Caesar smiled, though Fronto couldn’t understand why. They damn well should beg. They needed Rome and everyone knew it. He could only believe that Caesar was already prepared for this and that the Gaul was trying to manoeuvre him. If he was, he’d be in for a shock. The general knew a thing or two about rhetoric.
Caesar cleared his throat.
“Whatever your fears and whatever your opinion of me, Aforix, I support the pride of the Gauls. Pride is what makes a people great, and Rome’s allies should be proud. I say allies, for that is what you are, regardless of what you believe. Very well, we will march on this Ariovistus for you, and drive him from Gaul. However, the war with the Helvetii has seriously depleted our numbers, and to march against a large Germanic force without sufficient manpower would give us no better chance than the Sequani. I will require two agreements from your chieftains in return for our aid.”
The Druid paused a moment as the interpreter relayed the words to him. He frowned and nodded reluctantly at the general. Fronto realised that he was holding his breath. A lot rode on the outcome of this meeting and the general had something up his sleeve. He was being far too deferential and supportive of the Gauls and Fronto had seen that before. He knew he had them over a barrel and was playing them. Caesar cleared his throat and spoke in a loud, clear voice.
“I will require each tribe to adopt the oath that the Aedui and our other allies have already taken. I do not expect you to submit to Rome, but I do demand peace and an alliance.”
As the interpreter passed this on, the murmuring grew among the chieftains.
“Furthermore, we will require a commitment of military support. There is no time for us to reinforce the legions with troops raised within the Empire. Instead, I will allocate one of my staff officers to speak to each chief and arrange a number of levies to join us as auxiliary troops and bolster the numbers.”
The muttering grew to a deep grumble. Fronto wondered how far Caesar could push them before they rejected him. Caesar, on the other hand, seemed to be prepared.
“You can view this in a negative light if you so desire. I urge you all, however, to think on two things. Firstly, in return for this you will receive not only our aid against Ariovistus, but also Roman support in future troubles, as well as trade agreements. Secondly, by delivering auxiliary levies into the army, you yourselves will share in the victory and the destruction of the Germans. What price your pride if you refuse? Once you have made your decisions, your spokesman can find my staff and I at my command tent outside the walls. I have no doubt that there is much that you need to discuss.”
With that Caesar stood and, gesturing to the other officers, turned and strode from the square.
* * * * *
“I just don’t understand why you want to go and deal with him now!”
Fronto sat back, his left hand still gripping the arm of his campaign chair. His right was still too weak for him to even remotely consider clenching his fist. Caesar sighed patiently and replied.
“I know that we need more men and that waiting for the next campaigning season would give us those troops but, regardless of whether the Gauls had even asked me, we’d still need to deal with this for our own benefit. If the Germanic tribes are allowed to settle on this side of the Rhine, how long will it be before they oust the Aedui, d’you think? And after that? How long before they cross the Rhone and threaten our own border? No, they need to be dealt with soon.”
Fronto grimaced.
“But we’re not ready, Caesar. Even if they agree to supply us with extra auxiliary troops, we’ll still be a considerably smaller army than the one that set out after the Helvetii, and this enemy is reputedly much more dangerous. The new auxilia will be untrained and unruly. Even Scipio wouldn’t have launched a campaign early if a difference of a few months would bring the army back up to full strength.”
Caesar tapped the arm of his chair.
“Fronto, I do know what I’m doing. We cannot wait until next spring. However, I’m also aware of the dangers of untrained cavalry. I shall be having a word with Longinus once the rest get here. I’m bringing him back into the senior staff. Publius Sulpicius Rufus will be assigned as legate of the Ninth. I want Longinus to devote all of his considerable talent as a cavalry commander to the army’s mounted contingent. I’m making Longinus ‘Commander of the cavalry’ with authority to completely overhaul the entire division.”
Fronto thought for a moment.
“I suppose that makes sense. He is good with cavalry. What’s Rufus like, I don’t think I know him?”
Caesar smiled.
“You’ll have seen him at staff briefings. He’s quite competent. Commanded men out in Greece. I think it’s time he had a chance with us. Any thoughts?”
Fronto’s brow creased.
“There’s a couple of things I’d like you to consider, Caesar. Firstly, my position on the strategic staff. I don’t mind being one of your senior circle, and I don’t mind being a legate, but by doing both, I’m forgetting how to do either of them well. I think you should either put me back in permanent command of the Tenth or make me permanent staff and promote Priscus to command of the Tenth.”
Caesar shook his head.
“I will consider assigning you back to the legion, though I may still occasionally need to haul you out. I will not consider Priscus for senior officer, though. He is a centurion. A good one, but low-born. He is at the top of the ladder as far as he is concerned. The only place he might go from here is camp prefect. He’s most use where he is.”
Fronto frowned again.
“The second thing I’d like you to think on is command of the Eighth. Balbus is a very good officer and a personal friend. I can think of no one I’d trust more, but he should be back in Massilia, or even Italy, with his wife and daughters. I’d like you to consider giving him release at the end of this campaign to return to his family. You’ve got lots of desperately ambitious little magpies in the staff that would love to fill his boots.”
Once more Caesar shook his head.
“Marcus, quite apart from the fact that I prize Balbus as one of my top officers, could you see him laying down his command and walking away? I won’t ask it of him. If he should ever ask to be released, I would do so gratefully, but I’ll not ask it of him. You should appreciate that; you’re more like him than you might care to guess.”
Fronto grunted and stretched his arms.
“Shall I shout the others in now?”
The general nodded and Fronto climbed from the seat and threw open the tent flaps. To his surprise not only were the staff officers gathered just down the slope, but the Druid and several of the Gaulish chieftains stood in a knot next to them.
“Sir, I think your answer’s waiting outside.”
Caesar straightened in his chair.
“Best show the whole parade in then.”
At a gesture from Fronto, Sabinus called together the staff and exchanged brief words with one of the chieftains. The Gauls made their way into the command tent, with the staff close on their heels. The officers filed off to either side as they entered, taking positions around the edge of the tent, while the Gauls stood just inside the tent flap. The tall and imposing Druid glanced around at the Romans, waiting for the movement to cease and, once they were all in position, stepped a little closer to Caesar.
Once again, the interpreter among the retinue of Gaulish chiefs translated the huge man’s words.