I will support those who wish peace and trade with Carthage.

Senators, I am not a young man anymore, and Rome has been at war for as long as I can remember. It is time to take a deep breath. Not to become a nation of cowards, but to be ready to strike with more force when the time and circumstances are right.

Carthage is getting stronger, but they are in a similar position. They have the powerful Egyptians as neighbours, just as we have the Iberians, and they have a reason to wage war in Iberia, just as we do in Thrace.

We need reorganisation, our men need rest. We need reinforcements, organise the army to a homogeneous structure again, and setup proper garrisons in the newly acquired regions.

I would even go further, and not only propose a ceasefire and trading rights to Carthage, but also a ceasefire to the Thracians to reorganise our frontline, and setup a line of forts on the Danube, and bring in fresh armies from Italy.

As of my opinion about the need of trade with Carthage, I believe it is obvious. We need money. And who better than our old enemy to provide it?