Chapter 55: The Army of Glory

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  The Thirteenth Cavalry Regiment of the Byzantine Empire, apart from this formal number, also has a special name "Vexillatio", "Vexillatio" (Note 1, see below) in the ancient Byzantine language means "Mighty Knight".

  In the Byzantine Empire, only cavalry units with distinguished war records were qualified to be named in this way.

  And the Thirteenth Cavalry Regiment is indeed worthy of this glorious title.

  In the military history of the Byzantine Empire, the 13th Cavalry Regiment also has a brilliant and glorious war history, and is a true elite army in the Byzantine Empire.

  Its predecessor was called the "Rhodorian Cavalry Regiment", and its history dates back to the Byzantine Empire's Sixth National War two hundred years ago. At that time, Emperor Ouluos of the empire recruited local knights from the Rhodorian region, known for their bravery, to form a cavalry regiment to quell the rebellion. The regiment made great achievements in the war, suppressing six rebellions and repelling nine invasions by the Odin people. The Rhodorians were born with a fierce and hot-blooded nature, brave in battle, and unyielding. During the Sixth National War, this cavalry regiment set a record among all military forces since the founding of the Byzantine Empire: they fought in 64 battles, large and small, without ever retreating once!! (This is something that no other unit in the Byzantine army has achieved, not even the prestigious Imperial Guard, which has records of defeat and retreat.)

  At that time, the Rodrian cavalry regiment had only two thousand people, but these two thousand cavalrymen from the Rodrian region fought in a way that was considered extremely unusual at the time. They used a special four-meter-long lance when charging, holding up large oval-shaped giant shields to protect themselves - only people from the Rodrian region had excellent and robust physical qualities, could use such heavy weapons, they charged fearlessly, never retreated.

  It is worth mentioning that in the national war experienced by the Rodrian Cavalry Regiment, their 64 battles never retreated, including 13 times when almost all members were killed, but still did not retreat!

  The Rodrian cavalry regiment's slogan at that time made all Byzantine soldiers change color!

  "Advance, or die!!"

  This is not a casual slogan. This army, from officers to soldiers, every single person has proven the truth of this slogan with their blood and lives!

  After experiencing one bloody baptism after another, the soul of this army became more and more tenacious. Even if this cavalry regiment was repeatedly crippled in brutal battles and suffered heavy losses, later rulers would not hesitate to rebuild it time and again! Because even the most foolish ruler understands how precious such an iron army, tempered by blood, is to the empire!

  After the end of the sixth defensive war, the Rodrian cavalry regiment was transformed from a temporarily recruited unit into a regular unit and was officially included in the regular army sequence of the Byzantine Empire, renamed the 13th Imperial Cavalry Regiment at that time, with an expanded establishment of 12,000 people, which has continued to this day.

  In the more than 200 years from the founding of the army to the present, with the changes in the imperial map, the political situation, and the migration of nations, the former Rodoria region has become a desolate and uninhabited place. The original fierce and traditional Rodorians have ceased to exist and have thoroughly assimilated into various corners of the Byzantine Empire, becoming a drop in the ocean.

  However, the 13th Cavalry Regiment still retained the iron-blooded spirit of the most traditional Rodezian cavalry regiment.

  "Advance, or die!"

  The officers and men of the 13th Cavalry Regiment, generation after generation, have defended this glorious motto with blood. For over two hundred years, this cavalry regiment has been stationed in the southern coastal provinces of the empire, quelled the rebellion of the military governor, resisted the invasion of nomadic tribes on the western frontier, and participated in several battles against the Odin Empire on the northern border. Any commander would unhesitatingly place it on the most difficult and hardest front line, fight the toughest battle, and gnaw at the hardest bone.

  Even when facing the frenzied warriors of the Odinite Crusaders, the officers and men of the 13th Cavalry Regiment never retreated a single step.

  Thus, the Thirteenth Cavalry Regiment also set a record in the history of the Imperial Army: they were the army with the highest casualty rate in each battle, and also the army that was rebuilt the most times.

  There is still... still... zero withdrawal record!

  Of course, there is another record: It seems that the soul of this army was infused with the fierce and combative nature of the Rhodarians 200 years ago. This cavalry regiment has always been a thorn in the side of the imperial army, and its successive commanders have all been similar to madmen or fanatics.

  Even if the imperial military occasionally sent some officers who were considered "stable" and "experienced" to command this army, it was amazing that once those officers arrived at this army, they would soon be assimilated by this army, and even the most stable and experienced people would become madmen.

  There was once a time when the military sent a new commander to this cavalry regiment. The young general was of noble birth, a renowned gentleman from the royal city, refined and extraordinary. However, after arriving at the 13th Cavalry Regiment, within less than three months, his first "achievement" that caught the attention of the military department was leading a group of subordinates to plunder allocated military funds, burning down an allied army's camp to ruins. Without trial, he directly executed several logistics officers he deemed corrupt. Afterwards, due to repeated incidents of fighting, favoritism, and other offenses, he repeatedly violated imperial military law, becoming the military department's number one headache.

  That general later accumulated merit and became a lieutenant general, serving as the governor of an imperial military district. He recalled his time as commander of the 13th Cavalry Regiment, saying:

  "As soon as you arrive in this unit, you can feel its combat spirit everywhere! In this situation, you only have two choices: either roll away or become one of them. And I was lucky, I chose the latter."

  Later, all the commanders who succeeded the 13th Cavalry Regiment took the predecessor's words as a motto. And the 13th Cavalry Regiment has never produced even one obedient general in the Imperial Military Law Department's violation records, it is forever ranked first...

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  As Adrick and his entourage left, Xia Ya took the opportunity to drop by his home on the way back. General Adrick had Kevin, who had a hand-to-hand combat match with Xia Ya, wait for him, then brought Xia Ya back to the military camp.

  Xia Ya's luggage was simple, he carried a bag of gold coins, with a piece of dragon skin folded at the bottom and several dragon scales on top. Of course, his trusty fire fork was still inserted in his waist, he ran to the back mountain and led a horse, telling the earth spirit two sentences: I'm going to join the army, take good care of things at home. Then he left effortlessly.

  All the way, that Kevin didn't show any hostility towards Xia Ya, although they had a big fight before. This guy took off his helmet and revealed a shiny bald head, which made Xia Ya exclaim in surprise.

  Kevin's appearance is not bad, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, tall and straight figure, strong arms, but he has shaved his head, that large and shiny bald head makes him look a few degrees more ferocious.

  Xia Ya joined the army for the first time, seemingly curious about everything. Kevin also solemnly told Xia Ya some things, especially introducing the 13th Cavalry Regiment with an undisguised tone of pride.

  Xia Ya couldn't help but sigh after listening: "Too awesome! Advance or die. It's really cool!"

  At his age and with such a temperament, he naturally admired heroic figures and was at an age when one's blood is most prone to boiling over; after hearing this, he couldn't help but feel a strong yearning in his heart.

  "Uh... Kevin, why is your head..."

  Kevin glanced at him and said in a deep voice, "On the battlefield, it's easy to get injured by arrows. If we shave our heads, if we get hurt on the head or face, it'll be more convenient to bandage and apply medicine."

  Xia Ya listened and nodded repeatedly.

  But suddenly a sinister thought emerged in his mind: it's okay if the head is easily injured... but what about the body? And what if the thighs are injured... do I have to shave all the hair off that area too?

  Thinking of this, I subconsciously glanced at Kevin's place with a somewhat sneaky gaze...

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  Note 1: In real history, "Vikela" does not mean "gallant knight" with a laudatory meaning, but simply means "cavalry". According to the historical evidence of the Byzantine military system presented in the show, cavalry regiments were also called "Vikelatoi-Paramerinoi", where Paramerinoi refers to the elite guard regiment (brigade, division). The author has altered this for the sake of storytelling; please just enjoy it with a smile.

  Also PS: The Byzantium in the book and the real historical Byzantium are not the same thing, but I will also borrow some political and military structures in the description - I did my homework when writing this book, hehe.

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