< 140. Hidden Title ( At the End) >
“Governor, that proposal is absolutely impossible! Please reconsider!”
“I think I’ve told you many tis. I’m doing this with a plan in mind.”
The Al-Hayn Hall of the Antioch Palace, which was used for eting the nobles, was filled with loud voices.
It was not a rare occurrence lately.
The bureaucrats watched the repeated argunts with bored faces as usual.
“Governor, haven’t I told you over and over again? Among the nobles of sopotamia, there are so who have a long history dating back to the Persian, or rather Babylonian Empire. You have to respect the traditions that they have maintained for hundreds of years.”
“That’s why I have no intention of ignoring their traditions. I will respect them as much as possible if they have any value. But I can’t leave things as they are if there is a clear need for improvent. The current thod of irrigation agriculture has the risk of accelerating the desertification of the land. I’m not trying to impose Ro’s tradition on you, I’m trying to protect the fertile soil of sopotamia.”
The noble who had lived in sopotamia for generations, Horshid, shook his head vehently and shouted.
“I appreciate your noble intentions, Governor. But a policy that says ‘everything you’ve done so far is wrong’ will cause a lot of dissatisfaction among many people.”
“Then what do you want to do?”
Marcus’s face showed a hint of annoyance.
Horshid quickly added a word.
“First of all, please gather the nobles in one place and listen to their opinions as much as possible. And if you gradually narrow down the differences, I’m sure you can find a common ground.”
“Don’t you realize that you’re asking for too much consideration? I’ve never given such treatnt and privileges to the local nobles in Syria or Arnia.”
“I’m just grateful for your grace, Governor. But I’m just suggesting a way to integrate sopotamia into Ro without any conflict.”
“I know that too. That’s why I’m listening to your words.”
Horshid bowed his waist several tis and expressed his gratitude.
“From that point of view, I have one more thing to say. It’s about the wedding ceremony that’s coming up…I’m afraid that many of the old nobles in sopotamia will be unhappy with the arrangent.”
“You’re saying they’re still dissatisfied even though I assigned them seats according to their influence and reputation?”
“Their pride is imnse. My family also has a great pride in defending this land since Alexander the Great.
How much more would those who have lived here since King Xerxes or Cyrus the Great? They have rooted themselves in their land and held their ground while the rulers of this land changed many tis.
They have accumulated ti for hundreds of years. It’s not fair to hear them say that they are arrogant for feeling humiliated by being treated like the new nobles in Syria or Arnia.”
Marcus did not argue back.
Pride without ability was pitiful, but it was another problem to point it out in front of them.
And Horshid’s claim was not so wrong when viewed from the perspective of the current era.
The nobles of sopotamia, one of the cradles of human civilization, were indeed bound by a strange pride.
It was also because Parthia, the ruler before Ro, was a country that granted considerable autonomy to the local nobles.
Marcus nodded his head slightly as if he didn’t want to waste his breath and waved his hand.
“I’ll adjust your positions considering your beloved tradition and history, so just know that and go away.”
“I’m humbled by your generosity, Governor, which is as deep and vast as the sea.”
Horshid bowed his waist again and slowly left his seat.
As soon as he disappeared completely, Septimus shook his head and opened his mouth.
“He’s really annoying. He always cos and says the sa thing over and over again…”
“He’s a bit too stubborn. I understand that he has a lot of pride, but it can be disgusting if it’s too excessive.”
“Are you going to let him act like that?”
“It’s annoying, but it’s another matter to punish him. He’s still one of the moderate ones who criticize mildly. If I muzzle even those opinions, I might be accused of ignoring the local opinions completely.”
“I see…that makes sense.”
Septimus sighed deeply.
He had a lot to prepare already, and he didn’t like having old fossils with only pride bothering him.
Marcus also sneered bitterly and licked his tongue.
“Especially in places like sopotamia where the local forces have a lot of influence, they will swarm like bees if they have a reason. It’s not a good example to suppress them with force. Then there will be people in Ro who will nag about it.”
“So you’re saying it’s better to appease their pride and slowly Romanize them. But don’t you think you should have asked him about the eting he had with the other nobles last ti?”
“I searched, but I couldn’t find any conclusive evidence. Then they would naturally try to evade the issue. And if they really are plotting sothing, it’s better to leave them alone for now. If we touch them rashly, it will be harder to catch their tail.”
“I understand. Then let’s continue to operate the surveillance network quietly.”
Septimus always trusted Marcus’s judgnt.
Besides, he was too busy with the treatnt of the guests and the preparation of the wedding to take care of every detail.
He was honestly relieved that he didn’t have to dig deeper.
Marcus chuckled at his visibly relieved expression.
“Since you don’t have to do it yourself, take a copy of next week’s newspaper to the Surenas mansion. Make sure the article about Pompey’s expedition is displayed prominently on top.”
“Did he finally give in?”
“He seems to have already leaned towards it, but he still has so hesitation. I’m planning to create a situation that will shake it off this ti… Well, he has to make his own choice.”
“It would certainly stir his heart to see Pompey’s expedition article. The last war must have been an incomplete combustion for Surenas.”
Septimus agreed with a good opinion and turned to leave, but he stopped in his place with an expression of rembering sothing.
“By the way, I forgot to tell you one thing. The mansion where Artia’s family will stay is ready. I also contacted Ro to send over the furniture and slaves that they used.”
“Good. But what about Octavius? He’s frail, so you have to pay special attention to him. If he lives in a place with a different climate and soil all of a sudden, he might get sick.”
“I’m trying to make him live as similar as possible to when he was in Ro. I also told them to cook the sa food with the sa ingredients. Lord and Lady are also getting along well with Octavius, so you don’t have to worry about their friendship.”
“That’s good news. They’re not much different in age, so I hoped they would be close.”
Marcus had allowed Octavius and his family to stay at the governor’s residence until the mansion was ready.
He naturally intended to make Octavius closer to his own children.
Trajanus and Sophia, who were not moody children, welcod their peer friend Octavius.
Marcus’s face showed a satisfied smile as he read all the reports written by the tutor.
“It seems that Octavius gets along better with Sophia than Trajanus, according to the tutor. I knew it from the start.”
“Maybe because Lord likes active things more. On the contrary, Lady likes quiet activities.”
“Sophia was bored with chess or cards because Trajanus was too weak, but she’ll soon have a good opponent.”
“Maybe so. Arsinoe is not very good at it either…”
“Will she admit it? She always says she was unlucky when she loses.”
Septimus smirked and spat out a word.
“That’s why the card ga is popular. If you lose, you can make an excuse that it was bad luck, not your fault. And if you win, you can praise yourself for your strategy. It’s also trendy among the Syrian nobles these days, and I think there might be a big tournant with a lot of money soon.”
“It wouldn’t be bad to hold a tournant after the wedding when I have so free ti.”
If he used paper and printing machines, he could print cards in large quantities and distribute them widely to the general public.
There is nothing more effective than throwing out a fun entertainnt for gaining popularity from the citizens.
Giving money or food is short-lived, but holding a tournant that can be held continuously is effective as long as the popularity does not fade.
Marcus was already planning various events in the central cities of each province where he had installed amphitheaters.
He decided to introduce elents unique to the eastern provinces into the traditional Roman gladiator fights and start them next year.
He also planned to introduce horse racing and chariot racing soon.
But these were all closer to watching and betting on money than participating in them.
It seed like a good idea to spread toys that citizens could experience themselves like card gas.
Of course, even if paper was cheap, ordinary citizens couldn’t carry hundreds of cards around, so he needed to create public facilities where they could rent cards and enjoy gas.
As he imrsed himself in his thoughts about business, he felt like he had gone back to the old days.
Marcus had a refreshing ti writing down his ideas that sprang up one after another in his notebook and cooling down his overloaded head.
※※※※
Ctesiphon, the central city of sopotamia province.
This place boasted a grandeur that was not inferior to any other eastern city even under Roman rule.
Horshid, who had returned straight from Antioch, entered the luxurious mansion without a chance to relieve his fatigue.
The rough footsteps that shook the floor revealed his displeasure.
A gentle voice rang out from inside the door with a lion’s head carved on it.
“Welco. You must have had a hard ti coming from afar.”
The one who invited Horshid was the young leader of the Intaphrenes family.
The nobleman, who was just over thirty years old, had a sharp impression that was both sturdy and sharp.
He was one of the most powerful nobles in Ctesiphon.
It didn’t matter whether he was from the Intaphrenes family, one of the forr Persian noble families, or a fake who used their na.
Anyway, the current Intaphrenes family had enough wealth and power to boast their na.
He was soone that Horshid, who was rising with a frightening montum, could not treat lightly.
But even so, his tone was naturally irritated by the long journey from Antioch.
“Even if you traveled by horse and boat, Syria and sopotamia are not easy distances to co and go. If it wasn’t sothing urgent enough to call , you should pay a corresponding price.”
“Of course, we didn’t intend to waste your ti with a trivial matter. But this is the most important thing for us, so we had to be rude and apologize for it.”
Horshid couldn’t be more angry when the great nobleman of sopotamia bowed his head and apologized.
He nodded slightly and entered the reception room.
Many nobles were sitting in a row around the luxurious table.
Each one of them had considerable influence in the region.
And they all had one thing in common: they were not pro-Roman.
“Horshid, welco.”
“How much trouble have you had in Syria?”
The nobles greeted him warmly as they saw his face.
Among them, he saw the face of Hidarnes, a noble family that boasted a tradition of over 400 years.
It was clear that they gathered here to discuss an extraordinary matter.
Horshid felt uneasy and frowned as he stopped in his place.
“I thought I made it clear last ti… I don’t want to be pro-Roman or anti-Roman. Don’t drag into your power struggle. The ones who talked were just disposable ones who didn’t care if they were taken away. Even if I reported to Governor Marcus, you could have cut off your tails and that would have been it.”
“That’s an accurate judgnt. But at least if the governor knew we were plotting sothing, he would have been more cautious and we would have had to change our plans drastically. It may sound unpleasant to you, but the last eting was a place we prepared to test you.”
Horshid’s face hardened more and more. He looked like he wanted to turn around and leave right away.
“Damn it… You’re crazy. Don’t you know that this is too easy for you? I bet none of you know Marcus as well as I do. I don’t want to get involved in this plan because it doesn’t seem possible at all. But I can’t betray my compatriots either, so I’m just keeping my mouth shut.”
“But we still need your guidance, Horshid. As you said, we don’t have enough information about the Roman governor. But if you tell us what you know, we can make a more ticulous plan. Of course, it’s not free.
We’ll give you so of the rights that everyone here has as a reward.”
He looked around reflexively and Horshid’s face stiffened for a mont.
All the anti-Roman nobles in the region were gathered at Intaphrenes’s mansion.
If he received so of their rights, Horshid would beco virtually the king of sopotamia.
It was a condition that he couldn’t help but be tempted by for a mont.
“…But the chances of success are too low…”
“Is the governor that ironclad? Of course, I’ve heard a lot of praise for him and seen his status, but most of it was exaggerated rumors, wasn’t it?”
“You should think that everything you’ve heard and seen is based on facts. In my opinion, even if you leave a hundred pieces of evidence, it would be hard to succeed in this plan. Marcus is surrounded by such tight security.”
“Then what about tampering with his food?”
Hidarnes, who had been listening to the story, asked with a cautious expression.
Horshid snorted and shook his head.
“That primitive thod won’t work. They thoroughly inspect the ingredients and have slaves taste the food first.”
“Then there’s nothing we can do?”
No one could answer Hidarnes’s lanting question.
Horshid scratched his head as if he didn’t want to and broke the silence that had settled in the audience.
“Well… There’s not no way. Anyone shows a gap when there’s a big event. If you really want to do sothing, the wedding is the best opportunity.”
Intaphrenes’s eyes sparkled and he nodded vigorously.
“We thought so too when we heard about the wedding. We all agreed that this is the only chance we have, so we were able to arrange this eting.”
“Fifteen percent.”
“Excuse ?”
Everyone widened their eyes at Horshid’s sudden words.
“Give fifteen percent of the rights you have. Of course, secretly so that Ro doesn’t notice. If you swear to do that, I’ll help you make this plan succeed.”
“But taking fifteen percent from everyone here is too much…”
“Then the negotiation is over. I’ll go back now, so don’t stop .”
Intaphrenes quickly followed Horshid, who turned around and left the reception room, and grabbed his sleeve.
“I agree. I’ll give you fifteen percent. But we’re a community of fate from now on. We swear never to harm each other and stick together.”
“Of course. I swear by Ahura Mazda.”
Ahura Mazda was the na of the supre god of Zoroastrianism, the religion of Persia and Parthia.
A vow made in the na of Ahura Mazda ant a lot to the Persian nobles.
Intaphrenes smiled contentedly and led Horshid back to the reception room.
A thick scent of conspiracy finally flowed out of his mouth.
“Shall we begin then? The discussion to assassinate Governor Marcus.”
< 140. Assassination > End
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