Having left his brother to his new command and arriving back with his own legion in mid-June, Vespasian had spent the rest of the year and all of the following training the II Augusta in embarking on and disembarking from ships until they could do it as efficiently as he thought possible; this had proved a long task as he only had one trireme available to him, the rest having been commandeered – rather short-sightedly, he thought – for the invasion fleet. Whilst the centuries had been taking it in turns to run on and off the only ship, Vespasian had got to grips with the minutiae of commanding a legion and keeping it supplied with equipment, clothing, rations and livestock. He had revelled in it as now it seemed to him that he had the best of both worlds: he was managing a very large estate and at the same time serving Rome under one of her Eagles.
What Publius Gabinius had done with the Eagle of the Seventeenth, however, Vespasian and Sabinus neither knew nor cared. It had seemed simply to disappear – certainly no official mention had been made of it. However, they were just pleased to have survived and returned to evident favour. Sabinus had kept the Nineteenth Legion’s Capricorn from Gabinius and had sent it on to Pallas in Rome in the hope that it would help him in his power struggle with Callistus and also in recognition of his appointment as legate of the XIIII Gemina, the reason for which still mystified the two brothers. Sabinus had written to tell Vespasian that he had received no acknowledgement of the gift but neither had he received any indication that his life was still in danger, so he felt that he could assume now that his part in the assassination of Caligula had been forgotten by the very few people who knew about it. Vespasian, for his part, had been pleased that his family now seemed to be on even terms with Claudius’ three freedmen, on a personal level at least. Fom a professional point of view, however, the freedmen’s constant infighting had meant that the preparations for the invasion had not been straightforward. Each used his own sphere of influence to affect the planning in a way that would reflect well on themselves and badly on their two colleagues. Orders of artillery pieces had been doubled and then abruptly cancelled, before being reordered but at only half the original amount of engines. Gold and silver coin had been despatched from the mint at Lugdunum in the south of the province only for it to have been recalled after travelling almost half the distance north. Ships had disappeared and then reappeared a few days later but with half the complement of crewmen. But most disruptively, conflicting orders as to the timing, speed and objectives of the invasion had come on a regular basis sending Aulus Plautius into fits of rage at the civilian interference in what was, quite obviously, an exclusively military endeavour.
‘Perhaps Narcissus’ arrival might be a good thing after all,’ Vespasian mused as they rode past the first of the four vast legionary and auxiliary camps surrounding Gesoriacum.
Magnus wiped his eyes; despite his sporting of a widerimmed, leather hat, the rain still streamed down his face. ‘In that now he’s here he can change his mind as many times a day as he likes, rather than just when the courier leaves?’
‘I mean that perhaps if he’s here to see for himself the massive exercise in logistics that’s being undertaken then he might refrain from interfering.’
‘And the Emperor will no doubt start going through the day without drooling.’
‘Thank you, prefect. I’m attaching you to the Second Augusta, you will report to Legate Vespasian after this briefing,’ Aulus Plautius said as the prefect of I Cohort Hamiorum sat back down having given his report on the state of readiness of his newly arrived eastern archers. ‘That concludes all your reports, gentlemen.’ He cast his eyes around the four legates and thirty-three auxiliary prefects sitting on folding stools in the large chamber that he used as a briefing room in his headquarters; the walls had been whitewashed, covering, Vespasian assumed, some very unmilitary frescoes. Through the two open windows the rain beat down mercilessly onto the grey, unsettled sea. ‘I think, as we can all see, there is still a great deal more work to be done in terms of filling all the quartermasters’ stores. We have enough boots, for example, for every man on the force to land in Britannia decently shod; but what happens after a month of tough campaigning in that damp climate? I will not lose infantry because of a shortage of footwear nor will I lose cavalry because of a shortage of remounts. I’ve no doubt that you have all got your quartermasters doing everything possible to redress the shortages of reserves but I feel that this is a problem that will benefit from an overall perspective.’ Plautius indicated to the almost obese man sitting next to him in a ludicrously extravagant military uniform. ‘As you know, Gnaeus Sentius Saturninus will be administering the conquered tribes and keeping an eye on the client kings as the army moves forward; it therefore makes sense if I appoint him in overall command of re-provisioning as all the supply routes will naturally run through territory administered by him.’
Sentius smiled the smile of a man who had just smelt profit.
‘That’s made it very unlikely that I shall see my entire consignment of reserve tents before we go,’ Vespasian whispered to Sabinus next to him as Plautius praised his second-incommand’s administrative abilities and integrity.
Sabinus suppressed a grin. ‘And I’ll give up looking forward to my delivery of shovels, cooking pots and grain mills arriving on time and being complete.’
‘I still don’t understand how he managed to wheedle his way into this command after suggesting a return to the Republic when Claudius became emperor.’
Sabinus shrugged. ‘Why am I legate of the Fourteenth?’
‘… and therefore, if we are to be ready by mid-June,’ Plautius was continuing, ‘so as to take advantage of the forthcoming harvest in Britannia, I expect every one of you to take your provisioning requests to Sentius.’ There was a mumble from the officers present that could have either been construed as consent to a very workable plan or resignation as to the way that resupplying the army worked; Plautius chose to believe the former. ‘Good. Tomorrow is the calends of April, which means we have seventy-five days left. Prefects, you are dismissed; legates, you will come with me to report to the imperial secretary.’
Narcissus had taken up residence on the first floor of Caligula’s villa and Vespasian was not surprised by the gaudy artwork and statuary that littered the staircase and corridors on the way to his quarters, vestiges of the brash young Emperor’s taste in interior decoration. What did surprise him, though, was the presence of Praetorian Guards on duty outside Narcissus’ suite of rooms. ‘Claudius’ freedman is taking on all the trappings of an emperor, it would seem,’ he muttered to Sabinus as a centurion left a visibly insulted Aulus Plautius standing outside the door whilst he went to enquire of the ex-slave whether he was ready to receive the general of the invasion army.
‘Perhaps the Saturnalia has been extended for the whole year but no one bothered to tell us,’ Sabinus suggested.
Vespasian glanced at the other two legates, Corvinus and the recently arrived Gnaeus Hosidius Geta, who had been given the XX in recognition of his part in the annexation of Mauretania the previous year; neither looked pleased at being made to wait upon a freedman, however powerful.
‘The imperial secretary will see you now, general,’ the centurion informed them as he opened the door.
Plautius bristled. ‘That is most gracious of him.’
Vespasian detected a look of sympathy with Plautius’ sarcasm in the centurion’s eyes as he passed into a high-ceilinged reception room, at the far end of which sat Narcissus behind a large desk; he did not get up. Any thoughts Vespasian might have had about the presumption of the freedman were abruptly curtailed as he saw, sitting by a table to the left of Narcissus, with writing materials at the ready, Caenis.
His heart jumped and he almost stumbled; she smiled at him discreetly with only her eyes.
‘General Plautius,’ Narcissus crooned, bringing Vespasian back to the matter in hand, ‘and Legates Corvinus, Vespasian, Sabinus and Geta, I’m pleased to see you all looking so well in this brac
ing northern climate. Be seated.’ He indicated to Caenis who took up a stylus and began to write. ‘This is a formal meeting so my secretary will be minuting it. The Emperor sends his greetings and instructs me to tell you that I speak for him.’
‘That is impossible!’ Plautius exploded as Narcissus finished speaking.
Narcissus remained unmoved. ‘No, general, it’s not impossible, it’s necessary.’
‘We are going mid-June so that we only have to take a month’s supply of grain with us to see us through until the harvest is ready.’
‘Then you’ll just have to take more with you.’
‘Have you any idea how much more we’ll need if we go next month?’
Narcissus shrugged his shoulders, half closing his eyes and held out his hands, palms up, as if the question was completely irrelevant to him.
‘Three pounds a day, times forty thousand men, times sixty days until the earliest harvest is ready, that’s … that’s …’ Plautius looked around at his legates for help with the arithmetic.
‘That’s one hundred and twenty thousand pounds a day making a total of seven million, two hundred thousand pounds, general,’ Vespasian offered helpfully.
‘Exactly! And that’s just to feed the troops; I’ll need a quarter as much again to feed all the ancillary people and then there’s the barley for the cavalry mounts and beasts of burden. And it will all have to be transported by pack-mules taking a maximum load of one hundred and sixty pounds each, until we can get a decent road built.’
‘Then I suggest making road building one of your priorities, general, because this is how it’s going to be.’ Narcissus laid a hand on the desk in front of him in a gesture that was at the same time gentle and resolute; his eyes hardened. ‘I calculate that it will take one hundred days between the sending of your message and Claudius arriving with you. So if he’s to be back over in Gaul before the autumn equinox and the real threat of gales in mid-September you need to have crossed the Tamesis by the beginning of June when you send your message to Claudius.’
Plautius stared at Narcissus with loathing. ‘And what should this message say?’
‘Oh, that’s very simple, general. You should tell your Emperor that you have met with fierce resistance and that you need reinforcements and, if at all possible, his presence, in order that he can take over the reins of command that are proving so weighty. I will then have it read out to the Senate who will beg him to personally come and save Rome’s beleaguered legions, and, dropping everything, he will rush to your aid and bring those much-needed reinforcements.’
‘Which will be there ready and waiting outside the city?’
‘Wrong, general, they will be here, ready and waiting; you’ll be able to inspect them in a few days’ time, if you like.’
‘You’ve brought them with you?’
‘Of course, Decimus Valerius Asiaticus commands them until the emperor arrives.’
‘You’re just setting me up to look like a fool.’
‘No, general, I’m setting Claudius up to look like a hero; how you appear is completely irrelevant.’
‘Do you think that the Senate will believe it?’
‘Not for one moment; but the people will and when he comes back laden with booty and captives to celebrate his triumph they will see the hard evidence of it.’
‘My triumph.’
‘No, general, the Emperor’s triumph, the triumph that will make the people love him. What use have you for the love of the people? What would you do with it?’ Narcissus paused to let the implied threat sink in. ‘Now, you can either go along with this in the knowledge that you will be rewarded or I can find someone else who is willing to help my master to win the people’s love. Which is it to be?’
Plautius pursed his lips and breathed deeply. ‘We go in seventeen days, four days after the ides of April.’
‘An excellent day, general, my master will approve; I’m sure the auguries will find it most auspicious once they hear that it is the Emperor’s preferred date. Let me not detain you, you all must have much to do.’ With an airy wave of a pudgy hand he dismissed his social betters, none of whom saluted him.
Aulus Plautius got to his feet, puce with rage, spun on his heel and almost barged his way through his legates as they too stood. As Vespasian turned and followed he saw Corvinus and Geta exchange a worried glance, echoing how he felt about this new development that threatened the success of the enterprise; Magnus had not been wrong, he thought, as he fell in beside Sabinus who was looking equally concerned.
‘Legates Sabinus and Vespasian,’ Narcissus crooned just as they reached the door, stopping them, ‘a brief, private word with you both, if you please.’
Corvinus gave the brothers a quizzical look. They turned as Narcissus dismissed Caenis; she left the room passing closer than necessary to Vespasian so that he smelt her scent.
‘You may wonder why you both remain in favour,’ Narcissus mused as the door closed, ‘especially you, Sabinus, seeing as you did not complete your half of our bargain.’
‘We found the Eagle,’ Sabinus protested, sitting back down. ‘Gabinius took it from …’
Narcissus raised a hand, silencing him. ‘I’m well aware of what happened, legate, and of why and how it happened, because I sanctioned it. As I’m sure you’ve both surmised, it made no difference to me who found the Eagle so long as it was found. When Callistus came to me in private, after you had left Rome, saying that he had information as to where it was hidden, I gave my permission for him to send Gabinius after it. It suited me to have two expeditions and it suited me to have my colleagues squabbling over who would gain the glory for finding it. What didn’t suit me, however, was Callistus’ little plan to have you killed because that reduced the chances of success; had I found out about it sooner I would have put a stop to it.’
Vespasian met Narcissus’ eyes and, for once, believed him. ‘We’re very pleased to hear that.’
‘That’s gratifying but neither here nor there. What is relevant, though, is my other reason for not wanting you killed. As you know, I’d specifically instructed Gabinius that he was not to harm you if your paths crossed, and I also sent him a copy of your orders so he fully understood that you were under my protection.’
‘Even if the Eagle had not been found?’
‘Even if the Eagle had not been found.’
The brothers glanced sidelong at each other, utterly confused.
Narcissus’ face betrayed a rare hint of amusement. ‘Believe me, that was not the case when we made our bargain; then I fully intended to have you killed, Sabinus, had you failed. But things change very quickly in politics and politicians must change with them if they are to survive.
‘I will be frank with you. In the first few months of Claudius’ reign it became apparent to me that I was not the major influence over my impressionable patron; I may have my mouth to his ear but, unfortunately, his very attractive young wife, Messalina, has hers to his cock and I think that we can all agree that is a far more influential position to be in.’
Vespasian was not about to argue the point as a vision of Caenis rocked his concentration. Sabinus grunted his agreement, no doubt contemplating Clementina’s favours.
‘Messalina, however, unlike me, does not have Claudius’ best interests at heart; in fact she has no one’s interests at heart other than her own and those of her brother, Corvinus. Now, that’s not surprising in itself but what does concern me is that her interests are purely pleasure and power and that the Emperor’s cock is not the only such organ that she has her mouth close to.’ Narcissus steepled his hands and leant across the desk. ‘She is starting to build a formidable network of ambitious young men tied to her in bonds of mutual gratification and lust for power; in other words, an alternative court.’
‘Then why don’t you tell the Emperor?’ Vespasian asked, struggling to see what this had to do with him or his brother.
‘I have, and so have Pallas and Callistus but he doesn’t believe us
, he won’t believe anything against the mother of his new son; so I need to drive a wedge between them, and you are both to be a part of that wedge.’
‘Why us?’
‘Because I need men whom I can trust.’
The brothers looked at Narcissus in astonishment.
‘You seem surprised, gentlemen. Of course I can trust you because I am the only person who can advance your careers as I have proved by giving you both legions to command. You both have a choice between me and obscurity – or worse. Do we understand each other?’
Of course they did. Vespasian and Sabinus mutely accepted the truth of the statement.
‘Good. Now, I believe that Messalina’s objective is to fill the top ranks of the army with her lovers, then rid herself of her husband and have Corvinus adopt her new son. The siblings will rule as co-regents until the child comes of age, or for even longer, supported by her network of loyal bed-sharers who will guarantee the loyalty of the legions. She canvasses Claudius regularly, seeking positions for men who have just left her bed as a thickstripe tribune or auxiliary prefect or as a legate, as she did in Geta’s case right at the beginning.’
‘Geta’s her lover?’ Sabinus was shocked.
‘One of the many.’
‘But he was made a legate in Mauretania shortly before she gave birth.’
‘He has specialised tastes, I would assume. But I knew they were having an affair whilst she was pregnant. What was strange, however, was Claudius appointing Geta without me or my colleagues suggesting it; most unusual. This is what first alerted me to Messalina using her influence over Claudius. Then, shortly after you left Rome, Claudius insisted on something that made no military sense whatsoever. We had already decided the makeup of the Britannia invasion force: three legions from the Rhenus, which is sensible, now that we have an understanding with the Germanic tribes; and then one of the legions from Hispania, which has been peaceful since the Cantabrian war, almost thirty years ago. However, Claudius vetoed this Hispanic legion and demanded instead that Corvinus’ Ninth Legion should be sent from Pannonia, a province that is, to say the least, restless. He could not be talked out of it, saying that his darling wife’s family deserved their share of glory.
Rome’s Fallen Eagle Page 23
