Cataphracts, surviving in a world full of mods

At that time, still quite young and naive, she asked this question with doubt:

"Why can't we do that, teacher? Wouldn't it save many people?"

"When everyone believes that the plague is a punishment from God, and that only sincere prayer can bring salvation, and that any attempt to resist is a violation of God's will, then people like us are too out of place and too much of a hindrance... If we're lucky, we'll only get a beating; if we're unlucky, we'll lose our lives... You must remember, never get involved in this kind of thing again. If you hear any news, stay far away. Protecting yourself is the most important thing."

…………

At the time, she was too young to fully understand her teacher's meaning. It wasn't until she began directing the soldiers and civilians in the city to prevent the plague that she realized just how terrible the difficulties her teacher had encountered were...

Even with Tersolius's orders, many residents still hesitated and resisted, and began to act perfunctorily. Soldiers had to supervise them closely to prevent any mistakes. And this was an empire that upheld war and law, not to mention other countries that were even more severe in this regard.

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

The entire day was spent cleaning the city and preventing the spread of the plague. By nightfall, the city was even cleaner and tidier than before the rebellion, and with more than half of the population gone, it was even more peaceful.

Tersolius was listening to Tarina's report. Three precious candles were lit in his room for illumination, but the light was still very dim.

The parchment in front of him contained information on the number of people in various streets and alleys, the extent of corpse contamination, and the measures taken to deal with them. The information was neatly arranged in rows, making it easy to find the corresponding section.

However, the paper was expensive and rare, so even in his current situation, he couldn't use it freely. Therefore, the characters on it were written in small characters, which were difficult to see under the light.

"Alright, it seems we've done everything we can... Those executed criminals must be dealt with promptly, and the dead must be buried with lime..."

"Moreover, the residents of this city need to be mobilized. If this province does not have peace, this city will not have peace either. Preparations for war must begin immediately."

…………

In most cases, Tersolius would speak while the others listened. This had become a fixed pattern. Basically, every three days, officers of the rank of chiliarch or higher would gather at his residence to discuss the upcoming plans and the problems they faced.

Although Tarina was only a medical officer, no one objected to her coming here—those in that position were no fools and naturally understood the importance of doctors; the girl's outstanding abilities easily earned them their respect. Even if the other party was a Holstein…

The Imperial army has members from other ethnic groups. As long as they are truly capable, they are often quickly accepted into the army. Soldiers who are used to this do not find anything wrong with it. In the legions, it is common to see Imperials, Hols, Giles, and Kurist fighting side by side.

Yuriedos, the captain of his third battalion, had a typical imperial name, but he was a Kurist. The legion's light cavalry also included many northern Kiel and eastern Kurist.

For them, being able to join the Empire's army was a dream come true. Not only could they live in the mild and fertile Central Plains, but even though some of them could not enjoy the rights of ordinary citizens of the Empire (this required living on the Empire's land for a generation before the second generation would be recognized as an Imperial citizen), they could still save up money and live a life free from worries about food and clothing.

Within the empire's borders, there are many tribes that are close to the nation and are protected by the empire. In times of war, riders can be recruited from them to serve as auxiliary troops for the legions.

This time, Tersolius also issued a conscription order to these southern tribes. Before long, with his 3,000th unit, he would be able to organize a sizable light cavalry force, so that he would not be put on the defensive when facing the Kurist people.

But as the number of people increases, the problem of food will inevitably come to the table... He can't rely on plundering to maintain his army like the Kurist people. Rather than having a headache later, it's better to plan a proper supply route now.

Cerisonas is now devastated and food is hard to come by. The swift and elusive Kurist people pose a great threat to the supply lines, which places high demands on stealth and reliability.

After much deliberation, the road through Mount Dorisco was deemed the most suitable. Although the road was not wide, it was not difficult to travel. Several governors had devoted considerable effort to its construction, and it was also under the protection of the legion, making it the safest and most secure option.

The discussion continued late into the night, until drowsiness overwhelmed Tersolius, who then ordered the meeting to be dismissed. At the same time, he did not forget to emphasize the importance of scouting and defense. News of the Kurist people's presence near the city had already been relayed back by the mountain people and scouts, and everyone here knew about it, so no one dared to be negligent.

………………

"Doctor, I'm sending you the young and middle-aged residents in the city to mobilize. Things won't be as easy as they have been so far. Just do as I tell you, don't be nervous, and make the most of your talents."

Talina's face stiffened, unsure of what to say—she herself had no idea she possessed so many talents… She always struggled to do well, and the tasks she faced were getting more and more difficult each time.

The girl suddenly had a strange doubt—was it because of Thesolius's constant hints that she was able to persevere? Otherwise, she certainly wouldn't have had the courage to face it... and wouldn't have had to do things that got harder and harder each time.

!! …………>_

She quickly shook her head to clear her mind of all her chaotic thoughts. Knowing it was her responsibility, the girl composed herself and prepared to accept the order.

But Thesolius suddenly narrowed his eyes, a look of suspicion appearing undisguised, and he withdrew the appointment he was about to hand over.

"Doctor, how long did you sleep last night?"

Hols girl's face stiffened, her long ears twitched involuntarily, as if a sensitive nerve had been suddenly touched, and she instinctively spoke to cover it up:

"I slept soundly until dawn after finishing my work, and I got a good rest, so you don't need to worry!"

You're lying to me.

He uttered those four words without any emotion, in a tone that conveyed judgment, yet with an undeniable authority that commanded instinctive obedience… Tesorius said, amidst the other's increasingly rigid gaze:

"The more you try to hide it, the more obvious it becomes... You're too emotional. If you had really rested, you wouldn't have reacted so strongly... If I'm not mistaken, you didn't sleep last night!"

Tarina was so surprised that she took a step back... If she didn't know the other person's personality and character, she would have even suspected that someone had been watching her all night...

“Even when I’m at my busiest, I still sleep for a while every day. If you don’t rest for a long time, your brain will become sluggish and you will make more mistakes. You should know this better than I do.”

"If you can't sleep because of worry and panic, you'll be exhausted and make mistakes. Every soldier in the legion knows this, so you should be able to sleep well no matter what situation you're facing.

Tarina was speechless, a blush creeping onto her face—these were words she should have been saying to others; now she finally understood how her lectured patients felt…

"You get a good rest tonight. I'll send Colin to you again. Don't let her carefree attitude fool you; she's actually very thoughtful and quick-witted. Plus, you two get along well, so you should be able to work together very well."

"Keep an eye on her too, don't let her have a chance to come up with any of her weird ideas, otherwise I suspect that if she goes off on her own, she'll break military law one day."

Thesolius revised the appointment on the parchment, and under the lamplight, his eyes took on an amber hue, somewhat diminishing the usual sharpness of his gaze.

"Alright, go back to sleep. We can deal with this tomorrow. Time is on our side, there's no need to be too hasty."

………………

After quickly dismissing Talina, Tersolius yawned, removed his heavy armor, pulled off the wolfskin rug on the bed, and went straight to sleep—even though the weather was hot, the room was rather chilly, so he kept it covered.

Just as he said, no matter how many thoughts he had in his mind, as soon as his head hit the pillow, Tersolius could fall asleep quickly without any disturbance to his sleep quality... but he could also wake up at the first sign of any unusual noise. Those who could do this were often veterans of the battlefield.

Tarina walked briskly into the city with the parchment in her hand, humming a tune unconsciously. Her soft, cheerful voice echoed through the dark city.

What the teacher said was indeed scary, but I shouldn't need to worry. This must be the exception he always talks about…

Chapter 125 The Kurist People (3)

The sudden sound of the bugle alarmed the entire city, but there was no overwhelming sound of marching troops. The city's residents curiously went out to see what was happening and asked others for news.

The city's garrison remained unmoved, showing no intention of setting out. The same was true for the military camps outside the city. Only at the city gates had a large group of high-ranking officers gathered, all clad in sharp armor, their silk robes shining brightly over their helmets.

Ever since Thesolius broke with tradition by draping his robe over his armor at the Senate gates, this style of wearing armor—which softened the coldness of the metal, giving the wearer a touch of elegance and majesty while also preventing the armor from overheating under the scorching sun—quickly became popular. His legion's centurions followed suit, each donning a silk robe, and each one as ornate as possible, with unique designs for each individual.

This also allowed Thesolius to find the person he needed immediately when he wanted to issue a military order. None of these proud generals wanted to wear the same things as others, so they all went to great lengths to make changes in color and style.

Tersolius was well aware that this change was due to their reverence for him, and that it did indeed have some beneficial effects, so he did not interfere. Even when the emperor's messengers arrived, he tacitly approved of these men's attire.

The news of the emperor's special envoy only arrived this morning. A messenger who was almost exhausted from running his horse was the first to convey the news of the envoy's arrival. After making some preparations, they sounded the horn to welcome him and waited there.

The envoy's procession was neither dazzling nor magnificent; only after approaching the city gate did he raise the golden-red double-headed eagle flag, a symbol of the emperor, and he had only a dozen or so attendants from beginning to end.

Such a personnel configuration would be very reliable for conveying the emperor's orders in the provinces of the empire, but it would be very dangerous in Chersonas, where the Kurist people are rampaging. Even a single squad of Kurist raiders would be enough to threaten the envoy's party.

But once he saw the envoy's appearance clearly, this doubt was immediately forgotten...

A short, stocky figure sat on the horse's back. Although he didn't appear tall, his shoulders were exceptionally broad. There was no excess fat on his body, only flesh as dense and resilient as steel wire.

Even his magnificent outer robe couldn't conceal his fierce aura. A large double-edged battle axe hung behind him, its blade as wide as a palm and two feet long, secured to his back with a simple leather strap that could be easily pulled off.

A large bow with a recurve tip hung beside the saddle, and dozens of black-feathered arrows were on the other side, ready for immediate use. The magnificent warhorse beneath him had a bright red coat like silk, and the dozen or so attendants behind him were all elite and valiant men, fully armed. This imperial envoy team appeared to be exceptionally elite, so there was no need to worry about any small groups of enemies that might appear.

When the envoy arrived at the city gate, after exchanging greetings, the emperor's decree was immediately conveyed to him:

"By order of Empress Clautina, the executor of the will of the Senate and the people, and the glorious and great ruler of the Empire! I appoint General Tersolius, the commander of the legions, as consul, and grant him the power to mobilize other legions! He shall be fully responsible for dealing with the rebellion in the province of Chersonas and the invasion of the Kurist people."

………………

The envoy was named Karasaloni, a general in the Myris Legion who had dealt extensively with the northern Kiel, and he was the one the emperor had specifically sent here.

Just by seeing him holding the emperor's decree, Tersolius already understood his position... He had not come alone, but had brought his own legion, which would arrive in Colyat the next day.

The city was in ruins and food was scarce. The vegetables that were originally grown in the villages on the outskirts of the city had been almost completely ruined. Even Tesolis had been eating wheat porridge and dry bread for the past two days. But the emperor’s envoy could not be too poor, so two sheep were slaughtered, a few chickens were obtained, and other things were collected from other places to put together a feast.

For the nobility of the empire, banquets were never simply a matter of dividing the spoils.

Enjoying food is also an important social occasion. Throughout history, countless pieces of information have been exchanged at the dining table, and countless conspiracies have been born amidst the clinking of plates.

And he was quite certain that the other person had something else to say to him...

Although food was scarce, spices were plentiful—high-quality spices in this era were more valuable than gold, and ordinary people could only use salt for seasoning. Any Iris person with a brain would not give up such a precious thing, so they also seized a lot of them.

Both lambs were freshly slaughtered, skinned, gutted, and hung on an iron rack. They were then marinated with onions and spices and roasted over charcoal. Although the method was somewhat rustic, the taste was just as good as many delicate delicacies.

Add to that some broth, stew, and two pots of simmering chicken, and that made up the meal for the emperor's envoy.

The short, stocky man was unconcerned, with a rough and unrestrained personality. He didn't think the food was inappropriate at all; on the contrary, he ate with great enjoyment. Paired with the strong liquor he had found in the city, they quickly got along well.

Both men were easygoing and, coupled with some unspoken reasons, quickly became close. Karasaloni, a typical soldier, was both easygoing and cautious, and it wasn't until after they had eaten and drunk their fill that he finally, seemingly casually, uttered these words to him:

"His Majesty has instructed me to convey the situation at home to you, my lord. Lady Christina is in good health, but considering the recent assassination attempt, His Majesty has brought her into the palace... so that there are no more worries."

Thesolius put down his wine glass, a barely suppressed smile appearing on his lips, as if he were finally able to reach out and grab a fish that had swum right in front of him.

"This is the happiest news I've heard in a while, and I should toast to her good health... It's a pity I probably won't have the chance to see my nephew born."

"To defeat the Kurists here, to drive these scum out of the Empire's soil, to make them pay a price high enough to bring glory to every child born in the Empire on that day! And that is why my legion is here."

Karasaloni suddenly stood up, drew his saber from his waist, knelt on one knee, and presented it with both hands:

"Consul Tersolius, my legions are under your command, and we beg for victory!"

Tersolius reached out and grasped the hilt of his sword, then, under the watchful eyes of everyone around him, hung it on the buckle of his belt.

“I promise you what you deserve, and you must obey my commands without hesitation, disobedience, or cowardice. In doing so, I will share in the glory of victory.”

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

The arrival of the second legion could not be kept secret from others. It was a standard-sized legion, with a full 10000 soldiers, who came to the city along the Imperial Road. They were well-supplied, in high spirits, and joined forces with the soldiers of the Golden Legion.

Kolyat remained fortified, easy to defend and difficult to attack. 2000 elite legionary soldiers were left in the city to defend it. The Kurst people, lacking heavy siege equipment, could not shake the city even if they attacked with several times their strength.

Riders recruited from southern tribes also arrived on this day. These nomadic tribes, who lived within the empire's borders, had been providing the emperor with their warriors for 20 consecutive years and considered themselves part of the empire.

Their soldiers also received military pay from the army, were well-fed, and fought alongside the imperial legions. Their population was growing, and their granaries were full, making them far better off than their poor relatives to the east.

In this respect, no one can deny the merit of Emperor Igulus—it was he who, against all odds, accepted these wanderers from the East.

Only by settling the tribes in the fertile and fertile province of Carirus could the empire have a continuous supply of excellent light cavalry over the past few decades.

Now, Tersolius commands a formidable army of 22000 men, including tenacious legionary infantry and elite crossbowmen, as well as swift and swift elite light cavalry, and nearly 1000 elite armored cavalrymen… He has enough pieces in his hand; it's time to dismantle the opponent's chessboard…

After a week of rest and resupply, the army stationed in Kolyat set off, heading east...

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

As usual, she traveled with the army in a carriage. Now, Talina was quite experienced. She could not only find the most comfortable position for herself, but also sleep soundly in the swaying carriage and wake up at the slightest sound of wind.

The horse-drawn carriages carrying various medical supplies had tarpaulin roofs to protect these precious items from the recent torrential rains and to shield them from the sun on sunny days.

Hiding in such a carriage is the most comfortable, especially since the wide and flat roads of the empire can greatly reduce the feeling of bumps. Find two soft bundles with bandages, adjust your sitting position, and you can lie down comfortably to your destination.