Aboard the "Sea Monster's Kiss" not far away.
Euron·Greyjoy was half leaning on the edge of the ship's side, wiping his longbow carelessly.
His warship had previously launched a surprise attack from the flank, and with its flexible positioning and precise shooting, he shot the soldiers on multiple Shield Islands warships into sieves.
Many islanders and soldiers were hit by arrows and fell into the water before Ironborn could board the ship and kill them.
As the second son of Coren, Euron has pale skin and is more handsome than his eldest brother. Under his half-long black hair, his left eye is covered by an eyepatch.
A very typical vicious pirate outfit, just like Captain Wenda with both eyes intact.
Euron's right eye is bright blue, with a playful smile in it.
This peer of Robert and Eddard was scanning the enemy wreckage on the water with his one eye. He was not as elated as Baron, as if this victory was just a boring game to him.
In fact, I feel a little depressed.
Victarion on the "Dagon's Banquet" looked away from his lazy second brother. He knew that he must always pay attention to Euron, who was cunning by nature, and be careful to guard against the other party going crazy from time to time.
His second brother was surly and unpredictable. He often took pleasure in destroying the souls of those around him, even relatives. This made all the brothers hate him so much. Victarion himself and his younger brother Aeron were both victims of Euron's malice.
But in front of his father, Euron would pretend to be well-behaved again. When his father and Balon had a dispute over their views on "Old Way", he would side with Duke Pyke without hesitation----
Victarion·Greyjoy is about the same size as Jaime·Lannister, and is already one of the bravest warriors among Ironborn.
He was tall and mighty, with a broad chest like a bull, and he fought like a berserker, rejoicing in every battle. This also made him the only son of Coren injured in the battle just now.
Just now, the "Dagon's Banquet" knocked over three enemy main ships.
At this moment, Victarion was naked to the waist, and his muscular arms were covered with scars. He had just returned from a captured enemy ship, and he was holding the head of a noble knight on Greyshield in his hand. The blood on his face was dripping down his chin, showing his bravery.
The three brothers of the Squid family finished cleaning up the battlefields they were responsible for and arrived at King Column's new flagship "Iron Victory".
"Father, a total of twenty-eight intact enemy ships were captured in this battle."
Balon walked up to Column first and reported loudly, his tone full of pride.
Euron and Victarion also followed suit, waiting for their father's award.
Coren nodded slowly, looking at the floating wreckage, but his thoughts drifted back to a few days ago.
At that time, a secret letter from King's Landing was delivered to him.
The signature at the end of the letter is: Titus·Peake.
It is a name that all the lords who are qualified to command bachelors, whether in the east, west, north, south, inland or overseas of the mainland, no longer dare to despise it.
The content of the letter was concise and clear, which indeed surprised Colen secretly when he first read it.
Starpike Earl, whom he had never met before, politely reminded him in that letter:
Shield Islands might pretend to be deaf and dumb, lure them into the river, and then design to ambush Iron Islands's visitors----
The prediction in the other party's letter made Column worried. Such a strategy to lure the enemy deeper was not impossible. Although he was still a little doubtful at the time, due to the caution in his character, he finally took precautions.
Hence, today's counterattack and victory were achieved.
On the surface, Coron used a hundred longships as the vanguard, "big fanfare" to bypass Shield Islands, and assumed a posture of sneaking across the Mander River port. In fact, the follow-up troops were delayed and lurking with the help of thick fog.
At the same time, the "Crown King" was deliberately used as a bait to attract the enemy's main force to besiege, and then the real offensive was launched after the enemy's formation was disrupted.
"Without the reminder from Titus·Peake, we might be the ones buried at the bottom of the river today."
Pointing to the wreckage of the ships, Column did not mean to praise his sons, but said softly, with a hint of joy in his hoarse voice.
When Euron heard Starpike Earl's name, he raised his eyebrows with interest. "Father, are you saying that the black Earl" deliberately helped us? He is so amazing that he can judge Shield Islands's plan from thousands of miles away?"
Balon, who did not receive the praise he deserved, was unhappy and said, "Peake is also a noble of the Reach. Isn't this Titus afraid that we will backhand him after we take the southern territory?"
He encouraged his father to go to war just to implement "Old Way", but he didn't really want to contribute to House Baratheon.
Victarion remained silent, but also looked puzzled.
"What he wants is for the Reach to cause chaos."
Coren sneered and answered the questions of his two sons at the same time.
"Maybe he has hidden secrets in Shield Islands, or as Euron said, he has some magical method that we don't understand - in short, he guessed it right this time.
When we Ironborn enter the heart of the Reach to plunder, we will inevitably contain part of House Tyrell's military strength.
We are towing in the west, and he is fighting on the land in the east, so the pressure will be less."
Is this a deal, a tacit cooperation between land and sea, and east-west cooperation?
Colen knew that the Reach was too big and it would not be as easy to conquer as Baron said.
Ironborn mainly focuses on water boating, and their goal is still the extremely rich Highgarden.
Kelen has never seen this Titus·Peake, but judging from today's results, the other party is definitely not a kind person. This letter to remind them is just for their own interests.
Column thought this, but could not ignore the second half of the other party's letter.
After the "Black Earl" accurately "predicted" Shield Islands's strategy, he later directly mentioned Highgarden--
"Highgarden is the core of the Reach, and it is also the core of the Manderly river, the foundation of the Warden of the South family.
Its city defense is strong, with three layers of high walls built one above another. The outer wall is built of white stone, the middle wall is covered with arrow towers and secret doors, and the main castle on the inner wall is built on the hills, at the highest point that is easy to defend and difficult to attack.
Ironborn is good at naval battles and raids. Attacking fortresses is not his specialty. If he wants to attack by force, he will definitely suffer heavy losses.
You can test the weak links as shown in the picture------"
Yes, Mr. Hei Earl even drew a sketch very thoughtfully. After all, he is a person who has been in and out of the triple gate many times.
The other party seemed to want to "step by step" guide him, the leader of Ironborn, on how to attack and plunder Highgarden?
Is he teaching me how to do things?
Teach a plunderer who has worked for decades how to plunder?
The unfulfilled meaning in the letter made King Cologne feel indescribably strange and awkward.
This is as strange as an apprentice mason running up to "Bran the Builder" Brandon and saying, "I want to teach you how to build Winterfell."
Moreover, there is a hint of "persuading them to retreat" in the other party's words to let them quit as soon as possible. Is this because they don't want them to successfully conquer Highgarden, or are they really not optimistic about Ironborn's siege methods?
Column scratched his gray beard and felt that the triple fence mentioned by Hei Earl was very difficult.
He had made countless plunders in his life, and he did not like to attack the fortresses with strong defenses.
Ironborn's longships and battle axes, including those long-range attack techniques and tactics, are more suitable for surprise attacks and assaults, rather than head-on castle attack and defense battles.
But it doesn't matter, the port area outside the three walls and the residential settlement of tens of thousands of people are enough for them to rob.
Moreover, maybe a few more kerosene bombs can be thrown into the wall to burn the maze garden in the sketch----
"What is father thinking?"
Seeing his thoughtful expression, Balon couldn't help but ask.
Colen came back to his senses and replied, "Nothing. The black Earl is right. Highgarden has three city walls. We have limited manpower and it is impossible to attack them one by one."
He raised his hand and pointed to the northeast, his eyes seeming to penetrate a long distance and fall directly on the area around Highgarden.
"In the port area outside the high wall alone, there are countless merchant ships moored, loaded with gold, silver, spices - and Mander River midstream cash crops.
On the land next to the port, there are many residential settlements, and the wealth of thousands of people is accumulated there, which is enough for us to plunder."
A trace of boredom flashed through Euron's eyes. "You mean, we won't attack the main city of Highgarden? There is property there that House Tyrell has accumulated for three hundred years----"
"Taking fortress is the work of fools."
Colen shook his head and interrupted, his voice hoarse but full of determination.
"We are Ironborn, not a battering ram."
He paused, his eyes flashing with fierceness.
"However, since Black Earl gave us Highgarden's maze map, maybe we can also give House Tyrell a big gift"?
Whether they are having internal turmoil or seeking revenge - or saving nearby civilians, as long as they dare to open the city gate and come out to fight, we will still have a chance to invade Highgarden.
Balon, remember to ask the captains to keep the ignition brought from Iron Islands - we will "throw the fireball into the high wall and burn their pampered flowers and plants, so that they know that Ironborn's anger is still unstoppable even across the triple wall!"
When Balon heard this, he laughed loudly, "Okay! Burn down their garden! Let the Tyrell roses howl in the smoke!"
Coren nodded with satisfaction, the doubts in his heart having been replaced by the desire to rob.
He wanted to transform Iron Islands because Kelen had seen more markets overseas and knew that this was the general trend.
But there was an opportunity for legal robbery before him, and the "Lord of the Predators", who had been a pirate leader for half his life, would never let it go.
Black Earl's reminder or calculations are not important to him.
The important thing is that he must take advantage of this opportunity and lead his leaders to embezzle the wealth of the Reach people.
As long as he can grab a large amount of goods, food, and prisoners, this expedition will be a victory, and it will be more convenient for his subsequent reforms of Iron Islands----
Iron Fleet took a short rest and pursued Shield Islands's remaining defeated generals in a leisurely manner, allowing them to continue fleeing north, leading the way.
When they passed through the ruins of the old wharf where Dunstonbury was located, King Coren's goal was finally in sight----
To the west of the Reach, Ironborn are making very smooth progress.
The Southern Expeditionary Army in the East has also entered Kingswood----
Kraken Brothers: