Armored Cavalry, survive in a world full of mods

"Sound the bugle to signal the end of the march, take him to the carriage and put him under guard... Also, summon the messengers from the army."

A few minutes later, as the last dust settled, tranquility returned, leaving only the ubiquitous hoofprints on the ground. This hinted at a certain message: a destiny, like a storm brewing, was about to unfold…

366 Desperate Situation (5)

A spacious yet crudely made tent, its felt surface covered with thick layers of dust and bloodstains. It's hard to imagine what had happened to this place to leave it in such a dilapidated state. The furnishings inside are extremely rudimentary. Even the chairs for resting are just a few cut logs, and the bed is hastily assembled from cedar wood with its rough outer bark still intact. The wood even contains a considerable amount of moisture and will soon dry out and warp... This is the last dwelling that Samir, the Desert Lion and leader of the Assele people, could obtain. It looks more like a shepherd's hut built for himself in a secluded spot on a mountain peak.

Of course, Samir himself didn't care about this at all, or rather, he no longer wanted to hear the title of "Lion of the Desert"... At best, he was an old lion with a broken back and pulled out claws, more wretched than a wild dog. He was constantly suffering from inner torment and suffering, and his whole body had aged and become haggard in a short period of time.

What Alva saw was this kind of man, a man with tired eyes, as forlorn as an old sheep covered in wounds, whose body and spirit had been cut to pieces by a sharp blade.

She could hardly recognize her father... The last time they met, he was a strong and composed middle-aged man, who, while not exactly confident in everything, was always at ease.

At the time, she thought it was just an ordinary hunt, just to deal with that coward from the Abatheris family... But who could have imagined that the separation would be so long and so terrible, almost turning everything upside down for them.

Looking at her father, Alva remained silent for a long time... Although she knew she had many things to say, many things she had to say, she simply couldn't bring herself to speak. She sat there on the wooden stool with a blank expression, her fingers anxiously and restlessly gripping the bark.

Finally, Samir broke the silence, managing a weak but weary smile:

“You look healthy, and I’m so glad you haven’t lost weight or become haggard, my daughter.”

A bittersweet feeling shattered Alva's attempt to maintain her silence, surging forth like a torrent that broke through the valves of her emotions, making her head buzz. Warm liquid soaked her cheeks, and a kind of sighing, intermittent breath escaped from her nose. Alva curled up almost uncontrollably, instinctively wiping her tears with her sleeve. New tears would always defy her, leaving even the soft cotton cloth powerless.

With heavy footsteps, a familiar, broad embrace enveloped her. Those arms were as warm and strong as ever, and that heart was as heavy and active as ever. Everything was familiar, except that her sorrow and pain flowed out endlessly, completely uncontrollable.

“I know you have suffered a lot, but it is not your fault. The real responsibility lies with me, the foolish commander. My conservatism and carelessness have led to this result... I am responsible for all of this. You don’t need to get involved with it, you don’t need to let the pain overwhelm you. You have no responsibility for how things have turned out.”

"No, it's all my fault! Father... It was because I fell into the hands of the Empire that the situation completely collapsed, that contradictions arose within our army. Otherwise, we would never have suffered such a miserable defeat... I—if I hadn't failed to commit suicide—"

The sobbing girl was held even tighter by her father, while the much more weathered man sighed silently, and after a long while, he closed his eyes and slowly spoke:

"Don't talk nonsense. The failure of this war is the responsibility of many people, but not you. I also approved your hunt. You did nothing wrong from beginning to end. If you really end your life because of this, that would be truly terrible for me. It's something I never want to happen."

“That means I will lose something more important than honor and life… Do you understand, my daughter?”

“We just failed, that’s all… I’ve already lost, and I don’t want to see you burdened with responsibilities that aren’t yours. You have a long road ahead of you, and this kind of thinking is toxic to you.”

“The Abatheris family still owes me a debt, and we have all seen what they did in this war. Their sins are far beyond yours... We will naturally seek revenge against them.”

………………

She didn't know how much time had passed, but Alva finally managed to compose herself. The pent-up emotions of the past few months finally burst forth, making her feel much lighter. Even her breathing was no longer as stiff and heavy as before.

Of course, the guilt and pressure in her heart could not disappear completely, but it did alleviate them a lot. At least she was able to break free from that depressed and sad state and stop feeling sorry for herself... Moreover, she had more important things to do.

She should have told herself the important matter earlier, but after hearing Samir's words, her emotions were out of control, flooding all reason... The few months she spent in the hands of the Empire felt like a century. Every day she endured unimaginable torment and psychological pressure, thinking of dying countless times, but she could never succeed because of the Empire's strict guard.

Her pride, her dignity, everything about her was shattered in this terrible ordeal, ultimately reduced to a bloody mess...

She could not forget the horrific sight of the Imperial legions ravaging their army—the man watching, without joy or sorrow, as flesh and blood flew and rivers of blood flowed, manipulating his steel, his swords, his warhorses, and his soldiers to trample, to ravage, to kill, to drive away, until the blood pooled on the ground into lakes, until there were no more groups of people resisting in sight.

She couldn't understand why there were such terrifying people, how someone could do such a thing at such a young age? How could someone be so heartless? ...The other person was about the same age as her, so how could they already be so skilled in warfare?!

That's why she wouldn't doubt what this man said—if he didn't get a reply in time, he would mercilessly crush his father and the rest of their army, letting blood flow like a river once more... Perhaps at this very moment, the imperial legions were already advancing across the plains, and that man's wolf pack was preparing to tear apart their prey.

“Father, he let me come back on conditions.”

After composing herself, Alva spoke directly to Samir, and her father, as if he had expected it, slowly and stiffly straightened his back.

“I think I have a pretty good idea. I also believe that Tersolius wouldn’t do something meaningless. Now tell me, what does he want you to pass on to me?”

“He wanted us to surrender to him and promise that we would not suffer any further harm after we handed over our weapons and armor and would be able to return home afterwards… If he did not receive a timely reply from me, he would assume that we would continue to resist.”

“It’s a reasonable request, but I don’t think he’ll let us go back so easily. After all, it’s tens of thousands of troops. How could he be so kind?”

“That’s right, he also demanded that we pay a ransom… of course, the Shah would pay it for us…”

The girl paused strangely at this point before continuing:

“No one is willing to pay the ransom. They will be detained here and forced to work for three months to pay it, and then they will be released. He hopes that this war will be resolved in a bloodless and dignified manner.”

"...If I'm not mistaken, someone will soon come in and report that the Imperial army is approaching. That person won't waste time waiting for us to discuss things slowly."

Samir looked up at the outside of the tent, and immediately, as if his words had summoned a messenger, the sound of hurried hooves rushed into the camp. After a commotion, a cavalryman, his face covered in blood and dust, charged in.

"Honorable Commander! The Imperial army is approaching, only 20 gallons away!"

Samir sighed, stood up abruptly, and ignored his arrow wounds.

"Summon all the nobles; we must make our final decision."

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

The damp, muddy ground made walking extremely difficult, and it was not a wise decision for anyone to try to move forward here with heavy wagons of supplies, because pushing heavy wagons out of the mud was never easy and would exhaust even strong men, let alone the fact that this happened frequently.

To improve this situation, besides building a well-maintained stone or brick road that is resistant to rain, the only other option is to lay something heavy enough to withstand the weight of the mud on the ground. However, the latter is more cost-effective in most cases, especially in case of an emergency.

After all, a sturdy and reliable stone road that is resistant to rain is quite expensive to build. Every step it takes costs money, and even the richest king would not want to throw his money into such a bottomless pit, not to mention that this bottomless pit requires frequent maintenance.

In the coastal city where Dijour lived, local merchants used a unique method to avoid the mudflats that could drown people when they approached the mudflats—they would lay wide wooden planks on the mud, forming a road that connected to solid ground, and then porters could walk directly on these planks to transport goods to the shore.

While this method cannot transport the heaviest cargo, it is sufficient for most situations... such as creating a road for people and horses to pass through a muddy valley in a mountain range.

They had neither the time nor the energy to work on the planks, but the kingdom of Salanod had plenty of cedar and pine forests, where straight, easy-to-work logs could be felled at any time. These logs could be tied together with ropes to form rafts, which would serve as a temporary substitute for planks.

Therefore, taking advantage of the heavy rain and difficult roads, the mercenary groups set up camp beside the mountain range where the route had been discovered. They cut down and bundled countless logs, preparing to accomplish a great feat in one fell swoop.

The work began the very day he estimated that his brothers had arrived in the Empire. The rain that had once annoyed him had now become a sign of joy—as long as the rain continued to fall and the roads remained impassable, he had a reason to stay there until they had finished what they were supposed to do.

What's even better is that in this kind of weather, no other troops would inexplicably approach this desolate wilderness. To other nobles and mercenaries, they would just be unlucky guys trapped here by the heavy rain, and they might even be gloating, thinking that the rewards they had already received would have to be returned because they didn't participate in the battle.

With their support and assistance, the Imperial army could directly excavate and widen the road, then swiftly pass through the valley floor that would otherwise be silted up by rainwater, and arrive directly at the territory behind the Salanod Kingdom's fortress... At that time, they could not only escape their original fate of filling in the ravines, but also take advantage of this god-given opportunity to soar to new heights.

There are countless examples in the Imperial Army of people becoming nobles through military merit. And since they have made such great contributions, even if it means spending a fortune to buy their bones, the Imperials will definitely not treat them unfairly. If they perform well in subsequent wars...

With a snap, amidst the puzzled gazes of the others, Diyul slapped himself awake to prevent himself from indulging in his daydream for too long. He then wiped his forehead with a dirty cotton cloth and continued climbing higher in the rain.

They have already set up dozens of small camps in the forest, with thousands of people working together, some cutting down trees and others binding them with straps. Of course, the most important thing is to set up guards and sentries around the area to ensure that no one can get close to this place, or if they discover what's here, they can't escape.

The things they were doing couldn't be leaked out in the slightest, or they would be doomed. For this reason, many of them didn't mind doing dirty work. Those unlucky souls who ran into them while running around in this awful weather would be chased away if they were lucky, but if they saw something... they would just dig a hole in the forest and bury it, or simply throw it somewhere far away, where wild animals would take care of it, and no one would know.

Fueled by intense hope and motivation, each of them worked with boundless enthusiasm and high spirits, their passion undiminished even by the relentless rain... Now, it all depends on the Empire.

367 Acting in secret (1)

"Boss, we've run into a problem—we're running out of ropes to tie the stakes. We've even untied the ropes to tie the sacks. If this keeps up, we'll have to unbuckle our belts!"

Dijour frowned:

"Then use rattan. Do I need to teach you that?!"

“We’ve tried it before, but the vines around here are only usable after they’ve dried. If you use them directly, they won’t hold you up at all. They’ll fall apart as soon as you step on them.”

"Then find some tree bark, dry it with fire, and bind it, or go to a nearby town to buy some."

The man opposite still looked miserable, wiping the raindrops from his face.

"We've already tried that. We've already cleared out all the bitter orange trees around here, so the others are useless. Buying too much rope from nearby towns would also arouse suspicion... Today, when that kid Solar went to buy rope, he was questioned for a long time."

Even Diyul frowned in exasperation... He really hadn't expected to be stumped by the rope in the end. It wasn't expensive, but buying a large quantity at once would seem very unusual, and he really didn't want to risk attracting the attention and suspicion of others.

"...We still need to find a way to buy some proper rope. Don't let our people buy it. Find a middleman, preferably someone who can use that much rope. Don't buy it from one place, go to several places...it's best to go a bit further away."

He didn't think for long before he came up with a solution. He quickly called over several managers and gave them instructions. The others also gave full play to their initiative and started to think.

"Oh right, boss, I remember now! There are often old fishing nets left over from fishing spots near the sea. You can just take them apart and use them directly, and they're not worth much!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than someone nearby began to object:

"You're talking complete nonsense. Most of those old fishing nets that were taken off were so soaked in seawater that they were unusable. They crumbled when you rubbed them. Otherwise, why would those poor fishermen throw them away? They would definitely patch them up and keep using them."

"This kind of tattered net can only be used for firewood; it has no other use, let alone for binding wooden stakes."

"Then what do you suggest we do? We have to come up with a solution!"

"If you ask me, we should just go and buy some hemp and twist it ourselves. It will take more work, but the good quality new rope is strong enough that we won't have to worry about it coming loose in the middle, and it won't be easy for others to suspect us."

"Tosall is right! Buying too much rope at once will arouse suspicion, but if we buy some stripped hemp thread, it will be very useful, and who would bother to check that?"

“But that would require some people to go out and get the ropes, which would slow us down. By the time we get them ready, who knows how long it will take? What if the rain stops? That red-haired bastard will definitely come and urge us again, and then our plan will be exposed!”

"That's right! The sooner we get it sorted out, the safer it will be. If we drag it out any longer, there will definitely be trouble. Nobody knows when this rain will stop."

The mercenaries were exceptionally enthusiastic, and even started arguing without realizing it, each looking like they were racking their brains... After all, everyone was now tied to the same boat. If the boat successfully reached the shore, they would naturally rise to great heights, but if it made a slight mistake, they would be doomed. No one wanted the latter outcome, so they would naturally do their best for themselves and others.

Fortunately, everyone knew that now was not the time to argue, and after some discussion, they confirmed the final solution.

"First, find a middleman to buy some rope for emergency use. Then, find a few people to go to a more distant place to buy hemp. You can also search for any usable fishing nets, ropes, and anything else that can be used as rope. Use any method you can think of, and be quick about it. Don't buy too much from one place."

At this point, Diyur's expression became even more serious:

"Brothers, our lives and fortunes are all tied up here, so we must be extremely careful in everything we do, and we must also do it efficiently and cleanly. Remember, we absolutely cannot let a word of this slip out..."

As he said this, a sinister glint appeared in his eyes:

"If anyone turns out to be a coward and has other ideas, or if some nosy, gossipy types get involved... you're all veterans in this business, I trust you won't be soft-hearted. When you do act, remember to do it cleanly, don't leave any loose ends. Just get through these two weeks..."

"Don't worry, Diyul, we know exactly what to do. Even our own brothers can't stop me from getting promoted and making a fortune. We'll strike when the time comes!"

“That’s right, even if it’s my brother who’s trying to get in my way, I’ll slit his throat.”

"Now that we've figured it out, let's stop dawdling here. Everyone, gather up the ropes in the camp and go look for vines or bark in the woods further out. Hurry up, everyone, give it your all."

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

"You mean a road can be carved out of here?"

Bright candles burned on golden candlesticks, their light as cool and clear as ripples on water, illuminating everyone's faces as if it were daytime, revealing even the finest details of their hair.

These are the most precious whale oil candles. They burn slowly, provide bright light, and have no odor when burning. Ordinary wealthy merchants would only use them when entertaining important guests, but here five are placed on the candlestick, illuminating even the finest gold threads on the parchment on the table with exceptional clarity.

Under this light, Natamus lightly tapped the map with his fingers, his nails slowly tracing the path beside a most inconspicuous grove of trees, while the man before him nodded repeatedly.

“That’s right, sir. There is a small path here that can be used to cross the mountain barrier in just two days and reach the territory of the Kingdom of Salanod. If you are willing to send people to clear and level the road here, you can send a large army through and take over the entire Salanod!”

The room suddenly became abuzz with activity. The generals, officers, and nobles gathered there exchanged glances, and some were clearly interested. The hushed whispers were as dense as the buzzing of bees.

With just a quick glance, each of them understood the significance of this road... The Western countries have always been the empire's archenemy, with constant warfare over the years. However, even when the empire was at its most powerful, it had never succeeded in destroying the loose alliance of these small Western countries. This was because of the formidable natural defenses they relied on, which often left even the best generals and commanders in awe.

Especially the Kingdom of Salanod, which faces the pressure of the empire head-on, has always held the front line with its two fortresses. The fierce Salanod people have turned this place into hard stone through years of hardening, and any general who comes here will have to knock out a couple of teeth.

In fact, no matter how many times the scholars and generals in the Imperial Capital Library discussed and calculated, the final conclusion was that if they wanted to forcibly break through Salanod's defenses, they had to be prepared to lose at least three legions here and empty at least half of the national treasury... and that was assuming that other countries would not support Salanod.

For many years, many generals had even given up their ambitions for the West. They believed that attacking the region would be a losing proposition, and let these western barbarians hide behind their walls and mountains, since they rarely dared to come out.

But right now, at this very moment, a man their commander brought back from a hunt claimed to have a route that could bypass the fortress of the Kingdom of Salanod, bypassing this defensive line that had stood for hundreds of years. How could this not make the military nobles of the empire green with envy?

It's important to understand that the generals who remained here were, in a sense, the unfortunate ones and the weaker party in the political struggle—they hadn't participated in the conquest of the South and could only watch helplessly as news of successive victories poured in from the South. They were frantic with worry but powerless to do anything, watching as the lucky ones and victors amassed their wealth, honor, and status like gold coins in the national treasury.

Their desire for glory was no less than that of the young and impetuous soldiers. In fact, their resentment and jealousy from this period of time were becoming increasingly difficult to suppress. At this moment, seeing an opportunity, many of them were even more eager than the messenger, wishing that Natamus would give them the order to advance the next moment.

Of course, they wouldn't be reckless, so even though they were tempted, they all waited patiently for their commander's decision.

"You mean there's such a road, so hidden that even the officials of the entire southern province don't know about it, and then you suddenly appear at just the right moment to tell me? Give me a reason to believe you."

Natamus frowned and asked slowly. He naturally had many doubts about this and was scrutinizing the so-called messenger in front of him with a sharp, ruthless gaze.

Such a gaze was truly terrifying. In fact, even the generals who were often with Natamus found it difficult to directly confront such an aggressive and fierce look... It was no easier than staring into the eyes of a ferocious lion, and deceiving with lies under such a gaze was by no means an easy task.

Once Blatche had a clear conscience, because he knew deep down that his intelligence was correct and that this was indeed what the other party needed, he was able to remain calm even under such scrutiny.

"In fact, not only do the officials throughout the south not know about that road, but even the hunters in that forest don't know about it... because that road is actually a route used by smugglers to profit between the two countries. Very few people know about it, and the exit is hidden. It was secretly opened up by that guy."

"Hmm?... Smugglers, I see... So how did you find out about this hidden route?"

"Ah, that's very simple, sir. The smuggler is one of our uncles. Before he got into this business, he worked with him on this route. They buy up high-quality porcelain, pottery, cloth, salt, and other hard currency in the Empire, and then transport them to Salanod to exchange for medicinal herbs, ores, and furs. They can make several times the profit each time they go, so they've always been extra cautious."

"But later his uncle was caught by the local lord and hanged for poaching. He was so scared that he dared not do it again. Later, after many twists and turns, he became a mercenary. He was basically the only one who knew about this road... If we hadn't realized that the King of Salalod was planning to send us to fill the ditch, we wouldn't have taken the risk."

Natamus scoffed:

"So you were forced into this situation?"

Blatche shook his head:

"Of course not, sir. We just didn't have the opportunity before. If we had known about this path earlier, we would have done it long ago. We are just lowly mercenaries... What we want can only be obtained in the great empire. The noble lords there will never give us anything, not even if we shed our blood for them."

Natamus finally raised his head, looking at the man before him with a strange and sharp gaze, then a smile returned to his lips, but this time it wasn't a mocking one.

"You're quite honest and interesting."

"If what you say is indeed true, then the merit you have made is enough to elevate you to the top. I will not be stingy with rewards and honors. The Empire has always been generous enough to its loyal followers, as long as you can prove it."

"Of course I am willing to prove it, sir. In fact, I will not return before the dust settles after I have come here to deliver the message. If you find any error in my facts, you may deal with me as you please, and I will not dare to complain in the slightest."