Initially, Pompey's bill to "distribute land to the veterans who served under his command in the war in Spain" received approval, yet it was never implemented. This time, when Pompey revisited the issue, the elders claimed there wasn't enough land for distribution, making execution impossible.

Moreover, Pompey enacted several laws during his conquest of the East to stabilize the newly occupied territories. Although his legislative work was commendably completed, he wasn't granted legislative power and acted first and reported later, attracting criticism from the Senate.

Lucullus, who had his command taken by Pompey, finally found an opportunity for revenge. He, along with Cato, Metellus (Mutia's half-brother) and some other conservative elders, discussed and handled each of Pompey's regulations for the East individually.

Pompey, who once dominated the battlefield, found himself struggling upon his return to Rome, feeling like he was stuck in a quagmire.

He attempted to become part of the elite inner circle within the Senate to improve his dire situation but was collectively excluded by the elders led by Lucullus and Cato, as they viewed Pompey, with his high prestige and popular following, as a threat to the Roman Republic.

Pompey's former adversary, Crassus, was also facing difficulties, as the elders opposing Pompey were equally eager to thwart Crassus's endeavors.

Particularly Cato, the moral paragon of the Senate, despised Crassus, who preferred skulking around with clandestine tricks but lacked the courage to confront direct accusations. Thus, he repeatedly obstructed Crassus in the Senate, especially vehemently opposing the tax collectors' demands, causing Crassus substantial financial losses in his ventures.

In the summer of 60 BC (the thirteenth year of the Nix Tribe's establishment), Caesar returned from his governorship in Spain. He was then forty, eligible to run for the consul election the following year.

He also applied to the Senate for a Triumph, capitalizing on his outstanding military accomplishments in Spain.

Caesar sought to leverage the triumphal parade and celebrations to boost his chances in the elections.

His plans were grand, but now his adversary in the Senate was no longer the aging and clumsy Catullus but the shrewd and stubborn Cato.

Through Cato's manipulation, Caesar's application for a Triumph was approved, but the date was set after a meeting in the Roman Square that the consul candidates were required to attend in person.

According to Roman tradition, Caesar could not cross the sacred boundary of Rome before hosting a Triumph, making him ineligible to attend the meeting, thus disqualifying him from candidacy.

Consequently, Caesar requested the Senate to relocate the meeting for consul candidates to a temple outside the sacred boundary of Rome. Still, Cato filibustered from morning till night at the Senate meeting, so Caesar's request couldn't be discussed and had to wait for the next regular Senate meeting.

But time was tight, and although a triumph was the utmost glory for a Roman citizen and family—most Romans would never experience such honor in their lifetime, and hosting three triumphs like Pompey was exceedingly rare—Caesar's desire for a Triumph was strong. However, more acutely than Pompey, he understood the essence of power, and when faced with the choice between the Triumph and the consul election, he resolutely abandoned the Triumph, entering the city to participate in the consul election.

Caesar's return to Rome revitalized Pompey and Crassus, who were under pressure from the elite group of the Roman Senate, caught in dire straits.

Pompey would not forget how Caesar had supported him with enthusiasm over the years, nor would Crassus forget Caesar's close cooperation with him in the Senate in recent years, providing significant assistance in Caesar's consul campaign.

Cato and the conservative elders did not expect Caesar to forgo the Triumph to run for consul, hastily taking remedial measures, promoting a candidate to oppose Caesar.

Their choice was Cato's son-in-law—Marcus Bibulus.

This man had some connections to Caesar; they had simultaneously served as municipal officers and as legal officers, with Caesar overshadowing him each time. Now, they were both running for consul again.

Caesar had no doubt he would be elected, not only because of his substantial influence among the Roman public but also due to the support he received from Pompey and Crassus, with connections, funds, ensuring that as long as he registered, his consulship the following year was practically guaranteed. This certainty is why he dared to relinquish the Triumph; before entering the city, he had already seen the Roman political situation clearly.

Indeed, on election day, Caesar effortlessly took the lead, with Bibulus, supported by numerous elders, coming in second.

The two consuls for the next year were thus determined.

Caesar finally reached the highest administrative office in Rome at forty, but he quickly encountered trouble.

Cato didn't want to see his old rival sailing smoothly in politics, so he proposed in a Senate meeting that given the years of inflicted wounds to the rural areas of Italy due to wars and other factors, the next two consuls should first be dispatched to manage Italy's woodlands and country paths after their terms ended.

This proposal was approved.

This proposal was evidently targeted at Caesar, as by convention, consuls were to be dispatched as provincial governors after their terms, and inability to govern a province and acquire wealth would likely lead creditors to drive Caesar bankrupt.

Though Caesar was angry, he didn't show it, secretly preparing to unite with Pompey and Crassus to confront the conservative faction in the Senate.

Even though Caesar had cuckolded both Pompey and Crassus, making them somewhat resentful, the setbacks they experienced over the past years made them realize their wealth and influence were insufficient to obtain all they desired. They needed a talented, resolute consul of Caesar's caliber to handle affairs, proving Caesar the most suitable through his past performances.

Animosity between Pompey and Crassus had lasted for years, making reconciliation challenging. Nevertheless, Caesar invested tremendous effort to persuade them, mostly through correspondence to avoid drawing attention.

Facing a common enemy and shared interests eventually brought these three together.

Of course, among them, Caesar was the weakest and hence the junior partner, a tool for the other two, expected to work for their benefits during his consulship.

On January 1, 59 BC (the fourteenth year of the Nix Tribe's establishment), Caesar and Bibulus officially took office.

As the candidate with the most votes during the election, Caesar gained priority and, at the Senate meeting on the second day, immediately proposed a new Land Bill.

Yet, as discussions began, his old adversary Cato once again deployed his rhetorical prowess, speaking eloquently for several hours, wasting the entire day, preventing the Senate from voting on the Land Bill.

Cato thought he had won, but he forgot his opponent was Caesar.

Caesar publicly announced that since the Senate was unwilling to act, he would directly appeal to the people of Rome.

The next day, Caesar convened a meeting at the square, in front of thousands of citizens, inquiring Bibulus's views on the Land Bill.

Bibulus stubbornly shouted, "This year's bill will not pass, even if all of you want it!"

Bibulus's words mirrored the stance of Cato and the other elders; they were determined to obstruct the Land Bill, yet Caesar and his backers were equally uncompromising.

Soon after, Caesar held another citizens' assembly at the square. This time he didn't invite his colleague Bibulus but brought in Pompey and Crassus, marking their first public display of unity.

Caesar asked them to stand on the platform as he read out each clause of the Land Bill, asking Pompey beside him, "What do you think?"

Poor at public speeches, Pompey found his chance to shine, and each time he said "I agree!" the crowd erupted in cheers.

The fervent atmosphere roused Pompey, so when Caesar asked, "What if someone opposes the bill with a sword?" he passionately replied, "I will take up the sword and shield, prepared for battle!"

Crassus also voiced his support for the Land Bill, delighting the crowd and stirring unease among many elders.

Yet, despite the people's clamor, Cato and his allies stubbornly prevented the Land Bill from passing in the Senate.

Thus, Caesar appealed to the citizens, leading to the decision to hold a tribal assembly vote on the Land Bill on the last day of January.

When the day came, Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus's supporters occupied key points around the square, including some veterans from Pompey's army, even armed.

As Bibulus attempted to speak against Caesar's Land Bill, he was pushed off the podium, his law enforcer's fascist bundle smashed, and a basket of dung was dumped on his head.

The venue experienced some unrest, with Cato and others forced to leave. Although some were injured, none were killed, as Caesar and his allies maintained effective control over the violence.

The Citizens' Assembly then officially began, approving the Land Bill by a majority vote.

Humiliated, Brullus was profoundly impacted, remaining absent from public appearances for the rest of his term and resorting to underhanded tactics in opposing Caesar.

This had little effect on Caesar, who, after implementing the Land Bill favoring Pompey, called a tribal assembly for the final ratification of his Eastern legislation.

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