Cataphracts, surviving in a world full of mods

This was the first time the girl had ever seen such a magnificent and towering city, so grand that it was almost frightening. She felt dizzy and disoriented as she entered the city gate, as if the sky had collapsed and crashed down on her head.

Fortunately, most of the buildings in the city were relatively low, not taller than towers as she had imagined. At that time, she was even worried that so many buildings would block out the sun...

Although it has been proven to be nonsense, the spaciousness and brightness of the Imperial residents' houses and their grand architectural style still left a deep impression on the girl, and she was also somewhat surprised by the extravagance of the Imperials eating an extra meal every night.

Beneath me sat a thick carpet embroidered with intricate patterns, with soft pillows behind me. A table made of black hardwood sat on the carpet, laden with fruit and wine. The crackling campfire in front of me provided a comforting warmth, and a gentle night breeze caressed my hair like soft down.

The comfortable and clean environment made Tarina quite uneasy, even though everyone around her was very welcoming and there weren't many rules or etiquette. This unease wasn't something she could easily shake off.

But one person adapted very well... A mountain girl with short, dark golden hair was eating and drinking heartily, holding fresh fruit in one hand and a silver wine jug in the other. If the meat hadn't been served yet, she probably would have already reached for it... She showed no regard for the noble status of the host, acting like a starving ghost, which made the host frown.

Talina wanted to give her a hint, but she didn't want to say it directly. Since the girl was sitting right across from her, she kept winking at her, but unfortunately, no one noticed...

Tesorus was unaware of the subtle interaction between his men; he was intently watching the mutton being roasted over the campfire, the fresh meat emitting an enticing aroma that drew sniffs from those around him.

Although there were many sheep, the servants would share them, so they would definitely be able to finish them. However, this was the first time he had been able to enjoy a meal in such a relaxed and comfortable manner since that battle.

The mosquitoes haven't swarmed much in the last couple of days, so they're easy to handle. Besides, the weeds around the pond had already been cleared beforehand, so they won't breed a lot of mosquitoes.

The utensil of the imperial people was generally a three-pronged fork about the length of a finger. Ordinary people used wooden forks, while nobles used ivory or gold and silver forks. They were very easy to use, and together with a dagger for cutting meat, they were sufficient to handle most kinds of food.

Even at the emperor's banquet, knives for cutting meat were commonly present, and this was the only sharp weapon allowed to be brought to the banquet.

In Tesorus, it is considered impolite to get your clothes and hands dirty while eating, so many people choose to slice the food and then eat it with a fork, which looks very familiar.

Soup spoons are also a versatile utensil, used for most kinds of food, and soldiers' bags mostly contained these large wooden spoons for drinking soup.

Amidst the crackling of the burning coals, Christina suddenly leaned closer, a teasing smile on her face:

"That child seems a bit too reserved. Is it his first time in the capital?"

Thesolius knew without turning his head who Christina was talking about, and nodded with a smile:

“That’s right. This is Talina’s first time here. She has been to cities in the Empire before, but she has mostly been studying in the southern provinces. This is the first time she has come this far.”

"How did you find her? I have never seen a young girl with such exquisite medical skills. Siliscani's burns were so severe that I thought she was beyond saving... You always manage to surprise me."

“That’s not surprising, Christina. This world is vast, incredibly vast. Every place has its own unique features and customs. No one can possibly see them all… There are also many talented people out there, like gems waiting to be discovered. I was just lucky to run into one.”

“If the doctors at the Imperial Academy saw her, they would be too ashamed to treat anyone,” Ristina said, tapping the porcelain plate in front of her lightly with her silver fork. “If this child hadn’t already joined your ranks, I would definitely have recommended her to the Imperial Academy. Knowledge is always precious, and we should record and collect it.”

“That’s certainly true, and that’s precisely why our country is so powerful…” Tersolius twirled the small knife he used to cut meat, adjusting the blade to a suitable angle to reflect the moonlight. “This accumulated knowledge is the most precious treasure… but for now, this treasure is just piling up, and very few people can actually enjoy it… One day, it will all be used up to exchange for something more valuable.”

“You must have your own plans and ideas again. I can tell at a glance.”

The lamb was finally roasted, its rich aroma filling the lawn. The crispy crust crackled as the knife sliced ​​through it. The final cut fell to Thesolius, who stood up, dagger in hand.

"After all, we're in this position, we should do something... and nothing should be wasted, right?"

Chapter 115 Storms (3)

The storm that everyone feared finally arrived. The attack on Christina, the daughter of the chief senator, was certainly a shocking case, but how did those assassins obtain so many horses and weapons? How did they hide so close to the capital? And what roads did they take to get here...? If you examine every detail carefully, a large number of people will be in trouble.

The emperor issued an order to thoroughly investigate the matter the very next day. The garrison responsible for suppressing bandits and maintaining order in that area immediately suffered. Several officers were brought to the capital for questioning, and not long after, the town officials in that area were also dismissed and arrested.

The black-clad guards of the capital prison were also mobilized, arresting all suspects and sending them back to the imperial capital for investigation and questioning... Panic gripped the entire capital and surrounding areas. This wave was rapidly expanding at an unstoppable pace, implicating more and more people.

The fact that those assassins were nearby and were able to lie in wait revealed a terrible truth—someone had leaked the whereabouts of Christina, the daughter of the chief elder and wife of the legion commander!

This immediately touched a nerve with many people, and with countless others fueling the flames, the storm is showing signs of intensifying.

Every day, people were transported into the capital by carriage. Even if they were innocent, they could not escape suffering. Officials and nobles at all levels were in a state of panic. Before long, an elder statesman publicly impeached his colleague for incompetence and dereliction of duty.

Just as Thesolius had anticipated, someone would seize this opportunity to launch a massive attack on those who disagreed with them, in order to gain power and profit for themselves.

The nobles of the Senate were not a cohesive unit, or rather, quite the opposite. They would never have been united without the pressure from the emperor. Power is a sweet but deadly thing, and no one wanted to give it up. If it weren't for the chief senator constantly balancing the contradictions and disputes among them, the nobles of the Senate would have fallen into a frenzied infighting.

The uproar caused by this incident acted as a catalyst, fueling their ambitions and making many people restless, trying to gain more power.

An unavoidable chaos and turmoil is raging in the imperial capital. But thanks to prior preparations, the emperor and elders ultimately managed to contain the chaos, preventing the imperial capital from truly being shrouded in bloodshed.

Only the chief elder, Scripps, knew that they had lost something... The contradictions among the nobles had become apparent without their knowledge, and he could only try to mend the rift with his prestige and methods, but the bond between them was destined to be less solid than before.

Profit and wealth can make a person short-sighted, preventing them from seeing the real crux of the matter... or rather, most people find it difficult to see clearly when faced with enough temptations, and those who remain calm are actually a minority.

Even knowing that the chances of success are slim, many people will still do it when the opportunity actually falls into their hands and they have a real chance to suppress others.

Scripps knew their weakness—the nobles were too proud, and many believed that even the seemingly powerful emperor could not possibly oppose all the nobles and had to compromise with them.

After all, the nobles controlled a large part of the empire's power, and their influence was deeply entrenched in various provinces. Many of their long-established families had profound foundations, which gave them ample confidence.

But Scripps knew where their so-called power and status came from... so he was even more aware of how bad things were going.

The situation had become somewhat delicate for them, which made the old man determined to do something...

An unsettling situation loomed over the imperial capital for a full week before no one was finally arrested for any wrongdoing, and the atmosphere of panic dissipated. The imperial capital finally returned to its former state, though people still spoke with lingering unease, discussing the storm that had just passed.

After a week of rigorous investigation, not much detail was uncovered about the assassination of the elder statesman's daughter, but many corrupt officials were arrested. Many things that were originally shady were exposed and brought to the forefront, leaving no room for cover-ups.

Ultimately, the biggest outcome of this whole ordeal was the arrest of several garrison officers and city gatekeepers who accepted bribes from strangers, as well as a village gentry who rented out his hunting grounds to unidentified individuals…

It seems that nothing has changed, but only those with a truly keen sense of smell can perceive the changes brought about by the upheavals of the past week.

But no matter what, the empire still had to continue operating. The capital city would continue to handle a large number of affairs in the various provinces, appoint and dismiss a large number of officials, coordinate war and production... The entire country's bureaucratic system was always operating at full capacity, allowing this huge administrative machine to play its due role.

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

The legions of Thessalius obtained permission to expand—after three days of wrangling in the Senate, they successfully achieved their goal through some political maneuvering.

He realized once again the applicability of the open window theory... If he asked for an additional legion, everyone would object, but if he then only asked for an increase in the size of the original legion, and not by much, many people would find it acceptable.

With the addition of some clever exchanges of benefits and lobbying, this matter did not encounter much resistance.

Thesolius had no particular opinion on achieving his goals through political means; he neither rejoiced nor disliked it, but he was exceptionally good at it... The communication and relationships between people are such a wonderful thing, and they also require a certain talent, which he happened to possess.

The slave army and mountain archers he brought from the south did not have a formal organization before; at most, they could only be considered temporary auxiliary troops, and their treatment was naturally not comparable to that of regular legion soldiers.

Now that they have permission to expand, they can be legitimately incorporated into their own legions, making it much easier for them to do whatever they want afterward.

With the emperor's support, Tersolius is unknowingly advancing his ideas; at least for now, few people besides the emperor and his brothers can see his plans.

If everything goes smoothly from here on out, he can become the governor of the province within a month, and then he will have a lot to achieve...

But sometimes, when you hold onto the hope that things will go smoothly, that hope is quickly dashed, and things don't go as you expected. This unexpected turn of events was truly beyond your expectations.

………………

The messenger, clad in chainmail, rode a swift horse, carrying the token as he passed through checkpoint after checkpoint. On his saddle was a long spear, with a red flag tied to its tip. Upon seeing this flag, each post station would immediately prepare a fast horse for him to ride.

Even the food was packed and handed to him directly. He changed horses but not riders, eating and sleeping on horseback. Although he was extremely exhausted, he kept traveling and delivering messages to the destination as quickly as possible.

Thus he traveled through the towns and villages of the empire, along wide, flat roads, and reached the empire's capital at top speed, before collapsing to deliver the message to the garrison general.

Turias dared not delay. He first conveyed the message to the emperor, and then informed the chief senator according to protocol.

Just as one wave subsided, another rose; the capital, which had just quieted down, became noisy again...

When Tesorus received the news, he could hardly believe it. After all, it would be hard for any normal person to believe such news—that someone had started a rebellion at a time when the country was gradually settling down!

The rebellion took place in the eastern province of Cerisonas and was quite large. It seemed that the Kurist people from the eastern steppes were also involved. The situation was becoming increasingly difficult to contain, so the governor immediately sent a messenger to request assistance.

In those times, transportation was far from advanced, and information spread as quickly as the fastest horse or the fastest ship. By the time they received this news, the rebellion in the province had surely undergone new changes, and a decision had to be made immediately…

Such a rebellion, which affected an entire province, was a major event, and so, in that magnificent Senate, a decision that would determine the fate of the empire was being made.

The letter written by the provincial governor was extremely detailed, basically explaining the cause and effect of the matter. After a loud-voiced preacher stood on the stone platform at the bottom and read it aloud, all the noble elders basically understood the situation.

After the speech, a small murmur immediately broke out, but basically no one objected to the judgment. On this point, everyone was quite in agreement—the authority of the empire could not be challenged, and this rebellion had to be quelled as quickly and decisively as possible.

Now that the basic strategy has been decided, the next step, the specific implementation, has become a point of contention. Driven by self-interest, almost everyone has their own ideas and they start arguing endlessly, spitting their own spittle in other people's faces.

Seeing that things were going to drag on, Chief Elder Scripps stood up and interrupted the argument:

"Gentlemen, please hear me out... Your Majesty, the other legions are stationed in various places and are difficult to mobilize, while the Northern Legion must guard against the Kiel's unrest... If we want to quell the rebellion in the shortest time, I propose to send out the legion commanded by Elder Tersolius. This is the best solution."

The emperor's brow twitched slightly, and he made up his mind to refuse... In their original plan, Tersolius and his legion were to be stationed in the Central Province, and he would rightfully become the governor of the Central Province... If they were sent to the East to quell the rebellion now, things might not go as planned.

Moreover, the emperor didn't believe that the old man was really so selfless... Perhaps his suggestion was impeccable, and from any perspective it was for the benefit of the empire, but Clautina was not naive enough to think that his purpose was that simple.

But just as the emperor was about to speak, she suddenly noticed Thesolius's gaze... and her impending rejection turned into approval:

"Your Excellency Scripps is quite right. This is the best course of action at present. Although my general has just returned from war, such an enemy should not be too difficult for him..." The emperor, wearing a golden crown, turned to look at Tersolius. He tapped his scepter slightly on the ground. "I have no choice but to trouble you again, Tersolius. I hereby grant you the authority to mobilize the legions and quell this rebellion as soon as possible."

No one voiced any objection. The chief elder and the emperor had reached a rare consensus. At this moment, not everyone had the courage to stand up and stop this decision.

Moreover, they couldn't see the downsides of this decision—Tesolius was simply too powerful. He had only been back for a few days and already made them feel constrained. Letting him go further away from the center of power in the empire wasn't such a bad thing.

Thus, the decision officially took effect, and news that Thasorius would lead a large army into battle spread like wildfire, destined to stir up another uproar in the city…

"Why should we agree? This rebellion can be dealt with by other troops; there's no need to disrupt our previous plans."

Inside the emperor's golden palace, in its vast halls, the two walked side by side. Clautina couldn't help but wonder why Thesolius had gestured for her to agree with his eyes. ...

“My lord, in my opinion, this is not a bad thing…” Tersolius said with a confident expression, or rather, he had a new plan: “This rebellion is both a threat and an opportunity. If the rebels are powerful, this province is destined to undergo a reshuffle. The power they previously held tightly will loosen, and things will become much easier…”

"Perhaps Scripps has his own plans, but we can't really read his mind... Instead of getting stuck on it, it's better to go with the flow, deal with each move as it comes, and take advantage of the situation to steer the outcome in our favor."

The emperor smiled and gently shook his head, his magnificent purple robe, embroidered with subtle patterns, gliding across the smooth stone surface.

“Since you have your own plans, I won’t force you… However, this rebellion is not so simple. Tricaros actually gave me another letter, but I didn’t release the information because I was worried that it would cause unforeseen complications.”

The emperor's expression turned serious, and the beautiful, soft lines of his face hardened.

"This rebellion involves not only the Kurist people, but also the Iris people who are the masterminds of it!"

Chapter 116 The Rebellion of Cerison (1)

As black banners and royal guard cavalry poured into the camp, the vast military camp, spanning several miles, immediately stirred. New orders were constantly being issued, and the soldiers began packing their bags, taking water and food, as well as their weapons and tools, binding their leggings, and checking their shoes, clothes, and belts.

They began to assemble in small squads, each with its own flag. Led by the flag bearer and captain, they found their own centurions. Once each centurion had made sure no one was missing, he would lead his soldiers to join the command of the chiliarch.

The livestock and wagons used to transport supplies were already prepared. According to military regulations, each squad had to have two mules or pack horses to transport supplies and equipment. As the emperor's personal guard, this army had no compromises in any aspect. The livestock were all strong and healthy. As departure approached, they crowded the entire area, and the air was filled with the distinctive pungent smell of animals. All kinds of supplies and luggage were being packed on their backs. They prepared in units of a thousand men each, and then one by one they set off on the road, heading east.

After they left, they left behind a mess, with piles of animal dung everywhere. But when the sun was high overhead, scorching the earth with its intense heat, a group of nearby farmers entered the camp. They were given permission to take the dung away to fertilize the land.

This fortified permanent camp was now left with only a little over 1000 garrison soldiers... These soldiers who remained complained about their bad luck and regretted losing the opportunity to gain glory, but they still maintained strict discipline and took over all the defense zones.

Meanwhile, the entire army had already set off and was advancing along the well-maintained roads. Two days earlier, the order to repair the roads had been relayed to every village and town. The village chief, the head of every market, and the town's protector were all required to organize manpower to repair the damaged sections of the roads. If there were any delays when the army passed through, they would be severely punished.

From their starting point in the outskirts of the capital to their final destination, countless warehouses were taking stock of the grain, transporting the harvested grain from the previous autumn from the dry, well-ventilated granaries. They would advance, receiving supplies along the way, until they finally reached the rebel-held territory with enough provisions to last for three months.

In addition, there are a variety of consumables that need to be replenished, such as hay, leather, cloth, salt blocks, dried meat, and dried vegetables. The soldiers' damaged tools and equipment also need to be replenished and replaced at the large armory near the central mine. They still have a lot to do before they can actually go into battle.

Nothing in human society consumes more resources than armies and wars. A powerful army is a deadly luxury for a country with insufficient national strength, especially such an elite standing army, which costs a lot of money and consumes a huge amount of resources every day.