As he was to note later, his mood must have been sufficiently obvious to terrify everybody, because the compliance was immediate. There was no argument, because the choice seemed to be between giving money to the poor, and being crucified.
* * *
The caravan duly turned up the following morning. The ordinary troops in the legion were curious, and soon found out that their Legate had turned up just in time to personally avoid bloodshed. They also remembered that he had flown out of his tent and ridden hell for leather in that direction. No messenger had come from the village, indeed when Gaius fled from his tent, the problem had not arisen.
Only one answer was possible. The Gods had blessed their Legatus with foresight. A strange rumour began to circulate within the Legion.
Gaius felt strangely short of foresight. He had completed a reply to Rome, and handed this to the messenger. His reply was simple: he acknowledged the order to return the legion to Egypt and stated that the march would begin as soon as the Tribunes had the necessary supplies, he stated that he felt Lucius Vibius was a good soldier and Caesar had made a wise choice, and he continued by stating that he would remain in Judea and await Caesar's further orders.