"Then, our next topic for debate is which public responsibilities each temple will assume."
The Ager Vaticanus.
As debates dragged on day after day, the priests—who had initially done nothing but shout at one another—gradually began taking a more pragmatic approach to negotiations.
"We cannot leave this council without reaching any conclusion."
"Indeed. If we return home empty-handed now, the citizens will tear us apart."
With public scrutiny surrounding the council growing fiercer by the day, they could no longer afford to leave without an agreement.
The temples decided to start by untangling their overlapping public responsibilities.
Ever since Caesar erected the leaderboard in the Forum, the temples had aggressively competed to expand their civic duties.
The Temple of Minerva handled basic literacy instruction and examinations; the Temple of Vesta supported widows and orphans; the Temple of Mercury oversaw merchants, travelers and contracts, and so forth.
However, with the temples competing so fiercely, overlapping spheres of authority were bound to emerge.
"Matters concerning contracts must fall under our jurisdiction!"
"If it concerns gold or coinage, Mercury has a rightful claim as well!"
The priesthood itself sparked countless arguments as well.
Should priests handle administrative matters directly, or should they assign more scribes and public slaves, leaving the priests to focus purely on oversight?
Should priests be selected through elections, or through examinations?
Nor was the council the only place where fierce negotiations were taking place.
"You plan to negotiate the dowry?!" Brutus shouted, glaring at his mother, Servilia. "Julia wants this marriage, and Caesar has already given his blessing! Then naturally..."
"I am doing this for your sake, Brutus," Servilia said calmly. "Though it may be difficult for you to understand right now, love comes and goes like the wind."
"Then what is truly important to you?"
"The alliance between the two houses. And, of course, the money."
Servilia gently stroked her son's arm.
"The larger the dowry Julia brings, the more you will be able to accomplish in the future. Especially considering the enormous wealth Lucius commands..."
"Anyone listening to you would think I approached Julia solely for her fortune."
Brutus yanked his arm from her grasp.
"A dowry is not simply yours to do with as you please, Brutus. If the marriage is dissolved, much of it must be returned." Servilia let out a weary sigh. "The larger her dowry, the more you will be compelled to treat her with unwavering respect. Just like Cicero with his wife."
"You treat everything in life as a bargain to be struck. Do you plan to bind even me with a contract now?"
"A mother and her son need no contracts."
Servilia smiled.
"But a marriage settlement does. Mark my words, Brutus. Emotions cool quickly, but ties forged in gold endure far longer. I tell you this for the sake of you both."
"That sounds like something Crassus would say. I find that way of thinking disgusting, Mother."
"No. I am simply being realistic."
Servilia turned her head away as she replied.
"Regardless, arranging your marriage is a duty that falls upon me as your parent. All you need to do is leave the matter to me. Do not complicate matters by interfering unnecessarily."
"Fine," Brutus replied, his brow furrowed.
But he didn't stay out of the matter for long.
A few days later, a certain pamphlet began spreading like wildfire through the streets of Rome.
The pamphlet contained several poems under a name familiar to every Roman citizen.
"Brutus wrote this?"
"What is it about?"
"I don't know... It looks like a love poem?"
"Brutus wrote a love poem?!"
Yet anyone who read it could grasp the subtext immediately.
[The woman I desire
Need wear no golden crown.
Where she walks, the Tiber's breezes blow,
And when she speaks,
Even the roar of the Forum falls still.
No gold need grace her hands,
For her smile outshines the treasures of Lydia.
Though all the kings of the earth
Should bring their glittering hoard,
I would not turn to look.
For there is but one woman I seek.
O Venus,
If you have already stolen my heart,
Bid me not conceal
Where it has chosen to go.
If any should ask her name,
I shall answer:
Her name is Rome.]
And just like that, Rome's first mass-circulated love poem was born.
***
"For Brutus of the Junii—one of Rome's most illustrious political families—to publish such base, vulgar poetry for the mob. This is all your fault, Lucius!"
"Base poetry? Isn't it a splendid poem expressing his profound love for Rome?"
At my remark, Cato let out a scoff.
"There isn't a soul in Rome who doesn't know whom that poem is truly addressed to."
"Frankly, I'm inclined to agree."
I replied with a smirk.
To think Brutus, of all people, would circulate a poem like that publicly.
At first glance, it appeared to be a deeply patriotic ode to Rome.
Yet given the current circumstances, everyone knew there was far more to it.
It was a clever rebuttal to the rumors surrounding him and the Egyptian princess, and an indirect confession of love to a specific Roman woman.
And the woman he was really writing about was...
My younger sister.
"To be completely frank, even I had no idea Julia and Brutus were that close."
Pompeia had been right after all. I truly was hopelessly oblivious when it came to these matters.
I knew they were on friendly terms.
Who knew they were flirting like that behind everyone's backs?
"Is that the truth? You didn't orchestrate this as well?"
Cato asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Why on earth would I orchestrate something like this?"
"Who knows. Perhaps you thought dragging Brutus into your web would be a convenient way to ensnare me as well."
"I often feel that you give me far too much credit for scheming, Senator," I said.
Still, it was quite astonishing.
To openly profess his love for a Roman woman right in the middle of a swirling scandal with an Egyptian princess.
I never knew Brutus had such a romantic streak in him.
It seemed Father and Mother had already made up their minds.
To think that Brutus, of all people, might soon become my brother-in-law.
In the original history, one of the leading conspirators in Caesar's assassination was now about to become a member of my own family.
Politically speaking, it was hardly a loss.
The Junii were, just as Cato had said, one of the most distinguished families in Rome.
The marriage would satisfy both Julia's wishes and the interests of our family.
"I suppose I should begin making preparations as well."
"Preparations?"
"Julia is my sister. If we are to hold a formal betrothal ceremony soon... we must ensure it is grand enough for all of Rome to celebrate."
"A public love poem, and now a lavish betrothal feast on top of it?"
"Are you accusing me of excessive luxury?"
"Everything about you is excessive!" Cato barked. "This Religious Council is no different. You claim you wish to protect Roman values, yet you keep charging headlong in the opposite direction!"
I chuckled.
This was precisely why I liked Cato.
"Then I shall prepare something humble alongside the grand festivities. I was actually thinking of baking something for the betrothal myself. A cake should be appropriate."
Since it was an engagement, a two-tiered cake would probably be best.
I should look up some recipes in advance.
The Romans already ate plenty of cakes, but I'd never cared much for theirs.
"If Brutus and Julia are wed, you and I will practically become family, Senator. I trust you will attend the betrothal feast."
Hearing my words, Cato let out a heavy sigh.
"What is it this time? Does the thought of a patrician cooking with his own hands offend you too?"
"No."
Cato shook his head.
"I have heard quite a few stories about your culinary talents, Lucius. I sighed purely out of concern for my own well-being."
"I didn't realize you had such a talent for dry humor, Senator," I replied, clearing my throat.
Isn't baking a cake just a matter of mixing the ingredients, pouring the batter into a mold, and baking it?
Well, I'd figure it out somehow.
Anyway, with the Egyptian royals and Brutus's scandal thrown into the mix, this council had taken one unexpected turn after another.
Yet there were still more surprises waiting in store.
The Pharaoh of Egypt and the princess paid a visit to me, accompanied by a group of unexpected guests.
And those unexpected guests were Jewish elders from Alexandria.
***
"You have rendered our royal house an immense service. You helped us win the goodwill of the Roman citizens without leaving us a single coin deeper in debt." the Pharaoh said, reclining on a plush couch.
Beside him, Cleopatra reclined in the same manner.
"Soon, Rome will formally recognize me as a friend and ally of the Roman people. Stability will finally return to our lands."
"I did very little. The princess was the one who did the hard part," I said. I merely provided the framework after all.
Cleopatra, Pompeia, and Julia were the ones who had actually carried it out.
It had essentially been a campaign to rehabilitate the Egyptian royal family's image.
I hadn't expected them to be so good at managing public opinion.
Admittedly, a scandal involving Brutus had erupted along the way.
PR was always an unpredictable beast.
"There is no need for such modesty," the Pharaoh said. "I have prepared a small token of my gratitude to present to you, Caesar."
A token of gratitude... meaning a gift?
Considering the royal family's dire financial straits, he certainly wasn't going to hand over gold.
At the Pharaoh's gesture, a group of men entered the room.
They wore garments familiar to me from the streets of Rome.
Could they be Jews?
"As you may already know, Caesar, Alexandria is home to a large Jewish population. They enjoy considerable privileges guaranteed by our royal house." Cleopatra said. "These men have been eager to meet you."
The Jewish elders stepped forward and bowed low before the Pharaoh.
"We greet Ptolemy, King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Lord of the Two Lands, Son of Ra, beloved of Ptah and Isis. May he live forever."
Quite an extensive title.
To my surprise, I was up next.
"To the son of Gaius Julius Caesar, recipient of a divine revelation from Vesta, scourge of bandits, protector of the Jews of Rome, victor of the Troy Games, and honored friend of the Egyptian royal house: greetings to Lucius Julius Caesar."
"Just Lucius Caesar is fine, actually."
My face grew hot with embarrassment. I never expected anyone to recite my accomplishments like an epic poem.
So these were the Jews of Alexandria.
Alexandria certainly had a massive Jewish population.
Some historical estimates put them at nearly a third of Alexandria's total population.
They were concentrated in several districts of the city and played important roles in the royal administration and the military.
"May I ask why you sought an audience with me?"
"We heard that you recently protected our brethren residing in Rome, Caesar."
"Protected your brethren..."
Did they mean the attempted assassination of Pompey?
I had indeed stepped in to save the Roman Jews when they were framed and driven to the brink of ruin back then.
"Our kin in Rome told us that you saved them in their hour of need without ever demanding that they forsake their faith. Thanks to your continued patronage, our brethren were able to gain formal recognition in Rome. Ever since that news reached us, we have been beseeching the Pharaoh for a single favor."
"What favor might that be?"
"To extend your businesses into Egypt. We already possess merchant contacts, warehouses, and manpower. Your paper, Palmolive soap, and insurance services..."
"You wish to distribute my goods and offer my services throughout Egypt."
It was a compelling proposition.
And the benefits wouldn't be one-sided.
The Jews of Alexandria would effectively gain a powerful Roman patron in me.
With a powerful Roman figure backing them, neither their commercial rivals nor even the Pharaoh would dare mistreat them.
"Roman merchants currently pay considerable customs duties on goods brought into Egypt." Ptolemy said. "For goods imported by your enterprises, Caesar, I shall reduce all tariffs by half for the next five years."
"A generous offer, Your Majesty."
It seemed the Jews weren't the only ones eager to secure a Roman patron.
"Egypt has always been a generous friend to Rome. Through this agreement, we can ensure our friendship endures for generations."
I nodded instead of giving an immediate reply.
It was essentially a golden opportunity to establish a major commercial base in Alexandria.
Wait. If I had warehouses, docks, tariff exemptions, and the full backing of local merchants...
"Your Majesty, rather than merely slashing tariffs on my specific goods, what if we created a designated district where the same exemption applied to all goods?"
"An entire district? What do you mean by that?"
"As I understand it, foreign goods arriving at Egyptian ports are currently subject to tariffs before they can even be unloaded at the docks."
"That is correct."
The Pharaoh replied, looking somewhat perplexed.
"What if tariffs were not levied when goods first entered the port? Instead, tariffs would only be collected when those goods actually entered the Egyptian market for domestic sale."
"Meaning..." one of the Jewish elders cut in. "You are proposing that we designate a specific zone where goods could be traded without being subject to customs duties."
"Precisely."
They were quick on the uptake. Tariffs would only apply to goods destined for domestic consumption in Egypt.
"And if they were shipped onward to another country, they would only be subject to a nominal transit fee far lower than standard tariffs."
"If we do that, royal tax revenues will plummet! I came to Rome seeking funds; how could I possibly..."
"Merchant traffic through Alexandria will increase severalfold. It will be on a scale unlike anything seen before," I said.
Egypt was strategically positioned at the crossroads of Mediterranean trade.
It had the potential to become the Mediterranean's leading center for transit trade.
"Even if direct tariff rates drop initially, the sheer influx of ships will dramatically increase dockage fees, warehouse rents, local spending, and taxable market activity. Royal revenues would ultimately increase, not decrease."
A Free Trade Zone.
There was already an excellent historical precedent.
Roughly a century earlier, Rome had declared Delos a free port, making it a commercial nexus between the eastern and western Mediterranean.
Yet Delos was far too small to accommodate the far greater volume of Mediterranean trade the future would bring.
This way, I could draw Egypt into my sphere of influence without conquering it.
"If Your Majesty grants approval, I will personally take responsibility for establishing postal routes, insurance branches, currency exchange offices, banks, inns, and even printing shops within that zone."
I already maintained branches across Italy.
Yet I had not been able to establish a full-fledged commercial base overseas, especially somewhere as important as Egypt.
With the Pharaoh's backing and the local Jewish merchant network behind me, expanding across the entire Mediterranean was no longer a distant fantasy.
"I shall draft a comprehensive proposal and present it to Your Majesty before you depart for Egypt."
I cleared my throat.
I supposed I should offer my condolences to the staff in the Strategy Office in advance.