The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Earl Sebaston Farman, Lord of Fair Isle, once rebelled. Tywin sent a harpist who crossed the sea to Fair Isle Castle and played “The Rains of Castamere,” and Sebaston Farman immediately surrendered.

The old lion used a harp to make Sebaston Farman surrender, and the dwarf lion used an axe to make Sebaston Farman surrender. Different tools, same effect.

Sebaston Farman set a brilliant example, and when the Imp's gaze swept over the other generals, they all surrendered together.

Thus, all three thousand Westerlands soldiers surrendered and swore allegiance to Tyrion Lannister.

The Mountain commanded, "Lord Tyrion Lannister."

"Yes, Lord Mountain."

"There are two thousand Westerlands troops arrayed below the hill, blocking our way down. You will be the vanguard, leading three thousand Westerlands troops to charge the enemy lines."

The three thousand Westerlands soldiers exchanged glances!

The Imp cursed inwardly, "That idiot Mountain! Many of the soldiers in the army below, and the soldiers on the mountain, are brothers, fathers and sons, or related families. If they fight each other, they will be unwilling to do so. Forcing them to fight will only make everyone hate the Mountain in the future."

The Imp said, "Lord Mountain, many of the soldiers in the army below, and the soldiers on the mountain, are brothers, fathers and sons, or related families. If they fight each other, they will be unwilling to do so. Forcing them to fight, brothers killing brothers, fathers killing sons, how will I be their lord in the future?"

"Since that's the case, you are the Lord of the Westerlands, go down and persuade them to surrender. Sebaston Farman, you accompany Lord Tyrion Lannister down the mountain to persuade them to surrender. If they refuse to surrender, I will have no choice but to charge the lines."

"As you command, Lord Mountain!" Sebaston Farman said respectfully.

"Lord Mountain, I'll give it a try!" the Imp said.

The Imp and Sebaston Farman, two riders on two horses, headed towards the two thousand sword and shield soldiers below the hill.

Sword and shield soldiers are best suited for urban street fighting, close combat.

Why didn't the Westerlands generals send more troops to besiege the Mountain? There is only one road to the south of the Dragonpit. The width of the road is limited, and it is even narrower at the foot of the mountain, with streets on both sides. No matter how many people there are, they can only be blocked in the street, and only the soldiers in front can come into contact with the enemy.

Two thousand sword and shield soldiers were lined up from the foot of the mountain pass all the way to the end of the street.

There was another road leading up the hill to the north, but it was already controlled by the Mountain's army. Not far from the road up the mountain, several streets away, were the two generals guarding the Dragon Gate and the city walls: Ryman Frey, Jaime Lannister's uncle; and Jeyne Farring, the Mountain's adopted daughter. There were four hundred elite troops stationed here. Ryman's two hundred troops were sword and shield soldiers, specializing in close combat. Jeyne's two hundred troops were all archers, specializing in assisting sword and shield soldiers and suppressing enemies from a distance.

*

The Red Keep.

His Majesty the King, Her Majesty the Queen Mother, Lord Mace Tyrell, the Queen of Thorns Olenna Redwyne, and Hand of the King Tywin Lannister were all startled by the sudden sound of horns and battle cries.

After they put on their armor and came out under the protection of their guards, the Mountain was riding Red Smoke with a thousand cavalrymen on the riverside avenue to the south. The Clegane cavalry passed through the Mud Gate and the Iron Gate, like lightning.

Thousands of guards on the city walls, and thousands of Westerlands soldiers behind the city gates, a total of fourteen thousand warriors, none dared to open the gates and fight. The Mountain's prestige was so great that no general dared to jump out and intercept the charge.

Archers were lined up in two rows on the city walls, five hundred longbowmen in the front row and five hundred longbowmen in the back row, a full thousand longbows and hard arrows. Although the Clegane heavy cavalry and reserve cavalry under the city walls all had shields in hand and were heavily protected, they were still targets for shooting. However, no soldier shot the first arrow.

Sergeants, centurions, and generals all watched as the Mountain, wearing heavy armor, carrying a giant sword on his back, riding Red Smoke, and holding an oak shield, galloped rapidly on the riverside avenue.

The commander-in-chief of the city defense, Addam Marbrand, had a private feud with the Mountain, but he lived in the Red Keep. When he heard the commotion and received a report from the guards, he got up, dressed neatly, and went to the Hand's Tower instead of rushing out of the Red Keep to prepare for battle on the city walls.

As the commander-in-chief of the Kingsguard, the first person to report the situation to should be His Majesty the King or Her Majesty the Queen Mother. The City Watch of King's Landing only swears allegiance to one person: His Majesty the King. It is an exclusive guard belonging to the royal family, a private force of the King, but the person Addam Marbrand went to report to was the Hand of the King.

Tywin Lannister got up, dressed neatly, and led the red-robed guards and Westerlands generals out of the Red Keep. The battle on the Dragonpit was over.

All great nobles with the rank of Earl have their own exclusive rooms in the Red Keep, which is ten times better than living in a military camp.

No one had expected the Mountain to suddenly attack the Dragon Gate to the north. Duke Tywin had adopted the Imp's suggestion, and elite soldiers and fierce generals were stationed in the Red Keep to prevent the Mountain's suicide squad from suddenly emerging from underground.

The plan was not bad, but it failed, which resulted in the fierce generals and elite soldiers of the Westerlands not being on the Dragonpit and the city walls.

Scouts reported: The Mountain led his cavalry through the Mud Gate and the Iron Gate, detouring north towards the Dragon Gate. Lord Tyrion Lannister has confirmed his betrayal, following the Mountain as the Mountain's squire, and has recruited three thousand Westerlands soldiers from the Dragonpit.

Among the great nobles, in order to close the relationship with each other and establish a complex and useful network of relationships, there is a tradition of going to a certain lord's side to be a squire. From future kings who have not ascended the throne, to various princes, to ordinary sergeants and knights, they all have this tradition.

Tyrion Lannister being Duke Mountain's squire does not diminish his status and position, but in this very period, he betrayed and followed the Mountain, and recruited three thousand Westerlands soldiers from the Dragonpit, which the Duke cannot tolerate. If the Mountain forced him, then Tyrion's choice should be to commit suicide to resist, rather than choose to obey.

Outside the bronze gate of the Red Keep, Tywin said expressionlessly: "Commander Addam Marbrand, go to the city walls, summon two thousand elite guards, open the city gates, take the riverside avenue, detour north, and attack the Dragon Gate from the outside. After taking the Dragon Gate, attack the Mountain's northern army."

"As you command, my lord."

"Lord Kevan Lannister."

"I am here, my lord."

"Lead a hundred troops to the Mud Gate, summon a thousand Westerlands cavalrymen, detour along the city wall streets, and attack the Dragon Gate from the inside. After taking the Dragon Gate, attack the Mountain's northern army."

"As you command, my lord."

"Why aren't you moving?"

"Lord Hand, the Tyrell army of forty thousand can be used, we are allies. Randyll Tarly, a famous general of the Reach, can be summoned to fight together. Only his Valyrian Heartsbane sword can block the Mountain's Ice sword."

"I can destroy the Mountain without using the Tyrell family's forces." The Duke said lightly, "The Mountain is a man, not a god. Armor-piercing arrows can break his armor, and Red Smoke is just a unicorn, long arrows and spears can take his life. Lord Kevan, you need to work hard and let the generals of the Reach see how we Westerlanders fight."

"...Yes...my lord!"

At Kevan Lannister's command, a hundred-man cavalry regiment from Casterly Rock followed him straight to the Mud Gate.

"Lord Justice Ilyn Payne."

Ilyn Payne is a mute who had his tongue cut out by the Mad King. He grunted three times, and his fist with an iron glove tapped his left chest, indicating that he was taking orders.

The Lord Justice also belongs to the royal family, and the Hand of the King has no right to mobilize him privately, but Ilyn Payne was Duke Tywin's former captain of the guard, loyal and dedicated. He was also recommended by Tywin to be Robert Baratheon's Lord Justice. Although he has been the Lord Justice for more than ten years, he is still loyal to Duke Tywin.

"Go to the Mud Gate, mobilize the two thousand infantrymen from Golden Tooth, take Iron Street, Silent Sisters Street, and detour to the northwest of Rhaenys's Hill to attack the Mountain's northern garrison."

Ilyn Payne grunted and left!

"Ser Addam Marbrand"

Ser Addam Marbrand is the master-at-arms of Casterly Rock. The Mountain was once his student when he was a boy, and the Hound was also taught swordsmanship by him.

"I am here, my lord."

"Go to the Mud Gate, summon the two thousand infantrymen from Casterly Rock, detour along the city wall street to the northeast of Rhaenys's Hill, attack the Mountain's northern garrison, and clear the obstacles to climb the mountain."

"As you command, my lord!"

Ser Addam Marbrand went to the Mud Gate.

"Lord Tytos Brax."

Lord Tytos Brax is the new lord of Hornvale. His father, Lord Roland Brax, was killed by the Northern army led by Robb Stark in the Battle of Oxcross, and he inherited the title of Earl in order.

"I am here, Lord Hand."

"Go to the Iron Gate, summon all the legions of the Iron Gate, and meet me on the southern road under Rhaenys's Hill. We will attack the Mountain from the southern road."

"As you command, my lord."

Lord Tytos Brax rode away with his guards.

Duke Tywin looked around at the generals beside him, including Lyle Crakehall, the most famous fierce general of Crakehall, nicknamed "Strongboar", tall and mighty, with a face full of grey-brown beard. His brother Merlon Crakehall was beside him, also tall and strong. The warriors of Crakehall, the Westerlands warriors, are known for their strength, burly stature, and powerful strength! In addition, generals and knights from other families were all present, all of them elites, plus the Duke's own five hundred death rider regiment, about a thousand people, lined up from the cobblestone square of the Red Keep all the way to the bronze gate of the Red Keep.

Urban street fighting, cavalry does not have much advantage.

His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen Mother arrived, accompanied by Duke Mace Tyrell and Lady Olenna Tyrell.

"Lord Hand, the Mountain has already entered the city, and he still has our two important court officials in his hands. Lord Tyrion Lannister is also in his hands. If we anger him, he will kill the two ministers and Lord Tyrion, and set King's Landing on fire, I am afraid it will be difficult for us to clean up. It is better to let Lord Mace Tyrell and Lord Randyll Tarly go to negotiate first." Lady Olenna Tyrell said.

"Madam, if the Mountain wanted to negotiate, he would not have detained our envoys twice in a row."

"My lord, the Tyrell army has forty thousand, twenty thousand cavalry and twenty thousand infantry. If the Mountain refuses to negotiate, I am afraid he will have to weigh his own strength." The Queen of Thorns' eyes flickered.

"Madam, you and His Majesty the King can rest assured and return. At most one day, I will take the Dragonpit and capture the traitor Mountain. He led his troops to attack the imperial city, and his death is unavoidable!"

Joffrey shouted: "Lord Hand, the Mountain has contributed to protecting King's Landing, why can't he be given a chance?"

"Your Majesty the King, no matter how great the Mountain's merits are, detaining envoys and important court officials, killing Kingsguard, attacking the imperial city at night, and slaughtering innocent soldiers and civilians, which one is not a capital crime?" Tywin's face was cold and hard as black iron, his eyes bright, "Generals and knights!"

"Hoo!" The Westerlands generals and knights roared in unison.

"Follow me to wipe out the rebels and capture the Mountain!"

"Hoo!"

The generals and cavalry roared together.

"Drive!" Tywin pulled the reins, and the hooves of the horses clicked, taking the lead. The golden cloak that could block arrows covered even the hindquarters of the horse. No matter how strong the wind was, it was difficult to shake the golden thread woven cloak even half a point.

Duke Tywin is going his own way on the road to death, riding away!

*

For decades, no one has dared to disobey his will. Vassals who disobey Duke Tywin's will, all those who do not submit are exterminated; Mad King Aerys Targaryen disobeyed his will, he immediately resigned as Hand of the King for twenty years, and returned to the Westerlands without the Mad King's consent.

When the Mad King needed his troops to fight against the combined forces of the North and the Stormlands, he agreed to the Mad King, led his troops into the city to defend the king, launched a bloody massacre on King's Landing, and ordered the extermination of the royal family, in which the Mountain and Ser Amory Lorch achieved notoriety in the massacre, but the Seven Kingdoms only knew the Mountain, and did not know the more cruel Ser Amory Lorch: a thug who stabbed the little girl Princess Rhaenys more than fifty times.

Those who disobey Tywin's will, from the King to the vassals, die!

*

The top of the Dragonpit Mountain.

The Mountain saw the Imp and Sebaston Farman being driven up by the Westerlands sword and shield soldiers, the persuasion to surrender had failed.

The Mountain did not hesitate, according to the original plan: "Joyce Follard, leader."

The most powerful tribal leader on Crackclaw Point, a passionate young man, his brother Alyn Follard was ambitious and wanted to seize Red Smoke to become the King of Crackclaw Point, but was beheaded by the Mountain in front of the Iron Gate. He inherited the Follard tribe and became the tribal leader.

"I am here, my lord."

"Salloreon of Loraq, leader!"

"I am here, my lord."

"You lead all the tribal leaders, three thousand archers from Crackclaw Point, and shoot the two thousand Westerlands troops down the mountain. When the Westerlands army's formation is shaken, lead the troops to cover up and kill, open the road, and that is military merit."

"As you command, my lord."

*

Breaking through the gate and occupying the Dragonpit, the Mountain used - Jeyne Farring, Ryman Frey, Ellin, Landon Goad, Comm Waltyr, the Hound, Ser Garlan Tyrell, Rorge, Jaqen H'ghar, Qyburn, Brienne, Xelia, Chiswyck - this is the first merit, the first merit that everyone wants to get.

The military merit after occupying the Dragonpit can no longer be used by these people, otherwise there will be suspicion between the generals, and it will be unfair to the leaders and warriors of Crackclaw Point who have joined, and at the same time there are already very dissatisfied Moon Mountains tribal warriors.

So, in order to balance military merit, the Mountain ordered the three thousand warriors of Crackclaw Point to be the vanguard of the southern road, and the Thenns, Chella, Gores, Shagga, Conn of the Moon Mountains mountain tribes, plus the Brave Companions, Fat Zollo, and Master-at-Arms Ser J酤ko Foote to fight on the northern road.

As long as someone comes to attack the Dragonpit, the military merit will be given to this part of the people first.

The Clegane heavy and light cavalry successfully raided the grain in the Royal Forest two hundred miles away last night, earning military merit. Today, they can only go to the South Gate as a feint to assist, unable to be the vanguard and seize more credit. After the feint is completed, they will detour along the Riverside Avenue to the Dragon Gate to guard the gate.

The generals of the Clegane cavalry are: the bow cavalry general, Anguy Clegane the Archer; Rafford Clegane the Sweetmouth; Dunsen Clegane the Hangman; and Polliver Clegane the Artist—four main generals, ten centurions, and over a thousand cavalrymen, including over six hundred heavy cavalry. Everyone is equipped with long spears, long swords, shields, and bows, capable of long-range shooting and close-quarters combat. They are the most elite cavalry warriors of the Clegane forces.

*

The two thousand Westerland sword-and-shield infantrymen below the mountain are unaware of the impending disaster. The three thousand archers from Crackclaw Point have arrows tipped with poison that seals the throat upon drawing blood; even a scratch is fatal.

With a command from Jory Cassel, the three thousand archers rushed out. They had undergone brief formation training, but when it came to actual combat, no one bothered to line up. They swarmed like disturbed wasps, shouting 'Doro-ro-doro-ro,' as they charged towards the formation below the mountain.

These archers are not only skilled in long-range shooting but are also proficient with bows and excel in close-quarters combat. There is no clear distinction between warrior classes on Crackclaw Point; everyone is an all-around field fighter, using any means necessary to kill the enemy.

The Westerland sword-and-shield infantrymen, thanks to the Mountain's invention of iron-plated shield arms, were not afraid of arrows. The iron plating on the back of the shields was designed to prevent long arrows from piercing the shield and pinning the arm to it.

Sword-and-shield infantry against archers is a countermeasure.

When the dark mass of barbaric soldiers swarmed down, shouting 'Doro-ro-doro-ro,' and the archers drew their bows, the Westerland soldiers were not afraid.

"Defense!" the centurion shouted, while the general blew the military whistle.

A strange buzzing sound suddenly filled the air, like the sound of bees vibrating their wings. The sound was right beside them, very faint. As the morning came and the sky gradually brightened, countless small black dots appeared, like tiny little circles, covering the entire sky.

Pat! Pat! Pat! Pat!

Shields were raised one by one, stacked together!

Shoo! Shoo! Shoo!

Suddenly, a sharp whistling sound erupted, echoing in their ears. Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! A dense rain of arrows poured down, covering the entire space without any pause.

In just one volley, three thousand arrows were launched.

Most of the arrows were blocked by the shields, but a few arrows found their way into the gaps, piercing the shoulders, arms, and thighs of some warriors.

This was nothing; on the battlefield, who hadn't suffered a few arrow or sword wounds?

The general, directing the troops on horseback, also raised his shield for protection. Many arrows were embedded in his shield, and one arrow each pierced his leg and his horse's body.

The soldiers and the general who had been hit by arrows began to pull them out. The general was still shouting, "Hold, hold!" Suddenly, his vision went dark, his body swayed, and the world spun rapidly before his eyes—the sky below, the houses and soldiers above. He fell down, his body convulsing, foaming at the mouth, and soon stopped moving.

His warhorse also suddenly staggered, as if drunk, stumbled into the sword-and-shield formation, and collapsed with a crash...

The soldiers who pulled out the arrows all foamed at the mouth, swaying like drunkards, their shields falling from their hands. They collapsed to the ground, convulsed a few times, and then stopped moving.

Each soldier that fell created a gap in the stacked shield formation.

This was fatal!

The archers in formation would draw and release their arrows on command, volley after volley in an organized manner, with pauses in between. However, the archers from Crackclaw Point did not shoot in an orderly fashion. The three thousand men fired freely, the arrows falling continuously, though chaotic and disorganized, with absolutely no pauses in between.

Any soldier who was hit by an arrow and fell, creating even a tiny gap, was doomed because of this continuous rain of arrows, as the arrows were too dense.

Even if a gap appeared and was filled within a heartbeat or two, arrows would still find their mark, hitting the soldiers' bodies, arms, or feet. In any case, any soldier who was hit by an arrow was certain to die.

"Poison arrows, poison arrows! These are the barbarians' poison arrows!" a soldier shouted, realizing the danger. His cry demonstrated his intelligence, but it also brought about an irreversible and massive panic.

Thwack thwack thwack thwack!

The dense rain of arrows never stopped, and more and more soldiers fell. The gaps in the formation grew larger and larger. Finally, the shield-bearers knew that unless they fled, they would all surely die.

The mere thought of poison terrified the soldiers.

Boom!

The thousand-plus shield-bearers abandoned their formation and fled in all directions, some soldiers even rushing into the residential rooms along the street to hide.

This was a disaster!

Retreating in formation would have allowed them to withstand the attack long enough to kill a few enemies in close combat! But this retreat, with everyone fleeing for their lives, meant that each warrior faced a nine-out-of-ten chance of death.

The rain of arrows howled down, and the soldiers fell one after another. The roads and streets were filled with twisted bodies. No soldier hit by an arrow could escape death.

This elite force of sword-and-shield infantry, gathered from various noble families, had collapsed and lost all will to fight!

The terror of the Crackclaw Point warriors would, through this battle, make the soldiers of the Seven Kingdoms take note of their existence once again and hold them in awe.

Jory Cassel and Chief Sersio Leo charged down at the head. They were agile and could fire arrows at close range just as fast as the sword-and-shield infantry could wield their swords. The terrified Westerland soldiers had no desire to fight; they only wanted to escape...

The war ended faster than the Mountain had imagined. He had thought that the shield-bearers with iron plating would last longer. He had underestimated the power of the poison arrows.

*

Tywin, leading his cavalry, had ridden through most of the city, but his was the first army to arrive at the south entrance. He ran headlong into the lucky sword-and-shield infantrymen escaping along the street like ants from a disturbed nest. He drew his longsword and cut down several men, but could not stop them.

The fleeing soldiers slowed the speed of Tywin's cavalry.

Tywin personally led the cavalry from the west, while Ser Addam Marbrand, whom he had sent to Iron Gate to summon three thousand Westerland soldiers, was coming from the east. Both sides encountered fleeing sword-and-shield infantrymen.

Suddenly, a roar erupted from the mountain. The Mountain, along with the Hound, Lord Gawen, Brienne, Xela, Ellery, Comm Warner, Rorge, Fang, Landon, and the Clegane men—all infantry—charged down the mountain, roaring.

"Capture Tywin Lannister alive!" the Mountain shouted. His voice was like thunder, echoing through the sky, heard throughout half of King's Landing.

The Crackclaw Point warriors who were chasing the sword-and-shield infantrymen heard him. In the now fully bright morning light, Jory Cassel, Sersio Leo, and seven or eight other chiefs looked around and saw a general with a golden cloak on a tall horse with a golden saddle at the corner ahead. This person must be Tywin Lannister.

Jory Cassel and the other chiefs were overjoyed. Shouting 'Doro-ro-doro-ro,' they charged towards Duke Tywin. Behind them, a dense mass of disorganized warriors followed—all infantry.

The mighty and stout Lyle Crakehall swung his longsword and charged out, followed by a group of brave and skilled soldiers—all elite cavalry. A cavalry charge against light infantry was like crushing dry weeds—an easy victory.

Shoo!

An arrow flew and struck Lyle in the arm. The arrow pierced his armor and grazed a bit of Lyle's skin. What did this little injury matter? Lyle paid it no mind, charging in the lead, his longsword raised high, focusing on that young chief—the one who had shot him with an arrow... Then, he began to sway from side to side as if drunk. Just as he was about to reach the enemy, he fell down, and his warhorse's hind hooves trampled over his body...

The famous Westerland warrior—the stout Lyle Crakehall of Crakehall—didn't even touch an enemy before dying!

Clang clang clang clang!

The charging elite cavalrymen fell one after another! It was as if they were competing to see who could fall faster!

Arrows struck their bodies, but they had armor for protection. The arrows pierced the armor, but it was only a minor injury. A horse hit by an arrow, as long as it wasn't a vital spot, was fine...

However...

Tywin Lannister reined in his horse at the street corner, dumbfounded!

*

ps: There is one more update, as an additional update for the reward from [Son-Giving Imam].

Thanks to [South Wind North Horse], [Son-Giving Imam], and [Triumphant Rose] for their reward support. Thank you, handshake!