Cataphracts, surviving in a world full of mods

Although she knew there was nothing she could do, Tarina still felt uneasy about slacking off like this, and the impending war made her even more nervous...

Everything I experienced in Alpert is still vivid in my mind. During the most difficult days, dozens of corpses were carried down from the city walls every day, and wounded soldiers filled the warehouses. The stench of blood and decay, mixed with the smell of medicine, assaulted my nostrils.

That was the busiest period of her life. She could only take a short nap when she had free time and relied on some stimulating plant juices to keep herself energized. Everyone in the medical team was extremely busy and had very little time to rest.

When she finally had some free time, she realized that she seemed to have gotten used to being busy, and she always unconsciously wanted to find something to do, which continued for a long time.

Now the medical team responsible for treating the wounded and sick of the entire army has grown to more than 300 people... Talina never dreamed that she would be in charge of so many people one day. In the beginning, during the most difficult time, she could see those densely packed names even when she closed her eyes.

The girl simply couldn't imagine how Thesolius could lead an army of 20,000 men. ... She was already exhausted from managing just over 300 men and felt she had no time to do anything else.

It wasn't until later that she realized managing so many people didn't require her to do everything herself. Instead, she should promote capable people to manage in her place and organize a functional structure, which would make things much easier.

It's easier said than done... The backstabbing and infighting between people are unavoidable, even in this small medical team, and dealing with these issues is her responsibility. Maintaining a delicate balance and managing the team's disagreements is definitely not an easy task...

The girl let out a groan, her limbs twitching uncontrollably. Her head throbbed with pain… Was she really capable of doing this?! It didn't seem like something someone like her could possibly do!

With another sigh, Tarina turned over, buried her face in the bundle, and took a deep breath, inhaling the peculiar scent of the herbs—something the girl was most familiar with; the mere smell of this scent could quickly calm her down.

She was still busy very late last night. After all, all the supplies needed for the army's departure needed to be calculated carefully, and as the chief medical officer, she also had to shoulder her due responsibilities.

Now is a free moment... Smelling the fragrance of herbs, the girl felt her vision blurring, waves of drowsiness washing over her like a tide, and her thoughts becoming hazy and relaxed.

A scream suddenly rang out, and Tarina sat up as if she had been electrocuted. Although she was still a little dazed, she had already subconsciously pricked up her ears to listen to the commotion outside.

The medical team was under heavy protection from the army, making it difficult for any enemy to threaten their location. Therefore, upon closer listening, they realized the noise was actually quite far away. As the news slowly reached them, Talina couldn't resist sticking her head out to ask her deputy:

"Yeliya, what happened?"

"It's nothing serious, Doctor. The Kurist people have come to harass us again. A few people were shot, but none of them are serious. Our people are handling it."

"I really don't know what's wrong with these Kurist people... They've been blocking our way on the road for the past two days, and so many of their people have died! But they seem to not care at all."

The mountain girl, named Yelia, had reddish-brown braids. Just as she was rambling on and on, an even louder commotion suddenly erupted from their southern group, causing both of them to turn their heads in that direction…

Chapter 126 The Kurist People (4)

The Kurist warriors before them, clad in a combination of leather and iron armor, galloped towards them on horseback, bows in hand. But as they approached the steel army formation, they turned their horses around and fled in an arc before the formation, almost without stopping, heading back the way they came.

But in the instant they turned around, they steadily drew back their bows, turned and released their arrows, scattering them like raindrops.

The dense swarm of arrows looked terrifying, but they didn't cause much of a ripple when they landed in the army's formation. They bounced off the sturdy armor or got stuck in the gaps, serving at most as a harassment. Only a very few unlucky ones were hit in the face and dragged away screaming.

Their arrows, though merely polishing the armor of the legionary soldiers, were a disaster for the Imperial Legion's elite archers.

At the officer's command, the crossbowmen stepped on the large crossbow bolts and used all their strength to pull back the hundreds-of-pounds-heavy crossbows. They then nocked the thick arrows with wooden fletchings. The terrifying force was so great that the crossbow bolts would slam heavily against the shoulders when fired. Once they hit a wandering Kurist, they would throw the rider off his mount, and most of them would die before they hit the ground.

Mountain archers wielding longbows are even more cautious when releasing arrows. These excellent archers from the mountains and forests can use their longbows to shoot down running squirrels and rabbits. Although they were previously carefree, they have become excellent soldiers after this period of training.

They often mingled among the infantry, nocking their bows and arrows and waiting for the right moment. Once they saw a suitable opportunity, they were often able to hit their target directly, shooting down the Kurst men who were constantly harassing them on their galloping warhorses.

In an instant, as thick crossbow bolts and long arrows flew everywhere, the Kurst men who tried to harass them fell to the ground, their bodies quickly piling up in front of the position. The wounded who were not yet dead screamed and howled among them, and the horses that were shot in vital areas also neighed in pain. The stench of blood spread, and in the rolling yellow dust, this place had become a deadly place.

In addition to their shields, each legionary soldier is equipped with five javelins. The sharp steel spearheads are thrown by strong arms. Although the range is not far, the force is heavy and often inflicts heavy losses on the enemy before close combat.

Every now and then, Kurist soldiers who charged too far ahead were stabbed off their horses by experienced heavy infantrymen in the legion. They were like wave after wave of tides, crashing into the Imperial army's highly armored formation.

As they continued to suffer casualties, the enemy remained unshaken, greatly diminishing the morale of the attacking Kurist forces and making them hesitant in their actions.

Just then, a crimson tide suddenly swept in from the side. Caught off guard, the Kurist were instantly overtaken by the elite light cavalry and quickly defeated in a brief exchange.

The reason they were defeated so quickly was not only because they were less disciplined than the Imperial Legion's light cavalry, but also because of the huge difference in equipment—the Imperial Legion's light cavalry were still covered in gleaming silver chainmail, had shiny visors, and had slender iron-riveted arm and leg guards.

This outfit, while much lighter than that of the legion's heavy infantry, was still far superior to that of the Kurist nomads who wore only a leather armor with iron plates embedded in vital areas. Only the tribal nobles and their elites gathered around the Khan had similar attire.

In the clashes of the Lightning Cavalry, such superior equipment often played a decisive role. So after a brief skirmish, the Kurist people fled in disarray, leaving behind a trail of corpses. The light cavalry pursued them relentlessly, unleashing a hail of arrows that left even more dead.

They drove them far away, killing more than half of them in the continuous pursuit, before the cavalry turned back at the sound of horns and continued to patrol in front of the main army.

The auxiliary soldiers came to clean up the battlefield, retrieved the arrows that had been shot, and brought back the warhorses that were still wandering on the battlefield as a replacement.

This brief probing left the Kurist people with nearly 300 corpses, with only half of their forces fleeing in disarray. The Imperial legions, on the other hand, immediately rose and set off, resolutely advancing eastward.

The fully armed and armored legion could only advance a very limited distance in this weather. Moreover, in order to guard against attacks at any time, they had to set up camp every night before resting. In addition, with a powerful enemy on their side, their speed was further slowed down.

In this situation, the army is like a tiger covered in spikes. Although it moves slowly because of the spikes, it is still awe-inspiring and people dare not touch it.

The only apparent weakness was the supply line stretching behind the main force, like a tiger's thin tail, seemingly offering an opportunity to exploit.

But no Kurist had any interest in this supply line. Everyone knew that when a large army was mobilized, supplies were of paramount importance. The Kurist relied on plunder to maintain their army's expenses, but the Imperial legions fighting on their own soil needed supplies to sustain themselves.

No one would be foolish enough to think that Tersolius wouldn't be prepared on his supply lines. This seemingly weak and vulnerable weakness would most likely make any foolish guy knock out his teeth, and maybe even lose his head.

Faced with such a formidable enemy, having the advantage of mobility and choosing to avoid direct confrontation seems like a good decision. Moreover, it would allow one to take the opportunity to harass the rear of the main force and create opportunities for battle.

But Tersolius knew that unless the Khan of the Kursts was insane, he would never do such a thing…

That night, all the high-ranking officers gathered in Tersolius's tent, each with an excited expression, watching their consul slide his finger from the southwest of Cersonas all the way to the east.

Those who stand here may be slow-witted or foolish in other ways, but they will never be confused about military matters; almost everyone understands the meaning of their ruler.

“Once we capture Fariaburg, we can cut off the road, and these Kurist bastards' retreat back to the steppe will be in our hands. Let's see what they do then!”

Alka, his grin practically reaching his ears, slammed his fist on the table. Realizing his lapse in composure, he sheepishly withdrew his hand, though he couldn't hide his excitement.

"Furthermore, Fariaburg hasn't sent any news yet, so it might still be in our hands. That would make things even easier! We'll keep these barbarians completely locked up in Cerisonas, and none of them will be able to escape!"

Yuriedos was just as excited as Arka, except he didn't smash the table. Although his tribe had also been Kurist people in the past, he could still call them barbarians with ease. Nomadic tribes within the empire's borders had been recognized by the state and were legitimate citizens of the empire. They lived much better than those poor relatives who were not even remotely related to them, and no one would respect those guys who herded sheep on the withered grass.

In just one generation, their lifestyle has become very different from that of the Kurist people in the East. Although they still live by herding, they have begun to learn to farm, and their clothes are now made of soft and comfortable cotton and linen, no longer the dirty and stiff sheepskin robes.

They pay taxes to the country just like ordinary imperial citizens, and they also send able-bodied men to participate in war mobilizations, so no one has the right to say that they are not imperial citizens.

………………

Most people were enthusiastic, believing there was great potential, while a smaller, more composed group considered another possibility. But before they could voice their thoughts, Tersolius spoke first:

"The Khan of the Kurist people wouldn't be so foolish as to let us cut off his retreat. If he had realized this, he would already be preparing to withdraw his troops... He wouldn't risk being surrounded by us; the most likely outcome is that the Kurist people will be driven out of Cerisonas once again."

The previously heated atmosphere instantly turned cold, and disappointment appeared on almost everyone's face—the proud legions of the Empire were not content with merely driving away the enemy. How could they be satisfied without making the Kurstians pay the price for their burning, killing, and looting here?

Yuriedos was about to volunteer for battle. His 3000-plus light cavalrymen were skilled in pursuit, and even if the Kurist people managed to retreat, they would be in chaos. Perhaps they could even tear off a piece of flesh.

Tersolius had already seen through his thoughts, and after telling the other party to calm down, he continued:

"Of course, I'm not going to let them leave our land unscathed..."

As he spoke, his finger began to move across the map again, this time pointing north:

“If he really wants to withdraw, that’s exactly what I want to see. The Second Northern Army has already been deployed to the vicinity of Mount Usli. If he wants to withdraw, he will be heading down a dead end… unless they can swim across the river.”

“He should have expected what he would encounter from the moment he chose to bring his army to our land.”

His generals erupted in cheers, but before they could even expel their applause, Tersolius continued speaking without stopping.

“But now I have a new guess… The Khan of the Kurist people may have discovered something. Their actions have become hesitant these past two days. Although they are still sending people to harass and delay our movements, there is no sign of a large army advancing. He may have other plans…”

"I just don't know what he'll choose..."

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

A large black bird silently flapped its wings. Like a floating dark cloud, it took off from the top of a large tree and drifted slowly downwards.

Its eyes were as bright as light bulbs, accurately spotting suspicious movements even in the darkness, and immediately identifying prey it could handle—a black and yellow chipmunk munching on tree fruit, its sharp little eyes and agile head scanning the surroundings, its whiskers twitching, and its nose collecting suspicious scents.

The large bird slowly extended its sharp claws hidden under its belly, and even as it tore through the air and landed there, it made no sound. It was about to catch its prey for the night.

One mouse is far from enough to fill its belly; it needs at least 7 to 8 to satisfy its hunger. So this is just the beginning.

With a swift swipe of its claws, a rodent's head was snapped off in the blink of an eye, and the fruit in its claws fell into the haystack.

The large bird returned to the tree, lowered its head, and sucked the mouse in as if it were eating a leaf. Then it resumed its wooden posture, like a black wooden stake.

Tori looked up at the large bird. His guards, thinking he was interested in it, nocked an arrow and tried to shoot it down, but he stopped them with a gesture... He simply watched silently from the sidelines the whole time.

After a long silence, he suddenly spoke:

"Milisa, how much food do we have left?"

"Your Majesty the Khan."

A man with a goatee walked over; his skin was much fairer than that of his khan, clearly indicating that he hadn't experienced much sun and wind.

"The chiefs of all the tribes have reported their numbers... Even if we include the cattle and sheep we brought, it will only last for half a month at most... The Imperial villages have been almost completely looted, and we can't find any more food."

"Moreover, this is based on our current garrison position. If we were to mobilize a large army, the food supply would be depleted even faster—we might run out of food in just 10 days, and all our livestock would be eaten."

Torid nodded slightly, showing no surprise whatsoever, and continued to ask:

"Did the chieftains say anything when they reported to you? They must have given you quite a few good things."

! !

The calm words struck like thunder, instantly turning the man with the goatee pale, and he stammered, trying to explain himself.

"Don't be nervous. I didn't mean to blame you. You are my most capable servant. You have done your job very well, so it is not a sin for you to accept the looted wealth... I'm just asking you this question."

Toridu still didn't turn his head, as if the big bird had some kind of magic, never leaving his sight... and the black bird also remained oblivious to the humans below, turning its large face to search for possible prey.

"Your Majesty the Khan! ... The tribal chiefs all believe that we should seize this great opportunity to attack westward, where even greater wealth awaits us."

"is that so……"

A long sigh escaped from the Khan of the Kurist people and drifted silently into the night sky.

Chapter 127 The Kurist People (5)

His own followers were a pack of hungry wolves... Tori knew this all too well, because he had been one himself.

Every moment, there are countless people plotting to pull me down from this position and trample me underfoot. Although they seem to be gathered here to obey my orders, each of them is only thinking about the wealth and food of the empire's fertile lands. Once I can no longer give them more, these greedy wolves will have even more schemes.

To make them obey your orders, you have to feed them while whipping them hard... This is Torid's simple and unpretentious method of rule, and it has been the same for twenty years.

The fertile lands of Cherisonas have fed them enough; now it's time to whip them hard and teach them a lesson... otherwise, that ferocious lion will tear them to shreds.

By Kurist standards, Torid Khan, who was already considered old, was determined to use bloodshed to bring these loose and complacent tribes back to their senses... Only bloodshed could bring some clarity to their muddled minds.

His gaze remained calm and unwavering. The large black bird in the tree was staring back at him, its bright orange eyes reflecting the moonlight. It would occasionally shake its feathers and shift its position.

"Keeping this beast around can serve as a warning to me."

As if casually giving a word of advice to the guard beside him, Torid turned around and returned to the Khan's tent, where he lifted the mattress and lay down to sleep without even taking off his armor.

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