Carbo’s legions in the north still numbered as many as forty thousand men, but with a string of failures mounting, one of Carbo’s lieutenants opened secret communications with Sulla. The lieutenant secured a promise of leniency if he could “accomplish anything important.” To accomplish this “anything important,” the lieutenant invited a group of Carbo’s officers to dinner—including the ex-consul Norbanus. Suspecting treachery, Norbanus himself stayed away, but the others accepted the invitation. When they arrived they were all arrested and executed. The traitorous lieutenant then fled to
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