ancient greece mediterranean ruler

Chapter 1057 The Secret of Lentulus

But what they didn't know was that the main purpose of Davos's enactment of this decree was to speed up the assimilation of some citizens of Dionia, such as the Romans and a few Phoenician nobles who joined Dionia, and also to allow Dionia to The Nian people have a sense of pride in "being unique" (in Mediterranean countries and races, people who gradually have surnames basically put their first name first and last name last), which is more conducive to accelerating the formation of a new Dionian race.

After the promulgation of the "Surname Law", the citizens of Dionia basically implemented the law in accordance with the law, and there was no major turmoil in the territory.For slaves, the decree did not mention it. After all, many slaves did not even have names, only nicknames. However, many slave owners still gave their slaves formal names for convenience. Some slaves in the kingdom wanted to have a better future after they were freed. Developing within the kingdom, he also gave himself a formal name and registered with the slave camp management office.

Under such a general trend, if Gaius insists on not changing, he will undoubtedly appear to be very strange and will attract special attention from the patrol team.

"Someone is looking for you outside the camp. Go there quickly." The soldier at the door softened his tone.

"Thank you... thank you, sir!" Gaius quickly put on his clothes, turned over and got off the ground, nodded and bowed to express his gratitude to the soldiers, and then ran quickly to the camp gate.

The originally quiet dormitory suddenly became lively: "There are people looking for Gaius in the evening. This is too strange."

"What's so strange about this? Now we work in the quarry during the day, and we can only find people in the camp in the evening."

"Gaius is so lucky. People always come to him. It seems he has many relatives outside!"

"What's so strange about this, because he was once a Roman nobleman. Don't you Phoenicians also have many relatives in the kingdom, unlike us Lusitanians... Hey, our relatives at home are not even ours. I don’t know until I die…”

The dormitory suddenly fell silent.

After a while, someone comforted me: "In a few years, when you are free, you can go back to Iberia and bring your family to Dionia to live together."

"Hmph! When I get my freedom, I will not stay here. I will definitely return to the Iberia I am familiar with, far away from this hateful Kingdom of Dionia. Maybe one day, we will meet again. Dionia...hum!"

"What can I do if I go back to that poor mountainous area in Iberia? I'm often hungry, and there's no way to treat me when I'm sick. There are often bloody battles between tribes, and I don't know when I'll lose my life in the battle... In fact, it's like slaves here Life in the camp is much better than living in the tribes of Iberia! After I gain my freedom, I will never return to Iberia. Life in Turii will definitely be better than living in a slave camp!"

"How dare you betray the tribe! See if I don't kill you now!"

"Okay, stop making trouble! Do you want to attract all the patrols?"

……

The slave camp is like a closed small town in Dionia, with canteens, shops, hospitals, and even arenas... All the town facilities that should be available are basically complete. During their free time, slaves can be free in the camp as long as they do not violate the regulations. actions, but cannot leave the camp.However, in order to reduce the slaves' sense of resistance and allow them to gain freedom through labor more securely, the management office allowed outsiders to visit the slaves in the camp.

Especially after the Western Mediterranean War, the number of outsiders visiting the camps increased sharply. This was because a large number of new Roman and Phoenician citizens and a large number of Roman and Phoenician slaves were produced.

Gaius walked into the reception room next to the gate of the camp. Seeing the familiar figure sitting there, he couldn't help shouting, "Lentulus Manlilius."

The man who looked younger than Gaius turned around and glared at him, warning in a deep voice: "Gaius, don't yell!"

Gaius, who had been holding back his anger before, ignored Lentulus' warning and said sarcastically: "Isn't this your name?! Or have you forgotten your true identity and your family? Glory, but are willing to follow the requirements of the Dionysians and take a name that is not Roman at all?!"

In fact, Lentulus could have refuted: "Since you, Gaius, have not forgotten the honor of your family, do you dare to publicly declare that your name is Gaius Fabius Rabiot!"

But he didn't, because his father was Publius Manlilius, who was not only the first Roman noble to defect to the Kingdom of Dionia, but also the first kingdom in Rome to publicly change his surname after the promulgation of the "Surname Law" Officials, many former Roman nobles and now citizens of the kingdom privately hated him, and even called him "the chief culprit responsible for the destruction of Rome." These rumors obviously had an impact on Lentulus, who blushed. Face, he blurted out excitedly: "Gaius, you only dare to use your words. You have no idea what huge risks the people who are really defending Rome are taking! One day, you will know whether I have forgotten Rome." And the glory of the family!”

Having said this, Lentulus held his head high, with a kind of determination and pride on his face. Gaius, who was familiar with him, was stunned. He subconsciously asked softly: "Lentulus, what are you talking about?" What do you mean? What are you going to do?!"

Lentulus ignored his question, picked up a thick package, put it on the table, and said coldly: "Your sister sent another package from Rome to our house, and asked us to give this package to you. Delivered, I see that you are very happy every time you receive the package, and you have not cut off contact with them because your brother-in-law Stolo is a Dionia official and has also changed his surname."

"Who says I won't scold them, but things should be collected anyway." Gaius smiled shamelessly, dragged the package over, and opened it immediately.

"It's useless to look anxiously. It's just some food and clothing, nothing valuable. The guards had already picked it up when we entered here." Lentulus' tone was still cold.

Gaius had a look of satisfaction on his face: "That's great! These are the Roman specialties that I like to eat! I haven't eaten them for a long time, and I almost forgot what they taste like!"

Lentulus was a little lost when he heard this.

At this time, he heard Gaius say: "Lentulus, our two families are relatives and have played together since childhood. I still remember that my father often praised you in front of me, saying, 'You may be younger than me, but you are younger than me. I have been very independent since I was a child. When I grow up, I will definitely be more promising than me, and maybe I will become a hero in the city of Rome.' I have always kept these words in my heart. The words I just used to humiliate you were not hidden from your father. On the other hand, I am afraid that you will truly surrender to Dionia and live up to my father and my expectations of you... In short, I hope you can forgive me!"

After listening to Gaius's flattering words, Lentulus scratched the itch in his heart. The dissatisfaction in his heart quickly disappeared, and he pretended to be unhappy and said: "My father is my father, I am who I am, and I will always be my father." All a true Roman!”

"That's it! That's it! We are a great race raised by she-wolves, and we will never surrender! Especially Lentulus, I firmly believe that you will become a great Roman hero!" Gaius said sincerely After saying that, seeing that the angry look on Lentulus's face quickly disappeared and showed complacency, he quickly moved forward and asked in a low voice: "What is the big thing you just mentioned...? "

The young Lentulus was already on guard by Gaius' words. He glanced around: except for the two of them, there was no one else in the reception room.

So, he also approached Gaius and whispered in a slightly showy voice: "As before, you must keep it a secret! I tell you..."

..........................................

Gaius said goodbye to Lentulus, and when he came out of the reception room, he happily accepted the inspection of the guards again, and then walked briskly back to the camp.

He did not go back to the dormitory directly, because once the slaves found out that the food in the package would be robbed quickly, he went to the villa area (the nickname of the single slaves for the place where slaves with families lived) and knocked on the door. He opened the door of Maximus' house.

"It's so late, and you don't have a good rest and regain your strength, but you are still walking around! Don't forget to go mining tomorrow!" Maximus opened the door, saw him, and criticized him unceremoniously.

Gaius ignored him, stretched his neck to look inside, and said, "Where are the sister-in-law and the children?"

"It's Gaius, come in and sit down!" A figure stood up in the corner with weak candlelight, and then two short figures came out and shouted affectionately: "Uncle Gaius! "

"Good boy!" Gaius had a kind smile on his face. He knelt down and took out a few things from the package: "Look, what did uncle bring you?"

"Ah, what a big bread!"

"And fish!"

"Remember, this is Roman wheat bread and Tiber kippers, and this - Sabine cheese, take it and eat it."

"Uncle Gaius is so nice!"

"Thanks Uncle Gaius!"

"Your cousin Konya has brought you something again. She is really kind to you!" Maximus saw the package and food, and immediately guessed the matter closely. Clans often intermarry and are relatively familiar with each other.

"My sister is really good to me, but Na Stolo actually became an official of Dionia. My uncle was so blind that he married my sister to this commoner!" Gaius resented Said: "However, I think he will not be a judge for long soon!"

"What happened?" Maximus immediately asked alertly.

Gaius did not answer directly, but said: "Brother, do you still have wine here? Let's have a small banquet tonight with the salted fish and bread from this hometown, be happy!"

(End of this chapter)