Armored Cavalry, survive in a world full of mods

159 The staff's proposal (2)

Cerisonas is a land naturally suited for pasture. Although the rainfall here is not as much as in the center of the empire, it is enough for the grasslands to grow lushly. The climate is mild all year round and there are few frost disasters.

The cattle and sheep raised here are all plump and strong, and most of the horses from the horse farms are also above average quality. There are plenty of places with abundant water and grass, so there is no need to fight each other to the death for a place to graze, unlike the people of the Curist in the East.

This perfect land should have been even more prosperous and thriving, producing more warhorses and raising more cattle and sheep, so that they could roam the grasslands like flowing clouds... But what limited all of this was the Kurist people of the East.

These good neighbors in the East have long coveted this land. The lush pastures and mild climate here are their dream home. Although the Empire's powerful military has prevented them from achieving their ambitions, the raids and harassments, large and small, have never stopped.

Because of their presence, this excellent pasture has always been unstable, and the central government of the empire has never considered developing the breeding and raising of the precious Passatrian warhorses here.

After all, the Kurist people are troublesome enough. If anything were to happen and this extremely precious breed of horse were to be leaked, it would surely cause endless trouble.

But now the situation is different. This glorious victory has broken the backbone of the Kurist people, killing or wounding most of the men in their tents. The entire eastern steppe is filled with wailing, with old, weak, women and children crying everywhere. The corpses of the dead even blocked the river channel, staining the land on both banks red.

If the Imperial Legion hadn't taken the initiative to handle and bury these corpses, the current warm climate would have surely triggered a major plague, which would have been another catastrophe.

The Kurist people are now in a state of near-death and may be wiped out. They can no longer pose a threat to the east of the empire. Although they have also turned Cherisonas into a wasteland, the empire is still well-established and has a large population, so it is not a serious blow and it will recover in a few years.

In this context, the previously unstable land of Cerisonnas became a potential site for change.

Even before he set off from the capital, he and the emperor had already figured out how to deal with the enemies on this land—of course, all of this depended on a glorious victory, a victory that would bring the Kurist people to the brink of annihilation.

Therefore, upon seeing the corpses of these enemies from the East covering the grasslands, Tersolius no longer hesitated and sent his messengers to the East.

All this information comes from the Kurist people—the Kurist people of the past, who have now become subjects of the Empire, living on its lands, and whose sole task is to contact several tribes in the southern Kurist plains.

In places like the Eastern Steppes, where large and small tribes mingle, it's difficult to maintain a unified front. No matter who becomes Khan, there will always be opponents. After all, the ambitious Kurist people are unlikely to be willing to submit to anyone else.

Even though Tolidu Khan had previously controlled almost the entire eastern steppe, he still couldn't completely wipe out his enemies because he had to take care of the western empires; he only managed to push them into the southern regions.

In order to resist the pressure from powerful enemies, the southern tribes had been secretly communicating with the Empire, but it was always an exchange of interests, and they never intended to pledge allegiance. They were caught in the middle between the Empire and Torid.

But Torri had already been defeated by him, and rumors circulated that the Khan had died in the chaos of battle. With such a great victory, he could not allow these tribes to continue to play both sides.

"Tell their nobles, their elders, their leaders—come here to see me within 10 days of receiving my order, or I will send troops eastward to crush their tribes. Now, only two kinds of tribes are allowed to exist in the East: enemies of the empire and subjects of the empire. Let them choose."

This order was relayed by messenger teams, and all the terrified tribes in the south were given this choice: annihilation or submission...

The Kurist people, already crippled, could no longer occupy that vast land. The empire's territory would once again expand in the east, with new lands being cultivated and new people being gained under the swords of the imperial army.

He wasn't worried about any accidents. Although the land in the East was vast and seemed to offer a way to survive everywhere, and there was no need to submit to his sword, anyone who had been to the East knew that the further east you went, the more barren the land became, the stronger the sandstorms, and the harsher the weather. It was either windy or frosty all day long, and livestock simply couldn't survive there.

In contrast, those who submitted to the Empire lived a good life, especially his messengers—the Kurists who had lived in the Empire for a generation—who proved this even better. They had reaped great rewards in the war, gaining numerous honors and spoils, and were able to live on the Empire's fertile and mild lands.

Sure enough, in less than 10 days, only five or six days, the vast majority of the southern tribes had gathered in the city, pleading for the empire's protection and offering their loyalty.

The emperor's envoys had made ample preparations in Peridos long in advance, bestowing upon their leader a magnificent silk banner inlaid with gold, a precious sword carved with a double-headed eagle, finely forged armor, and a formal document, symbolizing their formal incorporation into the empire's rule.

The next step is to lead the legion into the land of the Kurist people in a legitimate manner, formally bring it under their rule, and establish an effective governing structure.

As a result, the once vast Kurist Steppe was cut in two, and the area occupied by the Kurist people was reduced by almost half, not to mention the tribal population that had surrendered to the empire.

By gradually squeezing their living space and bringing more and more tribes under the empire's control, this snarling wolf from the East will be slowly drained of its blood, becoming weaker and weaker until it is finally completely assimilated.

Of course, it might not be so smooth in practice, but under the overwhelming trend, it will not affect the final result. This is a complete crushing of comprehensive national strength. Under such a miserable defeat, the decline of this nation is like a boulder rolling down a mountain. Once it starts, it is difficult to stop.

………………

The black-clad jailer dipped his thin, willow-leaf-shaped dagger into the basin of water beside him. A small, almost transparent slice of flesh detached from the blade and soaked in the water. He then rinsed the sharp blade a few times, leaving all the blood and grime in the water, making it shine like new.

"That's about enough, give him some soup."

As soon as he finished speaking, a jailer with only three fine lines on his bronze face reached over and picked up a small copper pot from the nearby stove. The warm embers kept the liquid inside at a comfortable temperature, emitting a faint medicinal aroma.

He took two steps forward and came to a bloodied man whose face was completely disfigured—although he looked extremely miserable, the man was still breathing strongly and was full of energy, staring at him with a gloomy look in his eyes.

Without uttering any unnecessary words, the jailer reached out and pried open the man's jaw, then extended the spout of the copper kettle and poured out the warm liquid inside.

The amber-colored liquid exudes a sweet fragrance that instantly invigorates the senses; it seems like a wonderful thing by all accounts. However, anyone who knows the truth would surely feel a chill run down their spine…

This is a drug unique to the Imperial Prisons, used only on the most heinous and important criminals, in order to keep them alive while they are being tortured, so that they don't succumb to their injuries and die.

The cost of the medicinal herbs alone was considerable, but in order to ensure the unquestionable implementation of the empire's laws, such expenditure was negligible.

As the hot soup went down, a warm current washed over the young man's body, slowly fading the cold and stiff feeling in his limbs. A burning pain spread up – the wounds that had become numb due to the long time had become active again with this mouthful of hot soup, and new pains kept coming.

"Let him rest for a while, otherwise it will go too far."

The warden carefully observed the prisoner's condition and finally came to this conclusion... Even if each wound was very small, the mental pressure from prolonged torture was undeniable. What that esteemed master wanted was not a madman, but a prisoner who had come to terms with reality and dared not have any more thoughts.

The bloody instruments of torture were placed in hot water to be washed right in front of the condemned man, just like washing dishes after a meal. The jailers did this with practiced ease, neatly and orderly placing the sharp hooks, iron skewers, and pliers into the box. The blood that had been washed away flowed out through the gaps in the well-maintained drains next to him. In no time, the scene that had just been a mess became much cleaner, and even his wounds were treated with medicine and bandaged.

A full day had passed since Tersolius's last visit. After enduring immense torture, he should have been able to see the imposing imperial general again. It was precisely for this reason that he barely managed to endure the torture, hoping to secure a glimmer of hope for his survival.

So all day long, he didn't even care about the weapons that tore and cut his flesh. He was just waiting anxiously for the heavily armored general to come here again... He had figured it out. Anyway, the parasite in his mind had been cleared out, so he had no worries... Better to die than lose a friend. In order to survive, he could say some things—of course, he would hold back, after all, it was just to give himself an opportunity.

He desperately hoped for the sound of footsteps to appear. The relentless torture was almost tearing his psychological defenses apart, and he was on the verge of collapse. But he couldn't even bring himself to confess until this horrific ordeal was over...

But as the sun rose in the east and gradually set in the west, he had been given the pot of hot soup three times, and the bright light began to turn red, but the person who was supposed to appear still did not appear. This made the sinner increasingly anxious, and even a sense of despair and fear began to spread in his heart...

Just as the guards had finished resting and were stretching their limbs in preparation for the next task, he finally couldn't bear it any longer. He roared at the top of his lungs:

“I surrender! I surrender! I’ll tell you everything, just stop torturing me with those damned things! Bring Tersolius here! I’ll tell him everything!”

The jailers stopped, some exchanging bewildered glances, and then focused their attention on the warden.

The warden's bronze face was decorated with a vine-patterned border, making it appear more exquisite and ornate than the others. This also highlighted his higher rank and status among them, and naturally, he was the one who made the final decision in such matters.

"Send someone to tell the general what he said, and the rest of you wait."

A cold, hoarse voice came from beneath the bronze mask. The jailers, who had already picked up their tools, sat back down. One of them pushed open the door and went out to deliver the message to the guards waiting outside.

Although he was only temporarily relieved of physical pain, he still breathed a sigh of relief. A chill ran down his spine... these guys had one torture device after another, and it wasn't just physical abuse; it also inflicted immense psychological damage... even with his training, he couldn't withstand it.

If he had still held back a moment ago, intending to say something that was both true and false to try and get away with it, he was now starting to hesitate... He knew he had to demonstrate his worth, otherwise these cruel imperial people would definitely torture him to death without hesitation!

If the parasite in his brain were still there, he would probably have ended his life long ago. Only an organization member with a certain status like him would have the method to activate the brain worm and ensure that the organization's secrets are not leaked.

After the worm was removed, he, who had been filled with the will to die, began to think more—after all, who would want to die if they could live? He had only had no other choice before. Even if he hadn't provoked it, if the other party had asked something they shouldn't have, he would still have died without a burial place.

The wealth he had accumulated and the skills he had acquired over the years made him unwilling to die like this. A person like him should live better than anyone else, how could he die so young like those fools?!

Only when he heard a flurry of footsteps did he finally perk up and start paying close attention to the doorway.

160 The Past Conspiracy

The room was quickly cleaned, returning to its original spotless state. The clean bluestone floor exuded a hard, dense texture, even the bloodstains in the crevices had been washed away. The jailers were preparing to welcome the distinguished guest, their cooperation seamless and orderly. They were no less capable than the trusted servants of noble senators, a sight that drew admiration from onlookers.

Once all the tools were removed and the floor was thoroughly cleaned, this seemingly unnecessary task only took a few minutes—about the same level of efficiency even the best servants could manage.

Only then did the sound of orderly and heavy footsteps come from the corridor. The steel armor plates rubbed against each other, producing a clear, metallic sound that gradually became uniform. Just from the sound of their footsteps, one could tell that they were a group of well-trained and disciplined soldiers.

As always, as the heavy black iron gate was pushed open, a soldier in magnificent heavy armor walked in. He waved away the others and then walked up to him:

"It seems you've come to terms with your current situation and no longer harbor any ridiculous illusions. So, tell me, and I'll judge whether you're worth keeping or should be disposed of as useless based on what you say."

The young man, covered in wounds, looked utterly wretched, but most of his injuries were only superficial. The imperial guards were very discreet; after all, their task was not to kill the prisoner, but to make him suffer enough pain to confess his crimes.

Even so, the gruesome scars covering his flesh were enough to send chills down one's spine. The sharp hooks and willow-leaf blades completely avoided the vital blood vessels that could cause massive bleeding, and did not damage the tendons that were difficult to repair. They simply created enough "gaps" in the flesh, so that if the ropes were untied now, he could start walking after moving his hands and feet.

“I confess, Your Excellency, I admit that I am not a resilient person, at least not when facing your black crows… But I also know very well that the information in my mind is of great value, and I know even more well that my crimes can only be repaid with death… So you should know that even if you skin me alive, I will not easily give up this chance to live.”

“I can tell you everything I know, Your Excellency General Tersolius… I want to know, what can I get in return for all of this?”

Despite being pale and sweating profusely from the pain, the man remained calm, trying to ignore the terrible sores on his body. Having been to Chegevnyi prison once before, he knew very well that what he was suffering now was just an "appetizer." The real torture was yet to come... So this was the only chance to escape that terrible fate, and he had to seize it no matter what.

"What did we get in return..."

Tersolius remained expressionless.

"You should ask yourself what else you have? Do you have the value to make me spare your life? You have never had the right to bargain."

The young man gave a wry smile:

“You are a person of high status. With just a thought, hundreds or thousands of people will die… To you, I am a person lower than a rat. How could someone like me not seize the chance to live in front of you? I know you cannot trust me. I can tell you some information to prove my worth… In that case, perhaps you will consider letting me live a little longer.”

At this point, a hint of hesitation crossed his face, but it was quickly replaced by a resolute expression:

"The servant in charge of cleaning the sewers in the governor's mansion is one of ours... If you don't believe me, go to the raised white wall at the back of the mansion when the sun is directly overhead on Thursday. He will write down what he has collected on birch bark and stuff it next to a loose brick."

"Useless, he's a terrible spy..."

Thesolius's expression remained indifferent, unmoved in the slightest:

"This so-called 'one of our own' is just a temporary worker you bribed. He's so stupid that he dared to crane his neck to listen in through the window while cleaning the sewers. And right under the noses of the other servants... There are many stupid people in the world, but it seems he's the only one there."

“He goes to the tavern every night to gamble, but he is terrible at it and has terrible luck. He always loses everything, but he always has new money to gamble with. He is not good enough to support such a luxurious life as a servant. Why do you think I kept him? Instead, I dismissed the other servants.”

"As expected, you can't hide anything from me... I hired that idiot for 30 silver coins. Every time he gave me information, I gave him an extra 30. From beginning to end, he had no idea who he was dealing with, and he never saw what we looked like. He only ever found the money pouch left behind in a dead tree hollow..."

“You haven’t shown your worth yet, keep going… If you dare to play these tricks on me again, I won’t give you any more chances.”

…………

"Well, you really are a very scary person..."

A bead of cold sweat trickled down his face, running down his shoulder to the wound on his chest. The intense pain caused his muscles to twitch uncontrollably.

"The information I'm about to share is closely related to you—during the battle at the Bone Basin, Consul Arios abandoned you and your invaluable 1000 elite cavalrymen… The stupidity of this act shocked the entire Senate. If it weren't for the need to maintain unity before the Emperor, the first people to punish him would probably be the nobles of the Senate."

"This betrayal seems utterly irrational, like a decision made on a whim... But I must tell you, there were our people who helped Arios make this decision."

A flicker of emotion finally appeared on Tersolius's face, and a wave of emotion washed over him. A mountain-like, imposing majesty quietly gripped his heart, making the sinner's breath become weak for a moment, and he dared not make the slightest sound.

But this also convinced the young man that this was indeed a bargaining chip that could impress the other party, further energizing him:

"Even if he was originally a spoiled brat, incompetent and arrogant, he wouldn't make such a decision so easily... But a little skillful guidance, plus a trustworthy and close person, is enough to make him do such a thing. After all, he already harbored malice towards you. All our people did was open the dam's valve."

“Our target has been you from the very beginning. You are a terrible threat to us. As long as you exist, it is difficult for this country to have a real civil war, and subsequent plans will be difficult to succeed... The fact that I am here proves that this view is correct. The hidden danger of the lack of a plan has led to my current miserable failure.”

…………

"What is your plan? What is your organization like? What is your purpose? Tell me."

"That?……"

Looking at the expression on the other person's face, Thesolius slowly nodded:

"You're useful now."

The young man felt a huge weight lifted off his shoulders and collapsed.

——————————————————————————————————————————————

The stew in the earthenware pot was emitting a hot, fragrant aroma; the mutton and chicken stewing inside smelled mouthwatering.

A slender, fair hand picked up a purple onion—the yellow outer skin of the onion had long been peeled off, revealing the tender purple skin, which also sealed the pungent smell inside.

With her other hand, she picked up a slender knife from the side. Talina's expression had a sense of righteous indignation, like a soldier bidding farewell to his family before a great battle—carrying the bag prepared by his wife, which was filled with warm clothes and dry food for the journey, he had no choice but to pick up his sword and join the ranks that were stepping into the battlefield, despite his reluctance.

While onions have a strong pungent flavor, they also have a pleasant texture and a sweet taste. Chopping them and adding them to meat can eliminate any gamey smell and enhance the aroma. This classic home-style stew is all about adding chopped onions.

Cutting onions directly will make your eyes water from the spiciness, so Tarina had a brilliant idea – if she cut them directly on the pot and then dropped them into the soup, wouldn't her eyes be free from the spiciness?

Now, she's determined to give it a try.

The doctor was very confident in his hands; these nimble and strong hands could easily chop onions without cutting his fingers.

When the blade sliced ​​through the first piece, Tarina knew her calculations were wrong... well, not entirely wrong, since at least while trying to keep her head away from the pot, her tears didn't flow as violently.

A sour, unpleasant sensation, like worms crawling out of her eyes, made the girl squint. Crystal-clear tears streamed down her face, but her hands showed no sign of stopping, moving the knife with a reckless determination. Slice after slice of onion, as thick as silver coins, fell into the soup pot.

After chopping an onion, Tarina took a deep sniff and carefully rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. Through her teary eyes, she tried to observe the flames. The aroma that filled her nostrils was satisfying; it seemed that the pot of soup would soon be at its best.

As her vision gradually cleared, she suddenly let out a small scream—several conspicuous oil stains appeared on her white dress, large and small, scattered like stars, spreading from her chest to her abdomen, like clusters of small yellow flowers.

The lamb and beef were cooked together, which made a lot of oil and flavor, and the thin slices of onion fell into the pot so quietly that they were almost inaudible. But she turned her head away to avoid the pungent smell, which led to the current situation... She should change her clothes.

Suddenly, a sniffling sound came from the doorway, followed by a man's complaining voice:

"What kind of onion is this? It smells so pungent... I can smell it from outside the door. Maybe she's doing some kind of experiment and forgot to turn off the stove."

This was undoubtedly Tersolius's voice, strong yet with a hint of deepness, highly recognizable, and then immediately followed by a knock on the door:

"Doctor, are you inside?"

Tarina suddenly panicked, unsure of what to do... she should change her clothes, but it also seemed she shouldn't.

Thesolius could clearly hear the familiar breathing from inside the door, and the person seemed somewhat worried...

"I understand. Come see me after you're done packing. I have something important to discuss with you. Don't forget."

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned and left without pausing, walking out of the deliberately designated camp and heading towards his central command tent.

…………