Armored Cavalry, survive in a world full of mods

"I swear that if no one interferes, I am willing to accept the most cruel punishment! Even becoming a slave in the mine is something I would gladly accept!"

After a brief silence, the general wearing the winged helmet slowly nodded:

“You have the determination and courage, so I can give you this opportunity... present me with the necessary evidence today, remember, evidence sufficient to convince me. Before that, you will not be arrested and imprisoned.”

"Thank you for your kindness, my Lord."

The cattle rancher looked like a bloodthirsty old wolf, filled with insane malice, eager to pursue his enemy.

After receiving permission, he immediately turned and ran towards his cattle farm. No one stopped him; even the survivors fell silent and waited quietly.

When he came out again, he was wearing a lamellar armor made of hard leather, with a sharp short sword hanging at his waist, a bare shield on his back without any patterns, a turban on his head, and leggings on his calves.

He led a docile chestnut horse to Teresus, then bowed respectfully.

“I know those suspicious people went there, sir. Please allow me to hunt them down… I will bring the necessary evidence before sunset today.”

A commotion arose in the crowd; everyone knew the risks of this action—what if he escaped halfway through if they just let him go?

Even the soldiers standing guard with spears around him were puzzled, thinking that he should not be let go like this.

………………

"Then go quickly."

There was no sign of Tersolius removing his helmet, and his eyes beneath his eyebrows were sharper than swords.

“I will wait here and prove your courage and determination to me.”

Amidst the uproar, the cattle rancher bowed deeply to him, then mounted his horse and rode off into the distance without looking back...

………………

The bodies of the deceased had been collected, but the heavy hooves and sharp horns of the cows made their bodies a gruesome sight, with their flowing internal organs and blood splattered all over the ground.

The bodies were collected by nearby villagers, who came here led by their village chief and water official to help the survivors collect their remains and clean the road.

The intermittent weeping that could be heard from time to time filled the place with a sense of sorrow. The slaughtered cattle were gathered together, skinned, and butchered to prevent their bodies from rotting and becoming worthless.

No one raised any objections, not even the farm workers... After such a huge mess, the farm owner was destined to go bankrupt, and the loss of these dead cattle was simply irreparable.

Or perhaps they were even pleased that the angry mob hadn't slaughtered the remaining cattle to vent their anger, since they had every reason and right to do so.

All the beef that was taken out was sent to the army camp. To thank the soldiers for saving other people's lives, everyone did their best to send gifts.

Keep in mind that there were quite a few people on the road and around the cattle farm at the time, including many ordinary villagers who came out to watch the spectacle. If the cattle had been allowed to run wild, who knows how many more people would have died.

Although they finally had beef to eat, many soldiers weren't thinking about it—almost everyone was waiting for a result, waiting for the possible outcome before sunset.

No one knew why the general chose to trust the cattle rancher, but the soldiers didn't question the general's decision; they were simply curious... or perhaps even a little bit expectant.

Everyone loves to see the birth of warriors and heroes, and the departing ranch owner will soon prove whether he was a lying coward or a warrior.

Among the survivors were wealthy merchants, or those who could come to the cattle farm to do business. Even ordinary villagers had enough money to buy a healthy ox.

They voluntarily contributed money to set up temporary tents here, and no one wanted to leave. They all wanted to see a result... or witness a shameful betrayal.

Meanwhile, Thesolius was holding his bowl, eating large mouthfuls of stew with onions and tomatoes, seemingly oblivious to the situation.

————————————————————————————

The stews in this world are surprisingly good... or perhaps the stews in the Empire are exceptionally delicious? At least the stew in front of me has been simmered with spices and fried in butter, and seasoned by a highly skilled chef, making it delicious enough to be called so.

The cooked onions became soft, sweet, and juicy, the sweet and sour taste of the tomatoes neutralized the greasiness of the meat, and the combination of cilantro and thyme was just right.

He ate his stewed meat with complete concentration, seemingly oblivious to everything else. The tent he had set up was extremely simple, containing only a folding table, two chairs, and a makeshift bed.

On another chair, someone was wolfing down stewed meat, then wiped their mouth hard with their greasy sleeve and let out a burp.

"You think highly of that guy, why?"

Natamus looked at his brother with a slight puzzlement, still holding the bowl in his hand, before asking the question that piqued his interest.

“There’s no particular reason.” Tersolius finished the last bite of his bowl, grabbed the wine on the table, and took a sip, letting the coolness wash away the strong taste of the beef.

"I just felt his eyes were familiar, like something I'd seen before..."

"What if he really escapes..."

"Then let him escape; he can't get away."

………………

The sun slowly set in the west, its color changing from golden to crimson. Warm, blood-red light covered the entire earth, the light had dimmed, and the scene in our eyes had begun to blur.

The sun is about to disappear.

Everyone realized this, and they began to discuss it, interspersed with curses and insults. The survivors who had lost their loved ones had already begun to swear to kill this despicable man.

With heavy footsteps, Tersolius appeared at the camp gate, immediately attracting the attention of everyone around and causing a small commotion.

As dusk was drawing to a close, the light dimmed quickly, and soon people could no longer see each other's faces. One torch after another was lit, illuminating the surrounding grass and roads.

The number of people gathered here has reached an astonishing level, and the news has spread rapidly along the roads of the Empire. Almost everyone with free time has come here... The Empire is waiting.

As the last ray of light disappeared behind the horizon, darkness began to completely envelop the earth, and sighs began to rise and fall, with almost everyone feeling disappointed.

The people of the Empire revered honor and also longed for heroes. Even knowing how difficult this time would be, they still held onto a sliver of hope, hoping to see what they expected.

In the darkness, Thesolius's expression was indistinct, and everyone speculated about what the renowned general was thinking... but the only conclusion everyone agreed on was anger...

It is both fortunate and dangerous that such a distinguished person has placed their trust in you. Once betrayed, the resulting rage can be extremely terrifying.

Darkness finally swallowed everything. The sky was not clear today; dark clouds occupied every corner, preventing the light of the moon and stars from reaching the ground.

Just as the commotion was escalating, a sudden exclamation rang out...

More torches were lit, illuminating the roads and large grassy areas. Many people tore strips of cloth from their clothes to make makeshift torches, making the surroundings brighter and brighter.

The cattle rancher led his chestnut horse, his head soaked in blood, his leather armor tattered, but he still managed a smile as he tossed a head to the ground and pulled another bound figure from the saddle.

Tesorius smiled:

"your name."

“Fitzgerald Willardes, sir…”

97 Variables (4)

"eat."

A large bowl of stewed meat was placed in front of him. The man ate it without any regard for the consequences. Blood dripping from his hair fell into the bowl, and he swallowed it all without even realizing it. Before long, he had even finished the soup.

"drink"

A glass of chilled ale, soaked in well water, was placed on the table. The man picked it up without hesitation and drank it all in the blink of an eye, then let out a loud burp.

"Say it now."

Thesolius watched with great interest the man tied to the stake and the bloodied head, waiting for the man's explanation and to see what evidence he would bring to his defense.

"My lord, I pursued them along the road leading to Torred. It's a hunter's trail into the mountains, known to few, and it will allow me to reach the outskirts of Torred much faster... I'll ambush them there."

"Why are we so certain that these two people are the culprits behind all the disaster?"

“Because they were acting strangely back then.” Fitzgerald took a deep breath, wiping the blood and alcohol stains from his beard, looking much more relaxed.

“They came to my cattle farm on their own initiative and said they wanted to buy my cattle… Actually, I was quite happy because they had come from afar, and those strong, good cattle and my own reputation brought me such a deal. For any decent and honest businessman, this is something to be happy about.”

“I took them to see the strongest and most energetic cattle in the pen, and even considered giving them the best price to bring me more customers, but they wouldn’t even glance at the best healthy cattle, and instead went to look at the thin and sick cattle near the road… That’s when I started to have some doubts.”

"What truly confirmed their identities for me was what happened after your army arrived... Before that, I knew they had no intention of buying cattle! Their attention wasn't on the cattle at all, and no matter how eloquently I spoke, they just gave perfunctory replies and kept turning their heads towards the road outside."

"When your army was halfway through its march, the two of them suddenly jumped onto their horses, without saying a word of farewell, and charged straight out the gate... and then that terrible disaster happened, which is why I was able to confirm that they were behind it."

The man paused for a moment before continuing:

"At first, I was completely terrified by the horrific scene, trembling with fear at the possibility of my own tragic fate. But when I came to my senses, I immediately noticed the suspicious points and understood what those despicable people had done..."

"So I charged from the angle of the setting sun when the light was dim, and on horseback I beheaded one man with my sword. Then I jumped off the saddle, dragged another man off the horse, pinned him down by the neck, and bound his hands and feet with his own belt."

Fitzgerald slowly lowered his body, kneeling before Tersolius:

"This is the process by which I found the evidence, Your Honor. I believe he can reveal more information through his testimony. After questioning him, I have already confirmed this. Now I have accomplished what I wanted to do and await your judgment..."

Why should I judge an innocent person?

Tersolius suddenly chuckled:

“You have presented enough evidence to prove yourself, so this disaster is not your responsibility. You are far from imprisonment and cruel punishment, and you are an innocent and free person. The one who should really be held responsible is this sinner.”

The man tied to the wooden stake looked terrified and desperate.

“You can go and clean up this mess, and I will take him to the capital. The torturers in Chegevne prison are enough to make a stone weep, and they can also make him tell you everything he knows.”

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

Fitzgerald let out a soft sigh of relief, seemingly relieved of all his burdens, but an old friend said to him with a worried expression:

“My sir, why are you doing this? The general has already confirmed that it wasn't your fault, and no one will put you in jail. Why are you selling this cattle farm? It represents all of our hard work over so many years!”

"Are you senile, Hai Shizi?" A bitter smile appeared on the man's face, filled with resentment and anger. "I can't go on like this anymore. After this, who will believe that my cattle are healthy and of good quality? With such a big incident, the news that I'm raising a herd of mad cows will spread to all the surrounding cities in a few days..."

"Instead of struggling in the end, I might as well take advantage of the current situation and sell my assets to get enough funds to find other ways out."

"You've followed me for so long and always done your best. I'll leave you some of my money, enough for you to do some other business... Especially you, Dopps, don't gamble with this money anymore, or you'll starve to death sooner or later."

"Of the remaining money, I will take half to compensate those who suffered from the disaster. Many of them are my friends, and we have always cooperated very well... If it weren't for today's disaster, I would have sold a large portion of my cattle... They deserve compensation, and this is the only thing I can do."

"Sir, what are you planning to do? You've spent all your money, how are you going to live after that?!"

The oldest man had an anxious look on his face. Tears welled up in his eyes, the wrinkles on his forehead deepened, and his lips trembled slightly.

"Don't worry, I've left enough money. As long as I'm careful, I can make a living. I don't have any family to take care of, so you can take it without worry. As for my plans... I'm going to the capital. I want to see the culprits who caused this disaster pay the price they deserve!"

The man packed his belongings; besides a light bundle, he only had a simple leather armor, a short sword, a shield, and a docile horse... He looked just like a well-trained warrior.

…………

Military camps should be orderly at night, at least in the Empire.

A squad leader should keep his squad's tent relatively quiet and should not make loud noise or drink alcohol without permission; violators should be punished with caning.

Besides that, the soldiers are free to do whatever they want, whether it's chatting in the tent or repairing their weapons, as long as they don't go crazy and run out and make a scene, they won't be caught and whipped.

The events of the day were enough to keep them talking for a long time... Everyone was enthusiastically discussing the birth of the warrior.

Yes, no one doubted that they had encountered a hero who had the courage to make such a request under those circumstances and to bring the criminal back in a very short time, something that most people could not do.

Many people in that situation can only close their eyes and wait to die, lamenting their unfortunate fate, and may even shed tears and have a good cry before being arrested and imprisoned.

At the same time, they also admired their general greatly. Not everyone has the tolerance and magnanimity to make such a decision, and afterwards, he was able to prove his correctness with facts without reservation.

Meanwhile, Tersolius was engaged in a meticulous task—maintaining his armor.

Although the armor was exquisitely crafted and exceptionally sturdy, it still showed considerable damage after so much use. After all, putting everything else aside, he had probably experienced more wars during this period than many people have in a lifetime.

Those broken chainmail rings and bent armor plates were difficult to repair without specialized tools, so until he found a skilled craftsman, all he could do was apply oil and wipe away the dust.

The steel that makes up this armor is prone to rusting, especially in wet and muddy environments. Before long, a fine suit of armor will be completely destroyed.

To protect these strong yet fragile steels, it was necessary to isolate them from humid air, and for people of this era, a little animal fat was the best choice.

Wiping the steel with freshly cut fat or rendered grease, leaving a thin film of oil, can save you a lot of trouble.

The empire's warehouses for storing weapons and armor are under strict protection, and even nobles dare not neglect them. Otherwise, sometimes the armor in the warehouses would be reduced to tattered junk when enemy armies were pressing in.

A broken chainmail ring is an eyesore. To repair it, it needs to be reheated, a hole drilled in it, and then forged together with thin steel wire.

However, if there are enough spare parts, a new ring can be used to replace it without any strength issues.

He tried to bend the nail ring with his fingers and then reinforce it.

The former was easy to achieve, but the latter was very troublesome—splitting a small piece of wire is not an easy task, especially when all he had was a pair of pliers.

The sudden opening of the tent caused him to momentarily increase the force in his hand, and the remaining armor rings were undoubtedly snapped off, with both ends completely detaching from the armor and falling to the ground.

Tersolius sighed and gave up on this task that he was not good at... He planned to find a skilled master craftsman to maintain his armor after arriving in the capital of the empire.

Did he say anything?

"No, sir, he has refused to say anything. Although he is almost scared to death and doesn't seem like a tough guy at all, he has managed to hold on until now."

Have you seen his tongue?

"We've already checked; her tongue and throat are intact, but she just can't speak."