Cataphracts, surviving in a world full of mods

If slaves wanted to become warriors, they could only rely on arduous training, on meticulous training without a moment's rest.

Many people will still be holding their weapons after finishing their meals, chopping and hammering a wooden stake. Everyone knows what they will face, and even if things are tough now, it is still much better than before, so what is there to be afraid of?

Cooperation! ...The officer repeatedly emphasized to them that only mutual cooperation and strict discipline were the key to their survival.

Don't believe the fancy swordsmanship described by bards; that's not something you can use on the battlefield.

On the crowded battlefield, you can only survive by relying on your comrades and your fellow soldiers. You will not have the chance to adjust your pace, nor will you have the chance to retreat. They can only press forward...

Believe me, your comrades around you are armed just like you, and your life is in part in their hands...

………………

The cavalrymen spared no effort in passing on their experience to these slaves, many of whom were actually skeptical and did not believe that these slaves could really be trained into warriors...

But they would not question their general... The armored knights would only obey one will, that of Tersolius, who had led them all the way here.

Any order from the general must be carried out, and anyone who dares to disobey is an enemy that must be eliminated.

With this belief in mind, the cavalrymen spared no effort in training the slaves, teaching them how to maintain formation on the battlefield, how to fight, and how to obey orders...

Time was running out, and they knew they didn't have much room for maneuver, so the cavalrymen became increasingly violent and their tempers worsened.

They were not afraid of death, nor of war, and even enjoyed it, but they worried that these slaves would be useless and would only ruin the whole situation.

Tersolius quickly noticed the restlessness spreading through his army... and he realized he had to resolve the issue as soon as possible.

So, after a meeting, Tersolius gave an explanation to all his commanders, making his true intentions clear to his men...

This is absolutely necessary. Many tragedies in human history have been caused by information gaps due to a lack of communication. As a leader, if he cannot implement his will into the actions of his subordinates, he will not be able to achieve what he wants to do next.

The city's original inhabitants were a potential threat. They had benefited greatly from the thriving slave trade and naturally wouldn't welcome these uninvited invaders.

Fortunately, they were still able to control the city. When the city's slave owners accepted the precious gold, they had already made their choice. Perhaps some people still wanted to hide it, but Tersolius would make them understand that they had no other choice.

They divided the lord's wealth among themselves, so naturally they would help him defend the city...

So the cavalrymen didn't hesitate to knock on the doors of every nobleman, demanding that they provide food and other supplies, and actively cooperate in city management.

Some slave owners were prepared for this; for them, it didn't matter who was the lord or whose rule they accepted, as long as they continued to enjoy rights and wealth.

So they agreed without hesitation.

…………

Some people still harbor illusions and always make excuses.

The cavalry would not hesitate to forcibly take what they needed from their homes, and might even whip them a few times.

………………

Thus, the city's defenses became increasingly tight, and the mountains of food and the constant supply of fresh water within the city gave each defender more confidence.

Everyone is waiting for a moment...

Testimonials

This book is finally ready to be released, and I am very grateful for everyone's support.

Writing this kind of hardcore novel on Hedgehog Cat does involve a lot of risk. This genre is more suitable for light-hearted works, but the author has wanted to write about this subject for a long time o(￣▽￣)d so she took the risk and decided on the style of this book.

I wasn't really confident myself, but I didn't expect so many people to support me... In the novel writing industry, I'm still a novice, and this is only my second book. I'm truly flattered and overwhelmed by everyone's support, and I'm even a little bit carried away (?????)

Now that this book is ready to be published, the author has no idea how well it will perform. All he can guarantee is that he will continue writing diligently and give all his books a complete ending.

Okay, that's basically all I wanted to say. Here's an extra update for today.

Chapter 54 The Siege (1)

Earthenware pots are very heat-resistant and can be used for a considerable period of time as long as they are not suddenly placed in cold water.

Earthenware containers can distribute heat evenly and consistently when stewing, making them ideal for cooking meat until it is tender and more delicious, although it will take longer.

The large chunks of beef were placed into an earthenware pot, which had already been coated with a layer of butter, and then heated for a period of time.

The fresh chunks of meat sizzled as soon as they were put in the oil, and the red meat quickly turned a golden brown, releasing its unique aroma.

At this point, the chopped sand ginger and other seasonings were added, and after a few stirs, the aroma of the meat was enhanced by a hint of spiciness.

Once it's almost cooked, add hot water and then cover it with a lid.

"It smells wonderful, doesn't it?"

Tersolius smiled and looked up at the Holstein girl sitting opposite him.

The girl was still wearing that little robe, sitting timidly in the chair, her nose twitching occasionally, and she even swallowed.

Upon hearing Tersolius's question, he nodded slightly, though hesitantly...

"This method is a bit different from the usual way of stewing meat, but the meat tastes even better... Does your mother cook for you?"

The girl shook her head timidly.

“I thought so too. Your father and mother must be very busy most of the time… I’ve made some food here, how about we eat before we go back?”

The girl, with hair the same color as her mother and soft, delicate cheeks, hesitated slightly, but after glancing at Tersolius, she dared not refuse and could only remain silent.

The beef stewed in the earthenware pot became more and more fragrant, and the rich aroma wafted out of the house, making even the cavalrymen guarding the door twitch their noses.

After washing and cutting the carrots and taro into chunks, add them in and simmer for a while longer; the flavor will become increasingly fragrant.

The rich aroma seemed to have attracted someone... A series of hurried footsteps sounded in the corridor outside, and a woman spoke with the cavalrymen with a slightly flustered expression.

A short while later, the cavalryman came in to report:

"General, the lord's wife requests an audience."

Tersolius raised his head with a smile on his face:

"It's much later than I expected... Please let her in."

After saying that, he reached out and lifted the lid of the earthenware pot. Steaming hot vapor burst out, and the rich aroma of meat exploded in the room like a storm.

She took out two small dishes, then used a wooden spoon to scoop the cooked beef and taro into the dishes, indicating that her young guest could begin to taste them. Only then did the city lord's wife open the door and come in...

The woman looked rather haggard these past two days, probably due to excessive stress; the calm expression on her face was long gone.

"Please forgive me, sir, I didn't know my child had been bothering you for so long..."

"Don't worry, madam. I know what you're anxious about... but I don't have those thoughts... Perhaps you already know why I invited you here?"

As he spoke, he used his fork to pick up a large piece of beef, put it in his mouth and began to chew. He then raised his hand, gesturing for the girl to try some as well.

The beef was cooked until very tender, and this was the first time Tersolius had eaten something reasonably decent in this world...

It's not that the food in this world is so bad, but rather that they've been on a constant march and haven't had the chance to eat anything better.

This time, the child didn't hesitate and picked up the fork to eat. Since her mother came in, the look of panic on the child's face had completely disappeared.

"Perhaps what I'm about to say won't be convincing, but sir, what I must say is that I truly don't know why those armors and weapons were there, or even when that room was built..."

The woman stood somewhat awkwardly, but the anxiety she had shown when she first entered was gone from her face, which made Thesolius understand something…

“I find it hard to believe what you’re saying, madam. You are the wife of the lord of this city, and you rule this city with him.”

"But you tell me you don't know why this city hides such a massive amount of weaponry... and that this weaponry is clearly regularly maintained, otherwise it would have rusted beyond repair long ago... As the person in charge of the entire inner city, you tell me you know nothing about this?..."

Thesolius stood up, stretched his shoulders, and the bracelets and armor plates clinked together with a crisp sound.

"You should know that you need to give me a convincing reason now... Otherwise, there are things I don't want to do, but I won't mind too much if it's necessary."

The girl next to him was still chewing her meat in a daze, completely unaware of what was going on...

“Everything I’ve said is true. Perhaps you think I’m capable of ruling this city, but what if I told you that I can’t even leave the inner city normally?”

Tersolius raised an eyebrow.

“I have never left this place since I married my husband… My husband forbids me from interfering in anything in this city; it is his pride, and he will not allow anyone to touch it…”

"So I don't know what my husband is planning, or how much he's hiding in this city... and even if I did know, I wouldn't hide it from you."

“This city already belongs to you. Hiding these things will only harm me, just like today, it will make our situation even more dangerous…”

………………

Tersolius stroked his chin. Although he hadn't been convinced, he had achieved his goal... So now it was time to wrap things up properly.

"Alright, Madam, I'll believe you for now. I hope you understand your current status. If anything similar happens again and makes me doubt you, things won't end this easily."

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

The city is being transformed into a military fortress, with slave soldiers patrolling the streets and alleys.

These slaves, who were usually bullied by the citizens, were now dressed in gleaming chainmail, carrying sharp spears and thick shields, with swords and short hammers hanging at their waists, looking no different from respectable kingdom soldiers.

All the citizens were gripped by fear; they could never forget how they had treated these slaves. In almost a day, a rumor spread throughout the city…

Every citizen wore a look of fear on their face, huddled in the city's streets and alleys, whispering among themselves. In their minds, the slaves who controlled the city would kill them all in revenge, or even turn them into slaves!

Moreover, they were now unarmed, while these slaves were armed with excellent weapons and wore thick armor...

That very afternoon, representatives of the city's citizens and a large group of nobles and merchants approached Tersolius...

"So, you want to use these valuables to exchange for my protection, is that it?"

Tersolius sat on the lord's throne, with silent cavalrymen lined up in the halls on either side. Their armor gleamed in the sunlight, and their leather, brass components, and helmet plumes were spotless, without a speck of dust.

The building's large windows let in excellent natural light; the afternoon sun streamed in, illuminating the smooth marble floors and the glittering gold and jewels inside the chests...

Tersolis's helmet lay on the armrest of the throne, and he found it quite amusing...

The precious treasures before them were so numerous that they couldn't even fit in a single chest, and this was all the result of the slaves simply walking around the city a couple of times...

It is easy to imagine how terrified the city is of slaves now... They are even willing to pay a large sum of money to exchange for a chance, a promise that they will not be harmed.

“I can make these promises to you, but not because of these riches… The gold I gave you back then was enough to drown a man, and it was enough to buy a city.”

“Gold cannot buy this promise from me, but this city is about to belong to the Empire, and you will become its citizens. I will protect your lives and ensure that no innocent person is harmed in my presence. This is my promise as a general of the Empire!”

Merchants and nobles were overjoyed, and words of praise poured from their mouths...

Thesolius suddenly turned his head, his deep and imposing gaze rendering everyone speechless, as if they had been choked.

"But please remember, I am talking about innocent people. No matter who it is, I will not tolerate anyone who commits evil deeds in this city... Evil will be punished in this city."