Rome Must Perish

"No, this is what Leader Maximus specifically instructed me before I left the Nix Tribe, fearing you might hesitate. He has always harbored deep hatred for Rome and has been closely monitoring Rome's movements. His understanding of Rome far surpasses yours."

Lurios looked at Vercingetorix, who was deep in thought and silent, and decided to add fuel to the fire: "Leader Maximus also told me that when the prophecy of the Danu Goddess is fulfilled the year after next and a civil war breaks out in Rome, he will personally lead the Nix Army over the mountains and into Northern Italy!

If at that time we start a war in Gaul, we can easily crush the Roman Army left in Gaul and then attack Italy, joining forces with the Nix Army in the Northern Italy Province to march on Rome. Even if Caesar or Pompey leads an army to intercept us, they may not be able to defeat our massive allied forces!

Moreover, Leader Maximus also told me that he has persuaded other forces to attack Rome's Eastern Province during the Roman civil war, thus tying down Rome's military strength, preventing them from having enough reinforcements to defend Rome.

And once we capture Rome, it will surely shock all the regions and provinces conquered by Rome. Those nations like us, unwilling to be enslaved by Rome, will surely rise up to resist, and by then the entire Mediterranean under Roman rule will collapse. We Gauls will no longer have to worry about Roman aggression, and you will be celebrated as a hero by the Gauls, just like King Brennus who captured Rome."

Vercingetorix was stirred by Lurios' words because it was precisely what he hoped for, but when he thought about the current state of Gaul, his mood involuntarily grew heavy. He sighed lightly, "Ah... I have already made agreements with many leaders to take action next year! Even the Carnutes are willing to be the first to attack the Roman Army stationed near their tribe. Everyone is eager to act because due to the Romans' constant grain collection, many of our compatriots are starving. If the action is delayed for another year, I don't know if some tribes can hold on—"

Lurios was about to continue persuading when Vercingetorix waved his hand to stop him, clenched his fist, and gritted his teeth, saying, "But the Danu Goddess has given an oracle. To ensure our resistance can succeed and prevent Gaul from perishing, I will do my utmost to persuade them! But now I want to know—"

Vercingetorix looked intently at Lalala, speaking with solemnity, "Lurios, you are a Gaul, and I have always regarded you as an elder brother! Now all our hopes, we Gauls, are pinned on the year after next. Can you be sure that the Nix Tribe leader truly intends to lead the army into Italy in the year after next?!"

Lurios said nothing, carefully taking out a rolled-up parchment from his bosom and handing it to Vercingetorix.

Vercingetorix took it, unrolled it, and saw that many Latin words were written on this specially made parchment.

The Avelli have been allies with Rome for many years, and the trade between them is frequent. As the son of the Avelli leader, Vercingetorix learned some Latin from a young age, so he could understand.

The parchment clearly stated: Great and benevolent Danu Goddess, I swear to follow your oracle and send troops to Italy during the Roman civil war to ally with the Gauls and attack Rome! If I break this oath, may I not die well!... Maximus, vowed in the twentieth year of the establishment of the Nix Tribe..."

After reading the last passage, Vercingetorix curiously touched the snake-like pattern drawn after the text.

"That is the sacred relic 'Dragon' worshipped by the Nix Tribe, said to be the incarnation of Maximus in the Danu Divine Country, possessing extraordinary divine power, ever-changing, and the unique emblem of the leader! I saw with my own eyes when Leader Maximus wrote this parchment and stamped it with the great seal!"

Lurios spoke solemnly, "Almost all the tribesmen of the Nix Tribe revere the Danu Goddess, and Leader Maximus is not only the offspring of the Danu Goddess but also the High Priest of the Danu Temple within the tribe. He absolutely cannot break his oath!"

"Now I am completely relieved!" Vercingetorix's heart settled completely, then he asked reluctantly, "Lurios, will you return to the Nix Tribe next?"

"No, I will stay, and fight alongside you for us Gauls!" Lurios said with determination.

"That's great!" Vercingetorix smiled and clapped loudly, but then he remembered something, looking troubled, "I intend to write a vow like Leader Maximus, but how can I send my vow and the news of our alliance back to the Nix Tribe?"

"You needn't worry, Leader Maximus has also sent others to Gaul to find you—"

Before Lurios finished speaking, the sound of a guard came from outside the hall: "Leader, a tribesman from another tribe insists on seeing you, saying he has important matters concerning the survival of all the Gaulish tribes to tell you!"

Lurios smiled and reminded, "The messenger connecting with the Nix Tribe has arrived!"

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

Vercingetorix did his utmost to persuade those tribal leaders dissatisfied with Caesar and eager to attack the Roman Army, but he kept his promise to Lurios and did not reveal the participation of the Nix Tribe, only saying that he had received an oracle from the Danu Goddess in a dream, foretelling a civil war in Rome the year after next, and that war against the Romans then would be more likely to succeed.

He even detailed the intelligence he had specifically had people gather about Rome, analyzing the possibility of a Roman civil war to the leaders.

Some leaders were persuaded, while others, although skeptical, knew that if powerful tribes like the Avelli and their close allies did not take action the next year, acting alone would only bring disaster to their tribe.

Vercingetorix knew that delaying action for a year would displease some tribes, so he promised these leaders that if their tribes faced food shortages in the coming time, he would do his utmost to provide them with food assistance!

Many leaders were moved by Vercingetorix's sincerity and finally agreed to postpone the war for a year.

Thus, the leaders once again gathered their tribal banners and held a solemn oath ceremony.

But Gaul is vast and contains many tribes, and Vercingetorix could not contact all tribes hostile to Rome. Throughout the entire year of 52 BC, there were still sporadic Gaulish tribal attacks on Roman garrisons, killing Roman grain collection officers and slave traders, but their scale was small, and Caesar did not need to personally command them before they were quelled by the Roman legions stationed there.

As expected, these rebellious Gaulish tribes met tragic ends. Involved leaders and nobles were executed, villages and settlements were burned down, and the warriors and their families were enslaved...

Vercingetorix and other Gaulish leaders who witnessed their compatriots' miserable fate could only hide their hatred and endure in silence...

However, the occasional small disturbances in Gaul made Caesar also cautious. On one hand, he kept most of his forces stationed in Gaul to stabilize the situation, and on the other hand, he strongly supported Gaulish tribes and leaders close to and willing to obey him, like the Remi Tribe, the Edui Tribe...

Caesar focused more on Rome, where the situation was becoming increasingly turbulent, causing him unease.

Last year's consular election had left Rome without consuls and senior officials for nearly six months due to blatant bribery incidents, and this year's consular election saw horrific bloodshed.

One of the consular candidates, Claudius, this famous Roman and gang leader, was killed by his old rival Milo during a conflict.

Claudius' family and followers wreaked havoc in Rome to vent their anger, causing significant unrest, nearly plunging Rome into anarchy.

Hence, the Senate convened an emergency meeting, and with the support of figures like Bibulus and Cato, Pompey was directly appointed as the sole consul.

Pompey's third term as consul once again broke Roman tradition; he was not elected by Roman citizens but was appointed directly by the Senate. Traditionally, consuls were escorted only by their Law Enforcement Officers, but Pompey brought armed soldiers into the city to maintain order.

He tried Milo, exiling him to Massilia; he also introduced new laws that curtailed the impact of electoral bribery on Rome... Thanks to his strong interventions, order was restored in Rome.

During this time, he also resolved his personal issues.

Cornelia, the daughter of the Roman Patrician Metellus Scipio and widow of Crassus' son Publius, due to the Battle of Kale, was young, beautiful, and charming. Pompey decided to marry her, and it was agreed.

He quickly fell into marital bliss and, through this marriage, established connections with some families within the core of the Roman elite.

Perhaps influenced by them, Pompey enacted a decree: prohibiting absentee candidacy in consular elections.

This angered Caesar because he hoped to directly assume the consulship after leaving Gaul, not wanting to return as a regular citizen and potentially face lawsuits from opposing Senators during that waiting period.

Therefore, Caesar had his People's Guardians propose a bill—expressly allowing him to run in absentia.

On the persuasion of Caesar's allies, Pompey personally wrote a supplementary clause—allowing Caesar to run in absentia, which was appended to the new decree, meaning their alliance, though weakened compared to previous years, was still effective.