Chapter 327 Landing at Longbow Hall
Clay, who was in the north, received relevant news about the tragic situation in King's Landing only after a long time.
Now he is busy with the all-out war in the valley.
The previous burning of Hongge City and the raid on the old anchorage had achieved quite good results.
Internal strife broke out in the valley army. Led by families such as Snakewood City and Lengshui City, they chose to lead their own armies and break away from the main army in the valley to return to their hometowns.
After a bloody battle, they can go back.
However, Gu Di's previously condensed spirit suddenly dissipated.
In this case, the "old friend" of the people of the valley, Clay Mandler, chose to continue to add fuel to the fire.
He led the White Harbor fleet, which had complete control of the sea, and began an unrestricted raid on the edge of the valley.
As long as you have control of the sea, the sea is the fastest highway for the army to move, regardless of unexpected circumstances such as weather.
If the troops on land, even the cavalry, want to compete with the navy in supporting speed, they will be exhausted and unable to do so.
A powerful strike force of three thousand troops and a giant dragon has been assembled, and they can attack at will in the coastal areas of the valley.
Just a week after capturing the old anchorage, Clay's army launched an attack on the poorly prepared Coldwater City at dawn in a foggy morning.
The Lindley family, which ruled Snakewood City, had no time to react.
The mist blocked the view of the dragon-shooting crossbowmen, and the roars destroyed their will.
So, when they fired a round of crossbows randomly, Clay drove Galesos, rushed out of the mist, and began to vent the Dragon King's anger on those who refused to surrender in the sky above Snakewood City.
Soon, the six dragon-shooting crossbows were reduced to ashes.
Half of the Lindley family's fortress collapsed.
Smoke and dust were everywhere, and chaos reigned.
Finally, Lord Serpentwood, Jon Lindley, knelt down to Clay Manderly and asked for his surrender.
Clay followed suit and did not accept the surrender of the Lindley family at all.
Once again he emptied the treasury of a Vale noble and loaded it with the White Harbor fleet that came with him.
Don't underestimate a nobleman's decades of savings.
Every time, it is a huge wealth that makes people excited.
These supplies will be temporarily sent back to White Harbor, and will be collected and organized by Uncle Willis who rushes back.
Naturally, the food was stored, the golden dragon was put to use as soon as possible, and the weapons and armor were distributed to the newly recruited Mandalay family's new army.
All in all, this is a series where valleys fall and Mandalay eats its fill.
Moreover, only the second episode has been updated now.
Several castles near the sea in the valley informed their families that they were now working hard to make dragon-shooting crossbows and began to think of ways to transfer their belongings.
They even sent letters to other families, asking them to remove all the dragon-shooting crossbows on the city walls and send them to their castles as soon as possible.
Of course, other valley nobles would not agree to such a request.
The example of Hongge City is right in front of us. The current city wall is still in a mess.
This shows that inland castles are also vulnerable in the face of giant dragons, but now Clay Mandler chooses to direct his attack at these unlucky ones located on the coast.
In line with the basic principle that a dead Taoist friend should never die a poor Taoist, other nobles who thought they were temporarily safe set off another round of building dragon-shooting crossbows and then finding ways to transfer their own small treasury.
Apart from the main force of the Eyrie, the rest of the Blood Gate army also chose to say goodbye to Little Robert Arryn, who was controlled by Littlefinger, after realizing that their own castle was not safe.
The nobles and their troops all returned to their castles one after another.
The boss is gone and can be replaced.
If the family heritage is gone, perhaps a glorious surname will disappear completely.
Every well-dressed gentleman thinks about things this way.
As for Littlefinger, he placed the Duke of the Eyrie, Robert Arryn Jr., in such a dangerous place as the Eyrie.
Now no one cares about this matter.
Count Yohn Royce of Runestone City, this guy who was bullied by Clay, as a staunch war fighter, immediately took away all the previous things from his home after returning to Runestone City with his army.
Anyway, whatever Clay Mandler grabbed, he moved out.
Then, send your own troops to protect your property.
The remaining people began to make dragon-shooting crossbows day and night according to the bachelors from the city.
Yohn Royce swore that he would let Clay Manderly taste the power of his spear!
However, no matter what he did, it was all in vain.
Because Clay had no intention of attacking Runestone City at all.
After he captured Snakewood City, Old Anchorage, and Hongge City, he understood that the vigilance of the people in the valley had been raised to the highest level.
At this time, if you continue to attack the next city like a cat or a tiger, the effect will not be very good.
So, he was ready to play a big one.
For example, directly lead the army and land at the Longbow Hall, the east gate of Erin Valley.
The reaction of the nobles had already been expected by him.
In doing so, it would objectively make it more difficult and risky for Clay to attack each castle.
However, he also used this tactic to disperse the more than 10,000 uneven reserve troops who had finally gathered in the valley back to various places, and then firmly nailed them.
Now, Clay can fight however he wants.
Daenerys and Drogon kept appearing over the valley.
There is no need to land down to attack, just put the pressure in place.
Clay himself, with his three thousand most elite soldiers, suddenly descended from the sky and landed from the east of the valley when everyone's eyes were drawn away.
Three thousand troops soon came ashore.
Different from the past, this time, they did not choose to attack a castle near the sea.
After the army completed the landing, it had no intention of retreating.
According to the usual training, start to quickly organize the team.
After finishing sorting it out, three thousand troops marched straight towards the Longbow Hall at the east gate of the valley.
This is a small castle built on the hills.
The people who rule here are the Hunter family.
When Clay's army appeared under the walls of Longbow Hall, the Hunter family was still quarreling.
However, the content of the quarrel changed from how their father, old Earl Hunter, died, to what the current Hunter family should do in the face of the three thousand troops outside the city who were already sharpening their swords.
According to Earl Jerwood Hunter, who has been on the throne for two years but has not consolidated his authority, he cannot defeat him anyway. The Hunter family only has more than a thousand soldiers. Under the suppression of 3,000 Mandalay troops and dragons, sooner or later, they will be defeated. To surrender.
Rather than that...
It is better to be a hero who knows the current affairs.
But his two brothers were firmly opposed.
Only they themselves know exactly what they have in mind.
But Clay wouldn't give them any extra time.
Three thousand troops spread out outside the small castle and blocked all the city gates except the west gate.
It's a simple three-dimensional system, but very easy to use.
The castle is too small, and the Hunter family's power has been maintained at a very low level due to the deliberate control of the Eagle's Nest City.
Three dragon-shooting crossbows really made Galesos uninterested.
During this time, after dealing with these guys, it has long realized that the hit rate of this kind of thing is really touching.
Because until now, this number is still zero.
Not a single shot hit at all.
Although it is very powerful, it is useless if it misses.
Dragons move at high speeds in the sky. With the flexibility of a dragon crossbow, instead of predicting the aim, it is better to shoot at random, maybe you can hit the target once.
Clay's ground troops, led by Lord Rickard Karstark, sent a group of knights carrying banners toward the Longbow Hall.
This is traditional etiquette.
Before attacking a city, unless the enemy is irreconcilable with life and death, there must be such a communication process between nobles.
Once the deal is settled and the price is high enough, just surrender.
Or joining if you can't beat them is a very common behavior.
After all, the lives of nobles are more precious than anything else to them.
Spending it at will in war would be outright stupidity.
The knights came to the city gate, and soon, the not heavy city gate opened a crack, allowing these cavalry to enter the city.
It was quiet inside the Longbow Hall. This was not a very wealthy place. In addition to a few nearby auxiliary villages, there were only some craftsmen who supplied the lord and some caravans in the city.
There weren't many civilians.
Before Clay's army and the dragon appeared nearby, everyone in the Longbow Hall was evacuated.
Only this castle is a family legacy, and none of the three brothers wants to give it up.
But unexpectedly, in such a blink of an eye, they were surrounded by Clay Manderly's army.
When he saw the envoy sent by Clay Manderly, Earl Jerwood Hunter, he did not show his majesty as a count. Instead, he stepped forward obediently and asked with a smile on his face:
"Ah... the cold wind in the north is really refreshing. I wonder what good news you can bring me when you come here?"
This is just a polite word, but it actually means, I surrender, as long as the conditions are right.
On Clay's side, the person leading the team has red hair and is extremely tall.
He is the heir to the last Hearth City, Jon Umber, who shares his father's name.
Earl Jerwood Hunter originally thought that if Clay Manderly continued to carry out their piracy this time, they would ask for golden dragons, food and weapons.
Then he, the Earl of Longbow Hall, can pretend to be poor.
Take these fierce guys with you to check the treasury that has been empty for a long time.
It's true, it's not that the Hunter family doesn't give you His Majesty Clay Manderly.
However, Jon Amber's answer made him widen his eyes.
This typical young man from the northern border said something that was neither humble nor arrogant:
"Join His Majesty's army to attack the Eagle's Nest City."
What?
Jerwood Hunter suspected that he had heard wrongly.
Didn't you agree that you, Clay Mandler, are here to commit robbery and business?
Isn't it always like this to just finish this job and leave?
Now it's great, how come this has turned into recruiting people to join the gang?
No, can I refuse?
"Um...this..."
"My name is Jon Umber, the eldest son of the Umber family."
Finally, the heir to Hearth City responded firmly.
Of course Jerwood Hunter knows about the Amber family, they are much stronger than him.
At this moment, the tone became more polite:
"Sir, you know that our Hunter family... doesn't have much strength. Even if we join His Majesty's army, I'm afraid we won't be able to help."
Although they looked down on their brother's hypocrisy, surprisingly, Earl Hunter's two brothers did not make any objections.
Because they knew very well that when their brother said this, he was trying to find a way to preserve the family.
After all, that is the Eagle's Nest City. In the whole of Westeros, like the Blood Gate, it is a very easy to defend and difficult to attack place.
Once the war goes wrong, what if Clay Mandler uses the soldiers of their Hunter family as cannon fodder?
They only have such a small amount of money, and if it's all gone, do they expect Clay Mandler to pay them compensation?
But Jon Amber was not stupid at all. He refused bluntly:
"No, this is the most basic condition. If we cannot reach an agreement, then the army outside the city will immediately launch and completely crush your Longbow Hall and the Hunter family!"
These are Clay's original words. Since he has decided to land for combat, he cannot lay mines for his own retreat.
Therefore, Longbow Hall, if you don't surrender, there will be only death.
"The time Your Majesty gave me is only one hour. After one hour, if I don't come out or bring back any news that dissatisfies Your Majesty, then, Earl Hunter, think it over for yourself."
Warn in advance and be mentally prepared, otherwise when the knife is performed later, just don’t feel pain.
After saying that, don't look at the extremely ugly faces of the Hunter family members.
Jon Amber, with a few people selected from the North and the Riverlands, walked directly out of the reception area and came to the terrace outside.
People in the North take pride in dying in battle. If the Hunter family dares to take action, His Majesty Clay's anger will burn the entire Longbow Hall to ashes.
…
This siege battle, which was about to break out, did not start in the end.
After a fierce quarrel broke out, Earl Jerwood Hunter, despite the opposition of his two brothers, led the entire Longbow Hall to declare surrender to Clay Manderly's army.
To be precise, it should be called abandoning darkness and turning to light.
Clay's army entered Longbow Hall, ensuring that the army had a foothold. After receiving the news, the White Harbor fleet anchored on the shore immediately pulled anchor and set sail, returning to White Harbor.
They want to bring over another three thousand troops.
There are only three thousand people, scattered in such a large valley, which is not too intimidating.
Moreover, this is only one part of the entire valley siege plan.
As soon as they landed here, their purpose was to force the Blood Gate defenders to drop to a dangerous level.
Then, the 14,000-strong army gathered in Earl of Harroway seized this annoying pass with thunderous force.
As soon as the blood gate is broken, the surrender level of the valley will be full immediately.
It is only a matter of time before the final surrender.
…
The news that Longbow Hall had fallen and soon changed its banner was like a strong wind, raging across the entire valley at extremely fast speeds.
Different from the past, this time, Clay Mandler did not choose to grab a handful and leave, but directly entered the Longbow Hall.
After collecting the original army of Longbow Hall, plus the original three thousand troops in his hand, a total of four thousand combatable troops were organized.
Meanwhile, the Eyrie receives a raven sent from the Twins.
In the name of Clay Manderly I, king of the Andals, Rhoynar and the "First Men", ruler of the Seven Kingdoms and guardian of the entire realm, a formal decree was issued to the rebels of the valley who refused to surrender. War letter.
Littlefinger was frightened. Others didn't know. How could he not know where the Longbow Hall was?
It can be said that the entire journey from Longbow Hall to Eagle's Nest City is flat.
The so-called valley refers to this land that is rich in products and contributes more than 30% of the wealth output of the entire valley.
Moreover, this place is the granary of the valley people.
The population is also very rich.
Once Clay Mandler's previous tactics were followed, the food and people were taken away, even if the area was severely damaged, it would be an unacceptable loss for the Eagle's Nest City.
This is the most important core area.
Can't throw it away!
With no other choice, Lord Petyr Baelish had no choice but to borrow the name of Little Robert Arryn again to issue the "King Qin Order" to the entire valley, asking them to take their troops to the Eagle's Nest City to fight the invaders. .
What’s interesting is that the title given to Clay Mandler in this “Edict of King Qin” is not at all the “pseudo king” that is usually used for the king of an enemy country.
Clay was called: "The Other King."
Because, even if he, Petyr Baelish, is unwilling, even in name, the current valley still accepts the leadership of Joffrey Baratheon.
But the dragon, no one can deny that the dragon is the best propaganda for the throne of the king.
This does not mean that if anyone denies it, it does not exist.
The distant water cannot quench the near thirst. Even if the armies of various nobles in the valley immediately respond to the lord's call and rush to the Eagle's Nest City from their respective territories, it will definitely be too late.
There was no other way, Littlefinger could only order to mobilize the main army from the direction of the Blood Gate to return to defend the Eagle's Nest City.
Although he repeatedly emphasized that he must make sufficient gestures on the city wall and not let the Mandalay army outside the gate know about the empty situation of the Blood Gate.
But there is no airtight wall in this world.
He had no idea how long he could keep this kind of thing a secret.
Once the situation changed, the Mandalay family's army stormed the Blood Gate.
Then something is very wrong.
However, this is the best solution that Littlefinger can think of at the moment for this terrible situation.
He is good at conspiracy, but Clay Mandler has no choice but to use his power to overwhelm others.
To put it bluntly, it is unreasonable.
Use a multi-pronged approach to crush you with far more manpower, material resources, and financial resources than you are.
You can struggle, you can resist, but in the face of absolute power, it's all in vain.
Littlefinger was at his wits end, there was nothing he could do.
Because in the final analysis, he is just an ordinary person and cannot transform into a soldier.
Tywin Lannister was crippled by Clay Manderly.
Several letters sent by Littlefinger reached Casterly Rock, but there was no news from them.
King's Landing is also in turmoil, and Stannis doesn't know what he is doing.
For the rest, count on Renly. Sorry, at that distance, it’s better for Littlefinger to do it himself.
So, it's really a solitary struggle.
In the year 302 of the Conquest Calendar, Clay's 4,000 troops had already moved a hundred miles away from the Eagle's Nest City.
And the main force of the Blood Sect's reinforcements had just arrived non-stop.
The decisive battle between the two sides is about to break out.
The success or failure of this battle will determine the ownership of the entire valley.
