Armored Cavalry, survive in a world full of mods

440 Failed at the last minute (2)

The emperor's doubts remain unanswered, and tonight is destined to be a sleepless night. Countless will bleed to death tonight, countless will fall into hell, and countless will rise to power... In the long years to come, the empire's scholars will surely mark this day prominently in history, conducting a thorough investigation into every event that occurred, attempting to gain a deeper understanding of this significant day in the empire's history. But some things they will forever remain unknown.

The area illuminated by a burning wall lamp is limited. A single lamp will always leave dark corners around it, giving those with ill intentions an opportunity. Therefore, the lamps in the palace are spaced very close together, almost one every two steps, and servants are specially assigned to add oil to the lamps regularly to ensure that the place is brightly lit all night long.

This was naturally very expensive, with more than a dozen barrels of the finest lamp oil being used up every night. But for the wealthy capital, it was just a drop in the ocean. This had never changed over the years. So when the lights were sparse in other parts of the city, you could see the towering, magnificent palace in the darkness and easily find your way forward.

Posa couldn't remember how many times he had gazed at the palace like this, but each time he was amazed by its unparalleled magnificence, feeling like an ant crawling beneath a mountain of gold, and he would never forget the sight before him for the rest of his life.

Someone like him would never have been able to enter that palace in his entire life. After all, although the garrison of the capital city had good benefits, it was not as easy to get the opportunity to make meritorious contributions as the field army. Many people spent their entire lives chasing criminals and maintaining order in the streets and alleys. Therefore, most of the recruits were young and middle-aged men from the citizens of the capital.

Many veterans who find it difficult to settle down after retirement are assigned to the garrison. For the skills they possess, this job is a bit of an overreaction, so some people inevitably sigh about the past, but in the end, it is a stable job.

He realized long ago that this was how his life would be, and at first he was disappointed for a while, but then he picked himself up – after all, although he could see the end of this life ahead, he was not a person who was too obsessed with power and status, and he was easily satisfied with his current peaceful life.

But no matter what, he never imagined that he would actually follow the procession and approach the emperor's palace on his own initiative, especially in the dark of dawn when people are most tired and careless, suddenly lighting torches and approaching the palace without any explicit orders.

The veterans in the legion immediately realized the impropriety of this action, and they were among the most vocal opponents. However, their legion commander then personally announced that the emperor had been assassinated and that rebels were preparing to attack the palace, requiring them to go to the rescue. This immediately silenced all dissenting voices.

Although some people still had doubts, no one was vehemently opposing it anymore. After all, everyone in the legion knew that their legion commander was the emperor's confidant, someone who had been loyal since humble beginnings and had worked his way up to his current position. He had always enjoyed the emperor's deep trust, otherwise he would not have been able to take charge of the defense of the entire capital.

Regardless of where their legion commander got the information, as the emperor's confidant, he certainly wouldn't be a treacherous rebel... Moreover, as soldiers of the Imperial Legion, they were already used to obeying orders. Since they had received direct instructions from the legion commander, they naturally had no reason to hesitate or resist, nor did they have the right to do so.

The entire legion immediately sprang into action upon receiving orders. They lit torches and began to converge on the palace, preparing to suppress the rebellion there as instructed... although they still did not know the identities of the rebels...

Before long, they had gathered around the palace, looking at the magnificent palace built of white marble. Under the command of their respective officers, they lined up, raised their shields, gripped their deep, cold gleaming weapons, and awaited the next order.

In any case, they had reached their designated location; the next step was to locate the so-called rebels...

In the still pitch-black night, their torches stretched out like a burning sea, but no one raised their own flag; they maintained their formation solely through their past tacit understanding and training.

As time ticked by, the soldiers grew increasingly restless. They had not found any of the so-called rebels, and by all accounts, they were the only army that had reached the vicinity of the palace. This gave many soldiers an immediate sense of foreboding, and even the officers' constant reprimands could not suppress the whispers within the ranks.

On the towering walls of the palace, built of white marble blocks, golden armor gleamed in the torchlight—the palace guards stood steadfastly on the walls, their surroundings illuminated by braziers every five steps. Their gleaming halberds remained motionless, as if rooted to the spot.

After a long time, just when the soldiers' discussions and unease had become so obvious that the entire formation began to fluctuate, someone finally stepped out from among them and came to the very front of the formation. He was wearing lamellar armor with gold-plated edges, and his helmet was decorated with brass-plated flower patterns on the top, from which beautiful red feathers extended.

The soldiers in the front row immediately fell silent, because they recognized who this person was—Turiars, their legion commander. He was finally going to come out and negotiate with the palace guards, which immediately put aside many of their doubts.

Turias took a dozen or so steps forward, getting as close as he could to within about 150 steps of the palace walls, and then looked up at the top of the magnificent city gate.

Immediately afterwards, a series of footsteps, so loud that everyone in the front row could hear them clearly, suddenly rang out from the city wall. They were so heavy that they seemed to be driven into the stone, so muffled that they seemed to be crushing one's heart. A tall figure appeared at the top of the city wall, his golden iron scales gleaming in the firelight.

Ingersoll didn't remove his helmet, standing fully armed on the city wall. He looked down at the calm man below, lightly patted the marble surface twice, and leaned out, shouting loudly without any restraint:

"Long time no see, Lord Turiars. What is the meaning of your sudden mobilization of troops to surround His Majesty's palace at this time? Are you planning to launch a rebellion with your legions?"

Ingersoll's words immediately caused a huge uproar. Many of the soldiers, who were already doubting and hesitant, showed panic on their faces. Their discussions rolled like the tide, and the ranks became even more distorted. Even the officers began to hesitate and doubt. The sounds of armor, shields, and weapons clashing were incessant.

No one dared to accept the word "traitor," and even the thought of it sent chills down their spines... because it meant one of the empire's most serious crimes, with terrible consequences that would terrify anyone... and if Turias did not provide a proper explanation, the army gathered here would likely scatter immediately, even if they did not defect and capture him.

"Of course not, Lord Ingersoll. I led the army here to protect His Majesty. I have definite information confirming that there are treacherous individuals who intend to do such a thing, so I came here immediately to fulfill my duty."

Ingersoll continued to tap the marble in front of her with her hand, like a musician keeping time for a piece, but something dangerous and savage had already awakened in her eyes:

"It is our Imperial Guard's duty to protect His Majesty. As the general of the garrison, you have overstepped your bounds... Moreover, His Majesty is safe and sound. What are your intentions in deliberately inciting unrest here?"

"...I don't think so, Lord Ingersoll...Are you really sure His Majesty is safe and sound?"

Ingersoll gave a disdainful sneer. Just as he was about to say something, he suddenly heard a shrill, inhuman roar pierce the night sky with an extremely sharp tone, reaching his ears. It contained an indescribable ferocity and greed.

She abruptly turned her head, her eyes wide as she looked at the palace she was protecting behind her... and at that moment, visible chaos was erupting within that magnificent palace.

My usual day off

As is customary, I take a day off at the beginning of the month to organize my thoughts and plan the upcoming plot. The later plot arrangements are getting increasingly difficult... (ε??) The author also needs to relax his mind. I will resume normal updates tomorrow.

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441 Failed at the last minute (3)

The darkness always sends shivers down one's spine. After all, the human eye is naturally designed for daytime, and poor visibility instinctively breeds unease and a host of terrifying associations with the indescribable darkness. It's difficult to escape unless dispelled by firelight, especially in unfamiliar and perilous places.

Even after living in the palace for so many years, Clautina still felt a sense of unfamiliarity with this enormous complex of buildings. There were always places she had never seen before, and places that seemed unexpected. She doubted that even if the scholars who originally designed the palace were summoned, they would be astonished by the ever-increasing complexity of the imperial palace.

Such a magnificent and grand place, which makes one feel desolate, must not be very comfortable to live in. However, the emperor's prestige and status can easily erase this, making countless people flock to it and dream of it.

When Ingersoll reported to her, Clautina showed no panic, only a sense of relief that this had finally happened. She felt a sense of calm—after all, she had long harbored a premonition of a possible rebellion and had made numerous contingency plans with Tersolius, even beginning to implement them more than ten days ago…

In this situation, even if the entire legion protecting the capital rebelled, they were doomed to defeat. She had absolute confidence in Tersolius's military abilities and did not believe that such a legion, which had just rebelled and was wavering, could stand in his way.

Moreover, the Imperial Guard led by Ingersoll was by no means a mere figurehead receiving a generous salary. Each of them was a highly trained elite, with seamless teamwork. They used the finest weapons and armor in the entire country, and standing atop defensive fortifications meticulously designed and constructed by scholars and craftsmen, they were more than capable of taking on ten men at once, ensuring that any foolish person who attempted to threaten the emperor would pay a heavy price.

All she had to do now was wait, wait for those she trusted to bring her victory. Only after the victory would she, as the emperor, have something to deal with…

Moreover, she didn't believe this rebellion was just a small-scale skirmish launched by the capital legion. There must be undercurrents stirring in other parts of the empire as well, and those impatient ambitious individuals would inevitably seize this last opportunity to try and realize their mad ambitions...

After all, in their view, with Tersolius campaigning in the south and Nathamus lashing out at the western kingdoms, the emperor, whose left and right arms were far away, was naturally the weakest and the only one with an opportunity. Because once they waited for Tersolius's army to return, or for Nathamus to destroy the kingdom of Salanod, they would just live peacefully like a flock of docile sheep.

Only by seizing this opportunity to place Turias, who has royal blood, on the throne, will they have the resources and courage to challenge the Tesolius brothers, who are leading their army back.

She had always been well aware of those people's thoughts—the Imperial Senate had always limited the emperor's power, which had indeed played a significant role in history. They had prevented tyrants from destroying the country several times and maintained stability for a long period of time. Klautina would not ignore this, so she had always held a certain degree of respect for the Senate nobles, headed by the Chief Senate.

...But now it seems that the long-standing control over the emperor has instilled in some of them enormous delusions and ambitions. They can no longer distinguish who truly rules the country, or who their monarch really is.

A burning rage flowed coldly in her eyes, but it didn't show on her face at all. Only her slender fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of the chair. Something stiff and cold had begun to form in her mind, carrying a pungent smell of blood, and kept churning.

This is the last thing they wanted to see... If they could, none of them wanted to see unnecessary bloodshed in this country. Everything they had done for so long was in the name of this goal, hoping to subtly and gently maintain and change the country, gradually undermining the opposition's foundation and taking away their rights...

But if things really come to that point, they will no longer hesitate or show mercy—like cutting flesh with a knife, as long as the knife is sharp enough and the cut is swift enough, the pain can be minimized. Hesitation and delay will only make the situation spiral out of control. Only by swiftly crushing the opponents with overwhelming force can the impact of rebellion and civil war on the country be minimized.

If nothing unexpected happens, when the sun shines on the earth tomorrow, the capital will be awash in blood, the neatly paved bluestone pavement will be covered with a thick layer of blood, the rebels surrounding the palace will be completely crushed, and she will see the general she trusts and relies on most.

Just thinking about this made her feel genuinely at ease and happy. This happiness was hard to express to others; it could only be slowly experienced by Claudina herself, and she felt genuinely delighted about it... It was like a farmer who had dug up a large piece of gold in a field. Although he still had to face the hardships of life, he had gained confidence. Just touching the smooth metal made him fearless, knowing that he would surely have a wonderful life.

Those who have money in their hands do not panic like bankrupts, and those who own land do not drift aimlessly like vagrants, so even when faced with a rebellion that could affect half the country, she remained calm and composed.

All that's left is to wait, to wait for my own destruction and war to come...

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

The servants in the palace were all trembling with fear, not daring to utter a single breath. The officials in charge of them were also more serious and harsh than ever before, not allowing them to make any mistakes.

Everyone could understand this, after all, there were still troops surrounding the palace, and everyone was under the threat of military might. Moreover, the emperor's solemn and majestic demeanor made people tremble and dare not say a word. Even without officials urging them, they would be more careful and cautious.

It was the early hours of the morning. Logically, the emperor should have been resting in his palace to prepare for the next day's affairs of state... After all, their emperor was always diligent and often worked until late at night, so he didn't get much sleep each day.

Now, due to some "unexpected incident," the emperor is keeping a clear head and thinking, so as his servants, they should naturally serve him wholeheartedly and do their jobs well; this is their way of life.

His Majesty would not allow too much disturbance, but a pot of fine tea and some snacks for a late-night meal were still necessary. Soon, the servants prepared them, and after inspection, they were delivered by the emperor's most trusted female official.

The female official, whose face bore the marks of time, was solemn and dignified. She walked almost the same distance with each step, and the sound of her footsteps on the marble slabs was very rhythmic. Even though it was noisy outside the palace and there was a possibility of an army attack, she remained calm and composed as usual. She maintained a suitable pace and soon arrived outside the room where the emperor was.

After knocking and receiving permission, the lady-in-waiting pushed open the door and entered. At that moment, the emperor was already standing in front of a wall, thoughtfully examining the magnificent swords, gleaming with gold and inlaid with jewels, hanging on the wall shelf.

"Your Majesty, I have brought some tea and refreshments."

"Yes, put it there."

There were only two swords on the rack, both of which were the standard type used by the Imperial Legion. They had been tested in war and achieved a perfect balance between sharpness and durability. Apart from their overly ornate decorations, they did not diminish their sharpness and ferocity in the slightest.

The knife with its slightly upturned tip is the military saber commonly used by imperial soldiers, while the blade is a heavy sword of standard military quality. At this moment, it is not drawn, only the gold-inlaid and gem-adorned scabbard and hilt reflect a dazzling and magnificent luster under the light. The emperor's fingers are stroking the saber, and finally he slowly grips the hilt wrapped with gold thread.

The female official placed the tray on the table and prepared to bow and leave. The emperor did not stop her. He simply drew his long military sword from its sheath and examined the clear, cold patterns on the blade under the lamplight. Only when he heard the door close behind him did he lean on the blade and slowly walk to the table.

Perhaps it was a sudden impulse, or perhaps it was just a whim... She inexplicably wanted to hold a sword in her hand. This feeling was so abrupt and intense that by the time she realized it, she was already standing in front of the sword rack, reaching out to stroke the precious swords forged by the master craftsman.

Just as a tired person subconsciously seeks out a soft, flat place, she seemed to have a premonition that she needed a sword, so she went to look for one... This strange feeling lingered in her mind for a long time, and she frowned, stroking the sharp blade in her hand with a puzzled look.

After hesitating for a moment, Clautina ultimately decided not to put the longsword back. Instead, she leaned gently against the table, sat down herself, and prepared to have some tea to relax her mind.

Tea is a very rare commodity in this country. It is a precious item that is mostly transported from the far east by merchants from the south of Asel. It was initially used as a medicine by doctors of the Asel people, and later it slowly spread to the north. However, no one has ever mastered its production method, and it can only be purchased from Asel merchants at an expensive price. At its most scarce, it can even be exchanged for twice its weight in gold. Only the imperial court can stockpile it on a large scale to supply the emperor.

The warm tea was wafting its aroma. Claudia reached for the cup, about to bring it to her lips, and for a moment her mind relaxed... But in that instant, something unexpected happened!

The ceiling above them, adorned with beautiful paintings and carvings, suddenly began to blur, like the distorted air beside a high-temperature furnace. But unlike that, the distorted area abruptly began to fall, landing directly on the emperor's head.

In mid-air, the distorted air revealed its true form—a bizarre creature no bigger than half a dog, with smooth, oily white skin and eight sharp, crab-like claws. A long tail covered in hooks and barbs hung behind it, and now, ominous green light gleamed from its gaping maw and sharp claws, aimed directly at the emperor's unsuspecting neck and back!

This was undoubtedly the most vicious and insidious murder—no one knew how this dog-sized creature managed to get into the house, but it struck at the perfect moment, just as the emperor was about to drink tea and began to relax for a moment. Once its claws and fangs pierced the skin, the terrible poison would surely help it complete its mission.

No one should be able to dodge such a move, which happens in the blink of an eye, in less than half a second... unless the other party had anticipated it.

In that instant, as if by instinct, the long blade leaning against the table flipped in the air, tearing through the airflow and dancing a dazzling arc. The cold, bright spot started from the left front and stopped at the right rear, drawing a clean and crisp dividing line in mid-air. Crimson drops of blood flowed from the blade to the tip, then dripped gently from the hard, sharp end, scattering and splashing on the soft wool carpet.

With a crash, the cup of warm tea shattered on the floor, steaming droplets mingling with blood and staining the ground red. The mangled corpse, split in two, swept over the emperor's head and fell to the ground with two thuds. The sharp, spider- or crab-like claws twitched and then slowed their writhing, the clawed and barbed tail tearing a large clump of fibers from the wool carpet.

With a flick of her wrist, she extended her elbow forward and then swung it back... spitting out every last drop of blood from the smooth blade. Even now, Clautina's eyes still held a hint of confusion, as if she hadn't quite grasped what had just happened...

boom! !

"His Majesty!!"

The female official, who hadn't gone far, immediately heard the noise. She and her guards hurriedly pushed the door open, brandishing their gleaming blades, ready to capture the assassin who had appeared... But they were too late. They could only stare dumbfounded at the thing still twitching on the floor. It took them two breaths to realize that the emperor had actually dealt with the assassin himself!

Meanwhile, the commotion they had caused was just beginning to spread outside. The guards, who had been on high alert all night, rushed to their aid without hesitation, and the servants, under the command of the officials, immediately assembled. Ingersoll, standing on the outer city wall, immediately changed his expression upon seeing this scene…

442 Failed at the last minute (4)

With a long exhale, Tersolius squinted and wiped the sweat from his forehead. His muscles were burning hot, and his blood was flowing rapidly, delivering oxygen to every corner of his body. Sweat had soaked through his hair and stained the lining of his helmet, but he was still energetic, his breathing was even, and he showed no signs of fatigue.

"We've finally arrived..."

The towering mountain on the distant horizon, so imposing it could not be ignored, and the city at its foot, even at night, obscured half the sky. The lights on the towers shone as brightly as the twinkling stars in the sky, standing on the earth with an indescribable sense of awe.

After the most arduous and urgent march, he finally arrived at the capital of the empire at dawn and saw the familiar city walls and towers... The impact of such a reckless march was a considerable amount of non-combat casualties and exhausted soldiers—even though they were the empire's battle-hardened elites, they were still mortals of flesh and blood, and such a high-intensity march that exceeded the limits of the body would inevitably eliminate some of the weaker ones.

Those who fell behind would spontaneously regroup and catch up at a slightly slower pace, while those who had already arrived had no time to hesitate or rest. They had to set off immediately to enter the imperial capital and completely crush the rebellion that had broken out there.

This will inevitably be a challenge, since in their worst-case scenario, the entire garrison of the imperial capital would mutiny, and they would have to use their current exhausted force of just over 2000 men to face an opponent five times their size... and on a battlefield that the enemy is more familiar with.

But no one wavered because of this. Every soldier took advantage of this rare respite to recover their strength as quickly as possible and prepare to throw themselves into the next battle. They were ready to face the most difficult and dangerous battlefield and firmly believed that they would win again. Because their general had not wavered in the slightest, they would continue to be his strength.

Talina walked to his side with a flushed face, not for any other reason, but simply because she was exhausted. Although riding a horse was faster than riding in a carriage, it also meant that she needed to maintain her balance, straighten her back, and concentrate for a long time. Long horseback riding trips were never an easy pastime.

Moreover, Talirina was never known for her physical prowess among her companions. Unlike Colin, who could keep up with his warhorse on foot for a short time, or Karila, who could run all day without getting tired, she was just an average girl in terms of physical ability, no different from the girls in the village who did housework.

Because of the long hours she has spent in the laboratory in the past two years, the girl no longer maintains a healthy lifestyle. She often stays up late at night and her outdoor activities have been greatly reduced. If it weren't for Tersolius's insistence, she might have had some difficulty even maintaining her health.

Having struggled to get here, Talina now feels as if she has lost control of both legs, half of her body is numb, and she has difficulty moving around for a short time. She even has to rely on Tersolius's support to barely stand.

"...We've finally arrived at the city. What should we do next? How do we get into the city?...The city gates won't open until morning. Unless someone opens them from the inside with a mechanism, we can't get in at all."

"You guessed that quite correctly, Doctor..."

Tersolius smiled slightly and waved his hand to the side. Immediately, his guards lit torches and then, holding the burning sticks, began to draw figure eights in the air in the direction of the city. Their movements were steady and slow. After each repetition, they would pause for five breaths before doing the next one. They did this six times in a row before the torches were driven into the soil and extinguished.

After doing all this, they waited in place. The soldiers were not allowed to raise any torches or flags. They simply hid in a dense olive grove to conceal themselves, and at the same time, they took the opportunity to recover their strength, eat and drink one last time, and wipe away the hot sweat that soaked through the lining of their helmets.

The capital of the empire lacks large areas of natural vegetation. In the past, there were continuous dense forests, but most of them were cut down during the development of the city and used as building materials and fuel. Only some trees were deliberately preserved in the fields, which also left the army trying to approach the city with nowhere to hide.

Of course, there's nowhere to hide during the day when visibility is good, but there's plenty of room at night. For example, there are large areas of olive trees near the capital—the fruit on the trees is sent to be pressed for oil in a fixed month each year. Because of its proximity to the capital, the demand is quite astonishing, so the planting area is also very large.

Olive tree leaves are long and rough, and they can be itchy when they touch your face. Ants of all sizes crawl all over them, and they often sneak into the gaps in your collar and armor, so you have to catch them in the dark.

And so, about fifteen minutes later, a wiry, dark figure appeared before Teresolus and knelt down on one knee to greet him.

"How's the situation?"

Without further ado, Tersolius went straight to the point inquiring about intelligence within the city, while his henchman appeared extremely reserved and serious, never daring to raise his head.

"The capital garrison has surrounded the palace, led by Turiars... However, the soldiers of the garrison do not seem to realize that they are launching a rebellion. Instead, they are talking about suppressing a rebellion. After Lord Ingersoll and Turiars confronted each other, they became visibly shaken. His Majesty is safe and sound. The palace is also well guarded. There is no need to worry about it being breached in the short term."

"But if this drags on for too long, it's hard to say what kind of trouble might arise. At this moment, the entire garrison has gathered around the palace, and the city walls are undefended. We will open the south gate, and we ask you, sir, to quickly lead your troops to quell the rebellion."

His words were packed with information, while Tersolius narrowed his eyes slightly, staring at the other man with a cold, intensely authoritative gaze:

"Are you aware that some of your henchmen have become traitors?"

As soon as those words were spoken, the surrounding air seemed to grow colder, and the guards and soldiers all fell silent. In the darkness, the friction of blades and hammers against each other was like the crawling of centipedes through the soil, sending chills down one's spine, not to mention the faint sounds of arrows being nocked onto bowstrings.

The dark olive grove had become a deadly trap, fraught with danger. A single wrong word could mean instant death. Those with less courage couldn't even muster the courage to speak, yet this henchman simply lowered his head even further.

“I dare not deceive you, sir. Indeed, some of our henchmen have become traitors. The leader is our leader’s second-in-command, Sosgraya. They colluded with the rebels long ago, providing them with cover, and plotted to assassinate our leader.”

"But these shameless scoundrels' plans failed. They had no power to threaten the leader's safety. The leader has been executed, and the rest have been purged based on the information obtained from the torture."

"So you mean you're innocent, right?"

"I dare not speak presumptuously before you, sir, but I have indeed not been punished and have been assigned the task of assisting you."