back to Italy, but you tell me, have the residents of Italy become prosperous because of this?! Are they living happily?!" Maximus asked loudly.

The military slaves looked at each other, remaining silent.

Gaius and others involuntarily shook their heads, while Vorenus and others responded loudly, "No! No!"

"Why not?!" Maximus shouted, pursuing the question.

Vorenus was tongue-tied, not knowing how to answer, and the others were silent as well.

"Let me tell you why!" Maximus looked at everyone seriously, "Indeed, Rome has extended citizenship to all of Italy in recent years, so all Italians no longer have to pay direct taxes, and soldiers who go out to fight can share in some spoils after victory and even receive some land upon retirement...

But in Italy, more and more people are losing their land and becoming homeless every year. They either become wanderers, living on free bread, or slaves, working like cattle and sheep for the nobles. I believe some of you have such tragic experiences.

Why is this the result?! That’s because the Roman Elders and Nobles hold power, they possess most of the plundered wealth, but they are not satisfied with that. On the contrary, their vast lands and countless cheap slaves allow their estates to produce very inexpensive agricultural products, making it impossible for ordinary citizens to sell their hard-earned harvest; without income from grain, they cannot live better, so they have to borrow money!

And those who lend money are often Roman Nobles and merchants. Although they possess vast wealth, the interest rates are exorbitantly high. Ultimately, Italian citizens experience the same suffering as citizens in other parts of the Mediterranean. The Nobles take away your land and make you their slaves to keep working for them, how sorrowful it is!

Maximus looked up to the sky and sighed deeply, with everyone around listening intently, each with an expression of grief and anger.

"The Roman Elders and Nobles are so greedy, like a large and ugly mosquito sitting on all of us, constantly sucking our blood. For Italian citizens at the bottom, besides standing up and resisting like us, can they change their miserable fate through normal means?!"

Maximus asked again, looking towards the military slaves led by Flanitnus, "Perhaps yes, but it is very, very difficult! Decades ago, some Roman Nobles led by the Gracchi brothers sympathized with the citizens and proposed some suggestions beneficial to them, but they met with strong opposition from the Roman Elders, who even sent thugs to kill the Gracchi brothers on the spot!

Hundreds of years ago, Roman citizens forced the Roman Senate to establish the position of People’s Guardian through protracted struggles. A few citizen elites could hold this position, preventing any proposals detrimental to citizens made by Roman Nobles from passing. But now the Roman Senate has greatly restricted the power of the People’s Guardian, and the dictator Sula has made the position almost worthless.

The Roman Nobles have completely blocked the paths for citizens to elevate their status. Oh, yes, some might say ’we can still join the army, just like General Marve, and make a name for ourselves’.

But you must understand, no matter how brave and talented you are, at most you can become a Legion Centurion by fighting to the death. Who holds the positions of Great Captains? They are Noble children! They do not need to risk their lives from being just soldiers as you do but can easily sit in the position of a Great Captain in the legion that you find difficult to achieve. They then use the victories earned by your fight to gain political capital, preparing them for future careers as High-level Officials or even running for Governor.

General Marve is just an exception. Over the decades, so many citizens have joined the Roman Army, but only he has been able to achieve such a high status. And don’t forget, he married a woman from the prestigious Ulysses family, and he was accepted by Roman Nobles long ago. Otherwise, it would not have been so easy for him to become a Roman Governor.

Roman citizens serving as soldiers not only have to fight bloodily for these Nobles, taking land and wealth, but they must also kill each other driven by the Nobles’ ambitions. Even if they can obtain some land in the end, it is eventually taken back by the Nobles through various means, turning them into homeless drifters, losing their glory and dignity, how tragic!

Maximus combined the understanding of Roman history from his past life with the observations from recent times, speaking passionately and eloquently.

Not only did the old members of the Supply Team listen with sudden clarity, but even the military slaves led by Flanitnus were moved.

After all, even the cultural elites of Rome in this era could not fully analyze the current situation of Rome from political, military, and economic perspectives like Maximus did. Although he spoke simply, it was enough to make these citizens at the bottom of society, who struggled daily for survival and had little insight, feel as if they were enlightened: so this is why we suffer such hardships!