Armored Cavalry, survive in a world full of mods

"Okay, I've been keeping an eye on him. I'll remind you when he gets here."

"That guy" refers to the Holstein officer in charge of this section of the city wall. He was a minor nobleman without territory. Although he was nothing to those of high status, he was still an unapproachable figure to them.

Moreover, the other party was extremely harsh on them, verbally abusing and whipping them whenever they had a chance. Although the soldiers hated this guy, they didn't have the guts to kill him, so they could only try to avoid him.

Of course, if things continue like this, and the soldiers, who are under increasing pressure, are further abused and oppressed, who knows what will happen next? After all, stones flying from the city wall won't spare anyone just because they are of higher status; they will all be crushed into mincemeat without discrimination... and if they end up mixed together, who will know what happened?

"I don't know what to do next... The original plan was to exhaust the Empire's money and supplies here, so that they would give up and retreat on their own, but now it seems that we might be the ones who give up first."

"I wonder if they can really exhaust all their resources... The wealth of that country is well-known even in my remote hometown. Who knows how much they've prepared for this war?!"

"I heard that Assele in the south will also send troops to support us. We should be saved then, right?"

"You're being too optimistic. The Assele people might not take such a big risk to send their army to help us."

A large bird with white feathers and black claws flew slowly across the sky, emitting a harsh, hoarse cry that made one's heart sink.

Several soldiers were talking with worried expressions behind the collapsed tower, while the catapults in the distance continued to fire heavy stone projectiles at the city wall.

………………

"Hmm, what are the results of the investigation?"

He reached out and scratched the hound's chin, causing the long-limbed, slender hound to squint and rub against his palm. Then he stroked the dark brown fur on its forehead. Tersolius turned to look at Talina and asked her this question.

His lead dog, unlike the other dogs, was not overly enthusiastic and always maintained a certain level of restraint in managing his hounds. He also often fed the hounds as he would Moss.

"We have indeed found something, sir."

Tarina lifted her skirt and walked over, making sure the hem was away from the mud on the ground. She carefully avoided the trampled areas and walked briskly to Tersolius's side.

The hunting dogs also recognized the girl, wagging their tails and making friendly noises. Two of them even came up to her and nuzzled her knees with their heads.

Tarina smiled and stroked the rather elastic ears of the large dog in front of her. These dogs had scattered scars on their bodies, left from fighting fierce prey such as lions and wild boars, demonstrating the bravery of these agile creatures.

"First of all, the remains that have been confirmed as 'sinsin'—this ancient and mysterious creature—I've only ever seen in my teacher's books. The climate and environment in which this creature lives are also very different from here. Based on this alone, we can deduce that what this place looked like in the past was definitely very different from what it is now..."

"Let's get to the point first, Doctor," Tersolius said with a smile. "No matter where this guy liked to live or what he liked to eat when he was alive, he's just a skeleton now."

Tarina coughed, her cheeks slightly flushed, and used her left hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear before continuing:

"After these few days of research, I can now confirm that the essence in that land was gathered from this skeleton. Because of this, the large amount of essence greatly increased the strength of the bones and also changed their color, which is why they have not decayed for so long and have a hardness comparable to wrought iron."

"The reason why a skeleton can accumulate toxins... I guess it's because something is attracting and collecting them... but there are no traces of it yet, so we can't be sure if it happened naturally or by human intervention."

“These bones should only have been affected by the ripples. This is quite rare for skeletal remains. I checked them repeatedly but found nothing special. I guess it’s just because they were buried underground and spent a long time in a place rich in serotonin that they were affected like this. The smooth, hard ground there should also have been affected, which is why it was so difficult to dig with a pickaxe.”

"So...those bones are useless?"

"It's not that it's useless," Talina shook her head slightly, then nodded quickly.

"No, I was too vague. I should say it's extremely useful! Those bones contain a lot of elements, far more than what's found in the soil and air. If this continues, I suspect they might even crystallize inside the bones. It's a rare find for me, and it will come in handy in many places in the future. It will also help me make more progress in some of my experiments."

"Even the crudest usage can greatly speed up the progress of the ritual, which is absolutely a good thing for people like us."

250 Siege (4)

“I must admit, Talina, I’m increasingly looking forward to seeing your teacher.”

Tersolius raised an eyebrow with interest. He now harbored a great curiosity about Talina, his knowledgeable teacher, whose abilities in medicine, botany, and pharmacology were nothing short of astonishing. Even from mere fragments of conversation, he could vaguely sense the vastness of her knowledge, as deep as the ocean.

Part of the reason was that he wanted to confirm something interesting, and there was also the idea of ​​recruiting talent for the empire, but most of it was out of curiosity and awe for the other party—curious about why someone with such talent had remained unknown for so long.

It should be noted that the level of skill demonstrated by his student Talina was enough to gain the emperor's attention. In just one year, she rose from an ordinary village doctor to her current position. Of course, a great deal of luck was involved. After all, if he had not passed through that village, given Talina's personality, this gentle and resilient girl would most likely have remained an ordinary doctor for the rest of her life, and her outstanding talents would have had no opportunity to be displayed.

"Unfortunately, I cannot fulfill your wish, since even I don't know where the teacher has gone..."

Tarina smiled and scratched the dog's head, pleased to see that the nimble, brown-black hound was free of the parasites that used to be so common, and its fur looked very clean. This was clearly due to the effects of her medicine.

"After teaching me medicine, my teacher continued his travels... It's funny to think about it now, but I hid his medicine box to stop him from leaving. He just smiled and left the box to me."

Is this it?

Tersolius looked at the small medicine box—an inconspicuous object with peeling paint revealing the reddish-brown wood underneath, yet it remained sturdy and showed no signs of loosening. Inside were three wooden compartments, each capable of holding a different medicine.

“That’s right. Now that I think about it, the teacher probably intended to give this box to me… He even left me a letter inside, instructing me to use the three precious medicines in the box carefully.”

"The teacher always seemed to want to see more and learn new knowledge, so he rarely stayed in one place for long. When he felt that he had learned enough about the place, he would leave."

"Overall, he is the freest person I have ever met, living only for his own ideas... In some ways, that is also quite enviable."

"really."

Thesolius nodded slightly and said sincerely:

"There are very few people in the world who can do this. Being able to be unrestrained and do whatever one wants is the goal that many people pursue throughout their lives."

Talina paused for a moment, then turned to look at Tersolius, gazing at his sharply defined profile. After a brief hesitation, she spoke:

"Sir, are you the kind of person who doesn't easily accept constraints? With your current status, it's unlikely that many people can impose restrictions on you."

You're taking it too lightly...

Tersolius chuckled and tossed a piece of meat into the air. The dog in front of him leaped up as if springs were attached to its nimble legs, flipped in the air, turned like a carp, stretched out its head, and bit the piece of meat before falling down with it.

"Of course I wield enormous power now and occupy a prestigious position. To many, I should be carefree... but that's the kind of thinking only a good-for-nothing who only knows how to eat, drink, and be merry and has absolutely no desire to take responsibility would have. Since I'm in this position, I must bear the corresponding responsibilities and play my due role; otherwise, I'm unworthy of my position and should get out of here as soon as possible..."

"It is a disaster to give a person a position and power that is not commensurate with his or her abilities and character, whether for him or for others. If we compare our country to a precision instrument, I am confident that I can do a good job of the key part among the countless components, and I cannot turn a blind eye to the disasters in this country. Like armor, it is both my protection and my burden."

"I can never be as carefree as that gentleman, but I am equally happy with it."

Under the moonlight, the man's eyes shone like stars, revealing an unquestionable will and determination.

Yes, he's always so powerful...

Talina couldn't help but smile—this man was always so powerful, always sharp and assertive, it was hard to imagine that he would have a weak side... Just imagining it made her feel inexplicable, like someone thinking about the risk of a whale being bitten to death by ants.

He was an exceptional warrior and commander, with thousands of soldiers fighting under his command, destroying cities and crushing enemies at his will, dragging piece after piece of land into the flames of war.

However, he was also a benevolent ruler who would focus on the suffering of the lower classes and spare no effort in using his wisdom and ability to effectively solve these problems.

He is also a determined warrior with his own views on the world, his country, and people, and he is not stingy in taking action to implement them.

Such people are like a blazing fire in the darkness, always attracting lost travelers to them, and always standing out anywhere, becoming leaders of people with almost cruelty, attracting a lot of attention to them.

Am I already attracted to him? ...

In the darkness, Tarina's face flushed slightly, and she quickly turned her head to hide it. The answer was self-evident... The fact that she was still here was the best proof that she was far more than just a desperate person who had lost her family.

"ask you a question."

A deep, aggressive voice came from the side, startling Talina. It was as if something hidden deep inside her had been suddenly grabbed and placed in the sunlight. She froze for a moment before slowly turning her head.

Tersolius looked up at the distant city; even at night, the bombardment of the catapults had not stopped.

"How long do you think this city can hold on, doctor?"

A familiar warmth suddenly welled up in Tarina's heart, along with a little excitement and joy—Doctor… This title held a profound meaning for her. From their first meeting until now, he had addressed her as Doctor most of the time, as if it were some unspoken agreement that would never change.

The girl, whose mood had suddenly improved, looked up and began to observe the city. Looking at the collapsed towers, the shattered battlements, and the cracks in the city walls, she quickly drew her own conclusion:

"The damage to the city wall has reached a dangerous point. If it is not repaired in time, structural damage will occur within a week at most, causing devastating consequences... Of course, even if repairs can be made, the effect will probably be limited. The city wall is currently in a stage where it is neither easy to reinforce nor can it be continuously deteriorating."

"A very accurate assessment. Your siege skills are indeed excellent. Passatlu even said he had nothing more to teach you. Perhaps I can entrust you with the responsibility of a complete siege?"

"J."

Talina's face fell, her reluctance evident in her expression, as she stared at Tersolius with a look of regret.

"I already have a lot of work to do, and I have to be responsible for so many things... Please leave the professional matters to the professionals, otherwise I really can't handle it. Or are you expecting me to die from overwork in front of you one day?"

Even Tersolius felt a little embarrassed under that gaze, coughed twice, and then smiled and said:

"It was indeed my oversight... The main reason is that your intelligence and talent have exceeded my expectations. You can learn everything so well... With such a talent under your command, I believe any commander would be willing to entrust you with important responsibilities, but I overlooked the fact that the tasks you can undertake are also limited... From now on, you will only be responsible for coordinating the data and managing the logistics. Leave everything else to your subordinates and free up your time. I also need your advice."

Tarina's face flushed instantly, and she involuntarily lowered her head, saying shyly:

"You flatter me, sir. It's not really that..."

"You're a little too easy to understand, doctor..."

Tersolius looked at his chief advisor with a wry smile:

"You're easily fooled by others, and you're easily pleased by sweet talk. That's not a sign of composure."

"But you wouldn't lie to me, sir."

Tesorius paused for a moment...:

"But I can use sweet talk."

"It's okay, I enjoy listening to it too..."

…………

His expression changed slightly; he raised his hand briefly, then lowered it again somewhat blankly, finally coughing and standing up.

"It's time to rest. Be careful, this is not a safe area. Even in the army camp, beware of spies and traitors. I will send more people to the vicinity."

Tarina kept her head down, and after a long while, a faint sound, like the buzzing of a mosquito, came out:

"Ah."

………………

With a simple whistle, the Tersolius hounds immediately scattered and returned to their dens, which were made of sturdy wooden planks, a few inches off the ground to insulate them from the cold and dampness of the ground. Inside, they were lined with soft straw and covered with warm cotton wool, which kept them warm and comfortable even in the cold season.

The lead dog has sharp ears, long limbs, and a powerful waist. Wounds of varying sizes and lengths cover its neck and chest, like medals of honor, marking the achievements of this agile creature.

As the largest of the three, it naturally had the most comfortable and enormous den. Just as it was about to use its long, pointed snout to part the fur curtain that shielded it from the cold wind, it suddenly stopped. Its long, pointed ears stood upright on its head and turned around. The corners of its mouth began to curl up and pull, revealing sharp teeth, and a threatening growl came from its throat.

The hounds immediately realized that their leader had noticed something, stopped their journey back to their dens, and began to gather around their leader.

The lead dog wrinkled its nose, shook its head from side to side, and desperately tried to distinguish every scent in the air, maintaining a state of complete focus and alertness. For this excellent hunting dog, in this state, it could detect even a cricket crawling through the grass, and no movement of the wind or grass could escape its senses. No matter how cunning and ferocious the beast, it would have nowhere to hide.

But as time ticked by, it still found nothing. The dangerous and foul smell it had just caught seemed to be just an illusion. No matter how hard it tried to use its sensitive nose, it couldn't detect anything.

But the dog refused to give up and began to wander around restlessly, sticking its nose into the weeds on the ground to explore for more scents. The other hunting dogs were doing the same thing, and they soon explored every corner of the area.

Only when they were sure they hadn't noticed anything further did the hounds disperse and return to the house, leaving only the lead dog still unwilling to give up its suspicions, raising its head and circling around.

A sense of responsibility made it unable to tolerate a deadly threat appearing near the pack, but the fruitless reconnaissance left it helpless. Only when the moon was high in the sky, casting its clear light upon the earth, did the lead dog finally have to return to the den and go to sleep with constant vigilance.

………………

The siege towers have reached the final stage of construction.

A strong and capable craftsman used a plane to push and pull the wooden beam in front of him, turning the rough and uneven parts of the wood into pieces of shavings that fell off until it met the required specifications.

His responsibility was to ensure the structural integrity and stability of the siege towers. They had to be in place to prevent them from collapsing, breaking, or falling apart, even in the face of violent turbulence and impacts. Such a failure would have disastrous consequences, wiping out the entire army on the towers. No one would dare to bear such a responsibility, and even the thought of it would send chills down their spine.

The heavy iron reinforcements are crucial to ensuring the tower is not severely damaged by catapult attacks. They often require the cooperation of several people to install securely. Now, they have entered the final stage. As a large triangular iron component, as long as a calf, as thick as a finger, and as wide as a palm, was installed into a complex structure, he finally breathed a sigh of relief and began to personally inspect it.

Next, this behemoth will undergo final testing to ensure it won't be damaged by the bumps along the way, and it will be covered with damp rawhide to protect it from enemy rockets.

Almost everyone believed that the day the siege tower was completed would be the day the city succumbed to the empire's sword...

251 Siege (5)

He will be satisfied with that.

The corners of his mouth involuntarily turned up, confirming the fact from the bottom of his heart. The joy and happiness overflowing from his heart made him pat his toes lightly, and his elbows and waist also began to move slightly, as if he would be dancing here in the next instant.

This was a cause for celebration—his creation had made a safe and sound stroll through the Imperial army's camp, then slipped out to bring him invaluable intelligence, which no mortal had noticed during the process. The information it contained was enough to make him cheer with joy, and finally, at this last moment, it cleared the final obstacle for him.

The city had been ravaged. The towers and walls, once teeming with catapults and giant crossbows, were now riddled with holes. Shattered bricks and piles of corpses were everywhere. Whenever the howling of death echoed through the sky, the soldiers would panic and scramble for cover, like a flock of chickens terrified by the shadow cast by an eagle's wings.

Their morale, like blood flowing from a slit throat, was gradually seeping into the earth; their courage, like boiling soup in a cauldron, was turning into steam and disappearing. They were tormented and damaged along with their comrades, who were repeatedly crushed and riddled with bullets, and whose cities were left riddled with holes and utterly ruined.

The Empire's offensive was so terrifying that they didn't even send a single soldier to attack the city walls. They brought the defenses to the brink of collapse simply by using their terrifying catapults and other war machines. The city walls and towers that would make other lords sigh and get frustrated were as fragile as rotten wood in front of those terrifying heavy catapults.

The count's cheeks were sunken; in just a few days, the torment he had suffered had surpassed all that had come before. He had never faced such a hopeless enemy... His once proud city was riddled with holes, crumbling and collapsing.

The lords and armies gathered in the city were losing their courage and determination. More and more people began to complain about the king's decision. They would always talk at once with indignant expressions, saying what methods they could use to resist the powerful enemy, as if the same person had cheered and raised his hands in support of the decision. But this made him unable to even smile.

He dared not imagine what it would be like when the Empire launched its attack. The towering siege tower in the distance was being perfected day by day, becoming stronger each day than the day before, like a sharp sword being forged, impurities removed, its edge honed, and a hilt fitted, becoming perfect before him. And this sword would cut deeply into his heart... Today was the day that sword would be put to use.

Looking at the imperial soldiers who had begun to form ranks in the distance of the city, he felt his mouth was incredibly dry, as if he had just swallowed a mouthful of sand, and he coughed deeply.

He was no match for Thesolius… no, to be precise, he had never been that man’s match. Thesolius’s match was always the country itself, and his enemies were all the rulers of that country… He had realized this from the very beginning.

Despite the difficulties, he persevered for a week as agreed with that person, even though the soldiers were already quite resentful and morale was low, and the lords were half-hearted and harboring resentment over the losses they had suffered.

Now, it's time for the other party to fulfill their promise.