Cataphracts, surviving in a world full of mods

The man, panting, asked the man beside him, Assele, who was their guide, familiar with every road in the area, to make sure they could get out of here.

"It'll be soon, sir, it'll be very soon..."

The man from Assele squinted, shielding his eyes from the glare with one hand, and gazed at the towering sand dunes in the distance. After a long while, he slowly came to a conclusion:

"We have covered four of the five sections of the journey. At most, we will be able to see the golden spire of Faria Pallas the day after tomorrow. After that, we will be able to rest. Once we reach the earthen hill in front of it, we will have a shady place to rest and set up camp. Just be careful tonight, as we may encounter bandits no matter where we are. May these depraved and shameless scoundrels be condemned to the molten sand hell for all eternity!"

The guide seemed rather talkative, constantly gesturing as he spoke. His nimble fingers traced lines in front of his chest, and his feet never stopped moving, threatening to shake the man off at any moment. He was clearly extremely adapted to the hot, dry environment.

Upon hearing that they were nearing their destination and would soon be able to rest, the leader breathed a sigh of relief, his steps becoming lighter. As the news spread, the entire group soon became more energetic, picked up their spirits, and quickened their pace.

…………

As the guide had predicted, after some time they saw the low hill and the small water source behind it, which provided shelter from the desert night winds. In this barren land, it was a perfect haven.

And they were lucky today; they were the only team that arrived here, so there were no troublesome disputes. All they had to do was drive the livestock to the water source, set up the tents, establish camp, and prepare for the night.

The massive camel was drinking large amounts of water at an astonishing speed, its belly making gurgling sounds, as if a small stream was flowing inside.

Horses are fast and easy to handle, but they are also precious and need to be well cared for. The two grooms in the caravan are busy preventing their valuable livestock from being harmed. The tall camels are snorting and occasionally spitting saliva. They are covered in dust, which would fly everywhere if you just brushed them off.

A campfire was lit among them, made of dry, durable poplar wood that had been dragged from the desert. These trees thrived here and, after dying, became dry remains that would remain unchanged for thousands of years.

The clear water drawn from the spring was filled into leather water bags, while some people used ceramic water jugs covered with protective nets made of leather and straw. They couldn't wait to start drinking, filling their stomachs with the cool, sweet water until they were bloated before finally stopping.

Even after they had drunk their fill of water, some people still craved that last bit of clear moisture and would take another sip every now and then. Compared to their warm and comfortable hometown with its abundant moisture, everything here was incredibly unbearable for them. They were like a group of frogs being dried in the scorching sun on dry stone slabs, gradually losing moisture and becoming parched.

The leader removed his mask, revealing a pair of long, slender ears. He had already drunk all the water from his jug, but he was still asking his men to fetch more water—such a luxury was a rare sight. If it weren't for a small spring here, each of them would only receive a fixed amount of water each day, not a drop more, all so that they could all make it out alive.

Even though he was once a person of high status who was used to giving orders, he had to listen to the guide's advice on this matter. After all, on such a dangerous road, if a dispute or a foolish act occurred, the white bones by the roadside would be their fate.

A soup made with dried meat and dried beans was served to him, along with hard, rock-hard biscuits sprinkled with fine salt. Eating them directly would hurt his teeth; they needed to be soaked in the soup to soften them before he could enjoy them.

The food portions were small tonight; even a robust middle-aged man like him could only eat half full, barely enough to maintain his strength. This was because their supplies were nearing their limit; if they couldn't reach their destination soon, they would run out of food. An experienced guide was extremely important here.

As he sipped his soup and ate his bread, the man casually reached into his robes. Beneath the smooth silk lining lay an intricately decorated parchment scroll—his most important mission: a document that would never be publicly acknowledged, the most valuable bargaining chip to draw the wealthy and powerful nation of Assele into the war.

The official mission would travel by ship to Assele's capital with great fanfare, but the real important thing was what he carried in his arms. The contents of this thing must not be revealed in the slightest... otherwise it would inevitably cause a huge uproar in his own country.

Because they understood the importance of their duties, the man dared not be negligent in the slightest. Whether eating or sleeping, he would not let the scroll leave his side for even a second.

After eating and drinking his fill, he crawled into his animal-skin sleeping bag without hesitation, ready to rest up for the next day's journey.

………………

A large ship is sailing on the sea, its bulging sails providing ample power, causing its sharp bow to constantly part the currents. The experienced helmsman, in close coordination with his colleagues, makes this massive vessel as agile as a fish, constantly navigating the undercurrents with skill and swiftness.

The ship's captain had messy, short, flaxen hair, and his icy blue eyes always seemed thoughtful. His clothes, worn yellow and black from years of living at sea, had a metallic sheen and were even strong enough to prevent water from seeping in.

The beard on his chin and cheeks was equally thick and untrimmed, allowing the hair to grow wildly, covering the entire lower half of his face, completely hiding his lips, and the exposed skin on his face had a greasy sheen.

Overall, every aspect of the captain perfectly embodies life at sea: rough, unrefined, and foul-smelling, with a muscular face and an inherent ferocity.

He wore tight-fitting leather trousers, a style very popular in Western countries, but on him they only looked sloppy and dirty, as they were shiny with grease, clearly smeared with leftover grease from a meal.

The sailors were busily cleaning up the dirt and mess on the deck, while also checking the cargo in the hold; everyone was making preparations.

A vast expanse of land came into view in the distance, making the captain realize that he had spotted his target—the mouth of a great river. His mission was to transport the distinguished passengers from his ship to a location there, where they would transfer to inland watercraft to continue their journey.

The experienced sailors worked together to easily avoid the dangerous currents at the river mouth, allowing the large ship to sail into the wide river and find the designated anchorage.

The heavy anchor fell into the river and, after some time, sank deep into the sand, securing the large ship in place. The unkempt captain finally breathed a sigh of relief, ending this journey, which, though not long, was still fraught with danger.

He downed the half-empty bottle in one gulp, then carelessly tossed it into the river. After calling his men to help him tidy his appearance, the captain himself went down to the deck to invite the important guests.

Not long after, as the sound of footsteps came again, a group of Hols nobles, dressed in fine clothes and adorned with gold and jade, appeared on the deck. Each of them was upright and had an extraordinary bearing. Even those who were pale-faced forced themselves to stand straight and maintain their dignity.

"I will wait here for you distinguished guests. The messengers of Asel will then escort you to your destination. We will wait here for the next 30 days."

The captain, with his rugged appearance, spoke, but it's worth noting that even when facing these clearly distinguished guests, he didn't show any respect, treating them as if they were all equals.

His guests weren't surprised at all; some even greeted him familiarly. In that short time, as the sailors on the watchtower signaled, they saw three large ships appear on the distant river…

All three ships had high, upturned prows, were constructed of sturdy and durable oak, and were equipped with various weapons such as crossbows and catapults. They were clearly three warships, and with the help of the wind, they were moving very fast, closing in on them in the blink of an eye.

The most magnificent ship in the middle was the first to overtake the other two and approach them. With shouts from the sailors on both sides, after confirming each other's identities, the two ships drew closer and closer until they finally came to a stop. A sturdy wooden plank was placed on both sides of the ship's side, and Assele soldiers, wearing plate and chainmail armor and with cloth coverings on their helmets, stood in formation on both sides, leaning on their spears and waiting.

After exchanging greetings, the Hols nobles stepped onto the planks and onto the Atherans' warships. As the planks were retracted, the Atherans' warships began their rapid return, disappearing into the distance without hesitation...

Chapter 225 Changes in the South (4)

The first rays of sunlight in the morning pierce through the sky filled with rosy dawn, instantly illuminating vast areas of darkness, dispelling the cold and nocturnal insects, and awakening people and animals from their slumber, setting them on their journey for the new day.

The tents in the camp had been taken down, and the exhausted Hols people mustered their strength to secure the goods and packages to the horses and camels, and then, guided by the guide, continued their journey for the day.

Although they were thoroughly tormented by the terrible desert, everyone seemed quite energetic, even chatting and laughing in the not-too-scorching morning sun. Their relaxed state was due to the fact that, according to their route and schedule, they would reach their destination today, ending their arduous journey and arriving at Fariapalas, the capital of the Kingdom of Asel, the seat of the great Shah's will, and the magnificent city of gold dust.

This was their mission, the goal they had endured for so long to achieve. Now that the goal was about to be reached, even the most resolute person couldn't help but smile, feeling the relief of a heavy burden being lifted from their shoulders.

As the camels' hooves sank into the yellow sand and the horses' neighing pierced the sunlight, the caravan resumed its journey, advancing on the soft sand.

………………

The man wearing a black headscarf climbed to the top of the hill, panting. His boots kept the nasty sand from getting inside and chafing his feet, but they couldn't prevent his feet from sinking into the sand. He wasn't used to walking in this area, so his progress was inevitably slow, and he was already exhausted.

Once he stood firmly at the top, taking advantage of the exceptional height, his gaze extended far and high—and then he saw the glittering golden spire of the city.

What a magnificent city this is… Towering walls built of massive white rocks stretch out to both sides, seemingly endless. Tall date palms encircle the entire city, forming a verdant oasis. The soaring spires of the royal palace reflect a pure and brilliant light, like gleaming golden spears pointing to the sky. Anyone with even a basic understanding of gold can tell that it is the unadulterated, genuine radiance of gold.

The city is surrounded by wide, stone-paved roads that extend in all directions. At this moment, caravans of all sizes are constantly flowing along them, with the wheels of carriages and the hoofprints of livestock everywhere. The noise and yellow dust rise into the sky together. An unimaginable flow of people is surging into this city, and leaving at some point, bringing countless riches with them.

The man stopped in his tracks, stunned. The sight before him was as shocking as a poor man opening his door to find his bed covered in gold...

Having trekked through the desert for such a long time, enduring not only the extreme weather and exhaustion, but also often going for days without encountering anyone else, they had to be on high alert even if they saw a horse in the distance, lest it be a bandit or thief with ill intentions.

Even this morning, they were the only team on that alleyway, a road they had sworn was absolutely safe, reliable, and secluded, accompanied only by vultures flying overhead and the fallen skeletons by the roadside. But after crossing this hill, it was as if a curtain had been lifted... The unique culture and customs of the country of Assele were thus revealed to them without reservation.

If it weren't for the guide's confirmation, they might have even doubted whether what they were seeing was some kind of hallucination... Otherwise, how could they have suddenly come across a prosperous and magnificent city with countless people after winding around a few hills?

Even with the scorching sun still blazing overhead, the man leading the group could only gasp in amazement—amazement at the terrifying wealth and prosperity of the country of Assele…

This city is situated in a vast oasis, far removed from barrenness and drought, for a clear river flows through it, irrigating the expansive farmland on either side. Countless slaves and farmers toil there, while endless caravans carry goods from all corners of the world. In their conversations and transactions, wealth is generated and flows, making some rich and others penniless...

Every day, countless gold coins flow into the Shah's treasury, making the ruler of this country wealthy and respectable even in front of the emperor. This is the vast country of Asel, which pursues wealth.

The group members cheered with joy, relieved to have finally reached the end of their arduous journey, while their guide, an Assele, smiled at the man leading the group.

"Alright, we've arrived. This is Fariaparas, the greatest city in the world! After a short rest, we'll soon be able to enter the city gates!"

………………

"Did the Holsteins send an envoy to Assele?..."

The silver-haired emperor thoughtfully tapped the mahogany table in front of him with his fingers. The neatly trimmed nails and the hard, lacquered surface produced a crisp sound, like water droplets falling from the bottom of a container, revealing the passage of time.

"They can't fake this, and the intelligence we've gathered can corroborate it..."

Thesolius was fiddling with the exquisite object in his hands, intently stringing the bow—a horn bow bent in a semi-circle—and carefully examining its glossy lacquer and unique, delicate lines.

"Perhaps we should consider the possibility of the Asel people intervening... or rather, we should consider it. As long as the Shah of Asel is not a complete fool, he cannot stand by and watch the kingdom of the Hels fall."

Thesolius twirled the hornbow in his hand. Unlike his longbow used for shooting heavy arrows, this bow was shorter and more compact, but its power and strength were no less, making it a formidable and powerful bow.

The bow's design bears the imprint of both the Empire and Asher, but its bow hilts, like those of the Kurist, are reinforced with white horn plates. The horn plates on the bow's belly are also a smooth, lustrous white, like jade, without a single flaw or impurity.

This bow was made from the horn and back tendon of the enormous white bull offered by the Kurist people. After a pact was made with the Kurist tribe using its blood, the bull's meat was distributed among the soldiers, and the finest materials such as the hide, horn, and tendon were naturally not wasted...

Now, this exquisitely crafted horn bow, with its intricate and ornate patterns meticulously outlined in gold paint and wrapped in ivory-white snakeskin for moisture protection, is the finished product of the most skilled craftsmen. It was only delivered to him today and has yet to display its power.

"Haven't we already considered this?"

The emperor rose from his seat at the table, reached into a quiver made of marsh hide beside him, drew a feathered arrow, and handed it to Tersolys.

"Because of the isolation provided by the Kingdom of Hols, our army has not yet clashed with the Aseles. I'll take this opportunity to see if this country, which always loves to do business, will try to get involved here... and prepare to face us."

"He had no choice but to intervene, Your Majesty."

With a gentle wave of the emperor's hand, guards immediately brought over a target made of straw bundles and placed it on a sturdy wooden frame, setting it far away on the other side.

"For the whole of Asler, having the Kingdom of Hols in the middle, separating them from the influence of the Empire, is only beneficial to them. They can watch the Hols people bleed while being shielded from the northern threat. Relying on the natural barrier of the Kingdom of Hols in the north, they can rest easy."

"Now that the natural barrier has been lost, if this country, which served as a shield, also falls into the hands of the Empire, then the entire northern region of Asel will be exposed to our military might, with no room for maneuver."

He steadily drew the bow by tapping the string with his fingers, using his left thumb as a platform to support the arrow shaft. The entire bow was as soft as a noodle... Of course, this only applied to him. If others were to use it, they would find that the bow's limbs were as hard to move as if they were cast in iron.

As he loosened his grip on his thumb and forefinger, the bowstring slipped off the antler-made trigger, and the arrow shot out like lightning, embedding itself deeply in the target with astonishing speed. Almost the instant he released his finger, the target was pierced.

After observing the arrow's trajectory, Thesolius frowned slightly, then lowered the bowstring, gently twisted the bow arm a couple of times with his fingers to adjust the bowstring's position, and then drew the bow again.

"This country is not to be underestimated either. They have fertile land and amazing wealth. The current Shah is said to be no ordinary man either... He killed all his brothers and sisters and their descendants before he ascended to the throne of Shah. Before that, he was just a marginal prince, regarded as a sacrifice for the succession of the country."

The emperor picked up his horn bow inlaid with gold thread, and began to draw the bow and nock an arrow, aiming at the target in front of him.

"It must be said that although their method of succession to the throne is cruel, it does eliminate the vast majority of incompetent people, ensuring that those who can ascend the Shah's throne have the corresponding abilities. It is difficult for any fools to emerge; at most, they will be a morally corrupt tyrant."

Thetholys's second arrow struck the center of the bow precisely, no bigger than a finger joint. He was also amazed by the bow's excellent draw and efficiency, almost certain that it could shoot arrows extremely far, even to the limit of what the eye could see...

With the sound of the bowstring vibrating and the sharp sound of the arrow flying out, the emperor's arrow followed closely and struck the center of the target, penetrating deeply, leaving only the slightly trembling fletching.

The two chatted like ordinary old friends, but their hands moved swiftly, shooting arrows one after another with the precision of someone standing right in front of a target and planting the arrows, while simultaneously discussing and pondering...

"Although cruel, it is not superfluous... I'm afraid the princes of Asel can no longer trust any of their blood relatives. It's more like a curse, driving them to fight like wolves in a gladiatorial arena, desperately searching for the only chance to survive."

"But this approach is bound to cause chaos..." Switching to his left hand to plucking the string, he still hit the bullseye accurately. Tersolius remarked with some emotion:

"This approach is destined to lead to constant internal strife. After all, no one is willing to use their own life as a stepping stone for others. Even the most humble person will definitely put up a last-ditch effort. No one is willing to give up easily."

“That’s right, especially that fertile land to the east… I remember the last civil war in Assele was 10 years ago, which was a civil war fought over this land.”

"I've heard that the rivers here automatically fertilize the land... I can't even imagine what kind of place this is, it's just an absurd dream. Whoever controls it will have the ability to be self-sufficient, support a larger population, and become richer and more powerful."

…………

The two were chatting idly, and if you didn't listen to what they were saying, you would think they were two neighbors who had met on the street and were having a friendly conversation.

Only after the last arrow in the quiver had been shot did Thesolius finally adjust the horn bow in his hand, and contentedly remove the bowstring, placing the bow into the wooden box beside him—this was how it had been delivered by the craftsmen and servants.

The emperor's last arrow was both steady and ruthless, with a touch of showmanship. It was quite a show of force, splitting one of Tersolius's arrows in two from the tail, with part of the broken shaft even falling to the ground.

It seemed like just an ordinary exchange, but both of them had already made corresponding preparations and plans. Once they had shot all the arrows, they put away their bows and had no intention of shooting another round.

"There are things that need to be prepared for early. If the Asseles want to join this war, now is the best time. Otherwise, once we occupy central Hols, everything will be over."

"Western countries should also keep a close eye on things... This troublesome place has been opposing the Empire all along, and I don't believe they will let go of such a good opportunity. There's also the Kiel in the north... But fortunately, it's not all bad news. At least now we don't have to worry about the East."

A smile spread across the emperor's face as he tossed the horn bow in his hand to a servant beside him as if discarding trash, while carefully examining the target that the servant had moved in front of them.