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(Simulator) Chapter 85: Friend, Have You Ever Seen a Red Storm?
🕑 Added 2024-09-19 17:04:01 +0000 UTC“Before I tell you who you need to protect, let me explain why I sought you out.
…” Night began slowly.
His calm voice soothed the tension in the air, allowing the men to relax.
A steady mood encourages conversation.
And to be honest, Pronius and his fellow ex-soldiers were curious why he wanted to hire them.
Night: “During the Second Punic War, Hannibal ravaged Italy, causing the small farmers who formed the backbone of Rome’s army to either die in battle or lose their land due to prolonged wars, leaving them bankrupt and landless.”
As soon as he began speaking, Pronius and the others’ expressions darkened, recalling unpleasant memories.
“Meanwhile, the lands of these bankrupt farmers and newly conquered territories were often seized by nobles and large landowners, either through low-priced acquisitions or outright takeovers.
When the soldiers returned from the battlefield, they had nothing left and nowhere to go.
So, these people flooded into Rome, wandering aimlessly.”
Pronius and the others felt increasingly uneasy.
Night was practically pointing fingers, calling them those aimless, idle veterans.
One of the burly men, unable to contain his anger and hatred, spoke up: “It’s not that we want to do nothing, but the nobles and those big landowners have left us with no choice.
We fought in wars for years, only to return to find our homes destroyed, our wives and children gone—either taken by others or forced to sell themselves as slaves to survive.
And what did we get after conquering countless regions for Rome?
A piece of land?
We don’t even have time to wait for the next harvest season; without money, we’d starve before then, forcing us to sell the only land we have.
Besides, the crops and fruits that are most profitable in Rome now can’t just be grown anywhere.
You nobles, blinded by money, never cared about us poor people or soldiers.”
Seeing the hatred in the man’s eyes, Night was not surprised.
According to Plutarch:
‘Thus, those driven from their lands have no interest in military service or raising children, leading to a shortage of free citizens throughout Italy.'
After the wealthy expelled the free citizens, they brought in a large number of foreign slaves to help cultivate their estates.
This was why, later on, at the Roman market at night, one could see slaves of various races and nationalities.
Night looked at the group and spoke.
"You don't need to look at me with those eyes. I'm not a noble, nor a large landowner.
This time, I've hired you to help change this unjust environment.
To make the proud nobles of the Seven Hills bow their heads and return to you the rewards you originally earned fighting for your homeland."
Not a noble?
And not a large landowner?
Night's words left Pronius and the others momentarily stunned.
If that were the case, why was he so wealthy?
Soon, they found their answer in the man's next words,
"The person I need you to protect is Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus.
He will run for this year’s tribune, reestablish legislation to reclaim surplus land for the state and redistribute it to the poor and homeless of Rome.
Each person would be allotted about 30 iugera of land to support their living and provide shelter."
......
Without any hesitation,
Night got straight to the point, delivering an irresistible offer to these men.
And his words immediately shook them to their core and left their hearts in turmoil.
A new land law?
And—30 iugera of land…
This number, to say the least, enticed the now homeless and idle retired Roman soldiers.
If possible, who would want to be a drifter?
Especially those who had once served in the military, shedding blood for Rome on the battlefield.
As veterans, they still harbored their own sense of pride.
And now, they finally realized the magnitude of the disturbance Night and his companions were planning.
Was the Gracchus family boy insane?
Daring to touch the land law, that huge piece of cake?
Over the years, Pronius and the others had long seen through the ugly faces of the Roman nobility, knowing that they would never allow Tiberius to challenge their massive interests in land.
He was going against the entire upper class of Rome, against the all-powerful Senate!
What gave that man the courage to challenge the Senate?
Even Tiberius' father, the elder Gracchus, couldn't…
"Tiberius?! Is it that Tiberius, the one who just returned from the front lines of the Spanish battlefield? Hmm..." Pronius couldn't help but blurt out.
He recalled the recent legendary tales circulating around Rome about the eldest son of the Gracchus family, one of only two survivors of that famous battle.
And, it must be said, because the elder Gracchus came from commoner origins, as his son,
Tiberius wasn't as hated or despised by these retired soldiers as other long-established nobles were.
But a commoner noble was still a noble.
Could they really trust this Gracchus?
Pronius and the other retired soldiers hesitated.
Night: "Yes…"
After receiving his confirmation, Pronius and many of the retired soldiers had already begun to waver.
After all, a noble who was willing to consider the poor and the soldiers was indeed a rare sight.
If they couldn't trust someone like this, then who could they trust?
The other side had already made the most daring move for them, with no room for retreat.
Yet, Pronius still opened his mouth: "You're so certain that we will help Tiberius and not report this to the Senate?"
He was a bit annoyed at how Night seemed to assume their loyalty.
At this moment, Night, wearing a hood, had not revealed his face.
If Pronius had seen that the face under the hood was the same as the infamous, feared, and renowned last hero of Rome, he would never have dared to speak to Night like that.
Hearing his words,the latter merely revealed a faint smile from the lower half of his face.
"You will agree. Your position naturally dictates that you will stand with Tiberius.
Even if you inform the Senate and temporarily gain some wealth from the nobles, how long do you think that wealth would stay in your hands…? Dancing with snakes comes with risks."
Pronius understood Night's meaning.
The nobles were like greedy, ruthless, and deceitful snakes.
Even if there was money to be had, it wouldn't last long.
Dealing with wolves always carried the risk of being devoured afterward.
"And even if someone among you chooses to report to the Senate, we wouldn’t mind…
At most, it would merely mean stepping onto the stage of history a little earlier.
"Have you ever witnessed a crimson storm?"
P. S:
The jugerum or juger (Latin: iūgerum, iūgera, iūger, or iugus) was a Roman unit of area, equivalent to a rectangle 240 Roman feet in length and 120 feet in width (about 71×35½ m), i.e. 28,800 square Roman feet (Latin: pedes quadratum) or about 1⁄4 hectare (0.623 acre).
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