Chapter 426 Hesitating
The siege battle lasted for three days.
The southern army organized more than a dozen waves of offensives, and they were able to reach the top of the city every time, but they were unable to completely break through the defense line of the defenders and capture the city.
The army in the city is extremely tenacious. Even if there is no hope of reinforcements hanging outside, even if the enemy attacks wave after wave, even if the number of casualties increases at an extremely fast speed, they still do not give up. Persist in fighting to the end.
Samwell wasn't in a hurry, he arranged the siege in an orderly manner, consuming the number of defenders and soldiers, while waiting for the arrival of the follow-up army.
At this time, the number of Southern troops arriving at the front line has reached more than 70,000, including the 8,000 Unsullied who Samwell placed high hopes on.
The densely packed tents were like mushrooms growing wildly, almost covering the King's Road. Various sounds drifted across the fields and woodlands, surging and surging, completely suppressing the whistling wind.
In order to make long poles to carry the banners, all the trees within a few miles were cut down. Under the sunlight, countless swords and spears shone like a forest of steel, icy cold.
When it's meal time, thousands of bonfires fill the air with a pale mist.
Such a force, if it attacks regardless of the cost, it is actually not difficult to flatten the small city in front of it.
But Samwell hesitated.
After so many days of attacking, the small town in front of him was already crumbling, but the enemy army on the other side remained silent. Duke Tywin seemed to have made up his mind to abandon the army on the south bank.
The other party was so decisive, Samwell was in a bit of trouble.
Although taking down the army on the south bank can cause serious damage to the strength of the Lannister family, he is a bit greedy.
So in this informal military meeting, Samwell seemed a little absent-minded.
"Tywin won't be fooled. Then, we can only wait for the Stormland fleet to return before crossing the river." Earl Landau said.
Samwell did not take over.
Earl Landau is right, but even if everything goes well, the Stormland Fleet can successfully defeat the Iron Fleet and protect the River Bend without any worries. This round-trip trip will circle Westeros continent for more than half a circle, and then come back I'm afraid it will be three or four months later.
What's more, this naval battle may not necessarily be won.
After all, the ironborn are the traditional overlords of Westeros seas. Facing them, no one can say that they will definitely win.
If the battle is unfavorable, or even if the victory is heavy, the Stormland Fleet may not be able to control the Blackwater River with the intervention of the Braavos Fleet.
"The Braavos are really coming?" someone asked.
Earl Leighton Hightower said: "I have received definite news that the so-called invincible fleet of Braavos has indeed left the port, and most of it is heading for the Blackwater River."
There was a lot of discussion in the camp, some cursed loudly, some were impassioned, some expressed worry...but no one dared to mention the withdrawal of troops anymore.
After all, they all know the determination of the Storm King, and the war has officially started, and any mention of withdrawal will disturb the morale of the army.
After making a lot of noise and making no constructive suggestions, they were finally reprimanded by Samwell and rushed back to their respective camps.
When there were only father and son left in the account, Earl Landau asked:
"The Stormland Fleet has really set off for the river bend?"
"Of course it is true." Samwell shrugged helplessly, "The river bend cannot be messed up, this is the bottom line. Otherwise, even if King's Landing is captured, the nobles of the river bend will no longer support me."
Earl Randall also fell silent.
He understands the importance of reputation and prestige for a king. Some small means may achieve temporary victory, but they will lose people's hearts forever.
"Since this is the case, there is no need to rush to take down this small town in front of us." Earl Landau said.
Samwell agrees with this:
"That's right. And even if Tywin doesn't come, the longer the delay here, the greater the blow to the morale of the army on the other side. No one likes to follow a commander who will not save him."
Earl Randall is actually more patient than Samwell. This battle-tested veteran has long been used to tug-of-war.
During the Reaver's War, he could stay outside Storm's End for a whole year, and now he can surround the small city in front of him for half a year.
If Tywin really sits back and watches the defenders on the south bank slowly die in despair, the prestige and strength of the Lannister family will definitely suffer a major blow.
It just so happened that they could wait for the Stormland Fleet to return in victory, and it would be safest to cross the river at that time.
Of course Samwell understood his father's psychology, and also knew that this was actually what most nobles from the Stormlands and the Reach had in mind.
Although last time at the Indus Manor, Samwell let the southern nobles appreciate the horror of the approaching winter through a show, and strengthened their determination to march north, but when these people wake up, I am afraid that few of them really believe in aliens. Ghosts will come.
Even Lord Randyll felt in his heart that his son was worrying about some disaster that might not happen.
Samwell was also very helpless about this.
But there is no good way.
Do you really want to trust that cunning spider?
Before Varys sent an inexplicable letter through Mrs. Shataya, there was no movement, but Samwell knew that the other party should still contact him.
After seeing off Earl Randall, Samwell blew out the candles and was about to fall asleep, but saw the curtain of the tent was suddenly lifted, and then a figure came in silently.
He was startled suddenly, but after smelling the familiar fragrance, he relaxed again.
"Daenerys, why are you here?"
"Let me come and see you." Daenerys got into her husband's arms.
"Didn't I tell you to stay in Tongmen City, don't come to the front line..." Samwell's mouth was blocked in the middle of speaking.
After some tenderness, Samwell still said in a strong tone:
"Spend the night here today, but tomorrow you must return to the rear."
"I'm dreaming again." Daenerys said softly.
Samwell froze for a moment and asked:
"What dream?"
"I dreamed that you were engulfed by the wind and snow, and disappeared completely. I kept shouting and searching, but I couldn't find anything..."
"It's just a nightmare." Samwell hugged his wife tightly, stroking her swollen belly with one hand.
Through the clothes, he could also feel the heat emanating, as if a fireball was conceived in her stomach.
Daenerys said softly:
"Well, it's not all a nightmare. I also dreamed that you were sitting on the Iron Throne, wearing the crown of the ancestors of House Targaryen, looking down on the nobles of the Seven Kingdoms."
Samwell laughed:
“I love this dream. And it will come true.”
"Yes." Daenerys shrank into her husband's arms, her body relaxed, "I believe in you, and you will be able to take me home soon."
Samwell suddenly realized that maybe Daenerys was the one who was most eager to break King's Landing besides herself.
"Yes, I'll be able to take you home soon."
(end of this chapter)