Chapter 425 Tragic

  The defenders in the city immediately retaliated, and the catapults and ballistas they set up began to fight back one after another.

  A large number of stones flew high into the sky, and then fell rapidly. Some hit the open space, rolled forward, and plowed a **** ravine in the siege queue.

  A few stones hit the siege soldiers accurately. The scene was so tragic that I couldn't bear to look directly at it.

  In terms of lethality, although the boulder is not as good as the cannonball filled with primitive black powder, it is really not much worse.

  And as the soldiers on the attacking side began to climb the city wall, the artillery in the rear had to stop firing to avoid accidentally injuring friendly troops.

  Without the suppression of the artillery, the pressure on the defenders at the top of the city was greatly reduced. Under the urging of the officers kicking and beating, the archers stood up from behind the wall and began to shoot out.

   But at this time, the southern army had already reached the city wall.

   A ladder was erected, and soldiers from the Southern Army climbed up.

  The city wall is built low and thick. Although this can prevent gunpowder from blasting, it also makes it easier for the enemy to adopt the traditional method of climbing and attacking the city.

   It can be said that there are gains and losses.

  So soon many soldiers of the Southern Army rushed to the top of the city, but what they faced were stabbing with spears and slashing with swords.

  The defenders in the city are obviously the elite of the Western Territory. Both their fighting will and physical fitness are top-notch in the world. Even if they have just been baptized by a round of artillery fire, they have not flinched in the slightest.

  The morale of the attacking party was also high. Many of them used to be the defenders of the camp here. After being defeated, they fled back to Tongmen City.

In addition, Earl Selwyn Tars, who had just been redeemed by Samwell, took the lead and rushed to the forefront, followed closely by his daughter, Sir Brienne Tars. The father and daughter were like tigers descending the mountain, Wearing heavy armor and rushing to the top of the city against the rain of arrows, he was a little overwhelming for a while.

  Under the leadership of the father and daughter of the Tass, the soldiers of the Southern Army marched forward bravely.

  Before the start of the war, Samwell personally participated in the formulation of a comprehensive meritorious reward system. With his prestige and generosity he has always shown, the soldiers certainly don't have to worry about not being rewarded for their merits.

  In the Seven Kingdoms, the only way for civilians to transcend class is to establish military exploits on the battlefield.

   And if a knight wants to become a lord and obtain a wealthy fief, he must also have military merits.

  When Samwell confiscated the fertile land of Arbor Island to Lucas Dayne, many people's eyes turned red with envy.

  Now, the battle to determine the fate of Westeros has begun, and the soldiers of the Southern Army naturally know that once Lannister is successfully defeated and Caesar takes over King's Landing, the Seven Kingdoms will inevitably usher in a new round of power reshuffle.

  A large number of hostile families will be deprived of their fiefs and titles, and these fiefs and titles are their motivation to fight with their lives.

   With such an opportunity to change their destiny, the soldiers will naturally not flinch.

  Countless figures, wearing round shields, climbed up. From time to time, some people screamed and fell down the ladder, but they couldn't stop the determination of the soldiers of the southern army to move forward desperately.

  They want to use the life and blood of the enemy in exchange for military exploits and glory.

  Up and down the city, the shouts of killing were deafening.

  Arrows flew in the air like locusts, and knives and guns shone coldly under the scorching sun.

  Soldiers from both sides, the enemy and us, worked together to turn this small town into a place like a flesh mill.

  Glaring blood flowed down the city wall, looking horrifying and intimidating.

  Siege warfare is so **** and cruel.

  Human lives are just numbers here.

  Samwell rode a white dragon and circled high in the sky, but his eyes did not stay on the **** battlefield below, but stared at the direction of the Blackwater River in the north.

  He's waiting,

  Wait for Tywin Lannister to make a decision.

   Whether to cross the river to support, or to abandon the defenders on the south bank.

  800 elite cavalry were deployed on both sides of the siege army below, and the riders kept patting the horse's neck to appease the restless horse.

  They are eager to fight, but there is nothing for them in the current battlefield.

  Samwell gave them an order to guard both sides of the army. Once the defenders want to go out of the city to fight, they will rush up and give the enemy a fatal blow.

  At the same time, they are also a reserve army. Once they learn that the enemy on the north bank is trying to cross the Blackwater River for support, this cavalry will immediately go north to harass and delay the enemy's crossing of the river.

  However, despite the screams and killings here, the enemy troops on the north bank did not move at all.

   I don’t know if they are just waiting and watching, or Duke Tywin has already made a choice and decided to completely abandon the south bank defenders.

  Samwell's eyes were indifferent, he didn't think Tywin really dared to abandon the defenders on the south bank.

  From a high altitude, he could see very clearly that there were nearly 10,000 Western Territory soldiers in the city, and it was clear from the battle just now that these were the elite, not the kind of cannon fodder that could be thrown away at any time.

  If Tywin can even give up such an elite army, then Samwell really doesn't know whether to admire his ruthlessness or laugh at his stupidity.

   But no matter what, this small town on the south bank is destined to make Tywin Lannister sleepless.

  Seeing that the attack below had slowed down, Samwell patted the white dragon on the neck, signaling it to return.

  As soon as it landed, Samwell gave the order to withdraw the troops.

  Siege warfare is a long-term see-saw process. Facing a strong-willed defender with strong combat capabilities, it is impossible to enter the city with one attack.

  The low-pitched horn sounded, and the siege troops retreated like a tide.

   Temporary calm has been restored on the battlefield. There are mutilated corpses and mottled blood everywhere above and below the city. It looks extremely tragic, but for both sides, this is just the beginning.

  Next, the southern army will continue to attack, looking for the weak points of the defenders. Of course, the defenders in the city will continue to lack weaknesses, preventing the enemy from invading, and constantly consuming the enemy's strength and morale.

  War is often a competition of patience and experience, and there is not much room for opportunism.

  Although Samwell wanted to attack King's Landing as soon as possible, but when he actually got to the battlefield, he wouldn't become impatient and get confused.

  He walked into the camp of the Chinese army, drank wine to quench his thirst, and at the same time listened to the casualty statistics reported by his officers.

   Siege warfare has always been known for its brutality, but in fact, the casualties of a arduous siege battle are not as good as those of a fierce field battle.

  In the tentative attack just now, the number of casualties on our side was only more than two hundred people.

  Of course, Samwell will not squander the lives of the soldiers. He will carefully control the rhythm of the siege.

  His real target is the enemy army on the north bank.

  After listening to the casualty statistics report, a courier walked up quickly, handed over a letter, and said:

   "Your Majesty, this is a letter received by Storm's End three days ago, from King's Landing."

  Samwell frowned slightly. He knew that the only one who would send him a letter in King's Landing was Mrs. Sataya.

   After receiving the letters, Samwell found that there were two letters.

  One had nothing written on it, only an octospider was drawn, and the other was indeed a letter from Mrs. Shataya, which told what happened.

  Samwell read it silently, then picked up the letter with the spider on it, looked at it for a long time, and finally showed a sneering sneer.

  Is this a gesture of favor? Or a demonstration?

   Want to cooperate?

   Or another conspiracy?

  Samwell crushed the letter and threw it into the nearby stove.

  At the same time, he got up and walked out of the tent, looked at the small town in the distance, waved his hand indifferently, and ordered:

   "After an hour of rest, continue to attack."

   "Yes, Your Majesty!"

  (end of this chapter)