The Beginning of Reform

When Catilina realized he could no longer push back, he clamped his mouth shut and said nothing.

Standing before him, Cicero opened his mouth solemnly, and Marcus' eyes glistened with interest.

He thought he was going to see Cicero's impeachment of Catilina, a speech that has been talked about for over 2,000 years.

'There was a hint of that in the Verres trial, but did he really... really say it so bluntly?'

Roman speeches at the time were often dressed up with all sorts of rhetoric, but Catilina's impeachment took it to the next level.

Marcus thought that he might have exaggerated the speech by translating it into writing.

The long-awaited first word came out of Cicero's mouth, which received Marcus's anticipated eyes.

"Oh, thou Catilina! How long are you going to test our tolerance and patience?"

'I can't believe that was a verbatim transcription without exaggeration....'

Marcus, who was embarrassed to look at it for some reason, turned his head slightly.

Regardless of his feelings, Cicero's eloquence captured the attention of everyone around him at once.

"What have you been doing all these years, in what state of mind did you concoct this terrible plot to trample on the traditions, honor, and prestige of Rome? Do you mean to tell me that for months you have not seen the anxious faces of the citizens in the streets and the nervous faces of the guards, and felt nothing? Even when the terrible plot was clearly exposed, you defended yourself by layers of lies and hypocrisy. Even when you were given the opportunity to turn yourself in so that your honor might be preserved, you refused to do so, and instead harbored a more wicked heart."

Catilina ducked his head, unwilling to meet Cicero's gaze.

Cicero clenched his fists and lamented toward the sky.

"Oh, woeful times! All in the Senate have known your true intentions, and yet you have not uttered a single word of regret for your sins. According to your plans, we should all be dead tonight. What were you thinking as you looked around at your fellow senators in the hallowed chamber, weighing our lives with your evil, cunning eyes and filling out the kill list?"

The senators' faces hardened as they recalled the contents of the Killing Book.

Cicero paused, purposely pretending to catch his breath as he waited for the anger of the senators to rise.

"Great gods who look down on Rome! Why did this great country, this sublime city full of good citizens, have to suffer from the threat of such a puppet. Still, I sincerely thank you for letting me escape the terrible crisis at the last minute. And, hopefully, look at us in the future so that no unarmed sinner threatens the well-being of the nation."

Cicero continued to denounce Catilina's sins for dozens of minutes afterward.

He traced back to the earliest history of Rome and linked numerous cases of sinners to Catilina.

In Cicero's mouth, Cattilina is recast as a scoundrel and an evil that will never be seen again.

As he listened, even Marcus wondered if Catilina really was the worst criminal in human history.

Even Catilina's subordinates began to view him with suspicion.

It showed how much speech that reached the highest level could shake a person's heart.

After berating Catilina for another twenty minutes, Cicero concluded his speech in a solemn voice.

"So, Catilina, admit your crimes and surrender! Do not let fruitless blood be shed in vain resistance; do not let the blood of innocent citizens be shed in your vain ambitions. Do you contemplate a last stand? Look behind you and see the faces of your men watching you. May the great gods grant you your sanity, if only for this moment. Throw down your weapons, Catilina! What are you hesitating for, do you not know what the silence of your men behind you means?"

Even for the average person, being criticized for tens of minutes at a time is enough to drive them crazy.

It's even more effective if you're someone whose rebellion plan has completely failed and whose soul is halfway out of their body.

Catilina opened his mouth to retort several times, but he couldn't find the words.

If the plan fails, the original plan is to fight proudly until the end without living a miserable life.

However, as he looked around, it appeared that no one else was willing to take that last step.

Everyone stared into the sky, their weapons lowered, their eyes filled with despair and hopelessness.

There was no way he could boldly order a charge from here. It would only make Catilina look ridiculous.

After all, there was no choice.

Catilina weakly laughed as he dropped the weapon in his hand to the ground.

"I lost.... Do what you will."

When the word surrender came out of their leader's mouth, his men dropped their weapons as if he had made a promise.

Catilina's group, numbering over 1,000, were all captured and taken to Rome.

Cicero, who won the victory without a fight, returned triumphantly like a triumphant general.

Still, it was Marcus who made the biggest contribution to the crackdown.

One after another, senators praised Marcus for his resolve and intelligence.

Those senators who are familiar with Crassus are quick to say they envy him for having such a dependable son.

Crassus, now in a much better mood, had a smile on his face all the way back to Rome.

It didn't even occur to him that the price of one legion was worth it.

It was a legitimate expenditure used to suppress the rebellion so that it could be reimbursed later, but it was better not to, given that it would put the Senate in debt.

The rebellion was over, but the work was far from done.

Post-processing issues were still ten times more complicated than subduing Catilina.

In particular, there were sharp confrontations over the treatment of Catilina and others.

There was a split between those who wanted to see the case proceed to trial as normal and those who wanted to invoke the Senatus Consultum Ultimum and issue a final judgment.

There was some logic to both sides.

The leading proponent of punishment by the trial was Caesar.

Since his youth, he has consistently argued for the legality of the Senatus Consultum Ultimum.

The idea has, of course, remained unchanged.

"A last resort is only justified if it is literally the last resort. But the situation is far from urgent. We must be cautious. The Senatus Consultum Ultimum is an extra-legal force that suspends all rights of the Romans. The less the law is rendered ineffective, the better, especially if the Senate, which is supposed to be the most exemplary, engages in such extrajudicial behavior, lest it set a bad example for future generations."

Even senators who would normally have disagreed with Caesar were quiet.

He's right, and it wasn't an emergency until a few days ago.

Several senior conservative senators appeared to agree with Caesar.

However, Cato, who didn't take kindly to this, refuted Caesar's opinion in a sharp voice.

"Gentlemen, are you taking too optimistic a view of the situation? Certainly Catilina's rebellion has been crushed, but not all of his supporters have been swept away. There are still many people all over the Italian peninsula who believe that Catilina's bill is right, and there are even men roaming the streets saying that he has been unjustly suppressed by the Senate."

"Is that true?"

"If you don't believe me, just go down to the Forum Romanum on a day when there's an assembly."

Not all of Catilina's supporters joined the rebellion. Only those he trusted were called.

In the city of Rome alone, countless debtors still wanted Catilina reinstated.

It was a wrong act to revolt, but it was not without people who thought it would be like that.

The frustration and anger of the debt-ridden were huge.

Caesar pointed that out and loudly insisted on a fair judicial process.

"The trial must clearly establish Catilina's crimes and convince the citizens of the reason for his punishment. After all, this is a case of treason by a current consul. Considering the agitation the citizens must be feeling, the case must be handled with the utmost care."

"I beg to differ! In times like these, it is even more necessary to demonstrate the power of the Senate. We must set a clear precedent that if any tribunes allow themselves to be swayed by their own desires and disrupt the order, they will only be doomed! The reason there are those who are making disturbing moves now is because Catilina is alive, and if he and those who led the rebellion were all executed, who would they turn to?"

Both Caesar and Cato had solid arguments.

People usually don't want to go too radical.

So while there were many who agreed with Caesar, there were many more who were in favor of Cato.

Cato's argument was strictly focused on establishing the authority and power of the Senate.

The Senate, in particular, was feeling confident after successfully defeating Catilina.

Here, one could not help but be drawn to Cato's suggestion of coming out strong once more and demonstrating the power of the Senate.

On the other hand, some people, like Cicero, could not decide which side to take.

Having secured the surrender of Catilina's men, his choice of a side could determine the entire game.

He has inadvertently become a casting vote.

Cicero could not give a hasty answer due to the extreme pressure.

As a man of the law, he was actually more disturbed than anyone else by the illegality of the Senatus Consultum Ultimum.

However, he could not oppose it because of his belief that the Senate should lead Rome.

Without the Senatus Consultum Ultimum, the Senate will never be able to maintain its current position.

After much deliberation, Cicero sought input from people he trusted.

His friend Atticus, who runs the publishing house, was hesitant to answer.

Crassus had made it clear as soon as the matter was brought to his attention that he would abide by the will of the Consul.

Cicero regretted that he should have done so, but he wasn't in a position to do so now.

He was in a position where he was being urged on a daily basis by both sides of the political line to come to a position quickly.

Obviously, he would only be criticized if he remained neutral late here.

Eventually, having listened to the various people's opinions, Cicero visited Markus one last time.

However, Marcus doesn't have a clear answer on this issue either.

"I think there's a certain consensus, and that's that the disagreement between Caesar and Cato is based on a point of view, not a question of right or wrong."

"That's right. I think so, too."

"From that point of view, there is only one thing I can tell you. You'd better not try to judge what's right. Instead, you should think about what position you will take in the future."

"If you make such a choice, you don't have to worry. Rome should continue to operate as a Senate-led republic. I believe this is an absolute value that should never be shaken."

Marcus nodded his head, indicating that he agreed with Cicero.

In fact, it was better for the Senate to invoke the Senatus Consultum Ultimum.

This is because it can proceed more smoothly with future plans.

Instead of stating his opinion, Marcus simply stated the obvious.

"Without the Senatus Consultum Ultimum, the Senate would not have stopped the reform of the Gracchus brothers. And it will be the same in the future when something similar happens."

"... You're right."

Cicero clearly set his position, which he was not willing to choose because of his conscience as a lawyer.

At a Senate meeting the next day, Cicero called for Senatus Consultum Ultimum to be invoked to dispose of Catilina and his party immediately.

He strongly preached that there was no other meaning and that this was solely for the sake of the Roman order.

The tide was quickly turned when an influential senator like Cicero sided with Cato.

Eventually, in 62 BC, the Senate voted overwhelmingly to invoke the Senatus Consultum Ultimum.

Catilina, Manlius, and three others were sentenced to death for leading the rebellion.

Consul Silanus led the executioner to prison without any trial proceedings.

Catilina protested, speechless at Silanus' notification that he would now execute him.

"This is nonsense! I am the consul of Rome. I have the right to a trial, even if the Senate and the Tribunes have suspended my authority! You are committing an illegal act!"

Manlius screamed, straining his neck.

"We are citizens of Rome; by what right do you dare to condemn us to death without trial!"

They shouted as hard as they could, holding the bars, but the words of the two were nothing more than empty echoes.

Silanus immediately executed the rebels, saying they had no right to leave a will.

Catilina's tumultuous life came to an end in such a cramped cell.

It was an unfortunate end for a man who had risen to become a prominent Roman patrician and consul.

The Senate immediately announced Catilina's execution to all of Rome.

Rome was stunned by the news of the summary execution of a current consul.

Even debtors, who were full of dissatisfaction, could no longer speak out against the Senate's unexpected hard-line response.

There was some discussion in the Concilium Plebis about whether or not this was too much, but none of the public offices formally raised the issue.

The Senatus Consultum Ultimum was a symbol of terror for the tribunes.

No one dared to step forward for fear of following in the footsteps of the Gracchus brothers.

Without their leader, Catilina's followers began to disperse.

The Senate was completely intoxicated with victory.

Cato and Cicero were praised as heroes of the Senate, and Caesar was subjected to tremendous criticism.

However, the scholars in the Senate were well aware that the problem was far from solved.

It simply stamped on people's complaints with overwhelming fear and authority.

While it may cover up the problem temporarily, similar things may repeat in a few years.

Still, the vested interests were happy to take a breather.

Those weighed down by debt again swallowed tears, lamenting despair greater than anger.

Most people thought that Rome, as always, would never change.

But there was at least one person who didn't think so.

It was Marcus.

Sensing that the time was ripe, he quickly launched into action.

* * *

Marcus had been attending young men's meetings for the Defense of the Republic organized by Cicero.

He didn't really want to be close to them.

He needed to feel like a friend.

He was also convinced that the time would come when he would be able to capitalize on the young men's backgrounds as members of a prestigious aristocracy.

The time was now.

In the name of saving the republic, Marcus sought the cooperation of a group of young men.

His reputation suppressed Catilina's rebellion and was already so high that no one among the aristocrats doesn't know about it.

"If it's for the future of the republic, of course I'm going to do it."

Brutus gave the answer that he would cooperate immediately.

Gaius Scribonius Curio also joined Marcus, who has recently been recognized as an outstanding public speaker.

His father was a zealous republican and a close friend of Cicero and Cato.

With this increase in helpers, Marcus declared that he would hold a public meeting in the Forum Romanum in his family's name.

Young men who attended meetings in defense of the republic were also willing to lend their families' names.

Even if they hadn't made it to the Senate yet, the value of their prestigious aristocratic families was considerable.

Moreover, all of them had the potential to lead the Senate in the future.

The Senate naturally paid attention.

They said the mess in Rome hadn't been cleaned up yet, and it was time to put things right.

This is where Crassus actively promoted the idea, assuring them that the youth would come up with innovative solutions.

"As elders, we should listen to the opinions of our young people."

Cicero also gave Marcus full support.

In the meantime, gossipers have been spreading rumors that measures will be announced to ease the burden on debtors.

As things went on like this, the scale of the assembly grew tremendously.

At this point, it was virtually no different from the convocation of the Concilium Plebis.

The debtors, who were half giving up, waited for the day of the rally with a ray of hope.

Creditors were not too nervous.

It was because of the belief that the Crassus family, the representative of the equites, would not propose an absurd policy.

The day of the assembly has finally arrived.

The majority of the Senate, all the tribunes, and a large number of citizens gathered in the Forum Romanum.

"Wow, that's a lot of people."

Marcus, who looked around the square on the platform, smiled with satisfaction.

Crassus, standing beside him, was equally pleased.

"After today, your name and my family's name will be written in the history of Rome, and I am proud of you."

"I can't do it alone. Without my father's help, my ideas would have been nothing more than dreams. Brutus, Curio, and Cassius also helped in their own ways, and Justus, who watched over Catilina the whole time, was very helpful."

"I have merely adapted your ideas to the realities of Rome. Everyone else is just a nudge in your direction. I don't care what anyone says, you're the main character on this stage."

Marcus, of course, was well aware of this.

He attracted people around him because the issue was too huge to push alone.

Therefore, he mobilized young people from prestigious families to increase their weight and added a sense of trust with the guarantee of Crassus.

All that's left is to convince the people in this meeting.

He took a deep breath and slowed his pace.

The roar of the noisy crowd hit his ears.

At the same time, the pounding of his heart created a pleasant sound.

Marcus, who is advancing, renewed his determination in a short moment.

After this moment, the name Marcus will be deeply imprinted on the heads of all citizens of Rome, not just the aristocrats.

This was the moment when the young man who had been hiding in the shadows would finally make a name for himself.