Cataphracts, surviving in a world full of mods

“Dear Kana! You’ve been a great help.”

"Huh? Ah? Ha..."

Karila, who had originally come to check on the situation, uttered a bewildered, unsure of the purpose of her words… Could something that caused people to lose control possibly be of any use? Especially within the Imperial military camp? Normally, even wandering around was forbidden here. Were they really going to allow her to break out of formation and go berserk in the enemy's midst?

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The empire, operating at full speed, can always overcome any obstacle in its path with the power of the nation. Before the combined might of countless people, any enemy will tremble in fear. A fully functional canal is visibly being improved and extended, like a newly grown blood vessel, spreading outward from the central river of the Hols people, all the way to the waters that the empire's fleet can reach, bringing the fierce war and the empire's order to this new land.

The time it took to build this canal would leave any king or nobleman speechless. They could not imagine how such a project, which required a large number of people, could be completed in such a short time. It was a man-made miracle, born from the hands of tens of thousands of people, from wheelbarrows, from axes and picks, and from the concerted efforts of everyone.

And today is the moment when this miracle roars and resounds...

To prevent the surging waters from breaching the canal, seven dams were installed along the entire canal to mitigate the impact of the water flow. By dismantling these seven dams in sequence, the canal could be made passable, allowing the Imperial fleet waiting in the north to enter the heart of the Holstein territory under the general's command.

This matter was crucial to the subsequent campaign in the south, so Tersolius dared not neglect it and came to personally oversee the operation. Naturally, he was the one who issued the order to dismantle the first dam.

"Let's begin."

Perched atop a high slope, surrounded by armored soldiers and with generals following closely behind, Tersolius had no intention of uttering any unnecessary words or delaying the matter. He simply turned to Arka and issued the most basic order.

Arka turned his head and waved to the side. Immediately, a guard waved a long green banner in his hand, and in a moment, thick smoke rose from the distant hillside, shooting into the sky like a black-scaled python.

A sudden, muffled boom came from the upper reaches of the north, like thunder striking the earth. Ten thousand horses galloped across the plains, making hearts tremble and chests tighten. The ground trembled immediately afterward, but their well-trained warhorses instinctively panicked—a fear born of signs of impending natural disaster.

The cavalrymen calmly tamed their horses and waited on the hillside. Soon, they saw white waves surging in from the distant river, as fast as galloping horses. In the blink of an eye, they rushed in front of them, sweeping across with an unparalleled force, filling the deep riverbed and instantly washing away the once dry and hard riverbed. Dead leaves and silt were mixed in with the water and washed downstream.

The riverbed trembled violently from the impact, and they could clearly feel the unsettling tremors beneath their feet, as if the riverbed would collapse at any moment… But as it turned out, the Imperial Engineering Legion lived up to its promise, constructing a canal that was durable enough. No matter how the floodwaters eroded it, after the initial tremors, it remained as stable as a mountain.

As the waves surged past, black plumes of smoke rose steadily from north to south, and dam after dam was dismantled by workers after receiving the signal—a process that required courage; the slightest mistake could mean being swept away by the raging torrents. Only the most clever, agile, and capable young men were assigned to this task, their only safety being the thick ropes tied around their waists. If they lost their grip, someone would immediately pull them back up with all their might… Of course, only a few actually survived such an ordeal.

The empire is never stingy with its rewards for brave men. Completing this dangerous task is enough to earn them a considerable fortune, even if they die in the process. Therefore, there is always a constant stream of people willing to take on this opportunity.

The 4th... the 6th, and then the last one!

As the water roared into the central river of the Hols people, the workers gathered on the banks erupted in deafening cheers. They threw up their hats, raised their hoes and sledgehammers, and were proud of their achievements. They cheered loudly for the southward-flowing river, and everyone was drowned in cheers. Their voices shook the surrounding branches and startled the birds and beasts hiding in the jungle.

"Ha ha ha ha!!!"

Tersolius looked at the surging river and laughed loudly. His voice was like the clash of iron, powerful and resonant, instantly silencing all the noise in the area. Only the workers in the distance continued to cheer, and the armored generals and officers turned to look at their commander.

"Let the fleet set sail; we've waited long enough."

"Yes, sir!!"

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Standing firm on a rocking boat is never easy, especially for those accustomed to standing on stable, wide ground. It requires adaptation and practice. Generally speaking, the smaller the boat, the more violently it rocks, while a sufficiently sturdy and wide boat is more stable. Therefore, life on a large boat is easier and more comfortable than on a small boat.

The Empire's ships, like the nation's style, prioritize sturdiness, durability, reliability, and strength. Simply selecting suitable timber for shipbuilding and then air-drying it takes nearly 10 years. Subsequently, building large ships in the docks requires the simultaneous collaboration of countless craftsmen, who meticulously replicate the ingenuity and construction of scholars and engineers. Finally, after painting and oiling, they can sail on rivers, lakes, and seas, bringing death and destruction to the Empire's enemies.

The Pinparos fleet was a medium-sized fleet, capable of cruising on the seas as well as navigating rivers on land. Every Imperial ship was equipped with formidable firepower, featuring catapults, ballistae, and giant crossbows of all sizes, as well as copper pipes that sprayed oil, capable of inflicting devastating damage on enemy ships... but what they truly excelled at was the Imperials' traditional skill—fierce and swift boarding maneuvers.

Soldiers serving on ships in any country don't really like heavy armor—each ship is a separate domain with little room to maneuver, and below the ship lies a deep river. Encasing oneself in an iron can increases the risk immensely... Once you fall into the river, it's like a stone thrown into water—it only makes a splash and disappears without a trace, with little chance of even struggling. Not to mention the problem of preserving armor in such a humid environment; it will basically rust within a day or two of neglect.

However, the advantages of heavy armor on ships cannot be ignored – it means that most attacks can be ignored and the enemy can be crushed in boarding operations. It is especially effective in places with limited numbers and narrow spaces. A dozen armored soldiers can easily clear out a medium-sized ship by cooperating with each other. Of course, the premise is that these heavily armored guys can jump onto the other ship. Generally speaking, if they jump over, they are invincible; if they can't jump over, they can only be fish food.

The Imperials proved the effectiveness of this method time and again. Before boarding operations, the soldiers on board wore only light leather armor and fought with javelins, shields, and short swords. Once the intense boarding battle began, strong warriors would immediately don armor with the help of others and, under cover, leap onto the enemy warships via "attack bridges" secured to them with steel claws. Using their conserved strength and powerful weapons, they would quickly overwhelm the enemy's resistance and gain the upper hand.

Today is an important day. On every ship, the soldiers are meticulously maintaining their weapons, polishing their heavy armor—which will prove crucial in times of crisis—and preparing for battle. The soldiers, eager to achieve glory, are filled with fervent anticipation. The cries for war are barely suppressed. Even General Tatyanno, leading the fleet, is itching with anticipation, eagerly awaiting the order to arrive from the south. Then he can announce the exciting news to his soldiers, and they can head south to join a war filled with glory, wealth, and victory.

He even neglected his favorite strong liquor, spending his days standing on the watchtower of his flagship, braving the sea breeze and scorching sun, anxiously awaiting news.

“Didn’t they say the canal would be completed today? Why haven’t we received any news yet? It’ll be dark soon… You! You little brat, stop standing there, go and relay the orders again. Tell them to prepare the order and formation for our departure later. Don’t mess things up at this crucial moment, or I’ll chop off their heads…”

"coming!"

In the afterglow of the setting sun, the urgent words came to an abrupt halt.

Chapter 287 Afterglow (2)

"Men! Hold out your oars and row hard! Tell the slaves to hurry! We're heading south!"

As the officers on the warships shouted and relayed orders, one after another, the warships extended their dense oars, which plunged into the water with a whoosh. Then, with the command, the oars slid backward simultaneously, giving the huge warships a powerful propulsion. Each ship was orderly, using five-colored flags and firelight as signals for dispatch, and sailed south one after another.

The water was rumbled with a constant roar. Flames lined up on every warship from bow to stern, shooting southward like a fiery dragon into the darkening night.

Tatayano laughed heartily, tilting his head back and pouring down more than half a bottle of liquor, swallowing it like water. Before the alcohol even took effect, his face was already flushed red. Standing at the bow of the ship, he shouted orders, keeping his officers busy non-stop, communicating with surrounding ships through various flags and torches to ensure that the suddenly launched fleet would not collide or become chaotic, and would quickly leave the river bend according to the pre-arranged plan.

"Damn it! I thought we were out of the picture this time, but this golden opportunity has fallen into my lap. Hurry up and get those lazybones to get their act together! Hahahaha!!"

The general's boisterous laughter carried far in the darkness, eliciting a deafening response from the soldiers that made the ship's deck tremble.

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The nights at To Caper Pass are damp and cold, especially during the snowy season. Defending the city walls is an absolute ordeal, especially for those who have to patrol up there and can't hide in the warm guardhouse. It's common for their hands and feet to become stiff and numb from the cold. The lords up there only give them a limited amount of firewood and charcoal each day, and to prevent the imperialists outside the city from taking advantage of the situation, they don't even dare to light a brazier. They can only take turns sneaking into the guardhouse to warm their limbs up a little.

Korodo was such an unlucky fellow. His eccentric personality made him particularly ostracized in his own squad. Tonight, he was driven out by the others. The patrol mission, which was supposed to be carried out by five people, was now done by him alone. He was walking back and forth on the city wall with his spear, looking bored. Every now and then, he would shrink his neck because of the cold and damp night air and rub his hands and feet hard.

As an ordinary city defense soldier, Korodo was somewhat bewildered by recent events. He knew, of course, that the Imperials were advancing aggressively, that the northern lands had already fallen, and that outside the city, there were armies he had never seen before. They were all well-armored and well-equipped, and large cavalry units patrolled the city's perimeter daily, like wolves hunting cattle on the plains. They couldn't even send out messengers, let alone scout outside the city; all they knew was what was happening inside.

All of this felt unreal to him, since he was watching from afar from the city wall. The biggest trouble he ever encountered was catching a few smugglers. Others said that the Empire was unstoppable and its army was powerful, but that only left him with a vague impression and he couldn't really realize it. In addition, his strange and aloof personality meant that others were unwilling to deal with him, so many things seemed even more insignificant to him.

Another gust of cold wind blew, causing a thin layer of condensation to form on his chainmail. The grease applied to the rings didn't stay on for long and quickly dripped down. However, it seeped into his clothes through the gaps, making him instinctively hug his arm tighter and press the crooked spear against his side, even though the hard, cold wood offered him no warmth.

He had already patrolled this section of the city wall three times. Three more times and he could return to his warm and comfortable house, no longer having to endure the biting cold wind here.

This thought made him quicken his pace, and he practically darted over the city wall without even looking. Of course, this approach wouldn't allow him to detect anything. To be precise, even if a living person were squatting right next to him, he might not even notice and would just walk right past... Of course, no matter how careless he was, some things that were too conspicuous would still be hard to ignore.

The mist covering the river initially obscured his vision, until the tall mast appeared silently and indistinctly before him. Cruz was completely stunned, his mind reeling from the strange sight before him—how could a ship be coming from outside the city so late at night? And this ship looked very odd, wide and large, covered with catapults and ballistae… catapults and ballistae!

He finally realized what those things were! He opened his mouth to scream, about to turn and run to where the soldiers were gathered to sound the alarm and wake the entire city… Of course, his actions seemed somewhat hindsight and useless, because alarm calls were already coming from other towers. Just as he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, the sounds suddenly stopped abruptly, as if their throats had been snapped. A strange instinct made him realize something was wrong, and in extreme terror, he opened his mouth to shout something…

"Cough!!"

With the sound of a blade cutting through bone, the razor blade that pierced his neck was as thin and curved as a snake's fang, its smooth surface tinged with a dull brown, from which blood gently flowed away, leaving not a single drop.

The sound of the blade being drawn was extremely smooth, like the gentle rubbing of a venomous snake's smooth, hard belly as it crawled across the stone bricks. The black-clad hound silently placed the corpse in his hands on the ground, as gently as if placing his lover on a bed. Then, he slowly straightened his body and looked towards the end of the city wall with his bright, deep eyes.

Dozens of dark figures moved swiftly across the city wall, each as light as a real shadow and as silent as smoke, silencing the towers that had been lit up one after another. The only sounds were low screams in the darkness, splashes of hot blood, and sharp blades piercing bodies from all sorts of bizarre angles. In a very short time, death became the norm here.

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"I don't know when this damned life will end. My bones are practically rusting here."

"Is it better to be rusty than to be gnawed by wild dogs? Or is our brave Lord Bernard willing to be a warrior and attack the Imperial army to cut off the head of that Tersolius?"

"What the hell are you talking nonsense? If I had that kind of ability, would I be drinking with you guys here? You should call me 'sir,' kneel down and lick my boots, and then I'll reward you with a pretty girl and a bag of money."

The officer named Bernard rolled his eyes in annoyance and then retorted sarcastically without hesitation... Of course, no one would take such nonsense seriously from soldiers like them, and they often spoke without thinking. As long as no one could catch them in the act, they would probably continue to do so, especially under the influence of alcohol, their not-so-flexible tongues would dare to say anything.

"If you can really give me a bag of money and a beautiful woman, then what's a little licking your boots? If it happens every time, I can lick your boots cleaner than a mirror, until you're broke."

"You're a fucking scoundrel."

“Likewise, I dare say you would do the same if you had the chance. Speaking of which…why don’t you go to the city wall and take a look? The water gate area is under your jurisdiction. If something goes wrong, it’ll be all over.”

Bernard nonchalantly took another glass of wine, while simultaneously picking up a salted chickpea from the plate and popping it into his mouth, using the saltiness to accompany his drink.

"Nowhere else could something happen, but not at the water gate... You all know that, not to mention our high city walls and that sturdy sluice gate—it must have been built with thousands of pounds of iron. Who could possibly crawl through there? Besides, this is our river. Only our boats are in this river. This river is our territory. Why would the Empire attack from here? They're not stupid. Do you really think they'd attack by having their infantry wade into the river? They'd drown at least half of them."

At this point, he became visibly smug again:

"If the Imperials dare to attack from our side, we can open the floodgates and release our warships. With the walls providing cover, we'll inflict heavy casualties on them. Unless that Tersolius has gone mad, he certainly won't do it, unless Imperial warships suddenly fly into this river! You should worry about yourselves more than me..."

"And I've done everything I was supposed to do, even setting up patrol teams, so if anything happens, at least we'll be able to hear the commotion..."

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!! Bang! Crash whoosh whoosh!..."

The sudden sound interrupted Bernard's words, and everyone looked at each other in confusion... But soon, they all realized—it was clearly the sound of chains grinding and water flowing from the sluice gate; someone had pulled the sluice gate up!

Even a complete idiot would realize something was wrong, let alone these officers. The officers, who had been drinking, immediately scrambled to their feet in a flurry of activity. They gathered their armor, grabbed their weapons, some even jumping out of their helmets to open the door, knocking over their glasses and scattering their snacks everywhere. Amidst the chaos, someone knocked over a lamp, igniting a pile of burlap sacks in the corner, causing another commotion. After a frantic effort, they managed to extinguish the fire before finally rushing out the door.

Some quick-thinking guys rushed into the nearby barracks and drove the resting soldiers up one by one with punches and kicks, making them hastily put on their armor and clothes, grab their weapons, and go up the city wall with them.

While still rapidly climbing the steps, before even seeing the view from the city walls, Bernard had already begun shouting:

"What the hell are you idiots doing?! Who told you to pull up the gate?! I'll skin you alive! You lowly bastards! How dare you..."

Going up the stairs here, the first thing you see is the huge winch used to lift the gate. Although he was caught off guard, he instinctively chose the most important spot. But it was precisely this most important spot that shocked him so much that he almost lost his balance and stumbled and fell.

The massive winch was shattered, the thick iron chains twisted into a jumbled mess of wood fragments and steel debris. The soldiers who had once been stationed there lay quietly on the ground; were it not for the wounds on their necks and the blood flowing on the ground, one might mistake them for simply being asleep.

"Ah!...Ah...! Ah?"

Bernard opened his mouth wide, but could only utter some incomprehensible grunts. He stretched out his fingers, but didn't know what he was pointing at. One moment he pointed to the pile of messy garbage—which had just been the huge winch used to hoist the gate—the next he pointed to the corpses on the ground, and then he pointed straight at the outer city wall.

It wasn't until the flames roared out of the darkness and streaked past their eyes that the bewildered soldiers regained their senses. They rushed to the outer city walls, only to be stunned into silence by the sight before them—

Suddenly, numerous large ships appeared on the river outside the city, each equipped with catapults and ballistae. One after another, burning oil bombs flew overhead and crashed heavily into the city, causing cries of panic and screams. Chaos spread throughout the city; the city, which had been shrouded in darkness, was now in turmoil.

Immediately following was a deafening roar of cheers. One after another, large ships sailed through the open water gates, each boarded by heavily armored imperial soldiers. In the darkness, the gleaming spears of the soldiers formed a shimmering, scale-like pattern, highlighting their iron armor. They poured into the city's waterways, orderly docking and assembling into well-organized formations. They swiftly swept through the streets and buildings, and in a very short time, the docks were filled with their fiery banners and the endless glint of their weapons.

Their warships, still anchored in the city, quickly burst into flames. The oil sprayed from the imperial warships ignited a section of the river, causing those precious warships to burn like ordinary timber. Screams of agony and panicked chaos were everywhere. More and more imperial troops poured into the city in large and small ships, quickly deploying a large force. Their slogans and flags were spreading throughout the city.

"Where did the Empires get their warships?!..."

Before being overwhelmed by the imperial army surging down from the city walls, Bernard's last thoughts were so desperate and astonishing that he was hacked to death by axes before he could even draw his own sword.

…………

War has already broken out here, and they are powerless to resist.

Chapter 288 (Part 1)

Heavy footsteps echoed through the street as a fully armed elite Imperial squad advanced along the narrow alley. Five men, shields in hand and swords in hand, stood at the forefront, forming a solid defensive barrier, ready to block any emerging enemy. Behind them were soldiers wielding long-handled swords, great axes, and halberds. Their powerful weapons could quickly destroy any resistance, leaving behind severed limbs, blood, and entrails.

On either side were soldiers wielding spears, their sharp tips capable of easily piercing chainmail, giving them a significant advantage in such situations. In the center were six crossbowmen, a well-coordinated elite squad combining long and short ranges, capable of both offense and defense. With their seamless teamwork, they could efficiently deal with any scattered enemies they encountered.

"Keep your eyes peeled! The Hols can appear from anywhere. You are wearing the Empire's finest armor, so make good use of it. Don't be fools and get lost in the crowd. Anyone who dares to take out a weapon is our enemy, regardless of whether they are male or female, young or old. We will show no mercy!"

"Follow the order!"

Baria slammed his short axe against his shield, issuing a command, and led his troops forward. The battle was nearing its end; his task was to clear the last streets, ensuring no enemy remained hidden in the city to cause trouble, and to eliminate or capture any who dared to resist.

Blood had soaked through the battle axe in his hand, even flowing down the handle and into his palm. If it weren't for the sweat-absorbing leather wrapped around the handle, he might have slipped and lost his grip. Half of his body was also drenched in sprayed blood, and his entire face was covered in thick scabs, making him look extremely gruesome. However, most of it was enemy blood, with some negligible abrasions and collisions that had little effect on him. The only concern was the blood pooling in his eye sockets, making it impossible for him to open his eyes.

As their squad advanced to a street corner, Baria finally couldn't bear it any longer. Although he dared not take off his helmet, he lifted the neck guard around his cheeks and washed his face thoroughly with water from a nearby bucket. The pale red water flowed slowly down the ground into the roadside ditch. Before the water had even dried, he hurriedly put the neck guard down again and continued to lead his squad forward.

To their north, thick smoke still billowed. Though the flames had died down, only ruins remained. Charred wooden beams and pillars lay scattered among the rubble, and hordes of imperial soldiers, clad in armor, swept through the ruins. Captured prisoners lined up and were driven out one after another along the eastern city gate. All the civilians huddled fearfully in their homes, like small animals cowering in their dens during a predator's hunt.

The city's inner city failed to fulfill its purpose this time... or rather, the city never truly had an inner city. Thanks to the bustling trade brought by the river that flowed through it, the city was wealthy and prosperous, with a large population and strong walls—but this also meant that once the river was controlled by the enemy, they had no power to resist, not even to escape. They could only flee in despair like headless flies, only to be captured one by one by the imperial soldiers.

Huge cheers were already coming from the south of the city. Baria knew that Lord Tersolius would enter the city from there to receive the soldiers' victory and spoils. Before that, he had to complete his task and ensure that there were no enemy soldiers hiding in this area.