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(Simulator) Chapter 103: The Senate: Are you not done with the Assembly yet?!
🕑 Added 2024-10-02 15:48:00 +0000 UTCReturning to the main point, it’s worth noting that—
Thanks to the open voting system, Tiberius eventually succeeded in becoming the new tribune.
Even though the Senate was vehemently opposed, the reality of the election results couldn’t be altered.
There was no opportunity for them to manipulate the outcome.
If they wanted to stop Tiberius through legal channels, the Roman Senate could only hope that he would fail in the next tribune election.
Night and the Gracchi brothers had taken a risky gamble, but it paid off.
By making bold statements early in the election, Tiberius had significantly shortened the time needed to implement his reforms.
The moment he won, he could begin immediately.
It all happened so fast that the Senate barely had time to react before he completed the initial groundwork, gaining significant support and votes through his speeches.
While the Roman Assembly seemed like a hollow institution, on the surface, it remained sacred and inviolable.
Even the Senate couldn’t openly break such a fundamental rule.
During this period, the Senate repeatedly warned and threatened Tiberius to stop submitting reform proposals and legal petitions.
But the latter completely ignored them, treating their warnings as mere noise.
Soon, he launched his second and third speeches in the public square.
Under Night’s protection, he even began delivering speeches in the surrounding cities of Rome.
The effect was immediate—more and more people chose to support Tiberius and his cause.
Everyone understood that this was a silent war—without smoke, without bloodshed, but no less dangerous.
If Tiberius, who had gone to such lengths for them, were to fail, they knew they might never have the courage to rise up again.
Thus—they couldn’t lose.
They absolutely must not lose. Failure was not an option.
The people's resolve was unshakable.
They were prepared to fight alongside Night and Tiberius, even to the death.
Meanwhile, the Senate had shifted from their initial anger and disbelief to outright panic.
Soon, they called a private emergency meeting.
At the meeting, the room erupted in chaos as everyone began frantically voicing their concerns.
“We can’t wait any longer…
If we delay further, Tiberius’ following will only grow!”
“Damn it, we should have taken action as soon as that boy became tribune. We never should have given him more time or opportunities to speak!”
“Kill this traitor, this heretic—kill him!!”
"I only regret not holding firm back then, not preventing Tiberius from running for tribune."
"Hmph, it's too late to talk about that now. Let’s focus on how to deal with Tiberius. Killing him won’t be so easy anymore. Every time he gives a speech, he’s surrounded by a huge crowd of citizens who voluntarily protect him.
I believe... we can’t use the same methods we used against Lucius Licinius."
Indeed, Lucius Licinius—another tribune, assassinated by the Senate’s covert tactics.
But Tiberius was different.
He had more supporters, and they were far more vigilant.
Moreover, Tiberius had the backing of the powerful Gracchus family, as well as tenuous but significant connections with the Scipio family, both the elder and younger branches.
Even though neither the Gracchi nor the Scipios had openly declared their full support for Tiberius’ reforms, they hadn’t outright opposed him either.
Just thinking about the vast influence behind Tiberius made the senators feel sick, as if they’d swallowed dirt.
This was the advantage of having a strong background...
Even though history would eventually show the Gracchi brothers dying tragically, it was only because they were caught off guard.
Despite the overwhelming public support, the Senate still shamelessly branded them rebels, claiming they had "armed the populace with clubs" (used by their supporters to protect the Gracchi) to incite a rebellion—and used this excuse to massacre them and their movement!
But now, with Night’s guidance, the Gracchi brothers had already identified and rallied numerous factions to their cause, preparing themselves thoroughly.
They had developed a deep mistrust of the Senate.
In such a situation, the Senate struggled to find an opportunity to carry out an assassination.
Meanwhile, with each speech, Tiberius, his brother Gaius, and Night were becoming more and more renowned.
They publicly declared their support for a much-needed transformation in Rome.
Rome needed to be reborn—and several new laws, rumored to be the collaborative work of the three of them, were frequently mentioned in speeches.
Gradually, word of these reforms spread far and wide!
Now, with momentum building, Night made his move.
A proposal for reviewing the new laws was quickly submitted to the Senate.
"…!!!"
"Rejected! Absolutely rejected!"
The reaction in the Senate was immediate when the proposal reached the sacred hall.
This was the second time Night had appeared in front of the Senate’s gathering.
The proposal wasn’t even fully reviewed before being dismissed.
Night wasn’t surprised at all.
It would’ve been shocking if this pack of old vultures actually agreed.
But he hadn’t come to seek their approval this time—he was here to deliver a message.
Tiberius himself wasn’t even present; Night had instructed him to continue his speeches elsewhere.
He would handle the Senate.
As he watched the faces of the enraged, red-faced senators, who were now purple with fury, Night’s lips curled into a faint smile. He spoke calmly: "You disagree?
Then let’s call for a people’s assembly—!
When a major proposal concerning state affairs arises, even without the Senate’s support, we have the right to petition for a vote at the citizen’s assembly.
Let the people of Rome decide for themselves whether to implement this new law.
Surely the esteemed senators wouldn’t refuse, would they?
After all, Rome prides itself on being a republic, a state of the people. I assume no one here would dare act as a dictator, correct?"
....
As Night's veiled insinuation landed, many of the aristocrats unconsciously found themselves cast in the role of dictators, growing angrier to the point of nearly bursting a blood vessel.
The People's Assembly, again with the People's Assembly—enough already!
That day, the senators were reminded of the terrifying power of the people.
What was even more terrifying, though, was the man standing before them.
While the Gracchi brothers had some talent and strategic vision, their past image led the Senate to believe that, despite their intelligence, they lacked the grand strategy and intricate planning to pull off something so precise and devastating.
However now...
One step after another, every move struck at the Senate’s weak points.
Many senators had already begun to suspect that Night was the true mastermind behind all of this, which deepened their fear of him.
From initial attempts to woo and dismiss him, they had now grown to feel true terror.
Ambitious men vying for the consulship or aiming for the heart of Roman power were certainly dangerous, but they paled in comparison to someone like this.
Night’s goals were crystal clear.
He had no interest in the riches or status offered by the aristocrats.
He wasn’t swayed by their attempts to integrate him into the wealthy class.
Instead, he stood firmly by the Gracchi brothers, committed to reform.
A man with no personal greed, but immense ability, a terrifyingly calm and sharp mind, and a singular goal—to change Rome (and destroy them in the process).
A person without personal desires has no weaknesses, and that kind of enemy is the most terrifying of all.
.
.
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