Armored Cavalry, survive in a world full of mods

261 Cities and Laws of the Empire (2)

The empire's army is being mobilized. A city has just fallen to them, and these insatiable soldiers are already eager to trample their iron hooves on other fertile lands and continue their conquests, as if their passion is like the boiling lava in a volcano, maintaining a terrifying heat capable of melting iron at every moment.

Wave after wave of scouts risked their lives to continuously probe the surrounding area, but the vast majority were discovered, driven away, and eliminated by the patrolling light cavalry within a very short time. Every possible, albeit dubious, piece of intelligence was exchanged for countless lives. If the battle between the two armies were likened to a death match in a ring, then the Hols were now as if they had been blinded by a heavy punch, only able to vaguely see some chaotic light and shadow, completely unable to see where their opponent was going to strike next, and were in an extremely passive position.

After securing Toracasi, the key transportation hub of the Kingdom of Hols, the imperial army, under the orders of Tesolius, split into three parts and launched attacks in three directions. They aimed to take advantage of the Hols' recent crushing defeat and their agonizing pain to plunder them and feed their war-hungry hunger.

Tersolius knew very well that there was another hidden danger lurking in the shadows that could not be ignored: the southern kingdom of Asel could not remain silent forever. Their Shah was not the kind of fool who did not understand the principle of mutual dependence; this wealthy and prosperous kingdom was worth his vigilance.

Therefore, before obtaining more accurate intelligence, he made a relatively conservative choice and did not allow his army to launch an overly aggressive attack. Even though the Hols were now nothing more than skeletons in a tomb and fish in a net to him, and he was only left to be beaten, he was not prepared to devour the feast in front of him all at once.

The Hols' role on the stage is almost over, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, they are unlikely to have another chance to appear. Before they are completely wiped out, the Asel will surely react, as long as they do not want to lose their northern barrier and expose their rich coastal oases and plains to the Empire.

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

The army's march began at dawn and would continue for a considerable time. The noise of people shouting and horses neighing, along with the flickering lights, accompanied the residents' dinner time. The city's control became increasingly tight to prevent any malicious individuals from deliberately causing chaos during this period.

The city's residents experienced a not-too-drastic change today—they were divided into small units according to the distribution of their houses, with the men of each household becoming heads of households, and ten households forming a team. From among them, a capable and shrewd person was chosen as the team leader, who was responsible for spreading the empire's laws and policies to others on a daily basis, and also for organizing people to participate in military training at fixed times each year.

This greatly surprised and excited the city's residents... because in the past, such a position meant a lucrative post and a power that placed one above others, something that ordinary people like them could never attain.

In a short time, all sorts of chaotic phenomena emerged. Many people thought this was a rare opportunity to rise to the top overnight and become one of those who could bully and oppress others. But after all their scheming, they discovered that things were far from as easy as they had imagined...

First, to become the captain, one must be proficient in understanding the basic laws of the empire, comprehend the principles upon which they will depend for their livelihood, and abide by the new order.

Secondly, although this position provides a certain amount of money each month, which adds up to a considerable income over a year, their rights are very limited, but the tasks they have to perform are anything but simple, and the responsibilities they bear are no less demanding.

They were the structural framework of the imperial city's rule and a key node in the implementation of laws and policies. If anyone in the team was born, grew old, became sick, or died, they had to report it truthfully. Any situation that occurred—such as plague, unusual deaths, murder, or fights—had to be addressed promptly. They also had to organize the men from every household to participate in military training every year in a fixed month, according to the orders of their superiors.

In general, it's not as good as some people think—that they can use it to seek personal gain and have the power to do whatever they want in certain places. Although they can indeed get money, they also bear heavy responsibilities.

Moreover, due to time and efficiency issues, the appointment of the team leader is quite direct and cannot be disobeyed; one can only accept it. Generally, the team leader is chosen from among the ten households who is the most law-abiding and also has some ability.

As for Ark, he himself couldn't figure out whether this was a good thing or a bad thing... The good thing was that he had really become someone who could manage others, while the bad thing was that he now needed to familiarize himself with the basic laws of the Empire, which were printed on a kind of flexible and thin paper.

He was just a bread seller, so of course he couldn't possibly recognize the Imperial script... He often needed someone to read it to him, and then he would try his best to memorize it... Of course, if he could read himself, he could learn and memorize it directly, which would be even better.

On the 3rd and 5th of each week, someone in the city would teach them the basic script of the Empire. He went only once, and he felt dizzy and drowsy. It felt more torturous than doing hard labor. He felt that every letter was like an annoying wasp flying around his head, occasionally stabbing his scalp with poisonous stings. His whole head felt like it was about to explode.

He longed to quit this arduous job and go back to selling his bread, but after just a few days, even the hard work of carrying sacks of flour seemed acceptable to him.

But Doris strongly opposed his idea of ​​giving up.

“Honey, don’t let the hardship fool you. This is a fantastic opportunity for us. Don’t give up just because of a little hardship. All those shrewd people are eyeing this position.”

"What kind of good opportunity is this? We'd be better off focusing on our own business...maybe we can even expand our store. Anyway, those bastards from the Blind Gang are all dead, so nobody's bothering us anymore."

"How can you be so slow-witted! What's the use of having a big shop if you don't have any power? You can't expect everyone to give you whatever they want! Have you forgotten why Blind Eyes dared to be so arrogant back then? Wasn't it because the patrol team captain was backing him up?! Listen to me, we'll do it like this..."

Shaking his head to clear the conversation from yesterday's mind, Ark roused himself and forced himself to focus on the large, black-lacquered wooden board on the platform, where an elderly imperial man with a shiny head and a thick beard was writing with a soft pen made of lime and putty.

With his wife's full support, Yak was able to come here to study. Having been persuaded by Doris, he finally calmed down and began to study diligently under the old man's gratified gaze with a serious attitude that was completely different from others.

………………

Human will is a highly variable thing, with both its upper and lower limits being extremely exaggerated. A person with a strong will can endure all kinds of torture without uttering a single word, while a weak person will reveal everything they know after just a couple of threats.

This has a lot to do with a person's personality. Calm people are always more able to endure pain than impulsive people. The methods to destroy a person's will and determination are also a unique kind of knowledge and experience, which can also be called a kind of knowledge.

Brazilian César Roth could confidently assert that he was one of the greatest masters of this field… Countless sinners had cried out and collapsed under his control, and each time he was able to achieve his goal, after plundering everything of value, he would bestow upon the sinners the torment and death they deserved.

His fingers were so steady that he could catch a mosquito in mid-air without crushing it, and he could also break a strong man's neck as easily as twisting a tree branch.

Now, these two fingers are holding a small silver knife, cutting through the barriers of skin, fat, and muscle, avoiding the important blood vessels that could cause massive bleeding, observing the exposed bone structure with a sense of inquiry and curiosity.

This is a scholarly attitude, a passionate observation and analysis of the unknown. Just like a scholar who has spent his life studying medicine, upon discovering the possibility that a certain plant can cure intractable diseases, he will naturally burst forth with enthusiasm and devote himself wholeheartedly to it.

Of course, this ignores the fact that what he was peeling away was not some ordinary plant or animal, but a living person.

The spasming muscles can sometimes even clamp down on the blade; the intense pain is enough to destroy an ordinary person's sanity. To be precise, an ordinary person would collapse upon seeing themselves about to be treated this way, rather than watching themselves being slowly torn apart…

As the blade slowly rotated and parted the fascia along the bone, the violently twitching muscles clamped the blade again, and a muffled wail sounded from the side, but it was suppressed so hard that it was extremely faint, like a mosquito flying past the ear.

“Don’t do that, sir, relax. You’re getting in my way. You see, because of what you just did, I accidentally tore the fascia. This is not good for my research on how these newly grown bones connect…”

Brazilian Saiyarus frowned in displeasure, like a doctor examining a patient who was not following medical advice, only to be met with another burst of desperate struggle and low sobs.

He should have continued using snake venom to stop the sinner's actions, but Brazil's César deliberately didn't. This wasn't just to instill the deepest despair in the sinner, but more importantly, to make him realize the concrete results and progress of his work… He knew very well how such a vicious and ruthless person would react.

What he needed to do now was to make this sinner understand that he was not in a hurry to get some dubious or uncertain information from him, but rather to study him, torture him, and plunge him into the most miserable and desperate situation, where all he could do was struggle to survive.

"Alright, stop moving. There's only your left leg left... Let me see if it's structured the same as your other limbs. Hmm... There are three joints in total, and there's one extra here. Let's start with the knee. The gap at the top should be similar to that of your right leg."

“There are five more tendons here than in a normal person… The changes on the side—oh, they actually grew from these two tendons! That’s amazing, even after removing the main body, these bones and limbs still maintain their activity.”

"To be honest, sir, you should thank Dr. Talina. If she hadn't safely and easily removed that thing from your brain, I might have had to resort to some more brutal methods, which you certainly wouldn't want to see, because those methods would have been too crude for me."

The sound of a blade scraping against bone was chilling. In this terrifying atmosphere, an extremely faint sigh, like someone being choked, rose up:

"Stop, sir! Stop! I'll tell you whatever you want to know."

"Of course you can say that, I didn't gag you..."

Brazilian Saiyaros didn't stop what he was doing and continued working:

"But as you can see, I have things to do right now, so please make yourself at home."

"Aaaaaaah! Ughhhh!! You're a madman! You're all madmen! All of you Imperials are madmen!"

The sinner could no longer bear it and squeezed out a desperate, fearful, and frantic scream from his throat. His eyes were red as if he had gone mad and he almost pounced on him to tear him apart.

"I'm willing to tell you, I'm willing to tell you anything! You madman, stop it now! What do you want to know? Why don't you ask? Why!!"

"Stop cutting! Stop cutting! Why are you still cutting?! Didn't you hear me? I'll tell you everything!—"

"As I said, you are certainly welcome to express your opinions, and I am happy to listen, but my research is not over yet... at least it will not end until I am satisfied, and I will judge the extent of that myself."

"You're a madman! You inhuman bastard... Waaaaah!..."

Desperate cries echoed throughout the cell. Brazil's Saiyarro knew the time was right, so he silently increased the pressure on his hands, a smirk playing on his lips beneath the iron mask.

"Wait! Hiss! Ah! Our highest holy seat is the representative of the Lord of All Wisdom on Earth! Uh! These enhanced insects on our bodies were specially bred by insect masters, and the one in charge of the southern region is the Protia Ambassador! And also..."

262 Gathering and the People of the North (Part 1)

"I'm telling the truth! I'm really not lying to you! Ah! Uh!"

"Oh, really? Then you should be able to tell me what the Venerable One of Supreme Knowledge and the Lord of All Wisdom are? That's not what we learned from your previous colleague. Perhaps you're still trying to play some trick on me?"

"I'm not lying to you! How can mortals define His existence!? Whether it's the Supreme Being of Knowledge, the Lord of All Governance, or the God of Conspiracy... these are just honorific titles for Him!"

"That does sound reasonable... Hey, what do you think would happen if I pulled this tendon over from here?"

"...You damn lunatic!! Ah!!!"

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

The agonizing howls and roars in the cell continued throughout the day, only subsiding as dusk approached. Brazil's Saiyaros, having obtained everything he desired, finally ceased his actions with a sense of dejection.

"I've dislocated the major tendons in his hands and feet. You all need to take good care of him and make sure he doesn't die. Feed him when he needs to eat and give him water when he needs to drink. I might have to come back again."

Two jailers bowed respectfully beside him, while the criminals bound to the wooden frame were pale and too weak to even scream. Looking at them for even a moment felt like an eyesore to the horrific scene.

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

The fermented dough becomes fluffy and soft. You can see the dense air pockets inside when you gently tear it apart, and you can smell the sour smell that is unique to fermented flour. This is the best time to make soft bread.

The oven temperature has reached the target. Divide and knead the dough, then put it into the oven one by one. These are the most delicate breads, with butter and sugar added, and they are the softest and sweetest when baked.

Of course, the best-selling bread here is the kind that's as big as a pillow, enough to last for several days. It's a staple food for the locals and is easier to bake, but it still requires just as much effort.

Making bread may not seem like a physically demanding job, but only those who have actually done it know that it requires just as much physical strength, especially kneading that huge dough. People with less strength simply have no way to handle this soft, heavy, and resilient material.

But Doris still managed to finish her work steadily. Her shoulders were broader than those of an average man, and she was strong enough to handle the task that usually required a strong man. After baking the bread, she placed it on the counter, coated it with a layer of dry flour, and then it was ready to be sold.

Many people get up early and wait outside, just to get the first batch of bread in the morning, which is the softest and most delicious. If it cools down a little, the taste will be greatly reduced.

The city is recovering, returning to its former daily life from the shadow of war—something everyone can see. Pedestrians are back on the streets, shops are reopening, and the city gates are opening, with farmers and herders from nearby villages and towns starting to come and sell meat and vegetables.

In a very short time, the city's residents had already learned to adapt to the Empire's rules and understood that as long as they followed the order, no disaster would befall them. Moreover, they had long since run out of food at home and could not survive no matter how hard they tried.

First, some people tentatively appeared on the streets outside. Then, after discovering that they were not actually going to be hacked to death by the soldiers, more and more people emerged. The residents of the city were not like the farmers in the countryside. They had to work to earn their food every day. If they didn't work for a few days, they would go hungry. After confirming that they were really safe, they naturally became bolder.

Today is also the first time that Doris's bakery has opened since the city was besieged. The flour was just brought in yesterday, and we've been busy since midnight until now, finally putting out the steaming hot bread.

Residents lined up to receive bread from him; most of them were neighbors, or at least people they recognized and could talk to, and they would chat for a bit while buying bread.

Her husband, Yak, was not in the bakery, which naturally aroused some curiosity. Whenever this happened, she would laugh it off and continue selling her bread.

Business was quite good, even better than at its peak. The bread was selling even faster. Before noon, even the last few small loaves were sold out, allowing us to close up shop early. We also had to prepare the ingredients for baking bread tomorrow in the afternoon.

A squad of armored soldiers patrolled the streets. Their silver chainmail gleamed with a well-maintained sheen, and their red lined jackets were finely stitched, fitting snugly and keeping them warm, so they were not afraid even in the early winter wind. Most of them carried only short weapons, while a few wore small shields on their left arms, ready to deal with crimes in the city at any time.

Just a few days ago, people feared them like tigers. Now, although they still dared not approach them easily, the fear that was etched into their bones like mice seeing cats was gone. They all knew very well that these soldiers would only punish those who violated the laws of the empire. Their every word and action carried the aura of iron and blood. They were never merciful, nor were they ever excessive.

In the past, most of the gangs, big and small, in the city have been wiped out. Those who are quick-witted and understand the situation can keep a low profile, while those who are stupid and arrogant still have their heads hanging on the wooden poles at the north gate of the city, and they have been frequently changed in the past few days.

With these ubiquitous gangs gone, the city's residents have been organized into units like an army, and their lives have become completely different... But so far, there seem to be no problems, and they are even living more comfortably than before.

At least now, no one will come to every shop every month to extort money. If anyone disobeys, they will use all sorts of insidious means to ruin the family. People will no longer avoid those dark alleys like tigers, nor will they deliberately avoid those dark and terrifying names in conversation.

Two boys came over to help their mother, pouring large bags of flour into a wooden basin, creating a cloud of dust. Then they added water and kneaded the dough until they were sweating profusely. Finally, they kneaded in the old dough that they had deliberately saved, and then waited for the dough to ferment before baking bread for the next day.

The sound of the door opening was a bit harsh, caused by the lack of lubrication on the wooden hinges, but they were all used to it, and there was an added benefit—everyone in the house could hear it whenever someone pushed the door open.

Yak walked in looking tired, but with an excited look on his face. He greeted everyone as soon as he entered. A bald old man with a peaceful face and a thick beard followed him in, wearing a long robe that was mainly white with blue and red accents.

"Please come in, teacher! This is my home. Please don't mind that it's simple. Sit down and have a drink."

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

The bottom of the wine glass tapped gently on the counter, splashing the amber liquid inside and wetting my wrist. It released a rich aroma of wine, mixed with the sweetness of honey.

Drinking is a widespread phenomenon in all aspects of human civilization. No matter where you are, there are always people who can discover the pleasure that alcoholic beverages can bring and begin to pursue this feeling.

After all, life is full of sorrow and hardship, and the poorest people live in even greater poverty. A glass of wine becomes a cheap and practical form of entertainment that they can afford.

For those in positions of power and influence, the ultimate pursuit is the ultimate in flavor.

The Earl's former mansion, in its baby-dried storeroom, once contained a great many fine wines, both in barrels and bottles, a dazzling array that suggested he was once a connoisseur of wine, hence his rich collection, all of which has now become Tersolius's spoils.

"Speaking of which, wasn't it you who beheaded the count of this city?"

Taking another sip, Tersolius inquired with interest about Karila beside him. The Rigut girl had already drunk her sixth cup and didn't seem drunk at all, as if she were drinking hot water with two spoonfuls of honey instead of aged spirits.

Upon hearing Tersolius's words, Carila put down her cup, frowned, thought for a moment, and then gave an affirmative answer:

"That's right, I remember it very clearly. This guy was quite skilled and had a lot of courage. He was a decent warrior. While everyone else was running for their lives, he drew his sword and stood in front of me... At that time, I felt like he was asking for death."

"That's not surprising. After all, not everyone could bear the scene of everything falling apart and the situation collapsing. Moreover, this was his city, a place that his family had built up over countless generations. Without it, he would be nothing. He had lost his territory, his soldiers, and even his city... just like a tribe that loses its territory will surely have its people starve to death."

Colin also took a big gulp, but his speed was still far slower than Carila's, which was still normal, since most people can't just chug strong liquor into their mouths like they're drinking water.

The stopper on the wooden barrel next to it was pried open with a sword, and a long-handled wooden ladle was used to scoop out the wine. Together with a few wine glasses placed here, which were intricately carved from white porcelain and gilded bone pieces, this made up a rather simple wine party.

"Is that the sword?"

Tersolius refers to a gold-plated curved sword at Carila's waist, exquisitely carved and ornately decorated, with a delicate eagle's head carved at the end of the hilt, covered in light black fish skin, and the gilded brass guard gleaming even in the dim light, clearly indicating that its previous owner must have been a person of high status.

"Yes, this is it. I chopped his shoulder open with one axe and slit his throat with another. His sword had just touched my chest when this thing fell into my hands. Although it was a bit too light for me, it was quite sturdy."

"show me."

Thesolius reached out and took the curved sword, stroking the rubies and sapphires inlaid on the hilt, and then gently drew the sword from its sheath:

"This looks like a weapon with family heritage. It has been out of the craftsman's hands for many years, and this smooth surface has appeared on the blade... The blade is in very good condition. This design takes into account both piercing and ensuring the effectiveness of slashing and dragging. It is indeed worthy of his status."

He twirled the sword in his hand a couple more times, then sheathed it and tossed it back to Karila.

"It's just that the blade has been worn down to a wreck by you, it's too rough... This thing is different from an axe, it requires more patience."

“So I still prefer using an axe…” Karila smacked her lips, looking at Talina next to her with a frown, while she quickly poured herself another cup—at least 40% of the half-bucket they drank was thanks to this guy.

"It works perfectly fine with just a little sharpening, unlike these swords and knives, which are light and easily broken, and even sharpening them requires so much effort. Who has that kind of patience..."

"If you're too lazy to clean up, just leave it to the craftsmen. Don't forget you're my chief. You need to learn how to use the power you have. What you're facing now isn't some small skirmish, but a real war. There's no room for carelessness in many things."

"Ah, I see, I see. I was just thinking of getting two more new axes. I'll ask about them another day... Hey, maybe I can get a long axe too! There are many warriors in my hometown who are very good at using this, and it's even more effective against shields."

Karila unconsciously licked her lips, feeling nostalgic for the mead from her hometown, her father who always carried a long axe and had a rough, hearty laugh, and the icy plains where even grass barely grew and the fat, strong bears that roamed there.

"When we have time in the future, I'll treat you to honey wine from my hometown. My mom is the best at making this. It's different from these watery wines. Well-made honey wine has the same thick texture as real honey, and you won't feel cold all day after drinking it."

Talina, whose cheeks were already flushed from drinking, glanced at her helplessly, carefully took the last sip, and then placed her glass under the table—meaning she didn't need anyone to refill her glass.

"You'd better drink less. Drinking too much alcohol will affect your nerves. If you drink too much, your hands will shake so badly that you won't even be able to hold a wine glass... let alone use your axe."