Chapter 439 Vigilance
When Samwell rode the white dragon back to the ferry, the Confederate Army was already cleaning the battlefield.
This battle was very short, not only because the southern army was fully prepared, but also because there were giant dragons participating in the battle, and also because the main force of the northern army had not yet arrived, and the opponent's general retreated extremely decisively.
Of course, the current situation is far from being a smooth river crossing for the Southern Army.
After all, less than a thousand people came to the north bank.
It would take quite a long time for an army of 120,000 to cross the river through this narrow pontoon bridge. Even though nearly a thousand people rushed to the north bank in a short period of time just now, it was still under the condition of enemy blocking, but in fact , The speed of the army crossing the river is not fast at all.
Because it is actually not difficult for people to pass by. It is rare to transport the horses, food, grass and supplies, which is really time-consuming and labor-intensive.
During the time when the Southern Army was crossing the river, the Northern Army might attack again at any time and drive the Southern Army down the Blackwater River again.
The worst situation is that when the Southern Army is halfway across the river, the Northern Army uses some means to destroy the pontoon bridge, cutting the Southern Army into two pieces, and the head and tail cannot see each other. In this case, the Southern Army's military advantage will disappear.
Because Varys, the spy, tipped off the news, Samwell knew very well that Tywin Lannister had this idea now.
The opponent's means of destroying the pontoon bridge rests on the Braavos fleet that will definitely go and return.
Thinking of this, Samwell felt a little lucky.
Fortunately, Euron Greyjoy, the lunatic "Crow's Eye", didn't play his cards according to the routine. Instead of grabbing the river bend that was right in front of him, he ran to Blackwater Bay instead.
This also caused the Stormland fleet to follow and return.
Although the Stormland Fleet may face two enemies, the Iron Fleet and the Braavos Fleet, in Blackwater Bay, Samwell still believes that his fleet will be able to hold the mouth of the river and prevent enemy ships from entering the Blackwater River.
It was based on such confidence that he decisively ordered to cross the river.
This battle was similar to what Samwell had expected, crossing the river was not difficult.
Grey Worm came to report the casualties, but Samwell only listened briefly and put it aside.
Too "minor" to deserve his attention.
Although it is a bit cold-blooded to say this, after so many years of fighting, Samwell has long been used to treating casualties as cold numbers.
If he can't do this, he can't take this step either.
After the river beach was cleared and the sky was getting dark, Samwell asked the army crossing the river to build camps on the spot, while ordering and urging the follow-up army to cross the river.
In order to speed up the river crossing, craftsmen began to widen the pontoon bridge.
The boats with strange shapes drifted down the upper reaches again. They were parked side by side on the side of the pontoon bridge, connected by chains, and laid with planks to widen the pontoon bridge.
But no matter how it is reinforced and widened, it is a temporary construction after all, and the traffic capacity of the pontoon bridge is always limited. The speed of infantry passing is not bad, but when the cavalry starts to pass, the slow speed is a bit unbearable.
After all, war horses are not like humans. They will panic and move on this kind of bumpy pontoon bridge, which is difficult to control. Many horses even fell into the river, causing a riot.
This night, the lights on the banks of the Heishui River were brightly lit, people shouted and neighed, and even the sound of running water was suppressed, but it also vividly interpreted the difficulty of the army crossing the river.
Overnight, nearly 5,000 infantry came to the north bank, but less than 1,000 cavalry.
This speed was slower than Samwell expected, but there was nothing he could do about it.
After dawn, the main force of the Northern Allied Forces also arrived near the ferry.
However, they did not attack again, but set up camp three miles away from the river beach, seemingly in no hurry at all.
The reason why the opponent is not in a hurry to attack is obviously waiting for the Braavosi fleet to fight back and crash the pontoon bridge.
So the southern army crossing the river now seems to Tai Wen to be a lone army destined to lose logistics and support.
Naturally, there is no rush to launch an attack.
This also gave the southern army a chance to cross the river calmly. Otherwise, if the northern army launched a large-scale attack now, the southern army might have to pay a painful price to hold the river beach position.
However, as time passed, Duke Tywin gradually realized that something was wrong.
The Braavos fleet never appeared on the Blackwater River, but more and more enemy troops crossed the river.
Three days later, the Confederate army on the north bank had nearly 40,000 people, and the uneasiness in Duke Tywin's heart became more and more intense.
Although the number of the Southern Army on the north bank has not exceeded our own at this time, it has reached an extremely dangerous number.
If they continue to let it go, even if the Braavos arrive and destroy the pontoon bridge, it will be difficult for them to take down the army on the north bank.
"Lord Tywin," Roose Bolton, Duke of the North, said, "Could something happen to Tormo Frega?"
"What will happen?" Countess Anya asked.
Duke Tywin did not speak. He did not tell these northern nobles about the turmoil in Braavos.
Prevent unnecessary suspicion and panic.
It is reasonable to say that Tormo led the fleet to drift at sea, and it is impossible to receive the real news of the turmoil in Braavos.
It's time to lead the army back to the Blackwater River.
Did something unexpected happen.
It has to be said that under the backward information transmission conditions of Westeros, wars are often shrouded in fog.
When the commander of the leading army makes a strategic decision, there is a high probability that he is gambling.
Just like Duke Tywin, he had no idea at this time that Euron Greyjoy, a lunatic, had somehow brought the Iron Fleet to Blackwater Bay, and even attracted the Stormland Fleet.
However, an excellent commander must have a keen sense of war, or some kind of mysterious insight, to make strategic adjustments before a crisis strikes.
Although Duke Tywin didn't know exactly what happened in Blackwater Bay at this time, he also realized that the Braavos fleet might be in trouble.
More importantly, he realized that he couldn't pin all his hopes on the Braavos.
This is extremely stupid, and dangerous.
So, seeing that the number of southern troops in the river was increasing, and it was about to reach a dangerous number, Duke Tywin made decisive strategic adjustments.
"No more!" Duke Tywin came back to his senses, his eyes slowly swept across the faces of the northern nobles, "Let the soldiers eat, and launch an attack after noon!"
"yes!"
So, as soon as noon passed, the Northern Allied Forces began to mobilize.
The sound of heavy footsteps, the clash of swords, guns and armor, mixed with the rude roars of the officers, resounded on the river beach.
The vague smell of blood began to permeate the air.
The war is about to break out.
(end of this chapter)