Cataphracts, surviving in a world full of mods

The armored Tersolius yawned, then turned and walked away. Colin, whose green short cotton robe was covered in dust, instinctively followed behind, while tidying his hair.

By this time, the sky had turned white, and a few streaks of red glow spread out from the horizon where the mountains met the sky.

Chapter 139 Interlude (2)

The cowhide whip, soaked in salt water, was supple and damp. With a flick of the wrist, the force was transmitted to the tip of the whip, bringing great kinetic energy that slammed into the flesh. Water splashed everywhere, and a raised bloodstain appeared on the white skin, accompanied by a short scream.

In the central square of the military camp, the mountain people who had caused such a huge mess the night before were being tortured, while the legion soldiers, not wearing armor but only dressed in red uniforms, stood in formation around them, watching these guys cry and scream.

Although they were being whipped, none of the mountain people cried out in protest, because they knew what would happen if they were caught long before they did it... Gambling in private would result in fines and cleaning the camp toilets, while violating curfew would also result in a whipping.

Although they all thought beforehand that their thick skin wouldn't be a big deal from a whipping, they only realized how painful it was when the whip actually touched them... and it wouldn't cause serious external injuries, just intense pain.

More than thirty mountain people were tied to a frame and whipped, their screams echoing throughout the room. Although they looked half-dead, their voices were still full of energy.

Before long, these guys were all lying on the ground with bloodstains all over their backs, and were dragged away by the people in one of their tents. But after only a couple of steps, they were already able to put their feet on the ground.

……

Kochkin lay on his bed like a dead dog, feeling as if a layer of skin had been peeled off his back, and could only let out weak groans.

A mountain woman was applying medicine to him. Although her movements were skillful, she seemed to have no regard for his pain. Her movements were wide and forceful, causing him to scream incessantly, but he dared not struggle too much.

They quickly applied the medicine and then wrapped his back in layers of clean bandages. The guy instantly looked like he had recovered at least half of his energy.

Although it's just a superficial wound, infection in this kind of weather can cause a lot of trouble. If you're really unlucky, you might even lose your life because of it... This wasn't uncommon in the past. Many soldiers only suffered minor injuries, but died tragically due to improper care and wound infection.

Fortunately, Tersolius possesses one of the best medical units in the world… or perhaps not even one of the best. Simply washing wounds with the potion refined by Talina can significantly reduce the probability of infection, allowing strong and healthy soldiers to recover quickly.

Tersolius initially considered refining alcohol—something that, if made, would undoubtedly be very useful—but after calming down, he realized he had absolutely no idea how to do it…

That's right, he simply doesn't know how. Although he knows a lot of random things in today's information-rich society, when it comes to actually doing it, he has no idea where to start. He knows nothing about the specific structure of the various instruments used to distill alcohol, the raw materials needed, the suitable environment required...

With only his rudimentary knowledge, no practical experience, and even a vague understanding of the theories, it was utterly delusional to dream of large-scale industrialization like in those time-travel novels.

Moreover, there were better alternatives in this world, so he quickly dismissed his initial idea. After all, magic was indeed very useful and didn't require as much preparation, so why not?

This green medicine, when poured on the body, does not have the strong irritation of alcohol, thus reducing the pain of the injured and allowing them to rest for a while.

It is worth mentioning that some medical team members would utter a few awkward syllables while pouring medicine, and then a faint blue light would flash over the wounded, greatly reducing their screams.

Only a handful of people in the medical team of more than 400 were capable of performing such a simple procedure, and even this simple pain-relieving procedure required the vast majority of them to exert all their strength.

There is only one person who can use it relatively easily... that is Talina's deputy, Yelia—a mountain girl of similar age to her.

This was the result of Tarina's efforts over this period of time. The doctor had taught her almost everything her teacher had taught her, but these carefully selected medical staff seemed dull and few of them could grasp the basics.

So Talina could only teach them basic nursing skills. As for magic, it was too dependent on talent, so she could only let the few talented ones learn it... Although the progress was still slow, it was a start after all.

In comparison, Talina's talent seems even more astonishing. Keep in mind that the girl is only 19 years old this year, yet she already possesses amazing knowledge and skills. She was even able to save the captain of the guard who was severely burned by Christina, which is completely impossible for other doctors in this era.

In just a few months, Tarina had already established herself in the army. Whenever she saw a medical team's wagon in the army, many soldiers would feel at ease and fight more bravely without any worries.

Tersolius's original plan was to recommend Tarina to the emperor, so that her excellent medical skills could be promoted throughout the empire.

But the rebellion came too suddenly... He had just gained a foothold when the Iris people in the east launched this rebellion, plunging the empire's important horse-breeding province into turmoil. As the only person who could quell the rebellion, he naturally had to put the matter aside.

But this is not necessarily a bad thing—after this great victory, his name has spread to every corner of the empire, and the new honor and prestige will make things much easier and will not leave any hidden dangers.

Now, Cerisonas is effectively under his control, and he can make all decisions about the entire province with a single word. He still has a lot to do in the face of this land that needs to be rebuilt.

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

This is an ordinary ceramic bowl, without any decorative patterns or anything special about it; it's the kind that an average person could afford.

The military prioritizes sturdiness and durability, so wooden bowls, which are more resistant to impact, are the preferred choice, while fragile ceramic bowls are mostly used when stationed in camps.

But what's in the bowl is quite eye-catching—finely chopped mushrooms float in the soup, a pale yellow vegetable floats on top, and small pieces of meat tumble and roll with the spoon, the steaming aroma hitting your nose.

The crispy pancakes, made with mutton fat and flour, are sprinkled with plenty of chopped onions. The edges are fried until golden brown and crispy, and when you bite into them, you'll experience a crisp and satisfying texture. They are a very filling food.

Tersolius tore the biscuit in his hand into pieces and soaked it in the soup. He was now sitting on a black wooden stake that had been exposed to the elements for a long time. White mushrooms had even grown in the cracks on the side of the stake, which was originally used to chop firewood.

Colin, whose finger had been burned by the scalding hot biscuit, was putting her red finger in her mouth and blowing on it to cool it down. She wanted to try tearing the biscuit apart like Terthalus, but she hadn't anticipated the high temperature inside after tearing it open.

Talina was holding a wooden bowl, clearly used for a long time, its surface glistening with grease. She and Colin sat on a fallen log, their cheeks puffed out as they chewed on crispy biscuits.

Tersolius finally finished his work. He picked up his spoon, ready to eat, but his gaze inadvertently swept across the Holstein girl's face. His attention was immediately drawn to her fair cheeks, their perfectly proportioned fullness confirming one thing—the army's rations had indeed been quite good lately…

This is also thanks to the city's ample food supply. After the surrounding villages resumed production, they began to send fruits, vegetables, and livestock meat to the city.

Of course, the supply is not comparable to before, so fresh meat and vegetables in the market are half the price of before. The huge army gathered here has begun to withdraw and return to its own garrison. Now the city is only left with the soldiers of the Golden Legion, otherwise this land would definitely not be able to support such a huge army.

As the emperor's directly subordinate army, which is rich and powerful, they still eat well even though the prices are a bit high, and they are able to maintain the food standard near the capital.

"Doctor, you've been doing a great job... but if I were to assign you a new responsibility, I wonder if you could handle it..."

Thesoris, lost in thought, asked the question, and Talina's fingers trembled, splashing soup from her spoon. She immediately turned to look at him, her eyes darkening.

"Please allow me to refuse now."

Tersolius clearly sensed a resentment... Although Tarina's tone of refusal was not firm, a strange sense of melancholy lingered, and coupled with the sudden dimming of her eyes, it immediately made him feel a sense of pressure.

Tersolius coughed somewhat awkwardly... He knew what was going on, of course—as the medical corps grew larger, Talina, who had once been just an ordinary doctor, now had more and more work to do and more and more things to worry about, and was no longer as relaxed as she had been in Alpert.

Especially after the recent major battle, the entire medical unit operated at full speed for several days to treat the large number of wounded, and Talina, as the person in charge, was naturally no exception...

His words at this moment were naturally offensive, much like a boss who exploits useful subordinates, and he was bound to garner countless resentments.

But his idea was well thought out and considered from all aspects, so Thesorius continued:

"The medical corps now has a well-established framework, so you don't have to worry about many things. Just leave it to your subordinates... If there isn't a major war, they can do a great job, so you can just let it run on its own."

"You can take this opportunity to rest for a couple of days. You were really exhausted recently. If our good neighbors are still thinking straight, there won't be any major battles this year, and we can get back to doing many things."

Tarina immediately realized what was happening, but her expression suddenly became somewhat uneasy:

"Sir, do you mean I should stop caring about Yelena and the others...?"

"Aren't you worried?"

The girl hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement:

"They haven't finished learning what they should know, and most of them lack experience..."

“You underestimate them, Doctor.” The crispy bread, softened by the soup, developed a new texture, and Tersolius said as he chewed:

“I’ve been observing them for the past two days. These people may not be the most talented, but they are all responsible and willing to work hard. They are fully capable of fulfilling their responsibilities, so there’s no need to worry too much.”

"No one is born with experience. After all, you have to let them do it. If you don't let them learn and try, even if you give them 10 years, it will be difficult for them to become an excellent doctor, let alone like you."

Talina blushed, realizing the praise in Tersolius's words, and felt a little embarrassed. But at the same time, a feeling of joy and excitement suddenly arose, making her heart flutter slightly, and she even unconsciously tapped her toes on the ground.

Colin, who was shoveling rice into his bowl, noticed this and a mischievous smile appeared on his face. He also started to tiptoe, but was quickly stepped on by the angry Talina, who almost made him drop his bowl.

And so, Tarina was finally persuaded by Tersolius. She decided to delegate more responsibility to her subordinates… they had indeed become too reliant on her, and this could be seen as an opportunity.

The sun slowly rose overhead, and the hottest part of the day was about to arrive. The ground shone brightly, as if it were about to catch fire, making people instinctively turn their heads away.

The rising heat could easily make people sweat profusely, but the place where the three of them were remained cool and shady, untouched by the summer heat outside. A canal that spanned half the city happened to pass by here, and the ceaseless flow of water carried away much of the heat, making the temperature here as pleasant as springtime.

Of course, Tarina didn't forget that Terthorius had said he would give her a new responsibility...

Tesorus paused briefly to gather his thoughts, then said with a faint smile:

"Doctor, we've known each other for quite some time now. How do you feel about your understanding of war?"

"??!..."

Chapter 140 Interlude (3)

"Then answer me, Doctor, where should an army choose to set up camp?"

"It should be an area with open terrain, abundant water resources, easy to retreat, and easy to defend and difficult to attack."

"How should an army cope when it needs to pass through densely wooded and narrow terrain during a march?"

"If this is the only road and there are no other options, scouts should be sent out to explore every grove of trees around. This kind of terrain makes it easy to encounter ambushes, so we must not be careless."

What are the final checks that the military needs to conduct before deployment?

"Every captain should urge the soldiers in their team to properly secure their leg wraps and carry essential supplies such as blankets, dry rations, and water..."

"Slap, slap!..."

With a look of surprise and confusion on Tarina's face, Tersolius and Colin clapped together, like old scholars in the capital library who had witnessed a student's outstanding performance.

Thesolius wore an expression of unsurprised expectation:

"See, aren't you already quite proficient?... Even if you were to give me the daily orders, there wouldn't be any mistakes."

"That's right, that's right! I didn't expect you to be so amazing, Talina... Do you smart people learn everything so quickly?!"

Colin nodded repeatedly beside her, his brows furrowed with surprise, and a hint of awe crossed his face.

Even though they grew up in the mountains and forests, the mountain people were still part of the empire and were not exactly isolated. The travelers and caravans that came and went always brought them new information.

Her father once considered sending her to a town in the empire to find a scholar to teach her knowledge. Although this wish was not fulfilled in the end for various reasons, the mountain people of the entire Menbas region held these scholars, who knew a great deal, in high esteem.

After all, that kind of knowledgeable composure isn't something just anyone can fake. Colin genuinely admired it, and couldn't help but wonder if he could have become just as accomplished if he had found a scholar to teach him back then…

Tarina was startled and jumped up from the wooden stake, her face turning pale. She stammered as she stood up and began to explain:

"How dare I overstep my bounds! I'm sorry, sir, but I cannot comply with this request!"

Talina's fierce reaction immediately made Tersolius realize that this was an era of strict hierarchy, where the authority of the legion leader was inviolable, and anyone who dared to issue orders on behalf of the commander would be regarded as a treacherous rebel with disloyal intentions, and it was not impossible for them to be hacked to pieces on the spot.

He immediately realized he hadn't expressed himself clearly, so he quickly explained:

"You've misunderstood, doctor. I didn't mean for you to give orders on my behalf, and you're not capable of that right now... I just wanted you to offer suggestions."

"Offer suggestions?!..."

Tarina, though initially startled, quickly recovered and asked with a hint of confusion.

“That’s right, it’s about making suggestions.” Tersolius nodded affirmatively.

"The organization of the legion is still not perfect. Even though I have commanded battles involving tens of thousands of people, there are still many trivial matters that distract me and affect my thinking on important decisions."

"When considering the enemy's movements, planning the layout of the army camps becomes less important, and there are precedents for this. It can be easily solved by a smart person who knows about it, allowing me to focus my energy on more important things."

"Of course, the final decision-making power still rests with me, which is why I said that I was just making a suggestion."

Tarina thought for a moment, but still looked troubled: