Armored Cavalry, survive in a world full of mods

Everyone watched the man cautiously until he slowly turned his head, a bitter smile appearing on his face.

“I suggest you pray to God now, so you won’t have nowhere to go after you die… That’s the Empire’s army, we’re all doomed… Alright, I’ll go first.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he returned to his chair, curled up, and muttered to himself, just like his actions just now—swift and decisive, without any hesitation... even in waiting for death, he was more resolute than others.

The others didn't react at first, until the sound of hooves grew louder and louder, sweeping in like a storm, before they realized what it was... Then desperate cries and screams immediately rang out, making the veteran, who had just calmed down and prayed for himself, frown. But in the end, he chose to keep his eyes closed and continue with his task.

The sound of horses' hooves suddenly stopped, as if a storm had crashed into a heavy cliff, ceasing completely in the blink of an eye, making the desperate cries of the people sound even more piercing.

This continued for a while until they realized something seemed to be changing, when a loud noise came from outside:

"All people living on this land, come forth immediately! Come and witness the laws of the Empire! Any hesitation or disobedience will be considered resistance and hostility!"

The tavern owner was certain that everyone had heard what the other had said... because he could no longer hear any more wailing; everyone had shut their mouths... but no one dared to go out.

"Everyone, get out of your rooms immediately! Anyone who continues to disobey will face the consequences!"

The conversation was filled with an unsettling undertone, like swords being polished on a fine whetstone, subtly revealing a bloody stench.

People don't know what this means, but they instinctively feel fear and unease... just like when a sharp dagger is pressed against the back of a person's heart, they instinctively realize that it threatens their life...

While the others were still hesitating, a bright light shone in from outside, accompanied by the scraping sound of the door hinges. Everyone looked at the veteran in surprise—he simply pulled the door open.

The scene outside also came into everyone's view—about twenty fully armed elite cavalrymen were stationed in the market they had just left. They were covered in gleaming silver chainmail, with cloaks tied around their shoulders and bright helmets on their heads. Sharp and fine swords and gleaming spears were held in their hands, while exquisite and powerful horn bows and dozens of fine arrows were hanging behind their saddles.

Even during this brief stop, the cavalry maintained their tacit formation, never hindering or colliding with each other. At a glance, the veteran was certain that if needed, they could immediately scatter like a pack of wolves, spreading death and fire here.

The one who spoke was an officer whose helmet was decorated with bright blue feathers, and who, unlike the other cavalrymen, had a pair of brass plate shoulder armor that protected him all the way to his elbows. His cloak was also embroidered with some eye-catching patterns.

Seeing that someone had finally opened the door, many cavalrymen focused their attention there. Their cold, aggressive gazes made the veteran instinctively reach for the sword at his waist. At the same time, he prepared to duck behind the door if the enemy decided to attack, to avoid being riddled with arrows in an instant.

The situation was better than he had imagined. The cavalrymen showed no intention of making a move, and none of them reached for the horn bows in their saddlebags. They simply looked around, seemingly waiting for something.

"Are you crazy? Why did you open the door? We'll all be killed!!"

A woman was wailing at him almost at the top of her lungs, while the old soldier glared at her indifferently.

"What good do you think hiding behind this broken door will do? They can kill us all anytime they want. We might as well listen to them and go out to check. Alright, you guys shouldn't hide anymore, or we'll really anger them..."

After saying that, he shook his head and walked out, following the gaze of the cavalry officer until he reached the head of the officer's horse.

"Why are you alone? Call the others out; we don't have that much patience."

A sharp spear rested on his shoulder. The other man's eyes were hostile, and he could even feel the cold steel against him, but the old soldier showed no sign of panic, instead offering a fawning smile.

“I’m the one in charge here, sir. Please forgive these unruly country bumpkins. They’re so scared that they don’t dare to come out, so I came out to check the situation.”

296 On the Eve of Destruction (3)

Silence is a potentially deadly thing—he realized this deeply at this moment.

The spear resting on his shoulder remained, and the man's gaze remained icy, seemingly deeply displeased with the others' decision to remain indoors. In this situation, it wouldn't be surprising if the spear pierced his throat, given that the man had already issued two warnings, which had been met with defiance. Soldiers like this were never known for their patience… rather, the fact that the man was still maintaining a minimum level of restraint was already quite surprising.

Under normal circumstances, the enraged soldiers would quickly subdue the local people with their blades and blood, making them realize their predicament and ensuring they were as docile as sheep before doing what they wanted, which was nothing to the soldiers.

His fingers kept wanting to reach for the sword at his waist, a honed instinct that made him want to get away from the dangerous situation... but his reason was screaming at him not to move—drawing the sword would only lead to his death, and would not bring him any safety.

He could feel the officer's gaze, hidden beneath his nasal helmet, scrutinizing him and making a cold, impartial judgment. This process was incredibly long and agonizing for him.

After an unknown amount of time, finally, the cold, heavy metallic touch on his shoulder disappeared, and the dangerous spear was returned to the buckle beside the saddle.

"You look like a man who knows how to use a sword, and you're quite courageous. Good, you'll be the mayor of this town from now on. Go and gather all the residents of this town here. I don't want you to miss even a single child. Do you understand?"

The man lowered his head instinctively. In that instant, it was as if he had received an order from his superior. The unquestionable, resounding tone made his nose feel like it was filled with the smell of blood again, and he was transported back to that horrific place filled with entrails and dismembered limbs.

He hesitated for only a moment before realizing he had to do something. He immediately nodded and bowed in agreement, then turned around and rushed into the tavern, kicking, hitting, and cursing everyone out. He even grabbed a snotty-nosed little kid by the collar and threw him into his parents' arms.

Then he selected a few men from the crowd and loudly ordered them to call out their neighbors as well. In this way, the newly called men would join them under the bandwagon effect. As their numbers increased, their efficiency also increased. Soon, the entire town's population was gathered in the square, huddled together in fear under the watchful eyes of the cavalry.

To be honest, the current scene looks very ominous, and no matter how you look at it, something feels very wrong. After all, it's exactly the prelude to those infamous massacres—they are first gathered in the square, then ordered to hand over all their belongings, and soldiers will ransack their houses. After everything is looted, a bloody game ensues, a brutal massacre that no one can escape, leaving only burned corpses and houses, and the ghosts of the dead accompanying the red-eyed crows in the night.

The veteran was already mentally prepared for that, and to be honest, he didn't care much... After all, even hiding in the house couldn't guarantee safety, and might even provoke these guys faster. It was better to gather everyone here, so if anything happened, he could find an opportunity in the chaotic crowd... If he was really unlucky, he would just die anyway, and he was already prepared for it.

Others wept and lamented in fear and anxiety. Parents hugged their children tightly, men shielded their wives behind them, and the elderly hung their heads listlessly, awaiting their fate.

"Well done, you're quite quick-witted. I thought you'd waste more time, but it seems you're indeed a capable guy."

The officer nodded with satisfaction at the veteran, then lowered his head and asked:

"Tell me your name, town administrator. From today onwards, you are."

The veteran swallowed hard.

“Ba Tosar, sir.”

"Very good, stand here and wait. I have a new task for you later."

Having said that, the officer yanked the reins, causing his warhorse to leap out from the crowd, reaching the very front amidst the screams of women and children, ensuring everyone could see him. He then reached into his saddlebag and pulled out a book printed on unusual paper:

"People of Hols, this land now belongs to the Empire. You have a new ruler, and the glory of the Empire has descended upon this land. I have brought swords and laws. Accept the swords, and I will make you loyal to your former country!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the cavalrymen raised their lances in unison, their sharp tips reflecting the sunlight. This once again triggered panicked screams and shouts.

"Choosing the law means that you acknowledge the rule of the Empire, are willing to become citizens of the Empire, abide by the laws of this country, follow our morals and all norms, and fulfill your duties and obligations... Now, make your choice immediately."

People were terrified, but their survival instincts led them to immediately choose the most suitable option. However, the various voices were mixed together, making it impossible to hear anything clearly, until a man's clear and loud voice rang out from among them:

"Long live the Empire!"

Suddenly, the sound stunned not only the townspeople, but even the cavalry hesitated for a moment. Then, everyone else reacted and began to shout along with him:

"Long live the Empire, long live the Empire!"

"Actually, I've wanted to be an Imperial citizen for a long time, really!"

"Long live the Empire... But what exactly is an Empire?"

"Shut your mouth, kid! What nonsense are you spouting?"

………………

The rest was easy to handle. The cavalrymen showed no intention of indiscriminate slaughter, allowing the townspeople to return to their homes. Only the old soldier remained, to whom they offered him some words of advice.

"Long live the Empire!"

Tossar smiled obsequiously and cheered again, causing the officer's face to twitch a few times. After a long pause, he spoke in a strange tone:

"It's okay to be a little more normal... there's no need to keep going like this."

The veteran's expression stiffened for a moment, then he immediately composed himself and looked much more serious.

"Alright, you are the manager of this town. You have your own responsibilities. You are responsible for maintaining peace and stability here, ensuring the normal payment of taxes, and you also have the right to organize a security team of about 10 people to help you manage this place. We will conduct an inspection every six months. If there is any dereliction of duty, the majesty of the imperial law will not be challenged!"

Tossar nodded repeatedly... This was all he could do for now.

"And your most important duty is to spread the laws of the Empire here. Do you know the Imperial script?"

The veteran shook his head naturally; he didn't even recognize Hols's writing system.

The officer nodded, seemingly taking it for granted.

"Then you'll have a bit more trouble. You'll need to go to a nearby city this week, the closest one will do. There, someone will explain the laws of the empire to you. Within a year, you'll need to master all the customs and daily laws. If you fail the test, you'll be punished; if you perform well, you'll be rewarded. After you've learned them, you'll need to tell the people living here about the laws, so that everyone knows what the laws of the empire are like, and at the same time, send criminals and evildoers to prison."

The veteran nodded repeatedly, only wanting to get through the current situation.

“Currently, you earn 5 Imperial Standard Silver Coins per month for completing your work. This amount will double after passing the assessment. However, if you are found to have committed dereliction of duty, you will be immediately imprisoned and punished… I don’t need to emphasize this again, and I believe you don’t want to be locked up.”

"Hmm... Huh?! I get paid? And so much?"

The veteran, who had been nodding aimlessly, finally noticed a word in the other person's words that really interested him, and immediately looked up. He could hardly contain his surprise.

"Isn't that obvious? Of course it is."

A genuine smile immediately appeared on his face, much more sincere than before, as if he were seeing a close relative, bowing and scraping in an extremely ingratiating manner.

"Understood, understood. I will definitely do my job well and will never let you down."

"This has nothing to do with me. I'm just here to deliver orders. The officials in charge of the investigation and the scholars who will teach you will be different people. Be prepared as soon as possible and don't think about running away. I will record your appearance and name."

After saying this, the officer mounted his horse and hurriedly left with his cavalry—it seemed they had many tasks to complete today, leaving the man standing alone in the center of the square, lost in thought.

To be honest, not long ago, he had considered running away. After all, things seemed to be changing drastically, and staying here might bring him bad luck… But now, his back was ramrod straight, a smug look on his face. He was already secretly planning how to get to the nearest city—who wouldn't want to seize power? And there was so much money to be made, far more than his current salary, with the only cost being memorizing some laws—utterly insignificant.

...Just one month later, he abandoned this ridiculous judgment, let out a heartfelt lament, and wished he could saw open his head and stuff all the things he needed to remember into it.

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

The rule of the empire is covering the lands of the Hols, the laws of the empire are being enforced, and the authority of the empire is being established here.

This was not a simple conquest, far more than just using swords to achieve its goals; it was a complete assimilation of the land and a more fundamental occupation. The remaining towns of the Holsteins were being divided and surrounded. Faced with the Empire's powerful field armies, their troops dared not even step out of their towns and castles. They could only watch helplessly as villages and towns fell into the hands of the Empire, as the Empire established an effective ruling structure, controlling every inch of this land through officials at all levels.

The rebellions imagined by some Holstein lords in the cities conquered by the Empire have turned out to be a complete joke. They were hoping to see a storm disrupt the rear of the Imperial army, but now they see not a ripple at all. All they see is the Iron Curtain growing stronger and more suffocating, surrounding them in the cities and sealing them within their territories, like fish thrown into a fishing net. Even if they still have breath and water for the time being, it is only their last struggle before death.

Several dukes were so enraged that they cursed and denounced the docile Hols in front of their subjects as traitors and shameless bastards who had no gratitude whatsoever for watching their lords being driven away and then shamelessly accepting the rule of the Empire!

These lowly people are utterly devoid of morality, showing no gratitude whatsoever to their lord who protects them! If they possessed even a shred of dignity as citizens of the kingdom, they should immediately incite a riot, harass the Empire's rear, and cause trouble for these enemies! How could they shamelessly become citizens of the Empire for a mere pittance?! Indeed, lowly people are born lowly; their blood is filled with inferior elements, utterly inferior to us nobles with conscience and morality! They should all be sent to be slaves!

Almost every nobleman and lord was cursing and complaining, their discontent growing stronger, especially those who had lost their territories, who were filled with resentment—they had been hoping to reclaim their lands, but now they were becoming increasingly desperate.

Only the truly wise among them could see another problem—even if the imperial legions were defeated and these lands were returned to them, the people living on them would probably not accept their former lives. They had already received more, and naturally could not be satisfied with the days of oppression and exploitation. Those former lowly people would surely rise up one after another to rebel against their lords and their natural masters.

This further solidified the views of some of them—they should not be given the slightest kindness, otherwise the lowly will greedily demand more! Corruption flows in their blood, and they have no understanding of what morality and conscience are.

Of course, even with the situation so threatening, most people remained confident—King Julius, to reassure the lords, showed them a letter from the Legion of Atherer… This proved that reinforcements were indeed on their way, and the Imperials would no longer be able to act with such impunity, even giving some people more ideas…

297. In imminent danger (1)

"My wise and enlightened Majesty, I am compelled to announce these tragic and lamentable news to you..."

The sun was shining brightly outside the window, a rare treat in this cold and gloomy winter. But the bright light brought no warmth whatsoever; instead, it felt like shards of glass, making his whole body ache.

Of course, even more riddled with wounds than his physical body were his ambition as king and his desire to protect his country...

The minister he trusted most, Talolis, was now all white-haired. This once shrewd and capable man seemed to have exhausted his strength in such a short time, becoming haggard and depressed.

"The city of Buinoca has fallen, and three surrounding castles have also been destroyed within a week. The Duke of Portolis has fled in panic. The Duchy of Portolis has been completely captured."

The iron hooves of the empire are trampling this land; the kingdom's own army is being ravaged; castle after castle is reduced to ruins; noble after noble falls into their hands. In the fiercest battlegrounds, the stench of decay lingers for months. Billowing smoke rises like claws towards the sky…

"The Duchy of Rostow has been destroyed. The Duke died among the rioters during his escape, and we have lost all the land around Mount Bolis..."

The burning city's walls were shattered, and the surging torrent of steel destroyed the will of every resister. The heads of the fallen were chopped off with sharp axes and became the Empire's honors. Their corpses piled up and could be used as steps to climb the city walls.

"Toliaro fell on the 8th of this month, and Duke Frosaris, your friend, who retreated here, also died in battle on the same day... To this day, our southwestern lands have been completely ravaged, and the vast southern plains have fallen entirely into the hands of the Empire. Red double-headed eagle banners are flying there... Many lords have voluntarily abandoned their castles and territories, fleeing to us with their wealth... They are also the ones who oppose you the most, believing that you have allowed them to die in front of the Empire's legions, letting large swathes of land fall into the hands of the Empire, and are unwilling to send your troops to support them."

Every lord facing the imperial army had completely lost the courage to confront them, and not only them, but even their soldiers crumbled at the first touch. They didn't even have the courage to raise their spears when they saw the imperial banners… Their true elite forces had already been mostly lost at Toracasi. The losses inflicted during that horrific escape were something he still didn't want to recall—even he, the king, had barely escaped with his life, enduring countless hardships, from the imperial cavalry.

His kingdom was gone—no one in the entire country knew this cold fact better than him, and recognized the situation sooner, unlike other lords who still clung to ridiculous fantasies… Even if the Aselans eventually helped them reclaim their former lands, the country could never again be an independent kingdom as it once was, and he was destined never to be a king again. His wishes, his ideals, and his past ideas all vanished in an instant like a dream bubble.

"So, all we have left are the Southeast Valley and the capital's territory?"

He interrupted his loyal minister, let out a deep sigh, and slumped back in his chair.

“How can I be called a king now? My territory is so small, and I am about to lose it.”

“My lord, you should not be so pessimistic. We still control the last piece of land in the southeast, which is also rich and fertile. As long as the reinforcements from the Asel arrive, we will surely be able to hold out.”

"You don't need me to tell your old friend these things. Do you think the Aselians will leave after they come? I know they covet that land, but in the past, the existence of the Empire made them unwilling to antagonize us..."

"Who says the Assele people can get that land?"

The white-haired old man looked intently at his monarch:

"The Imperial army is incredibly powerful. Since the start of the war, their iron hooves have not been truly stopped. Even the Asher people have to pay a heavy price to snatch meat from their mouths. After they have used their own flesh and blood to cut off the Imperial hooves, how much strength will they have left? Although we are squeezed into the cracks, we are not without a glimmer of hope... After all, two lions fighting desperately will inflict wounds on each other that are difficult to heal."

The king remained silent for a long while, then suddenly let out a soft chuckle:

“I hope so, I hope so, my friend, but even if we survive in the end, I will never be able to accomplish anything great in my life... How will our descendants live here? What good will come of being sandwiched between two lions?... We are destined to remain weak... Before that, it is indeed more important to survive.”

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

The legion is assembling. After seizing most of the country's land, this massive legion has finally regrouped. With no worries about the rear, all cities and regions that could pose a threat to them have been swept away by the legion's iron hooves. Any resistance has turned into flying flesh and blood. Countless prisoners of war are being sent to the rear in an endless stream. They will be thrown into arduous work, building dams, reservoirs, roads, bridges, and canals on this land, leaving the mark of the empire on this land.

Generally, these prisoners of war would be used as slaves for life, eventually dying tragically from exhaustion and bloodshed... But this time, Tersolius decided to pardon them—the newly conquered land was ruled by fear and bloodshed, and continued brutality and plunder would only cause further turmoil and destabilize the foundation of the empire... So after these prisoners of war finished building the road, he would allow these young men to return to their hometowns and live as imperial citizens from then on.

This might cause dissatisfaction among many people, but for him now, such dissatisfaction is negligible—continuous victories are the best reason to shut up any opponents, because they too can enjoy the delicious fruits of this sweet victory. Those so-called dissatisfactions can at most just pass by his ears like complaints, ultimately adding to the plans he and the emperor have devised.

For this reason, the prisoners of war will not be treated as cruelly as ordinary surrendered soldiers. They will be fed and given warm clothing, ensuring that the vast majority of them can return to their hometowns alive.

Mercy towards former enemy soldiers is an absolute luxury in this era, a luxury that often exists only in the hands of the victors. In the hands of the defeated and cowards, it is called weakness... But he had plenty of it and was willing to show generosity when the time was right.

Of course, nobles and high-ranking military officers did not receive such preferential treatment; they were undoubtedly destabilizing factors and naturally had to be dealt with accordingly.

The army's camp appeared in the southeastern region near the Kingdom of Hols, next to the prosperous city of Sainos in the heart of the land. Stretching for dozens of miles, it was filled with countless banners and soldiers, their shouts and cries echoing through the air. In this area near the mountains, it stirred up countless clouds of dust, startling away countless birds and beasts. As far as the eye could see, it resembled a towering city wall that stretched to the horizon.