Cataphracts, surviving in a world full of mods

"What happened? What happened? What serious incident has occurred!"

"Don't say anything, just come with me, hurry up, and remember to keep your mouth shut and don't say anything out of line."

His daughter showed no intention of explaining, but hurriedly pulled him in one direction, as if something extremely urgent had happened.

The man wasn't unreasonable, so he quickly became serious and silently prepared himself—

As he expected, the direction his daughter was pulling him towards was their new village; she had indeed found it by following the markings.

Only now could the man calm down and think about what his daughter's impressive outfit really meant... It seemed that, contrary to his expectations of a terrible outcome, this crazy girl had gotten lucky and seemed to be having a much easier time than he was.

This discovery relieved him and made him realize that what he was about to encounter might not be such a bad thing.

They continued forward along the road, traversing the rugged path with ease, their pace undiminished. Colin even managed to complain to him without breaking a sweat:

"I watched you walk right past me carrying your prey. You weren't this careless before. I was standing right next to the woods, and you didn't even see me? I had to call you back. If this happened back home, a wolf could bite off your heel and you wouldn't even know it!"

"I called you several times, but you acted like you didn't hear me..."

"I told you long ago, wear those animal skin shoes when you go hunting. These cotton shoes are so worn out they're practically useless! They cost three rabbit skins to get them, so be careful."

"I'm already quite old, why do I have to rely on others to take care of everything for me?"

………………

The morning dew would wet people's clothes, making dry clothes damp and cold. Therefore, experienced hunters would wrap their legs with a layer of animal skin to protect themselves from the thorns in the forest and to prevent the cold dew from wetting their clothes.

Hunters wearing these leg guards will not be disheveled by the rain even when they venture into forests that have just been rained on, and they can also withstand the severe cold brought by the snow in winter. They are an essential item for mountain hunters.

Because it must provide a certain level of protection, the leather used to make these leg guards cannot be too soft. To sew together the tough leather, one needs some strength in their hands and a sharp awl to help.

A middle-aged woman wearing an apron was busy under the eaves, with a whole deerskin placed in front of her. The tanning was rather rough, and you could still feel the unique texture of dry, hard leather.

Use a pair of worn, concave scissors to cut the entire deerskin into a regular geometric shape. Trim away some stray hairs to make the surface as neat as possible. Then, punch holes in the edges with an awl and sew them together with leather cords.

The awl used for drilling is not made of iron, but a sharp, pale yellow ram's horn with a spiral shape—the horn of the Pantansi argali sheep, sharp and hard, capable of easily piercing thick bear skin. However, due to their frail bodies, they rarely injure predators, making them quite useful as tools.

By simply placing the corner in the right position and applying a little force, a perfectly round hole can be punched. Then, a finely scraped leather rope is threaded through the hole and sewn together. The edge is then rolled up once, glued in place, and sewn with fine thread. A leg guard that provides perfect protection regardless of the season is now complete.

She straightened up and rubbed her aching back. The middle-aged woman smiled and hung the leg braces she had just finished under the eaves. Further treatment would be needed, but for now, this was all she could do. Afterwards, she would have to rely on what her man could get from the market.

Suddenly, a complex commotion arose outside. A series of noises, like wasps flying out of their hive, made the woman cautiously and curiously walk into the yard, approach the fence, and then peek out to look at the end of the village.

Just one glance, and the rosy glow on the woman's face visibly vanished, replaced by a deathly pale color of panic and fear...

The flashes of dense armor appeared at the village entrance. Warriors clad in full armor had appeared around this simple village at some unknown time, silently forming ranks and waiting quietly for something. The flashes of their weapons imprinted layers of silver highlights on the surrounding leaves, almost blinding.

A magnificent banner, over two zhang tall and elaborately decorated, fluttered in the fresh morning air. A golden double-headed eagle stretched out its talons to the sides, spread its wings, and seemed ready to take flight with the air currents.

This is the Empire's army! — Everyone who remained in the village realized this. With the village chief absent, the villagers were somewhat disorganized, which is why there were bursts of noise.

This would be a nightmare for any village: a well-equipped army appearing around the village, most likely to storm in and loot. The remaining men in the village had already begun organizing the women and children to flee to the back mountains, where they prepared to resist these uninvited guests.

Just when the heavy atmosphere was becoming suffocating, the army took a further step—a man wearing gleaming silver chainmail and leather boots walked towards the village, carrying only a longbow on his back and no other weapons.

In a few thatched huts near the village entrance, several hunters had gathered, their bows drawn, watching the approaching figure warily… But as the figure drew closer, a middle-aged man with a stubble beard suddenly looked puzzled and lowered his fully drawn bow:

"Look at this guy! He looks just like that kid Kochkin!"

"Are you talking nonsense? How could that poor kid be dressed so well? Are you scared by seeing so many soldiers?"

"Go away, what nonsense are you spouting? Open your eyes and look closely, this is clearly Kochkin. I remember clearly when this guy was a kid, he stole my vegetables and escaped through the window, he accidentally hit his head on a rock, and I can still see the scar! Look, on the left side of his forehead, his eyebrow is broken off!"

Upon hearing the middle-aged man's words, the others also focused their attention on his forehead... Sure enough, a section of his left eyebrow was missing.

"It really looks like that kid Kochkin... Not only does he have the same face, hair, and eyebrows, but he also has that smug grin on his face. Isn't that him?"

Another middle-aged hunter gave a positive assessment, and the others calmed down from their earlier panic and confirmed the fact.

The young mountain boy walked to the center of the village with a rather smug look on his face. Then he stood on a small earthen platform, took out two horseshoes from his pocket, and banged them together above his head, producing a crisp, sharp sound.

No one knew why this guy was carrying two horseshoes, but his meaning was easy to understand, so the villagers came out of their houses and began to gather in the center of the village…

………………

They sped along, carrying heavy prey on their shoulders, but the two of them still returned to the village in a short time. Standing on a gentle hillside, watching the gleam of armor flashing on the outskirts of the village, Saratag suddenly didn't know what to say...

Although I knew my daughter was no longer the same as before and would definitely be doing better than me, I never expected her to be this good! Did our family's generations of hunting in the forests suddenly become incredibly lucky? My crazy girl went out for half a year and actually brought back an army!

Saratag was so shocked he couldn't close his mouth and was speechless for a long time. After composing himself, he finally spoke to his daughter with a relieved tone:

"If I had known you were so promising, I should have sent you to the plains... Hanging out with those village hooligans every day almost ruined you..."

"Stop standing there, come with me to see the general!"

Colin didn't listen to what his father was saying at all. He just grabbed him and rushed down the gentle slope toward the village.

"Ah, isn't this your subordinate?"

"Of course not! I'm just a military officer now. What nonsense are you talking about? Hurry up, there's something that needs to be explained..."

Saratag suddenly felt a bit depressed—logically, this should have been a great thing to bring honor to his ancestors, but it fell far short of his original expectations, causing a considerable sense of disappointment.

Upon arriving at the village entrance, the villagers gathered there, and two strong young men took the prey from his shoulders.

After the explanation was clear, the villagers were no longer afraid. Instead, they became curious and gathered around to look at the capable soldiers. When they saw their village chief return, they all greeted him.

The man, unable to speak to anyone else, was driven away by his own daughter and led to the center of the army, where he met the legendary general...

Tersolius carefully examined the blond man in front of him—upon closer inspection, although he was unkempt and had a stubble beard, one could still see that his facial features were strong and handsome, and his eyes were deep and bright. However, his beard and hair had not been washed for a long time and had become matted into clumps, like a group of homeless people gathered in a dark alley.

The other person had the same bright golden hair as Colin, although many parts of it had turned black from dust. He was tall and strong, and his clothes were mostly made of animal hides. A short hunting knife hung from his belt, giving him the look of a hunter going out hunting.

At first glance, the man and his daughter don't seem to have any particular resemblance, but if you observe them for a while, you can tell from their subtle expressions and details that they are indeed father and daughter—their fearless attitude is exactly the same.

As he walked, the battle-hardened armored cavalrymen around him scrutinized him. The combined gaze of these seasoned veterans was enough to deter even a lion from approaching, but the man remained cautious, observing everything around him without revealing the slightest fear.

He hadn't expected things to go so smoothly this time, and after just a quick look at the village, he had already made his own judgment... those bandits had nothing to do with this place; after all, it was a bandit den that had plundered numerous caravans and become incredibly wealthy. The owner of the place certainly wouldn't go out hunting to make a living... and the residents wouldn't live such a leisurely life. Even if the thieves were rich, they wouldn't be so careless.

After all, they are desperate criminals, not fools. Knowing that they are in a life-or-death business, with the constant risk of losing their lives, they would either squander their wealth or become paranoid... but it's practically impossible for them to be so relaxed, as that would be no different from putting their own heads under someone else's blade.

Moreover, when they saw the army coming, they would either fight to the death or scatter and flee immediately... In any case, it couldn't be like this now. This is probably a village where a group of mountain people who fled have gathered together, and it was only built not long ago. Even the outer walls of the houses haven't had time to grow moss yet.

But regardless, as people who live here, they must know something...

Chapter 171 New Developments (2)

The soldiers were setting up camp outside the village. Now that the alert had been lifted, they no longer needed to be on guard. Before the truth was revealed, in order to prevent any possible bandits from escaping from their hands, they sealed off the entire village. All the women and children who had been sent to the back mountain were intercepted by them, and no living creatures left the village.

Now they no longer needed to maintain the high-pressure stance they had just displayed. It was already afternoon, and it was time to set up camp. After all, even if they set off for the city immediately, they wouldn't have enough time to return to their military camp before nightfall.

Each squad has its own designated area. They need to use their axes and picks to cut down bushes, level the land, dig drainage ditches, and set up tents. The cooking team sets up large pots, finds fallen dead trees and dry branches from the surrounding woods, and builds strong fires under the pots so that they can prepare food for hundreds of people by sunset.

In addition, the other squads were responsible for digging trenches and driving wooden stakes around the village. Before long, a sizable camp appeared next to the village, even looking more impressive and respectable than the village itself.

After all, the village was surrounded by a fence made of tree branches, but this camp was made of hard wooden stakes, each as thick as an arm and sharpened at both ends, enough to deter any wild beasts. It was far more secure than the camp.

Add to that the neat rows of white tents, the orderly paths between them, and the drainage ditches around each tent... all things considered, if given a choice, the villagers would definitely prefer to live here.

Such a temporary camp sounded very complicated, but it appeared on the open space next to the village in just one afternoon, leaving all the villagers speechless with amazement. In particular, their fellow villagers, whom they knew, were also very skilled and looked exactly like soldiers of the Imperial Legion, which amazed them even more.

The Empire's army always emphasizes discipline, and this discipline extends beyond just marching and fighting; it covers every aspect of the soldiers' lives. Long before enlisting, the young men of the Empire receive military training and acquire basic skills, much like a piece of unrefined iron.

The discipline within the army is like the collaborative work of craftsmen, who heat a lump of rough iron in a furnace and hammer it on an anvil, transforming them from dull-witted lads into qualified soldiers. They learn a series of skills such as forming ranks, setting up camp, and marching. This is precisely what makes this country so terrifying—a mature system and strict discipline can train qualified soldiers at an extremely rapid pace. Once the country's war machine is set in motion, it will utterly destroy and crush its enemies.

Those young men, who were originally just hunters in the mountains, naturally had no discipline whatsoever. But after becoming soldiers under Tersolius, through the training and tempering they underwent, the discipline of the legion was also etched into their very bones.

This might not be so obvious under normal circumstances, since they are surrounded by disciplined legion soldiers, but at this moment, compared with their former fellow countrymen, it is particularly striking... Even a fool could tell that the air of absolute obedience and perfect order was so palpable.

"Kochkin! You mean you went to rob them under Colin's leadership?...Robbed those guys covered in iron?!"

Kochkin was intently digging a trench, while another person shoveled soil to help him, shoveling it out and patting it onto one side of the trench, quickly piling it into a low ridge.

A young man who used to drink and fool around with him was leaning on the fence next to him, looking at him with a shocked expression as he asked such a question... There seemed to be a hint of looking at him as a fool in his eyes.

This look made him quite uncomfortable, but he felt a little guilty thinking about what they had done, so he could only cough and explain:

“We have a plan, you know? We have a plan. As long as we follow the plan, nothing will happen! ...Besides, we were starving to death at the time, so we didn’t care about anything else...If we don’t get food quickly, the few children who have survived will starve to death.”

"Did none of the children born last year survive?..."

A rare hint of bitterness appeared on Kochkin's face:

"There was no other way. We simply couldn't feed them. The women were starving, so how could they have enough milk to feed their babies? Basically, within a month of our departure, there were none left. We buried them all under the Xiangxi tree. The rest of us had to keep going... We wouldn't have done this if we hadn't had no other choice."

"But you still got caught, didn't you?"

Seemingly trying to dispel the gloomy atmosphere, the young man suddenly asked this question, which made Kochkin a little embarrassed, and he stammered:

“There are always unexpected things, you know… the kind of unexpected things. You can even get pricked by an antler while hunting a roe deer. We never expected the adults to venture into the woods to find us for just two bags of grain, so… but anyway, it turned out well. Look how well we're doing now!”

At this point, he became smug again, even looking around before putting down his tools and showing his chainmail to his fellow villager:

“Look at this outfit. Even that old guy from the Paris tribe back in our hometown couldn’t afford many of these, right? But now everyone can wear it. If it gets damaged, the best craftsmen will fix it for us. If it’s too worn out, we can just replace it!”

"And look at this helmet! Look at its thickness, and these brass reinforcing beams. If I wear this, I dare to stand still and let you chop my head off with an axe! Back in the Holsteins, there was a guy with a greatsword who hit me hard on the head, but it only hurt his hand. I took the opportunity to stab him in the stomach with an arrow."

"And this arm guard, it's lined with the thickest cowhide! These tempered steel plates are all fixed to it with copper rivets, that's why I dare to stick my hand out of the shield to stab others."

…………

As Kochkin continued his incessant chatter, more and more young people gathered around without him even realizing it. As if encouraged, the guy completely forgot about his job and stood on the edge of the trench, talking at length about his experiences over the past six months.

He began his tale in the southern wilderness and continued until the great battle with the Curists… He seemed to have an inexhaustible supply of words, speaking fluently and clearly. His speech was imbued with a rich emotion that easily drew the reader in, drawing them in and unconsciously stirring their emotions, eliciting cheers as the story unfolded.

This made him even more carried away, completely forgetting everything else, and he began to describe things more vividly, making his words increasingly exciting. Everyone around him held their breath, afraid of interrupting him, and greedily listened to every word.

In this process, Kochkin inevitably had to mention their commander, Tesorius—he already had great respect for his general, and when he encountered such a good opportunity, he naturally couldn't miss it, occasionally adding fuel to the fire, but he didn't say anything wrong.

In his description, this general, who led his men out of the enemy's encirclement, marched thousands of miles, and even captured an important strategic city while being pursued, quickly took control of the entire city, and used a small force to rout an enemy many times their size, making the Hols army run around like monkeys, inspired awe and admiration in all the young people.

Especially the great battle that took place in the Pantas River Bend some time ago, the mountains of corpses and the heavy losses suffered by the Kurist people, they had heard about the terrible beating they had endured. Before that, the most spectacular scene the young people had ever witnessed was a few villages banding together to fight over water and hunting grounds. They simply could not imagine what a war that could cost tens of thousands of lives was like.

Upon hearing that their fellow townsmen had participated in that war and even gained glory and wealth as victors, many people immediately couldn't bear to listen anymore.

No young person with passion in their heart could stand this, especially seeing their former fellow townsman now extraordinary, outstanding and respectable, almost like a completely different person. Who wouldn't be envious?

A short while later, the person who had initially struck up a conversation with him couldn't help but ask a question:

"Brother Kochkin, do you think I have a chance? Can I serve under that lord like you?! I'm a good hunter too!"

Seeing this guy, who had just been chatting and joking with him, suddenly become so friendly, even addressing him as "Big Brother," greatly satisfied Kochkin's vanity. He felt lightheaded, almost as if he could sprout wings and fly into the sky, as if his life hadn't been in vain. His attitude immediately became even more enthusiastic.

"Of course, no problem! Although you don't have household registration yet, it will definitely be resolved after this matter is over. Then you can head east to the capital city of this province. There will be a good opportunity in the next couple of days, and you can live as well as I do through your own abilities!"

"It's definitely not good to not go out and see the world. Look at me now, I'm a completely different person from before. You'll see for yourselves once you go and see for yourselves. Even if you don't pass the exam, you'll still broaden your horizons."