"The propaganda of the wolf cubs has already stirred up the ambitions of the slaves, and all of these people must be put to the sword. Just like those in Slaver's Bay, we must be just as ruthless!"
"This task should fall to you, Governor Joey. You stand to gain the most this time, so it is also time to make some contribution to Myr!"
"I-" Governor Joey hung his head, yet he had no better ideas. Judging by the consensus of most governors, this money still needed to come from his own pocket, and hiring these adventurers and mercenaries was also a massive fortune.
"Yet many mercenary companies will not accept such a crazy task. That boy is somewhat capable at warfare, and he is good at swaying people's hearts. The slaves believe in him!" Governor Joey still wanted to try and struggle a bit.
"There are plenty of bandit mercenaries in the Disputed Lands, and there are always some willing to step up. As far as I know, there are two crazy mercenary companies willing to send out troops right now."
"Those two!"
"The Brave Companions and the Second Sons!"
"Their reputations are notoriously infamous!" Joey gasped.
"Notorious mercenaries are still mercenaries, and given the current situation, do you even have the money to hire the Golden Company!"
The Brave Companions, a mercenary company with a rather terrible reputation. Its members consisted primarily of criminals and outcasts from all over.
The Second Sons were much older. The Second Sons were one of the oldest mercenary companies in Essos, having been established during the Century of Blood. They were not as renowned abroad as the Golden Company, but they also possessed an impressive record. In recent years, under Mero's leadership, their reputation had degraded to the point where it was difficult to secure contracts in the Free Cities.
Chapter 37: Stannis's Suspicion
In the dark, gloomy dungeon beneath the Firepowder Herb Estate, the bound Myrcrossbowman let out painful wails. The Firepowder Herb Estate had now been converted into the headquarters of the Wolf Pack. The banner of the Wolf Pack fluttered high above the estate, and wolves roared. There were mercenaries of the Wolf Pack, high-ranking members of the Free Army, and those escaped slaves who had fled to seek the protection of the King of Fireweed.
In the Myrmen's estate, there was never a shortage of tools to punish the slaves—barbed whips, old iron, and spiked chairs—which could make slaves suffer numerous agonizing and slow deaths.
"Truly pathetic humans." Amidst blood and fire, old maester Qyburn looked at the heavily tortured Myrcrossbowman, who was practically on his last breath. The amiable old maester now looked more like a mad scientific fanatic. Although the Myr slave masters had not dispatched a large army to encircle and suppress the wolves, their assassins had already arrived first.
The white-haired Qyburn was still preparing to mix the Manticore venom with a coagulant, briskly preparing a small knife, a syringe, plastic tubing, and cotton balls. Qyburn performed a ritual utilizing dark magic, and then injected it into the body of the Myr assassin.
"Ah!" The Myr assassin let out a painful howl, and then his heart beat violently for a moment before he died. The assassin's eyes were filled with blood, and his eyeballs seemed to have burst. His small body simply could not withstand the combined torment of the toxin and the coagulant.
"Your Highness, this is the second experiment this month! To be honest, the physical fitness of these Myrmen is indeed far too poor!" Qyburn said with regret. Such defective assassins needed to be burned after being scrapped.
"There is no help for it; this is already the best sample we could find!" Gendry looked at the dead Myr assassin. Subjecting these people to severe torture was normal.
"You must pay attention to your own safety! Power is like the Iron Throne, covered in spikes. These assassins are just like hounds clinging to power."
"Assassins are not very easy to guard against; we can only improve intelligence and our guards. Although our numbers are growing larger and larger, just like a snowball! But the Free Army consists of freed slaves; after all, they are novices, and the most reliable ones are still the old hands. You will have to hardship yourself!"
"That I can pour a fraction of my effort into your cause has already been my greatest extravagant hope! I can already not wait, once we slay our way back to Westeros, to see the old lion's expression!" Qyburn did not shirk responsibility; although his age was great, his body was rather good.
"And the assassin's employer?"
"Governor Joey, he is about to hate us to death!"
"What a pity, this body is truly unsuitable. I feel the sample also needs to be upgraded. As far as I know, a build like The Mountain's should be relatively perfect-tall in stature, and his drug tolerance must definitely be strong!" Qyburn sighed.
"It is difficult for us to get our hands on The Mountain!" Gendry said. "He is a good hound by Lord Tywin's side."
"You also need such capable generals by your side to protect your own safety! If our strength increases in the future, then assassinations will also come in a cycle."
"Let us use the current batch of people first!" Gendry said. The Handsome Man had several top-notch Wolf Pack Company experts protect his safety, and also selected many young men from the Free Army who were bound by loyalty to the commander-in-chief of the Wolf Pack Company to serve as bodyguards.
"War is likely to arrive immediately, and my experiments may have to come to a temporary halt!" Qyburn said with some regret. The wolf pack regime in the Disputed Lands truly looked like something hastily established from scratch.
"There will always be opportunities. Adventurers, bandit mercenaries, Meereenese, the Unsullied-these are all very good samples!" Gendry comforted him.
"Your Highness, have you prepared yourself?" Qyburn asked. "For the coming war!"
"War cannot be avoided, so I can only grip my weapons well!
War is not entirely a bad thing for us; we can acquire supplies and gain territory. More importantly, we can boost morale. There are still quite a few fugitive slaves in the Disputed Lands. If we win, our military strength will grow even greater. Let those runaway slaves see that we have the power to protect them!" Gendry's ambition was grand. In addition to the places he had currently conquered, he also wanted to recruit those runaway slaves who were willing to defect. These slaves also entrenched themselves in the Disputed Lands and constituted a relatively formidable armed force.
Gulls crossed the sea to Westeros, on the other side of the Narrow Sea.
"Make way! Make way! The King is traveling!" The red-carpeted procession for King Robert's hunting trip emerged. The convoy was like a river intersecting in gold, silver, and white, with those riders holding the Crowned Stag charging at the very forefront while letting out loud shouts.
King Robert steered his steed, only now he was plump and robust, truly making one fear that the horse would be crushed under the king's weight. The king indulged in fine wine and carnal pleasures, long ago no longer possessing the heroic image of his youth that was majestic and oppressed the world. Beside the king were two White Knights, the most famous being the old knight Barristan-strong despite his age, and famous throughout the Seven Kingdoms.
Then came his eldest son and heir, Prince Joffrey. Joffrey curled his lip, his face seemingly hanging a contemptuous smile. Like his relatives of House Lannister, he was tall in stature, with fair blonde hair, and was very handsome. He had green eyes and an upturned lip. Joffrey wore crimson velvet clothing, embroidered with a lion on one side and a stag on the other, displaying his pride. There was also a knight-that tall knight wearing the menacing hound helm, who was also The Hound sworn to House Lannister.
Behind the king was his squire, Lancel. Ser Kevan's son Lancel was young and strong, with a head of sandy brown hair, pale green eyes, and a handsome face, and was often said to look remarkably like Jaime Lannister.
I need to save this country; the lions by the king's side are truly far too many! High atop the tower, the lonely Stannis watched the receding figure of his elder brother in the sunlight, thinking to himself. Stannis tallied the Lannister forces by King Robert's side, feeling as though they had completely submerged the king. The king's squire, the Kingslayer among the White Knights, the hound sent by House Lannister, and a number of lion soldiers. Even the names of these children bore a strong characteristic of House Lannister rather than the traditional names of House Barristan.
"Wallowing in wine and women, where is that young Robert?" Stannis was filled with anxiety. He was dissatisfied with the unfairness Robert brought him, and also worried that House Lannister's influence was overly grand.
The sunlight struck the banner of House Lannister, where the golden roaring lion against a crimson background made the lion appear with an even more passionate halo. Stannis noticed Joffrey's golden hair once more, so dazzling and glorious in this moment.
No matter what kind of hair the mother of any child has-bronze, honey, chestnut, creamy yellow-the children born are all as black as ravens! Yet Joffrey and his siblings, their hair all shines like the sun. Stannis thought in his heart, feeling that this was exceedingly bizarre.
Stannis thought of quite a few people: his own daughter, his three brothers, and Edric Storm, who was raised in Storm's End and whose shameful existence bore an identical resemblance to the young king.
"Why!" "Why is this?"
Chapter 38: Before the Great War
High atop the tower of the Firepowder Herb Estate, Gendry, the Handsome Man, Steel Fist, Long Spear, Black Billy, Dick the Bowmaker, Qyburn, and others gathered together. The clouds of war hovered over the sky above the Firepowder Herb Estate, and Governor Joey's retaliation would soon arrive.
"Governor Joey is playing for keeps this time!" Qyburn said. "According to news from our inside sources in Myr, Governor Joey has hired the Brave Companions and is also recruiting adventurers and wandering mercenaries everywhere in Myr-a rather considerable force! Their movements are too vast; everyone in Myr knows it."
"That is for the best. What I fear most is not an attack, but an iron-walled blockade by the Myrmen." Gendry smiled. "Since the Myrmen are delivering themselves to our doorsteps, we won't need to tire our horses on a long march." A blockade was far more terrifying than an attack. If the Myrmen blockaded the coastline and roped in the bandit mercenaries of Crown Town, that would truly be the most insoluble situation. Yet the fatal flaw of the Myrmen was their multi-headed leadership, which happened to be an opportunity for the wolves.
"The Brave Companions!" The Handsome Man was very familiar with this name. "A collection of criminals, rapists, pedophiles, and outcasts!"
Gendry also understood this name well; this was the very mercenary company that would later sever the Kingslayer's arm, though they would not live long enough to cross the sea and reach Westeros.
"The Brave Companions! An organization of Jesters and criminals!" the Arrow Maker smiled. "Speaking of notorious reputations, probably only they and the Second Sons rank among them."
"A bad reputation is still a reputation. While they are indeed Jesters and criminals, their combat effectiveness is not bad after all. An army of bastards is still an army." Having survived this long, the combat effectiveness of the Brave Companions was still passable.
"Smash this group of Jesters to pieces!" Steel Fist said. "Hedge Knights and adventurers lack order. Smash the Brave Companions, and the others will collapse along with them!"
"Find a way to devour all of these people; slaughter every last mercenary of the Brave Companions. These criminals and pedophiles have lived long enough by now! The Wolf Pack has principles; we have no time to take in a bunch of criminals. As for the other bandit mercenaries and adventurers, they are free to come and go!" Gendry clenched his fist.
Remaining at the Firepowder Herb Estate to stalemate with the Myr troops was certainly more secure, but a war of movement and ambush battles outside the border were the most advantageous ways to wage war. Minimizing the damage to his own territory and using victory in battle to win over more supporters.
"Is it a blunting tactic or a frontal attack!" Gendry had also considered this. The other six kingdoms of Westeros favored frontal decisive battles, whereas blunting tactics and mobile warfare were commonly used by the Dornish, who chose to avoid large-scale frontal combat, relying on lightly armed warriors and superior horses to launch assaults while utilizing the harsh local climate to wear down the enemy army. Due to the scorching heat and lack of water sources, the advance and supply of a large army in Dorne were extremely difficult.
"Ambush and mobile warfare are better," Gendry said. After all, Gendry did not possess the terrain and natural conditions of Dorne; the Disputed Lands were fertile and rich, and his estate and Free Army slaves were newly subjugated.
"The Myr Fleet coming from the coastline to attack us will find the roads rugged, and they cannot blockade us. In all likelihood, these mercenaries will still take the high road and advance along the land route!" the Handsome Man analyzed, using his only usable arm to write and draw on the map with a pencil, drawing circles.
"My idea is this! First, scouts and rangers will master the intelligence of the eastern coastline and the southern Crown Town, hunting down couriers to prevent us from facing enemies on three fronts." Gendry looked at the map, as if trying to master all the terrain and geography. War was a combination of intelligence, logistics, and organizational elements. A major battle was the ultimate test of a commander's military capability.
"Next, we will set up ambushes on the outer perimeter, striving to head north and annihilate them in one fell swoop! The Handsome Man will be responsible for holding the rear, while Steel Fist, Black Billy, and the Arrow Maker will lead the longbowmen and shield-bearers in ambush. You will be responsible for leading the Free Army. Meanwhile, Long Spear and I will lead the Wolf Pack Company in a charge."
"I support the commander-in-chief's proposal!"
"Then let's do it like this!"
The commanders agreed to the commander-in-chief's proposal. After all, the most arduous charge battle was led by Gendry himself at the vanguard, and this was also his style.
"Two hundred archers—I imagine that will give these people a taste of something nice!" Black Billy said. He led twenty archers of the Wolf Pack Company, mostly free slaves selected from the Free Army. Among the longbowmen, the most numerous were Myr Crossbows, followed by Eastern double-arc beast-horn and beast-tendon bows. Fine yew bows were common, while the most expensive Goldenheart Bows were rare; these were also difficult to purchase. Myr Crossbows were relatively easy to train, requiring no overly professional long-term study, and they were also the cheapest.
"The infantry and shield-bearers must hold firm!" Gendry admonished. "As for the cavalry acting as the general reserve and assault force, I need you to buy as much time as possible!"
"Rest assured!" Steel Fist promised. "As long as there are still people in my position, I can ensure a bloody battle without retreat."
The Myrmen expeditionary army departed from Myr. This force of about a thousand men included the Brave Companions, though far more were a hodgepodge of mercenaries and adventurers organized within the city of Myr. The commander of the Brave Companions led his mercenary company, while the greater portion was commanded by Governor Joey's nephew, Jaqpo. He was an officer of the Myr City Watch and could be considered to possess a certain degree of experience.
Could such a bizarre army truly be a match for the wolf pack? Commander Jaqpo thought in his heart.
He saw the men of the Brave Companions. Beneath the banner of the Bloodhorn Black Goat walked a tall man as thin as a bamboo pole at the very forefront-Vargo Hoat, the Goat, commander of the Brave Companions. A thick, black beard grew almost all the way from Vargo's chin down to his waist, making his haggard, long face look even longer. His mount was also a strange black-and-white spotted horse, with a helmet made of black iron and forged into the shape of a goat's head hanging from the horn of the saddle. Around his neck he wore a chain strung with coins of various sizes, shapes, and materials. These coins represented the places where he had fought.
Following them were copper-skinned men riding horses with braided bells; lancers straddled black-and-white spotted horses; archers smeared grease on their faces; chubby, hairy men held furry shields; dark-skinned men wore robes woven from bird feathers; a slender Jester wore a green-and-pink checkered costume; swordsmen sported bizarre handlebar mustaches dyed green, purple, and silver; spearmen had faces covered in colorful tattoos; a lean, lanky man wore the robes of a septon, while another sickly-looking man wore a leather cloak edged with long blonde hair.
Commander Jaqpo spurred his horse to catch up with Vargo, suppressing the displeasure in his heart. "Lord Vargo, should we wait outside the Firepowder Herb Estate? I feel that waiting until the fleet's personnel cross over from the coastline and the two armies converge is the most appropriate course."
Governor Joey had sought help from his captain allies, but these men dragged their feet, and their fleet's landing was far slower than the advance of the mercenaries. Even so, Jaqpo still hoped to be able to wait for the fleet to deploy.
"Bah, what is there to fear!" Vargo said carelessly. "I took your money, and I will certainly, certainly resolve, resolve these wolf cubs for you." His mouth seemed to be chewing forever, which made his speech slurred and his saliva endless.
"My lord, the wolf pack cannot be underestimated. Although their scale is not large, the ferocity of the Northmen is also renowned in many places. Especially their leader, who is a ferocious knight."
"F-fear, what is there to fear!" Vargo brandished his necklace. "These are all the places where I have fought, fought before! I will chop off the wolf cubs' hands and feet." He frequently used the amputation of prisoners' hands and feet to torture them, which earned him the nickname "The Crippler".
"And that septon of yours-I hope he does not constantly harass the boys in my unit. They are also soldiers, not the boy-toys of the Perfumed Garden." Jaqpo looked at Vargo, suppressing his inner displeasure.
"Utt just likes that sort of thing; I will scold him. But those who deliver themselves to us, I can-I cannot... hold myself back."
Commander Jaqpo's heart sank to the bottom of the valley. He could not forcefully manage the mercenaries, yet these mercenaries held themselves in high esteem.
Chapter 39: Dance of the Wolves
The road was in absolute chaos. The bandit mercenaries of the Brave Companions hurried ahead in the van, followed by the troops organized by the Myrmen trailing behind them. Horses neighed and panted, and free mercenaries cursed one another, fond of bickering and arguing; all they emitted was noise.
Jaqpo did not trust the slaves, nor did he entirely trust the bandits of the Brave Companions. He feared that the Myr slaves would turn on them, as the slogans of the Fireweed King had completely unsettled the hearts of the Myr slaves. What Jaqpo trusted most were thirty Unsullied and four Meereenese gladiators, which were the greatest wealth his uncle had left him. The force Jaqpo led was a collection of free mercenaries and adventurers, but they were far too undisciplined.
"How much longer do we have!" Jaqpo also accelerated his advance to the front to question Vargo Hoat, the commander who liked severing human limbs and was currently wearing the goat-headed helmet.
"About, about still two days or so." Vargo's speech remained slurred, yet Commander Jaqpo maintained a veneer of civility.
"I wonder if we should wait a bit longer. I feel that contacting the fleet to attack from the west and contacting the bandit mercenaries of Crown Town to attack from the south, with three armies advancing together, would be much more secure!" Commander Jaqpo thought to himself, suppressing the tension and panic within his heart. Rumor had it that the Fireweed King was a demon of war, proficient in horsemanship and weaponry, capable of smashing Meereenese gladiators and the corpses of the Unsullied in an instant. Of course, the most secure option was to hire the Golden Company, but the Golden Company's price was truly exorbitant, and Governor Joey did not want to spend that money.
"What are three armies for? To have more, more people come and split the money with us?" Vargo Hoat hummed with dissatisfaction. "They are merely a collection of bandit mercenaries and runaway slaves. What is there, what is there to fear!"
"The Jester" Shagwell chopped off the heads of two runaway slaves, swaggering over while carrying the heads by their hair and making them perform a dialogue. "Why did you die?" one head asked. "I supported the Fireweed King!" the other replied.
Commander Jaqpo felt somewhat nauseous at this bloody spectacle, but he endured it. "The whelps of the Wolf Pack Company are not that frail, nor are those fiercely loyal runaway slaves. Otherwise, so many mercenaries wouldn't have failed to hold their ground; this task is no delicious pie."
"Are there any anomalies ahead!" Jaqpo asked.
"None, Commander Jaqpo. It is calm and tranquil. The estate owners fear the wolf cubs' attacks, so the estates are locked tightly shut and pedestrians on the road are rare. We cannot obtain intelligence at all, except that I found two slave whelps on the road who escaped from the estate and wanted to defect to the Fireweed King!" the Jester replied.
"I always feel it is too peaceful!" Jaqpo looked at the vast world, the flatlands, small rivers, and estates. The verdant Disputed Lands harbored quite a few woods, and murder seemed to be stacked heavily within them, with adversaries lurking in every grove. Jaqpo always felt his uncle was overly optimistic. Perhaps waiting for the three-pronged advance would have been better.
"There are estates all around here. Rather than letting the Fireweed King benefit, we might as well pillage them first!" Jester suggested.
"No! You cannot do that. These are all the properties of the governors; we cannot mess around." Jaqpo hurriedly and anxiously tried to dissuade him. They were here to suppress and encircle the Wolf Pack Company, not to add new adversaries.
"That's so lonely!" Jester sighed. "I still wanted to get my hands on some gold and silver to spend. However, the Wolf Pack Company's cubs have six or seven estates and the surrounding land; they should have money on hand, not to mention those fireweed herbs."
"That is the wealth of my uncle and other Myr nobles, and your military pay has already been issued!" Jaqpo said angrily, feeling as though darkness had descended before his eyes. There are no cheap bargains for good quality; there is a reason why such a notoriously infamous mercenary company was left unused.
"Look at you getting angry, Lord Jaqpo, we were just joking!" Jester burst into loud laughter.
Before you continue