I came, I saw, I conquered

Rome, SPRQ

Hearing the endless bickering of the senators on how to deal with Julius Caesar, along with his legionaries and a massive army of 50,000 elite soldiers at his back, and keeping arguing solutions on how to make countermeasures against Caesar's threat, finally, Marcus Licinius Crassus has had enough with their loud bickering that resounds through his ears over and over again.

"Enough!"

"Whose genius suggests handing over Caesar his legionaries?" Crassus scans the senates present and asks coldly in anger when he hears that there are senates among them that gave such a retard suggestion. 

"Do you understand this would give that boy legitimacy over us?"

"Do you think he is a fool? Or do you think we are fools?"

"How could there be such stupid people? Do you think he would hand over his power because you told him so?"

"I don't understand how you could become senates with your stupidity. Has Rome already become so depraved to keep such a fool in our seat?"

Will Caesar endure such a humiliating order?

He knows how aggressive Caesar becomes when he is angry.

By the fact he killed half a million of Gaul's population mercilessly because they insulted his messenger by sending their heads and their separated bodies in a box in front of Caesar, it can be seen that the character of Julius Caesar at a glance.

He is the type of man who believes in an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Insult him, and he will make the other party pay hundredfold.

That's why many of his men are loyal to him. Not only does he protect their dignity from harm, but he also makes them rich at the same time. What he does is not empty promises and bullshit like the senates, but results.

He makes his legionnaires and those around him filthy rich.

He gives them dignity, power, and riches that the senates couldn't give.

His conquest of Gaul is the result that he can give them what he promises in the first place.

It doesn't mean Caesar is an impulsive man. Despite his anger, he still has a clear plan and vision. His anger not only prevents him from being impulsive but makes him stronger and becomes his tool for vengeance rather than holding him back.

Yes, indeed, the senates were right to mention the barbaric moves of Caesar in his massacre of Gaul and his defiance of the senates' order when Caesar launched a full invasion against Gaul. And the fact that all of them were forbidden by the law of Rome, as this would be included in the war crime, but they are not fully right either, but rather dumb in their move.

After all, no one who doesn't know the fact that Rome hated and feared Gaul in the past, by the fact of how they sacked their capital, Rome, in the past. But now, Caesar takes back the dignity that should belong to them by instilling fear in Gaul.

Using the excuse of war crimes in Caesar's massacre in Gaul would not only ignite Caesar's wrath but also make them lose the support of the people of Rome at the same time, as they are defending their enemies, Gaul, who raped, pillaged, and raided their capital in the past.

Defending their enemies is tantamount to a traitorous act.

Moreover, Caesar is different from them. Whether it is Crassus or Pompey, they have rich families and rich historical houses behind them. But what about Caesar?

He is just from a fallen noble house but has already grown into the most powerful in Rome, explaining all of his capabilities.

Moreover, universe favors the bold, and Caesar is nothing if not bold.

He didn't have anyone's help when he conquered Gaul. He was just one man. But guess what? He did it. He conquered Gaul and made a name for himself.

That's what makes him epic.

Despite Crassus being the richest man in Rome and holding their lifeblood economy, in terms of power, he is inferior compared to Pompey and Caesar.

One wrong move, and he is as good as dead.

"I am."

"Is there anything wrong with the decree, Crassus?" Gaius Cassius Longinus asks sternly as most of the senates nod in agreement with Cassius's question. 

They don't think what they did is wrong. Why should Crassus make it seem like it was the worst decision they made?

They stare at Crassus with a hostile look on their faces, hoping he will give them an explanation.

Although they are afraid of the 50,000 armies behind Julius Caesar's back, don't forget that they still have Pompey with 70,000 and Crassus himself still holds 30,000 armies in his hand. Plus, they still have 50,000 armies spread in every region outside of Rome, totaling 150,000 armies.

Will Julius Caesar dare to do anything to them?

If he is not afraid of the wrath of their 150,000 armies, then he is welcome to defy their law.

Although they are spread outside of Rome and Rome only has 10,000 garrisons defending their home, it is more than enough to hold Caesar's back before Pompey comes.

So, the choice that Caesar has right now is either to fulfill their request or be branded a traitor by them.

They think smugly.

Looking at their smug looks, Crassus knows their arrogance will lead to their downfall if this goes on.

After all, despite having 150,000 men behind them, it doesn't mean they can fully focus on defending their capital, Rome.

They are spread out in every region and probably the majority of them are already corrupt and depraved, undisciplined and not as elite as Caesar's legionaries.

Their capital itself is only defended by 10,000 men, which is not enough to hold Caesar's wrath.

That's why he admires their arrogance for thinking they are better than Caesar.

If they are better than Caesar, why didn't they conquer Gaul, but Caesar?

"I understand your point, Cassius, but did you expect him to obey the tradition and law of Rome?" Instead of answering, Crassus rhetorically asks Cassius.

"Of course, he will. He is not above the law; the senates are. Unless he wants to proclaim himself as Emperor or Dictator, he will obey our law," Cassius states.

"And?" Crassus signals him to continue.

"And, of course, he would obey the law of Rome. We will make sure of it," Cassius says confidently. He believes in the Republic and the senates, as their will is indomitable against formidable foes like Caesar.

As long as there are resistances, tyranny will not go unpunished.

The Republic will not let them go unpunished.

Sulla is an example of that fact.

Yes, Sulla's death is not a natural cause but poisoning. He was an early supporter of the senates. However, after he turned into a dictator, he made enemies out of plenty of them by purging his opponents.

Even Sulla could be brought down by them. What about Caesar?

Can he compare with Sulla?

Cassius muses.

Crassus doesn't say anything else about this man because he knows how hopeless this man is.

Without a plan, without preparation, and relying on their own ideals to solve the problem, if this not bullshit, what is?

If ideals really could solve problems, why should they belong to ideals in the first place, not reality?

He knows what they are thinking.

They are expecting Caesar to be intimidated by the 150,000 armies that they do not fully control and that are available to contain Caesar.

He looks at Cassius and realizes that this man probably has the potential to be a clown for amusing him.

His musings are interrupted by a messenger who brings them a letter from Julius Caesar in his hand for them to see.

Cassius hurriedly snatches the letter from the messenger's hand.

He nervously opens the letter as his eyes widen in disbelief at Caesar's audacity.

How dare he? How dare he defy the republic?

Crassus is curious about the letter in Cassius's hand, which leaves him stupefied in place, and he probably knows where it is going.

He reads it and feels his heartbeat stop for a moment.

'I came, I saw, I conquered.'

Crassus knows what it means, Rome is going to change.

Whether they like it or not, Caesar is coming.

Not as a hero, but conqueror.