Armored Cavalry, survive in a world full of mods

As he silently pondered this, he soon arrived at the market entrance, but stopped abruptly upon seeing the situation... What greeted his eyes was not the bustling market and busy vendors, but soldiers clad in iron armor—standing menacingly around the market entrance, driving the vendors into the market.

A chill ran through him. Some instinct made him subconsciously pull his bike back a few steps before the other person noticed him, hiding back at the street corner. Only then did he cautiously stick his head out again to look at the other side.

After the initial panic, he quickly realized that the soldiers were not arresting them, the merchants, but simply clearing the road to let those who were hesitant and fearful outside enter the market and make way for them. Even some passersby were ruthlessly driven in, and those who resisted were beaten.

Startled by the sight, he silently shrank back a little. After thinking for a moment, he felt it wasn't safe, so he lifted his bike and pushed it into the alley. Then, he slipped out alone, hugging the corner of the wall, this time only showing one eye, carefully observing the other side.

It was already past midnight, and apart from people like them who needed to get up early, the roads were much emptier than during the day. However, because the capital city was so densely populated, it took the soldiers quite a while to clear the road. The people who were driven into the market whispered anxiously, wondering what had happened.

After all, no matter how they questioned the soldiers, they remained silent. Some recognized them as the city guards of the capital garrison, but they didn't know why they had come. Almost everyone was complaining. Merchants complained that their business had been disrupted, while others who had been driven in protested against the soldiers' rudeness and brutality.

This chaos quickly escalated, especially as the number of people gradually increased. The uniquely resolute, strong, and easily excitable national character of the Imperials immediately began to fuel the unrest. With just a dozen or so soldiers, it soon became difficult to quell the unrest... After all, they never gave a proper reason from beginning to end, only brutally beating and driving away others.

Just when Bosdor thought the farce was about to end and secretly breathed a sigh of relief, a sound that sent chills down his spine suddenly began to echo through the city streets. In that instant, his heart almost stopped beating for a moment.

It was a dense and heavy sound of footsteps, accompanied by torches that almost lit up half the sky, and the sound of armor plates rubbing together like the flapping of bees' wings. A torrent of metal rolled in from the end of the street. The cold glint of swords, hammers, and axes dazzled his eyes. The crowd that had just been protesting the expansion of recruitment immediately quieted down. Everyone stared in disbelief at the scene before them, and at the same time, they subconsciously retreated.

The younger ones were simply intimidated by the grand spectacle before them, while the experienced elders had already contemplated some truly terrifying things… things that this city has never lacked.

The capital of an empire is never just about beautiful buildings, wide and bright streets, and prosperous and wealthy people... It is also never short of bloody political struggles, each one causing chaos and uproar.

For a moment, the only sounds on the street were the rustling of armor and the pounding of footsteps as the army passed by. One torch after another flashed past them, and a chilling and menacing atmosphere pressed down on them, making it hard to breathe.

Faint shouts gradually rose from all directions. At first, they were very indistinct, but they became clearer as the source of the sound approached. The clearer the sound became, the more panicked the people became. Some people were so panicked that they could not even stand up straight. Panic-stricken discussions suddenly broke out in the crowd.

"His Majesty has been assassinated! His Majesty has been assassinated! There are rebels in the city! There are rebels lurking in the city!!"

He couldn't even stand up straight and sat down on the ground. Then, realizing what had happened, he turned around and ran without hesitation, not even caring about his car.

436 Counterattack (3)

For people of this era, nothing could more devastate their homes and lives than plagues, natural disasters, and war. The former two could only be lamented, but the latter, once it arrived, would bring the most bloody and terrifying nightmare, turning villages and towns into ruins in an instant and turning tens of thousands of lives into withered bones.

Therefore, any person with a sound mind can easily learn to avoid those menacing soldiers when the army is advancing, lest they accidentally get caught up in it and die meaninglessly, like a rat running around in the street being trampled to death.

In the imperial capital today, at this most tiring time of day, such a scene unfolded—armored and armed soldiers, carrying torches, rampaged through the streets, shouting things that sent chills down the spines of anyone who heard them… such as the emperor being assassinated, or the city being in rebellion, making many citizens wish they could gouge their ears out.

This is something you absolutely cannot get involved in... Nobody knows how things will develop. Once this matter starts to implicate others, countless people will suffer, and there will inevitably be a bloodbath with heads rolling and rivers flowing.

As a result of this commotion, people in the city who were planning to get up early for work hurriedly retreated to their homes. Pedestrians on the streets, unable to find shelter in their haste, begged their neighbors to let them in. The streets were littered with all sorts of odds and ends, and some vendors even abandoned their carts of goods, running away in a panic.

At this moment, you can find things everywhere on the streets, but no one dares to have any crooked thoughts... or rather, the fools who would do that at this time would not survive in the capital. Their unintelligent minds would only ruin them at some point, leaving them penniless and even causing their families to be destroyed.

Of course, some people can still show their business acumen in such situations—for example, by charging a fee to pedestrians who are in a hurry to hide in their houses before letting them in, and those who are in a hurry to escape basically have no other choice... As for the consequences of doing such a thing? We'll talk about that later.

And so, in the early hours of the morning, the city's garrison was mobilized without warning, quickly taking over all the city's main thoroughfares. The burning torches in their hands converged into fiery dragons, illuminating the city's streets and alleys, foreshadowing something that was about to happen... something earth-shattering, something that would be recorded in history.

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

Mountain paths are never easy to walk on—because the word itself implies that they are just rugged trails carved out of the mountains, with no weeds or anything too obstructive, nothing more… only slightly easier than those overgrown with bushes and thorns.

On this kind of road, you can see all kinds of rugged terrain, twisting and turning with the terrain, going up and down. If you encounter some huge rocks that cannot be moved, you will have to turn a very sharp bend. Under your feet, you will be walking on rolling stones and dusty mud. If it rains even a little, the dust will turn into dangerous mud, trying its best to reduce the friction between your shoes and the ground.

Walking here requires constant attention to maintain balance, and even more importantly, steady, unwavering steps. Make sure each step is firmly planted before moving on to the next. Otherwise, reckless individuals will always pay the price with bruises, broken bones, and other injuries. The unluckiest among them will probably only learn this lesson in their next life.

At this moment, Ferdiant carefully adjusted his steps. Looking at the steep mountain road in front of him, which was almost 70 degrees, he felt his teeth chattering. With each step, he carefully grabbed the grass on both sides of the road, hoping that these plants with well-developed root systems would provide him with some support.

The mountain people walked very steadily, even chatting and laughing as they went. Their ponies also walked smoothly and steadily, their four hooves constantly crossing over each other, and they made it down this dangerous stretch of road. Even the old man, Bivis, walked quite steadily, skillfully lowering his center of gravity and holding onto the rocks beside him, leaving Bivis behind.

The desolate mountain valleys on either side were no longer the ones where clouds and mist could be seen before, but rather dense, tall trees and lush bushes. Colorful wildflowers bloomed on the grass among the trees, butterflies fluttered around the flowers, and birds chirped and hopped among the branches and leaves. Everything seemed full of life.

This also means that they have traversed the most difficult part of the journey and are quite close to their destination... This is the empire's signature climate and landscape, with a clear difference visible on both sides separated by mountains.

These roads were opened up by hunters, herb gatherers, and woodcutters who went into the mountains to hunt. Obviously, not many people walk on them on ordinary days. In many places, they are even overgrown with weeds. After a while, they may revert to their original state, overgrown with thorns and bushes, and will have to be cleared again.

Seeing that the others had already reached the front, the young man, not wanting to be left behind, hurriedly took a step. This reckless and flustered step landed on some loose, scattered pebbles, causing him to slip forward and let out a startled cry. He quickly grabbed onto some nearby grass to steady himself, but his forehead was already soaked in cold sweat.

Rolling down from here would definitely not end well. Although he wouldn't die instantly like he did before crossing the mountain range, broken arms and legs were a certainty. So he gritted his teeth, squatted down, lowered his center of gravity to the lowest point, and kept his feet still. He used his hands to push against the slope behind him and slowly slid down.

This method worked surprisingly well for him, and he didn't experience the panic that comes with losing his balance. After struggling for a while, he finally caught up with the group ahead. He stood up confidently on a flatter patch and continued walking.

The sun's intensity was diminished by the trees, and the cool breeze blowing from the gap in the mountain peak completely dried the sweat on his forehead. After several bends and turns, they finally emerged from the dense thicket and saw a gentler, flatter slope, making the walk much easier.

After walking a little further, they began to hear the intermittent sound of clear flowing water ahead. Saratag, at the front of the group, turned back excitedly and called out:

"Alright, we've arrived! The Imperial Plains are just ahead!"

"Oh ho!!"

The mountain people cheered with joy, raising their right fists and patting their chests—a ritual they performed to bid farewell to the mountains and forests, signifying a successful hunt and a safe return home.

Sure enough, they soon came across a clear stream. The cool water spray hit them and completely dispelled their restlessness from the journey. The woods became increasingly sparse, and they could see the wide land in the distance through the gaps.

Ferdiant couldn't help but squat down and take out his water pouch from his waist to change the water inside—it was water he had filled in the pool two days ago, and it had already gone bad. He had no choice before, but now he definitely wanted to drink fresh, clear water.

"As planned, we'll arrive at Dosa Village. You've already prepared accommodations. During this time, we'll use the pelts we hunt as cargo, disguising ourselves as a caravan preparing to go out to do business. Everyone, stay alert and don't give anything away. We can't be careless until we actually meet up with our backup."

The clear, cool stream water poured into the brass spout until it was full. Satisfied, he stood up and plugged it with a wooden stopper. With the cool water droplets still on it, he hung it back around his waist, then lay down again and began drinking the stream water from the bank.

Saratag, standing nearby, was still giving everyone a list of precautions, preparing them for the very last moment before they actually set foot on the Imperial Plains. The others changed their water, sat by the stream to rest, and drove their horses downstream to drink, preventing them from polluting the water source.

Bivis had also changed the water in his water bottle and was wiping the water off his beard when he looked up at the bright and spacious scenery in the distance... Just then, a strong wind blew in, bringing with it a dense and vast rustling sound like ocean waves, rolling towards them one after another.

"This is wheat that's almost ripe..."

The old man blinked with a sigh, stood up, took two steps forward, and stood on a large rock beside him, looking at the vast expanse of wheat fields that had just been hidden by the bushes:

"This is truly a rich and bountiful place, with such vast and fertile land. If it were even slightly barren, such lush and abundant ears of wheat would not grow."

"Yes, there are good fields everywhere here. You can drive cattle for half a day without feeling tired... Large tracts of land have been reclaimed around our current settlement. Unlike small plots of farmland in the mountains that need to be cultivated for several years, we can just reclaim them and let them rest for a while before planting."

Black Usachi was clearly good at starting conversations with others. This mountain man was exceptionally talkative compared to his companions, and he was also very interested in the knowledgeable Bivis, often coming over to chat with him.

"...Perhaps it is precisely because this vast and fertile land is indefensible that the people of this land have been forced to be so warlike...After all, defending this fertile land is no easy task, and no one would not covet it."

The old man said with some emotion... The imperial army is invincible on this land, and the people of the empire are able to live on this land not because of their wealth, but because of their strength, or rather, it is precisely because of their strength that they are wealthy.

Throughout history, neighboring countries have never given up their covetousness for this land. They have formed alliances to try and divide this rich country, but without exception, they have all failed and suffered painful lessons. Perhaps they could gain some advantages at the beginning, but they would all give them back in double measure and be repeatedly ravaged by the empire's professional and powerful legions.

The mountains surrounding the Central Plains eventually became their main defense against the Imperial army, serving a defensive function most of the time rather than a group of fortresses that could become offensive nodes.

The Empire has never given up its plan to destroy its neighbors... It's as if every member of the Empire has a sense of crisis, believing that they will never be truly safe unless they completely destroy these evil neighbors who covet their land and wealth. However, in the past, they have always been unable to make any progress due to natural barriers and geographical advantages, which has kept this stalemate and anxious state for hundreds of years.

Everything changed when a man named Tersolius rose to prominence in the Imperial Legion... Now he has accomplished what countless generals, consuls, and marshals could not, completely destroying the threats from the east and south. Even while fleeing from pursuit and traveling to various places, he has never missed hearing news about this man.

The people of the Empire naturally praised and blessed him, while the surrounding countries were filled with fear and dread, anxiously awaiting every piece of news of his victory that reached them, listening to him destroy cities time and time again, annihilate enemies who dared to stand in his way, stain flags with blood and burn, and destroy nations under his lash and ravages.

Now, he was going to see the other party with his own eyes, to see this General Tersolius... and to see his own student, who was probably the most outstanding and promising. Fate is always so unpredictable and often brings him, an old man, surprises that exceed his previous experience.

He didn't know how his student had gotten to this point, but he believed that the kind-hearted girl wouldn't change her nature. Based on that alone, he naturally developed some trust in General Tersolius.

………………

After a short rest, everything went smoothly. They disguised themselves as fur traders and made their way to the pre-arranged location, where they would wait for a day. If no one came to meet them after a day, they would leave immediately and head to their next destination to avoid being exposed.

With their perfectly authentic and valid identification documents prepared in advance, they traveled freely on the roads of the empire, calmly dealing with the checks by patrol teams in the towns. They also rented an abandoned stable in the village as a place to rest for the night and waited there for the approaching team.

Next, they would follow that group to meet General Tersolius, and then head towards the imperial capital, plunging into a vortex that everyone else would avoid...

437 Counterattack (4)

The old man rubbed his hands together excitedly, trying to calm himself down, but he could not hide his expectant look. His eyes were filled with a unique kindness and nostalgia, and he would turn his head to look at the entrance of the tent from time to time.

Bivis never thought he was suited to be a teacher. Although he often liked to be a know-it-all and tell others all sorts of random things, most of the time it was just based on a long-suppressed desire to share. Only that little girl was different... Only this girl would starve to death without his help, while the others just listened to the ramblings of a strange man and went about their own business. Their lives were not affected.

He still remembers the scene when he first met the girl... The disheveled little girl, dressed in tattered clothes, was trying to catch fish in the stream, but because she was weak and thin, she couldn't catch those cunning and agile creatures at all. After two attempts, she fell into the stream and struggled for a long time but couldn't get up. She was about to drown when he happened to pass by on the road and saw this scene. He quickly pulled the little girl out, thus preventing another corpse from appearing there.

He had a rare opportunity to show his compassion—having just escaped from a country and carefully erased his tracks, he hadn't encountered any of the organization's pursuers for a long time and had a chance to catch his breath. So, after giving the little girl his food, he inquired about her family situation out of curiosity. He learned that the girl's parents had died at the hands of bandits, leaving her all alone and barely surviving on the daily charity of the villagers. However, the villagers were also struggling financially, often going hungry.

Afterwards, he saw a village that was relatively secluded and quiet, and decided to hide there for a while. After a little negotiation, the local villagers let him stay in an abandoned house that no one lived in. He also started doing things like selling herbs to treat people's illnesses. At the same time, he felt a connection with this little girl, so he naturally took care of and taught her... That period was one of the few peaceful days he had after leaving the organization. He didn't have to think about those dirty and sordid things, and he could just live a peaceful life like an ordinary person.

He taught the girl a great deal, clearly overkill for a village doctor, much of it things she might never use in her lifetime… But in his most pessimistic prediction, if he died, his unique research findings would likely be completely destroyed, never to be known again. He was ultimately unwilling to let his hard work and wisdom vanish into thin air, so he couldn't resist imparting all his knowledge, hoping the girl could carry on these traditions.

But no matter what, even if he suddenly went mad, in the most insane delusions, he couldn't possibly guess how Talina had managed to become the Imperial Commander's advisor so quickly! So at this moment, besides the expectation of seeing that child, he was also intensely curious about it—this was an important part of his damned and troublesome personality; he was always full of curiosity about many things, and this had brought him immense disaster.

Finally, as he anxiously rubbed his fingers for the third time, light footsteps sounded outside. He stood up abruptly, then pursed his lips with some worry and fear. His left hand instinctively tugged at his beard, and he stared longingly at the thin curtain of the tent.

The light footsteps suddenly disappeared outside the tent, as if someone had hesitated and stopped. After a while, the soft curtain was lifted and a graceful young woman stepped in. She looked up at him with a worried and doubtful gaze, her fingers nervously twisting together, her bright eyes filled with expectation.

At just one glance, he was immediately certain of his judgment—this was the girl he had taught and raised years ago. Even though she had grown up, that unique, dazzling blue color, like the wings of a butterfly, was one in a million.

"Fate is so fickle..."

"teacher!"

The old man smiled and embraced the girl in front of him, his eyes full of joy. Only at this moment did he belatedly realize what kind of feelings he had for this girl... It was not just a master-disciple relationship that lasted only a few years, but rather he regarded her as the continuation of his life and wisdom. Just watching her grow up, live a safe and healthy life was enough to fill his heart with almost infinite happiness.

"Perhaps I've always prayed to see this... but forgive this old man for saying one more thing: it's so good to see you, my student..."

Tarina's eyes were already brimming with tears, which she wiped away somewhat awkwardly with the back of her hand, trying her best to force a smile:

“I have always missed you, teacher... I even thought I would never see you again in my life... I am really happy now.”

The girl sniffed, looking somewhat flustered, yet with a genuine smile... Aside from that, she always seemed to want to say something but then stopped, as if she had a lot to say beforehand but didn't know what to say at this moment, and could only smile foolishly. The old man's smile never stopped either, and his smile seemed to smooth out some of the wrinkles on his face, but other parts of his face became more dense, implying his old age and vicissitudes, telling everyone about his weariness.

“I have many questions for you, my student. I believe you can answer this old man’s doubts… Don’t blame me for being a spoilsport, it’s just that this is the way this old man is.”

Tarina smiled and nodded, her eyes filled with joy:

“Of course, no problem, teacher, but we’ll be setting off again soon. I can answer your questions on the way… Also, before that, our commander wants to see you.”

The old man stroked his beard and nodded thoughtfully.

"I've heard of Lord Tersolius before..."

"I've long admired your name, Mr. Bivis."

Tersolius stood up with a smile to greet him. Compared to Tersolius's tall figure, the already somewhat thin old man appeared even smaller. However, the old man's composure and calmness remained unchanged. He even rudely raised his eyes to look at Tersolius's face. In the dim light, the rubbing nail plates reflected a cold light, causing the old man to squint.

"I am truly unworthy of such treatment. How could a humble and down-on-his-luck man from the mountains like myself deserve such courtesy from you, sir!"

Without a word, Thesolius grabbed the old man's withered hand and easily pulled him into the tent with one hand. The scene was comical, like pulling a large kite, which made the old man's originally calm expression momentarily flustered. He was clearly not expected the other party to be so enthusiastic.

“There’s no need for formalities, Mr. Bivis. I’ve truly heard so much about you… Talina has mentioned you countless times. I’ve always been curious—who must Talina’s teacher be to produce such an outstanding student? Now it seems you are indeed a wise man, so please don’t try to hide your talents from me.”

A chair had already been placed in the large tent. Without saying a word, Tersolius pressed the old man down onto it, then took two steps forward and sat down on a wooden chair. He turned around and carefully examined the old man.

Like any elderly person of his age, Bivis was not particularly distinguishable in appearance, except that his face was more amiable. He had a thick beard that covered the lower half of his face, and his white hair on his head indicated a noticeable bald patch starting from his forehead. His skin was rough and dull from the weather, but he kept himself very clean. Clearly, he had not enjoyed life much in recent years and had been living a life of hardship.

The only thing that made this old man stand out was his eyes. Even in the midst of the heavily armored soldiers in the military camp, he showed no sign of panic, remaining as calm as a block of ice about to melt. He appeared unperturbed by everything, displaying remarkable experience... After all, someone who had never witnessed such a scene before, arriving for the first time in a solemn and imposing military camp that was almost suffocating, would certainly not be so composed.

"Then I won't waste any more words, sir. Where are you going next? What are you going to do?"

"Are you trying to recruit me, sir?"

The old man wore a constant smile, his eyes flickering with an inscrutable emotion. Thesolius also smiled, but his smile was unrestrained and blatant:

"Of course, I hope you can stay with me, sir. This is something I've had for a long time. What do you think?"

"I believe you understand, sir, that I hold a significant position in the empire, so I can readily provide many things that people dream of, as long as they are of value to me. But I think what you're pursuing is not so simple, so I'm very willing to hear your explanation."

The old man nodded, then thought for a moment before speaking:

“I heard from my students that you have fought against them many times, sir… In that case, you must have a basic understanding of them.”

Tesorius seemed to sense something, and raised an eyebrow slightly:

“That’s right, I have learned quite a bit about them. I even know that their headquarters are located in the west, and my brother is currently leading a large army to attack the lands of the western countries. I have already told him this news.”

The old man pinched his beard with his fingers, then stroked it downwards, plucking out two or three loose hairs in the process, his expression becoming very serious.

"Then there's no need for me to say anything more, so I can tell you straight here... I, this down-on-my-luck person, escaped from there ten years ago, and have been constantly hunted down and captured by them. I've escaped death many times and stumbled along the way to survive until now."

"Then I suppose the old man thought you must know quite a bit about this organization."

"...I think there are probably few people in the world who understand me better than I do." The old man gave a bitter smile, a smile that contained a complex mix of emotions: nostalgia,感慨, hatred, disgust, incomprehension...all of these swirled within it.

"After all, I am one of the three founders of this organization. I watched it rise and I also watched it fall into ruin, watching it plunge headlong into the bottomless abyss, stained with sin and blood, and completely turned into a stinking cesspool."

Tersolius sat up straight in surprise... He had not expected this at all, or rather, unless the old man said it, there were probably only a handful of people in the world who would know this.

At this moment, Bivis's expression was filled with sorrow, as if he were mourning a rotting, stinking friend who had been placed in a coffin, reminiscing about his former vitality and loathing his current decay and filth.

"...Of course, now I'm just a stray dog. It's laughable to even myself for saying this. Back then, I failed to notice the corruption and depravity of one of our members, nor did I perceive his terrifying ambition and evil. I also failed to take any effective action when everything was collapsing beyond repair. All I could do from beginning to end was run for my life..."

Suddenly, orders came from the camp outside the gate. Officers kept calling out and commanding the soldiers to pack their bags, prepare to end this short rest and continue on their way, setting off while the moonlight was still bright... This would be their last rest before reaching the imperial capital, after which they would have to travel non-stop.

Not a single person complained. The soldiers here were the true elite of the empire. They had fought countless bloody battles, beheaded countless enemies, and trampled through battlefields littered with blood and corpses countless times. They were used to arduous battles and had marched at night more than once, trekking through towering mountains until they were exhausted. And today, they were to accomplish their most glorious mission—to destroy a group of enemies who were trying to launch a rebellion to assassinate the emperor.

"...On the way to the capital, we have plenty of time to hear what you have to say, Mr. Bivis, but now we must depart immediately...Some kind of threat is trying to tear this country I protect apart, and I will not allow that possibility to occur in any way."

Thesolius slowly stood up, gestured for the old man to follow him, and a pleased smile appeared on his face:

"Trust me, you will definitely not regret this trip... After all, not everyone has the opportunity to participate in the war to save the emperor."