Cataphracts, surviving in a world full of mods

The two children, having eaten their fill, were already dozing off and soon drifted into sweet dreams. Christina carefully placed her children back into their cradles and covered them with warm blankets.

Tarina had already started bustling around. The girl used a small brush to continuously dip into a purplish liquid from a transparent jar, drawing marks on the surrounding walls and ground. As the small brush swept across the hard surfaces, a purple light emerged.

Soon the entire room was enveloped in a beautiful, dreamy purple light. If the two children were still awake, they would surely be overjoyed... but now only the two women could see this beautiful sight.

She carefully sealed the small, transparent jar and applied a clear grease to the seal. Tarina continued rummaging through the package and soon pulled out a large packet of pale yellow, fragmented crystals wrapped in oil paper.

These crystals look like unfiltered, unrefined coarse salt, but they are far more eye-catching than coarse salt, simply because the pale yellow specks that constantly emanate from them are so peculiar that it is clear that they are no ordinary substance.

She carefully poured the crystals down along the lines she had just traced, retracing the marks in a uniform and slender manner—this was bound to require a great deal of effort and mental agility, but Talina showed no signs of exhaustion, completing this task, which was so complex that it would dazzle an ordinary person at a glance, with ease.

The final step was to place a small owl statue carved from willow wood in the center of the room. The statue's eyes were two dull white stones, looking as if they had been picked up from the dust outside, and were destined to have no special value.

This statue is also not very exquisite. It does not depict specific feather patterns, and even the wings are just two very crude pieces. The tail is a simple rhombus shape. However, the overall image is captured very accurately, making it easy to recognize what it is at a glance.

This crude little thing, the kind only a child would like, was taken out by Tarina with great seriousness. She carefully placed it on the table in the center of the room, then stretched out her slender fingers, pinched the round head, and gently twisted it—

Click...

With a slight thud, the white stone eyes of the owl statue glowed softly, then quickly faded away.

As if she had accomplished something major, Tarina breathed a sigh of relief, then lightly jumped back and left the area around the table.

"That's fine... As soon as any unfamiliar footprints appear here, an alarm will be triggered immediately, and the henchmen around here will be able to quickly resolve the issue... I don't know if this is the right title."

"This is your freedom, and you are also an important person in the country, someone we are protecting."

A cold voice suddenly appeared in the room. Christina subconsciously reached for the short sword at her waist, and a sharp glint flashed from Talina's sleeve... The two looked up at the same time and saw a gray figure hanging upside down from the ceiling like a gecko.

As the fingers loosened, the hound landed lightly on the ground like a falling leaf... The next instant, a flash of purple light appeared, and the willow owl suddenly trembled. Its sharp, metallic chirping pierced through the stone and wood, instantly transmitting the alarm.

"I am truly sorry to have disturbed you both, but I have an extremely important task ahead of me, so I had to come and make preparations..."

Even though their feet made no sound on the ground, the strange device detected them with ease, causing the gray-clad hawk-hound to glance at the wooden owl in surprise before quickly kneeling and bowing to the two of them.

"It's alright, just do your job."

Ristina shook her head slightly. Even at home, she always carried an exquisite and beautiful short sword at her waist... Ristina was always ready to protect her child, a result of the two previous attacks. Even in heavily guarded places, she remained vigilant.

"Oh, so you're the person in charge of my work, right? Perfect, I have a few things to tell you..."

Tarina reacted quickly, took two steps forward, and gently patted the owl's head three times, stopping the piercing alarm. The two children, who had already played enough during the day, showed no sign of waking up and continued to sleep soundly.

"I deliberately left a margin in the circuits in this room. As long as the damage is less than 40%, there won't be any problems. These circuits on the walls can also monitor the activity of flying objects. As long as you pay close attention, there won't be any issues."

"They don't need much maintenance, just regular replenishment of raw materials... about once every two weeks. Remember to find someone skillful and steady to do this, otherwise it might cause problems."

"As long as no one climbs in by hugging the roof like you, anyone who appears here will be noticed, which should provide you with considerable convenience."

………………

After explaining everything she could think of to the person she was in contact with, Talina returned to her room at the Tersolius mansion and began packing her belongings.

She packed the important documents, tools, and bottles into her backpack, and put the most essential items she couldn't leave her side into a small bag made of white lion skin... Talina was ready to set off.

Chapter 228 Operation (3)

Numbers have always been an intuitive and rational thing, capable of showing changes in a certain aspect of things in a direct and clear way. People who can master numbers are often less likely to be misled and can pinpoint the crux of the matter hidden beneath layers of fog.

The empire is mobilizing. This powerful nation is operating at full capacity for war, like a surging tide, exuding terrifying power and might. The strength of every farmer, every soldier, every merchant, every craftsman, and even every nobleman and official... these people come together to form the small parts of this war machine, and then, through overall planning, they start working together, rapidly unleashing astonishing order and power.

Every day, a large number of elite legions are mobilized on the empire's wide and smooth roads. Massive amounts of supplies need to be transferred to pre-arranged warehouses. Caravans and fleets of horses and ships carrying all kinds of military supplies, such as grain, leather, hay, barrels of olive oil, seasonings, iron ingots, copper ingots, and cloth, have begun to operate. Along the wide river that spans the entire empire, large teams can transport large quantities of supplies to the south in a very short time.

These massive quantities of supplies are bound to generate countless records and massive amounts of data, far exceeding the processing capacity of one person. Without a well-trained and tested professional team, chaos is inevitable.

A large number of clerks and officials were busy calculating and compiling the information on parchment after parchment, concentrating the most important and accurate information on the next level of tables, and making the complicated things clear and understandable through their own efforts.

Even after their calculations, statistics, and classifications, the parchment they collected was still incredibly thick. It was unimaginable how much content it contained required a brilliant mind to make judgments and analyses. For some people who were not good at writing, just one glance was enough to make them feel despair.

And this was the arduous and heavy task that Tarina was about to face... Although the general's staff were already waiting by her side, and these carefully selected talents were all ready to assist her in her work, the girl still looked serious and as if facing a formidable enemy when she thought about the heavy responsibility on her shoulders.

This is Dalifia, a southern city of the empire, separated from the Hols border by only one city, Alper. Five legions are converging here, preparing to join the ranks of Archon Tersolius and launch a war of annihilation against the southern Kingdom of Hols.

In order to supply these professional soldiers and the huge number of conscripted auxiliary soldiers who are arriving in droves, a massive amount of supplies have been delivered to warehouses near Dalifea in recent times, and the warehouses are constantly running low. The Empire's engineering corps has begun to urgently build temporary warehouses to store the supplies.

This is also a huge amount of wealth... Even the slightest negligence could cause enormous losses, so there can be no room for carelessness.

The entire city and the surrounding dozens of miles were transformed into a continuous military camp. The imperial army built strong, permanent fortifications here, using it as a rear base to provide a constant stream of support to the front-line troops.

While they were still preparing in the camp, the large army gathered here was consuming an astonishing amount of supplies every day... Even without looking at her own image on those parchments, Talina could realize how complex the data inside must be.

Taking a deep breath, a resolute look appeared in Tarina's eyes—numbers don't lie. As long as they are recorded truthfully, they can accurately reflect the current situation. This is the most direct channel, and also a trust as fervent and genuine as the sun... Lord Tersolius will draw his own conclusions.

“Alright, let’s begin immediately! There’s no time to waste! Fariana, you handle the supplies from the three northern provinces; Passadavia, you’re in charge of assessing the supplies from the East…”

The order was given. His five staff members immediately began working in an orderly fashion, dividing the thick parchment into several piles according to different categories, with each person responsible for a portion.

They didn't gather together, but instead went separately to areas where many officials were busy with their work. There would be a large number of people helping them sort out this tangled mess of data and information. Their results would then be compiled and submitted to Talina for final judgment and statistics...

………………

"Of the 3000 barrels of pickled radishes sent from the city of Valiasos in the province of Miles, 227 barrels were damaged or spoiled for various reasons, and the rest were confirmed to be of good quality. The containers were manufactured according to the standard military supply container specifications of the Imperial Calendar 1027..."

"The 4000 boxes of smoked fish have also been delivered, and the spoilage is within the prescribed limits..."

…………

A small stack of parchment was carefully aligned and then gently placed in front of Talina. The slightly yellowed edges of the parchment were tough and sturdy, and could be used for a long time. As long as it was not targeted by those damned termites, there would be no problem.

The promotion of new writing materials has begun. The technology is now quite mature, and the paper is no longer so fragile... However, the quality still cannot compare with traditional parchment, so important documents are still written on these durable parchment papers.

Tarina's eyes swept lightly over the refined and condensed data, while her mind made judgments and analyses. After confirming that there were no problems with each parchment, she placed it on her left.

The empire’s vast bureaucracy was in full swing, displaying astonishing order and efficiency. Everything looked perfectly organized, a rarity in any other country… At least Talina was certain that the king of the Kingdom of Hols would never see such a detailed report—not that the Kingdom of Hols lacked talented people, but that the lords certainly wouldn’t hand over real intelligence to the king or anyone connected to him.

When the last piece of parchment was placed on the left, Talina finally breathed a sigh of relief, and a light smile appeared on her lips—it seemed there were no problems, and the supplies were being delivered to the warehouses smoothly and according to regulations. At this rate, it would take at most another half month to complete all the preparations.

As Tarina was thinking this, she was about to stand up. It was late at night, and she needed to rest. She had other things to do tomorrow, and she needed to keep herself energized.

With a thud, the hardwood chair crashed heavily onto the hard stone floor. Talina, who had been slowly standing up, suddenly tensed up, her face turning serious, and she pushed her chair over.

The girl's fingers deftly and swiftly pulled out a seemingly unremarkable parchment from the pile, then spread it out on the table and carefully examined a small portion of it.

Everyone else was startled by his swift and abrupt movement and quickly gathered around, but before they could even see what the problem was on the paper, Talina quickly looked up:

"There's a problem... there's a problem with the supplies in the southern provinces!"

Her voice was extremely soft at first, but then her words became firm. Tarina's gaze was so sharp, devoid of any gentleness, that it pierced the parchment before her like a sharp awl...

-----------------------

A lavish feast was about to unfold, and everyone was vying for a chance to attend. He was now the leader, bringing them to the banquet…

After seeing off the last legionary commander who departed respectfully, Tersolius tapped the armrest of his chair with his fingers and mused on this.

For the people of the Empire, especially its soldiers, the desire to achieve glory and establish a great career is almost ingrained in their bones. To distinguish themselves on the battlefield, to conquer cities and seize territories, to destroy the enemy, to capture slaves, to acquire wealth... this is the most respectable and dignified way for every man in the Empire to become a great figure.

Anyone who isn't an incapable idiot can realize how grand the war against the Kingdom of Hols will be... and how precious the opportunities it contains.

Five legions gathered here, with a total of 6 elite soldiers of the empire. Only such a war could satisfy their appetite, make their blood boil, and make them fight fiercely, just like a group of ravenous lions who couldn't wait to devour fresh flesh.

He was the one everyone believed could lead them to victory, wealth, and glory. His prestige, power, and honor convinced everyone, and he enjoyed unquestionable authority here.

Instead of choosing to live in the comfortable, dry city, Tersolius planned and arranged for the soldiers who kept arriving to be placed in suitable locations within the legion's garrison outside the city.

The air here is somewhat humid. The closer they get to the Kingdom of Hols in the south, the more intense the damp and chilly feeling becomes. Sometimes, when the soldiers wake up in the morning, they will find that their clothes hanging outside are soaked with moisture and show no signs of drying.

This caused great suffering for many soldiers from the north, especially those stationed near the swampy areas south of the city. The soldiers had had enough of the bread, jerky, and even blankets and pillows that would occasionally go moldy, and they were becoming increasingly restless. Disturbances were increasing in the camps, and calls for battle were growing louder.

This place is definitely not a good place to stay...

Tersolius watched as his personal guard, standing in the lower left corner of the barracks, suddenly changed his statue-like solemn posture, raised his spear, and thrust it into the ground with lightning speed using the brass pommel at the bottom of the shaft.

The hard, heavy metal spike pierced through the thin scales and skin without any resistance. A small snake, as thick as a thumb, was struggling on the spear tip. The snake's blood, with its strong fishy smell, dripped onto the rammed earth ground, quickly turning from a blooming blood flower into a dim mark.

With its vibrant red and purple scales, the small snake, which seemed to be sending out danger signals everywhere, soon came to a standstill—the spear-like tail had almost torn its body in two. Even the most resilient snake would find it difficult to survive under such circumstances.

The little snake didn't move until it slipped off the spear tip and was kicked into the muddy puddles by a large, armored foot. Meanwhile, a swarm of tiny mosquitoes gathered at the exposed wound, tearing at the flesh and sucking the blood.

Such incidents had occurred countless times in this neatly rammed and sturdy barracks. Even Tersolius was somewhat used to it. If it weren't for the fact that some of the poisonous insects and snakes were so dangerous that his loyal guards wouldn't allow them to be here, he wouldn't even bother letting his men deal with these little trinkets... In any case, no matter how many were killed or even if lime was sprinkled around them, it would hardly make a difference; these things would still appear as they were.

His fingers slowly rubbed against the gold cup, the texture of which he could clearly feel on his skin. This was a gift from His Majesty the Emperor before he left—made by the most skilled goldsmiths in the entire empire. Apart from the magnificent and intricate reliefs, the entire cup was covered with fine lines as thin as a hair, and was inlaid with three rubies the size of a thumbnail. The bottom was also wrapped with a thin silver wire, making it extremely intricate and luxurious, representing the pinnacle of the empire's jewelry craftsmanship.

This cup is so ornately overturned that it doesn't look like something for drinking. It should be placed in a solemn temple, filled with grape juice or fine wine offered to the gods, embellishing myths and legends.

The wine in the glass also looked clear and deep in color, without any apparent value, and exuded a faint aroma of fruit and wood. Just one sip was enough to tell that it was quite valuable.

It was late at night, and the only sounds outside were birdsong and insect chirps. Even though it was autumn and the temperature was dropping, the number and activity of various small creatures here were still impressive, making one feel surrounded by life... Of course, not all of these creatures are always appealing.

After a soft scraping sound, accompanied by a clear cry, a round figure flew in from the barracks entrance, nimbly dodging the lampstands and chairs in the room and avoiding various obstacles, finally landing steadily on top of Tersolius's chair—a raised point specially reserved for birds to grasp and perch on.

Thesolius naturally reached out and removed the small brass tube from the little fat bird's claw... Then, not long after, his expression turned cold. After a brief silence, he turned to look at his personal guard leader:

"Arka, go and fetch Carianados for me..."

Chapter 229 Operation (4)

No matter how elite or renowned an army may be, or how easily its enemies flee in terror, it is ultimately composed of individuals with innate human needs. Even the strongest and fiercest soldiers, with iron discipline, cannot have bodies of steel; they still need to eat and rest.

With so many strong men gathered together, they consume enormous amounts of food and water every day. Of course, one region cannot provide enough. With several legions now gathered under Tersolius's command, it takes the combined efforts of several provinces to provide sufficient supplies. Every day, countless wagons and fleets of ships move swiftly along wide roads and across broad rivers, delivering all kinds of grains, side dishes, seasonings, and other consumables to the front lines.

Those responsible for transporting food and supplies also need to eat and rest, so a considerable portion of the supplies are consumed on the way. Other losses due to dampness, spoilage, loss, wild animal attacks, and rat gnaws are also common. Therefore, even the strictest commanders will allow a certain degree of loss in the supplies delivered.

Depending on the transportation route, the allowable loss limit will vary. Places with inconvenient roads and harsh, humid environments will naturally receive a larger limit, such as the southern provinces.

This province, bordering the Kingdom of Hols, has a humid climate, making it easy for transported grain to become damp and moldy, even with the best preservation methods. In addition, the mountainous and hilly terrain means that the roads have never been very well-developed.

Therefore, even when supplies were supplied within a province, the transport troops from the southern provinces still received a fairly generous allowance for losses. At least after they arrived, the amount of losses was indeed within the standard after verification and accounting.

Everything seemed fine... except for a flaw revealed in an inconspicuous place.

Extend a finger and gently stroke the head of the round little bird in front of you, letting the soft and elastic feathers run along your fingertip, while reading the information on the note.

As Teresolus watched, he thoughtfully observed the little gray-feathered bird before him. He couldn't help but find it amusing that the little creature pulled a wriggling mealworm from the thin leather pouch on its chest, just like a child taking a snack out of their pocket, tilting its head back and swallowing it in a few gulps.

This was Talina's messenger, capable of flying silently in the night. No one could detect this little creature; even the elite soldiers around the camp failed to notice the bird flying in through the skylight, delivering this intriguing intelligence to him without alarming anyone.

The third supply convoy from the Southern Province reported the unexpected losses they suffered, including but not limited to rotting and mold and road overturning. The amount of loss was almost at the permissible limit, but because there were no fundamental problems, they still passed the inspection smoothly.

But today, when Tarina was conducting her final analysis and judgment based on the data from the integrated shipment, she astutely discovered a problem—on the surface, it was just a grain transport operation with significant losses and frequent problems, and the leader should be reprimanded as punishment for his incompetence.

However, if we analyze all the supply and delivery situations during this period and the past two years together, we can find a problem through the most intuitive data—this situation is too frequent and too regular.

While it's true that conditions in the southern provinces are limited, and such incidents aren't unexpected, if all resource losses occur repeatedly, and each time they happen near the finish line...