Armored Cavalry, survive in a world full of mods

The sound of armor plates vibrating and rubbing came from the side. A tall, dark shadow blocked out the sunlight. The merchant turned his head in surprise, and then immediately realized the noble status of the person in front of him. He placed his right hand on his chest and bowed.

Tersolius raised his hand, and the merchant immediately straightened his back. This was a customary gesture when imperial nobles received guests; when the host made this gesture, it meant that the guest should not be too reserved.

"It is an honor to meet you, esteemed sir. Thank you for allowing me to enter this city to sell my goods. This is a kind act that only a benevolent person would do."

"No need for formalities. What you've brought is what we need. Your accumulation of wealth through this is a legitimate and honorable act... This city always welcomes merchants who abide by the rules."

"Your open-mindedness surprises me... Please forgive my bluntness, but perhaps I should supervise the workers unloading the goods; those guys are always so clumsy..."

"It's alright, you can go do your own thing."

The merchant bowed again, then slowly retreated until he reached the edge of the steps before turning and leaving. Tersolius also turned to his logistics officer.

“I organized 300 slaves, and all the other strong men were also organized. I discovered a lot of good things.”

"My lord, what good thing are you talking about?..."

"Let's organize the manpower first. Maybe we can put together something that looks like a military unit on the surface soon... But we'll need to put in a lot of effort to get them to work."

"As ordered."

Marcus didn't ask any more questions, and continued to stroke his reddish beard as he quickly left, his chainmail rustling and the hilt of his sword slapping against his thigh with the rhythm of his run.

………………

The men and women, their faces haggard and emaciated, held their children and looked anxiously at the large pot in front of them.

Inside, a pot of piping hot meat porridge was simmering. The chopped, dried meat pieces tumbled and rolled around in the boiling broth, releasing wave after wave of terrifying aroma. Everyone around was swallowing hard, their throats throbbing as if a thick worm was inside them.

Another large basket of leafy green vegetables was washed, chopped, and poured in. After being stirred a few times with a wooden spoon, the aroma of the meat porridge was mixed with a hint of fresh fragrance. The sounds of people drooling around them were so dense that they were like a spring drizzle, making them want to swallow their own tongues.

But no one dared to move. The whipping they had endured over the past few days had taught them to obey orders and to clean their hands before eating, then bring their containers to eat instead of scrambling for food directly from the pot.

This happened the first time they were fed. Several strong men tried to take over the whole pot of meat porridge by themselves and then coerce the other slaves... but they were soon hanged on the city gate, and before they were hanged, they were given a good whipping.

The cavalrymen's whips were used to drive their warhorses. How could human skin compare to the thick hide of a warhorse? A single lash would leave a bloody welt. Even in the most chaotic situations, a good lash would calm the slaves down.

Today must be some special day, because they put so much meat in their food. Watching the red, white, and black slices of meat tumbling in the pot, everyone's eyes were glued to it, unwilling to look away for even a moment.

The porridge was finally cooked after their agonizing wait. They were then made to line up in four rows, and two strong mountain men used long-handled wooden spoons to pour the meat porridge into their broken bowls.

Even if they got food, they couldn't eat it immediately. Many people ate too quickly and burned their throats with the scalding porridge... What awaited them was only pain and a long recovery period. Not only could they not eat meat porridge, but there was also a high probability that they would die directly.

The clattering sounds of people eating haphazardly echoed in the city's central square, as streams of water flowed past the slaves. They passed through countless homes throughout the city before finally reaching the moat…

Downstream, a troop of cavalrymen, in a panic, rushed along the main road, frantically whipping their warhorses as they chased the setting sun.

52 Preparation (3)

A strange message suddenly began to circulate throughout the empire; merchants who had come from the Holsian territory were all talking about something unbelievable…

There were many conflicting accounts about the battle at the Bone Basin throughout the empire... Everyone had their own sources and version of events, which plunged the entire empire into turmoil for a long time.

But now, a group of merchants from the Kingdom of Hols are all telling the same story...

General Tersolius, who was said to have led his armored cavalry to their annihilation on the Plain of Bones due to his own mistake, has actually appeared in Alpert, a border city of Hols!

Everyone who received the news was in disbelief... The city of Alperth was extremely well-known throughout the empire.

The city is located at the intersection of the two mountain ranges of Mount Caterham, running from east to west... The fortified city is flanked by towering cliffs, giving it an unparalleled defensive advantage.

In every war with the Kingdom of Hols in the past, the imperial army that attempted to conquer this place always returned defeated, suffering heavy losses against the strong defenses.

This was a war fortress that supported the entire northern Hols region and was also the most important grain-producing area. No expense was spared in building this city; the most durable materials were used, and it took 23 years to complete...

No army could withstand the sheer number of defensive machines and the overwhelming barrage of arrows to capture this fortified city, not even by filling the moat with their own corpses.

But now the city has fallen into the hands of General Tersolius, and he was not brought here as a prisoner, but as a rightful conqueror who took the city...

This completely dispelled the rumors that had been circulating throughout the empire... Anyone with a normal IQ could see how ridiculous these rumors were.

How could a defeated and captured general possibly have the strength to conquer such a strategically important military town?

After realizing this, a sense of unease began to spread throughout the empire; everyone understood what occupying Alperth meant…

This means that a breach has been torn in the Hols' strongest northern defenses... and the city could even become an obstacle for them.

However, the imperial army could set out from this city at any time to conquer their land.

No one could resist such temptation, especially the empire's generals...

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

“We cannot send troops to support them! Tersolius has been captured by the Hols, which is a terrible trap that will destroy our legion!”

Arius's fat face was jiggling rapidly. He looked extremely angry, but hidden within that anger was a deep-seated fear.

Natamus, however, no longer displayed the anger he had shown that day. The tall, burly general wore a mocking smile, as if he were facing a comical clown.

No matter how a clown performs, it's hard to make people angry, especially if he's about to die; nobody cares about him then...

So, despite his fiery temper, he remained calm, much like a lion tamer.

"But this seems different from what you said before, Consul Aristotle. Didn't you say that my brother and his entire army were wiped out? Didn't you say that he disobeyed your orders and attacked without authorization? Didn't you say that my brother was doomed?... Or is everything that comes out of your mouth a lie?"

The general's hideous scar on the corner of his mouth twisted, making his face look more ferocious than a lion and more menacing than a tiger.

His fierce and piercing eyes seemed to overflow with frost, carrying an undisguised and intense malice...

"Let me guess what you're afraid of. Do you think those soldiers who followed my brothers into this desperate situation know anything? If they return to the capital, I think I can get a lot of interesting information from them..."

The obese governor's lips trembled incessantly, but he still gritted his teeth and said:

“My lord, everything I have said comes from the bottom of my heart. We witnessed General Tersolius and his men being surrounded by the enemy. Because of his reckless actions, we didn’t even have time to send reinforcements before they were wiped out by the Holstein army…”

He turned around and looked at the elders behind him:

“Everyone in the four legions can testify to me that they saw it with their own eyes! It was precisely because of such heavy losses that I made the decision to retreat!”

"And the news of Alpert's capture was relayed back by a group of merchants... I have reason to suspect that Tersolius has already succumbed to the Hols! That's why he's cooperating with them in this charade, just to lure our legion into their encirclement!!"

"The battle of the Bone Basin has just ended, and our country cannot afford any more losses! Therefore, we absolutely cannot send reinforcements! It would be a reckless, foolish, and completely irresponsible adventure!"

The nobles of the Senate began to speak up in support of Arius's idea... They quoted extensively from classical texts, their loud voices almost lifting the stained-glass ceiling of the council chamber...

Some of them may have different opinions on this matter, but their current positions dictate that they can only say what they are supposed to say.

The Senate's inherent duty was to check the emperor's power. Regardless of the truth of the matter, allowing Tersolius, the invincible general and the emperor's confidant, to return to the empire was not a good thing for them.

The emperor, seated beneath the golden double-headed eagle, calmly observed the commotion before him, his eyes, bright as molten gold, carrying a faint, almost imperceptible smile.

The golden crown on his head was inlaid with blood-red gems, and his magnificent purple robe was tied at the waist with a belt inlaid with gold plates and gems.

A wide red silk cloak with a smooth velvet lining was draped over the throne as the emperor sat languidly.

The emperor seemed completely uninterested in what was happening before her eyes... but a faint, cold glint shone in her eyes as she searched among the chattering elders.

Until Natamus suddenly touched the greatsword at his waist, she knew it was time for her to speak...

boom!

The guards, clad in golden armor, slammed their halberds heavily into the ground, the synchronized boom silencing everyone...

Everyone bowed, waiting for the emperor to speak.

………………

“I am willing to respect the wishes of the nursing home, and your opinions are indeed very pertinent... Any cultured citizen would not deny the rationality in your words.”

The emperor's lips curled slightly upwards:

“But this matter is too important to be decided too easily, so I have decided to send an envoy to investigate… I think this is the appropriate way to handle it.”

All the members of the Senate were speechless, or rather, this was a solution they could accept...

"So... my legion commander, General Natamus, are you willing to accept this mission?"

The nobles exchanged flustered glances, while Natamus bowed without hesitation.

“It is my honor, Your Majesty. I will definitely bring my brothers here, and I believe that the despicable will pay the price they deserve... and the traitors must also receive the most severe punishment!”

Nathamus spoke his last two sentences while staring directly at Consul Arios; his meaning was self-evident…

"Very well, then I will use my power as Emperor to appoint you as the military commander of the Southern Military District! In order to defend against the invasion of the Hols, the five legions of the Southern Military District will be under your command!"

"If your brother Tersolius has indeed betrayed the Empire, there will be a terrible trap there... We cannot afford to lose another general, so I will grant you the authority to mobilize military supplies in the south... I will also grant you the authority to wage war against the Hols. I hope you know how to use this honor..."

Natamus smiled, and the emperor smiled back at him, ignoring the ashen faces around them.

…………

The cavalrymen kicked and beat the slaves who had just finished eating, driving them toward the camp, which was a large open space in the city. It used to be two warehouses for storing grain, but two months ago, due to mismanagement, they caught fire and were burned to the ground.

Now, makeshift dwellings have been built there using rough wooden planks. These things cannot be expected to withstand strong winds and rain, but the spring drizzle and gentle breeze cannot affect them.

Next to the camp was a much larger open space... This was the city's slave market, where all the slaves sent to Alpert were sold.

Slave owners would select the strong and healthy slaves from among those captured by these slave-catching teams, just like selecting goods. Those who were weak and no one wanted to buy them would be given away as extras or disposed of directly.

Many slaves still remember this terrible place, the inhuman torture they suffered there, and the agonizing screams that filled their ears.

Many people are even unwilling to approach this area, as if a terrible demon lives there and will devour them completely, and once they enter, there is no escape...

Perhaps this statement isn't entirely wrong... It was from here that slaves began their lives as slaves, and it was from here that they began to suffer endless misery.

But now this slave market has been completely abandoned. Five or six iron rings are hung on the blood-stained wooden stakes, through which the slaves' arms are threaded and fixed, so that they cannot escape.

If a chained slave struggles too much, his arms will be bound even tighter, and he will suffer more pain in the end. There are many slaves whose arms rot and swell because of their desperate struggle.

This place, which makes people frown, no longer has any slave traders.

The city has been officially sealed off, and all merchants who do not belong to the city have left, or rather, they no longer want to stay in this place where war could break out at any time.

Ignoring any cries of pain, the cavalrymen drove them into the open field in a brutal and even cruel manner, and then quickly began to separate the strong slaves.

Following the imperial infantry's organizational method, they were drawn into square formations of two hundred men each, led by a cavalryman. Each square formation consisted of ten squads, each squad having a captain, two vice-captains, and a standard bearer...

Of course, this method of formation is still too simplistic, but they don't have many resources right now and must start training immediately, at least to let them know where the tip of the spear should be pointed...

Needless to say, the slaves were obedient; they were used to obeying orders, and once they were lined up, they would stand quietly in place without needing to be scolded.

There were boxes of various sizes next to them, and no one knew what was inside, but they dared not look at them too much.

A tall knight riding a black warhorse charged into the crowd, causing a small cheer among the slaves before being silenced by his superior.

Thesolius grabbed his helmet, untied the straps, and took it off...

"My slaves, now is the time for you to pay the price. I have provided you with warm shelters, enough food to eat, and warm clothes to keep you warm. Now you must sweat here for me and for yourselves!"

The massive black warhorse pawed wildly, trying to charge forward, but the rider on its back pulled on the reins, instantly calming it down.

"In the future, you will don armor, take up arms, and fight alongside us, shedding your blood and giving your lives for me! And from today onward, you must get used to this feeling, get used to wearing armor, get used to taking up arms, and never forget it until the end of your lives!"

Thesolius pointed with his riding whip at the boxes of various sizes:

"Here are 2000 sets of fine chainmail and helmets! They will protect you from ordinary swords and blades. Get used to their weight..."

"In the time to come, you will learn how to use spears, how to use swords, how to cooperate with your comrades, how to obey orders, how to use shields, how to shoot arrows... There is still much for you to learn!"

"Remember this: if you want to survive on the battlefield, learn all of this well! Obeying orders and discipline is the most important foundation for your survival! This is my order, your master, Thesolius!"

The slaves cheered loudly, raising their dark arms like seedlings swaying in the spring breeze. Their deafening cheers echoed throughout the city and drifted out to the fertile fields...

"Long live General Tersolius! ...Long live!..."

"Long live!…………"

53 Preparation (4)

Crystal-clear raindrops continuously pattered against the roof tiles. The rough, red ceramic tiles prevented the rainwater from seeping in, allowing it to flow down its uneven surface onto the ground beside it.

A slave was huddled in his shack, listening to the raindrops pattering on the ground outside the window, enveloped in a strange and extremely rare comfort...

Despite the aches and pains in my limbs and back, the abrasions on my skin throbbed, and the calluses on my palms were worn raw and bleeding, there was no part of my body that didn't hurt.

But the slave's face still bore a smile, a smile that could be described as happiness...

Look at where he lives now! It's not one of those places where hundreds of people are crammed together like a sheep pen... but a small hut built of wooden planks with red tiles on top to keep out the rain, where he can get a peaceful night's sleep.

He was all alone, without a wife or children, so he was only allocated this small shack where he could sleep. Other men with wives and children were allocated larger spaces; these small houses were densely packed together along the wide open spaces in the city.

Although there were many of them, they were very neat, with the distance between each two houses being exactly twice his height... and there were even neat drainage ditches dug in between.

Rainwater flowing down the roof tiles gathers continuously along these grooves, eventually flowing into a large pit, where a small pond has formed.