Armored Cavalry, survive in a world full of mods

“I know very well how strong a sheep, especially a goat like this, is. If we were to evaluate it in terms of precise numbers, it would be an increase of 5%. Moreover, because it is lighter than a human, the effect is more intense and the stimulating effect is more obvious.”

"Oh, I see. It is indeed very valuable..."

Talina, no longer bothering to pack her things, pulled out her parchment booklet from her bosom and began to write and draw, which raised new questions for Tersolis:

"Tarina?"

"Um?"

"I often see you taking notes, but that little booklet looks so thin, can you really remember everything?"

The parchment booklet looked to be only a few dozen pages long, about the size of two palms, just like the student notebooks he used when he was a child. It was hard to imagine how much experimental data such a thing could record.

"Oh, this? I actually have quite a few of these, look..."

Tarina reached out and pulled open a drawer next to her, revealing a stack of parchment booklets, each one clean and neatly arranged with not a single curled corner.

Tersolius fell silent. The scene before him gave him a strong sense of déjà vu—it reminded him of the girls' desks he had seen at school… A rascal like him would get his books curled and dirty within two days of being handed them out, while only girls would carefully preserve their books, even neatly putting away their completed homework.

He rarely holds a pen anymore; swords and bowstrings are more familiar to his fingers, and the reins of warhorses and the handle of spears are more at his disposal. In most cases, writing documents and issuing orders are done by Talina or other scholars.

He didn't intend to lament the changes in things, but he still smiled heartily. The sweet and sour grape juice in his glass seemed to exude a wine-like aroma, and the winter wind was just right... making the sharp sword at his waist smell of iron.

"Take your time looking, doctor. I might have to stay here a little longer, as long as we don't disturb you."

Tarina paused for a moment, but only gave a gentle smile before continuing to study the giant mushroom.

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

For any farmer, livestock is an important asset comparable to their life. These strong cattle, horses, mules, and donkeys possess physical strength and power far exceeding that of humans, and can easily complete many tasks that even strong men find difficult to undertake, greatly relieving the burden on an entire family.

Therefore, once farmers have saved up money, in addition to considering buying land for themselves, they often consider buying a strong animal to increase their efficiency in cultivating the land and working. Especially when the family is still poor, such an animal has a higher status in the family than a person. Sometimes, when there is food and water, they are provided first, except for the men, to ensure that this pillar will not collapse during the busiest times.

Winter is the only time of year when people and livestock can rest. During this season, the fields, which have just been loosened, don't require much care, and livestock that have worked hard all year can also rest and recuperate in their pens. But for farmers, there are many times when they still can't relax...

A strong ox can fetch a good price anywhere, and even the worst horse can carry far more loads than a person. Even if the house is a dilapidated shed, as long as there is an ox in the house, it is a worthwhile business for thieves. With just a few transactions, they can easily make a large sum of money.

Therefore, even the laziest man will keep a hoe and a machete by his bedside when he sleeps, ready to defend his important property at any time.

Hazara was also worried about this. Although his family was extremely poor, they at least had a usable cow. He didn't even dare to put it in the cowshed, but moved it directly to his house to sleep with his family, fearing that he would wake up to find only the broken cow rope and the footprints covered by last night's heavy snow...

When that time really comes, he'll probably have no choice but to get some poison, and his whole family will eat it and leave this world early...

He didn't open his eyes until the chickens raised by the Ha family in the village crowed loudly. The first thing he did was check on his black and white spotted cow in the center of the house. Only after confirming that everything was alright did he breathe a sigh of relief. Then, he threw off his tattered bedding, grumbled as he dressed, and jumped out of bed.

His wife was up even earlier and was already busy feeding their chickens. He put on his worn-out shoes, crawled out of the door, took a deep breath, and pondered what he should do today.

The distant rumbling sound made him instinctively look up, and with just one glance, his face turned pale. Without hesitation, he turned and scrambled into the house.

"Where did these Assele people come from!"

294 On the Eve of Destruction (2)

Warhorses, with their immense weight, hard hooves, and horseshoes, are difficult creatures to conceal. Even on damp, soft dirt roads, the friction and collision of their hooves against stones creates a loud noise. The commotion caused by large cavalry formations is almost as loud as thunder, kicking up clouds of dust. They can be seen from a great distance, and in large numbers, you can even feel the ground vibrating with each gallop.

This is an ordinary village. Although the land here is fertile and the abundant rainfall and sunshine bring a fairly good harvest, the lords will take most of it, leaving the villagers with only enough to make them live such a tight and poor life. In the whole village, there are only eight working livestock, including the skinny donkey that is about to die of old age. A villager who owns livestock is considered one of the wealthiest families in the village.

For them, after using their cattle and horses to cultivate their land each year, they can rent it out to other villagers to earn some grain and other agricultural products, improve their family's life, and even save some money. In this way, families with livestock will always become richer and richer, accumulating more wealth through their own strong livestock.

That's why the cow in the house was even more important to the man than his woman. When he saw the Assele cavalry coming from afar, he didn't hesitate at all. He turned around and went into the house, grabbed the reins that were tied to the cow's nose ring, and desperately pulled on the strong spotted cow, trying to lead it out through the back door.

I don't know what those soldiers are here for, but it's definitely not for anything good. Ever since his grandfather, whenever these guys in iron armor approached their homes, they always took something from them... maybe money, maybe their chickens, pigs, or sheep, maybe their women... or even their lives.

He wouldn't hesitate to assume the worst about the soldiers, especially since they weren't from his country, but from Assele in the south... Foreigners were even less trustworthy! He had to find a way to hide his cattle. As long as the cattle were there, they could survive. Even if their houses burned down, they could rebuild them as long as the cattle were there!

Today, the cow seemed to be working against him. No matter how hard he pulled, it moved very slowly. He could only grit his teeth and gradually increase the strength in his hands until the cow's nose ring was pulled too hard and caused pain. Only then did he make the huge animal move a little faster. He dragged and kicked it all the way to the back of the house, and then followed a small path behind the village into the woods next to it.

He knew exactly where he could hide his cow nearby—behind three forked beech trees was a patch of broken rocks with a small hole in the middle, big enough to hide his family of three and the cow together… When he came out, he called to his wife, telling her to quickly pack up their son and hide the family's money behind the rocks; he wanted to hide their most valuable possessions there first.

The sound of hooves behind him grew louder and louder. He gritted his teeth and pulled forward with all his might. He didn't even care about the feelings of his ox anymore, pulling so hard that its nose bled. The torn nose exposed the flesh inside, and the blood stained the nose ring, dripping into the mud at his feet.

The pain finally enraged the behemoth. Cows like this are generally docile creatures, but they can get angry... and when they do, they can toss a strong, adult man away like a rag doll.

After he tumbled twice in the air and crashed headfirst into a clump of nettles, the excruciating pain in his body and the scorching stings on his head and face made him scream in agony. He instinctively used his hands and feet to get up from the ground, but the sharp pain in his lower back made him collapse helplessly to the ground again.

With an almost desperate expression, he reached out to touch his back. When he touched the indentation in his waist, he immediately let out a terrible howl. The horrible numbness in his lower body made him grind his teeth to pieces, and he was plunged into utter despair and fear... Even if you threw a slave into a lion's cage, you couldn't hear a more miserable sound than this.

He knew he was finished... He could no longer support his family or accumulate wealth... That blow had broken his back, and he would be crippled from now on.

"What a pitiful person."

A rough, sand-like voice sounded from above him. He looked up cautiously and saw chainmail inlaid with brass plates, desert leopard fur wrapped around his shoulders, a thick black beard, and deep eyes beneath a helmet.

This was a burly Assele officer with a rough face and black paint drawn under his eyes to protect him from the sun. He looked like a shepherd who had walked through a sandstorm, if you ignored his iron armor and the brass hilt inlaid with emeralds at his waist...

"My lord, please, please..."

“You’ve really run into some bad luck. This cow has ruined the rest of your life… Like those unlucky guys whose legs have been broken by camels, you’ll be forced to beg for a living from now on, even more miserable than a worm in the mud.”

The officer continued speaking to himself, while the man's ominous premonition grew stronger, causing his lips to tremble. He shook his head helplessly, tears streaming down his face, but he could only shake his head stiffly.

"Fortunately, the kind-hearted Lord Bayedo is willing to help you out. How about selling this cow to me? We need such strong livestock to deal with the imperialists from the north. You can use the money to redeem the cow after the war is over."

Although he shook his head desperately, the officer acted as if he didn't see it, reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of silver coins, then threw them on the ground in front of him... There were no more than 10 coins in total.

"Alright, the money and goods are settled. This is a good deal."

A tremendous rage was building within the man, making his eyes bloodshot. With the look of a cornered wolf, he raised his head and glared fiercely at the Asel man—no one would think that such a strong ox was worth only 10 silver coins; even the lowest fool couldn't be wrong about that! That money couldn't even buy a cow's leg!

But just seeing the curved knife at the other man's waist caused his anger and courage to drain away as quickly as a punctured water bag... He knew that knife could cut him in two with a single stroke, and also shred his woman and child to pieces...

The officer sneered, then led the ox away, leaving the man lying face down in the mud like a statue, clutching the handful of silver coins tightly in his hand.

…………

Cries and wails echoed through the village as soldiers dragged out one animal after another. The farmers who followed behind were unwilling to leave but dared not get too close. They could only follow their animals step by step, gesturing wildly and pleading in the most pitiful and humble voices for the soldiers to release their livestock, trying to stop the transaction...

Each person received a paltry few coins as a reward, not even enough to buy a healthy animal or much food... The only effect was to make the scene look less like a robbery, but it did nothing to lessen the cries and desperate wails.

Annoyed to no end by the nagging woman beside him, a soldier finally lost his already meager patience. He grabbed his spear and struck the poor woman on the head, knocking her to the ground. Then, stepping on the shoes and broken teeth scattered on the ground, he continued walking, leaving the strong, stubborn donkey beside him with him.

The other soldiers who had been entangled followed suit, swinging their scabbards and smashing things everywhere, their spear shafts shattering teeth and cracking heads, causing the villagers to scream and retreat. They quickly finished their task, mounted their horses, and led their large herds of livestock back along the road they had come from.

………………

"Sir, why should we give money to these ignorant and weak farmers? Why don't we just take their livestock from their homes?"

A trusted aide leaned close to the officer and asked his question. Their horses' hooves kicked up dust from the ground, maintaining a slow pace so that slower-moving livestock could keep up.

The officer shook his beard with a hint of exasperation, letting the unpleasant dust fall off.

"Don't forget why we came here."

"Of course, it's for the fertile lands of the Hols... and to stop the Empire's ambitions, so they won't set their sights on our lands."

“That’s true, but don’t forget our stated slogan and purpose… We’re here to stop the empire’s invasion and save the country, so spending a little extra money is totally worth it. Besides, we’re not buying their livestock, we’re conscripting them. If it’s conscription, then this amount of money is very reasonable, isn’t it? And it’s not even a price to pay for us. It’s you who’s been nitpicking about this, which makes you look foolish and stingy.”

Amidst rising dust, the cavalry, carrying the spoils they had "collected" that day, quickly disappeared below the distant horizon.

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

Hundreds of bugles were blown with all their might by strong soldiers. The powerful lung capacity of the robust soldiers made the loud and far-reaching sound extremely long and far-reaching, replacing the crowing of the rooster every morning, waking up everyone who was sleeping in the city, and also making the military camp noisy.

The soldiers rose early and began packing their bags. After the victory celebration, the legion would set off immediately to continue their offensive, ravaging the remaining lands and cities of the Hols, destroying their legions, and trampling their armies, until the country was completely under the Empire's control, until the people and nobles of this land were completely subjugated under the wings of the double-headed eagle.

Theolys' helmet shimmered with a magnificent golden light in the sunlight, and his full suit of armor was dazzling against the backdrop of the golden-white lion's fur. A large number of officers and generals surrounded him, watching the fleet set sail.

Amidst the sounds of horns and drums, the order to depart was given. Dense oars plunged into the water, propelling the empire's sturdy and massive warships into the river, where they swiftly moved away in neat formations.

The first contingent has already set off, and the massive legion gathered around the city will continue its advance, tolling the death knell for the Hols, a kingdom with no defensible terrain. Under his will, the destruction of a kingdom is already foreseeable in the blink of an eye.

The imperial soldiers were brimming with confidence. They believed that under Tersolius's command, victory would be as simple and natural as picking fruit from a tree. They almost arrogantly despised their impending adversaries, mocking their incompetence and weakness, and wholeheartedly believed in their glorious impending triumph.

The rolling torrent of iron advanced southward amidst shouts and neighing horses. The dazzling gleam of his armor was enough to strike fear into the hearts of any enemy. This was his spear, this was his sword, this was his will, this was the will of the empire.

………………

"You have to be very careful with this. It must be carefully wrapped in soft straw, and there can't be the slightest bump or scratch... Never mind, I'll do it."

"Don't touch that bottle. The liquid inside is poisonous. Even a little bit spilled will burn your flesh. Carefully wrap it with the frame over there. Yes, just like that. Remember to put it on carriage number 3. There's a latch at the very back, which is used to secure the frame."

"Quickly bring the carriage over. Is the cushioning inside set up? Very good, just like that."

The nimble and meticulous women of the medical team were moving swiftly around Talina's room and laboratory, carefully loading various instruments and vials onto the carriages. A large contingent of soldiers guarded them, all fully armed and ready for action. The gleaming spears flashed with a blinding sharpness in the sunlight, and the polished, oiled armor plates even scattered tiny specks of light on the surrounding ground. Although they were motionless, everyone knew that anyone who dared to cross the line would be captured on the spot.

This level of protection was comparable to that of Tersolius's guard; no one could approach without permission, ensuring absolute safety and stability. Even as other camps were engulfed in smoke and dust, things here remained orderly, slow, and meticulous. To move a delicate instrument, several people moved it inch by inch, unwilling to speed up even a little.

Of course, Talina didn't trust anyone else to handle the most dangerous and precious things, so she still did it herself.

295 On the Eve of Destruction (3)

This is an ordinary little town, barely the edge of a town, with a few nicely built and sturdy brick and wood houses, and a small market with some craftsmen and artisans selling bread, vegetables, charcoal, and other things that might be available. Other than that, there is nothing special about it.

Farmers from nearby villages would bring the vegetables they grew to sell here in exchange for some money to buy what they needed from the artisans here. They would argue heatedly over every single copper coin, and would also shrink back and lower their heads when all the neatly dressed people passed by.

Every now and then, people bring their cattle and horses here to sell. In most cases, it's the last-ditch effort of people who can't survive, hoping to make a little more money so their families can get through the winter.

There are very few types of meat available in this place. Beef and mutton are expensive and can only be bought by the wealthy and respectable. Pork, which has a strong odor, and chicken, which is easier to raise, are much cheaper and can be eaten even by the poor.

The hustle and bustle here felt unfamiliar. The mud on the ground was made even stickier by the constant footsteps of pedestrians, faithfully adhering to the soles of every boot and straw sandal, drawing wave after wave of complaints... Overall, it was still a place where one could survive.

Rumors from the north can often be heard in the taverns here, but most people don't care. Earning money for the next day's meals is the most important thing for them, and they can't afford to waste their time on irrelevant things. Only those drunkards who spend all the money they earn every day have the leisure to ramble on about the northern empire's attack.

This is the norm in this era. Information usually doesn't flow faster than a horse. A person may never leave their town or village in their entire life. Even if a city in front of them falls, the villages and towns behind them may not receive any news for a month.

Things have been much better for them lately—the lord has somehow neglected this tax collection, which has made the people here feel very fortunate... That terrible vampire not only doesn't forget, but in the past he would send people to urge them several days in advance, and he would always find some excuse to take more from them, even if it's just a piece of dried meat.

Although it's unknown whether they'll be extorted for more money later, everyone is at least grateful for now, and many who didn't raise enough money are genuinely happy that they won't be whipped.

The people in charge of dealing with potential saboteurs and troublemakers were five or six militiamen carrying iron clubs. They weren't the lord's soldiers; in fact, everyone hoped those soldiers wouldn't show up, otherwise the people here would be in for a lot of trouble.

They can only deal with petty thieves and weak bandits. If there are even slightly more thieves, they will scatter like birds and beasts. Therefore, the residents here can be described as well-trained and know very well when and how to protect their property and lives.

Located on the very edge of town, there was a wooden watchtower. The entire town chipped in to hire a quick-thinking fellow to stand there and watch for any movement in the distance—and it proved to be well worth the money, as they were saved from disaster several times because of timely warnings.

A bald dog was wading through the mud, trying to lick up the scraps of meat that had fallen beside a butcher's stall, a behavior that usually only earned it a disgusted kick from passersby. But the bits and pieces of blood and bone it was stuffing into its mouth still kept it entertained.

Suddenly, the skinny dog's ears perked up alertly, and it nervously turned its limbs from side to side, its wet, furry paws leaving messy marks on the nearby dirt... The hesitation didn't last long; the clever creature darted out from beside the butcher stall, quickly weaving through the gaps between the houses and disappearing into the bushes beside the town.

The alarm sounded much later than the dog's. After a while, panicked shouts came from the north. In an instant, everyone was busy as if their clothes had been set on fire. The butcher, who was cutting meat, deftly threw the meat into the wooden basin. Working together with his woman, they cleared the stall in the blink of an eye, even moving the large wooden plank on it into their home.

The vegetable vendors and other merchants were equally efficient, packing up their goods with dazzling speed and hurriedly disappearing into the houses next door. In no time, the once bustling street was deserted—at this point, running away was no longer a wise idea; finding a place to hide was more important.

The last one to hide in the tavern was the messenger. This quick-witted and slender young man was clearly the most clever and agile person there. Like a fish, he darted through the narrow doorway, which could only fit two hands.

Before anyone could recover, they felt the relentless, thunderous sound of horses' hooves pounding against their hearts and tearing at their lungs, causing them to gasp in panic and scream as they scrambled into darker corners.

Some of the braver ones peeked through the crack in the window and saw the distant view, then immediately described it to the others, trembling:

"There's yellow smoke! It must be cavalry, and quite a few of them. I saw their banners..."

"Don't just stand there staring blankly! What does the flag look like? Which lord is it?!... Ephesus, protect us! I hope they're not after us. Even if they are, robbing us for a bit of money is one thing, but please, don't kill anyone..."

The observer seemed to hesitate for quite a while before turning around, frowning, and saying:

"That's a red flag with golden tassels and a two-headed eagle painted on it... It looks quite imposing, much more so than the flags of those lords, and it's beautifully woven."

…………

Silence fell over the small tavern, where a dozen or so people sat facing each other, bewildered. After exchanging glances for a long while, a middle-aged woman serving drinks finally asked someone a question:

"What kind of flag is this? I've never heard of any lords in the area having a flag like this..."

The others shook their heads, their eyes filled with confusion and astonishment—they couldn't understand how an unfamiliar flag could appear near their home. What were those people doing there?

It wasn't until a still-drunk voice came from beside them that they realized what was happening...

"...Ugh... Hmm, what's going on? Why is it so noisy? I think I heard someone say something about a two-headed eagle... Isn't that the symbol of the Empire? Their national symbol is the double-headed eagle."

A drunkard swayed as he got up from the table. At his waist was a rather nice-looking one-handed sword, its brass hilt engraved with scrolling floral patterns. However, due to lack of maintenance, it had developed some rust.

This man had wandered from the north and was said to be an old soldier who had served a lord in the past. After spending his last penny in this place, he took a job as a guard. He would spend the whole day drinking and sleeping soundly, and then at night he would be full of energy to do his job—guarding the store gate.

He never talked about his past, nor did he speak to the other drunkards. He simply slept all day and worked all night, so the others weren't even familiar with his voice. At this moment, they all turned to look at him.

What are you talking about?

The tavern owner stammered these words, his voice filled with fear and weakness, a sense of foreboding filling his voice.

"I meant a two-headed eagle... no, what did you see?!"

The veteran was rubbing his eyes, wiping away the dried eye discharge, when he suddenly realized something and his whole body stiffened.

In that instant, he regained his aura, which was completely different from that of ordinary civilians. He swiftly pushed aside everyone who was blocking his way, then walked to the window, carefully opened a crack, and looked out at the distant road.