Game of Thrones: Kings in the North

Chapter 143 Prelude to the Northern Expedition

Shipbuilder Raphael took Ed, Caitlin, Helen and the followers of Winterfell to visit the eight longships that had been built.

Sansa looked at the long boat, "I always thought the long boat was very long and huge! It looks like it's only 30 meters long, so it can hold dozens of people at most!"

The shipbuilder Raphael smiled and said, "Miss Sansa, the deck can accommodate 100 people, and dozens of oarsmen are needed in the cabin. The advantages of long ships are narrow, light, long, and extremely shallow draft. For the sake of speed, long ships can be sacrificed. everything."

Robb stroked the thinning beard on his chin. "Longships are faster than merchant ships?"

"That's a must." It was Helen Pike who answered. "The speed of a longship is twice that of a flat-bottomed merchant ship. Under normal circumstances, fishing boats and flat-bottomed merchant ships will not escape death when they encounter an ironborn longship at sea."

Jon said suspiciously: "The Iron Fleet of the Ironborn is known as one of the strongest fleets in the Seven Kingdoms. The longship in front of me is much smaller than what I imagined. The Ironborn rely on such a small longship to dominate At sea? It's unimaginable."

Theon showed a disdainful expression, "Jon, you made a mistake, the longships here are relatively small, and the Iron Fleet has some big ships, like my father King Balon's Great Ocean Monster, and my second uncle Euron's Serenity , Uncle Victarion's Invincible Ironborn is much bigger than these longships, and can hold up to a thousand warriors and sailors."

Robb, Jon, and Domilik exchanged suspicious looks, and Domilik said: "With such a big longship, it's no wonder the Iron Fleet can compete with the Redwyne fleet and the Royal Fleet on Arbor Island."

Helen proudly said: "In addition to the Iron Fleet, the Iron Islands also have long ships of various sizes. If the leaders of the major families of the Iron Islands are gathered together, the number of ships that the Iron Islands can muster is astonishing. Don't forget But the ironborn are still the mightiest fighters, on land and sea."

Robb disagreed, "The ironborn are not good at fighting on land. The ironborn have almost no cavalry. Of course, if you mean islands by land, just pretend I didn't say so."

Under the leadership of the shipbuilder Raphael, everyone boarded a long ship. Ed said, "The long ship is fast and flexible. Are there other advantages?"

Raphael, the shipbuilder, cleared his throat. "Another advantage of a long ship is that it has a shallow draft. It can sail normally even on water of one meter. There is almost no need to worry about the long ship hitting a rock or running aground."

This has been verified in the rock species war. At that time, the northern fleet was composed of armed merchant ships in White Harbor, Iban whaling ships, and swan ships in the Midsummer Islands. The waters around Skagos Island were full of rocks, and many large ships dared not approach. In the nearby waters, the longships of the sisters and men and the ironmen can shuttle flexibly between the reefs.

Helen added: "Another advantage of the longship is that it is light. When necessary, dozens of ironmen can carry the longboat forward. Back then, when the ironmen conquered the Trident River, they used this tactic. The Trident's tributaries criss-cross."

At this time, a cavalry galloped from a distance and came to the shipyard, and the rider got off his horse.

"Lord Ed, I finally found you. I came from Streamland, the castle of the Earl of Streamland, and a raven from Winterfell arrived. The letter is for Lord Ed."

The black wings brought black news. Ed took the letter and opened it slowly.

Caitlin, Robb, and Jon all stared at the letter.

"What did the letter say?" Caitlin wondered.

Ed handed the letter to Caitlin, "Mance Rayder, the King Beyond the Wall, launched an attack on the Great Wall, the wildling army attacked the Skull Bridge, and dozens of Winterfell warriors and brothers in black died in battle. The Skull Bridge is tight Next to Westbridge Watch and the Shadow Tower. Meanwhile, large armies of wildlings are gathering at Nightfort, Castle Black and Eastwatch, ready to attack any moment."

Sansa's face was full of fear, "Father, are the wildlings going to cross the Great Wall? It's too scary. The old nan said that the wildlings married the aliens and produced half-human, half-ghost offspring."

Arya grimaced. "Old Nan's story is not true."

Ed said indifferently: "The Night Watchman and the northern border will wipe out the savages, and the savages will never want to cross the Great Wall."

Caitlin began to worry, "The Northern Territory just conquered Skagos Island last year. Do you still want to call up an army? Ed, I must remind you that years of fighting will exhaust the people in the Northern Territory. The nobles are not happy about the farming."

Ed nodded, "Don't worry, I won't recruit any vassals from the northern border this time. Winterfell will send [-] cavalry to fight side by side with the Night Watch."

Caitlin seemed even more worried, "The number of wildlings summoned by Mance Rayder, the king beyond the Wall, is huge. Even if the wildlings are poorly equipped and poorly disciplined, it would be too much for you to try to defeat the wildlings with [-] cavalry."

Ed showed a confident smile, "The Night Watchmen will fight side by side with us. We have garrisons in Fort Greenguard, Long Night Fort, and Westbridge Watch on the Great Wall, and there are thousands of troops in the land-grant Houguan Town. The three thousand cavalry led by himself are enough to defeat the wildling army of Mance Rayder, the king beyond the Wall."

Upon hearing that Ed was going to fight in person, Caitlin excitedly held Ed's hand. I suggest you not to send troops at all.Winterfell has already spent too much money on the Great Wall of Impossibility, investing manpower and material resources to help the night watchmen restore the castle.The night watchmen on the Impassable Great Wall, as long as they guard the Impassable Great Wall, the savages will naturally retreat when they run out of food and grass. Why go to the ice and snow outside the Great Wall to compete with the savages? "

Ed placed his hand gently on Caitlin's, "The Night Watchman is a friend of the Stark family in Winterfell, my brother Bunyan is the Chief Ranger of the Night Watchman, and the Night Watchman Legion protects the rear of the North. How could I sit by and watch the Night's Watch fight alone?"

"Don't worry, I will return home soon. The direwolf and the sun will protect me. What are you worried about?"

When the young people heard that there was a war, they were very excited.Domilik said excitedly: "I have never been to the Great Wall before, and it will be a great adventure if I can fight the wildlings. It is as great as the rock species war, and it is worth writing a ballad. I must go to the Great Wall and see the legends." The Hornfoot, the Frozen Shore, and the Thenns among them."

Theon smirked and said, "The glory belongs to me. This time, I will be the hero of the North."

Ed nodded, "You all follow me, and Jon goes with me. Caitlin, you take the children back to Winterfell."

Robb said excitedly: "Father, Jon is the same age as me, why should he go to war, and I have to stay in Winterfell like a girl? I missed the battle of the rock seed, and I must not miss the battle against the wildlings." War, I am the heir to Winterfell, the upright Stark, I must go!"

Caitlin quickly stopped, "No, Robb, you are still young, how can you take risks on the battlefield?"

Robb said angrily: "Mom, Jon is the same age as me, and he killed the enemy and made meritorious service in the Rock Seed War. Do you want me to stay at home with my younger siblings? I'm tired of practicing wooden swords and must go to the battlefield!"

The cloud of war once again enveloped the sky in the north.

Mance Rayder, King Beyond the Wall, summoned hosts of wildlings, troglodytes, night tribes, Hornfoot men, men of the frozen shore with dog sleds and bone chariots, giants, Thenns in bronze scales, controlling The skinchanger of the beast.

These tribes of savages, who call themselves free people, gathered under the tent of Mance Rayder, the king beyond the Great Wall, and rushed to the Great Wall with the anger of the entire wilderness beyond the Great Wall.

The battle song has already been played, but many nobles and residents in the northern border don't know it yet.

For example, the newlyweds' ballet lady and sharpshooter Ferran.

When Ed brought his family and entourage back to the Barren Tomb Hall from the Rocky Coast, Mrs. Ballet smiled all over her face and brought Ferran to greet him.

"Master Ed, you have finally returned from inspection. This time, you must stay in the barren tomb hall for a few more days. Ferran and I will treat you well."

Ed took a look at Ferran and said apologetically, "Mrs. Barbaret, there is an urgent military message from the Great Wall in the north. The savage army is gathering. I must lead the soldiers of Winterfell, together with Brother Night Watchman, to defeat the Great Wall beyond the Great Wall." Lord Mance Rayder and the host of wildlings. I wish Ferran would come with me."

The smile on Mrs. Ballet's face faded like summer snowflakes, replaced by helplessness and anger.

"Are you serious? Master Ed, your joke is too vicious. I just married Ferran, and you are going to break us up?"

Ed said helplessly: "I need Ferran to lead my scout troops. No one can replace Ferran's ability. He has already proved himself when he was on Skagos Island."

"I don't care about Skagos Isle, or the goddamn rocks, any more than I care about goddamn Mance Rayder and the wildling army." Lady Ballet's face contorted with rage, "Phelan's my husband, I will not allow him to leave me and join the war."

Ferran put his hand on Barbaret's shoulder, "Babaret, don't be so excited. Don't worry, I will go out with Lord Ed, and I will return safely."

Ballet put aside Ferran's hand in disgust, and said sullenly: "What do you know? When King Robert rebelled, my ex-husband William Dustin told me the same way when he followed Lord Ed to the south. He promised I will definitely return safely, and the result? William died in the Battle of the Tower of Bliss."

"Why the hell does the war always take the man I love from me over and over again? I've been a widow for years in the halls of Barren Hall, and I've finally felt love and passion, Mance Ray the son of a bitch De, start a war, take my beloved man again, why? Why are the gods treating me so cruelly?"

Caitlin took a step forward and said softly: "Barbaret, I fully understand your difficulties. As a woman and as a wife, I feel for your situation. When men are fighting on the battlefield, we women can only ask the gods Blessings and prayers for their safe return."

"You are worried that Phelan will meet the fate of William Dustin back then, but I believe that Phelan can return safely. What William Dustin faced back then was the legendary Kingsguard Arthur Dayne. Er He'an, Gero Hightower and others, the current enemies are just savages covered in lice and fleas. Believe me, Ferran will return safely."

Helen Pike added: "Mrs. Ballerina, when I was a pirate, I often went around Eastwatch to catch savages and sell them to slave traders. The fighting power of savages is not worth mentioning. This is a one-sided war."

After everyone's persuasion, Mrs. Barbaret finally agreed, and she grabbed Ed's wrist.

"Lord Ed, you took away my William back then and made me a widow for so many years. This time, you must bring Ferran back safely. If Ferran dies outside the Great Wall and I become a widow again, let me tell you, At that time, even the gods in the sky will not be able to save you."

Ed couldn't help wondering if it was a good idea to take Feilan away, "Don't worry, I will take good care of Feilan."

Considering that Ferran is leading a scouting force and needs to go deep into the Ghost Shadow Forest, the banks of the Milk River, the Fengsheng Gorge and other places for investigation, Ed's guarantee seems particularly hollow.

Mrs. Ballerina took a deep breath, "The Barren Mounds will send six hundred cavalry to follow Winterfell."

Mrs. Ballerina has always been perfunctory in all kinds of calls to Winterfell, but this time she sent [-] cavalry in one go, which surprised Ed a little.

"Madame Ballerina, this time, Winterfell does not plan to recruit the vassal's army, and the Dustin family may not send soldiers to go out."

Mrs. Ballet said angrily: "Ferlan is my husband, and these cavalrymen are only here to end the war early and let my husband return safely."

Six hundred cavalrymen from the Dustin family, along with Ferran and Ed, left the Tomb Hall and headed north to Winterfell.

Mrs. Ballerina stood on the hill of the Great Wilderness Tomb, looking lonely at the distant team.

Ten days later, Ed returned to Winterfell, and Rodrik, the acting lord of Winterfell, had already summoned the army.

"Lord Ed, three thousand Winterfell cavalry are ready and ready to go at any time."

Maester Luwin at the side stroked his necklace, "Lord Ed, is three thousand cavalry too few? According to a letter from the Night Watchman Bear Old Mormont, the Night Watch Rangers estimate that the wildlings have tens of thousands of troops. I suggest , or we should summon the vassals of the northern border and gather more troops, so as to wipe out the savages in one fell swoop."

Ed shook his head, "Last year's rock species war, the northern vassals contributed money and efforts, this time they should be allowed to recuperate. The number of savages is astonishing because they counted all the old, weak, women and children, and the savages who are really fighting Raiders, Spearwives and their like, probably not even a tenth."

"Winterfell is in Houguan Town, a land-grant army station, and many fortresses on the Great Wall of Impassion, all of which have troops. In addition to the night watchman rangers, we can easily gather more than [-] cavalry on the Great Wall of Impossibility. The number of wildlings Although there are many, but the discipline is too poor and the equipment is too poor, I believe that relying on cavalry can win."

Clare, the financial adviser, took out several glass bottles, which contained apples, fish and blueberries.

"Master Ed, your cans are really a great invention! You ordered the glass workshop to produce glass bottles, and we mass-produced thousands of cans according to the method you provided, including fish, meat, and fruit cans. have."

"In addition to cheap cans, our luxury goods such as maple syrup and caviar can also be preserved in cans, and sold to the south to make a lot of money!"

The production of cans requires heating, corks and wax seals, which are suitable for soldiers on expeditions to carry with them. This time Ed is going on an expedition outside the Great Wall, so the cans can just come in handy.

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(End of this chapter)