Cataphracts, surviving in a world full of mods

He kicked the enormous creature, which resembled a mountain of flesh, and although its skin and flesh were still warm, it was no longer moving, and the blood flowing out was increasing. So he casually threw the spear aside, reached behind him, and pulled out a skinning dagger.

This knife is something she brought from her hometown and has been using ever since. It looks extremely rough – not only is the blade somewhat pitted, but even the handle is roughly carved from a small piece of wood, with rough edges still visible. Moreover, due to years of use, it has accumulated a layer of grease, making it warm and shiny.

The handle was slightly longer than the blade, a common design for hunting knives used by northern hunters to process their prey. Although the blade was rough, its sharpness was quite good; after only a couple of light scratches through the thick bear hide, a very distinct white seam appeared on the bear's belly, revealing glistening white fat underneath.

With the crunch of fallen leaves underfoot, Thesolius dismounted and arrived with his entourage. The main army beside him continued its advance in an orderly fashion, and for the time being, there was nothing for him to worry about.

The brown bear before them, now dead, resembled a trembling mountain of flesh, crushing the surrounding branches and leaves to dust. Each paw was as large as a human face, clearly indicating its immense weight, which could not be handled by one person alone. Thus, the guards took out leather ropes from their bags, bound the bear's limbs and paws, and dragged the heavy body flat, exposing its belly so that the skin could be peeled off from there.

For a moment, the stench of blood mingled with the pungent smell of oil and meat. Large chunks of grease were exposed, glistening and steaming in the sunlight. Even Tersolius joined in, helping to pull the peeled bear skin away forcefully, allowing the blade to continue cutting along the gaps between the fur and fat, carefully removing the thick, velvety hide.

In no time, the entire bear skin was peeled off, except for the paws that were cut around its limbs. Apart from a small hole in its back from an arrow wound, it was slightly flawed, but still had thick, dense fur. Holding it in your arms felt like holding a sturdy, soft blanket.

Karila wiped the sweat from her forehead, leaving a trail of oily blood that marred her blonde hair, making her look quite disheveled, but she didn't seem to care. Just as she was about to open the bear's abdomen to rip out its heart and lungs, a stench and heat that most people would find unbearable hit her, but she remained calm, even seeming to want to stick her head inside the bear's belly.

But she couldn't squeeze in. The stern-faced Thesolius reached out and grabbed the back of the girl's shoulder armor, pulling her back.

"Why are you crawling in here with clothes that have just been washed? Just lay them down and pull them out."

Next, they sped up, cleaning and controlling the internal organs, picking out the parts that were edible, and leaving the rest uneaten. They broke down large chunks of fat and meat, piled them on rafts made from small tree trunks, tied them to the saddles of their warhorses, and dragged them away. They then folded and wrapped the bear skins, placing them on the horses' backs.

This bear was indeed very fat; the fat on its body alone was as thick as a palm, shimmering and glistening. When it was slightly squeezed against the other meat, oil would ooze out, making Carila and Colin beam with delight. Opportunities to harvest such a large amount of fat in one go were rare, whether in the harsh, barren north or in the dense, damp forest; sometimes, it even cost several lives.

Sometimes when people get married in the village, the most valuable thing in the newlyweds' house is often a large jar of rendered grease, which can be a lifesaver in a critical moment.

Even though they are now in high positions and their lives are completely different from before, and they can easily get oil whenever they want, they are still genuinely happy.

At this moment, Tesorus was not looking at the mountain of bear meat, but was concentrating on examining the thick bear paw in his hand—it was covered with brownish-black fur and had several-inch-long sharp claws. It was quite heavy in his hand and also very thick.

To be honest, he was a little tempted... Bear paws have been a delicacy since ancient times, thick and succulent. He hadn't had the means to prepare them before, but now they were conveniently delivered to his doorstep. With a little effort, he could finally taste what bear paws were really like.

As he thought about this, a smile began to appear on his lips, even while he was riding a horse. He looked at the rough, unruly paws in his hand as if they were something precious, which aroused the curiosity of the people around him.

"Sir, why are you looking at these claws? They're awful. They're fishy, ​​smelly, and have a weird taste. No matter how you cook them, they're hard to eat. When we used to divide the meat, nobody wanted to take them."

Colin looked at Tersolius with some curiosity, wondering why he was laughing at the paw. Although it looked chubby and meaty, if given a choice, after killing a bear, everyone would still prefer the fat and meat. Too many bones would make them unhappy. These four paws would be fine as an extra, but if they took up the share of the fat and meat, then everyone would make a fuss.

"How did you deal with this claw?"

"Just burn the outside with a torch, wash it, and put it in a pot with salt to boil. Bears always like to lick their paws, so no matter how you cook it, it always has a strange taste."

Tersolius paused for a moment—to be honest, he didn't know how to cook bear paws either. Although his instincts told him the method was too crude, he wasn't sure what the correct way was, but at least he had some basic knowledge:

“This method is too simple and won’t remove the fishy smell… I happen to know something about it, so let’s try it tonight.”

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In the afternoon, after the army began to set up camp, Tersolius ordered the entire pile of bear meat to be distributed. Of course, no matter how much meat a bear had, it was impossible for every soldier to get even a taste, not even lower-ranking officers. Most of it ended up in the hands of commanders and high-ranking officers. Although the Imperial soldiers usually had ample supplies and often ate meat, bear meat was still a rare treat. Naturally, everyone was overjoyed and ordered the cooks to prepare it.

Soon, the distinctive, savory aroma of bear meat filled the air, and Thesolius was waiting...

A small pot was boiling on the stove, emitting a foul odor. The two bear paws were so large that the lid couldn't cover them, leaving the tip of one paw sticking out.

He was only wearing a cotton undershirt with a black lining embroidered with gold thread. However, because the patterns were so dense, at first glance they only appeared to have a golden sheen, and one had to look closely to discover the exquisite patterns.

Generally speaking, such fine clothing is not suitable for sitting by a fire to cook meat, but Tersolius was confident that, apart from the fighting on the battlefield, his clothes would not be damaged. At this moment, he was holding a meat hook in his right hand and waiting quietly.

He wasn't alone in this tent; rather, everyone around him was bustling with activity. All sorts of trivial matters were being handled collaboratively by his staff, so he didn't have to worry about anything. That's why he had time to sit here and wait for the bear paw to be groomed.

Such a stove didn't quite match anything else here, so it attracted people around to turn around and look at it frequently, but no one dared to look for too long.

"It's almost done."

Muttering something, Tersolius lifted the lid, used the meat hook in his hand to scoop out the two wet bear paws, and then put them into the earthenware basin next to him, which contained prepared cold water. With this hot and cold shock, he gently peeled off the outer layer of fur and old skin as easily as an eggshell, revealing the trembling soft flesh and bones underneath.

He told the old hides and fur to be thrown aside, and Colin, who had been waiting anxiously, quickly grabbed a shovel, scooped them up, and threw them outside. Then he rushed back, eager to see how Terthorius would deal with this unpalatable thing.

By now, the fishy smell of the white bear paws had diminished by more than half. Tersolius nodded in satisfaction, then reached out and grasped the sharp claws. Like breaking a sugarcane, he removed the sharp claws from the joints, leaving only the soft and delicious parts. The elastic fat and tendons on them reflected a crystal-clear texture under the firelight.

Talina, who rarely had a moment to spare, curiously came over. Following Tersolius's instructions, she chopped onions and various seasonings, laying them out on a deep, flat-bottomed earthenware pot. Everything was ready; all that was left was for the two bear paws.

Bear paws are thick and don't easily absorb flavor or cook thoroughly, so you have to make a few cuts to loosen the firmest parts. You can't cut too many pieces, or they'll become small pieces.

After doing all this, place the two bear paws neatly side by side in the earthenware pot, pour in some water, and then you can start cooking.

Although this method was something he came up with on his own, Tersolius was quite confident. After all, it was still a piece of meat, and if he stewed it the way meat is cooked, it probably wouldn't be too outrageous, and it would at least be edible.

"Let's stew two of them first and see. If they're edible, then we'll treat the remaining two in the same way."

Some firewood and charcoal were added to the stove, and the flames grew stronger, quickly bringing the water in the pot to a boil. A unique and rich aroma began to spread, and everyone gathered around became eager to see what this pot of bear paw stew would look like in the end.

........................

At dawn, everything was very quiet. The military camps, stretching for dozens of miles, were brightly lit and gradually became lively. After a night of rest, the soldiers were refreshed and ready to break camp and set off after breakfast.

Thesolius had just woken up and, quite excitedly, put on his clothes and got up. He went to the small stove next to his tent, which was still burning, and reached out to lift the lid of the earthenware pot... Instantly, an extremely strong aroma wafted out. The bear paw, which had been stewed until tender, had expanded completely in the pot, and the milky white broth was boiling. The onions and other seasonings had been cooked until they were mushy and could not be found for a while.

Suddenly, the sound of swallowing came from outside. Karila, who arrived the fastest, reached out and pulled back the curtain. He kept sniffing, as if he had been drawn here by the aroma, and locked his attention on the small pot next to the stove.

"You've come at the perfect time, let's try it and see how it tastes."

Of course, she wouldn't refuse such a good thing. She took the bowl from Tersolius with great interest, used her fork to pick up the pieces of meat inside and stuffed them directly into her mouth. She chewed them fiercely, putting large chunks of soft meat into her mouth and occasionally taking a sip of soup.

"How about it?"

"...A little sticky to the teeth?..."

Chapter 238 Actions of All Parties (1)

It really sticks to my teeth...

This was Tersolius's impression after finishing a thick bear paw. Although it tasted good, it wasn't as wonderful as he had imagined. What was even more remarkable was its soft, chewy texture, as if it had been coated with leather glue, which almost glued his lips and teeth together.

As dawn broke, everyone gathered here to savor the tenderly stewed bear paws. Because the charcoal fire was constantly heating them, they were still very hot. Except for Talina, the others were all martial artists and didn't care about etiquette. They ate in a daze, devouring the food in no time, and even the soup was gone.

"I never thought this thing could actually taste so good..."

Colin licked her lips, as if the sticky feeling still lingered there. Even though it had become lively outside, she was still immersed in the peculiar taste she had just experienced.

Especially when I think back to the bear paws in my hometown that were cooked directly, and might even have a few hairs left on them... the deliciousness I just ate became even more intense in comparison.

"Let's go catch bears whenever we have the chance! I just realized that the best part of them is their four legs!"

Karila wiped her mouth rather roughly, leaving a noticeable grease stain on her sleeve. This made Talina, standing beside her, frown and about to speak.

Do you have bears like this in your hometown?

Tersolius's curious question interrupted Tarina's words, and also made the girl look at Karila with great interest. Karila, who had already wiped her mouth clean, replied without hesitation:

"Of course there are, and they're even bigger than this one! Those fat guys stand by the sea and river to fish every year around this time. Sometimes they're even bold enough to come and rob us. If we can't deal with them in time, we have to send someone to guard them. Otherwise, they can eat us clean in one night. And we can't go with too few people. We have to keep torches burning all night and bring all our weapons."

“My dad told me that there are even bigger bears further north. He said he went there with a fleet when he was young. Nothing grows there, and it’s all ice and snow.”

"The bears there are almost as tall as two people when they stand up. They can slap a person into a meat patty with one slap. They are covered in white fur and are frighteningly fierce. Hunting one of these things requires dozens of people. My carpet is made from the leather of one of these things, and it covers almost half of the house."

"That bear's paws are as big as a cow's head. If we could cook it like that, we could definitely eat our fill!"

Seemingly in particularly high spirits, Karila chattered on and on, while heavy horn sounds began to sound outside the tent. It wasn't until it was time to depart that everyone reluctantly dispersed, all the while looking forward to the two bear paws in Hsinchu that evening.

The remaining two were the bear's hind paws, which were far less fleshy than its forelegs... Karila, whose appetite had already been whetted, had even started pestering Colin to go hunting for more bears nearby.

Before such a plan could be answered, Tersolius ruthlessly thwarted it, driving everyone away to do their own thing.

Now is the time for marching and fighting. If he encounters one on the road, he can shoot it down at will, but he cannot allow anyone to waste their energy on such a thing just for the sake of food.

The sunlight slowly peeked out from the sky, dyeing half of it golden red. The colors of night had not yet completely faded, and a hint of purple glow lingered on the horizon. It was the perfect time to travel.

........................

"Just as expected..."

Ahmed sighed deeply and turned to look at the magnificent palace—the imposing, rigid lines of the columns and high walls stretched towards the camera lens, and the golden tiles reflected a dazzling light under the sun, making it impossible to look directly at them.

As expected, his mission failed. Neither the emperor nor the elders of the empire showed any intention of stopping the war... They even thought that Asler would also get involved and were somewhat eager to try... Some had even suggested sending more legions south.

The carriage passed through the bustling streets without attracting much attention, which was Ahmed's intention—to keep a low profile in the city and not to travel in a luxurious carriage.

The city was as bustling as ever. Crowds of people could be seen everywhere on the streets, and carriages traveled on the right side of the road. The garrison soldiers responsible for maintaining order occasionally reprimanded those who wandered around.

Even though the imperial legions have been dispatched, and even though a fierce battle is about to break out in the south, it seems to have had little effect here... No, to be precise, the effects of war are visible everywhere, but not in the desolate, dilapidated, and bleak way.

Everywhere you look on the streets, you can see Imperials standing on high places giving speeches. Their eloquence may not be very good, but their voices are definitely loud and their pronunciation is clear. They express their views on the war to others, and depending on their level and arguments, these impromptu speakers often receive a round of applause and praise or a barrage of insults. What they get depends on their individual abilities.

There was no need to send anyone to investigate. Even sitting in the carriage, through the thick wooden planks, the old man could clearly hear the passing imperial people excitedly discussing the war. Their words contained no resistance or disgust towards the war, but rather they were discussing whether the young men of their families could gain merit and wealth in this war and bring honor to their families.

Those who were not included in the southward march were all sighing and complaining, their discontent evident everywhere, filled with envy for those lucky enough to fight under the governor of Tersolius.

The fact that ordinary people are like this only proves that this war was launched by the entire empire, and that this enthusiasm is unlikely to be diminished until it suffers a real setback or achieves a complete victory.

Moreover, the empire's army is well-supplied for its southward campaign, relying on the great river that runs through the entire country to transport supplies in large quantities... At least in the short term, he sees no possibility of this terrifying war machine stopping.

Now, the only hope is to hold off the enemy's legions on the battlefield and drag the war out until the empire is unable to continue.

After all, Asel was far from peaceful, and those who secretly coveted the Shah's throne certainly wouldn't be willing to shed blood for the Hols.

As they pondered this, the carriage slowly returned to their current residence—a sturdy and beautiful three-story house, specially provided for envoys from other countries, guarded by soldiers nearby, making it impossible for ordinary people to approach.

The members of the delegation gathered silently in the courtyard. At Ahmed's command, they returned to their rooms. The old man, supported by his servants, also returned to his room and began writing a letter under the protection of elite guards.

The old man slowly unfolded the slightly yellowed parchment. He hadn't used any expensive paper with fine, smooth textures inlaid with gold threads; it was just a very ordinary piece of paper that any ordinary citizen with a little wealth could afford.

Although he looks quite old, he is still full of energy and has a meticulous mind. He writes at a steady pace, with clear and neat handwriting. Sometimes he even stops to think for a long time before carefully making a single stroke.

Led by his ever-victorious general, the Empire's elite legions marched south with overwhelming force, like a sharp axe cleaving down from above. The Hols, having lost their northern defenses, would certainly suffer a series of defeats at first, but their king was no incompetent, and they could hold out for a while.

This war was also closely related to Asel – once the Kingdom of Hols fell, the vast, fertile plains of the south would fall into the hands of the empire, making this already powerful nation even richer. They would also lose their northern bulwark, lose a relatively weak and easily controlled neighbor, and welcome a powerful and ambitious adversary.

The Us Sea, which had always been in Asel's hands, brought countless riches to their country. Once the land across the sea fell into the hands of the Empire, the entire northern coast of Asel would be exposed to the Empire's military might, and the most fertile and important eastern plains would also be threatened... Thinking about it carefully, I felt a cold sweat and a chill run down my spine.

He did not believe the country would be satisfied with this... Once the Hols were destroyed, it would be impossible for Asher to live in peace with the Empire.

In short, no matter what, they must participate in this war and thwart the empire's intentions, otherwise the consequences will be disastrous.

The old man's pen grew heavier with each stroke. He was the most trusted minister and friend of the Shah of Asel, and also the strategist who helped the current Shah ascend the throne. Although he appeared to be just a minor physician, no one in the entire Sand Kingdom dared to underestimate this old man, and he never lacked the necessary decisiveness at crucial moments... One of his suggestions was to eradicate the bloodline left by the Shah's brothers, which made the Shah, who was still hesitant, finally make up his mind. This brought long-lasting peace to Asel, and no one could easily instigate internal strife as before.

Because he was trusted so much and knew how important his position was, he felt that every stroke of his pen was so difficult... The old man clearly realized that the advice and opinions he gave would be seriously considered by the man he had watched grow up, and would indeed affect the future of his country, so he had to be extremely cautious.

He wrote from the bright afternoon sun until the brightly lit night, his eyes bloodshot and his fingers trembling, before finally writing the last word on the parchment. Then he sighed deeply, rubbed his eyes, and leaned back in his chair.

He wrote down every suggestion and piece of intelligence he had carefully considered on this parchment. This letter would be sent to the south as quickly as possible, to that country in the yellow sands, and would return before him, so that the Shah could respond in time.

The war horns have sounded, and this time, no one can escape...

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Duke Fosalis hadn't slept well for several days. Neurasthenia, insomnia, and headaches had been tormenting him, leaving this once robust and healthy man pale, with dark circles under his eyes, looking as if a gust of wind could knock him over.