"Can it be done in less than one hundred days?"
"It can—if you have good raw material and better than average training centurions."
"Then we'd best find better than average training centurions," said Scaurus grimly.
'' I suggest we get back to the matter in hand,'' said Lucius Caesar firmly. "We were talking about a senatorial praefectus fabrum to organize the equipping and outfitting of the legions we do not as yet possess. It would seem to me that we should nominate several names for the most senior job, then let the man elected choose his own staff—senatorial staff, I mean. I suggest we nominate only men who, for one reason or another, are not suited for the field. May I hear some names, please?"
The job went to the son of Gaius Cassius's senior legate, who had died at Burdigala in the German ambush—Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus. A victim of that strange disease which preyed upon children in summer, Piso had a badly wasted left leg, which negated military service. Married to the daughter of Publius Rutilius Rufus, now in exile in Smyrna, Piso was an intelligent man who had suffered greatly due to the premature death of his father, especially where money was concerned. At the news that he was to be in charge of all military purchasing, and could select his own staff, his eyes glistened. If he couldn't do a good job for Rome and fill his own empty purse at one and the same time, then he deserved to dwindle into obscurity! But, sitting smiling quietly, he was sure that he was equal to both tasks.
"Now we come to the commands and the dispositions," said Lucius Caesar; he was beginning to tire, but had no intention of concluding the meeting before this last subject was aired.
"How do we best organize ourselves?" he asked.
By rights he should have addressed that question directly to Gaius Marius. But he was no admirer of Marius, and felt, besides, that between his stroke and his age Marius was not the man he used to be. Marius had also taken the floor first; he had had his say, surely. Lucius Caesar's eyes roamed over the faces of the men on the tiers of either side, looking, wondering; and so, having asked how they might best organize themselves, he then put a second query too quickly on the heels of the first to permit Marius's answering.
"Lucius Cornelius cognominated Sulla, I would like to hear your opinion," said the senior consul, careful to speak clearly; the urban praetor was also a Lucius Cornelius, cognominated Cinna.
To be thus singled out startled Sulla, but he was ready to answer nonetheless. "If our enemies are the eight nations who sent that deputation to see us, then the chances are that we'll be assailed on two fronts—from the east along the Via Salaria and the Via Valeria with its two branches—and to our south, where Samnite influence crosses all the way from the Adriatic to the Tuscan at Crater Bay. To take the south first, if the Apuli, the Lucani, and the Venusini join the Samnites, the Hirpini, and the Frentani, then the south becomes a definite and ominous theater of war by itself. We can call the second theater of war by either of two names—a northern theater, meaning territories to the north and east of Rome, or a central theater, meaning territories to the north and east of Rome. The Marsi, the Paeligni, the Marrucini, the Vestini, and the Picentes are the nations involved in this central or northern theater. You will note that for the present moment I do not bring Etruria, Umbria, or northern Picenum into the discussion."
Sulla drew a breath, hurried on while it all glowed like crystal in his mind. "In the south, our enemies will do their utmost to cut us off from Brundisium, Tarentum, and Rhegium. In the center or north, our enemies will attempt to cut us off from Italian Gaul, certainly along the Via Flaminia, possibly also the Via Cassia. If they should succeed, then our only access to Italian Gaul would be along the Via Aurelia and the Via Aemilia Scauri to Dertona, and thence to Placentia."
Lucius Caesar interrupted. "Step down to the floor, Lucius Cornelius cognominated Sulla.''
Down Sulla came, with a ghost of a wink for Marius; it gave him little joy to be filching this analysis from the Old Master. That he did so at all was a complicated matter—a combination of bitter resentment that Marius still had his son, umbrage that when he came back from Cilicia no one in the House including Marius had invited him to make a full report on his activities in the East, and a lightning understanding of the fact that if he spoke well at this moment, he would go very far, very fast. Too bad, Gaius Marius, he thought. I don't want to hurt you, but I'd do it every time anyway.
"I think," he went on from the floor, "that we'll need both consuls in the field, just as Lucius Julius suggested. One consul will have to go south because of Capua, which is vital to us. If we should lose Capua, then we lose our best training facilities as well as a town superbly experienced in aiding soldier-training and soldier-supplying. There will, of course, have to be a consular chief of training and recruiting in Capua itself, aside from the consul commanding in the field. Whoever the consul is to go south will have to take everything the Samnites and their allies throw at him. What the Samnites will attempt to do is to drive west through their old haunts around Acerrae and Nola toward the seaports on the south side of Crater Bay. Stabiae, Salernum, Surrentum, Pompeii, and Herculaneum. If they can capture any or all of those, then they have port facilities on the Tuscan Sea better by far than any ports on the Adriatic north of Brundisium. And they will have cut us off from the far south."
Sulla was not a great speaker, for his training in rhetoric had been minimal, and his career in the House mostly spent out of it in one war or another. But this wasn't oratory. All this needed was good plain speaking.
"The northern or central theater is more difficult. We must presume that all the lands between northern Picenum and Apulia including the Apennine highlands are in enemy hands. Here, the Apennines themselves are our greatest obstacle. If we are to hold on to Etruria and Umbria, then we must make a good showing against these Italian peoples from the very start of our campaign. If we do not, Etruria and Umbria will go over to the enemy, we will lose our roads and Italian Gaul. One consul will have to command in this theater."
"Surely we should have one overall commander," said Scaurus.
"We cannot, Princeps Senatus. Our own lands separate the two theaters I have described," said Sulla firmly. "Latium is long and runs into northern Campania, which is the half of Campania we're more likely to find loyal to us. I doubt southern Campania will be loyal if the insurgents win any battles at all, it's too riddled with Samnites and Hirpini. Look at Nola, already. East of Latium, the Apennines are impossible, and we have the Pomptine Marshes besides. One overall commander would have to shuttle desperately between two widely separated areas of conflict, and he couldn't do it quickly enough to keep a proper eye on both. Truly, we will be fighting on two separate fronts! If not three. The south can possibly be run as one campaign because the Apennines are at their lowest where Samnium, Apulia, and Campania join. However, in the northern or central theater it's highly likely there will be both a northern and a central theater. Thank the Apennines for this, as they are at their highest. The lands of the Marsi, the Paeligni, and possibly the Marrucini form a separate theater from the Picentes and the Vestini. I don't see how we can contain all the Italians by fighting purely in the center. It's probably going to be necessary to send an army into the rebellious parts of Picenum through Umbria and northern Picenum, bringing it down on the Adriatic side of the mountains. In the meantime, we'll have to drive east of Rome into the lands of the Marsi and Paeligni."
Sulla paused; he couldn't help it, yet he hated himself for this weakness. How was Gaius Marius feeling? If he didn't like what Sulla was saying, then here was his opportunity to say so. And Gaius Marius spoke. Sulla tensed.
"Please go on, Lucius Cornelius," the Old Master said. "So far, I couldn't do better myself."
His pale eyes flashed, a faint smile grew at the corners of Sulla's mouth, then vanished. He shrugged. "I think that's all, really. And bear in mind that it's predicated on an insurrection involving at least eight Italian nations. I don't think it's my duty to indicate who goes
where. However, I would say that I feel those who are sent to the north-central theater in particular ought to have many clients in the area. If, for instance, Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo were to maneuver in Picenum, he already has a base of power there, and thousands of clients. The same might be said of Quintus Pompeius Rufus, though on a lesser scale, 1 know. In Etruria, Gaius Marius is a great landowner, again with thousands of clients. As is true of the Caecilii Metelli. In Umbria, Quintus Servilius Caepio reigns supreme. If these men were connected to the northern or central theater, it would be a help."
Sulla bowed his head to Lucius Julius Caesar in the chair, and returned to his place amid murmurs of (he thought, anyway) admiration. He had been asked for his opinion ahead of anyone else in the House, and that, on such an occasion, was a huge leap into prominence. Unbelievable! Oh, was it possible he was on his way at last?
“We must all thank Lucius Cornelius Sulla for that very crisp and thoughtful statement of the facts," said Lucius Caesar, smiling at Sulla in a way that promised further distinction. "For myself, I agree with him. But how says the House? Does anyone have other or different ideas?"
It appeared no one had.
Scaurus Princeps Senatus cleared his throat gruffly. “You must make your dispositions, Lucius Julius," he said. "If it does not displease the Conscript Fathers, I would only say that I myself would prefer to remain in Rome."
"I think you will be needed in Rome, with both her consuls out of the city," said Lucius Caesar graciously. "The Leader of the House will prove immensely valuable to our good urban praetor, Lucius Cornelius cognominated Cinna." He glanced sideways at his colleague, Lupus. "Publius Rutilius Lupus, would you be willing to take the burden of command to the north and center of Rome?" he asked. "As senior consul, I think it essential that I command in the theater containing Capua."
Lupus glowed, swelled. "I will assume the burden with great pleasure, Lucius Julius."
"Then, if the House has no objections, I will command in Campania. As my chief legate, I choose Lucius Cornelius cognominated Sulla. To command in Capua itself and supervise all activity there, I appoint the consular Quintus Lutatius Catulus Caesar. 'As my other senior legates I will have Publius Licinius Crassus, Titus Didius, and Servius Sulpicius Galba," said Lucius Caesar. "My colleague Publius Rutilius Lupus, whom will you have?"
"Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo, Sextus Julius Caesar, Quintus Servilius Caepio, and Lucius Porcius Cato Licinianus," said Lupus loudly.
There was a sudden silence, not broken for what seemed an enormous length of time. Someone must break it! thought Sulla, and opened his mouth without meaning to, without wanting to.
"What about Gaius Marius?" he asked harshly.
Lucius Caesar blinked. "I must confess that I didn't choose Gaius Marius because, bearing in mind what you said, Lucius Sulla, I thought naturally that Publius Rutilius my colleague would want Gaius Marius!"
"Well, I don't want him!" said Lupus. "I'm not going to have him foisted on me, either! Let him stay in Rome with all the others of his age and infirmity. He's too old and sick for war."
At which point Sextus Julius Caesar rose to his feet. "May I speak, senior consul?" he asked.
"Please do, Sextus Julius."
"I am not old," said Sextus Caesar huskily, "but I am a sick man, as everyone in this House knows. I wheeze. I have had more than adequate military experience in my younger days, mostly with Gaius Marius in Africa and in the Gauls against the Germans. I also served at Arausio, where my malady undoubtedly saved my life. However, with winter coming on, I will prove of little use in an Apennine campaign. I am older, and my chest is weak. I will of course do my duty. I am a Roman of a great family. But in all of this, no one has yet mentioned cavalry. We will need cavalry. I would like to ask this House to excuse me duty as a commander in the field among the mountains. Instead, let me gather a fleet of transports and spend the colder months gathering cavalry from Numidia, from Gaul-across-the-Alps, and from Thrace. I can also enlist Roman citizens living abroad in our infantry. It is a job I feel myself fitted for. And then when I return, I will gladly take on any field command you might care to suggest." He cleared his throat, began slightly to wheeze. "To take my place as a legate, I would ask the House to consider Gaius Marius."
"Hoh! Brothers-in-law!" cried Lupus, jumping to his feet. "It won't work, Sextus Julius, it won't work! After listening to you for years, it seems to me that yours is a most convenient ailment! It comes and it goes on order! I can do it too—listen!" Lupus began to draw in noisy breaths.
"You may have grown tired of hearing me wheeze, Publius Lupus, but you haven't listened," said Sextus Caesar gently. "I don't make a noise when I inhale. I make it when I exhale."
"I don't care when you make your wretched noises!" shouted Lupus. "You're not avoiding your duty with me, any more than I'll take Gaius Marius in your place!"
"One moment, if you please," said Scaurus Princeps Senatus, rising to his feet. "I have something to say about this." He looked at Lupus on the dais with much the same expression on his face as he had worn when Varius accused him of treason. "You are not one of my best-loved people, Publius Lupus! In fact, it pains me deeply that you happen to have the same name as my dear friend, Publius Rutilius cognominated Rufus. Well, you may be relations, but there's absolutely no relationship between you! Rufus the Red was one of this House's chief adornments, very sorely missed. Lupus the Wolf is one of this House's most pernicious ulcers, very sore!"
"You're insulting me!" gasped Lupus. "You can't! I'm consul!"
"I am the Leader of the House, Publius Wolf Man, and I think at my age I have proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that I can do what I like—because when I do something, Publius Wolf Man, I have good reason and Rome's best interests at heart! Now, you miserable little worm, sit there and pull your head in! And I do not mean that part of your anatomy attached to your neck! Who do you think you are? You're only sitting in that particular chair because you had enough money to bribe the electorate!"
Purple with rage, Lupus opened his mouth.
"Don't do it, Lupus!" Scaurus snarled. "Sit there, be quiet!"
Scaurus turned then to Gaius Marius, who sat absolutely straight on his stool; how he felt about his name's being omitted no one present could tell. "Here is a very great man," said Scaurus. "Only the gods know how many times in my life I have cursed him! Only the gods know how many times in my life I have wished he never existed! Only the gods know how many times in my life I have been his worst enemy! But as time drips away faster and faster and wears my life ever thinner, ever frailer, I find myself remembering with affection fewer and fewer men. It is not merely a factor concerned with the increasing imminence of death and dying. It is an accumulation of experience which tells me who is worth remembering with affection— and who is not. Some of the men I have loved most, I feel nothing for now. Some of the men I have hated most, I feel everything for now."
Knowing very well that Marius was now looking at him with a twinkle in his eyes, Scaurus carefully avoided looking back; if he did, he knew he'd dissolve into fits of laughter, and this speech was coming from his very spirit as well as his heart. An acute sense of humor could be a wretched nuisance!
"Gaius Marius and I have been through a whole world together," he said, staring at the livid Lupus. "He and I have sat side by side in this House and glared at each other for more years than you, Wolf Man, have worn an adult's toga! We have fought and brawled, we have pushed and pulled. But we have fought together against the enemies of the Republic too. We have gazed down together upon the bodies of men who would have ruined Rome. We have stood shoulder to shoulder. We have laughed together—and we have wept together. I say again! Here is a very great man. A very great Roman."
Now Scaurus walked down the floor to the doors, and stood in front of them. "Like Gaius Marius, like Lucius Julius, like Lucius Cornelius Sulla, I am today convinced we face a terrible war. Yesterday I was not convinced. Why the change? Who knows, save the gods? When the estab
lished order of things tells us that matters are a certain way because they have been that same certain way for a very long time, we find it hard to alter what we feel, and our feelings cloud our intellects. But then in the smallest scrap of time the scales fall from our eyes, and we see clearly. That has happened to me today. It happened to Gaius Marius today. Probably it happened to most of us here in the House today. A thousand little signs are suddenly visible that yesterday we could not see.
"I elected to remain in Rome because I know I will be of best use to Rome within her body politic. But that is not true of Gaius Marius. Whether—like me!—you have disagreed with him far more often than you have agreed with him, or whether—like Sextus Julius!—you are tied to him by the double bond of fondness as well as marriage, all of you must admit—as I admit!—that in Gaius Marius we have a military talent of an excellence and a breadth of experience far greater than the rest of us put together. I would not care if Gaius Marius was ninety years old and had had three strokes! I would still be standing here saying what I am saying now—if the man can put words and ideas together the way he does, then we must use him where he shines the brightest—in the field! Confront your bigotry, Conscript Fathers! Gaius Marius is the same age as I am myself, a mere sixty-seven years, and the single stroke he suffered occurred ten years ago. As your Princeps Senatus, I say to you adamantly, Gaius Marius must serve as chief legate to Publius Lupus, and put his multiple talents to best use."
No one spoke. No one, it seemed, breathed, even Sextus Caesar. Scaurus sat down beside Marius, with Catulus Caesar on his other side. Lucius Caesar looked at the three of them, then up along the same row toward the doors, where Sulla sat. His eyes met Sulla's; Lucius Caesar became conscious of an accelerated heartbeat. What did Sulla's eyes say? So many things it was not possible to tell.
"Publius Rutilius Lupus, I offer you the opportunity to accept voluntarily Gaius Marius as your senior legate. If you refuse, then I will put the matter to the House in a division."