3 The People Or The Army
" The difference between a republic and an empire is the loyalty of one's army "
Julius Caesar
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Gaius Julius Caesar/ Year 279 AC :
As I peered off into the balcony, I felt a tender arm wrap around my waist. A soft breath touching my exposed skin, " Gaius, must you always stare off into the sea? " Her voice soft and peaceful.
Turning around I saw her, my new wife. She had a beautiful pair of blue eyes, her light brown hair almost glimmered gold in the sun, her skin smooth and soft as I ran my hand on her cheek, " Meet your wife. Empress Irene! A beauty if I must say so, although her mind is filled with intrigue. She is a master when it comes to the court. " The system ringed through my head but I simply ignored it. Taking in the sight of my new wife
A grin crested up on her face she chuckled, " Must you always stare at me like that? I won't disappear every time you take your eyes off me. " she covered her mouth with her knuckle to hide her laugh before she embraced me in a hug.
I lowered my head giving her a kiss on her forehead, " It won't be long before the senate calls for us, I wonder what the senate has planned with the area that has come to surround us. You are to be my closest advisor, Irene. " I held her closer her bossom pressing my chest. Her head nuzzled on my neck.
We had eventually let go of each other as she had left me to bathe and to allow for herself to prepare a more ideal attire when dealing with court politics, " Gaius, the games! Should we not add chariot racing? " I had heard her shout from the other room.
Hearing her I nodded at her suggestion, " Make a list and we can add things that you like along the way. " I told her as I left the tub walking to my armour as I dried myself with a tigers pelt.
I started equipping my armour the medals clanging as it went on my chest, " Irene, ask the Praetorian to keep the court calm before we arrive! " It would take a few minutes to do as I had to deal with all the leather straps that had adorned my armour but I'd be done in no time. Staring at the helmet I thought It would be best not to wear it, deciding that a golden wreath would be best for myself as I was now Emperor.
Leaving the room I saw Irene wearing a red dress that was accented by gold and various jewels a cloak in her hands turning to me, she had stood up walking gracefully with each step, " Gaius, this is for you. " She muttered as she placed the cloak on my armour clipping it in with a golden clasp. The cloak was red, a colour that would hide the blood shed.
Placing my hands with hers as she finished I stared into her blue, ocean like eyes. " Shall we deal with this rabble of old men. " A chuckle leaving her mouth as she heard me.
She leaned her head on shoulders as we left the room, " Of course. " A soft voice leaving her mouth.
The halls were intricately designed, the windows had allowed us to see the bustling city to which Irene seemed to have been most interest in. " What a beautiful city. " Her mutterings were quiet and calm and it seemed she was lost in her own world.
I stared down at her a smile on my face as she was still zoned out, " Indeed, it rivals your own beauty. " That seemed to make her happy as the corners of her mouths had raised into a small smile.
Entering I heard the quiet mutterings of the senate, " THE EMPEROR AND HIS CONSORT ARRIVES, PAY RESPECT! " A Praetorian shouted as he saw me near the entrance to my throne room.
The room had entered a deep silence as I neared my marble throne, I sat down my wife standing next to me staring down at the court with a cold gaze, leaning back into the seat my gaze laxed as the first of the senators walked up.
A young gentleman, " My Emperor and his Consort, the guards have found a number of strange creatures south of our city. " The man spoke as he bowed before me, " They are twice the size of a mortal man however we have been able to capture one for our games. "
Hearing him my intrigue in this new creature was created, " A animal twice the size of a man? Are you sure it was not a elephant. " I chuckled at the man, " If that is true, leave it for the final day, I and ten Praetorian guards will bring this beast down together. "
I felt the sharp glare on my back as I spoke these words but she did not seem to speak or attempt to grab my attention, " That would be unwise my lord. Let the bestiaries deal with it my lord. " The senator spoke trying to speak me down from my idea.
Hearing him I gave him a quick glare before turning to my wife who had simply smiled as if agreeing with the man, " No, the people must see their emperor fight. For if an Emperor is weak, so is his Empire" I raised my hand to tell him that it was final to which he gave a quick nod and backed away allowing another to walk forward.
A man with a gritty face stepped forwards a large scar over his closed eye, " My Emperor, I am Hermanus Clineas. A Legio of your army, we ask that you lead our armies once more to make this land ours. " The man raised his right arm in a salute his medals clanging on his armour, and hearing him had made a large smile appear on my face.
Rising from my seat, I put my fist to my chest, " Soldier, Round the troops up. Gather a map of the land, we shall conquer the land that is rightfully ours. " The man hearing this bowed his head placing his knuckle on his chest and backed out leaving the building.
Leaning back into my chair I signaled for the next senator to approach, a brutish man. " My lord, I ask that you please build a new bath house. It will be used to celebrate you fifth year on this throne. " Hearing the man I had sighed, giving him a thumbs up to approve the said project.
I stood up my attention now starved from the senate, " If you have any important issues that require my attendance approach now. " Those words leaving my mouth, none had stepped up instead shifting further back into their seats, " Then my wife shall deal with your requests. "
Seeing this I had turned my head to Irene waving her closer, " Take care of the throne for me while I lead my armies on a campaign. " She gave a court nod before planting a kiss on my lips.
I moved from my throne the Praetorians following closely behind, " Tell another of yours to grab my helmet, We'll conquer this land in a month any longer and I'll be a failure. " I bluntly told the Praetorian who nodded leaving to find another of his, Leaving the Domus Augustana the rays of sun smashing into my body seemingly illuminating me for all to see.
Walking through the streets of the city, I had walked past the Circus Maximus and would now be heading to the Barracks, where a large amount of the army would be gathering preparing for our campaign, around ten thousand would be left behind to defend the walls the other ten would be conquering the lands with me.
I had come to walk past many different buildings I had not been used to such as the Law court and the Circus Flaminus, Although it was likely due to me spending most of my younger and final years in Gaul facing battles.
The barrack were north of the city on the Viminal Hill, it was large surrounded by solid walls that used to not be here, meaning this city had been further in time than the Rome I myself had come from.
The streets were filled with people although most had decided it best to keep away when they saw the number of Praetorian guards that surrounded me, my helmet now placed on my head. My gladius sheathed and my shield to be picked up as I arrived at the barracks.
Nearing it, I saw it. Thousands of men rounded up, training against each other in a shield wall. Others training in the testudo or simply changing places with each other to make it seamless when ever each of their centuries would need to communicate amongst themselves.
The Instruments were also a keen part, giving the commands to make these seamless maneuvers possible even in the heat of the battle, The standard flying high in formation.
I scoffed at how Rome could have possibly fell, if the troops were as well trained as this. It almost seemed like it was the gods intervention that had caused this. A man approached a black horse in hand and my oval shield in his other and a shout with my name leaving his mouth.
The man smiled as he approached me, " Caesar, your horse and shield! " The man shouted, the Praetorians making way.
I grabbed the rein, placing my foot on the stirrup I climbed up putting the shield in my other hand, I gave a nod to the man, a large smile on his face as he waved goodbye.
The Praetorians had also left to go grab there own horses, " Caesar, We are ready to set off. " A Legio spoke, One that I did not recognize.
I turned towards the man staring down from my horse, " What is your name? " The man gripped his chest as he chuckled. He was relatively youthful, long curly hair adorned his head, his eyes brown but showed a hint of intelligence. He wore a new type of armour I had not seen before, It was segmented into different places. Another future technology.
He simply laughed before staring back at me, " You wound me Caesar, It is I Bertramus Caudex. The Intelligent one of all the Legio. " He had covered his mouth when he spoke that but let a laugh out before walking off his hands on the back of his head. Shouting towards the troops they all stopped entering formation a salute sent towards me.
I smile was worn on my face as I stared at all those before me, they had stopped their training and were now ready to move out, 10 thousand men or two whole legions. Bertramus led quite a youthful looking force while Hermanus had a force of what seemed to be grizzled veterans.
I unsheathed my sword and made my horse raise its front two legs, raising my gladius into the sky a glint reflecting off the clean sword, " My people, My name is GAIUS JULIUS CAESAR, YOUR EMPEROR! I care not of your age, or of your previous work. What I want is warriors! ARE YOU THOSE WARRIORS! " My voice resounded across the yard
The clanging of sword and shield started emerging, " WE ARE! " The men shouted as their shields and swords clashed together, a symphony of war was being created and the grin hidden by my mask was large.
Rotating my horse to the exit of the barracks I raised my swords forward, " THEN MARCH! " the footsteps of soldiers started, the movement of cavalry had also resounded. My Praetorians appeared no later, Dressed in their signature purple cloaks and plumes
I kicked my horse into a trot, my Praetorians following behind kicking up a storm of dust before we finally moved to the paved roads. Exiting the city walls revealed a bridge that had led to the main island. Turning towards my soldiers and Praetorians, I continued our march .
Into the Unknown! my sword raised circling before dropping pointing forwards. A Praetorian approached me, a map in hand. It had revealed destroyed cities and the area around us had been called the Basilisk point, meaning we would have to deal with large snakes if we were to venture further into the jungles.
To traverse a jungle with two legions would prove to be a difficult and arduous task even for the most skilled, it was something I was not planning to be doing as I had to be safe with the number of troops I had. I could not waste them so easily.
We had decided heading to the ruins of Zamettar was a better and safer plan, following the ocean path would also prove to be quite a scenic view as the calm ocean was a beautiful sight to see. The waves on the coast of Rome had never proved to be this calm no matter what. It had only been calm when Rome would be at peace, which it had never been. A sigh escaping my mouth.
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Never mind, I like his wife. She isn't scary at all. Definitely.
( This has been slightly revised with one of the issues. I'll do a full revision of these earlier chapters when I have spare time. )
