Cataphracts, surviving in a world full of mods

The screeching sound of the chair being pushed aside was so sharp in her ears as the brass pen was placed into the ceramic inkwell. She slightly adjusted her posture, moving a little further away from the table. Tersolius looked at the champion before her, propped her cheek with one hand, and after a brief silence, finally spoke:

"You should know why I called you here, right?"

Karila's expression immediately froze, and after hesitating for a moment, she spoke:

"Because I still used reckless and dangerous methods in the duel...gaining an advantage by risking my life?"

"almost……"

Tersolius raised an eyebrow:

“But I’m not annoyed that you disobeyed my instructions on a whim… well, maybe a little, but more so because you made such a rash decision so casually. Did you really think you wouldn’t die?!”

"Jumping off a galloping warhorse and pulling your opponent off... Even a complete novice who has never ridden a horse before can see how foolish and risky this is. You could be trampled to death like a frog by your opponent's or your own horse at any moment! It would be a gruesome and stupid death!"

"What do you think that is, that you'd casually gamble your life on? This is just a competition, a confrontation, a confrontation where no one is allowed to die. No one's life is worth sacrificing in a place like this."

“I don’t care how carefree and fearless you were in your hometown, but now that you’re here and under my command, I can’t tolerate your habit of risking your life indiscriminately when you’re hot-headed.”

"It's not that people can't risk their lives, but they must do so in a meaningful way, not just waste their lives in vain."

………………

"You are now the commander of my legion. Do you know what a commander does?"

After a barrage of reprimands, Tersolius suddenly changed the subject and asked a question that left Karila shaking her head in confusion—she had only just figured out how to manage her hundreds of men and still needed help from others from time to time, and she had never even heard of the title of Legion Chief before.

"The Legion Chief refers to the most outstanding warrior and the most resilient warrior in the entire legion, capable of undertaking the most arduous tasks. He is bestowed with special honors and is also responsible for breaking through enemy lines during intense battles. He wears the best and heaviest armor, wields the finest weapons, and faces the most formidable enemies..."

Thesolius tapped his fingers lightly on the table:

"So, do you understand? When it really comes down to it, I won't hesitate to send you to dangerous places, but that danger must be worthwhile. I'm the same way; when it really comes down to it, I'll risk my life, but I'll never put myself in danger for something worthless."

"Human life is both precious and worthless; each person has only one, and once lost, it can never be regained. We represent killing and conquest, and are therefore the people most prone to disregarding this principle..."

………………

Even when sheep are forced to be dragged out by their limbs for slaughter, their dying cries are still weak and feeble. At most, they raise their slender hooves slightly, offering a feeble resistance, before their necks are ripped open, their soft wool cut, and they bleed.

Blood is a precious food for wild animals, not only replenishing their water and salt, but also having a strong fishy smell that is a delicious taste for carnivores. Sometimes, after eating their prey, they will even lick the blood off their bodies with reluctance.

However, for humans, this kind of bloody energy is unnecessary, especially since blood stagnates inside the prey, which greatly diminishes the original delicious taste of the meat. So even if the blood is to be used for other purposes and is not intended to be poured on the ground, the step of bleeding is always unavoidable, and few people would like to eat meat with stagnant blood foam.

The sheep stopped struggling after a few moments. This carefully selected fat sheep even had a unique roundness in its four legs. After peeling off the skin, you could see the tender red and white meat. It was obvious that it was very juicy. If you put it on the fire and roasted it for a while, it would be juicy and the skin would be crispy.

Other animals were also slaughtered one after another, and the still-beating fresh meat was quickly cooked. Accompanied by the sweet aroma of fruits and vegetables, it was mixed together to create a complex aroma that was very appetizing and easy to stimulate the appetite.

Even without seeing the actual food, the aroma alone is enough to conjure up images and enhance the anticipation of the upcoming meal.

At the round table under the grape trellis, the most distinguished person, with a radiant smile, her golden eyes slightly narrowed, appeared very expectant. Because of her presence, everyone else seemed somewhat restrained... except for Karila, who had just been reprimanded. Her depressed state lasted only a very short time, and she was now completely back to normal, unlike the others who couldn't even sit still. She casually sprawled out in her chair and even began to call for the servants beside her to bring her some wine.

If it were anyone else behaving like this, someone would have already come up and loudly reprimanded him for his inappropriate behavior. After all, the emperor of the empire is here, and even on a barren rocky beach, others should maintain proper etiquette.

However, this place did not have the emperor's usual servants and officials of etiquette. It was more like a private banquet, like a small gathering among friends. Therefore, there were not many constraints. Alira was keenly aware of this... "Aware" might not be the most accurate word. It was more of a natural instinct, and he made a choice that would not cause too many problems.

Talina, sitting next to her, was completely different. She sat cautiously and reservedly, only sitting on half of the chair. Her back was ramrod straight, and she looked as if she were being entertained by the emperor, watching others chat and laugh in front of thousands of nobles and officials.

Of course, in a sense, it's pretty much the same here. The fact that the two most powerful figures in the empire gathered here meant that, no matter where it was, this ordinary private banquet would be met with fear and suspicion from many people.

Soon, with the help of several strong servants, a scorching hot stone slab was carried onto the table. Beneath the slab, there was a layer of burning charcoal that continued to radiate heat. The purest mutton fat, as white as jade, melted on the black stone, giving the hard stone a glossy sheen. Then there were fresh, tender mutton and other fine meats from other animals, freshly sliced ​​into thin pieces with a sharp knife.

Meanwhile, other dishes were served one after another, cooked using various methods such as frying, grilling, stewing, and pan-frying. Without exception, they were all delicious and appealing, each one easily whetting one's appetite.

Tersolius arrived last, still faintly smelling of cooking oil. Like an old friend, he greeted a few people and then, with Arka's help, began to place the slices of meat on the scorching hot stone to grill.

"It's a pity that the Tuerlu people's snake has already been eaten by us, otherwise I would really like to try this method to see if it would be even more delicious. That kind of thing, specially cultivated for the best taste, is indeed incomparable to ordinary cattle and sheep."

As the slices of meat were sizzled against the hot stone slab, a series of pleasant sizzling sounds filled the air. The fat and meat underwent a wonderful reaction under the high temperature, and the unique aroma of meat mixed with spices made everyone's mouths water involuntarily.

"Alright, stop spacing out. There aren't many rules today. Eat whatever you want."

The emperor chuckled and was the first to extend his fork, skewering a curled slice of meat, dipping it in the sauce on his plate, and inviting the others to begin enjoying their meal.

As the meat turned golden brown and curled up, everyone began to clink glasses and enjoy the food. Before long, the atmosphere became lively. The scorching sun was blocked by the grape leaves, and the water flowing through the middle of the courtyard brought a moist and refreshing mist. For a moment, this place was a rare and beautiful scene, making people feel relaxed and happy.

Freshly slaughtered mutton is extremely tender and delicious, even without any seasoning, just a touch of salt. Other meats such as beef and fish are equally delicious. Paired with unique sauces that are made with complex techniques and are expensive, it would be considered excellent on the table of any high-ranking official, emperor, or king. It's just that the ingredients are not so unique and rare, so it doesn't really showcase wealth and status.

Of all the delicious dishes on the table, the one that Tersolius particularly favored was a braised beef stew, made from the finest cuts of beef with the perfect balance of fat and lean meat, interspersed with tender and chewy tendons. It came from cattle specially bred for the royal family, and its flavor was simply amazing.

The sound of the delicate cup tapping on the table was clearly audible. Tersolius looked up and saw the smiling emperor. Clautina lightly licked a drop of juice from beside her pink lips, while simultaneously raising an eyebrow slightly.

"General, pour me some wine, and have one for yourself too."

"Yes, Your Majesty. This fine wine from Château de la Ktonor has a unique fruity aroma and is perfect for pairing with meat... I've heard that if this wine is aged for another two years, its flavor will decline rapidly. Now is the perfect time to enjoy it."

He reached out and took the earthenware wine bottle from the servant beside him. The stopper had already been opened, and the wine poured out was a bright red with a thick texture, without a trace of dark color mixed in, just like arterial blood that had just been cut open.

"I heard that it smells better if you leave it here for a while. I've never heard of that before, so I'll give it a try."

With a smile, Tersolius flicked the golden cup in his hand forward with his finger. The cup slid across the smooth marble tabletop and came to a precise stop in front of the emperor without spilling a drop.

"It needs to be left to stand in a container chilled with ice for 30 meers. That's when it will have the best aroma and taste... I thought this batch of wine was gone. I didn't expect you to be able to find it again."

"This wasn't something I found. We're only able to enjoy this fine wine thanks to Lord Scripps' generous sponsorship. It's just a pity he wouldn't accept my invitation, otherwise this place would be even more lively... Also, you should drink less. The tone you used just now sounded like that of a seasoned wine collector."

"That's a real shame, but I believe there will always be a solution in the future... Let's not say anything discouraging right now. Come on, have a drink with me."

Chapter 222 Changes in the South (1)

Although his bent back was beginning to stiffen, the man showed no intention of stopping to rest. His hoe deftly spun around the base of the crops, reaching out and retracting to dig up the nasty weeds, exposing them to the scorching sun where they would soon wither and die.

Contrary to what many people imagine, the best weather for weeding is actually a hot, dry, sunny day. While cool and comfortable weather can be very relaxing, it also gives the weeds that have been dug up a chance to breathe. If you're not careful, these tenacious plants will take root and multiply in the soil again. On the contrary, when the sun is blazing, the weeds that have just been dug up will die quickly, so you don't have to worry about them dying.

Sometimes, a few exceptionally robust weeds will entangle with small clumps of soil at their roots. If left unattended, they may not survive. Therefore, it is important to carefully break up the soil around the roots and return them to the soil.

Even though the weather was still dry, this land, which was so precious to him, did not feel dry. The roots of the crops could be clearly seen in the moist soil, thanks to the irrigation ditch dug next to them, in which a thin stream of water was flowing, which made him feel happy from the bottom of his heart. The soil under his feet could also feel the reassuring softness and looseness. Only in such soil can crops grow strong and a good harvest be possible.

The sun made his back feel like it was melting. He could clearly feel the sweat soaking through his clothes. Sweat dripped from his forehead onto the ground from time to time, and his hair was already soaked through. The man, who should have been exhausted, was still full of energy, as if he had inexhaustible strength. He wielded the hoe faster and faster, leaving behind a long, wide field that looked refreshingly beautiful after all the weeds had been cleared.

Once a third of the land was cleared of anything obstructing the view, the man finally caught his breath and slung the hoe over his shoulder when he heard the call from the side. A smile appeared on his face as he walked towards an apple tree nearby, where a woman in coarse cloth was smiling and beckoning to him.

His wife wasn't exactly beautiful, but just seeing her face made him feel genuinely warm and friendly, and a smile would naturally appear on his face, even making his movements lighter.

"Come and eat, I still need to take the things back after I finish eating, I'll come back to help you later."

The woman placed an earthenware pot on the ground containing warm soup, a piece of dry bread, and a small, precious slice of fatty meat cut from the smoked meat hanging in the house; the deep white fat on the slices looked mouthwatering.

"Have you eaten yet? If not, let's eat together."

The woman smiled and shook her head:

"I already ate before I came, so don't dawdle, hurry up and eat. I even put oil in the soup today."

The man stopped talking and sat down on the edge of the field, picking up bread and eating it with the hot soup, but he didn't touch the piece of greasy fat. His face had a kind of shining expression as he looked at the field in front of him, at the wheat swaying in the wind... It was the grain-filling stage now, and he should try to get some fertilizer in a couple of days...

"There's still this piece of meat here, why aren't you eating it? I didn't dare let the child see it, I secretly brought it for you, otherwise he would definitely be making a fuss about eating it."

His wife sat beside him, looking at him with some confusion, while the man simply smiled and shook his head.

"That's too extravagant. This piece of meat can make another pot of soup. It's not right for me to eat it all by myself. You two should keep it. I'm full now."

"You're the one who takes care of everything at home, so of course you should get the best food. Don't argue with me, hurry up and eat now!"

After a few words of refusal, he couldn't win against his wife. He broke the bread in half, put the meat slices inside, and continued to eat and drink, taking bites of bread and sips of soup, to recover the energy he had used up that morning.

"After the wheat is harvested and we pay the taxes, we'll take half of the rest and exchange it for some money. We'll also buy some winter clothes for the family. My son is still naked, and we can't let him continue like this."

"I heard that cloth is cheaper this year. Since the official road was repaired, goods have been flowing in continuously. Everything is cheaper than before, especially the cotton cloth sent from the central empire. It's soft and warm. We must take a good look at it. Maybe our whole family can have a set."

"This is only the first year..."

The man ate the last bite of bread with a touch of melancholy, savoring the rich, oily aroma of the piece of fatty meat nestled within, and the precious saltiness dancing on his tongue. Finally, he drank every last drop of the soup in the earthenware pot, then stretched comfortably.

“Who would have thought that just last year we were a bunch of pathetic slaves… Now we’re living such comfortable lives, all thanks to General Tersolius. If it weren’t for this kind man, we wouldn’t be here now… no, we certainly wouldn’t be alive… He even kindly lent us oxen, seeds, and tools for farming and logging. Otherwise, we definitely wouldn’t have been able to cultivate this land in time…”

"Yes, you know, this land was ground harder than stone because of the war. Without oxen and plows, we could grind our bones down and still not be able to cultivate it."

"This reminds me of the days before I was captured - life wasn't as comfortable back then as it is now. Everyone was living in fear. I even hid in the mountains with a few fellow villagers, but we still couldn't escape those guys and were captured here as slaves."

"They're all a bunch of morally corrupt bastards, may they be cursed for all eternity!"

The woman muttered to herself while gesturing with her hands, attracting the man's attention.

"What kind of gesture is that? I've never seen it before. Which deity's prayer is this?"

A smile appeared on the woman's face, as if she was happy about something:

"This is the prayer gesture of the goddess Fusgrina, the goddess of war and law in our country. She is said to be very effective, and you can ask her for anything. She is a household name in the empire, and no one is unaware of her."

"If gods really could grant every wish, then many things wouldn't be so painful and troublesome. Where would such a good thing come from..."

Although he thought this in his heart, the man didn't say it out loud. He just vaguely agreed, while silently thinking about what he should do next to make his family's life better.

The sun had baked the earth until it was dry and scorching hot; the freshly dug grass had already curled and wilted. The man stood up, ready to continue his unfinished work. His wife had also packed her things, preparing to go and attend to chores around the house, and would come over with a hoe to help him later.

Ugh! ! ~~~……

A distant horn sounded suddenly, followed by a deep but far-reaching drumbeat. The horn and the war drums intertwined and merged to create a unique rhythm and melody, which made the man who was about to continue weeding stiffen up.

This stiffness lasted only a very short time. The man, who had just appeared gentle and simple, like any ordinary farmer working in these fields, suddenly became resolute in his eyes, his back straightened involuntarily, and an uncontrollable look of ecstasy appeared in his eyes. He turned around, picked up his hoe, and ran wildly towards home. His wife reacted immediately, carrying the earthenware pot and tableware in her hands, and followed closely behind.

Along the way, you could see men and women like them everywhere, most of them physically strong. They didn't even bother to talk to you, just kept their heads down and hurried home, as if slowing down would mean missing out on something great.

He rushed into the house, where a thin, dark-skinned but energetic boy was squatting by the door, playing with ants. Seeing his parents return, he was about to stand up to greet them, but instead only caught two earthenware pots thrown at him and a hoe.

"Go and put these things down quickly!"

…………

Pushing open the wooden door of his house, which was made of firewood, the man hurriedly began to search. Of course, there was nothing in this simple house. Even the place where his family slept was a tattered quilt on a slightly raised earthen platform.

He quickly pulled out a spear and shield from the corner of the room, as well as a short sword that had clearly been carefully maintained. The blade of the short sword was sharpened to a new razor's edge and even had a precious grease applied to it.

He took off his most tattered clothes, which he used for work, and then rummaged through the corner of the closet to find a well-preserved military uniform. Looking at this decent and comfortable imperial military uniform made of cotton, the man was unusually silent for a moment, and then, with his wife's help, he began to put on the clothes.

He put on his shirt and trousers, along with his carefully preserved shoes and leg wraps, meticulously preparing everything, especially the leg wraps. If they weren't tied tightly enough... Recalling the whips of those cavalrymen, the man couldn't help but shudder.

Finally, tie two straw ropes around your waist to make the slightly loose clothing fit snugly, and then put on a leather hat—this is to prevent the helmet from rubbing against the hair and scalp lining.

In the blink of an eye, the man who was just farming had become a rather respectable soldier. In particular, even his clothes had been carefully cleaned and preserved by the woman, and now they looked spotless—not to mention when he was a slave, even many citizens in the city did not have such fine clothes.

Despite appearing very anxious, the man still took the last opportunity to give his family a few words of advice:

"The bugles and war drums have sounded; this is the call of war. This time, I will surely make enough contributions to ensure that my family can live a good life! You must also take good care of the fields at home and always pay attention to news from outside. Go to the city to inquire whenever you have time."

"At the same time, we must be careful that someone doesn't take advantage of this opportunity to do something. There are always plenty of bad guys out there, so we need to be careful..."