Chapter 363 The King’s Offensive

War is about fighting people, money, and logistics.

Of course, this is under normal circumstances.

Now, Clay holds two giant dragons in his hands that can take off to join the battle at any time, which is another story.

To be honest, he admired little Aegon for daring to send him such a letter.

Is this because you think King's Landing has not been burned thoroughly enough, and you want yourself and Daenerys to fly over and set another fire?

Anyway, the matter has been settled.

You can start a war, but I have the final say when it ends.

In the year 303 of the Conquest Calendar, Clay Manderly and Daenerys Targaryen commanded an army of 10,000, together with two dragons, and marched south to Harrenhal to join the 26,000 troops there.

The total force expanded to more than 30,000 people.

At the same time, Clay sent back the letter that Little Aegon had given him intact, just changing the subject according to his intention.

Still want to be my king?

Now that I'm here, may I ask, do you still have the guts?

Of the thirty-six thousand men, six thousand were left to guard Harrenhal to support the entire army.

The remaining 30,000 main troops pressed forward from Harrenhal to the southeast.

The first goal of the army is to capture Antler Castle, which is currently controlled by Aegon Targaryen.

This is not a traffic hub, but it has to be big.

Because if the army goes directly south to King's Landing, then the logistics line will be threatened by the Antler Castle and the nearby Sow's Horn.

So, it has to be big.

Moreover, in this war, I have the real advantage.

There is absolutely no need for any blitzkrieg.

Just push it all the way through and smash all resistance.

Now Clay's troops are very good at field combat.

Moreover, far away from the castle, most of those dragon-hunting crossbows that may be a "threat" will not be able to function.

Therefore, Clay was eager for Little Aegon to send people to fight the main battle with him.

Let’s fight it out, don’t bother yourself, solve the problem in one fight.

…

Clay's army pulled out a sharp arrow on the plain of the king's territory.

From the direction of Harrenhal, point directly to the castle of Antler Castle.

The Bookwell family guarding Antler Castle, together with Jon Connington, who has now returned to the position of Prime Minister, sent two thousand defenders to them.

Without reacting, Clay's leading cavalry cut off the southward retreat.

Counting the troops originally in the city, a total of 3,000 people were pinned inside the city, unable to move.

They could only watch helplessly as the 30,000-strong army spread out like a sea wave on the plains of the king's territory in the winter.

And their Antler Castle is like a small boat in the tide, which may capsize at any time.

The figures of the two giant dragons appeared in the sky above Antler Castle the moment the encirclement was completed.

The cross-shaped dragon-shooting crossbow built by Count Bookwell pointed nervously at the sky.

But the soldiers operating the dragon crossbows were exhausted, and they couldn't keep up with the flying speed of Galesos and Drogon.

After sneaking them back and forth several times, Clay could see the tired look of these guys from a high altitude.

Don't make it too obvious when you're lying on the crossbow panting.

At this time, let Galesos and Drogon pounce, a puff of dragon flame, and all problems will be solved.

Before the war, Clay read Daenerys's eagerness to try in her eyes.

After all, riding a giant dragon and bringing blood and fire to the enemy is what a Targaryen dragon master should do.

Clay knew where she was coming from.

But he wanted to try again.

So, he manipulated Galesos and landed in the open space outside the city.

Daenerys had no choice but to land with her husband.

Just as she got off the dragon's back and wanted to ask Clay what he wanted to do, she saw Clay saying to the ground commander of the offensive, Count Tytos Blackwood:

"Go and deliver a message to the Bookwell family inside."

"Tell them that before sunset, my flag must be planted on the gate of Antler Castle."

Lord Tytos Blackwood took the order and left.

Soon, under the watchful eyes of Daenerys and Clay, the knights under their banners headed towards the north gate of Antler Castle.

Not long after, the knight came back, bringing with him two people dressed differently.

Once introduced, Clay figured out the identities of these two people.

The younger one is the current heir of the Bookwell family, while the older one, wearing obviously Essos-style armor, is a captain from the Golden Company.

Clay had no interest in remembering their names.

Just ask:

"Tell me your choice, surrender, or not to surrender?"

The two guys looked at each other, gritted their teeth, and said loudly:

"Clay Manderly! His Majesty has given you very generous terms, you despicable blood thief!"

What?

Bloodstealer?

Now it was Clay and Daenerys' turn to look at each other.

The next moment, they both understood what the word meant.

Little Aegon believed that his bloodline came from the Targaryen family. In other words, he regarded Clay Manderly as a side branch of the Targaryen family.

How can a side branch compete with the direct line for inheritance rights?

I guess this is how Little Aegon defines himself to the outside world now.

Clay smiled and ignored the latter sentence at all.

"It seems that you have chosen to refuse."

"So what, with our dragon-hunting crossbows here, your two... giant dragons are no threat to us."

The two of them originally wanted to say "monster", but after thinking about it, this thing seemed to be Aegon Targaryen, something that must be regarded as a symbol of power, so they changed their words.

Clay certainly wouldn't coddle them.

"In that case, we have nothing to talk about."

"Mark our words, I want the Bookwell family to guarantee that your bloodline will be completely severed after I enter the city."

His tone was calm.

But the two messengers looked very ugly.

Because this is the worst possible outcome.

When nobles fight, usually after the siege is over, as long as the defenders surrender quickly enough, their lives are basically safe.

After all, dead nobles are just a pile of rotten meat, only those who are alive can have something to do.

However, there are exceptions to this.

Just like what Clay said just now.

These are the words of nobles who use their reputation as a guarantee to fight to the death with the people in the city.

Literally translated it is:

After the city is broken, no chickens or dogs will be left behind!

No matter how arrogant these two people are, they will not be so blind as to think that they can completely defend against the attack of 30,000 people.

It's just that before the war started, King's Landing assured them that the dragon-hunting crossbow was a fatal threat to the dragon, and that King's Landing would have enough reinforcements to help them repel Clay Manderly's attack.

Only then did he make the lofty and profound statement just now.

He waved his hand to signal these two annoying guys to leave.

Clay observed the etiquette of war.

Didn't let the messengers become the works of art baked by Galesos later.

"Well, you're right Dany, these guys can really be so stupid in the face of power."

Clay glanced at his wife, who had a somewhat proud look on her face, and said slightly helplessly.

"Oh, just looking for death."

Daenerys didn't bother to evaluate the people in Antlers.

Because they are already a group of dead people.

After watching the two envoys return to the city, the melodious sound of horns sounded on the plains of the king's territory.

This is the clarion call for attack.

But before that, the two giant dragons had already fluttered their wings.

The sharp roar made the crossbowman's nerves, which had just been exhausted, become extremely tense.

They squeezed out the last bit of strength in their bodies, forcibly moved the dragon-shooting crossbows, and aimed at the two giant dragons in the sky.

In fact, if they all focus on Drogon, it might be of some use.

But in order to hit him, they unanimously chose the larger Galesos.

With the sound of several crossbows, there was a slight sound of air tearing.

The dragon-shooting crossbow arrow left the crossbow bed and shot in the direction of Galesos.

Clay was thinking of giving Galesos an order to evade.

However, the dragon's arrogance made this guy reject the master's intention.

Don’t worry, these are toothpicks.

This was probably the idea Galesos sent back to Clay.

really.

Under everyone's gaze, only one of the ten crossbow arrows barely broke through the scales and remained on Galesos' leg.

What's left is at most a shallow mark on the blue-gold scales.

Then, he fell helplessly.

Cheers rang out as the troops prepared to attack.

Everyone has been worried about how much of a threat the rumored magical dragon-shooting crossbow can pose to the giant dragon.

In the Valley War, although the dragon-shooting crossbow appeared, it was not seen by many people.

The soldiers at the bottom have some concerns in their hearts.

But now, after seeing with their own eyes that such a thick crossbow arrow had no effect on His Majesty's dragon, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

A huge shadow shrouded the faces of everyone in Antler Castle as if they were mourning for their heirs.

They never expected that the blow at the beginning of the war would hit the most fatal place.

The dragon hunting crossbow is completely useless!

"Damn it, you liar from the academy!"

Count Bockwell roared angrily while standing on the castle terrace.

However, it's too late to say anything now.

In his desperate and frightened eyes, the two giant dragons in the sky lowered their height and opened their mouths full of sharp teeth.

"Dracarys!"

Clay and Daenerys simultaneously issued attack orders to their dragons.

Suddenly, two bright pillars of fire, full of visual impact, appeared in everyone's eyes.

The explosive power of dragon flames cannot be resisted by these ordinary stone towers.

After just one breath, fire burst out from the cracks in the tower.

Immediately afterwards, the seemingly solid tower exploded as if there was a bomb buried in the middle.

The broken stones flew in all directions with tongues of flames reaching into the sky.

The hot wind, in the winter, had already hit the faces of the soldiers who were preparing to attack from a considerable distance away.

Black smoke rose everywhere, and along with the heart-stopping screams, the entire Antler Castle suddenly turned into a hell of billowing flames.

"Fighters, follow me to attack!"

Lord Tytos Blackwood and Ser Brynden Tully looked at each other and drew out the sword from their waists in unison.

Pointing directly in the direction of the collapse of the city wall, he roared loudly.

This is the best opportunity for a breakthrough.

Dragons can destroy key resistances.

But there is really no need to burn down the entire city inch by inch.

These things can be left to the ordinary military.

It's all burned, what are you trying to grab... No, where can you get the loot?

…

Antler Castle is finished.

After the dragon-shooting crossbow's attack was completely ineffective, its end was doomed.

In one attack, the two giant dragons destroyed all the dragon-shooting crossbows.

Then, all the exits from the city were burned into molten magma with dragon flames.

Completely blocking the possibility of the Bookwell family escaping.

He said that he wanted the bloodline of this family to be cut off from now on.

Then, he must keep his word.

The battle in the city was also completely one-sided.

The dragon's flames directly shattered the resistance of the Golden Company team and the Bookwell family army.

Apart from running for their lives, these people had no second thought in their minds.

The army commanded by Earl Tytos Blackwood rushed in through the collapse, effortlessly tearing through the thin defense line that had been organized in a hurry.

In just one hour, the entire Antler Fort was killed.

Finally, as dusk fell, all the Bookwells were captured.

According to Clay's wishes, he was imprisoned directly in the lord's room that had been ransacked.

The door was sealed with firewood, and then a fire was lit.

This was their execution.

At least their dignity as nobles was guaranteed.

He didn’t have his head chopped off in public and then kicked like a ball by children.

This is the last mercy.

All soldiers who do not surrender will be killed without leaving a single one behind.

In a battle, Aegon Targaryen would have to fight on his side, otherwise, there would be more bloodshed later.

This is unnecessary, whether it's your own side or the enemy's.

…

He captured the Antler Castle and sent an envoy to King's Landing in the south with the broken flag of the Bookwell family, a pair of golden antlers embroidered with white spots on a blue background.

And, a message from Clay was attached.

The tone is relatively euphemistic, but the meaning is clear. It can be summed up in one sentence:

"Those who stop me will end up like this!"

The royal nobles are never monolithic, they only obey those who are stronger.

Clay did it just for them to see.

After capturing Antler Castle, Clay had no intention of waiting for King's Landing's reaction.

Under his plan, the army was divided into two groups.

Ten thousand people led by him continued to rush toward the southeast, burning the flames of war to Dusk Valley City.

The other group, led by Daenerys and cooperating with Tytos Blackwood and Brynden Tully, commanded 20,000 troops and headed southwest.

There, off the King's Road, is Sow's Corner.

Once he gets these two places, the door to King's Landing will be open to him.

He wanted to see how long Aegon Targaryen and his large group of staff in King's Landing could remain calm.