Armored Cavalry, survive in a world full of mods

"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…

125 Curists (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 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.

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 was throbbing terribly… Was she really capable of doing this?! It didn't seem like something someone like her could possibly do!

With another sigh, Tarina rolled 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…

126 Curists (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 waves crashing into the Imperial army's highly armored formation, being shattered one after another.

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 surged from the side, and the unsuspecting Kurist were instantly overtaken by the elite light cavalry, who quickly defeated them 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.