Cataphracts, surviving in a world full of mods

The victory celebrations had barely ended when the messenger rushed into the city again, leaving almost everyone wondering what the next message would be.

A commotion suddenly spread through the crowd. People whispered among themselves and rushed toward the center of the city. If there was any important news, it would definitely be announced in the central square. No one wanted to miss that moment, especially after these past few months had been so exciting.

As always, the Imperials, once gathered together, never settled down. They shared what they knew, with one person constantly making pronouncements and opinions, which were immediately met with rebuttals from others.

Of course, it's also possible to garner widespread approval. Which kind depends on the speaker's actual ability. Many people have been beaten up for making outrageous remarks in this situation, but it doesn't diminish their enthusiasm for participating next time.

The discussion among tens of thousands of people was noisy and massive, and even more people were continuously gathering here. The city garrison responsible for maintaining order had already stood in every corner, ready to perform their duties at any time.

The sun was moving westward, and as time went on, people grew increasingly impatient. Some prominent citizens and wealthy individuals had attempted to inquire at the city lord's mansion, but all had come up empty-handed.

Just as the crowd began to stir, a message finally spread:

"Generals Tersolius and Natamus have led their legions back and will arrive in the city tomorrow morning!"

The entire city was almost blown away by the explosive sound...

Chapter 84 Imperial People (2)

The army's camp was set up on one side of the road, visible to passing pedestrians and caravans, with black double-headed eagle banners and golden silk flags fluttering proudly atop the tents.

They deliberately slowed their march over these two days, allowing more and more people to see the army and spreading the news continuously.

Although most people dared not approach the heavily guarded military camp, those two flags were a well-known sight throughout the empire.

Everyone knows that it was these two banners that stirred up a bloodbath on the northern wasteland, breaking the backbone of the Kiel people and making them tremble at the feet of the empire until now, never daring to make any unnecessary moves.

As a result, not only the city but also the surrounding villages learned of this news, and some bolder villagers even brought their own produce to sell here.

These fresh vegetables and fruits were naturally accepted by the logistics officer without hesitation. It was difficult to eat these things during the march, and the logistics officer never considered purchasing these foods that were too heavy and difficult to preserve.

If the soldiers wanted to eat fresh fruits and vegetables, they had to find ways along the way, either by finding wild vegetables themselves or by buying or plundering from villages.

If it's only for a short time, it's manageable, but if you don't get to eat these fresh foods for a long time, your body will develop all sorts of health problems, and the army's combat effectiveness will be greatly reduced. Nobody can stand that.

As truckloads of vegetables were delivered to the military camp, they were inspected and then distributed to the soldiers in each squad. Just as it was time to cook, the soldiers who were taking turns cooking started to add vegetables to the porridge.

Having eaten dry rations for a long time, the soldiers had a hearty appetite and devoured the vegetables in the blink of an eye. The wagons, now unloaded, were driven off again, with the farmers on board peering out, wondering which legion this was and why it looked so unique...

The days of marching and setting up camp are both tedious and tiring. If preparations are not adequate, there is even a possibility of running out of food halfway through the journey, causing a mutiny, and the entire army may collapse on the way.

But this is precisely the most important part of an army's daily activities. Apart from the garrison in a region, if a legion wants to attack or support a region, it needs to reach it by marching, and can only move there step by step.

This is precisely where a general's ability to fulfill his responsibilities is tested. Only by organizing a competent march and ensuring that casualties are within acceptable limits upon reaching the destination can a general be considered a competent commander.

The commanders of the empire have very clear requirements. Generally speaking, even if someone is unworthy of their position and ends up in command, no matter how incompetent or foolish they are, as long as they follow the requirements, it's unlikely they'll make any major mistakes.

…………

The army's camp was like a hungry tiger crouching on one side of the road. Although it was just a metaphor, some people truly felt the fear of having their throats gripped by sharp teeth.

"General Tersolius has demanded that I provide the army with all the necessary supplies... What am I to do?!"

The city lord, dressed in a magnificent robe, paced anxiously. This middle-aged man had fair fingers and a bloated figure, showing no signs of having ever handled a knife or sword. Only someone who had been pampered since childhood could possess such a physique.

"General Tesolis's request is beyond reproach, and it is our duty in the first place, so what is there to hesitate about? We should prepare as soon as possible."

The one who spoke was a noblewoman. Her glossy black hair, with slightly curled ends, was tied up on her head. Her full face was fair and smooth, and her eyes were bright and spirited. She was also dressed in a gorgeous silk robe, with a large silk scarf draped over her shoulders and a jewel-encrusted belt around her waist.

Upon hearing the woman speak, the city lord, with his neatly trimmed beard, seemed to see a savior. He rushed to her and grasped her fair hand.

"My Minerva, my dear wife, you've finally arrived! Please help me think of a solution... I'm going crazy!"

The noblewoman sighed helplessly and reached out to wipe the sweat from the man's forehead:

"Didn't I just tell you? This is our duty as city administrators. Just gather the city officials and get them ready as soon as possible."

“Things aren’t that simple…” The city lord shook his head. “Elder Thassilos’s attendant came here yesterday. It’s clear that General Tersolius is going against the elders. How dare I get involved? No matter what I do, I’ll definitely offend one side, which is why I’m in such a dilemma.”

Upon hearing this, the noblewoman's face showed a thoughtful expression. The city lord, amidst his anxiety, paused suddenly, then offered a suggestion:

"How about we secretly send the supplies over and pretend we didn't provide them? That way we won't offend anyone."

"Absolutely not!"

The man, who thought he had found a good solution, was immediately met with a cold shower.

"This will bring us great disaster. Both the Emperor and the Senate will have a bad impression of us, and we will only offend everyone."

“Then let’s find an excuse not to supply General Tersolius with supplies? Let’s say that our city has just run out of supplies, and I’ll have them cover it up later.”

The lady's expression could almost be described as helpless:

“My husband, you seem to have forgotten to consider one thing: he has a large army, an elite force. If things go wrong, he can arrest you for dereliction of duty. As the emperor’s legion commander, he has every right to do so.”

The man's face turned pale instantly, and he gripped the woman's hand tightly, as if grasping at a straw, refusing to let go.

"So what should we do? Is there really no other way?!"

"We have to make a choice."

The woman's face showed a resolute expression:

"Or rather, we had no choice from the beginning. When General Tersolius arrived near our city with his army, we only had one path to take."

"Madam, what do you mean...?"

“We not only need to provide General Tersolius with supplies, but also fully support him. We can no longer hesitate and must act immediately. Even if the nursing home wants to punish us, it won't be done in a short time. Moreover... I guess the reason why General Tersolius suddenly issued such an order is probably to force us to make a choice.”

The city lord shuddered violently, as if a sharp sword had just been removed from his back; a bone-chilling cold had just seeped into his spine, raising goosebumps all over his body.

"Madam, do you mean if I disobey his orders..."

"That's right... I'm afraid neither of us will have a good ending."

The panic on the city lord's face slowly faded. He gritted his teeth, then turned and left.

"I'll make the arrangements right away. Madam, you should hurry up and prepare the banquet. We can't afford any mistakes this time."

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

Tersolius sat on a tree stump, left behind by a large tree felled by nearby lumberjacks. It had become very dry from the wind and sun, but the bark at the base was rotten and damp, and even a few small mushrooms had sprouted from it.

A map was laid out on the large wooden board in front of them. This kind of wooden tabletop was made up of several narrow wooden boards pieced together, which could be easily disassembled and taken away when breaking camp.

On the map are several exquisite chess pieces: some are cavalrymen on horseback with spears, some are infantrymen holding shields and short weapons, and others are lightly armored archers and mounted archers riding at full speed with bows drawn.

These chess pieces are all made of fine porcelain, with a smooth and delicate surface, and even come in a variety of different colors, making them look lifelike. The ceramic firing process here surprised him a little.

The map in front of me was not a normal military map. It depicted various terrains such as hills, forests, and plains in a simplified manner, but it was limited to a small area and could not serve the function of a normal military map.

Now, his elder brother Nathamus was nervously shaking a small box in his hand. The box was placed face down on the table, and when it was removed, a twelve-sided die inside showed its value: 3.

Thessalius immediately laughed:

"It seems the forced march failed. Your infantry has exhausted all their strength and will have to rest in place for the next three rounds. My cavalry has cut off your retreat and your supply lines have been completely destroyed... This victory is mine."

Natamus slammed his fist on the table in frustration, causing the chess pieces to jump up, and suddenly reached for the dice:

"That doesn't count, I'll throw it again! How could my legion's well-trained heavy infantry possibly exhaust themselves by not even making it through a forest like this?"

"No cheating allowed. A loss is a loss."

Tersolius laughed heartily and snatched the dice away, while Nathamus dejectedly dropped the chess piece in his hand.

Twirling the dice in his hand, Tersolius had to admit he was quite surprised... He truly hadn't expected that such a game existed in the world. Although the rules were relatively simple, it was definitely a board game...

Such complex and expensive games have always had a high barrier to entry, and it takes a long time for them to develop and change before they can have a mature system.

This complex game, which originated in the empire, has been around for 24 years. Due to its excellent entertainment value, it has become very popular in neighboring countries and the empire. In the country of the Hols, it is called Imperial Chess, while in the empire it is called Military Chess, and in the southern kingdom of Asel, it is called the Game of War...

The sudden appearance of such a game in this world is clearly abrupt and abnormal... This made him think about several possibilities.

“I’ve never beaten you since we were kids. You’re not only smart, but you’re also lucky… I thought I had a chance this time, but I didn’t expect you to come up with this kind of crazy idea.”

Nathamus stood up and stretched his shoulders. After dinner, they played several rounds here. Tersolius almost lost only once, but he eventually managed to organize an offensive and win back the victory.

That's why Nathamus was so frustrated. It's like a fisherman who has been fishing for 10 years finally encountering a fish big enough to break his fishing rod, but just as he luckily pulls the fish to the shore, the fishing line is suddenly cut on a rock...

Thesoris, meanwhile, reveled in his victory without any restraint, and the two brothers laughed heartily.

A drop of rain fell on the top of the tent, followed by a continuous stream of raindrops that made the tent fabric patter loudly.

"Is it raining now? I need to go check if those lazybones have packed their things yet, lest they get soaked..."

Natamus finally bid farewell to his brother, and after a surprise punch to his shoulder, he rushed out of the tent with a triumphant laugh.

Tersolius smiled and shook his head, then quickly put away the chessboard in front of him before going to the door and looking at the distant sky.

In the pitch-black night, only the torches in the camp illuminated the area. The sudden rain kept everyone busy, with slave soldiers and mountain people shouting and yelling as they spread out tarpaulins to cover the wagons.

The cavalrymen standing outside the tent remained motionless, letting the cold rain lash against their armor. They were as silent as statues, with only the slight rise and fall of their chest armor testifying to their discipline.

"You can leave now. You don't need to be on duty today. Go home and rest early."

The two cavalrymen immediately bowed and saluted, then picked up their spears and shields and left the tent, leaving Tersolius to stretch out his hand and watch the raindrops patter on his palm.

The temperature began to drop rapidly, and the chilly raindrops made people feel completely refreshed. The tent, which had been maintained with oil, was able to keep out the rain well. All that could be heard inside was a continuous, increasingly dense sound of raindrops falling, until it eventually became a continuous drizzle.

Rainwater dripped down the sloping top of the tent, forming a thin curtain in front of him. A few drops splashed onto his face, bringing a refreshing mist.

This reminded him of the heavy rain that day... Amidst the blood and mud, they suffered a shameful betrayal. He could still vividly recall the feeling of the cold rain seeping through his nails and flowing onto his body, as if the rain had just fallen yesterday.

A commotion suddenly erupted from the camp gate. The neighing of warhorses and panicked explanations pierced through the rain. Soon after, the cavalrymen brought over a young man, soaked to the bone and shivering from the cold.

"A messenger from Lord Trolop Eis, right?"

The young man raised his head blankly, then quickly lowered it again, shrinking into a ball.

"Your wisdom is beyond imagination, my lord."

"Your master is a bit indecisive. I've been waiting for news from him since this afternoon."

Tersolius wiped a few drops of rain from his cheek and slightly curled the corners of his mouth.

P.S.: I don't know why, but I feel a bit dizzy and lightheaded today, and my eyes are also sore.

Chapter 85 Imperial People (3)

A poor ram was dragged out of the pen by the slaves. The strong ram struggled desperately, as if it already knew what awaited it.

The slaves grabbed the goat by the head and limbs and placed it on its back on the ground. One slave picked up a clamp made of two thick branches from the side, then reached between the ram's legs, grabbed a clump of something, and clamped it in the clamp.

The sac-like organ was deformed by the pressure of the hard wood, while the slave deftly picked up a hammer from the side, then propped the clamp and the thing clamped on a towering rock, and swung the hammer down heavily on it.