Armored Cavalry, survive in a world full of mods

"This involves some issues of mental and magical control, which is also a considerable test for me. I am far from being able to control it as easily as I control my own arms and fingers."

“That’s a bit of a shame. I was planning to give it a try... I bet my generals would be terrified to hear my voice coming from a bird’s beak, and maybe even... I suddenly realized they would most likely think it was some kind of evil witchcraft and shoot the little guy dead.”

He finally stopped "torturing" Talina's magical creature, and the girl carefully took it from his hand, reminding Tersolius of the first time he got his own cell phone... Back then, he would turn on the light in the middle of the night to check if there were any new scratches on it.

"Have my staff not arrived yet? I don't remember them all becoming a bunch of lazybones."

After a brief period of playful banter, Tersolius finally got down to business and received Talina's answer in an instant:

"They're still on their way. After all, there are many logistical and transportation issues they need to resolve, and as you know, sir, the road conditions here are terrible, so it will definitely be slower than expected."

"Then let's wait a bit...maybe we can use this time to get something to eat?"

"Ok!"

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

"I want to dig a canal from this area of ​​Cape Habaros to Lake Sador, so that the Imperial fleet can sail all the way in, and even reach the Sea of ​​Us."

Upon hearing this, several of the staff members who were munching on crispy pancakes inhaled the crumbs and coughed violently, their faces turning red. Others, doubting their ears, chewed on half a pancake, trying to make sense of what was happening.

This loss of composure stemmed solely from the utter absurdity of Thesorius's words, which struck them as if someone had suddenly appeared and told them...

Humans can grow wings and fly in the sky.

"Sir, are you serious..."

"...This is indeed feasible!"

Just as one of his aides calmed himself down and voiced his question, a voice suddenly broke the silence beside him, interrupting his train of thought. Confused, he turned to look at his colleague... only to find this scholar from the Imperial Library intently studying a map on the wall, his fingers and lips trembling with an extreme emotion...

“We should have noticed this sooner! This area in the southwest is now under our control, and the obstacles of the past are gone... It is indeed feasible to dig a canal from here, so that our fleet can travel down the rivers within the Empire, through Lake Sador into the Barbilo River, and all the way to the Sea of ​​Us south of Hols.”

"In this way, we can bypass the Atherans' tight blockade at the eastern sea entrance and sail our fleet directly to the Hols' rear!"

The other staff members finally realized what was going on. After all, they were all quick-witted and experienced, and after a little thought, they all understood what the scholar meant. They were immediately taken aback by this sudden and huge surprise.

"This distance is a bit long, but it's totally worth it in the long run! It's even enough for us to temporarily halt our offensive and invest more resources and manpower here... This will make the conquest of the entire south much smoother..."

Now, everyone was restless and swarmed around the map, looking at the inconspicuous bumps and depressions in that corner, as well as the dots and lines representing rivers and lakes.

"Alright, alright, calm yourself down first." Tersolius finally spoke, drawing everyone's attention to him:

"Whether it will work or not is not something we can figure out by just pointing at this map here. Ultimately, we need to conduct a thorough on-site survey and let engineers and scholars come up with a solution. Right now, this is just a concept, so don't get too excited. It may not be so easy to implement."

"Before that, I need your advice to solve a new problem—"

278. Idea (2)

"It seems that even goddesses are blessing me."

This is an arrogant statement, delivered with a self-righteous tone, as if the gods were obligated to bless him, making him invincible and ensuring everything went smoothly for him.

But when he uttered these words, they only elicited cheers and praises from those around him, simply because he was Thesolius, and he was entitled to say such things; he was entitled to be proud and powerful, and to be invincible.

The engineers and scholars who went to survey the terrain and geology have returned, and they have given an affirmative answer—digging a canal is no problem at all, and there are no particularly difficult geological conditions along the way. As long as an entire engineering legion is sent, it will not be long before the Empire's warships can sail into the rivers of the southern lands.

This excited many scholars. Many were already impatient and began whispering about the potential problems ahead, making further route plans. Engineers also joined in, spreading out large sheets of white parchment on the flat rocks, enthusiastically exchanging ideas and drawing drafts.

"Order: The Fourth and Fifth Southern Engineering Corps shall depart immediately for Kurgu territory to oversee the excavation of the canal. I want to see them begin work within a week."

The scholar beside him quickly copied down his orders, then repeated them to confirm they were correct before handing them to the waiting messenger. The group consisted of five people, each riding swiftly and carrying light swords, and in the blink of an eye, they disappeared into the distance, leaving a trail of dust.

"Order: The Fifth Legion to cease its offensive, defend Alcazar Castle and the surrounding area, construct fortifications, and ensure that the canal project is not disturbed in any way."

"Order: The Sixth Legion shall launch an offensive against the Duchy of Rostow and advance the front line to the left flank of Bolis Mountain."

"Order………………"

One instruction after another flowed smoothly from his mouth without a moment's pause, clearly indicating that he had already given it thought and was simply issuing the orders at this moment.

Sheets of parchment were sealed in clay, wrapped with gold thread, sealed with sealing wax, and placed in barrels made of cowhide wrapped in hardwood shells. Escorted by messengers, they sped away along the main road to ensure safety. Euryedos's light cavalry legion also began to intensify its sweeping efforts, eliminating the nearby scoundrels.

A new phase of the war has begun, and steel and fire are destined to till this land once again...

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

“I am aware of your country’s Shah’s intentions. Since Asele does not want to maintain peace with the Empire and hopes to talk to us with swords and blood, then the Empire will naturally not refuse… However, I hope that your country has considered the consequences of your declaration of war.”

"Your Majesty the Emperor of the Empire, I, a lowly man, must reiterate the will of our Shah—the King of the Kingdom of Hols has submitted a request for alliance to our Your Majesty Shah. This country is now under the protection of Asel. All we ask of the Empire is that it cease its attacks so that the Hols nation may not perish, not that we be enemies of the Empire."

"Of course, the people of the land of yellow sands have never been afraid of bloodshed, much less of achieving their goals through force. If we cannot protect our loyal allies through negotiation, then using swords to achieve our goals is also a perfectly reasonable choice."

“Oh, then I regret to inform you… The Empire will continue to increase its military presence in the south until the Empire’s will is fulfilled. I will have pity on anyone who opposes us, for what they will face is far beyond their imagination.”

The magnificent scepter struck heavily on the hard stone slab. The emperor of the empire, his face as cold as frost, uttered his answer word by word. Above the golden throne, the sharp beak and talons of the golden double-headed eagle were poised to tear apart the foolish enemy who dared to challenge him.

Sunlight streamed through the stained glass ceiling of the throne room, refracting across the gleaming surface and making the enormous banners shimmer with iridescent light. It polished the armor of the guards until it gleamed, and made the sharp swords and spears flash with a blinding glint.

“Go and tell your emperor that as long as he gets involved in the war in the south, he will get the war, and enough war until he no longer needs it.”

The emperor rose and stormed off, the sound of gold flakes rubbing against silk like some creature sharpening its claws, leaving behind only cold and oppressive words.

………………

The weather is cold, and everyone needs warm clothes in this season, especially in the imperial capital near the north, where a thin layer of snow that covers boots has already covered the area. The cold brought by the melting snow is even more biting. People on the streets and alleys are already wearing warm clothes. Two layers of cotton cloth plus soft cotton sewn in the middle with fine thread can make the short cotton robes that the people of the empire use to keep warm in winter.

The cotton-padded coats provided to the front-line legions had been prepared long ago and sent to the south, before the leaves had even completely fallen. This ensured that the imperial soldiers could maintain sufficient combat power even in the cold season. Every victory they achieved would be reported to the city after a period of time, causing the citizens to cheer, discuss, and celebrate time and time again.

Of course, there will always be those who try to line their own pockets and seek personal gain. Some of them are not stupid, but they cannot resist the huge temptation. At this time, someone needs to tell them that there will be a price to pay for doing so.

In the western part of the city, in a crowded square, the soldiers of the garrison had set up an open space. In the open space, a high platform was erected, and on the platform stood a log. A naked man was tied to the log and was shivering in the cold wind.

An officer was holding a parchment and loudly announcing the man's crimes. Every time he finished announcing a crime, the onlookers would gasp and curse. However, the soldiers prevented them from throwing stones to beat the prisoner, lest the criminal be beaten to death before being tortured.

"...He embezzled 1642 gold coins, resulting in a large number of substandard items in the 16th batch of military uniforms. Considering the above crimes, this person is guilty of heinous crimes and cannot be forgiven. Even the most lenient mercy cannot be shown to him! According to the sacred laws of the Empire, he shall be executed by being cut in half at the waist!"

After the crime was read aloud, the parchment was nailed to the wooden notice board next to it. As the officer gave the order to carry out the execution, the executioner, holding a long axe, began to pull the mechanism under the log, laying the entire thick log on the ground, so that the criminal on it lay across the solid wood like a fish on a chopping board.

The sinner's expression finally changed, no longer the trembling numbness from before. In this final moment of life, the trembling intensified, but because of the tightly bound ropes, he could not move any part of his body except his waist, and could only watch helplessly as the gleaming crescent-bladed axe was raised high...

"Snap!! Splat! Sizzle... Sizzle!"

With a heavy swing of the axe blade, the sturdy arm endowed this terrifyingly heavy weapon with extreme lethality, slicing a man's thick waist in two as easily as cutting a pumpkin. There was no resistance whatsoever; only gushing blood, billowing steam, and exposed fat and internal organs, mixed with agonizing screams, rolled and flowed out.

This was undoubtedly an extremely gruesome way to die, because even after suffering this fatal injury, the prisoner did not die. He continued to scream loudly and powerfully, filling the ears of every onlooker with his voice, which frightened many people to the point of turning pale. One can imagine that it would be quite a while before he finally stopped breathing, and the pain he suffered during this process was indescribable.

Some of the closer men even had some unidentified liquid splashed on their faces. It was unclear whether it was mucus from internal organs, blood, or even feces... which caused them to hurriedly retreat.

"What terrible luck! Saratag, can you take a look at my face? Is there still something on it?"

An old man with a gray beard grumbled as he wiped his face. Even at his age, his shoulders were still broad and strong, making him look like a powerful black bear, despite his short stature. He was currently complaining to the bearded middle-aged man beside him:

"It's all your fault for insisting on coming to see this spectacle! Our village is so far away, we should have left sooner. Now you're covered in blood, and you look like you've never seen anyone kill before..."

Saratag looked at the old man with a hint of helplessness:

"You old codger didn't object either, did you? Don't think I can't see that you all want to see it... but we didn't expect this place to be so ruthless in killing people. We've only been here for three days and we've already killed several people."

"Those guys deserve to die."

A tall, thin man next to him stroked his beard and said with a sigh:

“If they embezzle the money, our young men fighting on the front lines will suffer from hunger and cold. They might even lose their lives because of this. They dared to do such a thing, so it's only right that they die such a terrible death.”

"Alright, alright, this place is lively, but we can't linger here forever. We still need to take our things back. Have we bought everything we needed?"

"I bought them all, I bought them all. That brat sent back quite a bit of money. This time I can buy more for the family... Although things are expensive here, the quality is really good. I can't find such beautiful boots anywhere else."

"Alright, alright, let's get going. If we stay here any longer, all the money the children sent back will be wasted. Quickly bring our mules over, we'll go out through the west gate."

As soon as Saratago finished speaking, the others began to pack up their belongings, hoisting the messy bags and packages on their shoulders. Then, each person led a mule with great speed, following the flow of people towards the west gate of the city.

Not only were they loaded with goods, but even the mules were laden with cargo, yet the weight was precisely controlled to ensure that the precious animals were not burdened too much.

Of course, people don't have this concern, since they can rest if they can't take it anymore. They can speak up and get help from others, so each of them carries a huge bundle on their back, which is very conspicuous from a distance, but they all look relaxed and at ease, as if they are carrying not a leather-wrapped bundle that looks like it could weigh down a man, but a big bag of cotton.

Are you just going to walk all the way back like this?

A passing merchant, unable to contain his curiosity, leaned over and asked them a question.

"That's right, just walk slowly. We only travel for half a day each day."

Saratag replied kindly, while raising his head slightly to look at the large clock swaying atop the tall tower in the distance.

"Why not put these things on the mules?"

"What if we overwork the livestock? We rely on this."

The merchant had nothing more to say in the end, his expression changed for a moment, and he went on his way.

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

Soft cotton fills soft cotton fabric, woven with the most delicate techniques to create a gentle, cloud-like texture, all for the two children who are perhaps the most distinguished in the country.

Ferhitala and Ikosaya, the two little ones, were wrapped up like cotton balls and were excited about what they saw in the cold season, kicking their little arms and legs and struggling and jumping in their mother's arms.

These are two healthy children, and their health is somewhat unexpected—they have never been sick or had any problems since they were born. They have grown up healthy and strong, their weight has been increasing, and they are full of energy. Even when they cry, their cries are much stronger and louder than those of babies of the same age, and they can wake up most of the people in the mansion in the middle of the night.

For a mother, this is undoubtedly a great happiness—seeing her own flesh and blood grow up healthily, showing the unique innocence and naivety of a child, as if she can imagine what they will be like when they grow up to be adults.

The two little ones were bickering again, pouting their little faces and trying to grab each other with their tiny, peach-sized hands. The older sister was clearly at a disadvantage, suppressed by her eager brother. The two little bundles of flesh were squeezed together and then pressed into their mother's soft bosom, making her giggle.

The winter wind felt exceptionally gentle to Christina at that moment, as if soft clouds were drifting across her face.

:………………

Meanwhile, an unassuming carriage slowly drove along the street and finally came to a steady stop at the gate. The emperor, dressed in plain clothes, lifted his robe and jumped down, walking briskly through the unobstructed gate.

279. Idea (3)

"Come and see! This is top-quality bronzeware from Prolis City in Miles, without a single pinhole. It shines like gold, is guaranteed to be watertight, and will look brand new even after decades of use."

"I'm looking to buy the best deer hides, thick and intact with no holes. I'll give you 20 silver coins for each one. You can ask around in the nearby towns. This is definitely a fair price."

"Don't listen to his nonsense. A first-class leather with thick, low-pile fur costs at least 25 silver coins! He's talking about the price of a second-class leather. I'll offer 24 silver coins."

"You damn bastard, you're deliberately trying to provoke me! Don't you think you're losing out by doing this?"

"Ah!"

"I buy all kinds of wild animal pelts, with Andalusian brown bear pelts being the best. I'll pay a high price for them, and if it's from an adult male bear, I can raise the price by another 20%!"

"Hey, do you think this one will do?"

"Your pelt has already been made into leg guards, what a pity... It looks like it belonged to a big male bear, now it's worthless, you've worn off a lot of the fur."

………………

Before them stretched a bustling market, where merchants from all over the empire peddled their goods or bought furs and medicinal herbs from the mountain people, exchanging their wares or gleaming coins. A constant flow of people came and went, merchants conversing and debating with their customers. The variety of goods was astounding—a dazzling array—many of which they had never even seen before, let alone now possessed.

Of course, the largest business here is fur trading. The abundant flora and fauna resources of this mountain range bring great wealth to the mountain people living here. Two young men can easily form a team and harvest good quality furs. After exchanging them with merchants here, they can save up shiny coins that can be exchanged for any good thing.

Saratag emerged from the mountain path beside him, wearing a pair of sturdy and beautiful thick leather boots. A thick bear skin was draped over his shoulders, freshly peeled off, with the fat and muscles still damp and soft, and even still warm from the bear's body. Half of his body was covered in blood. Behind him, several old men were dragging a large pile of bear meat out of the mountains in rafts made of small trees.

The yew longbow he carried hadn't fired a single arrow today—compared to his daughter, who was a crack shot, Saratag was more adept at capturing prey through traps and hunting. No matter how strong and fierce the beast, once caught in a snare of sinew mixed with steel wire, it rarely had a chance to struggle. At that point, a gentle thrust with a spear was all it took to obtain a beautiful, intact pelt. All he had to do was check the trap's catch every now and then.

The fur on his shoulder was so eye-catching, coupled with his strong and burly physique, that it attracted attention. Before long, even before he had set foot in his village, several merchants surrounded him and asked about the price of the fur on his shoulder. After examining it, they discovered it was the pelt of a strong black bear and offered to buy it.

Because he had skinned it so beautifully, the bear pelt sold for a higher price and was quickly taken away by a generous merchant who sent his servants to handle the aftermath.

Following closely behind was a servant who was looking for fresh game for his master. He immediately set his sights on the small hill of freshly cut, still steaming bear meat. After some haggling, they sold everything except the two hind legs, which they wanted to keep for themselves. Before they even stepped into the village, they had already converted their day's catch into money.

“It was never this convenient before… You guys go back first, I’ll go check out that stall, it seems they have some good arrowheads there, I need to get myself some.”

Saratago remarked, and after the group divided the money, he sent everyone else back and plunged into the bustling crowd. He soon arrived at a pre-arranged stall.

Surprisingly, the stall belonged to an Assel merchant. He wore a tan turban, and like all Assel men, he had a thick beard, deep-set eyes, a weathered face, and large knuckles. He wasn't tall, but he was muscular, and his long robe bulged out of his clothes. He sat on a simple stool with several wooden planks crossed and leather straps strung on top, enthusiastically hawking his goods to the passersby.

His stall, covered by a coarse cloth, was filled with various odds and ends. There were no large items, but they were all everyday items that the locals were very interested in, such as sturdy and sharp awls, needles for sewing clothes, delicate knives for butchering meat, and fine arrowheads for attaching to arrow shafts. Business was quite good, and mountain people would stop every now and then to pick out what they needed.

"Hello, boss from the south. What kind of arrows do you have here? I just lost a few arrows a few days ago and I was just about to replenish them."

Saratag squatted down naturally and began to examine the trinkets on the stall. Suddenly, a small knife encased in an exquisite brass scabbard caught his eye. For a moment, he forgot about the arrows he wanted to buy and reached out to grab it.

"Of course, strong hunter, I have almost every kind of good arrowhead here. These are all from the central mines of the Empire. They are sharp and the steel is excellent. You can even use them to shoot rocks without them getting damaged. However, they are a bit more expensive. Oh, by the way, the knife you are looking at is made in my hometown of Asel. It is made of the finest black magnetite. The blade is so sharp that it can cut through a bear's fur like paper. Although it is a bit short, it is also exquisite and compact, making it more convenient to use."

Saratag nodded repeatedly, gently drawing the exquisite brass dagger in his hand, its hilt inlaid with turquoise. He gazed at the flowing patterns on the steel blade and the almost blindingly white glint of its edge. He ran it very lightly across his finger, then felt a sharp pain—a cut had appeared in his finger, calloused from years of labor, revealing the pale skin beneath and the slowly seeping blood.

"Great stuff, really great stuff! I'll take this, and let me see these arrows too."

"Take a look at this. For hunting, I recommend these broad-bladed arrows and these barbed arrows. Both can cause great damage to the prey. And these small, pointed arrows are perfect for shooting rabbits and deer."

"It can't be cast, can it? I don't want cast ones; those arrows aren't sturdy enough."