The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 378: The Ultimate Battle for King's Landing (Subscription Requested)

The captain of the Queen Mother's guard rode his warhorse out of the Red Keep, through the Fish Market, and arrived at the Mud Gate Square. Several catapults were still in operation, but the rest had stopped because they had run out of stones.

The catapult warriors were gathering in the square, forming a square formation, ready to participate in the defense of the Mud Gate.

The Mud Gate was booming, and the rebel army outside was frantically ramming the gate.

Osfryd Kettleblack was still shaken. He watched as the city gate was about to be breached. Behind the gate, densely packed, were spearmen in red cloaks.

The spear tips of the spearmen were pointing diagonally upwards, people pressed against people, tightly arranged together. Osfryd Kettleblack counted slightly, and the spearmen formation was arranged in at least twenty layers.

Behind them was the sword and shield formation, which was arranged in at least a dozen layers, and then the cavalry formation.

Osfryd Kettleblack hurriedly ran up to the Mud Gate. The King, the Hand, and the Mountain were all up there.

The Kingsguard stood around, and the Mountain's guards also formed a circle, as well as several guards protecting the Hand.

Directly above the city gate, soldiers were frantically throwing down burning pitch buckets, wildfire buckets, and stones.

Osfryd Kettleblack saw that under the city wall, many soldiers were holding up overturned small boats, the bottoms of which were covered with long arrows. The arrows had flames burning on them, but they were not easy to ignite the boats. More warriors had rafts on their heads, and the rafts were also covered with arrows.

Under the city wall, the black-armored army was densely packed, and countless siege ladders were being erected. They were all over the wall, and the soldiers were squeezed under the city like ants. If huge stones were dropped at this time, a large pile of dead people would fall.

But except for the area above the city gate, where there were still sufficient stones, wildfire buckets, and pitch buckets, the arrows, stones, pitch buckets, and wildfire buckets in the rest of the area were basically used up.

On the city wall of the distant Iron Gate, the ballista also stopped moving. The long arrows, round stones, pitch buckets, and wildfire buckets of the ballista had also been completely used up.

The stench of blood permeated the city wall. The soldiers on the city wall were in good order and there were almost no casualties. On the other hand, under the city, there were densely packed rebel corpses and ant-like swarms of soldiers.

Many rebels died, but even more were alive.

The entire city wall was filled with shouting rebels. There were too many, too many, too many of them!

Bang!

A siege ladder was placed on the city wall!

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The second, third, fourth, fifth… As if in the blink of an eye, densely packed siege ladders were placed on the entire city wall. Black-armored soldiers, like ants with shields, began to climb up.

Osfryd Kettleblack's face turned pale. He heard his heart beating thump thump thump, as if with the next heartbeat, his heart would jump out of his chest.

“Warriors, drop your longbows and draw your swords!” The Mountain's greatsword was unsheathed, and he shouted.

The herald's voice was already hoarse: “Drop your longbows, draw your swords, prepare for close combat!”

Longbows were thrown down one after another, clang clang clang, longswords were unsheathed one after another, cold light flashing, a forest of sword light.

Osfryd Kettleblack felt his breathing was blocked, and he felt very uncomfortable. He squeezed through the ranks of soldiers and came to the King. The Hand was cursing the King for not pushing up his visor, because it was too dangerous now and he must prevent stray arrows. The King's face was pale, and he was panting heavily.

Osfryd Kettleblack had a similar experience. If a person is too nervous, the visor will seriously hinder his breathing and almost suffocate him.

“Your Majesty, the Queen Mother orders you to return immediately and protect the ladies and children in Maegor's Holdfast,” Osfryd Kettleblack straightened his chest and shouted.

If he didn't speak loudly, the King probably wouldn't be able to hear him.

On the city wall, the centurions were shouting encouragement: Brothers, the enemy is coming up, cut them all down for me.

The Mountain was shouting to boost morale: “Warriors, the enemy is already exhausted, and half of their forces have been killed by us. Now is the time to let our swords drink blood. Split their heads, cut off their hands, pierce their hearts, fight to the death, never retreat, King's Landing forever!”

No King forever, no Queen Mother forever, no Mountain forever, only King's Landing forever. The Mountain's motivational slogan became King's Landing forever.

The soldiers' shouts of King's Landing forever resounded through the night sky!

King's Landing is home to the vast majority of the six thousand garrison soldiers, and the vast majority of the two thousand Crownland warriors and Crownland nobles. Their wives, children, parents, and siblings are in the city. After careful consideration, the Mountain changed the slogan to encourage the soldiers to King's Landing forever.

The King and Queen Mother have a very bad impression in the hearts of the soldiers, so it's better not to lead everyone to shout King forever and Queen Mother forever.

Amidst these loud noises, Osfryd Kettleblack had to shout loudly!

The King heard it and his courage increased greatly: “The Mountain, Uncle Imp, I order you to fight here, repel the rebels, and cut off Stannis's head. I want to go back to Maegor's Holdfast to protect the women and children, and give them courage and safety.”

Littlefinger was in disbelief: “Joffrey.” He even omitted the title of Your Majesty, and called him by his name in anger, “Now is the most critical moment. The enemy has erected siege ladders and will soon climb the city wall. The Mud Gate is about to be breached. If you run away at this time, it will seriously打击the morale of the soldiers throughout the city.”

“No… won't… The Mountain is here… He is the supreme commander of the entire army, the Guardian of King's Landing; you are also here, Lord Hand.” Joffrey's expression straightened and he shouted loudly, “I now formally appoint you to supervise the battle here in place of the King.”

Joffrey's gaze turned to the Kingsguard, scanning over the Hound, Barristan Selmy, Meryn Trant, Mandon Moore, and Arys Oakheart. He was considering who to let protect him to leave here. Rebel soldiers were shouting and climbing the siege ladders, so he had to leave quickly. The Hound had the highest martial arts skills, but looking at his expression, he would not protect him to leave; Barristan Selmy had requested to fight three times and was rejected by the Mountain. Arys Oakheart had always been cold to him and never took the initiative to get close to the King and Queen Mother, so it was still Meryn and Mandon.

“The Hound, Ser Barristan Selmy, Ser Arys Oakheart, in the name of the King of the Seven Kingdoms, I order you to stay here, obey the orders of the Mountain, and assist in defending the city.”

“As you command, Your Majesty!” The three said in unison.

“Ser Meryn Trant, Ser Mandon Moore, I order you to protect me to leave.”

“As you command, Your Majesty.”

“No!” Littlefinger stepped forward to block the King's path, “Joffrey, you are the King, you must stand on the city wall, so that the soldiers can look up and see you. Stannis takes the lead, so his soldiers are fearless and go forward bravely. If you leave at the most critical moment, the soldiers will feel chilled, and morale will fade quickly like thin snow under a raging fire. We may suffer a terrible defeat because of your stupidity and cowardice!”

“Lord Hand, I have appointed you to supervise the battle here in place of the King.” Joffrey shouted sharply, “The women and children in Maegor's Holdfast need my protection, get out of my way!”

Clang!

Osfryd Kettleblack drew his longsword and pointed it at Littlefinger's throat: “Lord Hand, please get out of the way. I am under the Queen Mother's orders and must safely take the King back to Maegor's Holdfast.”

Bronn, Shagga, Conner, and Podrick moved at the same time. Littlefinger shouted: “Don't move!”

Bronn's longsword had already been drawn, Shagga and Conner's axes had already been raised, and Podrick's hand was still on the hilt of his sword. The child was hesitating because the other party represented the King and Queen Mother.

Suddenly, a black shadow seemed to press down from the sky. A big hand stretched out diagonally and grabbed Osfryd Kettleblack's chest. Before Osfryd could react, he felt his body lighten, and then he flew into the air as if riding the clouds. His heart was broken and fear seized his heart. He heard his deformed and terrifying scream—Ah—!

Bang!

Osfryd Kettleblack crashed down the city wall, hitting the bottom of a raised small boat. He, in his full armor, was like a hammer falling from the sky, piercing the entire small boat and smashing over a large group of rebel soldiers.

The Mountain reached out and threw Osfryd Kettleblack off the city wall!

The five Kingsguard, Lord Hand, Bronn, Shagga and Conner, Podrick, and the Mountain's two captain guards, Alyn and Ser Gylbert, were all dumbfounded, like stone sculptures!

The Mountain looked at Joffrey: “You little ghost King, if you want to get out, get out by yourself! But don't think about taking anyone away, any warrior, any sword.”

Joffrey trembled all over, his face pale!

The Mountain glared at the Kingsguard, his gaze sweeping over the Hound, Ser Barristan Selmy, Ser Arys Oakheart, Ser Meryn Trant, and Ser Mandon Moore: “Now King's Landing has reached a critical moment of life and death. If the city is broken, I think we will all die. Now is the most critical moment. I want to go out from the Iron Gate and lead the Clegane soldiers and mountain warriors to attack Stannis from the side. You, Kingsguard, must all go with me.”

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The Hound, Ser Barristan Selmy, and Arys Oakheart drew their longswords.

“Follow the General and fight to the death!” Barristan and Arys said in unison. The Hound kept his mouth shut, but his eyes said everything. He had been waiting impatiently for a long time.

Clang! Clang!

Meryn Trant and Mandon Moore also drew their longswords, expressing their attitude. Otherwise, it was very likely that the Mountain would throw them both directly off the city wall with his next heartbeat.

“I also need one person to lead an army out of the King's Gate, detour to the Mud Gate, and form a pincer attack with me. When our two armies attack the Mud Gate, I want the garrison in the city to open the city gate and launch a fierce attack on the rebels. With such a three-pronged attack, we will surely win a great victory!”

“Me!” Littlefinger raised his little arm, “I will lead the army to attack from the King's Gate.”

The Hound sneered: “Littlefinger, this is not on a whore's bed.”

Meryn Trant smiled without concealment.

The sound of swords clashing suddenly rang out very violently on the city wall. Rebel soldiers climbed onto the city wall, and face-to-face close combat began!

“Hound, I have fought with mountain warriors in the Mountains of the Moon, and with Northmen in the Green Fork River. Where were you at that time, on which whore's bed?” Littlefinger picked up an axe from his feet. The axe blade was very thin, and it was definitely not a child's toy.

“Okay, that's it.” Now is not the time to argue, the Mountain made a decisive decision, “I will lead two thousand Clegane infantry, one thousand mountain infantry, and all the Clegane heavy cavalry to attack from the Iron Gate; Lord Hand will lead two thousand garrison elites, one thousand Crownland troops, and three hundred garrison heavy cavalry to attack from the King's Gate.” He looked at Captain Alyn, “Alyn, go call Ser Jacelyn Bywater over.”

Soon, Jacelyn Bywater, the commander-in-chief of the garrison who was directing the battle at the corner south of the Mud Gate city wall, came over. His face was covered in blood, and an increasingly fierce face-to-face melee had broken out on the city head.

It's either you die, or I die!

“Jacelyn Bywater, the Clegane's two thousand new army spearmen, hundreds of horse archers, and one thousand garrison sword and shield soldiers.” The Mountain pointed to the three square formations behind the Mud Gate city gate, “All are handed over to you. When I and Lord Hand encircle from the Iron Gate and King's Gate, you will lead the warriors to open the city gate and kill them.”

“As you command, Lord Mountain!”

“…Then…what about me?…” Joffrey said.

Everyone was gone, the Kingsguard had also left, and on the city wall, rebel soldiers kept climbing up. One died, and two came up.

The Mountain looked coldly at this child King: “The Queen Mother wants you to go back to Maegor's Holdfast, go back by yourself.”

“Podrick, protect the King to leave,” Littlefinger said.

“Yes, Lord Hand.”

Podrick drew his longsword: “Your Majesty, please!”

Joffrey glanced at the Mountain, the Mountain was silent as a mountain, he immediately went down the city wall, and as soon as he took a step, he felt his feet soften, and Podrick quickly supported him.

The two left under everyone's gaze.

“Lord Mountain, I want to protect Lord Hand to fight at the King's Gate,” Mandon Moore said.

“I also follow Lord Hand,” Meryn Trant said.

“Okay, Lord Hand, Commander-in-Chief Jacelyn.” The Mountain's gaze swept over the group of fierce men beside him, “Everyone is here, let's go!”

*

Stannis leaned close to the city wall, and a guard next to him raised a shield for him. Stones rained down from the city gate, but the stones were obviously getting smaller.

The enemy's large stones were gone, and small stones were difficult to penetrate the thick oak shield.

Stannis shouted slogans, and the soldiers around him were fearless because the King was by their side. The soldiers raised the battering ram and slammed into the city gate.

Crack!

The city gate made the first sound of the bolt breaking.

Stannis's face was as hard as iron, and he shouted loudly: “Ram! Ram! Ram!”

The soldiers' strength seemed to be divinely helped. The battering ram retreated again, and then rushed forward frantically…

Suddenly, above the city gate, densely packed pitch buckets, wildfire buckets, and huge stones fell, including—green flames…

Wildfire!

This was also the last bucket of wildfire in the entire city, to be used at the last moment.

The giant stones that had not appeared for a long time also reappeared!

The soldiers carrying the battering ram fell screaming…

Stannis, who was close to the city wall, understood that this was the last bit of stuff from the Mud Gate. After this, no more stones and wildfire would fall from the city gate, just like the Iron Gate.

The battering ram crashed down!

The massive city gate was already teetering, just one push away from collapsing!

Stannis surged forward. “Raise the battering ram!” He bent down, straining to lift the heavy ram with his hands.

The guards were all startled and rushed to protect the king.

“Never mind me, lift the battering ram!”

The heavy ram was lifted by the surging soldiers. They shouted 'Long live the King!' and began to charge towards the city gate…

Suddenly, from the left flank of the army, a fierce cry arose. The Mountain’s voice thundered like a giant's roar: “Capture Stannis alive, and be rewarded with a barony and a fiefdom of a thousand households! Kill Stannis, and be granted a knighthood and a fiefdom of a hundred households!”

The soldiers were surprised and doubtful. The Mountain’s voice came from the left, not from the city walls above.

The thunder of hooves rose like a tidal wave. In the distant light and shadows, the Mountain’s mountain-like figure appeared, a huge sword flashing coldly held high. Behind him were five hundred riders of the Clegane heavy cavalry.

Captain Errin, Vice-Captain Ser Gerold, Cavalry Captain Sweetmouth Ralph, Vice-Captain the Hangman Donnel, Vice-Captain the Artist Polliver, the Hound, Barristan Swann, Arys Oakheart, the leader of the Scorched Men, Timeon, the leader of the Black Ears, Chella, the leader of the Moon Brothers, Gonso… a group of fierce warriors charged fiercely from the Iron Gate…

The heavy cavalry charged violently, longswords, spears, and lances hacking and stabbing wildly. The Mountain took the lead, Ice wreaking havoc, severed limbs and black blood flying everywhere like the Grim Reaper descending, unstoppable… The Hound was an irresistible force, Barristan divinely brave, Ralph unpredictable, Donnel’s every strike fatal, Timeon fearless, Chella and her seven sons like demons from hell… devouring people madly…

A red torrent suddenly swept through the black armor beneath the city walls, like a tide surging onto a beach, instantly submerging the black earth it passed over…

A one-sided massacre!

Any of Stannis’s generals who rushed forward couldn’t withstand a single exchange, instantly being slaughtered!

*

On the right, the Halfman Tyrion led an army, suddenly appearing at the corner of the city wall. Bronn, Shagga, Koja, Meryn Trant, and Mandon Moore, wielding swords and axes, roared forward, hacking and slashing fiercely. Amidst deafening shouts of 'Long live the Halfman!', thousands of warriors were like fierce tigers and hungry wolves. The entire army was like a savage red beast from the primordial era, opening its bloody maw and rapidly devouring the black-armored soldiers. Heavy cavalry led the way, followed by infantry. Wherever the red cloaks passed, black-armored soldiers fell, unable to resist…

*

Behind the Mud Gate, Commander of the garrison, Jacelyn Bywater, roared, his voice already hoarse: “Brothers, it’s time to defend our honor and dignity! Lord Mountain and Lord Hand are already attacking the rebels from left and right! Let us open the city gate and capture Stannis alive!”

The city gate burst open. Jacelyn Bywater waved his longsword, kicked his warhorse, and charged out first, straight towards Stannis Baratheon… However, several knights immediately rushed up and intercepted him… Several swords hacked at Jacelyn… Jacelyn fought bravely, cutting down two knights, but was struck by several swords. Barely managing to reach Stannis, more blades and spears stabbed at him. Jacelyn was hit by spears and swords in his chest and back. He fell…

Shouting to capture Stannis alive, two thousand Clegane recruits—pikemen—and a thousand King's Landing gold cloaks—sword and shield men—charged madly forward, along with the Clegane horse archers who provided covering fire from behind.

The horse archers never missed a shot, and the soldiers and knights around Stannis fell one after another…

Stannis’s generals were shocked. In the midst of the chaos, they brought his warhorse and desperately urged the king to mount and leave quickly. Stannis was furious, mounted his horse, drew his sword, and charged, cutting off the heads of a row of pikes. With another slash, he bent down and cut off the neck of a pikeman…

Anguy, as the leader of the horse archers, saw clearly, drew his bow, and shot an arrow, hitting Stannis in the chest. Stannis fell from his horse…

*

ps: Brothers, happy May Day! A whisper: Can I update only once today?

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