Roman Slave Owner

The Hostilla Hall gradually became quiet, and then hundreds of eyes looked at Li Wei.

"Today is the second time that Pompeo and I have held a Senate meeting since we took office. This time, we are fulfilling our promise to the people. At the same time, I would like to add another proposal, that is, the discussions of the Senate should be open to the people. People have the right to know what the senate is discussing every day, and the details are on these documents, and each senator can receive a copy."

Li Wei pointed to a wooden box in front of him and said that there were printed documents in the box.

Soon some guards stepped forward and issued those documents to the elders, who immediately read them.

They are no strangers to the promises of Li Wei and Pompey. Li Wei's new proposal is that the daily discussion process of the Senate should be posted on the square so that people can know what the Senate is discussing.

The elders have no objection to this point, and these are not important.

It's just that they were very dissatisfied with Li Wei's deprivation of the power of the Senate. Some people whispered and planned to attack Li Wei next.

"Now everyone is very clear about today's issues, then Elder Metellus, do you have any opinions on these three issues?"

Levi asked.

Metellus glanced at him indifferently, then stood up and said, "Dear senators, I have no objection to the restoration of the powers of the tribunes of the people and the disclosure of the agenda of the citizen senate, but I oppose the deprivation of the power of the senate."

"As we all know, Rome has a mixed ownership system. The consul represents the king, the senate represents the nobles, and the popular assembly represents the people. It is the balance of the three aspects that makes Rome extremely strong, and weakening the senate is not in the interests of the country."

"The elders have made more contributions to the country. They have contributed more wealth, more soldiers, and they deserve more power. Just like Li Wei's consul..."

Different from the understanding of later generations, the Romans at that time did not consider themselves democratic, they were mixed ownership.

Greece represents democracy. With the decline of Greece, people generally believe that democracy has completely declined, and the mixed ownership of the Romans is orthodox.

Metellus’s statement has won the approval of many elders and knights. It is like a centurion meeting. If I have more money and more contributions, I should have more power, not everyone is equal.

Li Wei didn't expect that he would use himself as an example, but it doesn't make any sense.

Metellus talked a lot, but Li Wei didn't interrupt, but let him finish.

After speaking, Metellus sat down.

His speech drew applause from many people, and the applause was extremely warm, as if he was demonstrating to Levi.

"Next, I invite Elder Dolabella to speak."

Levi said.

Then Elder Dolabella stood up, and he glanced at everyone.

In fact, he didn't like to see the power of the Senate being deprived of power, but because he was very close to Li Wei, after the Eastern Expedition, the Senate actually questioned him, which made him very angry.

"I'm all for the proposal."

Dolabella said, and he sat down after speaking.

"Then I invite Elder Catullus to speak."

"..."

He was not surprised that one veteran after another spoke, some supported it, while others opposed it.

But soon he found that one of the elders started to speak non-stop, and he didn't stop talking for half an hour.

"Senior Dumigios, interrupt me. How long are you going to talk?"

Li Wei asked with a smile.

"As a senator, I have the right to express my opinion. Is there anything wrong with that?"

Dumigios retorted bluntly.

"Hehe, please continue."

Levi said.

Unexpectedly, they also engaged in delaying tactics. Could it be that they want Pompeo to turn against him? This is probably the only way to turn defeat into victory.

He glanced at Pompey who was sitting behind him, and found that his face was expressionless, and he couldn't tell what he was thinking at all.

Dumigios talked for two hours,

He didn't stop until his throat was dry.

Next, several elders adopted the same tactics. Li Wei thought for a while, but did not ask the guards to drag them out, so the Senate did not come to any results that day.

After returning home, Li Wei, Cicero and others got together to discuss the matter, and Brutium personally came to report the movements of Metellus and others.

"So they've all gone to Pompey's."

Levi said.

"Yes, at least 20 elders went there. Their purpose is self-evident, and they want to persuade Pompeo."

Brutium said.

"This is not good."

Levi said.

Pompey is not a firm person, and he is the son-in-law of Metellus, so the chances of being persuaded by Metellus are still very high. I have to find a way to create some conflicts between them.

Soon he had an idea, "Cicero, come here, let's discuss something."

After speaking, Li Wei walked towards the next room, and Cicero hurriedly followed.

"You find someone to develop an article in the "Roman Daily" with the title "The Roman People Need Jobs". Now many Roman dignitaries like to use slaves, which greatly squeezes the job opportunities of Roman citizens. This is wrong. Many professions require a percentage of Roman citizens..."

Listening to Li Wei's face-to-face instructions, Cicero couldn't help frowning.

"This will offend almost all the dignitaries."

Which of the current nobles and knights has not used slaves on a large scale, even Li Wei is no exception.

If this is done, their interests will definitely be violated.

"I understand, I'm just talking, I won't do it myself, I'm showing it to someone."

Li Wei said with a smile.

"to whom?"

"Pompey."

People in later generations have summed up Pompeo's behavior, that is, his military capabilities are extremely good, but his politics is quite idiotic.

He has been in the military camp with his father since he was a child, and has not received a systematic aristocratic education.

Not only is his speech ability extremely poor, but he is also not proficient in politics.

During his consulship, he passed no outstanding laws, and he could not compare with Caesar in this respect.

But Li Wei knew that Pompey loved his name first, and his power at the same time.

Since he is ignorant of politics, then I will send the law that can last forever to him, and see if he is not tempted.

As long as he is tempted, he will definitely break with the powerful and knights in Rome, and then he can only step on the same boat as himself.

Cicero quickly understood what Li Wei was thinking. He looked at Li Wei with weird eyes, but he didn't expect Li Wei to be so insidious.

"By the way, we will go all out for the Senate meeting tomorrow, and we can't let them delay any longer."

Levi said.

"OK."

***

***

In Hostilla Hall, Pompey was in a daze.

His father-in-law and so many elders went to persuade him, and it would be a lie to say that he was not tempted.

And he also found that Li Wei's power was too strong, which made him fearful, whether he wanted to join forces with them to boycott Li Wei.

But thinking of the previous agreement with Li Wei, he was a little hesitant.

"Keller, when are you going to talk about it?"

At this time, Li Wei's angry voice came from the side.

He looked forward and found that Li Wei was losing his temper with Keller.

"Dear Consul, it is my right to state my opinion in the Senate, and you have no right to take it away."

Kyle said dissatisfied.

"It takes an hour to make a statement. If this is the case, how can our Senate meeting go on. Guard, someone here disrupted the order of the meeting and dragged him out."

Li Wei said with a sneer.

Hearing this sentence, the Senate immediately boiled like a frying pan.

A large number of veterans stood up and accused Li Wei, and Cicero and others immediately stood up to express their support for Li Wei.

The whole synagogue was in chaos, not only the elders, but even the tribunes of the common people were also in chaos.

After being reprimanded by some tribunes of the populace, the guards were stopped.

The tribunes of the people always have the sacred duty of guarding the passage. If the tribunes of the people don't let you in, you just can't enter.

Seeing this, Lucias and the others were dissatisfied.

As the number of Roman tenant farmers in Li Wei's hands increased year after year, and he was going to be a consul, he finally launched the Roman Church, and Lucias and another retainer became the tribunes of the people this year.

In addition, with the merits of capturing Ganix and Onomamus alive, coupled with Li Wei's secret assistance, Aetius also became a tribune of the people, so that the tribunes of the people that Li Wei can control have took three.

"Why don't you let them in!"

Lucias walked in and shouted angrily.

"Keller has the right to state his opinion, which is his right as a senator."

said a round-faced civilian tribune.

"As a tribune of the populace, I veto my opinion on you. His intention to prolong his speech is to disturb the order of the Senate."

said Lucias.

The civilian tribune narrowed his eyes. Many officials in Rome had a dual-official or even multi-official system, so a rule would be implemented, that is, mutual veto at the same level.

For example, both Li Wei and Pompey were consuls in Rome. If Li Wei wanted to carry out an order, when Pompey objected, the order could not be carried out.

In the same way, the order Pompey wants to execute must not be opposed by Li Wei.

The same is true of the tribunes of the populace. There were two consuls in Rome, but there were 10 tribunes of the populace.

So the civilian tribune looked at the other civilian tribunes.

"I support his decision and I don't think Levi's actions were right."

"I also object to Levi's decision."

Lucias sneered, and soon two tribunes of the populace stood behind him. They were Aetius and another retainer of Li Wei. Aetius and the others immediately expressed their respect for Lucia. s support.

3:3

Lysias looked at another tribune of the populace, Gabinius, Pompey's friend.

Gabinius sighed, he knew that Li Wei and Pompey were allies, but Pompey was Keller's brother-in-law.

He glanced at Pompey, who hesitated.

"Pompeo, don't forget our agreement."

Levi said.

Pompeo thought for a while, and finally nodded.

"I support the decision of Consul Levy."

Gabinius said.

4:3.

"Come here quickly."

Li Wei said to the guards.

Seeing this, the hesitant guard hurried over.

"Wait, you can't go there. The other tribunes haven't commented yet."

Having said that, the round-faced tribunes turned to other tribunes for support.

But the tribunes of the populace were all born from among the common people, and they were naturally hostile to the senate, which represented the nobles. The remaining three tribunes of the people expressed that they would not help each other.

Seeing this, Lucias was overjoyed: "Hurry up, we won."

said Lucias.

The guards immediately walked over, dragged Keleur and walked out the door.

"Li Wei, you tyrant."

"You foreign country bumpkin, you will be punished sooner or later."

"..."

Those elders cursed one after another, and even Metellus' face became gloomy.

Seeing this, Li Wei was happy.

Brother is not afraid of you scolding others, but brother is afraid of you not scolding.

"Guard, just now Elder Labinus, Elder Cassius..."

Li Wei called the names of the five elders in a row.

"They used insulting language to attack the consuls and dragged them out. I think their behavior is out of etiquette for a senator. In a few days, I will hold a meeting of the senate to demand that they be deprived of their status as senators."

The five elders were dumbfounded. Li Wei was so ruthless that he wanted to deprive them of their status as elders.

Some guards immediately walked in and dragged the elders out.

Some elders resisted and shouted loudly: "I oppose! I protest! This is tyranny!"

Metellus kept yelling and cursing in his heart. It's fine for these idiots and bastards to curse behind their backs, but they openly cursed at the Senate meeting. Isn't this courting death?

But he had to save them. They had few elders, and every elder was very precious.

"Stay quiet, everyone!"

Metellus said hastily.

Seeing that the boss had spoken, the elders gradually quieted down.

"Li Wei, they just made a mistake just now, I hope you can forgive them."

Metellus said.

"To openly insult the Roman Consul at the meeting of the Senate is against the etiquette of a senator. I think it is right to deprive them of their senatorial status."

Li Wei said without giving an inch.

"But I didn't hear him insult you?"

Metellus started playing tricks.

"It doesn't matter whether you heard it clearly, the key is to see what kind of decision the Senate meeting will make in a few days."

Li Wei said lightly.

Metellus gritted his teeth and looked at Li Wei, why didn't this bastard die.

He thought for a long time, and finally said: "Li Wei, how about we let this bill pass, and you give up suing those five elders."

Li Wei immediately understood what he meant. Most likely he made this decision because he thought that Pompey could not be persuaded in the short term.

"Pass today?"

Levi said.

"no problem."

Li Wei thought about it, and finally agreed.

It is better to have a bird in the hand than a thousand birds in the forest. If Pompey repents at any time, it will be miserable.

"Well, as long as the bill is passed today, I don't care about their disrespect to me."

Seeing that Metellus and Levi had reached a deal, many veterans were very dissatisfied, but there was nothing they could do.