Rome must fall.

Chapter 415: Another Anti-Roman Alliance
"No, this is what Chief Maximus told me before I left the Nix tribe because he was afraid you would hesitate. He has always hated Rome, so he has been paying close attention to Rome's movements. He knows Rome much better than you do."

Lurios looked at the silent Vercingetorix and decided to add fuel to the fire: "Captain Maximus also told me that when the prophecy of the goddess Danu comes true the year after next and a civil war breaks out in Rome, he will personally lead the Nyx army over the mountains and into northern Italy!
If we launch a war in Gaul at that time, we can easily crush the Roman army remaining in Gaul, and then invade Italy, meet up with the Nix army in the northern Italian province, and march towards Rome together. Even if Caesar or Pompey lead the army to intercept us, they may not be able to defeat our huge joint army!

Moreover, Chief Maximus told me that he had persuaded other forces to attack Rome's eastern provinces when the civil war broke out in Rome, thus tying up Rome's military strength and leaving him without sufficient reinforcements to defend the city of Rome.

Once we conquer Rome, it will surely shock all the regions and provinces conquered by Rome. Those races who are unwilling to be enslaved by Rome like us will surely rise up in resistance. At that time, the entire Mediterranean ruled by Rome will collapse. We in Gaul will no longer worry about the Romans invading again, and you will be regarded as a hero by the Gauls and widely praised like King Brunus who once conquered Rome! "

Vercingetorix was excited by what Lurios said, because this was exactly what he had been looking forward to. However, when he thought of the current situation in Gaul, his mood became heavy again. He sighed softly, "Alas... I have made an agreement with many leaders to take action next year! The Carnites are even willing to attack the Roman army stationed near their tribe first. Everyone is ready to go, because the Romans are constantly collecting food, and many compatriots are starving. If the action is postponed for another year, I don’t know if some tribes can survive——"

Just as Lurios was about to continue persuading him, Vercingetorix waved his hand to stop him, clenched his fists, gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice: "But the goddess Danu gave an oracle. In order for our rebellion to succeed and prevent Gaul from going to ruin, I will do my best to persuade them! But now I want to know--"

Vercingetorix stared at Lala with sharp eyes and said very solemnly: "Lurius, you are a Gaul, and I have always regarded you as my elder brother! Now I, no, all our Gauls' hopes are pinned on the year after next. Are you sure that the leader of the Nix tribe is really going to lead his army to invade Italy the year after next?!"

Lurios said nothing, but carefully took out a rolled sheepskin from his arms and handed it to Vercingetorix.

Vercingetorix took it, unfolded it and saw a lot of Latin words written on this specially made sheepskin.

The Arverni had been allies of Rome for many years and the two sides had frequent trade. As the son of the leader of the Arverni, Vercingetorix had learned some Latin since childhood, so he was able to understand it.

It was clearly written on the sheepskin: Great and merciful goddess Danu, I swear to you that I will obey your oracle and send troops to Italy when the civil war breaks out in Rome, unite with the Gauls, and attack Rome together! If I break my oath, I will die a miserable death! ... Maximus, swear to do this in the twentieth year of the establishment of the Nix tribe..."

After reading the last paragraph, Vercingetorix curiously touched the strange snake-like pattern drawn behind the text.

"That is the sacred object 'dragon' worshipped by the Nix tribe. It is said to be the incarnation of Maximus in the Kingdom of Danu. It has extraordinary power and is able to change in many ways. Only the chief's unique seal has this pattern! I saw with my own eyes that Chief Maximus wrote on this sheepskin and stamped it with the seal!"

Lulios said solemnly: "Almost all the members of the Nix tribe worship the goddess Danu. Chief Maximus is not only the descendant of the goddess Danu, but also the high priest of the Temple of Danu in the tribe. He will never break his oath!"

"I'm completely relieved now!" Vercingetorix was relieved, and then he asked reluctantly, "Lurius, are you going back to the Nix tribe next?"

"No, I will stay and fight with you for our Gauls!" Lurios said firmly.

"That's great!" Vercingetorix smiled and clapped his hands loudly, but then he remembered something and looked embarrassed: "I am also going to write an oath like Chief Maximus, but how can I get the oath I wrote and the news of my alliance with him back to the Nix tribe?"

"Don't worry, Captain Maximus has sent others to Gaul to find you—"

Before Lulios finished speaking, he heard the voice of the guard coming from outside the hall: "Chief, a tribesman from another tribe insists on seeing you. He said that he has important news to tell you about the survival of the Gaul tribes!"

Lulios smiled and reminded: "The messenger to contact the Nix tribe is here!"

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

Vercingetorix tried his best to persuade the tribal leaders who were dissatisfied with Caesar and wanted to attack the Roman army, but he kept his promise to Lurios and did not tell them about the involvement of the Nyx tribe. He only said that he had received an oracle from the goddess Danu in a dream that a civil war would break out in Rome the year after next, and it would be easier to win if he launched a war against the Romans at that time.

He even told the leaders in detail the news about the city of Rome that he had specially sent people to find out, and analyzed in detail the possibility of a civil war in Rome.

Some leaders were convinced by him, but others didn't quite believe it. However, if the powerful Arverni and their close tribes didn't take action next year, then if they acted alone, their tribes would suffer a catastrophe. Vercingetorix knew that his delay of one year would make some tribes dissatisfied, so he made a promise to these tribal leaders: if their tribes encountered difficulties with food shortages in the coming time, he would do his best to provide them with food aid!
Many leaders were moved by Vercingetorix's sincerity and finally agreed to postpone the war for one year.

Then the chiefs put the flags of their tribes together again and renewed the sacred oath.

However, Gaul was a vast territory with numerous tribes, and it was impossible for Vercingetorix to contact all the tribes that hated Rome. Throughout the year of 52 BC, Gallic tribes continued to attack the Roman garrison and massacre Roman grain collectors and slave traders. But because they were all small in scale, Caesar did not need to command them personally, and they were pacified by the legions stationed in Rome.

Naturally, the Gallic tribes that caused the riots suffered a tragic end. The leaders and nobles who participated in the riots were executed, the villages and fortresses were burned down, and the warriors and their families were reduced to slavery...

Seeing the tragic end of their compatriots, the blast furnace leaders such as Vercingetorix could only hide their hatred and endure silently...

However, Caesar did not dare to take the small riots that occasionally broke out in Gaul lightly. On the one hand, he kept most of the troops stationed in Gaul to stabilize the situation. On the other hand, he vigorously supported those Gallic tribes and leaders who were close to him and willing to obey him, such as the Remi tribe and the Aedui tribe...

Caesar focused more of his attention on the city of Rome, where the increasingly turbulent situation made him feel uneasy.

Last year's consul election left Rome without consuls and senior officials for nearly half a year due to blatant bribery, and this year's consul election even resulted in horrific bloodshed.

Claudius, one of the candidates for consul, a famous Roman and gang leader, was killed by his old rival Milo in a conflict.

So Claudius' family and their men wreaked havoc in the city of Rome to vent their anger, causing great unrest and almost plunging the whole of Rome into a state of anarchy.

The Senate then held an emergency meeting, and with the support of Bibulus, Cato and others, 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 directly appointed by the Senate. Normally, consuls only had their own law enforcers to pave the way for them, but Pompey brought armed soldiers into the city to maintain order.

He tried Milo and exiled him to Massilia; he also enacted new laws to curb the influence of bribery on Rome... Under his strong intervention, order was restored in the city of Rome.

During this time he also dealt with his personal problems.

Cornelia, the daughter of Metellus Scipio, a famous Roman family and the wife of Crassus' son Publius, became a widow because of the Battle of Carrhae. She was young, beautiful and charming, so Pompey decided to marry her and got her consent.

He soon fell into wedded bliss and, through it, established connections with some of the families at the heart of the Roman elite.

Perhaps influenced by them, Pompey issued a decree prohibiting candidates for consul from running in absentia.

This annoyed Caesar because he wanted to become consul directly after leaving Gaul. He did not want to wait for a while as an ordinary citizen after leaving the governorship, during which time he would likely be prosecuted by the senators who opposed him.

Caesar then asked the tribunes to introduce a bill - specifically allowing him to run in absentia.

At the persuasion of Caesar's allies, Pompey personally wrote a supplementary clause - allowing Caesar to run in absentia, and attached it to the text of the new decree, which meant that although the alliance between the two was much weaker than in previous years, it was still valid.

(End of this chapter)