Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece Chapter 926: Asistes's Suggestion
Previously on Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece...
"Stolo, my family just baked some bread with fresh-milled flour. It's still hot! Smells amazing—take a few pieces home to try!"
"Stolo, have all the houses in the Aventine district been torn down? I heard City Hall is going to build bigger, nicer homes for everyone. Is that true?"
"Stolo, I saw people from City Hall at your house this afternoon. Something must be going on."
...
The warm, caring greetings comforted Stolo. Even when the Theonians had confined him to his house, his neighbors had still offered his family whatever help they could. This was exactly why he had been so willing to provide them with legal assistance at low prices—or even for free—over the past few years.
Smiling and returning their greetings, he quickened his pace toward home.
"Stolo, you're finally back!" As soon as he stepped inside, his wife, Conia, rushed over and hugged him tightly.
"I'm perfectly fine, aren't I? Has something happened?" Stolo asked softly, gently rubbing her back.
"Someone from City Hall came this afternoon. They insisted you go there as soon as you got back to see that governor, Asi... Asistes. Stolo, is... is something wrong?" Conia looked at him, her face full of worry.
"We've already been through the worst, and we survived it all. What else could go wrong?" Their recent experiences had nearly turned his once naive, lovely noble wife into a nervous wreck. Stolo pinched her nose and feigned a relaxed tone. "It's highly likely the Theonians saw I've been doing a good job and are preparing to give me a more important task.""Really? That's wonderful!" Hearing this, Conia seemed to take it to heart and hurriedly pleaded, "Stolo, when you go to City Hall to see the governor later, you have to ask him if... if they can let my mother and sister come home!"
Stolo paused. Ever since the families of the Romans who had fled to Capitoline Hill were forced to come down, City Hall had only verified the identities of a small number of plebeian families and allowed them to return home. Most of the noble families remained detained. Some were imprisoned within the city, while others were escorted to Satricum to persuade the defenders to surrender. Since Stolo's mother-in-law was the wife of the famous Roman Senator Ambustus, and Conia's sister was married to Servius—the Roman general still stubbornly resisting at Satricum—City Hall would not release them easily.
Stolo had actually inquired about this matter a few days ago, but facing his wife's hopeful gaze, he simply nodded. "Alright. I'll ask the governor."
Conia instantly broke into a radiant smile. She hurried to serve dinner herself, attending to Stolo with the utmost care.
...
Lately, the Roman Municipal Office remained busy even at dusk. Allocating and transporting food and supplies for the two armies, distributing land and housing for the newly relocated Daionian Citizens, overseeing the autumn harvest and the subsequent tax collection, and urgently organizing the upcoming Festival of Hades and the rugby championship... A myriad of complex, pressing administrative tasks lay before Asistes and his subordinates, driving them to work day and night. So, as Stolo stepped into City Hall and saw the officials buried in their work and hurrying about, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of admiration.
When Stolo was led into Asistes's office, the governor had just seen off an official from the Patrol Department. Approaching fifty, Asistes inevitably suffered from a sore back after long hours at his desk. He stood up, stretched, and paced around the room. Seeing Stolo enter, he gestured for him to take a seat on a wooden chair, choosing to remain standing as he spoke. "I heard from Maenas that you've done an excellent job these past few days, especially in promptly helping the engineering team defuse several major conflicts."
"They didn't have any real disputes to begin with. It was merely a breakdown in communication," Stolo replied cautiously.
"Differences in customs, conflicting mindsets, and the language barrier preventing proper communication—all of this leads to clashes between the new and old citizens... It has become our biggest headache in maintaining order here in the City of Rome. This is no trivial matter!" Asistes rubbed his forehead, his expression solemn. "A patrol officer just came complaining to me. He said far too few Roman citizens joining the Patrol Department speak Greek, and even fewer can read. When they carry out their duties, they struggle to stop or persuade the conflicting parties, and sometimes even end up inciting larger riots. If this continues, it will jeopardize Rome's stability. Therefore, I have decided to assign you to the Patrol Department.
"I know you were well-versed in Roman law and frequently defended the plebeians in the past. My intention is for you to join the Patrol Department and first work alongside the Patrol Unit to handle the city's various disputes. At the same time, you can gradually familiarize yourself with the laws of Daionia. In the future, you could become a patrol officer. What do you think?"
Stolo didn't agree immediately. He pondered for a long moment, hesitation flickering across his face before he carefully probed, "I heard Daionia also has the office of Tribune of the Plebs, someone who fights for the rights of the people and protects their interests. I... would like to hold that position in the future."
"Tribune?!" Asistes was slightly surprised. "You might not fully understand," he advised. "Daionia's Tribune is vastly different from the Roman Tribune you know. From what I gather, your Roman Tribune is a major stepping stone for plebeians to enter the city-state's upper echelons, even allowing them to attend Senate meetings. A Daionian Tribune seems to wield more power—they can indict officials at all levels, including governors like me and even Senators, and they have the right to meet the King to point out flaws in any law... However, once you become a Daionian Tribune, it means you can never hold another administrative office. You will be completely cut off from the Kingdom's political arena. This is to ensure the Tribune's independence, keeping them free from the influence of executive officials. As a result, Daionian Tribunes are almost entirely Daionian Citizens who have no political ambitions but simply wish to do some good for the people. Most of them are elderly. Ambitious young citizens rarely want to become Tribunes."
Stolo truly hadn't known the details regarding the Daionian Tribune. Hearing this, he was somewhat stunned.
Asistes looked at him, more or less grasping his mindset. He continued, "You can rest assured. The Kingdom of Daunia treats all ethnicities within its borders equally. There is no deliberate bias. Of course, if you truly want to do something for the Romans, serving as a patrol officer or judge and delivering an outstanding performance will pave the way for you to become a Senator of the Kingdom in the future. Only then can you truly protect the interests of Daionian Roman citizens in the Senate!
"I know you and Sextus are close friends. He has repeatedly distinguished himself in battle and has already taken the position of a senior captain. In a few years, he is very likely to become the Legion Commander of the Roman Legion, perhaps even becoming a Senator of Daionia before he turns forty. Are you really content with falling behind?"
Stolo's heart jolted.
Seeing the sudden change in his expression, Asistes knew his words had hit their mark. He walked back behind his desk and sat down. "This matter concerns your future prospects within the Kingdom. Go back and think it over carefully. Give me your answer within two days. Now, there is an even more important matter I need you to handle today."
At this, Asistes stared directly at Stolo and said in a grave tone, "I just received a battle report from His Majesty. The defenders of Satricum have surrendered!"
Stolo was shocked. He blurted out in disbelief, "The defenders at Satricum surrendered?!"
"Not just Satricum. Barely a day later, Velitrae surrendered as well."
Asistes's words struck Stolo like a physical blow, rooting him to the spot. Though he had previously refused to go to Satricum to urge their surrender, he knew his father well, and he understood Camillus. He had firmly believed that even at a severe disadvantage, they would fight to the bitter end. He never expected them to surrender! With the fall of Satricum, Roman resistance was effectively dead. Rome no longer had any hope of recovery!
Seeing Stolo sitting blankly on the wooden chair, a myriad of emotions flickering across his face, Asistes coughed lightly. "Even though your last attempt to persuade them to surrender on Capitoline Hill was rejected, I hope you will go up there one more time. I believe the surrender of Camillus's army will shake them."
After a long while, Stolo replied weakly, "...I'll do my best to try. But I have a few questions."
"Ask them."
Stolo asked urgently, "My father... is he doing alright?"
Asistes fell silent for a moment before saying solemnly, "I don't want to lie to you, but you must swear to the gods that you will not leak what I am about to say. Only then will I tell you."
Stolo looked at Asistes in surprise, then swore an oath to Jupiter.
"The truth is, a plague broke out within the City of Satricum. The Roman generals had no choice but to—"
Before Asistes could finish, Stolo cried out in shock, "What?! A plague!—" He immediately clamped a hand over his mouth, but it trembled uncontrollably.
Asistes quickly offered words of comfort. "To you Romans, plagues are the most terrifying of diseases. However, Daionian medicine is highly advanced, and we have conducted extensive research into treating plagues. His Majesty is currently gathering doctors to treat the infected soldiers. I believe that in half a month, many of them will be able to recover."
Stolo steadied his emotions slightly and asked with desperate urgency, "Then my father... has he... has he—"
Asistes spoke calmly. "Your father has already caught it. He is currently receiving treatment at a camp near the City of Satricum. I suggest you refrain from visiting him right now to avoid getting infected. Also, before the defenders of Satricum surrendered, Camillus had already died from the disease... Oh, and your brother-in-law, Servius, has also been infected."