When Armenia virtually declared unconditional surrender, Mithridates could do nothing.
With a body well over 60, his stamina gradually declined as he tried to stay in the rugged Caucasus Mountains.
Still, he did not intend to surrender like Tigranes.
He has lived his whole life with pride that he fought Rome.
He thought it better to kill himself than to surrender.
Mithridates devised the last resort with the determination that this was the last time.
He used all the wealth he could procure and even mobilized the slaves of his subordinates to reorganize the army.
Adding the men who had followed Mithridates to the Caucasus, the number exceeded 36,000.
Once he had that assortment, Mithridates sent envoys to Pompeius.
At that time, Pompeius divided his legions into two and was moving as if he didn't care about Mithridates.
The six legions led by Pompeius camped west of the Euphrates River, which was supposed to be bordered by Parthia, and spent the winter.
It was an effective demonstration saying that they would abide by the agreement with Parthia, so don't forget that side as well.
As the year passed from 66 to 65 B.C., an envoy sent by Mithridates arrived at the camp.
"Mithridates sent a letter?"
Pompeius snorted as he read the letter brought by the envoy.
"You're talking nonsense for a long time."
"What kind of proposal do you have?"
"Would you like to take a look?"
Pompeius casually handed the letter to Marcus.
When Marcus glanced back, the expression on the face of the envoy had slightly hardened.
Treating a proposal from the king of a country so lightly is not polite.
Pompeius was not a person who was ignorant of such laws, so one could only interpret it as intentional.
Of course, even in Marcus' eyes, Mithridates' proposal seemed absurd.
"'I will recognize Roman supremacy now, so give me the status of an ally...….' Did he really think that this would be accepted?"
"That is what I mean. How far are you overestimating yourself?"
"His Majesty has reorganized the new army. As you can see from the letter, we still have over 36,000 troops. In other words, we can do the last war of resistance."
Pompeius dropped a counterargument from the envoy.
The only thing that came out of his mouth was laughter.
"That is really scary. I'm already wondering how amazing the quality of the troops that he forcibly gathered from among the stacks of mountains will be. Of those 36,000, do half of them know how to handle weapons?"
The envoy didn't say anything. Pompeius was already on top of Mithridates' head. There was no way that clumsy bravado or pride would work.
"There is only one thing I have to say to your king. Surrender like Tigranes II. Then I'll let you come back as king of Pontus."
"His Majesty said that surrender is absolutely impossible."
"Then, what can I do if he stay in the Caucasus until he die? Tell him to think it over."
Pompeius affirmed that there was no room for negotiation.
Eventually, the envoy went back with his shoulders drooping.
"Will it be all right? Still, you can't underestimate the number of people who have more than 30,000. If such people are left behind, wouldn't it interfere with moving south?"
"Don't worry. Mithridates wouldn't even dare to think of going south. I plan to set up a new king in Pontus. The new king will take care of Mithridates."
"By the new king, do you mean the son of Mithridates?"
"Yes. Pharnaces will be the new king of Pontus, so you should meet him."
Marcus tilted his head at the unexpected suggestion.
"You want me to meet Prince Pharnaces?"
"Yes. Thanks to the good you did this time, Pontus is quite friendly to the Crassus family. So, you'll convince Pharnaces to acknowledge Roman supremacy and come under us. Instead, if you promise to recognize him as the rightful ruler of Pontus, he will probably come over."
"All right."
Marcus nodded, holding back a smile that was about to leak.
In fact, this was the role Marcus wanted to play, even if he asked him to do it first.
Pontus was a powerful country, no matter how much it fell into a Roman province.
On top of that, Pharnaces was a young man with ambition and ability.
Secretly having grown his power in the original history, he uses the civil war between Caesar and Pompeius as an opportunity to rebel.
The justification was to help Pompeius and convict Caesar.
Of course, Caesar defeated him and fell victim to the famous 'I came, I saw, I conquered'. He should consider that the opponent was not good.
It is because it is impossible to revive a country that has been in ruins once again with a decent amount of ability.
In Marcus' plans for the future, Pharnaces was a chess horse that would play a significant role.
There is no need to embrace it, but once you get used to it, there won't be any harm.
Marcus immediately turned to Pontus for negotiations with Pharnaces.
Pharnaces was already halfway living like a king in the royal castle of Pontus.
Occupying royal palaces, where he was watching the king's affairs, he welcomed Marcus.
"Oh, I was waiting for you. Are you General Pompeius's representative?"
He was a man with an angular jaw and a strong voice.
His ambitious eyes, which were not hidden even if he tried to hide them, also attracted attention.
'Just by looking at it, it's obviously the son and the father.'
Marcus hid his true feelings and politely bowed.
"I am Marcus Licinius Crassus. Pompeius entrusted me with full authority for this meeting with Your Highness."
"Oh, then can I think that your will is that of General Pompeius?"
"Of course."
Pharnaces observed Marcus with a curious expression. He knew the Roman system quite well.
So it was hard to believe that a young man who did not look like he was still around twenty years old had been entrusted with such an important role.
He even suspected that Pompeius looked down on him and did this.
However, he realized that Marcus' last name was Crassus a beat later, and he understood the current situation.
"I know the Crassus family well. The richest man in Rome and a consul? Moreover, since you have shown great kindness to our people this time, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude."
"I just did what I had to do. I think the more wealth you have, the more responsibility you have."
"Oh, you have a more noble character than I expected. To be clear, if I sit on the throne, I will remember your good deeds."
Marcus smiled faintly and nodded.
"If you're going to take the throne, it's going to be quick. Pompeius thinks that Pharnaces is the right fit for the next king of Pontus."
"Are you saying that you will acknowledge my legitimacy in Rome?"
"Of course, you must surely fulfill your oath to remain a friend of Rome. There is also a need to formally conclude an agreement."
A friend of Rome means an ally who recognizes Roman hegemony.
Since it is not a province, it is not obligated to pay taxes to Rome.
Because of the mutual defense treaty, it was obliged to provide troops when fighting a country that was defined as an enemy of Rome.
Of course, if another country invades a friend of Rome, Rome is obliged to send a relief army.
It was a proposal that Pharnaces had no reason to refuse.
Technically, Pontus was a defeated country that fought a war against Rome.
Even the proposal to leave autonomy had to be accepted.
"For my part, I have no complaints about the proposal. But are you sure that's enough?"
"Of course, there's one more thing. The treatment of the former king, defined as the enemy of Rome, should be decided here. If you ascend the throne, he will be your greatest enemy."
"That's right...he'll never allow me to ascend the throne of Pontus."
Pharnaces was the son of Mithridates, but the father-son relationship was near its worst.
It is relatively common for a son to be threatened by the power of a long-lived king with a strong lust for power.
Mithridates had so far executed four sons whom he judged to be a threat to his power.
When Pharnaces ascends the throne of Pontus, Mithridates will again try to kill his son.
Pharnaces couldn't regard his father as a father, both in position and emotion.
"Mithridates is said to have occupied a fortress near the Caucasus Mountains. It is said that he is appealing to the Parthian king for cooperation there."
"What a fool. Parthia won't listen."
"Yes. It is said that he was flatly rejected. And now there are rumors that they are inciting the tribes of the Black Sea to cross the Alps and invade Rome."
Pharnaces' face naturally smirked.
The hero who had been so brilliant in the past could only be seen as completely senile now.
The fear of his father, which had remained feeble in his mind, completely disappeared.
"If you're an old man who talks nonsense like that, you can handle it enough on this side. The problem is the money to call in the army...…."
"I'll lend it to you if you want. I will charge a small amount of interest, but I will lend it at the lowest interest rate."
"Really? If that's the case, there's no reason why I can't subdue. I will be sure to ask you."
As much as the money he borrowed, he could repay it as much as he could by defeating Mithridates.
Rumors circulated that he had spent almost all of his money on building an army, but that only speaks of recoverable funds.
Mithridates still hid quite a few assets throughout Pontus.
Pharnaces planned to capture Mithridates and absorb all of his wealth.
After doing a rough calculation in his head, he first wrote a document in summary.
Pharnaces acknowledges the supremacy of Rome and subdues the previous king, Mithridates.
At the end of the process, Rome acknowledges that Pharnaces is the rightful ruler of Pontus.
He accepts the return of unjustly seized territories to their original owners.
There were more details, but the key was the contract with such content.
Pharnaces, a 30-year-old young, ambitious man, immediately sprung into action as soon as Marcus returned.
He preached that he was the rightful ruler of Pontus and summoned the armies.
The appeal that if it is under Mithridates, Pontus will only go to destruction has won many people's sympathy.
Mithridates spent decades fighting Rome.
Roman citizens, who are the winners, are also tired of the war, and there is nothing more to see about the hearts of the people of Pontus, the losers.
In an instant, troops of Mithridates and more gathered under Pharnaces.
Even Mithridates' soldiers deserted one by one and joined the prince's army.
Judging that the flow had come to him, Pharnaces immediately raided his father, Mithridates.
Mithridates, who had left the Caucasus Mountains and were stationed in a nearby fortress, were driven out again.
With tears of blood, he was forced to enter the rugged Caucasus Mountains again and seclude himself.
Pharnaces didn't stop there and still occupied cities that were defying Rome.
Upon hearing the news, Pompeius formally proclaimed Pharnaces, a friend of Rome.
Now, there was nothing that could interfere with the expedition to the south of Asia Minor.
Pompeius's main force, which had been stationed on the Euphrates, began preparing to march again.
Then, at that moment, Pompeius brought out an unexpected word.
"Marcus, you now command legions to subdued the detached force that is occupying the vicinity of Syria."
"Yes?"
Maybe it's because it's too far from common sense.
Marcus and the other legates looked at Pompeius with puzzled looks on their faces.
As everyone's eyes were focused, he shrugged lightly with a look of 'What's wrong?'
"Aren't 4 legions currently occupying the south, excluding the 6 legions stationed on the Euphrates River? I want you to command two of them."
"But I'm not even the legate...…."
Marcus reacted with genuine perplexity.
Other legates also voiced objections.
"Mr. Pompeius, Marcus has no experience in serving as a centurion, let alone a legate. But I think it's too early to direct the two legions."
"The first time I commanded the legions was when I was 18 years old. When I was 23, I commanded three legions and swept away Marius faction."
"Well, that's what Pompeius was able to do...…."
"Of course, I'm not asking Marcus to lead the legions to war. In honor of his achievements so far, I am trying to give him a chance to build up his military merits. Anyway, the Seleucid dynasty is nothing but a scarecrow with only a skeleton left. I think anyone can take over such an area, but am I wrong?"
The legates did not raise any objections.
This is because they could understand if they intended to gain experience in a place where there was no risk at all.
Pompeius took his eyes off the legates and continued to speak to Marcus.
"There is a considerable difference between just watching from the side and actually conducting the command. Even if you get lost, the legates next to you will faithfully assist you, so don't be too nervous and try."
"Thank you for giving me this glorious opportunity. I will do my best."
He got a series of unexpected opportunities. Marcus bowed deeply to express his sincere gratitude.
A legate asked Pompeius, who was looking at it with a happy look in a mysterious voice.
"By the way, Pompeius, it would be easy to annex the Seleucid dynasty, of course.… Has the Senate's permission been granted?"
The powers given to Pompeius by the Senate and the Concilium Plebs (Plebeian Council) were always in charge of the Eastern Front.
Marching south from here could have been interpreted as an act of exceeding authority.
Of course, Pompeius didn't even care about such a problem.
"I have already notified the senate. In fact, what was the cause of the conflict in the East? Isn't it because the Seleucid dynasty has already lost power and lost control. If we continue like this, this time it will be annexed by Parthia, not Armenia."
"It certainly makes sense."
"So it's time to make sure that the Seleucid dynasty is under Roman influence. We don't have to wait for the Senate to approve such a serious matter. Wouldn't it be enough just to notify them afterwards?"
Of course, Pompeius did not intend to get permission from the beginning.
Even the legates did not object to the commander's opinion.
For them, Pompeius's orders were dozens of times higher priority than the elderly in the Senate.
Judging that everyone's opinions were unified, Pompeius decided to start action immediately.
Marcus and Spartacus headed for the area with the two legions he was to lead.
Although he has had numerous experiences, this is the first time he has officially commanded the military.
He didn't know for a moment that his heartbeat, pleasantly with light excitement, would subside.
Marcus led two legions to Syria, ruled by the Seleucid dynasty.
As Pompeius said, the Seleucid dynasty had long lost control of Syria.
Marcus' mission was to occupy as many areas as possible until Pompeius's main unit arrived.
It was his first time to command the legions, so he was anxious inside, but fortunately, there was no resistance from Syria.
Rather, the residents seemed to welcome the rule of Rome, a powerful country.
It was a moment that clearly proved how infamous the Seleucid dynasty had become.
The governed will naturally suffer from the invaders if the ruler is weak.
The inhabitants of Syria wanted to be liberated from the foreign enemies who invaded, like an annual event.
If one becomes a Roman province, there will be no more intruders, even if one has to pay taxes.
That fact alone was enough reason to accept Roman rule.
"Welcome to the liberators from Rome!"
Even near Antioch, a large city comparable to Alexandria, citizens welcomed it.
The Roman army even wondered if they really came to liberate Asia Minor.
Still, Marcus moved his legions cautiously.
This is because there was no guarantee that there would be no opponents. After all, the overall atmosphere was good.
Fortunately, the legates of Pompeius's army followed Markus's opinion well.
In fact, there was no reason for the legates to be reluctant to Marcus.
He is the eldest son of Rome's most wealthy family and is the favorite young man of Pompeius.
It was a very reasonable judgment to make a connection with someone who is certain to become a big shot in the future.
Moreover, despite his background, Marcus appeared to be a humble and sincere young man.
He didn't even look down at the other legates because he was close to Pompeius.
There was no particular place to point out because it was reasonable to conduct.
Of course, he liked the shiny silver coin that Marcus poked at him as a sign of favor.
The Roman army, which marched cautiously, did not encounter the enemy but wiped out several bandits.
This move has made Syrian residents more and more welcome to the Roman army.
Eventually, Marcus's army achieved unexpected results, bloodless entry into Antioch.
One of the legates looked around with a puzzled expression at the citizens who were cheering for them enthusiastically.
"I can see why Mr. Pompeius said that this area should be annexed."
Marcus smiled and nodded.
"Because it was already a dynasty that had its end of life. I don't think the decision to merge this place was wrong. If we don't take this place, Parthia might push down next year."
"Pompeius' vision is nothing but admiration."
"I know."
Marcus responded in a strange tone.
Indeed, it rarely followed Pompeius's insight when military matters were intertwined in Rome.
It was deeply questionable why he did not exercise the ability in the other aspect.
In any case, as a result, Marcus did an excellent job with the mission given by Pompeius.
When the main force arrived, he had already suppressed all regions except Damascus.
He didn't do anything in particular, but from the perspective of a third party, it seemed that he had made considerable military contributions.
After congratulating Marcus once, Pompeius led a large army and pushed into Damascus.
There was no resistance again this time.
The monarch was afraid to dare confront Rome, and the citizens welcomed the replacement of an incompetent king.
The aristocrats who ruled the region opened the gates themselves after receiving Rome's promise to preserve their position.
Eventually, the Seleucid dynasty, one of the three kingdoms that claimed to be Alexandros the Great's successor, disappeared from history.
The Romans destroyed the Antigonid and Seleucid dynasties, leaving only the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt.
The Ptolemaic dynasty was also virtually a Roman vassal at this time.
Perhaps that's why Pompeius had no intention of doing anything about Egypt yet.
Instead, he focused on seeking stability in Syria, which had become a new Roman province.
Pompeius first recognized the vested interests of the Syrian ruling class as promised.
Even if the monarch was brought down, the Roman province's policy was to leave the rest of the vested class behind as much as possible.
Thanks to this method, Rome was able to rule the region with minimal local resistance.
When Pompeius smoothly incorporated the Syrian province into Rome, unexpected guests visited Damascus.
They were the two representatives of the Hasmonean dynasty, the last Jewish dynasty.
Unlike Rome, which had a slight separation of church and state, Israel was based on a unified ruling system.
Therefore, it was no different from everyday life for the high priest and the king to have a power struggle.
Hyrcanus II is the high priest centered on the Pharisees, famous for their namesake Pharisees.
And Aristobulus II, king of Judea, rallied the Sadducees, known by the name Sadducees.
With the two men's fierce power struggles, Israel has been in a series of chaos every day.
At that time, Pompeius, the commander-in-chief of Rome, who had enormous power, appeared in Syria.
The two rulers of Israel naturally tried to bring Pompeius to their side.
Pompeius's current position in the East was practically close to the emperor.
At some point, he naturally used the title Pompeius Magnus in his official documents.
It was a sign of pride that he was comparable to Alexandros the Great, who used the title Megas (Great).
When he received envoys from Israel, he naturally acted in an attitude reminiscent of the king.
Marcus stood at Pompeius's side like a king's faithful servant.
"Pompeius, an envoy from the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea asks to see you."
"Let them come."
When Marcus gave a signal, the door opened, and two messengers entered.
However, the attire of one of the two envoys was truly spectacular.
As if he was wearing fancy clothes and accessories to prove how dignified he was.
In addition, the gait was also arrogant.
A stranger would mistakenly think that an envoy from a hegemonic country had come to meet the king of a subject country.
It naturally distorted Pompeius's expression.
Marcus didn't even know the intention of the envoy.
The first envoy, who showed normal attire and attitude, first politely knelt down and bowed his head.
"I see the Imperator of Rome. I am here to convey the will of Hyrcanus II, the high priest of Judea."
The other envoy only shook his head, raised his back straight, and opened his mouth.
"I have come to convey the words of Aristobulus II, the rightful ruler of Judea."
Marcus even wondered what confidence that envoy showed in that attitude.
Pompeius felt the same way.
His face was half-mixed with feelings of absurdity and displeasure.
"Okay. Tell me what you applied for a meeting."
Again, the messenger of Hyrcanus spoke first.
"The high priest is a legitimate ruler who was appointed by Alexandra, the late Her Majesty. However, the reckless Aristobulus attempted a rebellion and forcibly took the position of king."
Pompeius, who did not understand Israel's political system, tilted his head.
"Is the high priest the rightful ruler? If he is a rightful ruler, shouldn't he have been given the king's seat?"
"Because Alexandra was the de facto ruler, Hyrcanus was given the position of high priest first. According to our law, a woman cannot be the high priest."
Rome also had a position equivalent to a high priest.
It was Pontifex Maximus, the supreme priest. The highest priest who significantly led religion influenced politics but did not rule openly.
Perhaps that's why Pompeius still didn't take away his suspicious eyes.
Cultural differences are such a scary thing.
Marcus confirmed that the authority of the high priest in Judaism is comparable to that of the Roman consul.
Only then did Pompeius dispel his doubts.
"So, then, the high priest you follow wants to say that since the current king is unfairly occupying the position, he must also take the position?"
"That's exactly right."
The face of the envoy sent by Hyrcanus turned bright.
Then Aristobulus' envoy, who had been consistently arrogant, raised his voice in a sharp tone.
"False! His Majesty is the legitimate king who will lead Israel. Don't listen to the wickedness of the high priest. His Majesty Aristobulus said that Rome should not make the mistake of making stupid meddling in other countries' affairs. But if I have to side with someone, of course I have to side with your Majesty with legitimacy."
Pompeius sighed quietly at the self-indulgent attitude of the envoy, not knowing that the sky was high.
He asked while shaking his head.
"Do you know who I am and say that now?"
"Aren't you the commander sent from Rome?"
"Hehe, you know who I am, but you show this attitude...…."
"His Majesty Aristobulus is a great king anointed by the Almighty Creator. Rome should side with His Majesty and punish the band of wicked treason."
Pompeius pointed his finger at his temples as if to suppress his headache.
His stomach was boiling, but for some reason, he thought it was pointless even to get angry.
Aristobulus was not ignorant of the fact that Rome was much stronger than Israel.
He recently paid Scaurus, Pompeius's general, to defend the capital.
This is because Aretas II, king of Nabataea, who was raging at the time, invaded.
However, as soon as Aretas II heard the news of the arrival of the Roman army, he did not dare to fight and retreated.
From this moment, the two powers of Israel realized the power of Rome.
The high priest Hyrcanus took the strategy of lying flat on his face in a low position, but Aristobulus was different.
He thought that he, the king of the people chosen by God, could not go out in a servile manner.
At the same time, Pompeius was dumbfounded because he was asking for help.
Marcus also knew that Jews had a strong ideology of chosen people, but he did not know that it would be to this extent.
He never imagined that there would really be someone who would show that kind of attitude when it came to asking for help.
'Does that mean you can't think that you won't help even if it makes you feel bad? There's no way I can't....'
As Marcus predicted, Pompeius did not intend to side with Aristobulus.
However, it was a little worrisome to raise Hyrcanus's hand.
This is because it did not seem reasonable for the chief religious officer to control the state at will.
Pompeius, who had been in agony for a while, soon suggested a compromise.
"It seems to me that Israel's system is the source of conflict. No matter who becomes the leader, it seems necessary to reconsider the irrational system of legislative unity."
"No, that's ridiculous! The authority of the High Priest is a divine right guaranteed by the Torah. No one can invade this!"
"Rome is now trying to trample on the dignity of our Israel!"
Pompeius's heart grew cold when they met the solution he had devised with fierce rejection.
It wasn't a problem to side with whom. Pompeius began to seriously question whether he should keep the state of Israel alive.
"If you do not want to accept my proposal, there is no need to continue the discussion. Get both of you back."
"Ha! They were so wicked."
Aristobulus' envoy was unable to recover his senses until the end and turned with a gallant turn.
On the other hand, the envoy of Hyrcanus understood that the atmosphere was unusual and switched to a reserved attitude.
"Well, I will convey your opinion to the high priest. I will try to bring a positive answer."
After the two envoys completely disappeared, Marcus smiled and shrugged his shoulders.
"What are you going to do?"
"...."
Pompeius's anger did not seem to cool off.
After taking a few breaths, he soon smiled in vain and caressed his eyes with his middle and index fingers.
"Have you seen their attitude? I didn't see and hear anything, did I?"
"Yes. I thought this is what culture shock is about."
"Culture Shock.... Yeah, just like you said. That's a very appropriate expression."
"So, which side will you take?"
Pompeius could not easily come to a conclusion.
"Whose side do you think it's right to take?"
Marcus, who guessed Pompeius's mind, gave the answer he wanted.
"In fact, you don't have to take someone's side. Cultural differences are a bigger problem than you think."
"Yes, you're right. Even those who share a similar culture cause trouble, not to mention Israel. If we leave them as they are, it could be a seed of a great conflict."
"Israel is a monotheistic society. It's so different from Rome. So there will be a ridiculous situation like that just now."
"Yes. Let it be as you say. After all, I need to take care of my hands properly once in a while. No, depending on the occasion, we should consider using it as a province."
It wasn't a decision he simply made because he didn't like the attitude of the envoys.
He made the conclusion after examining the fundamental causes of the envoys' ridiculous appearance.
He cannot leave a foreign state like Israel alone just south of Syria, which has become a province of Rome.
After he listened to the stories of the two envoys, the stable rule could not be expected from the current Israeli rulers.
No matter who took the side, the chances of Israel stabilizing seemed extremely small.
It is best to remove the seeds that could sprout conflicts in advance.
Pompeius immediately mustered his entire legion and marched south toward Jerusalem.
There was no way Israel's feeble army could stop the Roman advance.
The legions, led by Pompeius himself, moved forward, taking the cities of Israel by surprise.
Aristobulus hastily gathered an army and encamped at the fortress of Alexandrium on its way to Jerusalem.
However, when he saw a large Roman army in front of him, Aristobulus felt his fighting spirit cool down rapidly.
The power of the Roman army that conquered the Western world was not even comparable to Israel.
Hyrcanus, who was opposed to the war, was forcibly confined, and his subjects who came to the battlefield changed their minds belatedly.
They unanimously declared to Aristobulus that fighting Rome would be suicidal.
In the end, Aristobulus offered consolidation, unlike when he was vigorously dispatched.
"I will hand over all the fortresses to Rome and surrender quietly. Let me return to Jerusalem and prepare for a treaty."
It was the custom of Rome to accept it once you surrendered before bleeding and fighting.
Pompeius told Aristobulus to visit him in person when he was ready.
Still, he didn't completely return his army back because he was suspicious of something.
The Romans occupied the Jericho fortress east of Jerusalem, where they awaited Aristobulus' call.
Pompeius's hunch was right.
Aristobulus, who returned safely, believed in defense of Jerusalem, an impregnable city, and declared that he would invalidate the surrender.
The Romans, who are even called the nation of the covenant, valued promises above all else.
For such Romans, breaking state contracts was an unforgivable taboo.
Enraged, Pompeius immediately dispatched the legions garrisoned in the fortress of Jericho and laid siege to Jerusalem.
"I will erase Israel and make it a Roman province!"
Neither the legates nor Marcus raised any objection.
Some of the legates said that he should impose tougher sanctions.
The Roman army, whose morale was boiling with anger, quickly created the weapons needed for the siege.
A pendulum hammer called Aries is the thing that breaks down castle walls and gates.
A catapult called an Onager.
Even Turres Mobiles, a type of siege tower, were mobilized.
Aristobulus, mentally intimidated by the Roman siege weapons, again overturned his judgment.
"It was a mistake not to surrender. I meant it would take a little longer to pay the reparations. We will pay as much compensation as we want and open the gates of Jerusalem, so let us not shed blood on each other."
In this situation, Pompeius even thought that Aristobulus' purpose was not to win the war but to deceive himself.
Of course, he did not intend to listen to those who once broke their promise.
Pompeius declared that he would hold Aristobulus hostage until the moment he implemented the agreement.
This time, Aristobulus also obediently followed his words.
Pompeius, who judged that he had finally settled the issue of Israel, withdrew with his captives.
It was because he thought that there was no way he could not fulfill his promise even though he had secured the king's recruits.
Under Pompeius's orders, the deputy stayed in Jerusalem with the mission until the reparations were ready.
But then an unbelievable thing happened.
The main opposition parties in Jerusalem kicked out the Roman mission, saying they could not pay compensation.
Pompeius's patience has literally reached its limit.
He has been through a lot of wars since his late teens and now, but he swears he has never been so angry.
"There is no room for compromise from now on. They don't accept surrender either. We purge all the supporters of the current king who took Jerusalem and deceived Rome."
Jerusalem, which clearly had a way to solve the problem smoothly, chose its own path of destruction.
It was an excellent example of what tragedy happens when your high self-esteem does not follow the ability you have.
* * *