When asked to work together, Vitruvius tilted his head with a stunning look.
"What are you talking about.... Oh, are you trying to entrust me with my work?"
"I guess the meaning of my words was not conveyed properly. I'm not just leaving you with a job, I'm saying I want to take you with me."
"Yes?"
"I will create an environment where you can fully demonstrate your talents and abilities. If you want, I'll let you do whatever research you want. Instead, you should share the results of the research with me. And in the case of the work I commissioned, you shouldn't divulge the results to anyone other than me."
At Marcus' suggestion, Vitruvius began to struggle. Marcus added a few words to him, who was troubled with a serious face.
"This is good for both you and me. I'm happy to get a competent engineer, and you can do whatever you want without worrying about money for the rest of your life. In addition, I'll take care of your financial compensation so that you won't be disappointed. So simply, I'm asking you to be my exclusive engineer."
Vitruvius was not just an architect but a very good engineer.
Engineers of this era were usually outstanding in many ways, and so was Vitruvius.
He was well-versed in all sorts of fields, including building techniques and military tools, watches, astronomy, civil tools, and canals.
It is an unfinished atmosphere now, but if Marcus supports it, it will grow much faster than history.
Marcus inwardly prayed that he would accept his offer.
'If you don't like it, I'll have to spend more money to catch it. Please come over.'
Vitruvius paused a little and opened his mouth cautiously.
"It is the dream of all engineers to continue research that they want to do without worrying about money for the rest of their lives. But it seems like too much condition for me.… May I ask why you're offering this to someone like me?"
"Because I admire your talent. Think of it as some kind of investment. Of course, there will be a lot of technicians who are better than you, but won't it cost them more money and time to recruit them?"
"Yes, that would be so. But isn't it your first time seeing me? How can you be sure of my talent...…."
"Tsk tsk, do you have to see it in person to know it? Of course, I did my research thoroughly before contacting you."
By Marcus's convincing persuasion, Vitruvius became increasingly fascinated.
He was also deeply proud of his talent.
There's no way his heart won't be moved when they recognize such talent and offer such good conditions.
"Can I really do the research I want to do?"
"Of course. If you make the research you want to do in the form of a report and submit it, I'll approve it right away. Also, it would be nice if you could do some research that I ask you to do. Of course, all of this will be left in the contract, so you can trust it."
"Can you get me a book that I want?"
"Of course. If you want a book, I'll come right away, and if you want a person, I'll bring him right away, too."
Books were quite expensive at this time.
This is not because modern paper techniques have spread but because most of them were scraps of expensive papyrus.
It was not an object that one could read if you were not a well-off aristocrat or equites.
Vitruvius was convinced that this was a chance not to come twice in his life and decided.
He bowed his head politely and opened his mouth.
"I will accept your offer, Young Master. I'm still lacking, but I'll do my best not to betray your expectations."
"All right, you'll never regret it. I'll give you a place where you can feel free to do research. It's too crowded around here to relax. I'll send someone later, so get ready to move."
"Yes, yes, thank you."
"Now, then, the rest of the story will be later.... No, it's not. I almost forgot the most important story."
Marcus looked like he had left out one thing and quickly continued.
"Recommend some skilled craftsmen you know. People I want to work with are good, and talented young people are even better."
"Aren't there many craftsmen under you?"
"There are so many craftsmen who make things. But I'm not just making things with the technology I have, but I'm looking for a craftsman who can take that technology to the next level."
Craftsmen and engineers are usually associated with experts in other fields.
As there are many things intertwined with each other, a mutual relationship is naturally formed.
All craftsmen who have a relationship with a genius like Vitruvius must be good enough.
Marcus intended to keep Vitruvius' connections intact under his command.
"What do you want any experts in the field you want in particular?"
"First of all, the steel industry is the most urgent, but any other field is fine. And if you can, I'd like you to introduce an engineer who develops products for women. Like accessories and cosmetics."
"For the steel industry, there is one very talented engineer named Cletus. Sergius makes women's accessories very well."
"All right, can you introduce them all? The more talented engineers, the better."
Marcus nodded satisfactorily. And he turned his head to Danae in the back.
"When a friend named Sergius comes, learn a lot. As I said before, I plan to entrust this business to you later. From now on, keep an eye on high-end accessories and cosmetics."
"Yeah. We will do our best."
Looking at Danae's face, she had a determined expression as if she were risking her life.
Marcus smiled and patted her on the shoulder.
"Don't overdo it, just work hard."
Marcus, who had achieved all of his desired goals, left Suburra in a good mood.
He ordered Septimus to create an environment where engineers could work to their heart's content and then left for his next destination with a quick step.
In order for the fruit to bear fruit, the soil must be solidly ground first.
The great work to lay the foundation for the business was only beginning.
* * *
Marcus was headed for none other than his mansion.
When he returned home, he immediately found Crassus.
Crassus, who was working, stopped working immediately after hearing that Marcus had come and welcomed his son.
"Oh, what brings you here? You said you'd be busy with a lot of work for the time being."
"Yes, I still stopped by for business purposes. I'm here to ask you something related to business."
"If you ask me a favor, of course I'll do it. Yes, what do you want me to listen to?"
The response was that it was already premised on accepting the request. Crassus was now ready to listen to his son's absurd remarks.
Marcus knew it, so he opened his mouth without any burden.
"Give me full authority to educate and supervise the talent in the workplace."
"I know you're still doing some work on your own, but do you need more authority than that?"
"Yes. I want to see and change the basic framework of the workplace first, but I think it will be possible with father's clear permission."
"I don't understand what it means to change the frame first."
"In short, we're going to change everything from the number system we use to the records of accounting books in a much more efficient and advanced way. It'll be hard to learn at first, but once you get used to it, you will definitely appreciate it."
Marcus intended to introduce Arabic numerals and basic accounting knowledge to his workplace.
It is a very common number in modern times, but in the past, this Arabic number contributed to advancing mathematics.
There is an unbelievably large difference in convenience just by doing simple four-way calculations using Roman and Arabic numbers.
Still, it is too early to apply it to the entire Rome, so he decided to apply it only to his own workplace for now.
The same is true of accounting knowledge.
Marcus majored in management and economics in his previous life, so he was able to teach enough undergraduate-level knowledge.
It is innovative enough to teach only basic accounting principles in this era.
At the end of the 15th century, Double-entry Bookkeeping, which divided debit and credit, was used in Europe.
Modern accounting standards and tax laws were intended to be introduced differently.
Once Arabic numerals, basic accounting principles, and even cost accounting are introduced, efficiency can be increased by at least ten times.
The problem is that the Arabic numerals have not yet begun in India, where they originated.
Marcus appropriately lied that it was a technique used in the Far East.
There is no way for Crassus to check anyway, so what can he do?
Instead, he painstakingly explained how effective these methods are.
After hearing Marcus' persuasion, Crassus concluded quickly.
"Have you ever been wrong in what you said? I'll believe you now if you make wheat out of air.
Considering artificial nitrogen fertilizer, that was not wrong, but Marcus just bowed his head calmly.
"Thank you. I'll get it done quickly."
"Yes. Although I trust you unconditionally, I cannot release you without limits. So show results in 3 years. Then you won't have to ask me for permission to do anything."
"Three years is too long, so I will show it in one year."
Crassus responded with a satisfied smile to Marcus' confident answer.
In fact, when Crassus's term as consul begins, it becomes almost impossible for him to care about business.
It was a foregone conclusion that Marcus should actually lead the business.
If it were like before, he would have been anxious, but now Crassus was reassuring.
Marcus, who quickly took control of the business, immediately began to educate people.
Everyone was puzzled by the introduction of unfamiliar Arabic numerals but quickly adapted.
This is because those who have dealt with numbers repeatedly quickly figured out how superior this notation was.
The method of writing basic accounting books was also quickly accepted.
"Why didn't I know there was such a method until now?"
"That's right. It can't be more convenient because at least the wrong figures are verified right away."
"Where the hell did you get this kind of knowledge, Young Master?"
"Well... somewhere in the far east, I heard it's a recent method."
"Huh... I guess the world is wide as expected. No matter how best Rome is, here are always better regions in certain fields."
"But isn't it our best strength to absorb those advantages right away?"
The workforce of workplace was shocked and enthusiastic about the knowledge of a virtual Eastern country that did not exist.
Eventually, as Marcus boasted, the efficiency of the improved system soon began to prove itself.
He also completed all contracts with the engineers introduced by Vitruvius.
Marcus, who provided them with a working environment and living space, assigned each of them a research topic.
In particular, Cletus, who has a sense of season, was entrusted with a heavy task.
"It doesn't matter how much time and budget it takes, so make the blast furnace bigger and make a new bellows that can blow powerful air into it."
The fact that he can obtain additional knowledge after the early Gaulish period has already been verified.
Marcus immediately tried to acquire knowledge about the field of steel.
Of course, he couldn't fully understand everything because it was a scientific part.
So, for now, he focused as much as he could on grasping the rough concept.
Marcus understood the principle of using the waterwheel to create a blast of air with a bellows.
In fact, the most important part of the development of technology is this core idea.
With this, skilled engineers can find a way to improve.
Cletus was very excited and locked himself in the laboratory provided by Marcus, saying he would make a test sample immediately.
Marcus, who has a minimal system, is starting to develop ways to make additional money.
The profits made from the stirrups and horseshoes were enormous, but considering the ongoing expenditure, the business needs to expand further.
It was finally time to improve the carriages and wagons they had saved.
'Even if the basic suspension is installed, the ride comfort will increase dramatically.'
As he looked into it, there was already a leaf spring technology using woodblock in Rome.
The problem was that they only applied this technology to siege weapons such as Ballista.
It is a common situation everywhere in the world. There is already sufficient technical capability, but the idea does not follow, so they cannot apply it.
Marcus began to suspend by miniaturizing the siege weapon's leaf spring.
Vitruvius, fluent in military tools, positively answered that he would make a prototype within a month.
Everything was going as planned.
But that is only a story about Marcus.
70 B.C., when Pompeius and Crassus' terms began, had a tremendous impact on Rome from the beginning.
Pompeius declared a bombshell in the form of consul legislation on the first day of his term.
"We need to return the rights of the people who were unfairly oppressed. The rights of the people come from the plebeian council. I will revive the Lex Hortensia, which guarantees the legislative power of the plebeian council!"
Naturally, he completely overturned the plebeian council and the Senate in different meanings.
That's how the turbulent 70 B.C. began when the whirlwind of history tangled up.
"This is impossible!"
The loud voice, which is now no different from daily life, covered the Senate.
The senators surrounding the central platform in a semicircular shape raised their voices and pointed at each other.
"Has it been 50 years or 25 years since Sulla enacted a law to strengthen the power of the Senate? It's just been 10 years. But to invalidate this already."
"Pompeius! How can you ignore the Senate so much!"
"This is a ridiculous excess of authority. The Senate will never agree!"
Pompeius's expression remained unchanged despite the carpet bombing from all sides.
On the contrary, he even looked relaxed.
He opened his mouth in a relaxed voice.
"Dear Members, when did I invalidate the reforms made by Sulla?"
"I'm not doing that right now!"
"Reviving the Lex Hortensia that Sulla abolished means weakening the authority of the Senate!"
Counterarguments poured out from all sides as if they had been waiting. Pompeius's ability to speak in public was by nature not very good.
However, he easily refuted this time because it was a reaction he had already expected.
"The key to strengthening the Senate is to increase the number of members from 300 to 600 and strengthen the Senate's control over the provincial governors. To be honest, this ideal is more like a suppression of the plebeian council than a strengthening of the Senate."
"What do you mean suppression? You're talking too much."
"In fact, that's how the public feels. Is there anyone who doesn't know what the citizens' reactions are like?"
Pompeius's comments made the crowd calm as if they were dead.
Roman government offices were basically elected, so senators were quite sensitive to public sentiment.
This was also a problem with Sulla's reform.
They can only establish a system of republics with the support of the people.
No matter how much you suppress the power of the people, you cannot become a public official if you do not receive the people's votes.
Because of this structural problem, senators were not free from the eyes of citizens.
He doesn't know if he had no intention of becoming a praetor or consul, but there's no way such a member could be in the Senate.
Pompeius glanced around the crowd and continued his words with great force.
"If you want to oppose it, do so. But the plebeian council is showing great interest in today's Senate meeting, so we'll be able to tell you right away what's going on here. Lentulus, is the opinion that the Senate will never agree still valid?"
Lentulus, who had been screaming until just now, could not say anything and remained silent.
He, aiming for next year's praetor election, realized that he should not rush to speak here.
Other senators also looked at each other and saved their words.
Metellus Pius, a senior senator who turned 60 this year, cautiously stood up and asked for a comment.
Along with Pompeius, he suppressed Sertorius' rebellion and was also a member of a family of hardliner senators.
However, Metellus' personal disposition belonged to the very cautious side.
Unlike other senators, he did not view the current situation as a mere political war.
"Dear Members, what the consul said is not very wrong. I have to admit that there are parts that make sense."
"What do you mean it makes sense?" Does that mean we have to pass that bill?"
"I mean, I can't just disagree. In fact, the status of the plebeian council has literally fallen to the ground. Regardless of public dissatisfaction, this is not a good situation in balance."
The opinions of Metellus were representative of the sentiments of the moderate republicans.
Many of the senators had considerable pride in the system of the state of Rome.
It is easy to fall into middle-right politics like Athens if only the populares dominate. It becomes a common form of politics that can be seen anywhere if only the aristocracy gains.
The senators, who believed that the Roman Republic was the perfect system, were dissatisfied with Sulla's reforms.
It is good to strengthen the power of the Senate, but it has damaged the balance too much.
In particular, the percentage of senators who are proficient in the law thought this way was high.
One of them, Cicero, supported Metellus' opinion.
"We are guaranteeing the legislative power of plebeian council has been a tradition that has been going on for more than 200 years. I think reviving this tradition is worth discussing. In addition, we should return the jury system to its original state.
The two key elements that made up the Roman judicial system were the jury system and the right to appeal.
All Romans were guaranteed the right to appeal by law and sentenced by the jury at trial.
The aristocracy initially monopolized the jury, but the reforms broke the system of the Gracchus brothers.
The Gracchus brothers composed the jury for one-third of the three classes of Rome: the aristocrats, the equites, and the plebeians.
However, after Sulla became a dictator, he restored the system to its original state.
This was actually an act of granting immunity to the aristocracy.
Cicero, a lawman, was deeply disillusioned with this unfair system.
He continued his argument with his fists clenched.
"If aristocrats and commoners face each other in court, they often take the side of the aristocrats, even if the evidence is so strong that they cannot escape. This will lead to serious distrust in Rome's judicial system. No, citizens' distrust is already accumulating."
"But after everything is released like that, what are you going to do if someone like the Gracchus brothers comes back?"
"So did the Gracchus brothers succeed in overturning the Senate? Both failed. And now the Senate has more power than ever before. We're not in a situation where we're going to be scared."
"But still...…."
Pompeius smiled as public opinion was divided even within the Senate.
He even submitted a bill to organize the jury equally as before.
The hardliners were only angry and could not openly express their opposition.
In the end, it was the best they could do to delay the vote until tomorrow.
Pompeius left after threatening to convey it to the plebeian council if they delayed the vote again tomorrow.
Hardline senators, who are on fire, vented their anger at the current situation.
Eventually, they grabbed another consul, Crassus, and complained.
"Please exercise your right of veto, consul. If this continues, won't the bill pass?"
"Huh... Do you want me to use poison now? That's not fair. What would my position be if I vetoed a bill that now has explosive support from citizens?"
"So you're going to let go of your hand and watch it?"
"Once you speak up and express your opposition, I'll think about it. Don't you think it's irresponsible to put all the blame on me without doing so?"
Crassus had no intention of vetoing this case in the first place.
Although now pretending to be a spokesman for the Senate, Crassus is actually a representative of the equites.
Lex Hortensia and the reorganization of the jury system did nothing bad for the equites.
It is only the hardline aristocrats who show their uncomfortable feelings here.
Still, since Crassus was, on the surface, a faithful companion of the Senate, he needed an excuse to escape.
He asserted that if other senators ardently shouted their opposition, he would have a reason to respond.
Naturally, none of the senators said they would step up.
Still, Crassus was the only corner that senators could trust.
They didn't give up and asked for countermeasures.
"Isn't it the consul who said he would keep Pompeius in check? You must keep your promise."
"We only trusted the consul, but how can you show such helplessness?"
"Calm down for a second. When did I say I'd leave Pompeius alone? However, there is no justification for opposing the legislation that Pompeius put up. Let's use the give-and-take strategy."
A hint of hope returned to the eyes of senators at Crassus' proposal.
They gathered around Crassus.
"What's the method?"
"What can we get out of this?"
"It would be impossible to benefit directly. But we can't keep Pompeius in such a state of grandeur, can we?
The senators nodded their heads at the same time as if they had promised.
"That's true. Pompeius is now crossing the line."
"Yes, so in exchange for accepting that offer, Pompeius should also give up something."
"Wouldn't his personality be such that he wouldn't give up on anything?"
"You can return the way he did. Is there a law that only you should carry the support of the people on your back?"
Senators who heard Crassus' plan laughed with satisfaction.
It was not their nature to be unilaterally beaten.
As long as they bleed, the other person should at least get hurt.
They finally reached the aristocracy's agreement.
The will to take the other person's flesh rose fiercely, even if given a bone.
* * *