Chapter 79: Son-in-law and Father-in-law’s Script (2)
Chapter 79: Son-in-law and Father-in-law’s Script (2)
Four days before the Nones (7th) of March, Caesar completed the land reform bill, a key policy of the First Triumvirate.
The Senate was stunned by the draft Caesar presented. The bill was so extensive and detailed that it filled over 100 scrolls.
Caesar had distributed copies of the bill to the senators. Vibullius, receiving his pile of scrolls, scoffed.
“Are you joking? How long do you expect us to read all this? It looks like today’s meeting will be consumed by just reading the bill. I oppose…”
“I anticipated that, so I prepared a summary,” Caesar replied, indicating a sheet of paper on top of the scrolls that highlighted the key points.
Vibullius fell silent, his expression contorted. Cato and Cicero quickly read through the bill and listened to Caesar’s explanation.
“I understand that many senators might be concerned about the land reform bill. Before we delve into the details, let me assure you that there is nothing in this bill meant to provoke or antagonize the Senate. I promise this on my honor.
I am confident that the bill is rational and fair, but that’s merely my perspective. I invite constructive discussion. I want to hear the reasons for any opposition so we can improve the bill.”
Metellus Scipio raised his hand and stood. When Caesar gave him the floor, he pointed to the pile of scrolls with a skeptical look.
“Praetor, look at this. The bill’s content is excessively long and complex. Even with the summary, it lacks details. Why is the bill so detailed?”
“A land reform bill must be thorough and address all possible scenarios. The previous land reform by the Gracchi brothers was too radical and left too much room for arbitrary interpretation. I aimed to avoid that by being meticulous. The length of the bill reflects this thoroughness.”
The conservative senators exchanged uneasy glances but did not voice their concerns. Caesar had previously ensured that all speeches were recorded, requiring plausible arguments to avoid ridicule.
Caesar noticed the silence and, clearing his throat, spoke with renewed emphasis.
“Rome’s population is soon expected to exceed one million. It’s remarkable that so many people live in one city. However, this also means that many lands in Italy remain underutilized. By returning these lands to farming, we can reduce free grain distribution and save on the budget.”
Cato, who had been reading the bill, requested to speak for the first time. He stood and asked sharply,
“So, praetor, does this bill aim to reduce poverty and secure Rome’s revenue?”
“There is also an intention to strengthen the social safety net. Are you aware of the number of retired soldiers who are wandering without settling down?”
“How would I know that?”
“Does anyone know?”
Caesar looked around, but no one readily answered. The conservative senators were visibly unsettled, and Marcus sighed, raising his hand.
“I know it’s close to 500,000.”
“That’s correct. I’m glad at least one person is aware of this issue.”
Caesar let the room murmur with confusion before continuing with a satisfied tone.
“Now I believe some of you understand the necessity of this bill. This bill differs from the Gracchi brothers’ law.
I have no intention of infringing on the Senate’s private property. Private property must be protected as a core principle of Rome. The bill focuses on distributing public land. For more details, please refer to scroll number nine.”
The hall was soon filled with the rustling of scrolls as senators searched for the details.
“This section demonstrates the rationality of my bill. The most fertile public land in Campania is excluded from distribution, even though it is technically state-owned. This land is already leased out from generation to generation, much like private property. To forcibly distribute such land would be a violation of the rights of Roman citizens.”
Several senators who had read the bill sighed in relief. As Caesar noted, Campania was practically controlled by the senators. They managed vast estates on this fertile land as if it were their own.
The Gracchi brothers had attempted to completely confiscate the public land in Campania, which the Senate perceived as an infringement on their private property.
Caesar aimed to avoid provoking the Senate as much as possible.
“The right to lease public land is also limitedly transferable. The Gracchi brothers had completely prohibited this, but such a law is unrealistic. If you have farmed a piece of land for 20 years, it is reasonable to allow its transfer to another. It is more sensible for a family to hold up to 1,000 jugera (250 hectares) of public land, sufficient for running a latifundium.
Any land exceeding this limit will be purchased by the state at a fair price and redistributed. There will be no attempts to undervalue the land. The aediles of the Senate will set the purchase price, with Curio and Cassius—both intelligent and thoughtful—handling it this year.”
Both Curio and Cassius were young men known for their pro-Senate stance.
“Finally, let me outline the anticipated effects of this land reform. Distributing existing public land can allocate more than 30,000 poor people to farmland. After purchasing excess land, it can be fairly distributed to 50,000 retired soldiers who have served honorably. There is enough budget for this, thanks to increased tax revenue and compensation money recovered from the East by Pompey.”
Bibulus, who wanted to oppose the bill on budgetary grounds, found himself at a loss. Caesar’s bill left little room for attack, as it was moderate and reasonable.
Cato scrutinized the committee responsible for overseeing land distribution, suspecting some trickery. However, the oversight committee included members from both the Senate and the equestrian class, with authority vested in the Senate. The Crassus family, representing the equestrian class, had a guaranteed role in the process, which was favorable to the Senate.
Cicero viewed this as Caesar’s consideration for the Senate and found no serious flaws in the bill. Cato, although desperately searching for a point of attack, came to the same conclusion.
Nevertheless, Cato was determined to block the bill and quickly requested the floor to speak.
“Consul, I understand your intention, but the content of this bill is too complex to judge within a single day or even tomorrow. It would be better to postpone the discussion.”
“That’s a reasonable suggestion. I have no intention of rushing this bill through. I genuinely believe it’s crucial for Rome’s future, and I’m willing to postpone the next meeting for a week to allow everyone time to thoroughly review it. I hope for constructive discussions in that time.”
With a satisfied look, Caesar glanced at the stenographer recording his speeches and adjourned the meeting. He passed by Crassus and Pompey, bowing politely before leaving the assembly hall.
In contrast, the senators from the aristocratic faction remained in their seats after the meeting ended. Cato and Bibulus gathered their colleagues for a countermeasure meeting. Cicero, although not a core member of the aristocratic faction, also attended, highlighting the urgency the Senate felt about the bill.
Metellus Scipio, confused, asked, “But I heard it was a fairly reasonable bill. Why are we opposing it so strongly?”
“We must oppose it!” Cato snapped with frustration. “Some senators, like Metellus, may be confused, which is precisely what Caesar is counting on. He uses seemingly reasonable methods to deceive us and then undermines us without our realizing it. We must not fall for such tricks.”
Marcus nodded in agreement. “I believe the same. Caesar did not propose this bill purely for the good of Rome. Even if he did have Rome’s interests at heart, he likely included elements designed to weaken the Senate’s authority. He is shrewd enough to do so.”
“That’s exactly right!” Cato said. “Marcus, I’m glad you see things clearly. Everyone, Marcus is correct. Caesar is attacking us under the guise of doing it for Rome’s benefit. We need a countermeasure. Bibulus, what about using your veto?”
“That would be difficult,” Bibulus replied. “Caesar hasn’t officially proposed the bill yet; he’s merely presented its contents and suggested amendments through discussion. Exercising a veto now without proper grounds would only make it look like we’re obstructing him.”
Cato, frustrated, shook his head. “Then let’s find something in the bill that’s problematic. We can use that as our justification for a counter-signature.”
“You want us to read through this massive bill?” one senator asked.
“Yes,” Cato insisted. “We must examine it thoroughly, without missing a single detail. Caesar is human, and there must be errors somewhere. If we find them, we can nullify the bill while retaining our justification.”
Metellus, still unconvinced, asked, “What if we don’t find anything? If we oppose the bill simply due to Caesar’s popularity, we risk losing public support.”
“Caesar likely designed this bill with his consul popularity in mind,” Cato replied. “His actions are part of a larger strategy. We must stop this bill to prevent it from leading to further laws that could undermine us.”
Following Cato’s impassioned speech, Bibulus resolved to act. “Even if things go awry, I will exercise my veto in the end. I don’t care if I face public backlash or damage my career. We must protect the Senate’s future!”
While the aristocratic faction senators debated their strategy against Caesar, Marcus, with a shameless expression, lowered his head. “I apologize for not taking a more active role while you’re working so hard for the Senate’s honor. I have too many other matters to handle right now…”
“What are you saying!” Cato exclaimed, waving his hand dismissively. He approached Marcus, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Is there anyone here who thinks Marcus isn’t doing enough for the Senate?”
Bibulus let out a snicker.
“If anyone thinks otherwise, they must have a guilty conscience. I feel ashamed as a consul. There’s a young man diligently fulfilling his duties as a aedile, yet I’m struggling to stay clear-headed because of Caesar’s maneuvers…”
“Don’t worry, Marcus. No one blames you. In fact, we should be leading you, not the other way around. So, don’t feel burdened. Just focus on doing your job as a aedile well, and that will support the Senate.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. I’ll work hard to earn the reputation of being the best aedile.”
The senators smiled at Marcus’ sincere commitment. Despite their concerns about Caesar, they felt a sense of stability, as if they were on a well-steered ship, even if they were unsure of its destination.
Marcus’ fatigue was reaching its limit as his duties as a aedile and the Senate meetings overlapped. If Julia and the twins hadn’t greeted him so warmly upon his return, he might have collapsed. The sight of his daughter and son playing brought a sense of relief.
“How was the meeting today?” Julia asked with a bright smile, clutching the hem of Marcus’ toga.
Her attitude had noticeably softened after the birth of their children. She no longer used the formal address “Marcus sir” and showed more affection and trust in her tone and actions.
“Same as always. They seemed hesitant about the land law I proposed,” Marcus replied.
“I saw the draft too; it seemed flawless. But you still opposed it, right?”
“Of course. They asked for time to review the bill, but it’s just a stalling tactic to find reasons to oppose it. I’m actually curious to see what absurd reasons they’ll come up with. They need to oppose it somehow; otherwise, Cato will just block the proceedings with another long speech.”
“Is his speech really that boring?”
“Imagine listening to a topic you have no interest in for eight hours straight. It’s unbearable. I never want to go through that again.”
Marcus shuddered at the memory from a year ago. Julia laughed, her smile even more radiant after the birth of their children. Marcus felt his last bit of fatigue melt away.
“But Marcus, while I understand why you made the bill reasonable, it seems risky. If I were in the Senate, I’d pass it without hesitation.”
“It’s okay. There’s no one like you in the Senate.”
“There’s Cicero.”
“If Cicero were leading the aristocratic faction, your father and I would have used different tactics. But he’s not, right? I also hinted to your father that there must be some hidden motives, so he should refuse it regardless.”
“You’re bold.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Marcus smiled contentedly and flopped onto the bed. As he closed his eyes, the events of the day replayed in his mind like a lantern.
As Julia had guessed, Caesar and Marcus had no intention of passing the land law. They knew it wouldn’t pass because it was designed to be faultless. Just before sleep overtook him, Marcus murmured to himself, “Yes, it would be troublesome if it passed like this.”
The real challenge was yet to come. The faint smile on Marcus’ lips suggested as much.