CHAPTER 48: CHAPTER 47: ROME SENDS TROOPS AGAIN

Such a decision-making method is quite simple, but at least it’s better than the old Spartan Citizen’s Assembly (where the decision of a proposal depended on the loudness of the citizens’ shouts). Moreover, more than half of the soldiers raised their hands, eliminating the need for a detailed count. After all, the testimonies of the two wounded soldiers had made them realize the importance of these women in the rebel army.

"More than half of the brothers think they should be punished. According to the proposal of the Supply Team Captain, Maximus, they are to be flogged in public!" Spartacus declared with a stern expression.

Initially, when Maximus proposed forming a medical team, Spartacus didn’t find it novel, as the Roman Army also had similar medical teams. However, he didn’t expect Maximus to have women care for the wounded, and judging from the earlier defense, the results were indeed remarkable. Therefore, he, who wasn’t too concerned about the harassment of women in the rebel army, paid close attention. The verdict brought him relief, and he instinctively glanced towards Maximus on the sidelines: this young man, once considered a traitor, constantly surprised him!

The decision reached by the Soldier Conference brought cheers of joy from the women in the supply team, as they knew everything would be different from then on!

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At the initiative of the Governor, the Roman Senate convened a meeting. Over five hundred elders sat in their designated places, with this year’s two governors standing in the center of the hall, and behind them seated 7 legal officers (originally 8, but Grabo was absent).

Governor Marcus Trementius Varo Lucullus was the younger brother of Lucius Licinius Lucullus, a top military figure under Dictator Sulla. Last year, Licinius Lucullus’s term as Governor ended, and he departed for Little Asia to assume office as Provincial Governor. However, even in his absence from Rome, Varo Lucullus was still elected as this year’s Governor, highlighting the influence of Licinius Lucullus within the Sulla Faction.

Though Varo Lucullus rose to power relying on his brother, he himself had been campaigning in Little Asia for many years and achieved considerable military merits; his abilities were not weak, making many elders quite agreeable to his election.

With a robust physique, he scanned the hall and spoke in a deep voice: "I have just received a war report stating that the army led by Grabo suffered a disastrous defeat at Vesuvius. He was killed, and the soldiers suffered over half the casualties, failing in the encirclement of those gladiators. Therefore, I propose to once again form an army to quickly exterminate that group of rebellious slaves!"

Upon hearing the news of the Roman Army’s defeat, only a small commotion echoed from the back of the hall. After all, the Campagna Region is very close to Rome, with a pleasant climate and fertile lands, where many elders own farms and villas, always monitoring the situation and already informed.

The other Governor, Gaius Cassius Longinus, clearly had a prior understanding with Varo, immediately responding: "I agree with Varo’s proposal; we must quickly send troops to quell the rebellion and restore peace in Campagna!"

After both governors expressed their opinions, all eyes turned to an elder seated in the first row, left first seat of the Senate.

Quintus Lutatius Catulus, former Roman Governor and Dictator Sulla’s most reliable ally in politics, was renowned for his integrity in Rome. Back then, Sulla had commissioned him to rebuild the Jupiter Temple, burned during the civil war, which he constructed magnificently. Sulla wanted his name inscribed on the temple’s architrave, but Catulus, considering the terror Sulla inflicted upon Rome that left many disgruntled, defiantly refused the immensely powerful Sulla and bravely inscribed his own name instead. Though Sulla was furious, he could do nothing in the end, earning Catulus praise from the Roman populace.

Now, Catulus, a respected Chief Elder, gently pinched his purple-edged toga robe and stood up leisurely. Despite his age, his voice was clear and resounding: "I believe everyone here agrees to send troops to suppress the chaos, but how many soldiers should we deploy? Who shall lead? These are issues we need to deliberate seriously. Grabo was prudent and not weak in military capability, yet he also perished in defeat. Shouldn’t we pay more attention to these rebels?"

No sooner had his words fallen than another elder beside him stood up and said loudly: "Based on the situation I have learned, Grabo was a fool! He had already routed those slaves; continuing the pursuit would have secured victory. However, he was overly cautious, intending to trap the fleeing rebels on the mountain, yet failed to reinforce the camp’s defenses, resulting in a successful assault by the slaves... Therefore, it’s not the gladiators’ prowess, but Grabo’s utter stupidity! I believe just deploying a competent commander and 3,000 soldiers, as before, would suffice."

The Chief Elder’s opinion was directly opposed, to no surprise from the elders, as the speaker was Publius Cornelius Cetegus, also an influential figure in the Roman Senate. He was quite displeased with Catulus becoming the Chief Elder, believing himself more qualified. Therefore, their confrontation in the Senate had become all too common in recent years.

Many elders internally agreed with Cetegus’s opinion. Despite the catastrophic defeat of the Roman Army, they indeed did not take the rebel army’s combat strength to heart, attributing the failure to Grabo’s foolishness. However, the rebellion in Campagna, having lasted more than two months, continued to expand, threatening to spiral out of control. The only way to suppress the unrest and restore Campagna’s order was to increase the strength of the expeditionary forces.

After deliberation, the elders reached a consensus: to form a legion.

The vast majority also believed that to annihilate a band of lowly gladiators and slaves, there was no need for the Governor to act personally; thus, the commander should still be chosen from among the legal officers.

In stark contrast to the previous reluctance from legal officers to volunteer for the campaign, this time, the majority actively expressed their willingness to assume command. Though quashing a band of lowly gladiators offered no glory, if they defeated the Roman Army and slaughtered Roman Soldiers, obliterating them to win public applause would be quite an appealing choice.

Ultimately, most elders selected Legal Officer Publius Valerius. Compared to other legal officers, his past campaigns under Sulla in Little Asia were significant credentials that won the elders’ favor.

After the meeting adjourned, the elders began to disperse.

"Crassus! Crassus! Wait for me!" A middle-aged man shouted urgently as he hurriedly exited the Senate.

As he called out, one of the elders descending the steps paused and turned around.

This individual was tall, with a square face, broad forehead, high nose bridge, thick eyebrows, and big eyes, exuding a sharp gaze that seemed somewhat imposing, yet the smile on his face added a touch of warmth.

He was Legal Officer Marcus Licinius Crassus, the wealthiest man in Rome.

Seeing the caller, he turned back with an even broader smile: "Sulla, what’s so urgent that you call me like this?"

Publius Cornelius Sulla was the nephew of Dictator Sulla. During Sulla’s occupation of Rome and purge of his political enemies, he had cooperated closely with Crassus, amassing considerable wealth, resulting in a close relationship between them.

Little Sulla hurried over, pulled Crassus to the side, and whispered: "Why didn’t you, like the others, volunteer to lead the expedition? It’s a great opportunity to earn honor! In military ability, Valerius is not your match."