Aureolus did nothing wrong. It is clearly against the constitution to exterminate a city without the approval of the Senate. "I was just following orders" is not a valid excuse for breaking the law. Hopefully the Senate will let the issuing of this illegal order slide, seeing how the order was not executed.

Also, Lucius Aemilius, I most eagerly await to hear your strategy on dealing with the Carthaginians, seeing how it was you who withdrew our troops from Sicily. I am also wondering why I spent most of my Consulship improving the fleet if the Carthaginians will be allowed to drive their boats wherever they want, including near our islands.