Chapter 809
If what they said at the beginning could make the civilians slightly vigilant, then the following slander of Marcus touched the sensitive nerves of the civilians: "I know you, you are a lackey of the Cominelius clan. You were the one who framed Sir Marcus at the citizen's assembly!"
"Glaeus, you were among the aristocrats who captured Sir Marcus, yet you still dare to appear in front of us!"
…
Just as the crowd was stirred up, a voice shouted: "Kill them and avenge Sir Marcus!" Soon, the quarrel turned into a fight, and the hall became chaotic. Screams, cries, and shouts could be heard everywhere. m.
"Your Majesty!" When Tormid saw the situation on the stage, he was afraid that something would go wrong. He quickly asked the Devers, "Should we stop them?"
Devers shook his head. "Wait a minute."
After a while, the bugle was blown, and the soldiers on the sidelines roared again. They sent a team to squeeze into the crowd. More than a dozen nobles and diners were beaten until they were on the verge of death. The soldiers dragged them out and left them on the sidelines. They sent doctors to treat the other injured civilians.
At this time, Devers on the platform faced the crowd that had calmed down and continued to speak loudly: "I'm afraid you still don't know, but after Marcus learned that he was falsely accused, he quietly wrote a letter to his family, expressing his determination to die. Do you want to know what he said in the letter?!"
The people of Rome listened to the translation. Curiosity and guilt made them shout without hesitation, "Yes!!! … "
"Then let Pubrius Manlius read this home letter to you." After the Devers finished speaking, the people of Rome were surprised: Pubrius Manlius was a senator of the Senate of Rome and the current patriarch of the Manlius clan. He actually defected to the Diónia?!
When the doubtful people saw the man on the platform, their eyes widened in surprise: it was indeed Publius Manlius.
Facing the gaze of the people of Rome, the current patriarch of Manlius lowered his head in shame. At this time, the Devers's voice sounded in his ear, "Let's begin, Lord Publius!"
He trembled all over, and the image of the fierce Diónia soldiers beheading a dozen familiar Rome aristocrats in front of him last night appeared in his mind. The blood and heads on the ground shattered the fragile resistance in his heart. For the survival of his family, he chose to yield, just like when Marcus was executed by the Senate, he quickly decided to "yield to the senators and no longer use the family name Capitolinus".
Under the gaze of the Devers with a smile, his hands trembled slightly as he took out the letter that he had written imitating Marcus's notes under the dictation of the Devers, "Pu … Publius, my brother, you don't have to … persuade me anymore. I know very well the despicable tricks of the Senate. They slandered me for wanting to restore the monarchy. They are trying to kill me!
I have been fighting bravely all my life and have never yielded to anyone, so I will never kneel to them and beg for mercy. Even if they use great crimes to slander my reputation, usurp my honor, and let the civilians who follow me in disputes doubt me, I am not afraid!
My only regret is that I have made a promise to help those who believe in me and follow me to fight against the Senate. I will help them get rid of their heavy debts and let each of them have their own land, so that their cattle and sheep can graze on the public land of Rome! In fact, I have another promise in my heart that I have not told them, which is to let them have the opportunity to run for senior official positions in Rome, become senators, and serve as consuls … Unfortunately, all of this can no longer be realized.
Now I finally understand that it is almost impossible to fight for power for the civilians through words! If the gods can give me another chance, I will definitely arm the people and use sharp spears and the anger in my heart to overthrow the terrible and greedy rule of the Rome aristocrats. I will establish a good regime like the Kingdom of Dioria to the south of Rome that I have often told you about. There will be no distinction between aristocrats and civilians, and every citizen will enjoy equal rights! " At this point, Pubrius Manlius raised his head and glanced at the Devers not far away. The real writer of this letter was listening carefully, as if the letter really existed.
When he turned his gaze to the audience below the platform, he was surprised to see that many people were already sobbing. He was stunned for a moment, then subconsciously increased his volume and continued to read, "Pubrius, my brother, in the future, I will have to rely on you to take care of the affairs of the family. If possible, try to help a group of civilians who are in trouble … I am very unwilling to die with the crime of being a dictator! The gods above will definitely punish me for my injustice. Those who benefit from my death should not be happy too early! Signed: Marcus Manlius Capitolinus. "
By the time Pubrius finished reading the letter, the square was already filled with crying. Most of the people did not doubt the authenticity of the letter. They were moved by Marcus' dedication to fighting for their rights even before his death. They were ashamed that they had not been firm enough to save such a great and noble leader.
Amid the cries, someone shouted excitedly, "Marcus!"
Countless people responded loudly, "Marcus!!! Marcus!!! Marcus!!! … "
The people in the square shouted his name in unison with great excitement.
The shouts echoed over the city of Rome, causing the senators and nobles on Capitolin Mountain to stare at the square. They saw the crowd gathered in the square and thought that the people of Rome were fighting against the people of Diónia. They did not know that the people of Rome were excitedly mourning an aristocratic traitor they hated the most.
The excitement of the people of Rome lasted for a while before they gradually calmed down.
At this time, the Devers said loudly, "A year after Marcus was killed, there was a plague in Rome. This was not a warning from the gods to Marcus who wanted to be a dictator as the priests said, but a punishment from the gods to those who framed a great hero of Rome! Today, we, the people of Diónia, have come to Rome in response to Marcus' curse. We have come to overthrow the high and mighty nobles of Rome who have cruelly oppressed you, and together with you, build a new Rome like what Marcus said in his letter! "
As the Devers spoke passionately, Pubrius Manlius kept nodding at the side.
Although the people of Rome were still full of vigilance and suspicion, there was less anger in their eyes when they looked at the Devers.
Someone plucked up his courage and asked loudly, "How are you going to build a new Rome with us?!"
"Good question!" The Devers immediately responded, "Next, my newly appointed adjutant of the administration of Rome will answer your question and issue my order!"
Then, the people of Rome saw a man in a magnificent black robe with white stripes walk up the stage with his head held high. After he bowed respectfully to the King of Devers, he turned to face the people below the stage.
Among the people who lived in the slums of Rome, standing at the front, some of them widened their eyes in surprise. Isn't this Valcers?!
Someone could not help but shout, "Valcers, is that you?!"
Valcers held his head high and said proudly, "I am now the adjutant of the administration of Rome appointed by His Majesty the King. My position is higher than the magistrates you are familiar with. Please show some respect when you speak to me next time!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the people below the stage were in an uproar. They whispered to each other, and soon, the news spread throughout the audience. A commoner of Rome who was once a slave like them had become a high official of the Kingdom of Diónia, standing on the stage and lecturing them.
The Devers calmly looked at the uproar below the stage. He was very satisfied with the huge impact Valcers had on the commoners of Rome. He knew very well that in Italy and the western Mediterranean, there would occasionally be citizens of a city-state who would leave their original city-state for another city-state, or even an enemy city-state. However, they would not be put in important positions, and they would not enter the inner circle of the city-state. Instead, they would become commoners. This was one of the most important sources of commoners in Rome. Of course, there would also be clans from other city-states who brought hundreds of people with them to seek refuge in Rome, and they would be accepted by the clans in Rome. They would share power, but they would become nobles. Persia's open-mindedness to accept foreign fugitives, even enemies, and put them in an important position was, after all, a rare thing in the whole of the Mediterranean Sea. As a result, although the Greeks and the Persians were mortal enemies, once they were expelled from their own country, they would often seek refuge with the Persians.
Now, how would the commoners of Rome react when they suddenly saw the huge change in Valcers' social status? The Devers looked forward to it.
The uniform roars of the Diónia soldiers restored peace to the square once more.
Valcers cleared his throat and took a few deep breaths. He recalled the content he had memorized yesterday and said loudly, "Hmm, His Majesty the Devers has announced to the people of Rome that 'from the moment Diónia takes over Rome, all debts owed by the commoners of Rome to the nobles shall be cancelled. All slaves of the nobles of Rome and the nobles of Rome shall become free citizens'."
As soon as Valcers finished speaking, the slaves at the back of the square cheered.
In comparison, the commoners of Rome were relatively calm. Rome had been occupied by the foreigners, and most of the senators and nobles had fled to Capitoline Mountain. Of course, it was impossible for them to collect their debts from the commoners. However, the commoners relaxed their brows. They knew that as long as the nobles were unable to defeat the people of Diónia, their debts would be written off forever!
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