The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 367: Crossing the River to Charge the Enemy Lines, Slaying Stannis! (2 Updates)

(5500 words. This chapter took several hours to write, honestly. Please subscribe!)

*

“Where is the Mountain? Summon him at once. I shall bestow upon him a glorious title, to be called General Wu Lie (Martial and Fierce).” Joffrey said.

The Imp looked up at his nephew: “Your Grace, the Mountain is with the Royal Navy fleet, inspecting the warships' hulls, sailors, naval warriors, and visiting the captains.”

“The Navy fleet? Lord Hand, take me to see it.”

“As you command, Your Grace.”

*

The naval harbor was wide and spacious, with more than twenty Royal warships berthed within. Many small fishing boats and large merchant ships were neatly arranged inside and outside the harbor. The two channels for entry and exit were kept clear.

The Mountain stood on the pier, behind a long table. Court scholar Locke was beside him, holding a quill pen dipped in ink. A bottle of ink was placed in front of the scholar, and a book-sized ledger was open.

Twenty-three captains stood before the long table.

The Mountain and Scholar Locke sat behind the long table.

“What is your name, captain?” The Mountain asked the captain of the King's Ship, who was standing in the first position.

“Archibald Warner.” The captain was a black-haired man, burly, somewhat short, with a long sword at his waist and a rugged appearance.

“Are you a knight?”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Where are you from?”

“Crab Claw Peninsula.”

“Oh, the Crab Claw Peninsula is the pure descendant of the First Men. It has never lacked brave warriors. When Aegon came to conquer you 299 years ago, you swore allegiance and have never changed your loyalty since. Seventeen years ago, in the Usurper's War, the warriors of the Crab Claw Peninsula fought alongside Prince Rhaegar to the very end. You are proud and loyal dragon warriors, and I salute you, Captain.”

The people of the Crab Claw Peninsula were like the mountain tribes, incredibly strong in combat, but not valued by the nobles. In the Battle of the Trident seventeen years ago, the families on the peninsula fought alongside Prince Rhaegar to the very end. The locals proudly called the Crab Claw Peninsula people model subjects of the dragon family. The name Dragon Warriors came from this.

Archibald Warner's ability to become a knight and captain of the King's Ship proved his strength, but in knightly circles and among the nobility, the name 'Dragon Warrior' was despised by the bloated nobles.

The Mountain, for the first time, in his capacity as Warden of King's Landing and Supreme Military Commander, with the status of Earl, gave Archibald Warner the recognition and sincere praise he deserved.

“I am willing to fight to the death for you, Lord Mountain.” Archibald Warner knelt on one knee, drew his long sword, pointed the tip of the sword downwards, held the hilt with both hands, and placed his forehead on the hilt. This was a unique gesture of respect from the people of the Crab Claw Peninsula, from the bottom of their hearts.

The Mountain had the talent to make 'passionate, generous, and extremely brave' people risk their lives for him.

“Captain Archibald Warner, what about your family?”

“I have a son, on the Crab Claw Peninsula.”

“What is his name?”

“Kerm Warner!”

“How old is he?”

“Eleven years old, my lord.”

“Captain Archibald Warner, if you die in battle, I want you to know that I will go to the Crab Claw Peninsula to find your son, take Kerm as my squire, and knight him on his coming-of-age day. If any neighboring knight tries to seize your family's territory, Captain Archibald, I promise you here that I will chop off his head! This battle of ours, our conversation, will be written into history by the court scholar, to be remembered by later generations. Scholar Locke, have you recorded everything Captain Archibald and I said?”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Including my oath and promise.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Lord Mountain…” Archibald Warner raised his head from the hilt, the corners of his eyes trembling slightly. The Crab Claw Peninsula never lacked warriors, but it lacked respect and equal treatment.

The Mountain's words just now, in just a few sentences, conquered Archibald Warner's proud and stubborn heart!

“Archibald Warner, what weapon do you use?” The Mountain asked.

“Battle axe, my lord.”

“The enemy will arrive at the mouth of the Blackwater River in three days' sailing. There are a total of two hundred and seventy warships, twelve times the number of our warships. Captain Archibald, are you afraid?”

“My lord, the people of the Crab Claw Peninsula have never known what fear is.”

“Very good, I want your King's Ship to be the flagship, commanding twenty-three warships to launch an attack. The enemy is twelve times our number, but I want you to attack. Fight to the death, never retreat.”

“Fight to the death, never retreat.”

“Good. I want you to go to the Sea King now, summon your brothers, ask them clearly about their families, addresses, and relatives at home, record them, and give them to me. I want you to tell the brothers that the Mountain swears by blood and life…”

*whoosh*, the Mountain drew his short knife, grasped the sharp blade with his left hand, and with force, the blade cut into his palm, and blood dripped down drop by drop: “With the Old Gods and the New watching, the Mountain swears by blood and life that he will not mistreat any brother. I have prepared sufficient military pay to ensure that the families of the brothers can have food to eat after they die in battle. What I want to say is, this is your territory, this is your home, there are your brothers and sisters in the city, the Crownlands are where you were born and raised, anyone who comes to invade, kill! Die! Him!”

Captain Archibald's whole body was boiling with blood. He laid the long sword flat, knelt on both knees, kowtowed to the Mountain, got up, sheathed the long sword: “Lord Mountain, it is an honor for me and my brothers to fight to the death for you.”

Captain Archibald strode towards the bow of the ship, his trumpeter immediately blew the horn, and soon, the two hundred warriors of the Sea King gathered on the deck. After a while, enthusiastic slogans rang out: Fight to the death, never retreat, long live the Mountain!

In the distance, the Hand and the King led a large number of courtiers and generals towards the pier. King Joffrey said: “What are those fools shouting? Long live the Mountain? Have they forgotten who they should be fighting for? What does the Mountain want to do? This is King's Landing, not Clegane's Keep. And I wanted to praise him!”

“Your Grace, the warriors are willing to fight to the death for the Mountain, and the Mountain is fighting to the death for Your Grace.” The Imp said in a deep voice.

“I also want to fight in person, to let them see who is the real coward and who is the real warrior.”

Sansa said: “Your Grace, my brother Robb always goes to the fiercest places to fight.”

These words were very poisonous, with murderous intent like a knife.

The Imp looked at Sansa. Sansa lowered her head and added: “Of course, Robb is already an adult, but Your Grace…”

“I will deal with my uncle first, then go north and chop off your brother's head.” Joffrey shouted in great anger.

“I sincerely hope you still have the chance.” Sansa said in her heart, “Go to the battlefield, the most valiant king of the Seven Kingdoms.” – “His Grace has the warrior blood of the late King Robert. The late King Robert always charged into battle, taking the lead and routing the enemy.” Sansa said.

“Of course, in the Battle of the Trident back then, my father took the lead and knocked Prince Rhaegar into the Red Fork with one hammer, and even his body could not be found.” Joffrey said triumphantly.

“Sansa!” The Imp lowered his voice and shook his head gently.

His nephew was a bastard, but the Imp had to protect him. He was the King.

“Don't intimidate my betrothed, little Imp.” When Joffrey was happy, he would forget his status and etiquette. He was the King and could call him whatever he wanted. “I will let you see with your own eyes how I fight when my uncle comes. I will make him kneel down and beg for mercy, but I will never let him go.”

The group came to the pier. The Mountain was asking about the family situation of the captain of the War Hammer and having Scholar Locke record it.

“Captain George Gahl, you have three children, one boy and two girls. Your son will inherit your title smoothly when he grows up. Your two daughters will let your wife decide to marry them to suitable knights.”

“No, my lord, I hope you can take my son as your adopted son, my lord.”

“Okay, knight, I promise you. Scholar Locke, record it.”

“It has been recorded, my lord.”

*clang*!

George Gahl drew his long sword and knelt on one knee: “George Gahl hereby swears to you, with the Old Gods and the New as witnesses, George Gahl will lead the War Hammer to attack the enemy fiercely, fight to the death, and never retreat.”

The Imp, watching from the side, felt a thump in his heart – George Gahl will lead the War Hammer to attack the enemy fiercely, fight to the death, and never retreat – the Mountain was clearly planning to send all twenty-three warships to their deaths by having them face two hundred and seventy warships!

The Royal Navy warships, only twenty-three in total, were the family fortune. The Mountain was going to completely bury them with this tactical plan.

The Imp looked at the Liana, the King's Ship, the King's Landing, the Queen's Ship, and other warships. The naval warriors were gathered on the decks of the warships, their long swords shining like a forest of knives, all roaring wildly: Fight to the death, never retreat, long live the Mountain!

The Imp understood that the Mountain's pre-war mobilization was very successful! But…

According to intelligence, Stannis's warships would arrive at the mouth of the Blackwater River in three days. At that time, the sea battle would begin.

“Hey!” Joffrey stepped forward and shouted, “Mountain, why don't the captains and warriors of the Royal warships shout long live the King, long live the Queen Mother?”

The Mountain stood up and glared at the child king. The king took half a step back, and his eyes suddenly became timid.

“Your Grace, when you put on your armor, ride your warhorse, and wave your long sword to charge, you will receive the whole army's cry of long live the King, long live the Queen Mother.”

“I will go to the battlefield.”

“Good, I will wait for you to go to the battlefield together!” The Mountain said coldly. He drew his Ice Giant Sword, the blade reflecting the bright sunlight. “Captains, warriors, the King will fight alongside us, long live the King!”

The Mountain's shout was like a thunderclap, rolling over the harbor and booming in the sky above the harbor.

“Long live the King, long live the King, long live the King!”

…………

The soldiers and civilians of the whole city had a bad impression of the King and the Queen Mother. People missed the era when Robert was around. All the courtiers, including Cersei herself, were very clear about this, only King Joffrey was not clear about this.

The Imp was naturally very clear about this.

Mandon Moore and Meryn Trant, the two Kingsguard, were staring at the Mountain with gloomy eyes. The Mountain did not look at them.

The cry of long live the King resounded through the Blackwater River!

*

From the other side of the Blackwater River, there came a strange sound, faintly, like muffled thunder spreading in the clouds. As if the huge sound was absorbed by the cloud sponge, leaving only a little echo to reverberate.

Everyone fell silent in unison. The sound carried a certain mysterious magic, causing everyone to listen involuntarily.

“Cavalry!” Bronn shouted from a merchant ship in the river, his voice sharp and agitated. “Lord Mountain, cavalry!” He pointed to the south bank of the Blackwater River.

The other side of the Blackwater River was the Kingswood – a primeval forest that the late King Robert loved to hunt in. The Storm Road leading to Storm's End, the Rose Road leading to Highgarden, and the King's Road leading to the banks of the Blackwater River connected outside a certain inn in the Kingswood.

A troop of cavalry appeared from the King's Road in the Kingswood and came to the river crossing. However, there were no boats at the crossing.

As if in an instant, the sound of horses' hooves exploded, and countless cavalry appeared like a tide from the forest of the Kingswood. They flocked to the river bank. However, as far as the eye could see, the waters of the Blackwater River upstream and downstream were empty, and there was not a single boat.

Stannis had arrived with his land cavalry! Tens of thousands of horses' hooves pounded on the ground, the sound of hooves was like thunder, raising dust on the river bank.

The sound of people shouting and horses neighing roared over the wide and rapid Blackwater River, rushing towards this side like an explosion. Someone was shouting loudly: Find a ferry! The sound passed over the river, faintly.

Soon, banners fluttered on the other side of the river, the flags of the great nobles of the Stormlands fluttered in the wind, horses flowed like dragons, and they poured out from the edge of the Kingswood continuously, the momentum was amazing. No one knew how many enemy cavalrymen had come.

Kingsguard Barristan Selmy saw his family's banner: two swans fighting, one black and one white.

According to the news received in the Red Keep of King's Landing, Ser Donnel Swan led the army of House Swan of Stonehelm and joined Renly Baratheon's army. After Renly's death, Donnel led the army and joined Stannis Baratheon's army.

Donnel Swan was Barristan Selmy's brother and the heir to Stonehelm.

Barristan Selmy was proficient in swordsmanship and archery. He only lost to one person in the archery competition in King's Landing: Anguy the archer.

King Joffrey once asked Barristan what he would do if he encountered Ser Donnel on the battlefield? Barristan's answer was: We will show no mercy when we meet on the battlefield.

On the south bank of the Blackwater River, people shouted and horses neighed, and the cavalry team came to the bank continuously. Countless war horses ran to the river to drink water, and the platoons of cavalry began to become chaotic. On this side, the whole place was quiet. On the walls of King's Landing, the garrison soldiers were silent. Queen Mother Cersei saw such a formation from the other side and did not know how many tens of thousands of troops had come. When the news was reported, some of the Tyrell family's troops had also defected to Stannis.

Cersei's face turned slightly pale.

After the enemy's cavalry, there were also infantry and the navy coming by water.

After Renly's death, Stannis's forces had increased several times at once.

The warships were twelve times the number of the King's Landing Royal Fleet, and the army seemed to be at least several times the total strength of King's Landing.

Suddenly, a voice resounded through King's Landing, resounded through the Blackwater River, suppressing all the noise on the other side: "Who dares to cross the river with me to charge the enemy lines?"

The Mountain was shouting!

The enemy was too strong. The Mountain saw some of the soldiers' wavering. Those fearful eyes could not be concealed. There were too many enemies on the other side. The cavalry was densely packed on the shallows of the other side of the river, and cavalry was still pouring out of the forest continuously.

The enemy had traveled a long distance and was already exhausted. They hadn't gained a firm foothold, and their warhorses were thirsty, heading to the river to drink. Their formation was in disarray, making it the perfect opportunity to charge.

Having read the simplified version of "The Art of War" after crossing the Demon Mountain, repeatedly studied "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," and learned about the idioms from "The Thirty-Six Stratagems," he knew that this was the best moment to boost their morale by charging into the enemy lines.

"Who dares to cross the river and charge with me?" the Demon Mountain roared. Even Little Devil's eardrums throbbed faintly.

"Timett of the Burned Men!"

"Chella of the Black Ears!"

"Gonzo of the Moon Brothers!"

"Eryn!" Captain Eryn drew his longsword and exclaimed heroically.

"Polliver Clegane!"

The bald Polliver shouted, his right cheek twitching rapidly.

Clang!

A longsword was drawn, slashing fiercely through the air!

"Dennison Clegane!"

"Chiswyck Clegane!"

"Bronn!"

"Baelon Swann!"

"Sandor Clegane!"

"Anguy!"

"Rorge!"

"Pudgy Zollo!"

An Arakh was unsheathed, forming a circle of bright light overhead.

"Josslyn Bywater!"

………………

"The King's Ship will carry the brothers across the river to charge!"

"The War Hammer will carry the brothers across the river to charge!"

"The Queen's Ship will carry the brothers across the river to charge!"

The Demon Mountain shouted, "Cross the river and charge, kill Stannis!"

This sentence possessed dark magic and was unstoppable!

On all the warships, docks, and city walls, tens of thousands of soldiers roared together: Cross the river and charge, kill Stannis!

The Demon Mountain jumped onto the King's Ship, and the soldiers followed one after another, their emotions surging like a group of madmen from hell!

The King was dumbfounded.

Little Devil shouted from the city wall, "Sound the attack horn!"

Morale must not be lost; Little Devil knew this well!

Woooo! Wooooo!

Woooo! Wooooo! Wooooo!

On the city wall, the attack horn sounded. The sound was deep, desolate, bleak, and solemn!

All the people in the city quieted down, tilted their heads, looked at the sky, their eyes filled with surprise and uncertainty.

War is coming?! War is coming!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Twenty-three Royal warships sounded their war drums together, and the twenty-three warships started simultaneously, the war drums thundering, the battle rhythm unified: Boom! Boom! Boom!

The warships sailed out of the harbor, lined up across the Blackwater River.

The Demon Mountain raised his shield, the Ice Giant Sword striking the shield, in time with the war drums: Clang! Clang! Clang!

The soldiers beside him drew their longswords, striking their shields or chest armor, unified and in sync with the thundering war drums: Bang! Bang! Bang!

Horns, war drums, and the sound of shields striking formed an unbreakable fighting spirit, a fighting spirit that shook the heavens and the earth, intangible yet palpable, suddenly sweeping across the opposite bank.

The warhorses and cavalry on the opposite bank froze in an instant! The warhorses drinking water raised their heads together, looking at the opposite bank in surprise.

When the Demon Mountain roared, across the turbulent Blackwater River, no one took the 'bluff' from the weakened forces on the opposite bank seriously... Stannis's army was too powerful...

However...

Suddenly, a sharp and激荡 sound rang out, and Stannis appeared, waving his longsword: "Lancers, form a line by the river!"

Boom boom boom, the sound of hooves was chaotic, and the lancers formed a line. The warhorses circled, back and forth, centurions shouted, soldiers whipped their warhorses, a chaotic mess.

"Horse archers, form a line!"

Boom boom boom!

The horse archers formed a line in units of hundreds behind the lancers.

Suddenly, the battle began, and the sound of military orders rose and fell!

The warhorses drinking water densely packed by the river were forcibly pulled away by the soldiers, the cavalry mounted, turned their heads, ran east and west, people shouted, and horses neighed, looking for their teams.

"Attack speed!" the Demon Mountain shouted.

Therefore, the Royal Fleet's drumbeat immediately turned into a rapid and dense sound: Boom boom boom boom boom boom...

Twenty-three well-trained warships with a fighting spirit like a dragon's flames spread out, shooting across the Blackwater River like arrows!

Archibald Warner, captain of the King's Ship, stood on the flagship's bridge and shouted, "Brothers, prepare your bows and arrows!"

On the twenty-three warships, each warship had two hundred naval warriors, neatly arranged on the deck, two hundred-man formations on each warship, each with a bow and arrow in hand. With the flagship captain's order, more than four thousand bows and arrows were drawn together, the arrows pointing to the sky.

"Fire!"

The sound of tearing through the air seemed to come from the ninth heaven, the screech of iron arrowheads sliding through the air grew from far to near, black dots densely packed, covering the sky, and suddenly, the sound of whistling arrows grew louder, close at hand, thousands of iron arrows roared down, covering the entire beach on the south bank of the Blackwater River...

And Stannis's horse archers and lancers, in disarray, had not yet completed their formation...

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