Armored Cavalry, survive in a world full of mods

Tarina, having changed her clothes, arrived shortly afterward, carrying a package that was still emitting heat. Due to the change in her status and position, the guards in front of the tent did not stop her from entering. After all, she was often summoned over, and many people were already used to it.

"Maybe you should get yourself a new outfit. I thought you'd change a bit."

As soon as she stepped inside, Tersolius looked up and said those words, clearly aware of what had just happened, a teasing smile playing on his lips.

Tarina stopped in surprise and subconsciously glanced down at her clothes—a clean and tidy white dress, just below her knees, which didn't hinder her movements while being neat and elegant... There was absolutely nothing wrong with it; it was the most appropriate attire.

"What I mean is that the color is a bit monotonous. Don't you want to change to something nicer?"

“There’s no need for that, my lady.” Tarina shook her head. Though her tone was gentle, there was a firm resolve in it. “I really like this color of clothing. It makes one look confident and energetic. There’s no need to spend more energy on decorations. There are more important things to do.”

"Hmm... I was going to suggest you and a few other colleagues learn from this, but then I realized those guys don't seem to be of any reference value at all... Never mind, did you bring the materials?"

"I brought it." The white package was placed on the table, and the knot on it was untied, revealing a small earthenware pot inside.

"This is the Frisas sauce stew that my teacher taught me. My teacher always loved to eat this."

The pot lid was lifted, and Tersolius immediately leaned forward, smelling the rich aroma, but then shook his head with some regret:

"It's not quite what I expected. Never mind, I have something else to talk to you about."

161 Fish Bait

"The Holy Religion of Supreme Knowledge?"

"That's right, doctor, have you heard of this name before?"

Tarina frowned, pondered carefully, and after a while shook her head, giving a definite answer:

“Absolutely not, sir. I have never heard of this name before, or even anything similar... Is there anything special about this name?”

"It is indeed very special... The guy who had his first brain surgery has finally opened his mouth, and that's what he told me. If nothing unexpected happens, this will be the name of that secret organization."

"We've been taken advantage of by them several times, but it's only now that we've figured out their names. They really kept it well hidden."

Tarina walked thoughtfully to the chair opposite him, reached out and gathered the hem of her skirt along her waist until it reached her knees, then sat down.

"He probably said more, after all, once you start talking, it doesn't matter how much more... Such a secretive organization would definitely silence him for this."

"That's true, but according to his confession, he was only a mid-level member of the organization, and only in the Eastern Province. The real big shots were still hiding behind the scenes, and even he didn't know their identities."

"There's a possibility that they're just making excuses or shirking responsibility."

“That is indeed possible, so I used a little method to make sure he was telling the truth. If he had carefully considered the consequences of angering me, he should be able to make a rational choice.”

"So at least this information can be trusted. After all, this organization can no longer let him go, and he has no choice but to join us now."

Tersolius pulled a piece of parchment from under the table. The parchment did not look like it was newly made; it was quite old, with slightly yellowed edges and traces of insect bites.

Parchment, as its name suggests, is made from thin sheepskin through a series of processes. The most expensive parchment is crafted from the finest lambskin, resulting in a durable and smooth texture. It is even soaked in special chemicals during the production process to prevent insect infestation. The edges are inlaid with fine gold thread and sprinkled with gold powder; a single sheet can be worth a significant portion of an average citizen's monthly salary.

Paper was so expensive that it was difficult to popularize. Apart from the imperial government, which used it extensively, only wealthy merchants and scholars funded by the state used it frequently. Moreover, it required constant maintenance to prevent it from getting damp and insects. Ordinary people had neither the financial resources nor the time to take care of such a precious thing.

This piece of paper had clearly been stored for a long time; the edges were curled and yellowed, and there were small tears. The handwriting on it was also very messy and uneven, appearing crooked and distorted, giving the impression that the person who wrote it had done it in a secret and hurried manner.

"It seems he was prepared in advance, and even dared to leave such a thing behind."

With a smile on his lips, Tersolius slowly spread the paper out on the table, revealing the irregular handwriting to the two of them.

It was obvious that this was a list, with names written down one after another, and next to each name was a parenthesis containing the person's disguised profession and current location.

The paper was stored on top of a pillar in the house they demolished. The man carefully dug a hole in it, sealed the paper inside, filled it with a piece of wood of the same size, and painted it back with the original paint. If he hadn't known beforehand, probably only the devil could have found this place.

Tarina's fingers traced over the names one by one. Most of them were unfamiliar to her, but there were still several that she could call familiar, and that she even saw often...

"The owner of this farm is also one of their people... Our troops have only been here for a month, and they have already managed to infiltrate to this extent."

“That’s not surprising, Talina.”

Tersolius also scrutinized the list on the paper. According to him, these were the valuable informants hidden throughout the province, all of whom had undergone some degree of training and were not the kind of amateurs temporarily bought off for a few dozen coins. It would be difficult for an ordinary person to detect their flaws.

"This organization has been operating in the shadows for who knows how many years, and we still have no idea how much power they have... I now suspect that there are likely people from their side in the Senate of the Empire, not to mention that it would be easy for them to disguise themselves as a merchant and infiltrate the military camp."

"Have you ever heard of thorny plants, doctor?"

"I've read about it in a book, sir. I've heard it's a plant native to the southern region of Assele. It's very resilient and grows very widely. The cattle, sheep, and camels of the Assele people often graze on the branches and leaves of this plant."

"That's right. This plant looks unremarkable. It's only about the size of an adult man's hand. Its leaves are small and lack sap. It's also covered in thorns. Only camels with thick skin would eat this. So it's called camel thorn by the locals... But the reason this inconspicuous little thing can grow all over the Astra Desert is because of its abundant roots."

"This plant is a short, small thing, but its roots can penetrate seven or eight meters deep into the ground and spread outwards. No one can pull this plant out without damaging its roots. What we see now are just some grass leaves. The real roots are buried deep underground, and it will be extremely difficult to find them."

"Well, at least we have some clues now, so we can try to follow them to find more information and not be completely at a loss."

"Should we arrest all these people on the list immediately? But they might not know as much as the current person, and it would be easier to alert them." Tarina looked at the names on the list again. There were no important positions; most of them were just low- to mid-level officials or merchants doing business with the military.

"We need to crack down on them, but we can't crack down too hard."

Tersolius waved to the outside, and a guard immediately entered the tent and saluted him.

"Go and fetch Fitzgerald for me. He's been given so much time; he should be able to do something now."

The guard immediately turned and left, conveying the legion commander's will, while Thesolius reached out and picked up the parchment on the table:

"This guy may not know much on his own, but he can be a great bait to lure in more big fish."

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

A medium-sized carriage was swaying along the road. The carriage was worn in many places, and the paint was mottled, indicating that it had been used for a long time.

Although the old horse pulling the cart had graying fur, it was still strong and muscular. It pulled a cart full of charcoal with unwavering stability, though its pace was slightly slower. This, however, brought a rare level of smoothness to the cart, almost comparable to that of an oxcart.

This carriage, which has been used for many years, should have reached the point where it needs repair and replacement, but the parts are still in their original condition. If it weren't for the two sturdy wooden wheels covered with iron, it would probably be unusable long ago.

The reason the owner of the carriage still uses such an old means of transportation is not because of a lack of money or time constraints, but because of his own stinginess...

Little Catoruis was a notorious miser in his village. Although he was young, he had become just like his father, a penny-pincher. It was as painful for anyone to eat an extra bowl of rice from his family. He only wanted to see money come in, and it was extremely difficult to take it out.

For this lean and wiry young man, saving even two copper coins was a valuable endeavor, worth his effort and time. Anyone who tried to take advantage of him, even a friend, would be met with his immediate wrath; he would stop them without hesitation, even at the cost of a complete falling out.

But when it comes to taking advantage of others, he's incredibly enthusiastic and never gives up—every evening when it's time to cook, he'll make a point of wandering around the village, sniffing the aromas emanating from each household. If he can detect even a hint of cooking oil, he'll unhesitatingly push open the door and go in for a visit while the other person is busy preparing their meal. He'll bring nothing but his face.

While he was eating, a group of villagers came to visit. It would be unreasonable not to share his food, which gave him a rare opportunity to have a hot meal without even lighting a fire at home.

But after doing this for a long time, he became a disliked figure in the village, constantly receiving disdainful looks. When he tried to freeload, people would ignore him, eating and drinking as usual, so he had to regretfully give up this promising business.

After his father died, he took over the family's charcoal business. The earthen kiln used for burning charcoal wasn't large, and even after a long time of work, he could only produce enough charcoal for one cartload. However, as long as he could deliver it to the city, he could still earn a considerable amount. Especially after recently establishing a relationship with the large army stationed in the city, he could deliver his charcoal directly to the military camp every day, no longer needing to peddle it around, which made things much easier. Moreover, the army was wealthy and generous, paying him more than usual.

Although a cartload of charcoal only cost him three extra silver coins, it was worth the extra distance for him. He also became increasingly arrogant in the village, telling everyone that he was now in charge of delivering charcoal to the army... But in reality, to stockpile fuel for the winter, the carts delivering charcoal to the military camp blocked the narrow road every day, and he was just one of them.

The entire province had been ravaged by those barbarians some time ago, but their village was fortunate enough to be located behind the governor's city and was completely unaffected. As a result, even his charcoal business was not disturbed and continued to operate.

Because of the large army stationed nearby, no fool would dare to rob or block the road. So he closed his eyes and fell asleep in the carriage, reassured. His old horse knew the way, so a short nap wouldn't hurt.

Of course, the charcoal on the carriage could not be stolen, so he slept directly on the charcoal. To prevent the charcoal from being damaged, he even covered it with a thin wooden board, making it impossible for ordinary thieves to steal from him.

In this dazed state, his old horse led him to the military camp along its usual route, and snorted twice as it approached, waking him from his sleep.

He rubbed his sore eyes and forced himself to stay awake. He drove the carriage to a series of rooms next to the military camp—where people, whether selling vegetables, charcoal, or anything else, would exchange goods, pay on the spot, and unload their cargo.

Just as he stopped the carriage and was about to put on a fawning smile and try to befriend the quartermaster next to him, a rapid, thunderous sound of hooves suddenly came from behind him, startling him so much that he fell off the carriage, his face ashen, his hands buried in the fallen horse manure.

Completely ignoring the warm, damp touch on his fingers, the terrifying aura of the armored cavalrymen rushing past him nearly made him faint on the spot. The gleaming armor shone brightly in the sunlight, and the tall figures on horseback looked like a group of giants.

What was even more striking was one of their carriages. This carriage was heavily guarded by cavalry, but inside was not anyone important, but a prisoner locked in a wooden cage, dressed in intricately embroidered silk clothing. He had seemingly been wealthy and noble not long ago, but in the blink of an eye, he was a pitiful prisoner.

The streets had already been cleared, and his carriage, which had been parked by the roadside earlier, hadn't been reprimanded. After the swift cavalry had left, the young merchant, who had gotten up from the ground, couldn't help but ask the quartermaster beside him for news:

"Lord Pudolis, you are well-informed and knowledgeable, do you know what happened? You almost scared me to death just now!"

The quartermaster, wearing a green robe, glared at him.

"Don't ask questions you shouldn't! You're not qualified to give advice on this kind of thing! Be careful you don't get mistaken for a spy and dragged out to have your head chopped off."

“You’re right! You’re right! I was just being nosy… But that man looked like Mr. Adez, the biggest grain merchant in the city. How did he end up in such a state?”

"If he's not a spy, he must have committed some heinous crime. Is there any need to guess? Otherwise, why would it be the lord's elite cavalry personally escorting him... Are you still selling your charcoal? Wash your hands and come get your money."

The young businessman nodded vigorously, but in the instant he turned his head, a cold, shrewd glint flashed in his eyes…

162 Germination (1)

In this era, the bow and arrow played an undeniable role on the battlefield. As one of the earliest projectile weapons created by mankind, its advantage of being able to kill enemies at a greater distance was self-evident.

The earliest bows and arrows were simply a bent stick that used its elasticity to launch projectiles for killing purposes. Both the technique and the power of the arrows were very primitive, and they could only hunt small animals. To hunt larger prey, one had to use poison.

As the nature of human warfare continues to evolve, the scale of wars is becoming larger and larger, and the process is becoming more and more brutal and bloody. In order to carry out this most destructive social activity of mankind more efficiently, weapons and armor are constantly being updated and replaced to obtain better power and protection.

In today's grand battles with thousands upon thousands of troops arrayed in formation, the short bows used for hunting are of no use whatsoever, and are even unlikely to harm one's own enemies.

In order to penetrate increasingly sturdy and heavy armor, people need more powerful and penetrating bows and arrows. To achieve this goal, strong and sharp arrowheads, straight and resilient shafts, and powerful bows are all indispensable... as well as various other factors and conditions, but in general, each generation will be more powerful than the last.

Bows made from natural materials can be broadly divided into two types: single-piece bows made from a single material and bows made from a combination of multiple materials. Generally speaking, the latter is more efficient and powerful than the former at the same weight.

Single-piece bows also have their own advantages. These longbows, made from a single material, often do not require special maintenance. Just apply a little oil and they can be used for a long time. They are also cheaper to make, require less technical skills, and are more adaptable to changing environments. They do not require much effort in maintenance and, when the weight is sufficient, they also have considerable power.

Although a horn bow made of a combination of different materials requires careful maintenance and cannot withstand a humid and hot environment, and has a very long production cycle, it also requires a very high level of skill from the craftsman... Once made, it can achieve higher efficiency and power with its shorter bow body, is lightweight and flexible to use, can shoot arrows that are extremely far and sharp, and can even be used to maneuver on a galloping warhorse and draw the bow with both hands - of course, very few people can do this.

The bows and arrows used by mountain archers like Colin are longbows made from the finest yew wood from their local area. Hunters with the means would add an extra layer of elk tendon to increase the weight and power. To prevent the tendon from becoming soft and falling off due to moisture, they would also wrap it with a thin layer of oily bark.

Such longbows are generally only suitable for use while standing on the ground, allowing for greater muscle use in drawing the bow, thus enabling a very high draw weight. Paired with well-made heavy arrows, they can easily pierce through ordinary armor.

The raiders of the East, on the other hand, mostly used horn bows because the cattle on the grasslands did not have long enough horns, so they mostly used ram horns to make them.

By making flat horn plates and attaching them, along with sturdy long tendons, to both sides of the wooden frame, this composite material can bring extremely high efficiency without affecting their use on warhorses.

Nowadays, the bows and arrows used on the battlefield are more than enough for hunting. Even large beasts like bears and tigers cannot withstand more than a few arrows. There is no longer a need to rely on poison to bring down large prey. The sharp metal arrowheads can pierce bones, tear internal organs, and cause terrible wounds.

Archery skills have evolved rapidly over the years, eventually becoming a unique art form that is easy to learn but difficult to master, and is extremely important.

Because bows and crossbows are different, having strong arm strength is only the foundation. Hitting a target of the same size is much more difficult. Without years of accumulated experience and feel, a complete novice is more likely to hit his own people than the enemy. A barely competent archer needs at least two years of training. The techniques of archery are even enough to establish a special school.

The Imperial Capital's Grand Library contains numerous books dedicated to archery techniques. This vast nation connects the East and the West, where Eastern and Western civilizations converge and blend. As a result, the Imperials can use both Western and Eastern methods of drawing the bowstring. If something is effective and usable, the Imperials will choose the superior method without hesitation.

Thesolius felt he could now write a book on archery, and it wouldn't be difficult for him at all...

………………

The large black bow in his hand was incredibly large; when unstrung, it reached his chin. The bow arms, made of black wood, extended to both sides, tapering towards the ends to form a beautiful gradient curve.

The bow has a slight recurve on both sides, but not too much. When strung, it looks like an extremely elongated S-shape. The end of the bow is polished and fitted with stag antlers. The part near the handle narrows sharply, forming a pair of close-fitting arcs, providing the archer with a good grip. The firing part is covered with durable hard fish skin, while the soft and sweat-absorbing leather part is decorated with gold inlay patterns... No matter how you look at it, this is a finely crafted and valuable bow.

The bowstring is made of a very unique material: bundles of fine white fibers wrapped together with strong thread, making it incredibly strong and able to withstand tremendous tension.

This unique material is only produced in Hols, a southern region. It is made from the bark of a slender tree native to the area. After being peeled and soaked, softened, separated, and steamed, the bark is used and is considered the finest material for bowstrings.

This was a trophy he brought back from the battlefield of the Bone Basin. At the time, he didn't think it was anything special, but now it seems that it might be a weapon owned by a Holstein nobleman. After all, in terms of both the fineness of its workmanship and its excellent quality, it was not something that ordinary soldiers could afford.

He had long forgotten what the man who died by his hand looked like. He had only brought the bow back on a whim and had been using it ever since, and it had never let him down.

He drew a large arrow from the quiver behind his waist. The hardwood shaft was coated with several layers of paint, making it smooth and glossy without any excessive friction. The fletching, made of broad falcon feathers, was flexible and elastic, allowing it to maintain a stable flight posture. The slender, sharp, hard steel arrowhead had a section of its fletching inserted into the wooden shaft, making it even more sturdy and durable.

Thetholys secured the sandalwood end cap to the bowstring and steadily drew back the bow. He stood as straight as a birch tree, his shoulders and arms forming a straight line, maintaining his current posture without moving an inch, his breathing steady and powerful, neither hurried nor impatient.

Maintaining the drawing motion requires a lot of physical strength, but this heavy bow is as easy to shape as a soft noodle in his hands. He keeps the drawing motion in place and aims at the target in front of him, which is made of multiple layers of thick cowhide.

The soldiers and bystanders of the surrounding forces almost forgot how to breathe. Everyone's attention was focused on this moment, and they were completely silent, waiting for the powerful arrow to be fired.

Amidst everyone's anticipation, Tersolius's shoulders twitched slightly, and the great bow was lowered. A cloud of dust rose from the leather target in the distance, and a trembling arrow shaft was embedded in the palm-sized red bullseye. The long arrow was more than halfway in, leaving only a palm-length section exposed. The dozen or so layers of leather and the wooden backing were pierced through together, and the entire target swayed slightly from the remaining force.

The soldiers watching were about to cheer loudly, but before their cheers could even get out of their throats, they swallowed them back down—because Tersolius had already nocked another arrow…

The target, made of thick cowhide, vibrated incessantly. This target, specially designed for armor-piercing arrows, was now as fragile as tofu, riddled with holes. One after another, the exposed arrow fletchings crowded densely on the central bullseye, without a single one colliding with the others, like a swarm of bees returning to their hive.

Thesolius fired one powerful arrow after another with a sense of utter freedom, each strike capable of piercing a strong bull and penetrating thick iron armor.

Anyone who knows how to shoot can see that Thesolius did not use his full strength at all, and did not even focus his eyes on the target. He hit the target accurately with a casual shot, and still had the energy to divert his attention to other things.

This is a state of perfect harmony between man and nature. For him, archery is as simple as breathing. Hitting the target is nothing to be surprised about; missing is what is noteworthy. When the bow is drawn, hitting the target is already a foregone conclusion...

Such bravery naturally drew thunderous cheers. Even the archers in the legion who had previously boasted of their superb archery skills felt ashamed and embarrassed to take out their bows. The entire archery range became his stage, and more and more soldiers gathered around to cheer and applaud him.

Apart from him, no bow made a sound. Everyone was holding their breath, and anyone who disturbed the scene would be met with disdain and possibly a beating.

Each arrow that hit the target would elicit a cheer from the crowd. As the bow was drawn back again, the cheers would quickly subside... And so, with the vibration of the bowstring, wave after wave of cheers washed over the training ground in the military camp, everyone's emotions being stirred and manipulated by the same person.

As the last arrow was nocked and flew steadily, it found its way into the only remaining small gap in the arrow's fletching. All 35 arrows in the entire bag were fired, with not a single one landing outside the bullseye, nor colliding or scraping against any of the other arrows.

Even the feathers on the arrow shaft were perfectly intact, just as neat and tidy as before it flew from the bowstring, leaving everyone speechless.

The officer in charge of the area stepped forward and pulled out all the arrows. This process took considerable effort—the arrowheads, deeply embedded in the cowhide, were difficult to remove, and the tough leather provided strong friction; it took all his strength to move and pull them out little by little.

There was no need to sing the target anymore; everyone could clearly see the final result. Such superb skill and astonishing bravery left everyone in awe. A frenzied and restless atmosphere filled every corner around them. All the soldiers who could shoot arrows were discussing it in hushed tones and exclaiming in amazement.

Before, soldiers were honing their martial arts skills on this training ground, but after he started shooting arrows, no one did anything else. Everyone gathered around, crowding in several circles, their voices like the flapping of bees' wings, their excitement rippling like the ocean tide.