The Red Viper watched with complex emotions—admiration, fear, and shock—as those formidable warships slowly approached.
If encountered at sea, these warships would be like impregnable fortresses. Unfortunately, Dorne, like the North, had no navy.
Ever since Nymeria burned her ships, the Dornish had virtually no naval power, save for the orphans of the Greenblood River who used rafts for transport and livelihood on the Greenblood River, but those small boats were utterly unsuited for hard battles at sea.
The most magnificent warships before The Red Viper were part of the Alliance of the Twin Cities fleet: the four-hundred-oar flagship "wolf pack," two-hundred-oar frigates, and then the one-hundred-oar Myr Fortress warships. There were also smaller, faster ships, which belonged to the Narrow Sea Fleet.
"How many warships do you have?" The Red Viper asked Gendry curiously. The naval strength of the Three Daughters had always been formidable, once engaging the Sea Snake in an indecisive battle at sea.
"The Alliance of the Twin Cities Fleet has four hundred warships, and the Narrow Sea Fleet has about three hundred, but those are smaller and more agile, only suited for battles in the Stepstones," Gendry replied.
The Red Viper roughly estimated that the Triarchy's warships were no less formidable than Westeros', and even far surpassed the Royal Fleet. This was because Westeros' naval power was fragmented, while the Triarchy's fleet was now concentrated.
"Your Highness, Prince, it's a pity my magnificent warships are not the main players in this war." After the wolf pack docked, Moros, the Myr Fortress man, disembarked and lamented to everyone.
"The fleet will have a chance to be deployed," Gendry said.
"Your Highness, that would be even better. However, I would rather fight the Lyseni and Volantenes than face my old friend Davos," Moros said.
"I imagine the Onion Knight thinks the same," Gendry smiled.
"Prince, your mission is also very challenging," Gendry formally told The Red Viper. "Khal Drogo is now bogged down. The time is ripe. I will divide my forces into three routes to completely annihilate the Dothraki."
"Please command, Commander-in-Chief, I will fulfill my duty," The Red Viper promised. Since he participated in this war, he naturally hoped for victory and honor.
"For the first battle line, the Alliance of the Twin Cities Fleet will transport most of the cavalry to the battle point. I will lead the cavalry to charge Khal Drogo's main army from the north.
For the second battle line, Lord Gilo will also lead the reserve forces out of Myr Fortress to assault from the front, pushing forward with the Unsullied.
The third route will be the troops led by you, Prince. The fast ships of the Narrow Sea Fleet will sail from the sea into the Myr Fortress River. You will proceed up the Myr Fortress River and assault Drogo's Khalasar from the south. The Dothraki's elderly, weak, and most of their accumulated wealth are in the Khalasar. Once the Khalasar is attacked, the Dothraki's collapse will accelerate."
Gendry had considered the terrain, as the flat terrain of the Disputed Lands made flooding operations too difficult. Gendry thought of using the fleet to transport soldiers to participate in the battle, attacking from three sides to completely defeat Khal Drogo.
In fact, Gendry considered letting his Dothraki cavalry follow The Red Viper to burn Drogo's Khalasar, but the Dothraki feared the sea, so he left it to Jihha.
"Leave it to me," The Red Viper replied confidently. The Red Viper also understood the terrain of the Disputed Lands.
The Disputed Lands have two rivers, both connecting to the sea. One is close to Myr Fortress, which can be called the Myr Fortress River. The other is close to Lys, which can be called the Lys River. Although they cannot compare to Essos's mother river, the Rhoyne, their water volume is relatively abundant, and the small and long warships of the Narrow Sea Fleet can also operate on them.
"This tactic is indeed fierce, maximizing the annihilation of the Dothraki," The Red Viper thought. This was an enhanced hammer-and-anvil tactic. The more strength Khal Drogo expended on the Unsullied's turtle formation, the more disastrous his defeat would be. Especially now that the Dothraki's momentum had been blunted for many days, first by the attrition at Myr Fortress, and now by suffering losses against the Unsullied shield wall.
"I will also assign you one thousand heavy cavalry, one thousand light cavalry, and also those reinforcements from Pentos, Norvos, and the Ghiscari person. It's time for them to be deployed."
"As you command, Commander-in-Chief," The Red Viper nodded. He also had the five hundred Dornishmen he brought, so attacking Drogo's Khalasar with such a formation would not be too stressful.
"I will bring you news of victory, Commander-in-Chief."
"Board the ships," Gendry waved his hand. The wind speed today was good, and moreover, their sailing position was not far. They only needed to transport the Knights to the position behind the horse people.
Gendry and The Red Viper parted ways. The Red Viper would lead the surprise attack from the Myr Fortress River direction, while Gendry's cavalry unit would break through from the flank.
The massive warships silently transported Gendry and the Knights to a nearby location, and then the Knights began to disembark with their horses onto an inconspicuous flat plain. Without scouts, the Knights, like a forest, galloped past the coastline.
Khal Drogo would not have anticipated Gendry's disregard for martial ethics, but in brutal warfare, only one person can achieve victory and honor.
"Move out," Gendry's gaze swept over his troops. Anguy and Longspear were at his sides. This was the elite of Gendry's entire cavalry, five thousand heavy cavalry and two thousand light cavalry, like a massive iron-armored Steel Fist.
These cavalry had cost Gendry much effort and gold. He was proud that they were no less formidable than any powerful army in history. But in battle, he was destined to achieve honor only through sacrifice and slaughter.
The cavalry began to gallop south. The shoreline was soft and muddy, so they had to be extra careful. But later, the terrain was mostly flat and boundless, with even hills being rare.
The western part of the continent of Essos was naturally suited for cavalry charges. Gendry had the cavalry calmly cross the land, and then calmly attack the Dothraki. Although it was very difficult, the soldiers had done very well during the march.
The opportune moment was fleeting. Gendry felt that the sharp sword he had honed for a long time was best drawn today. Perhaps Khal Drogo was formidable, but today would be the day of his Khal's downfall.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh." The desolate sound of the war horn began to ring out, very urgently. Every note of the war horn struck Gendry's heart. This was the signal he had agreed upon with Gray Wolf and Steel Fist: if the shield wall withstood more than nine attacks, and if the time was ripe, then they would call for a cavalry charge.
"Accelerate forward," Gendry roared. The standard-bearer behind him unfurled the quartered banner, and the cavalry surged towards the direction of the Myr Fortress shield wall.
"Now!" Gendry's five senses were sharper than average. He could already see the Dothraki charging the shield wall. The ground beneath the shield wall had turned blood-red. Longspears protruded from behind the shields, directly impaling some Dothraki. And there were some unfortunate taxi soldiers who were shot down by multiple volleys of arrows because the Dothraki were too close, but they never retreated.
Khal Drogo led his cavalry, their hooves continuously pounding the ground. Khal Drogo began charge after charge. Although some soldiers in the shield wall fell, the overall formation of the shield wall did not collapse; it had now solidified into a square.
Gendry had agreed on more than nine charges, but Gray Wolf and Steel Fist had stubbornly withstood more than twelve attacks before blowing the horn for help. The Unsullied had drunk the wine of courage and had a higher pain tolerance than ordinary people, but regular taxi soldiers could not endure too many rounds of attacks. This was fortunate that the heavy infantry were his elite and were also positioned in the center of the formation.
As the sound of the Unsullied shield wall's war horn grew clearer, Gendry ordered the cavalry to blow their trumpets in response; reinforcements had arrived. Most of the cavalry wore black scale plate armor and cloaks with quartered emblems on a black background. Their weapons, however, varied: some had battle axes, some greatswords, and some Longspears. The cavalry could not cross city walls, but in the wilderness, none could surpass them.
"Soldiers, five hundred years of history are watching us from above. In the humiliating history since the Century of Blood, the Dothraki made us kneel, but I demand that you stand up!" Gendry raised his warhammer, then charged into the enemy crowd, a magnificent banner fluttering, with thousands under his command.
The Wolf Pack Legion and the Free Legion taxi soldiers also joined this noisy chorus. Steel clashed with steel, and the soldiers shouted battle cries. "Long live the warhammer!" "Long live the warhammer!"
A black torrent of iron armor surged towards the charging Dothraki Screamers. Khal Drogo was taken aback. "Cowards! These cowardly sheep men, cowards who live in stone!"
Khal Drogo thought for a moment and understood where these cavalry came from. They did not emerge from Myr Fortress but were transported by ships to his rear. Truly cunning cowards.
But the situation left Khal Drogo no time for further thought. The enemies that suddenly appeared from the north were already galloping, fresh and rested, charging them.
"Follow me!" Khal Drogo ordered his cavalry to halt their attack on the shield wall and instead turn to first eliminate this large-scale cavalry force that had suddenly appeared.
"Kill!" Gendry's distinctive quartered banners were visible everywhere, fluttering in the wind, soaring above bamboo poles. The images on the quartered banners seemed to come alive: a warhammer, Three Dragons, slaves breaking their shackles, a running Wolf Pack.
The Dothraki under Khal Drogo began to draw their bows and shoot arrows. Gendry's cavalry formation accelerated forward, shouting as they ran. This cavalry presented a wedge-shaped assault, irresistible.
The Dothraki's arrows rained down on everyone, but fortunately, the Unsullied's shield wall had already exhausted a large amount of the Dothraki's stamina and arrows. This round of attack was still within an acceptable range. Of course, some unlucky Knights fell, accepting their tragic fate; some were critically wounded by arrows, others had their warhorses spooked.
"Long live the warhammer!" Next came the bloodiest close-quarters combat. Gendry swung his heavy hammer at the dothraki in front of him. One side of the mace was sharp like a bird's beak, the other a round iron weight like a steelyard. It was devastating against armor, let alone against these Dothraki who wore no heavy armor.
"Kill!" Gendry saw a large Dothraki man charging recklessly towards him.
The arakh roared with a deadly hum. Gendry deftly dodged the cleave, then his warhammer slammed violently into the dothraki's forehead. A gruesome splash of red erupted, red and white. A hole appeared in the Dothraki man's head, and he collapsed directly to the ground.
Gendry fought fiercely across the battlefield, the surroundings already transformed into a realm of blood. Longspear was right beside Gendry, striking out like a venomous snake, taking Dothraki lives. Gendry's biggest worry was Anguy, but the lad's horsemanship was decent, and he hadn't been wounded in the battle yet.
"Die!" Another dothraki charged at Gendry. The arakh cleaved again. Gendry deftly sidestepped first, and the arakh left a minuscule scratch on Gendry's scale armor.
Gendry's counterattack, however, was even more lethal. Gendry's warhammer struck the dothraki warrior's heart and lungs. The warhammer pounded on the painted vest, and the force directly broke bones, severely damaging the heart. The Dothraki Knight let out a wail, then his corpse slowly fell to the ground.
After much killing, Gendry quickly encountered Khal Drogo. Khal Drogo's figure was simply too easy to identify; he towered above all other Dothraki, and his belt was made of gold, with bells in his braids and gold rings in his beard, all instantly revealing his identity.
Khal Drogo also recognized Gendry, a young, burly warhammer warrior, equally tall. Khal Drogo didn't see Gendry's face, only those eyes like seawater.
"Milk man, wearing armor, despicable milk man, despicable coward!" Khal Drogo, riding a red warhorse, collided with Gendry.
Fierce battle raged around the two. Khal Drogo and Gendry, one a dothraki Khal, the other the Regent and Commander-in-Chief of the Triarchy.
"Die!" Khal Drogo brandished his arakh. Although he was tall, his movements were as agile as a leopard, and he had considerable combat experience. Once he made a move, it was clear he was a formidable opponent.
Drogo wielded his long blade, as if stirring up a whirlwind, a howling gale. Drogo was the fastest opponent Gendry had ever seen in his life.
Gendry also brandished his weapon, warhammer and long blade clashing. But Khal Drogo could not break through Gendry's defense; the black scale plate armor was truly difficult to penetrate, and the long blade in Drogo's hand was not a dothraki weapon.
The two rode their horses around each other, attacking their opponent. Drogo was not foolish; he knew to use his arakh to cleave at Gendry's head and shoulders. However, Gendry had his armor for defense, and his strength and speed were also among the best in the world.
The more Khal Drogo fought, the more his heart trembled. It was not his fault, but the enemy was too cunning. They first continuously depleted the strength of his warriors through the shield wall, and only when they were exhausted and weakened did they come out for a decisive battle.
"Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!"
Drogo heard the wails of his Dothraki Screamers. His heart felt as if it was bleeding. This was a conspiracy, a naked conspiracy of the milk men. Drogo had only thought of arranging scouts around Myr Fortress, but he had not thought of observing the fleet on the coast. This was not his fault, but he had indeed made a mistake, a mistake of empiricism.
Drogo heard the wails, the sound of horses falling, the sound of soldiers dismounting. He saw more and more Dothraki falling to the ground. Drogo's eyes seemed to be ignited by rage, and he unleashed the fastest and fiercest attack of his life.
Drogo swung his long blade, a killing blow aimed at Gendry's head. Although there was armor around the neck, there were also connecting points that could be attacked. This was the only chance.
Gendry calmly defended, using his warhammer to block every cleave, weapons clashing incessantly.
"Boom!" Khal Drogo heard the raging flames erupting behind him. A more terrifying reality appeared in his mind: his Khalasar had also been attacked by the enemy.
Drogo's long blade suddenly dropped, changing from a high cleave to a low one, but Gendry met it, twisting his body to actively invite Drogo's attack. Gendry had calculated Drogo's strength; the long blade merely struck Gendry's arm guard in vain. But Gendry's warhammer swung back fiercely, the bird-beak side of the warhammer striking Drogo's left shoulder squarely, and bright red blood flowed out.
"Coward!" Drogo cursed loudly. Although he quickly pulled back his hand, he felt the pain.
Gendry allowed Drogo to continue attacking. The injury, the changing war situation, and the exhaustion from multiple previous charges began to slowly manifest.
Khal Drogo's attacks were not as swift and rapid as in the previous rounds. Gendry blocked those critical attacks, and his warhammer roared fiercely.
Drogo's blade striking the armor had no effect on Gendry, but Gendry's warhammer launched a fiercer, more powerful attack.
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