Rise (4)

Marcus dutifully built up his own foundation while at the same time growing the family's wealth.

Spartacus also began to make a name for himself throughout the Roman city, making a successful comeback in gladiatorial fights.

The year changed over time.

And an unusual bill came up at the newly convened Senate meeting.

The proposer is Marcus Licinius Lucullus, Consul of the year.

A member of the same Licinius gens as Crassus, he was the younger brother of the famous gourmet and strategist Lucullus.

At the request of Crassus, he submitted a bill called the 'Lucullus Patent Act' under the authority of the Consul, the chairman of the Senate.

The price was that two years later, Crassus would pay for a part of the cost of the election as quaestor, for which Lucullus' son would run.

Lucullus' legislative gist was simple.

Even in ancient Rome, private property rights were considered an absolute fundamental right.

Lucullus emphasized that the patent law could more clearly guarantee the basic rights of the Romans.

"It's a concept that hasn't existed so far, so it might be hard to understand right away. However, I believe that you understand how much this legislation can promote technological advancement. In addition, it is possible to prevent the situation in which great technology is not passed on to future generations and is cut off. Our great ancestors brought in excellent technologies and systems from other countries and improved them into our own. Now we need to develop the technology further with this bill and pass it on to future generations!"

The senators who supported Lucullus all clapped their hands and raised their voices in approval.

There were still no senators who actively voiced opposition.

This is because only a few members of the present Senate have fully understood the bill.

First, they passed a few laws in a day that would have a huge impact.

Members gave an opinion to consider and decide for one more day and adjourned.

On the second day, the voice of approval was more dominant in the Senate.

Gaius Claudius Glaber, the praetor, shouted that they should pass the bill at once.

"If you think about it, it doesn't make sense that Rome has been aiding and abetting other people's technology to make profits. How many good engineers have suffered without this Bill? How many craftsmen were reluctant to teach their students because they were worried that their skills would be robbed? We need to create an environment where good intellectuals can work freely. Our Senate leading Rome has a duty to do so!"

Glaber emphasized the words of intentionally leading Rome. Indeed, most senators thought so and thought it ought to be.

Of course, Glaber's passion for supporting the bill was not in the interests of Rome but in the painful memories of the past.

The technology developed by his father-in-law in the past was leaked in less than a month, causing considerable damage.

Most wealthy senators owned at least a few businesses in the name of freed slaves.

In particular, senators with skilled craftsmen voted in favor of the bill because they thought it would benefit them.

Crassus arranged with several senators just in case, but they needed a turn to step up.

If he knew this would happen, he didn't think he had to ask the Consul.

He judged it was time to show his presence by pointing out what needed to be supplemented in the bill.

However, there was a person who asked for a comment before him.

It was Marcus Tullius Cicero, a new lawyer who came from the rank of commoner equites and had just entered the Senate two years ago.

"Dear members of Senate. Of course, it is true that this concept of patent can secure public interest. But if you look closely, there are so many holes to slip through."

Glaber, who listened to Cicero, openly expressed his uncomfortable feelings.

"Isn't the newcomer who came up from Arpinum too confident in his knowledge? Let's just move on to an issue that is already a big problem due to minor side effects that may exist."

"I'm not saying let's just move on. However, I think the enforcement of this law should be put on hold if there are no convincing complements. Let me point out some of the problems with this Bill. First of all, trials that can invalidate patents must be stricter and more complex. If the regulations are as simple as the current bill, wouldn't it be easy for those with a lot of capital to invalidate the patents of other craftsmen? Again…."

Cicero cited means and plausible examples to escape from the law of patent law.

It was a character-like insight that later gained a wide reputation as the best lawyer in Rome.

However, even Cicero was just a newcomer with no one to support him.

"I think it's too complicated. If you complicate the law for no reason, wouldn't there be people who use it one by one? Everything has its pros and cons."

"But…"

Just as Cicero was about to make further counterarguments, Crassus, who was looking at the gap, intervened and opened his mouth first.

"Ah, honorable Members. There is some truth in Cicero's words. I also had a similar thought when I saw the bill yesterday, so I prepared my own supplementary points. It will be a more complete bill if we apply these complementary points and legislate."

Crassus exactly recited what Marcus wrote.

Almost all of the supplementary measures pointed out by Cicero were proposed, including a ban on receiving profiteering to prevent the emergence of patent monsters and strengthening verification measures that prevent profits from poor patents.

Public opinion changed dramatically when Crassus and his supporters voted for the supplement.

In the end, the Lucullus Patent Act, which they added with Crassus' opinion with the approval of most senators, was passed smoothly.

For Crassus, who was going to stand out alone, the situation went unexpectedly, but he achieved his goal anyway.

Cicero, who came to Crassus as he was about to leave after the meeting of the Senate, bowed his head and thanked him.

"Thank you for supporting my opinion."

"What do you mean? I also had a similar idea as you, so I naturally took sides."

"I knew that you were well versed in business, but I didn't think you would be fluent in these legal matters. Indeed, a senior figure in the Senate is different even if something is different."

"Well... I was surprised by the insight you showed me. You doesn't look like a senator who just entered the Senate."

"I'm flattered."

Crassus and Cicero exchanged good wishes for a while and then parted ways.

Cicero came to Rome with a dream of great fortune and realized again that he was still nothing more than an unknown person.

Rome is so vast and likes the sea.

Proud of being more proficient in law than anyone else, he realized that he still had more to learn.

Crassus' knowledge, which shocked him, came from Marcus, but Cicero did not know.

Fate is like a passing wind, but sometimes it is a vast mountain that does not shake.

The relationship between Cicero, a republican representing the Roman Republic, and Marcus, who was trying to open a new era, had not even begun yet.

* * *

When the patent law came into effect in the early days, even all kinds of strange technologies rushed to ask for patents.

However, the well-informed senators, led by Crassus, conducted rigorous tests to prevent the abuse of patents.

Thanks to this, after some time, it began to operate stably.

Marcus expected a lot of technology related to agriculture to come out.

Even if Rome developed commerce, agriculture was the basis for the completion of the ancient national economy.

If agricultural productivity is not supported, development above a certain level is impossible.

Fortunately, it confirmed that Marcus' library ability was once every two months, but he couldn't afford to read agricultural-based books.

"Okay, can we show the stirrups and horseshoes as scheduled?"

"Yes, it's already perfectly finished. I also completed the patent registration in the name of Septimus."

Rome's technology was better than expected, so it took less than half a year for commercialized products to come out.

If the production took longer, they might have monopolized the technology without registering it as a patent.

However, judging from the situation, if a patent were not registered, there would soon be an overflow of copies.

"By the way, it's about time to come."

Marcus planned to advertise the cavalry wearing actual stirrups in the plains near Rome.

Already in Crassus's name, letters have been given to prominent senators and equites.

Since Marcus himself was too young to explain himself, it was up to Septimus to explain.

Thanks to this, Septimus was in a position to say that he had read what he had heard for the first time in his life in a book he had obtained.

At the appointed time, a row of colorful carriages carrying senators arrived from afar.

In addition to the praetors, Lucullus, the current Consul, was also visible.

Lucullus, who got out of the carriage, tilted his head as he looked around.

"I came here because I heard that they developed an object that could change the Roman cavalry system from scratch, but I don't see such a grand object."

Roman officials have served in the countryside. Cicero, a leading Roman scholar, also served in the army during the Social War.

For this reason, although many Roman senators were not proficient in the military, it was good to say that very few were outsiders.

Publius Varinius, the praetor, pointed his finger at the saddles of cavalry lined the plain.

"There's something under the saddle. Is that the invention?"

"Yes."

Crassus nodded proudly.

"What is that for? A footrest? A simple tool like that will change the Roman cavalry system from the ground up to the ground up?"

Other senators also agreed with Varinius and responded that they did not trust him.

"Hmm... Well, everyone will know if you watch."

Crassus signaled to start regardless of the dubious response of other senators.

Septimus took a step forward and bowed his head politely.

"I am Septimus, who was given the name of the Licinius family by Crassus. It is an honor to be able to explain this in front of people who are like the heart of Rome. First of all, the things we have been patented this time are stirrups and horseshoes. First, let me tell you about the stirrups."

Septimus brought an actual stirrup and showed it right in front of the senators.

"These stirrups are the mounts on the saddle of a horse. It's a very useful thing for riding or balancing on a horse."

A middle-aged man from equites asked with an expression he did not understand.

"It's balancing words. Isn't it something anyone who learned horsemanship can do?"

"Yes. However, it takes great horsemanship to maintain balance on a wobbly horse with only two legs and make a perfect charge. A master of such horsemanship may not need these stirrups so much. But the important thing is that even if you are not a master of such horsemanship, you can secure almost the same stability as those of such skill. Let me show you in practice."

When Septimus signaled, cavalry waiting on the plain drove their horses forward.

The cavalry rushed forward with a spear in one hand and a shield in the other.

Several other cavalrymen hit the target by shooting arrows in a very stable position, even on horseback.

Even mock battles that assumed close combat on horseback were surprisingly stable.

The cavalry skillfully swung their weapons, bending their backs freely, whether right or left.

It was a perfect posture to slide and fall unless you were a person with considerable horsemanship.

The expressions of senators, who had been bored, changed instantly.

In particular, the reactions of generals who have actually commanded the corps were dramatic.

Gaius Thoranius, who had served as a cavalry officer, immediately asked the question.

"They're not extraordinary people in horsemanship?"

"Those who are familiar with words are right. But without the stirrups, you could never charge with the reins like that and hold the weapon with both hands. The same goes for the archers. Riders of such skill are only in the ranks of powerful equites."

As Septimus' explanation continued, senators exclaimed.

In fact, it was challenging to raise talented cavalry in Rome.

In order to become a cavalryman who can play an active part in real battles, he must learn horseback riding skills from an early age.

This was only possible if it was the powerful equites or aristocratic children.

So when Rome was short of cavalry, there were times when it was transfused from outside.

Septimus took a look at the senators and continued in a self-trusting voice.

"Roman is now a professional military system. If you use this stirrup, it's easier to raise cavalry than before. Therefore, if we supplement the military horse more faithfully and increase the number of cavalry, we can solve the chronic problem of the Roman army, the shortage of cavalry power, at once."

Senators, who all have served in the military at least once, took this quite seriously.

In particular, those who knew how valuable the cavalry was in the large-scale rotation nodded madly.

Crassus opened his mouth with a powerful voice as he stepped up in front of senators whose facial expressions had changed 180 degrees from the beginning.

"Dear Members, I believe you all know now. Furthermore, strengthening this cavalry force is essential for practical reasons. Even in order to effectively counter a threatening enemy that we may face in the future."

"A threatening enemy? Do you mean Gallian or Germanic?"

"They are also a threat, but the target I am talking about is the Parthia of the East. If we subdue that Mithradates of Pontus who is currently harassing us, we will have no choice but to face the Parthia. There is no permanent friend in the relationship between countries. Of course, we need to think of measures against Parthia, don't we?"

Parthia is the eastern power that governs modern-day Syria and northern India.

They, who claim to be descendants of Persia, also benefited significantly from relay trade between continents. In other words, it is also an opportunity for East Asia and Europe to recognize each other.

Lucullus asked, carefully observing the cavalry demonstrating on the plain.

"Are you saying that's a great measure against Parthia?"

"Yes, do you know what the main force of the Parthian army is?"

"I think I heard a rumor that the cavalry was outstanding."

In fact, Crassus' knowledge was limited to that extent, but Marcus tipped Crassus in advance.

Of course, the source was told by a merchant from Parthia.

Crassus was impressed by Marcus' thorough investigation.

Now his trust in his eldest son is incomparably higher than anyone else.

"The main force of Parthia is a large number of archers and a small number of heavily armed cavalry, called cataphracts. Rome now lacks cavalry power, so we have to fight in an area where cavalry is difficult to maneuver. However, if we have a cavalry force equal to or better than theirs, there is no need to confine the battlefield to a specific area. Of course, the cavalry, which is much more faithful than now, will be a very useful force when fighting the Gauls and Germans."

Most of the senators reacted positively to Crassus' words.

Even if you wanted to reinforce cavalry power, you couldn't try it because it was not easy to nurture. If the difficulty of fostering decreases significantly, there is no reason not to try it.

The Consul, Lucullus, reached a tentative conclusion.

"First of all, it would be better to go in the direction of mounting all those stirrups on the warhorse. And for the reinforcement of cavalry power, let's hear from Pompeius when he returns in the future and decide the direction."

When the story of Pompeius, a strong rival, came out, Crassus' face hardened slightly.

In the end, no matter how ardent he may be, Pompeius has the highest say in matters related to the military in Rome.

It was also a reality that could not be overturned by any means at this point.

Pompeius was currently away from Rome to settle Sertorius' rebellion in Hispania.

The persistent rebellion of Sertorius almost seemed to be suppressed two years after Pompeius was deployed.

If he returns after quelling the rebellion, his already huge fame will soar to the point of not knowing the end.

For Crassus, it was never a pleasant situation.

A few days later, however, news that dispelled Crassus' concerns flew into Rome.

* * *

Marcus accepted the letter, which was passed directly from Capua, with a complex mind.

He expected this to happen, but when he checked it with his eyes, he felt bitter about what would happen.

Spartacus, who was guarding Marcus as always, expressed doubts.

"You don't look so happy. What's wrong?"

"I think it's better to see this for yourself than explain it."

"What? What is it about?…."

Spartacus, who confirmed the letter's contents, could not continue his speech with a bewildered expression.

He was so surprised that he lost his balance for a moment and even stumbled.

He looked back at Marcus with disbelief.

"Hey, this is... Is it true?"

"It was sent directly by my father's subordinate residing in Capua, so I should say it's clear."

"How... How could this happen...…."

The letter fell from the trembling hand of Spartacus.

Even Danae, who picked it up, 'hoo!' She made a noise, and her eyes widened.

The contents of the letter were brief.

[More than 70 slave gladiators from Capua have fled in groups. They are now fleeing to the forest near Mount Vesuvius. The owners of the Ludus Magnus and all those involved are believed to have been killed.]