Propaganda War

"Well, Publius, let me introduce this man to you. He is Cicero, Marcus Tullius Cicero. You should already know him by the fact of how loud his reputation was. He will become our future collaborator and someone who will play a role in undermining the propaganda war that Caesar has sent against us," Crassus proudly introduced his collaborator to his son.

Cicero, also known as Marcus Tullius Cicero, was a prominent Roman statesman, orator, lawyer, and philosopher who lived in the Roman Republic. 

He was widely regarded as one of the greatest orators and writers of his time, known for his eloquence and rhetorical skills. Cicero played a significant role in Roman politics, advocating for the preservation of the Roman Republic and its institutions.

As a statesman, Cicero held various positions, including consul, and he was known for his principled stance against corruption and tyranny. 

He championed the ideals of the republic, emphasizing the importance of checks and balances and the rule of law.

Cicero's writings, which include speeches, philosophical treatises, and letters, have greatly influenced Western thought and rhetoric. 

His philosophical works often explored themes of morality, virtue, and the pursuit of the common good. Cicero's works continue to be studied and appreciated for their insights into Roman history, politics, and philosophy.

Although Cicero was strongly against war with Julius Caesar and wanted to negotiate peace with him, the humiliating letter and threats that Caesar sent to them made him reconsider his decision and firmly support the Senate's stance against Julius Caesar. 

The Republic could die, but it couldn't be humiliated; undoubtedly, Caesar touched that bottom line.

Although Cicero yearned for peace more than anyone else in the Senate, he despised the tyranny of Caesar and his arrogance, believing that he was above the law and trampling the Republic under his feet.

"And Cicero, let me introduce you. He is my son, my proudest son. Don't get him wrong; although he was enlisted in the same camp as Caesar, he remains loyal to our cause," Crassus said to reassure Cicero, who had doubts on his face when he introduced his son.

He was a bit unhappy with the doubt that Cicero showed but didn't express it.

"Publius Lucunius Crassus," Publius introduced.

"Marcus Tullius Cicero."

After that, they shook hands with each other as they introduced their names respectively and took their seats after their formal greeting.

"Let's get to the point. How will your plan go, Cicero?" Due to his unhappiness at his son being suspected by Cicero, Crassus didn't waste time speaking nonsense or trying to make friends with him. 

He was entirely focused on the business.

Cicero didn't notice the unhappiness in Crassus's voice. He frowned as he thought about the most suitable plan to counter the propaganda war that Caesar had initiated against them. 

It would be challenging to undo the mess the Senate had made, especially with their unpopular decrees and the fact that Caesar's march on Rome wasn't entirely his initiative.

However, Cicero had an idea, and while it couldn't undo the Senate's mistakes, it could certainly disgust Caesar.

"I do have a plan, but it requires your cooperation, Crassus," Cicero said.

"Speak," Crassus replied with a commanding tone, which made Cicero uncomfortable, but he decided to voice his thoughts.

"Have you noticed how much Caesar values his reputation? Since he values it so much, how about we start from there?" Cicero pointed out Caesar's weakness to Crassus, his narcissistic desire for praise that made him vulnerable.

"Indeed, that seems to be the case. So, what is your plan?" Crassus nodded, indicating that he understood.

"Since he seeks justice for himself, not just selfishness and power, how about you offer him a guarantee? As long as he is willing to come to Rome without his legionaries and disband his armies in Gaul, you can guarantee to Caesar that he will be able to punish the Senators who sent that decree against him."

"He would either continue his march on Rome or completely retreat."

"Those two choices would either ruin his reputation or bring peace."

"Regardless of his answer, it would benefit us. How about it, Crassus? Are you willing to implement this plan?" Cicero proposed.

Crassus smirked upon hearing Cicero's plan and laughed heartily.

"Hahaha."

"Indeed, it's the best plan. Son, pour him a glass of wine."

Publius poured a glass of wine for their future cooperation, and they toasted.

"Hahaha." Cicero laughed as well, not wanting to ruin the atmosphere.

After they reached a conclusion on their plan, they toasted the glasses of wine in their hands and looked forward to how Caesar would react when he realized he had to sacrifice the reputation he had always sought if he insisted on marching on Rome with his troops. 

Would he be humiliated by this fact? 

They laughed unabashedly at the prospect of that bright future.

...

-Baobhan Sith-

The next day, early morning.

Strolling around the bustling streets of the capital of Rome, although her figure is very noticeable and enchanting to humans, in their eyes, she is just an ordinary woman with ordinary features. 

It's all thanks to her hypnotic magic that they didn't pay attention to her.

In the tavern, there is a lively discussion about Julius Caesar's march on Rome. The letter from Crassus to Julius Caesar is widely discussed by the people.

"Did you hear that Caesar marched his troops on Rome for justice?" 

"I heard it, but I don't think he was here for justice, he was here just for power." 

"How dare you slander Caesar?" 

"But this is a fact, if he cared about us, why is he still bringing his troops to Rome? Why doesn't he dare to go back alone to Rome?" 

"It was Crassus' conspiracy, why were you led by him?"

"Time will tell everything."

That's all about the majority of the discussions in Rome she had ever heard since then.

She sipped the milk in her hand as she calmly digested the information she heard.

If not for the queen informing her not to cause a commotion in Rome, she would silence them for talking badly about her queen's chosen husband.

For the betterment of her queen's plan, she wouldn't make a move for now.

However, she took a closer look at the people who dared to badmouth her queen's husband.

She memorized their faces one by one.

They would pay for their insolence in the future, for sure.

For now, let them be happy first.

...

"What do you think about Crassus' letter and his power play, my general?" Julius Caesar handed over the letter in his hand to Mark Antony to see.

Mark Antony was outraged by the content of the letter and scolded Crassus and Cicero for their shamelessness that was known to have no bounds.

How dare they put themselves above morality when they themselves did not suffer under the Senate's persecution?

He was speechless due to the content of the letter, as they were willing to punish the Senators who sent a decree to Caesar, as long as Caesar was willing to withdraw their troops from Gaul and return to Rome to report his duty and achievements in Gaul.

However, he knew the fact that the punishment for those Senators was nothing more than comfort, rather than a fact.

He noticed the fact that the letter itself was a trap, and whatever Caesar's answer would be, it wouldn't benefit him in the slightest.

If Caesar disbanded his troops in Gaul, his invincible reputation that he had built in the past would instantly crumble. The soldiers under his command would think Caesar is a coward, and his enemies would think that he is a man who could be overstepped at will if he made concessions to them.

At the same time, if he still insisted on marching on Rome, people would doubt him and his intentions would no longer be seen as pure for justice, but as a power-hungry individual who would do anything for power.

This fact made Mark Antony have to admit that this letter was very poisonous.

He knew the answer that he could give to Caesar and spoke firmly with his tone about this matter.

"We will answer them with a sword, Caesar. No matter how much conspiracy lies beneath them, only the winner has the qualification to write history. We will prove to the people that you are not that kind of man. We will answer them with facts." Mark Antony voiced his opinion about this matter.

"No. Remember, Mark Antony, never answer a sensitive question with an answer, but instead answer them with a more powerful question. That's how the art of politics works." Caesar closed his eyes and burned the letter in his hand to ashes as he chuckled darkly at the content.

"Crassus and Cicero think they are smarter than me, but they mistaken their little cleverness for being better than me. If they were the ones, they would be the ones who conquered Gaul, not me. And they would be the ones who fought with the Senators, not me. Why do they always think they are better than me? Who gave them that arrogance?"

He knew that Caesar was a master of both the sword and the word, knowing when to fight and when to negotiate, when to threaten and when to cajole.

But he never thought Caesar's answer would be that.

Honestly, he didn't understand and asked.

"So, what is the plan, Caesar?"

"Since Crassus cares so much about me as a friend, where was he when the Senators accused us of crimes that didn't belong to us? And why did they never seek justice for us when the Senators unjustly put us on trial?" 

"Why didn't he make concessions for us about this matter at that time? Why does only now that he want to make concessions for us? What is his purpose? Is he only seeking attention? If he really cares about us, where was he before I crossed the Rubicon River? Why did he only wait until we were close to Rome?"

"Spread my words to Rome."

"Let them see Crassus' hypocrisy."