Cataphracts, surviving in a world full of mods

"Actually, I've wanted to be an Imperial citizen for a long time, really!"

"Long live the Empire... But what exactly is an Empire?"

"Shut your mouth, kid! What nonsense are you spouting?"

………………

The rest was easy to handle. The cavalrymen showed no intention of indiscriminate slaughter, allowing the townspeople to return to their homes. Only the old soldier remained, to whom they offered him some words of advice.

Long live the Empire!

Tossar smiled obsequiously and cheered again, causing the officer's face to twitch a few times. After a long pause, he spoke in a strange tone:

"It's okay to be a little more normal... there's no need to keep going like this."

The veteran's expression stiffened for a moment, then he immediately composed himself and looked much more serious.

"Alright, you are the manager of this town. You have your own responsibilities. You are responsible for maintaining peace and stability here, ensuring the normal payment of taxes, and you also have the right to organize a security team of about 10 people to help you manage this place. We will conduct an inspection every six months. If there is any dereliction of duty, the majesty of the imperial law will not be challenged!"

Tossar nodded repeatedly... This was all he could do for now.

"And your most important duty is to spread the laws of the Empire here. Do you know the Imperial script?"

The veteran shook his head naturally; he didn't even recognize Hols's writing system.

The officer nodded, seemingly taking it for granted.

"Then you'll have a bit more trouble. You'll need to go to a nearby city this week, the closest one will do. There, someone will explain the laws of the empire to you. Within a year, you'll need to master all the customs and daily laws. If you fail the test, you'll be punished; if you perform well, you'll be rewarded. After you've learned them, you'll need to tell the people living here about the laws, so that everyone knows what the laws of the empire are like, and at the same time, send criminals and evildoers to prison."

The veteran nodded repeatedly, only wanting to get through the current situation.

“Currently, you earn 5 Imperial Standard Silver Coins per month for completing your work. This amount will double after passing the assessment. However, if you are found to have committed dereliction of duty, you will be immediately imprisoned and punished… I don’t need to emphasize this again, and I believe you don’t want to be locked up.”

"Hmm... Huh?! I get paid? And so much?"

The veteran, who had been nodding aimlessly, finally noticed a word in the other person's words that really interested him, and immediately looked up. He could hardly contain his surprise.

"Isn't that obvious? Of course it is."

A genuine smile immediately appeared on his face, much more sincere than before, as if he were seeing a close relative, bowing and scraping in an extremely ingratiating manner.

"Understood, understood. I will definitely do my job well and will never let you down."

"This has nothing to do with me. I'm just here to deliver orders. The officials in charge of the investigation and the scholars who will teach you will be different people. Be prepared as soon as possible and don't think about running away. I will record your appearance and name."

After saying this, the officer mounted his horse and hurriedly left with his cavalry—it seemed they had many tasks to complete today, leaving the man standing alone in the center of the square, lost in thought.

To be honest, not long ago, he had considered running away. After all, things seemed to be changing drastically, and staying here might bring him bad luck… But now, his back was ramrod straight, a smug look on his face. He was already secretly planning how to get to the nearest city—who wouldn't want to seize power? And there was so much money to be made, far more than his current salary, with the only cost being memorizing some laws—utterly insignificant.

...Just one month later, he abandoned this ridiculous judgment, let out a heartfelt lament, and wished he could saw open his head and stuff all the things he needed to remember into it.

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

The rule of the empire is covering the lands of the Hols, the laws of the empire are being enforced, and the authority of the empire is being established here.

This was not a simple conquest, far more than just using swords to achieve its goals; it was a complete assimilation of the land and a more fundamental occupation. The remaining towns of the Holsteins were being divided and surrounded. Faced with the Empire's powerful field armies, their troops dared not even step out of their towns and castles. They could only watch helplessly as villages and towns fell into the hands of the Empire, as the Empire established an effective ruling structure, controlling every inch of this land through officials at all levels.

The rebellions imagined by some Holstein lords in the cities conquered by the Empire have turned out to be a complete joke. They were hoping to see a storm disrupt the rear of the Imperial army, but now they see not a ripple at all. All they see is the Iron Curtain growing stronger and more suffocating, surrounding them in the cities and sealing them within their territories, like fish thrown into a fishing net. Even if they still have breath and water for the time being, it is only their last struggle before death.

Several dukes were so enraged that they cursed and denounced the docile Hols in front of their subjects as traitors and shameless bastards who had no gratitude whatsoever for watching their lords being driven away and then shamelessly accepting the rule of the Empire!

These lowly people are utterly devoid of morality, showing no gratitude whatsoever to their lord who protects them! If they possessed even a shred of dignity as citizens of the kingdom, they should immediately incite a riot, harass the Empire's rear, and cause trouble for these enemies! How could they shamelessly become citizens of the Empire for a mere pittance?! Indeed, lowly people are born lowly; their blood is filled with inferior elements, utterly inferior to us nobles with conscience and morality! They should all be sent to be slaves!

Almost every nobleman and lord was cursing and complaining, their discontent growing stronger, especially those who had lost their territories, who were filled with resentment—they had been hoping to reclaim their lands, but now they were becoming increasingly desperate.

Only the truly wise among them could see another problem—even if the imperial legions were defeated and these lands were returned to them, the people living on them would probably not accept their former lives. They had already received more, and naturally could not be satisfied with the days of oppression and exploitation. Those former lowly people would surely rise up one after another to rebel against their lords and their natural masters.

This further solidified the views of some of them—they should not be given the slightest kindness, otherwise the lowly will greedily demand more! Corruption flows in their blood, and they have no understanding of what morality and conscience are.

Of course, even with the situation so threatening, most people remained confident—King Julius, to reassure the lords, showed them a letter from the Legion of Atherer… This proved that reinforcements were indeed on their way, and the Imperials would no longer be able to act with such impunity, even giving some people more ideas…

Chapter 297 Precarious Situation (1)

"My wise and enlightened Majesty, I am compelled to announce these tragic and lamentable news to you..."

The sun was shining brightly outside the window, a rare treat in this cold and gloomy winter. But the bright light brought no warmth whatsoever; instead, it felt like shards of glass, making his whole body ache.

Of course, even more riddled with wounds than his physical body were his ambition as king and his desire to protect his country...

The minister he trusted most, Talolis, was now all white-haired. This once shrewd and capable man seemed to have exhausted his strength in such a short time, becoming haggard and depressed.

"The city of Buinoca has fallen, and three surrounding castles have also been destroyed within a week. The Duke of Portolis has fled in panic. The Duchy of Portolis has been completely captured."

The iron hooves of the empire are trampling this land; the kingdom's own army is being ravaged; castle after castle is reduced to ruins; noble after noble falls into their hands. In the fiercest battlegrounds, the stench of decay lingers for months. Billowing smoke rises like claws towards the sky…

"The Duchy of Rostow has been destroyed. The Duke died among the rioters during his escape, and we have lost all the land around Mount Bolis..."

The burning city's walls were shattered, and the surging torrent of steel destroyed the will of every resister. The heads of the fallen were chopped off with sharp axes and became the Empire's honors. Their corpses piled up and could be used as steps to climb the city walls.

"Toliaro fell on the 8th of this month, and Duke Frosaris, your friend, who retreated here, also died in battle on the same day... To this day, our southwestern lands have been completely ravaged, and the vast southern plains have fallen entirely into the hands of the Empire. Red double-headed eagle banners are flying there... Many lords have voluntarily abandoned their castles and territories, fleeing to us with their wealth... They are also the ones who oppose you the most, believing that you have allowed them to die in front of the Empire's legions, letting large swathes of land fall into the hands of the Empire, and are unwilling to send your troops to support them."

Every lord facing the imperial army had completely lost the courage to confront them, and not only them, but even their soldiers crumbled at the first touch. They didn't even have the courage to raise their spears when they saw the imperial banners… Their true elite forces had already been mostly lost at Toracasi. The losses inflicted during that horrific escape were something he still didn't want to recall—even he, the king, had barely escaped with his life, enduring countless hardships, from the imperial cavalry.

His kingdom was gone—no one in the entire country knew this cold fact better than him, and recognized the situation sooner, unlike other lords who still clung to ridiculous fantasies… Even if the Aselans eventually helped them reclaim their former lands, the country could never again be an independent kingdom as it once was, and he was destined never to be a king again. His wishes, his ideals, and his past ideas all vanished in an instant like a dream bubble.

"So, all we have left are the Southeast Valley and the capital's territory?"

He interrupted his loyal minister, let out a deep sigh, and slumped back in his chair.

“How can I be called a king now? My territory is so small, and I am about to lose it.”

“My lord, you should not be so pessimistic. We still control the last piece of land in the southeast, which is also rich and fertile. As long as the reinforcements from the Asel arrive, we will surely be able to hold out.”

"You don't need me to tell your old friend these things. Do you think the Aselians will leave after they come? I know they covet that land, but in the past, the existence of the Empire made them unwilling to antagonize us..."

"Who says the Assele people can get that land?"

The white-haired old man looked intently at his monarch:

"The Imperial army is incredibly powerful. Since the start of the war, their iron hooves have not been truly stopped. Even the Asher people have to pay a heavy price to snatch meat from their mouths. After they have used their own flesh and blood to lubricate the Imperial horses' hooves, how much strength will they have left? Although we are squeezed into the cracks, we are not without a glimmer of hope... After all, two lions fighting desperately will inflict wounds on each other that are difficult to heal."

The king remained silent for a long while, then suddenly let out a soft chuckle:

“I hope so, I hope so, my friend, but even if we survive in the end, I will never be able to accomplish anything great in my life... How will our descendants live here? What good will come of being sandwiched between two lions?... We are destined to remain weak... Before that, it is indeed more important to survive.”

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

The legion is assembling. After seizing most of the country's land, this massive legion has finally regrouped. With no worries about the rear, all cities and regions that could pose a threat to them have been swept away by the legion's iron hooves. Any resistance has turned into flying flesh and blood. Countless prisoners of war are being sent to the rear in an endless stream. They will be thrown into arduous work, building dams, reservoirs, roads, bridges, and canals on this land, leaving the mark of the empire on this land.

Generally, these prisoners of war would be used as slaves for life, eventually dying tragically from exhaustion and bloodshed... But this time, Tersolius decided to pardon them—the newly conquered land was ruled by fear and bloodshed, and continued brutality and plunder would only cause further turmoil and destabilize the foundation of the empire... So after these prisoners of war finished building the road, he would allow these young men to return to their hometowns and live as imperial citizens from then on.

This might cause dissatisfaction among many people, but for him now, such dissatisfaction is negligible—continuous victories are the best reason to shut up any opponents, because they too can enjoy the delicious fruits of this sweet victory. Those so-called dissatisfactions can at most just pass by like complaints, ultimately adding to the plans he and the emperor have devised.

For this reason, the prisoners of war will not be treated as cruelly as ordinary surrendered soldiers. They will be fed and given warm clothing, ensuring that the vast majority of them can return to their hometowns alive.

Mercy towards former enemy soldiers is an absolute luxury in this era, a luxury that often exists only in the hands of the victors. In the hands of the defeated and cowards, it is called weakness... But he had plenty of it and was willing to show generosity when the time was right.

Of course, nobles and high-ranking military officers did not receive such preferential treatment; they were undoubtedly destabilizing factors and naturally had to be dealt with accordingly.

The army's camp appeared in the southeastern region near the Kingdom of Hols, next to the prosperous city of Sainos in the heart of the land. Stretching for dozens of miles, it was filled with countless banners and soldiers, their shouts and cries echoing through the air. In this area near the mountains, it stirred up countless clouds of dust, startling away countless birds and beasts. As far as the eye could see, it resembled a towering city wall that stretched to the horizon.

When a person stands atop the city walls and sees the army flowing in and out like a torrent, they must be awestruck by its terrifying discipline and overwhelming power, and ask themselves from the bottom of their heart—what could possibly defeat such an army? They seem capable of leveling mountains and cutting off rivers!

This is the power of a strong nation, the elite army of a nation, a product of those who have gathered together to wield swords and spears for others. They are guided by honor, armed with discipline, and given steel claws and armor, making them invincible.

He genuinely believes this and will act on it without hesitation.

"Squid!!"

A strange, crisp, metallic sound came from above his head, but he didn't even raise his head, only slightly extending his right hand forward... The next instant, a lithe and shimmering figure stood on his hand, its sharp claws digging into the steel on his arm, its sharp beak turning its head to preen its brilliant feathers.

This was a hawk that had flown all the way from the northern city to bring him new intelligence obtained by the Empire's hounds.

He scratched the bird of prey's head with his finger, making it flinch uncomfortably, before reaching down to remove the copper tube tied to its foot. He then turned and went into his tent, where he shook out the small parchment scrolls from the table.

"Doctor, bring me that book on building data principles."

Talina, who was organizing documents nearby, didn't even turn her head. She casually reached out and accurately grabbed a thick book from the wooden shelf behind her, then placed it directly on his desk.

This attitude was somewhat too absent-minded even for him, but Tersolius merely chuckled, then picked up the book and began to turn the pages according to the dots on the parchment, selecting the letters and words—Talina was so busy because of his orders.

The mobilization of the legion also required astronomical sums of money and supplies. Even though most of it was handled by their staff and civilian officials in the army, the final amount was still a heavy workload... Talina had been busy since this morning, only taking a short break during meals to allow her time to think about more important matters.

Each number corresponds to a specific page number, and the dots above form a special symbol that indicates a letter or word on that page. When combined, these symbols can reveal the information hidden in the seemingly incomprehensible picture to others. This is a fairly common and effective encryption method that has been used by the Empire's Eagle Division for many years, and the decryption books are changed every once in a while.

The emperor's henchmen are divided into the Eagle Division and the Dog Division. The Eagle Division is responsible for tasks such as spying, intelligence gathering, and monitoring targets, while the Dog Division is responsible for tasks such as hunting, assassination, and capturing prey. Together, they form the Eagle and Dog Division, which is the entity that makes the empire's enemies and ambitious individuals tremble with fear.

The decryption was not difficult, but it was very time-consuming and could not be delegated to others. So, Tersolius spent a long time flipping through the book before he finished the task and began to put the translated words together, reading and pondering them word by word.

Tarina, who had been engrossed in her work, was suddenly drawn by a cheerful chuckle. Slightly bewildered, she looked up and tossed her brass pen into the ink bottle beside her. Then, rubbing her eyes, she asked, somewhat confused:

"What's wrong, sir? Is there some good news?"

"No, it shouldn't be considered good news... but it's definitely something to look forward to for me..."

Thasorius stood up, beckoned the peregrine falcon perched on the wooden frame, and then tore a small piece of parchment from the side and began to write on it:

"It seems that my initial thinking was a bit too conservative, although that's understandable."

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

The wool I just bought from the shepherd was black and smelly, covered in sheep dung, mud, and all sorts of indescribable grime. It felt oily and tough to the touch, lacking any softness or fluffiness whatsoever. It made me wonder if this stuff could be made into warm and soft fabrics.

Large bales of wool were tightly bundled into packages—this was to allow for the transport of more at once while minimizing space usage. Once at the factory, workers would soak and clean the wool in huge water tanks. Then, heavy wooden mallets were used to pound and crush it, removing the foul-smelling grease and dirt. The wool was washed repeatedly with water until it became soft and white before being sent to dry and air-dry. This raw material could then be used to make other products such as felt, instantly increasing its value significantly—making it a vital industry in the city.

The long-staple wool from Assale is of excellent quality, with strong, soft, and lightweight fibers. It would be considered top-grade and fetch a high price anywhere else. Merchants would often go to great lengths to travel south by sea and land to purchase it. Thanks to the developed maritime trade, this once commonplace good cargo was now readily available in this coastal city. However, due to the recent war, sea routes have become difficult and dangerous, making this fine wool increasingly rare. Prices have soared, yet there is still little to no market for it. Every day, many workshop owners and merchants loiter at the docks, hoping that a large ship laden with Assale wool will one day dock there…

Chapter 298 Precarious Situation (2)

A Salu, a ship specifically designed for cargo transport, slowly pulled into the dock. These vessels have a stable and wide hull. Although slower, they reduce the risk of capsizing and are suitable for carrying large quantities of cargo at once, making them popular with ocean-going merchants.

Beforehand, the crew of the small boat had negotiated a price with the dockworkers. Once the large ship docked, the workers immediately gathered around to prepare to unload the cargo.

Soon a long plank was lowered from the ship's bow. Sailors carried bales of tightly packed wool down the plank, where a worker would catch them precisely. The captain was already negotiating prices with the merchants who had come up from the hull. Once a deal was struck, the wool would be loaded onto a horse-drawn cart and transported away without the slightest delay, with payment settled on the spot.

It had been far too long since any long-staple wool from Assale had arrived here, so the goods sold extremely quickly. Before noon, the entire ship's wool was sold out, turning into jingling gold coins in money bags. Even the ship's waterline had noticeably dropped a few notches.

Logically, he should board the ship and set off immediately, since an empty ship is much faster than when they arrived, and the city has a huge demand for wool. As long as they are fast enough, they can easily make a fortune... But people are not machines, and their mental endurance is limited. The sailors who have been sailing on the ocean for so long need to rest.

The unpredictable ocean is fraught with danger, and every time one ventures into its embrace, it is a test of life and death. No one knows whether the sailors who leave the port will ever return alive, so those who live on ships always experience greater mental stress.

Their tense minds needed to be relaxed with alcohol and women, and most of the money they had just received would inevitably be spent in the city. They would need several days to rest before they could set off again. Otherwise, forcing them to board the ship and leave immediately might even cause a riot... This was never an uncommon occurrence on a ship.

Because the business went so smoothly, the sailors received a significantly larger bonus, which made them cheer and, after saying goodbye to the captain and first mate, they all left the port, ready to indulge themselves in taverns and brothels.