Chapter 92 - 80: Developing Maritime Trade_2
At this moment, the two saw countless slave soldiers wielding weapons but with incomplete armor pouring into the area. After a cacophony of shouts, curses, and shoving, the open space in front of the residential area used for temporarily placing and transporting goods was crowded with the residents of the port area.
Yesterday, these robbers forcibly gathered the port’s people just like today, inciting them to join their ranks. As a result, quite a few port slaves and freedmen were swayed and became part of this group of bandits. Are they here to recruit again today?... With suspicion and unease, the two paused on the corridor, listening intently.
Their building was very close to the crowd, and the voices of the slave leaders shouting faintly reached their ears...
"These bandits are actually going to drive all the residents of Pompeii out of the city!" Daltemas showed a look of shock on his face.
"No, they said it’s not driving out, but inviting, and each household that voluntarily leaves the city can receive a silver coin as compensation—"
"The whole house is taken away, what can a silver coin compensate for!" Daltemas said somewhat angrily.
"At least they made this gesture and are also allowing the Pompeians to take their belongings with them when they leave. When have you ever heard of bandits or pirates performing such merciful acts?" Tegechamos said with a playful look.
"It’s nothing but the cat crying over the dead mouse; in the end, they still have to use force to threaten!" Daltemas said bitterly, and the continuous cries and begging voices from the front made him suddenly feel a sense of solidarity in calamity: "I wonder what the Romans are doing, not continuing to send troops to eliminate these bandits, but instead allowing them to continue to ravage Campania!"
"The Romans have been defeated twice, so now they probably don’t dare to send troops at will, right? Besides, it’s almost time for the election of next year’s governors; surely family affairs are more important than the matters of allies." Tegechamos spoke with a tone of sarcasm.
"What family, whose family, now we are all Roman citizens." Daltemas reminded.
"You are wrong; you are a Roman citizen, while I am just a Sicilian." Tegechamos said coldly.