ancient greece mediterranean ruler

Chapter 1095: What the Kingdom’s Senate Sees
Four days later, in the early morning, Haka and Hasdrubal, who had recovered from their cold and regained their energy, had breakfast together and then left the mansion. One sat in a sedan chair and the other walked on the flat and solid road to the Senate. hospital.

There were many people wearing black-striped white robes along the way. They were all obviously elders attending the meeting. They walked together in twos and threes and greeted each other with smiles. Familiar people gradually gathered together and showed interest. They talked animatedly about the topic to be discussed today. Some groups had already gathered more than 10 people before they even arrived at the square. Therefore, from time to time pedestrians gave way and greeted them, receiving friendly responses from them.

Haka was a newcomer and was sitting in the sedan chair again. Although some senators cast curious glances from time to time, no one came up to ask.

Since Hasdrubal called Thurii, except for a banquet at Davos Mansion, he has never appeared in public, and few people know him. It was not until he was approaching the Great Council Hall that there was only one person. Greeted Hasdrubal with joy.

Hasdrubal could not remember who the other party was.

"I am Antioch of Mazara," the man said with a smile.

Hasdrubal suddenly widened his eyes and stared at the other person's face. He remembered something and said angrily: "It's you! It was you who led the Mazarans to secretly open the city gate!"

"Brother, as His Majesty said at the banquet, 'No fight, no acquaintance', the past has passed. Now we are all citizens of Dionia and colleagues working together, and we should strengthen our exchanges! "Haka stuck his head out of the sedan and reminded.

"Lord Haka is right!" Antioch said with a relieved smile: "We are all Phoenicians and outsiders from Thurii, and we should help each other! Of course, I am very happy to listen to Lord Haka. Following Lord Hasdrubal’s instructions, I believe other Phoenician senators have the same idea.”

Hasdrubal hummed, turned away, and did not respond.

After attending the palace banquet last night and having a conversation with Davos, Haka already had a solid idea in his heart, so he calmly said in the sedan chair: "Thank you, Lord Antioka for your trust, I will try my best to live up to you trust!"

Antioka suddenly smiled, and soon he called several Phoenician elders from western Sicily and Sardinia.

When the other elders saw the Phoenician elders who were usually not taken seriously, gathered around a sedan, they more or less guessed the reason, and unconsciously looked at the sick new rotating chairman. point.

Seeing the dome-like circular building in front of him, Hasdrubal couldn't help but feel a little nervous. Originally, he and Haka were going to enter through the side door because the distance was relatively close, but Antioch suggested: "Since Haka It is the first time for Ka and Hasdrubal to attend the Senate meeting, so they should enter through the main entrance so that their presence can be seen."

Even Hasdrubal, who had a grudge against him, had to admit that what he said was reasonable, so the group bypassed the senators who were queuing up to enter the side door and came to the front of the great meeting hall.

There are also veterans queuing up here to enter. Haka stopped the sedan chair, walked out with the help of the servants, stood in front of the steps, looked at the Victory Square in front of him and the towering memorial column in the center, and the statue of the Goddess of Victory at the top. It was particularly dazzling under the light of the morning sun.

Although it is still early in the morning, there are already many pedestrians in the square, including officials working in various departments near the square, vendors working in the shops beside the square, or people preparing to attend hearings at the High Court beside the square. Or people who just go for a walk to relax in the square, there are also some children chasing and playing in the square with their puppies. The patrol team in velvet clothes patrolling back and forth in the square does not stop them, but will knock them down with a smile. The children on the ground helped them up and dusted them off... It was a lively scene.

Haka looked at it for a while and sighed: "Victory Square is much bigger than the square in Carthage!"

Hasdrubal wanted to say: "But the Forum of Carthage is much more beautiful than this square."

But then he heard Antiocha say: "It's really big! After that war, Thurii held a triumphal ceremony, and I watched it at the time. This square could accommodate nearly 4 soldiers, which is equivalent to 5 A legion, that scene is really shocking!”

Hasdrubal remained silent, but judging from his restless expression, he must be thinking about something.

"Hey, what is this?" Haka pointed curiously at the protruding platforms on both sides of the steps: the two platforms are connected to the main entrance of the Grand Council Hall. There are fences built on the platforms, and bronze protrusions are welded to the stone walls of the platforms. But there are round shields inlaid between the protrusions, making the stone walls of the platform seem to be made of bronze, making it look a bit ferocious.

"This is the external podium of the Senate. It was rebuilt three years ago. During major celebrations, important events, or the passage of important bills, His Majesty King Davos and the rotating presidents will deliver speeches to the people here." Antiocha looked at Hasdrubal, pointed to the bronze protrusions and said: "And this is the bronze ram of the warship...it was unloaded from the captured Carthaginian warship...and those bronze shields It was also what the Dionian army captured in that war——"

Antiocha saw Hasdroba's face looking ugly, and quickly added: "But most of them come from Rome. His Majesty King Davos once said, 'The reason why the podium is designed like this is not to show off. The war merits are to remind the people and the elders that today in Dionia is hard-won. Everyone must always stay vigilant and remember that if you are willing to fight, you will perish, and if you forget to fight, you will be in danger!'"

Haka savored these words carefully, then showed a look of admiration and said: "His Majesty Davos is indeed wise. I believe that under his leadership, the Kingdom of Dionia will become even stronger!"

Hasdrubal finally couldn't help but said angrily: "If those idiots in the Carthage Senate understood this truth, they wouldn't be like this!"

Haka obviously didn't want to talk more in this regard. He looked at the elders in front of him who were looking here, and said softly: "Let's go, let's line up too."

Antioch immediately said: "Master Haka, you are the rotating chairman, you can enter the venue directly!"

Antiocha deliberately spoke loudly, and the surrounding senators heard his voice, their eyes immediately focused on him, and they began to whisper.

The etiquette officer on duty at the main entrance quickly ran down the steps and said uncertainly: "Master Haka?"

"I am." Haka nodded.

"Then please follow me." After the etiquette officer finished speaking, he turned around and walked up.

Haka looked back at his brother.

"Thankfully I didn't let you line up here, otherwise it would be a joke if you fainted. Go quickly." Hasdrubal waved his hand impatiently.

Haka slowly walked up the steps under the gaze of everyone, and then he saw a golden column standing in front of him, one person high, facing the main entrance of the Grand Council Hall. There were some words engraved on the column, and he walked Taking a closer look, it says in Greek: xx miles from Crotone, xx miles from Silitium, xx miles from Hadrumantum... and even xx miles from Sessi (southern Iberia) central town).

"This is a milestone, which records the distance between Victory Square and all major towns in the kingdom." The ceremonial officer explained beside him.

"Well, milestone, very interesting." Haka patted the column lightly. He knew in his heart that Dionia was not Carthage. According to its unique political system, the numbers above actually meant Dionia more. The distance and area that the power can cover is amazing!

"Sir, please sign your name here." Coming to the tall wooden door, the etiquette officer held a wooden board in one hand and a white pen in the other and said to Haka.

Haka saw the time marked on the top of the board and some names had been written on it. He wrote his own name without hesitation, and then asked curiously: "Does every senator participating in the meeting have to sign?"

"Yes, so that we can know those elders who did not attend or were late, especially those elders who do not have administrative appointments and should attend the meeting. If they are absent multiple times within a month, they will be criticized and punished by the Oversight Council. If they do not attend for a long time, Those who do so may even be deprived of their status as senators!..."

Haka nodded slightly, but thinking in his heart: He and Hasdrubal, as the senators of Dionia, have never been to the Senate in the past few years, so how should this be calculated?
The ceremonial officer seemed to understand his thoughts and continued: "Before, you and Lord Hasdrubal guarded the southern region of Iberia for a long time, under special circumstances, but now that you have returned to Thurii, I hope you can abide by the order of the Senate in the future! "

"Of course!" Haka immediately responded solemnly.

At the signal of the etiquette officer, the guard gave way to the door.

Haka followed the etiquette officer and walked in, then went up another stone staircase, and soon came to the second wooden door. Guards were also stationed here, and the senators who entered were being politely searched.

The etiquette officer turned back and said: "Sir, since there are often heated arguments in the venue, insults may be exchanged when excited, and there may even be minor conflicts... For the safety of the elders, this is a necessary inspection."

"I understand." The frail Haka agreed with this. After accepting the soldiers' body search calmly, he followed the etiquette officer into the venue.

As soon as he entered the gate, Haka's eyes were directly attracted to a large pure white chair that should be carved from ivory in the central open space of the venue. It was placed steadily on a stone platform about two meters high. The upper floor is covered with brown lion skin, and it stands proudly facing the countless wooden chairs surrounding it.

(End of this chapter)